Final Trial

Ji Chen had been observing his disciple closely since in the Heavenly Ladder.

Being the owner of the Ancient White Pagoda, he could sense how tormenting the second trial was to Bai Ningshuang.

He knew that she would faint as soon as she was able to relax in the third trial, thus, he left the elders with the silver disc and entered the pagoda to take care of his disciple.

The sight of Bai Ningshuang fainting greeted him inside the pagoda. Supporting her figure with his arms, he stared deeply at her before muttering, "You are really stubborn. Do you know that you look ugly in your skeleton mode?"

Twenty steps in the Heavenly Ladder was the average performance for many archmages. From 21st onwards, it would be a bitter battle driven only by willpower and additional spiritual strength.

Additional spiritual strength could only be achieved through: possessing a special bloodline or unique physique related to spiritual aspect, consuming a pill or treasure that could increase spiritual strength, learning a secret manual that could strengthen the spiritual sea, or through pure talent.

Obviously, Bai Ningshuang, who was a member of a barely hanging sect, had none of the first three.

From Ji Chen's estimation, Bai Ningshuang should have already barely passed the 22nd step based on her spiritual strength, yet she managed three steps more due to sheer willpower.

Upon staying for around five minutes and making sure his disciple was fine, he came back to Ji Peak and saw the elders watching a formidable trialist for the Heavenly Ladder, Ling Jingjing.

"Junior Sister, your disciple is really strong willed." Axila exclaimed.

Ling Jingjing, a mid-stage archmage, managed to get past the 20th step, and only stopped at 26th step.

She did not have the willpower of Bai Ningshuang but her spiritual strength was higher, twice as much as a regular archmage that enabled her to easily pass the 25th step.

"Jingjing has just a stronger spiritual strength." Li Xanyun shook her head lightly but felt proud for her disciple. Since the time when they learned her disciple's unique physique, she decisively spent more time with her to develop her spiritual sea.

Xu Kai also performed brighter on this second trial, gritting his teeth to brave the 21st, 22nd, and almost finished the 23rd step through pure willpower. In terms of the three, he had the regular spiritual strength but his willpower matched Bai Ningshuang.

"These disciples are good seedlings." Fjord Yuta, who rarely spoke, commented.

"Yes. They just need more practical and combat experience." Long Zhu agreed before grinning, "I'll bring Kai to the depths of the mountain range and throw him at the center of a pack of dark wolves."

The other elders felt pity for a certain disciple in the second trial for having such a kind of master.

One by one, the trialists entered the third trial and started to recuperate while chatting lively.

"I gave up the moment I entered the eerie snowy place."

"Heh. That's quite a weak performance."

"Junior Sister Fei, don't you think that the last trial is scary?"

"Yes. I lost all my flesh. My years of eating are wasted!"

"Fatty Rui, I'm not asking you!"

A grinning bouncy fatty and an irritated lovestruck man almost fought inside the third trial if not for the emotionless stare of Xu Kai and other direct disciples.

Inside the pagoda, Bai Ningshuang had already immersed herself in the illusionary world of the black stone. Even though she only saw the blurry image of her master, she knew that he really appeared and enveloped her with his warmness.

This made her heart flutter as she vowed to get the top spot in the Ancient White Pagoda and the incoming competition.

The third trial tests someone's comprehension. This greatly attached an importance to talent and potential. A higher aptitude rating would also mean a higher comprehension ability.

Bai Ningshuang's brows would sometimes crease or her mouth would sometimes part slightly in surprise. She would sometimes be baffled, anxious, and then feel enlightened.

'The Pillar of Insights. More mysterious than the Heavenly Ladder since it gives the chance to evolve art manuals.' Ji Chen recalled the most shocking thing about the huge black stone.

However, according to Lulu, the rate of that happening to earth techniques and below was merely one percent, as for the higher grades, it would be a miracle if it happens.

The Pillar of Insights was only used mainly to test the comprehension ability, after all.

Bai Ningshuang found herself in a place full of stars and colorful light dots. The light dots could be seen following different patterns and forming groups and shapes. There were lines made of light dots everywhere, creating networks and nets.

"What is this place?" She muttered as she slowly made her way to the nearest blue line made of light dots. The sleeve of her clothes retreated up to her elbow as she raised her fair-skinned hand and lightly poked the blue line.

Dizzzz!

Upon the contact, fragments full of information about a water-based palm art flashed in her mind. The amount was enough for her to know the kind of art manual but was not enough for her to understand it at the same time.

It made her feel unsatisfied, like something should have been complete. It made her annoyed as she almost fell into the urge of completing the art manual by herself regardless if she passed or not the trial.

"What is that kind of obsession?" She mumbled with horror etched on her face as she retracted her hand forcefully. It was a good thing that her willpower repelled the abrupt obsession born out of nowhere in her mind.

This scene was noticed by Ji Chen who understood easily what transpired. 'My disciple, you are peering into the nature of laws. It wants you to detach yourself from everything and only pursue the truths even if it becomes your obsession.'

He recalled the cliche line of novels back in his past life: The nearer you are to the peak, the more detached you become.

The Pillar of Insights used traces of laws to manifest the different light dots packed with fragments of arts.

Once again, Bai Ningshuang entered the world inside the black stone and focused her gaze into the nearest white line. Her plan was to comprehend an ice-based art since her special bloodline and unique physique aligned to the ice element.

The other trialists also got the gist of the trial and selected based on the element they were most comfortable with. As for body refiners, they too could test their comprehension ability by selecting the translucent light dots. These dots represented neutrality, the origin energy.

Half a day was short to everyone and soon it passed easily.

The elders did not get tired of waiting and even Long Zhu made a bet with other elders. Since Ling Jingjing reached the 26th step in the second trial, higher than Bai Ningshuang, the nine elders thought that the first place overall was not yet in the bag.

At the side, Ji Chen smirked in contempt. He did not join since the elders might think he was cheating. After all, he was the owner of the Ancient White Pagoda and could control it.

'Ningshuang has the highest aptitude. Fools, some elderlies are losing big this time.' The corner of his lips curled up in disdain as he already saw the aptitude and luck ratings of everyone.

Those with unique physique or special bloodline had high to very high aptitude rating but compared to the peak rating of his disciple, they were left in the dust by her.

"They are coming out." Jiang Feng said to everyone.

The door of the Ancient White Pagoda opened again. Exhausted figures kept coming out from the inside.