“Roar!”
“Senior Brother, the demon beasts here actually have Golden Core cultivation! We can't get out!”
“No, I don't want to die!”
“Disciples of Wulei Sect, form the array!”
Down in the valley, a group of cultivators was surrounded by dozens of black panther demon beasts. A sinister white mist spread silently around them, radiating a deadly aura.
The disciples of Wulei Sect, clad in light blue sect robes, took up defensive positions. Raising their swords, they set up a defensive array, while the disciples of Zhaixing Sect and Ziyang Sect coordinated their attacks.
Numerous dead disciples already lay scattered across the ground in the distance. The survivors had no choice but to fight with everything they had.
“Ah!”
Just as a black panther demon beast was about to crush a Zhaixing Sect disciple's head with its claw—
Boom!
A flying sword shot across the horizon, piercing straight through the black panther demon beast and killing it instantly.
Two figures abruptly descended, making the Zhaixing Sect disciple's eyes light up.
“It's Wen Li and her group!”
Although the surrounding disciples from Ziyang Sect and Wulei Sect did not recognize them, seeing the overjoyed reactions of the Zhaixing Sect disciples made them realize at once that these two possessed formidable cultivation.
They quickly called out, “Fellow Daoists, if you save us, Ziyang Sect and Wulei Sect will reward you handsomely!”
Without a word, Wen Li took action, and the young Xie Tinglan joined the battle beside her.
The moment the demon beasts caught a whiff of Xie Tinglan's aura, it was as if they had encountered an absolute terror. Even the leader among the beasts, whose strength rivaled a Golden Core cultivator, immediately abandoned its prey and fled.
Both of them knew it was due to the bloodline pressure of the ancient great demon within Xie Tinglan.
The others, however, were unaware, gazing at the two with awe and reverence.
“Thank you both for coming to our aid.”
Wen Li replied calmly, “No need.”
Glancing around, she noticed Wang Xianlin and Han Yanming, whom she had met earlier, were also present.
When Wang Xianlin saw the more than ten unconscious cultivators loaded onto the giant sword behind Wen Li—including that Golden Core cultivator from Ziyang Sect—his eyes darkened slightly.
“Wen Li, they...”
The others noticed them as well. Their expressions immediately grew vigilant, and they instinctively shifted their stances to stay on guard.
“Xie Tinglan and I saved all of them. They're still breathing,” Wen Li replied candidly, crossing her arms. “Out of consideration that we're all fellow cultivators from Cangling Kingdom, I brought them along so we can all leave together when the trial ends. Since you're here, each sect can take back its own people.”
“However, I've taken their tokens.”
Hearing this, everyone looked over. Although the unconscious disciples were severely injured, they were indeed alive. Since Wen Li had already taken their tokens, she had no obligation to care for them—carrying them along was purely a burden.
In an instant, all suspicion evaporated, replaced by admiration in their eyes.
“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wen Li. Once we leave, we will surely inform our sects and properly express our gratitude for saving their lives!”
Wen Li waved her hand. “No need.”
With that, she turned to Xie Tinglan. “Let's go. Those demon beasts were probably just an appetizer for the Trial Realm. It's safer to head to Cangxian Lake first.”
The two made to leave.
“Wait!”
Hearing this, how could the disciples dare let them walk away? “How do you two know Cangxian Lake is safe?”
Wen Li looked puzzled. “Don't you know Cangxian Lake is the exit of the Trial Realm?”
Wang Xianlin frowned. “Who said that?”
“No need to tell them. Let's go.”
Xie Tinglan and Wen Li played off each other, completely ignoring the crowd.
Panic seized the other sect disciples. “Wait! You two must be aiming for first place in the trial. We're willing to hand over our tokens voluntarily if you'll let us travel with you to Cangxian Lake for experience!”
The elders of their sects had claimed the mortality rate here was under twenty percent, causing them to underestimate the danger. Now they saw that sticking together with experts was their only hope of survival.
Otherwise, forget about stealing tokens—they wouldn't even make it out alive.
Even if they weren't certain whether Cangxian Lake was truly the exit as Wen Li claimed, going there was at least a safer bet.
“Fair enough.”
Seeing them hand over their tokens, Wen Li let out a soft sigh, her eyes filled with benevolence. “You may join us, but do not act recklessly and cause trouble. If we encounter enemies, we must stand together. But if anyone harbors ill intent... even though I am not a ruthless person, I will show no mercy.”
Xie Tinglan turned his head away. “I am not a ruthless person”? He almost broke character and burst out laughing.
“Understood! Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wen Li!”
At her words, the disciples were overcome with gratitude. They immediately handed over their tokens, lining up to place them into Wen Li's hands.
As for Wang Xianlin, he looked down at the token on his waist, his expression shifting with hesitation.
Beside him, Han Yanming lowered his voice. “Senior Brother Wang, where there's life, there's hope.”
Biting his lip, Wang Xianlin detached both his token and Han Yanming's, handing them over to Wen Li.
Wen Li didn't care who was sincere and who was fake. Once they collected the unconscious disciples she had brought along, she led the group out, setting off toward Cangxian Lake.
Along the way, they encountered several trapped rogue cultivators and some stragglers from actual sects. Wen Li took them all in out of the kindness of her heart.
When the rogue cultivators heard that everyone was heading to Cangxian Lake, subtle shifts crossed their eyes—none of which escaped Wen Li's notice.
Whenever danger arose after that, neither she nor Xie Tinglan needed to lift a finger. The disciples exerted every ounce of effort to prove their worth, fighting for their lives. Only when someone was truly on the brink of death would Xie Tinglan step in to assist.
As a result, their group grew larger and larger.
Of the fifty-one disciples who had entered, twenty-five were now here—including, of course, the unconscious ones. The disciples forced to carry their knocked-out sectmates didn't want to haul around dead weight, but seeing Wen Li's righteous determination to bring everyone out together, they didn't want to appear selfish and narrow-minded. Thus, they had no choice but to carry them in silence the entire way.
Later, the group arrived at a desert.
They were attacked by Bee Fire Demon Insects and large swarms of sand snakes, losing four disciples before the remaining twenty-one managed to scramble across the desert in utter disarray.
Even Wen Li and Xie Tinglan sustained a few minor injuries. The group found a place to recuperate for a day before resuming their journey.
“Below us is Cangxian Lake.”
Wen Li stood atop a high cliff, looking down into the basin lake far below. Standing beside her, the other disciples wept with relief, filled with the overwhelming gratitude of having survived a disaster.
...
Rate on N.U.
