A figure lood out of the clouds ahead. Hui grabbed Zhubis hand and leaped after him, quickly catching up to the figure.
Hui landed beside a handso young man in gold, long hair streaming behind him. The man gave him a startled look, almost tripping backward.
He smiled and nodded. Hello, Elder Brother. Have you figured out what kind of trial this is?
The man gritted his teeth. Are you another heart-demon, co to tornt ?
Eh? Are we supposed to be tornted by heart-demons? Hui asked, startled. He patted his chest down. I dont feel particularly heart-demoned Im not feeling bold or confident right now, nor aggressive. I have gotten bored a few tis does that qualify as having heart-demons? But the boredom it wasnt the all-consuming emotional turmoil that cos from being possessed by a heart-demon, as Sectgoer experienced for all of it. Its just ordinary boredom.
Confused, he turned to Zhubi. Zhubi put his little hands up and shrugged.
You brought a child? the man asked, startled.
Zhubi opened his mouth and hissed at him. The man leaped back. Oha snake demon.
Chen Wuya chuckled. What a dullard.
Elder Brother, whats your na? Im Hui hesitated, then smiled. Ah, oh well. Xie Hao is a known na, but Ive already told it to Gui Yutong. Its too late to change it.
Ah co to think of it, what false na was Rogue using? I cant recall Hopefully not Xie Hao!
Xie Hao, he finished.
Brows furrowed, the man gave him a slight nod in return. Jing Ruchen. You dont seem particularly troubled by this trial?
Ah no. In fact, Im a bit concerned that I might have sohow glitched the trial? Hui murmured half to himself.
Glitch? Jing Ruchen asked.
Ah, no, no. Im simply worried that I might have not properly undertaken this trial, sohow. I havent felt a thing since I stepped on these stairs.
Zhubi raised his arms and waved.
You neither? I wonder if the trials simply broken, Hui mused.
Jing Ruchen mopped his brow and took a deep breath. With so effort, he picked up his foot and hefted himself up the next stair. They say luck is a part of cultivation. If the trial is broken for you, then all we can do is curse your heaven-defying luck.
Do you think so? But Ive never been particularly lucky, Hui said, casually slowing to match Jing Ruchens pace.
Is this not luck? Jing Ruchen asked.
Well ah, not to be rude, Elder Brother, but its possible the trial isnt glitched. Ive always thought that people of this ahem, other cultivatorslacked sufficient ntal defenses. Not that my mind is particularly strong, but simply everyone elses seems to be extrely weak, Hui explained.
Jing Ruchen stared at him. Wouldnt wouldnt that indicate that your mind is powerful, rather than that everyone elses is weak?
No, no, no. This small cultivator knows his place. Im rely a bug, a lowly bug not worthy of any sort of praise. Its not possible, Hui assured him.
Then the trial must be broken, if youre truly that unremarkable, Jing Ruchen growled, annoyed. What is this man doing? What kind of odd sort of mocking is this? He's putting himself down, but putting down even moreso by claiming that I, a Chosen, cannot keep pace with a bug like himself!
Ah, that is what I thought. Then, I wonder if I spread the glitch to Zhubi by taking his hand? Maybe I could spread it to you as well, Hui said, offering his hand.
Jing Ruchen stared at it. You you realize Im a competitor, right?
Eh? Of course, Hui said, nodding.
Youre offering to help cheat? Jing Ruchen asked.
Oh, no, no. Im simply testing a glitch. Its a very reasonable thing to do, no, to confirm a glitch once youve found one? Hui asked.
Jing Ruchen hesitated. He lifted his hand, reaching toward Huis.
A second before their hands t, he leaped back, snatching his hand away as if burned. No! I wont be fooled. You demon, you nearly tricked ! Youre no contestant, but another illusion from the trial!
Huh? No, Hui said, confused.
Begone! I wont be fooled again. This Jing Ruchen refuses to cheat, not even in his heart!
Okay Hui muttered. He shook his head. This man cant even accept a free al. Should I praise him for being too upright, or mock him for failing to take advantage of all he can?
Oh well. If Elder Brother doesnt want my help, I wont foist it upon him. If he forgot to put in his eyes today to the point of mistaking for a heart demon, theres nothing I can do to help him. Shrugging, Hui looked at Zhubi. Shall we go?
Zhubi nodded.
Farewell, Elder Brother, Hui said, quickly bowing to Jing Ruchen.
Jing Ruchen stared after him. Mid-step, Jing Ruchen stopped. Wait. He isnt fading? He walked away? Could it be, hes actually a fellow cultivator?
No, no. Thats not possible. I, Jing Ruchen, the top chosen of my sect, the inheritor of the Seven Swords of Autumn, could not be surpassed by a nobody, whose na Ive never heard before!
The cultivator in blue paused and looked back. Lifting his hands to his mouth, he shouted, Ah, excuse , Elder Brother. A Senior I know would like to know
What? Jing Ruchen asked, exasperated.
Er, do you practice the the Seven Forms of Autumn?
The Seven Swords of Autumn, you an?
Above him, the cultivator in blue suddenly ducked, throwing his hands up against an invisible foe. Ah! My apologies, Senior! What do you an, he cant even get the na right? Why are you attacking for this? Its not my fault!
Jing Ruchen gaped, montarily forgetting to climb the steps.
With so effort, the blue-robed cultivator straightened up. He ducked one last ti, then straightened his robes and bowed to Jing Ruchen. Elder Brother, these are not my words, but a Senior I know would like tostop it! Im getting to it! He batted at the air again.
Jing Ruchen frowned. What am I watching? Is this is this the heart-demons heart demons?
Speaking very quickly, the cultivator in blue said, A Senior I know would like to tell you that youve practiced the Seven Forms of Autumn wrong, and if you dont correct your practice very soon, youll not only hit a wall but youll also likely lose the ability to walk.
Jing Ruchen furrowed his brows. What do you know about the Seven For Swords? I can tell at a glance that you dont practice the form. Your weak arms, your pathetic waist, those wrists
Chen Wuya looked Hui up and down. Hes not wrong.
Thank you, Senior, Hui grumbled, keeping a wary eye on Chen Wuyas claws.
Chen Wuya snorted, licking his claws. That fool. He doesnt even understand that the heart and foundation of the Seven Forms is his footwork. Hes been neglecting his feet and ankles. If he doesnt correct it soon He clicked his beak and shook his head.
Now that weve told him, can we move on? Hui asked.
Chen Wuya sighed. It pains to see my technique in such disrepair. Even the na is wrong Fen Long, why lock away for so long? What was the purpose of this?
Er, perhaps because Senior was a demonic cultivator who killed millions? Hui suggested, setting off up the stairs again.
Chen Wuya scoffed. The real demonic cultivation is whoever taught that kid the wrong form of the Seven Forms of Autumn, or allowed him to lead himself astray.
Hui shook his head. I think those million people would disagree. He leaped off again, quickly ascending into the clouds. Jing Ruchen faded behind him.
--
Up on the viewing peak, Sui Linli grinned and held out her hand to Mu Bingshi.
Mu Bingshi scoffed and crossed his arms. He could still fail yet. The ga isnt over.
Being so bitter, just because he passed your Chosen? Sui Linli teased, raising her eyebrows at Mu Bingshi.
Mu Bingshi scowled. Sui Linli will be unbearable if that healer beats Jing Ruchen. I cant allow this to happen! He turned back to the trial, eyes narrowed. Quietly, he sent a narrow beam of pressure down at Hui, far below.
--
At last, Hui began to feel a weight on his shoulders. He rolled them out and glanced above him. Huh feels like normal pressure. I thought it was a ntal trial?
Oh well. Its good to know it isnt broken! It just took a while to kick in.
While its still kicking in, I should hurry ahead! By the ti the pressure finally catches up with , I want to have as little of the trial left as possible!
Hui sped up, hurrying faster yet. Zhubi leaped alongside him, sowhat struggling to jump with his legs. Luckily, Hui kept a tight hold on him, and drew Zhubi along with him. The two of them rushed past one Chosen after another, leaving the other participants far behind. Hui scanned the faces as he passed, but none of them stood out as his fellow clones. Bai Jingwen snarled at him as he rushed by, and he gave her a little wave. Sorry, but I cant afford to let the pressure catch up to !
High above, Mu Bingshi blinked, confused. Eh? How co he started moving even faster after I started pressuring him? This isnt how its supposed to work! Should I pressure him harder? But what if he starts moving faster? I dont understand. Whats going on with this man?
Sui Linli cut a glance at Mu Bingshi and bit back a chuckle. Ha! Feel the bitterness of watching your Chosen lose to this nobody!
Reviews
All reviews (0)