Chapter Six: The Trial Begins

Yu Chuan pulled a gold ingot from his breast; it was the largest piece among all the gold and silver trinkets that plump woman had possessed. As expected, the beggar leader’s eyes widened at the sight of the ingot.

"Is this enough?" Yu Chuan asked.

"More than enough! It’s plenty!" The beggar leader hurriedly took the gold, his face alight with a broad smile as he repeatedly bowed to Yu Chuan. "Young master, if there’s anything else you need, just say the word. My brothers and I will make sure it’s done properly!"

Yu Chuan leaned forward. "I want to find a quiet place to stay for two days. Is that a problem?"

The beggar leader’s eyes darted slyly. "No problem at all. The place is a little run-down, but it’s absolutely safe. Our beggar gang will guarantee you peace and quiet for the next two days. Only, about the silver…"

Yu Chuan smiled faintly. "Just let me stay undisturbed for two days, and I'll grant you great fortune. Silver? That’s nothing but rubbish."

The beggar leader seemed to understand, nodding eagerly as he led Yu Chuan toward the outskirts of the county town. Here was where the common folk lived, though chaos reigned in these parts. Yu Chuan stepped over a bloodied corpse, his eyes showing no hint of pause. To him, there was nothing in this world worth attachment—life and death had long ceased to matter.

Without a will forged through facing death, one could never become truly strong.

Before long, Yu Chuan arrived at a single-story dwelling. Inside, there was only a straw mat—a quiet enough single room. The beggar leader left after settling him in, and within Yu Chuan’s senses, no one was spying on him. This eased his heart a little; although the man was cunning, he knew his limits. Otherwise, Yu Chuan would not have shown any mercy, nor would he have allowed himself to be put in danger. If anyone had been watching, he would not have hesitated to kill a few more to enrich his storage pouch.

After waiting quietly for a moment, Yu Chuan closed his eyes and began to cultivate.

Foundation Pills, Marrow Cleansing Pills, Bone Refining Pills, Tendon Fortifying Pills, Qi Absorption Pills, Spirit Gathering Pills… All kinds of elixirs were stuffed into his mouth with abandon. As long as his Qi Condensation scripture could still circulate smoothly, with no sign of stagnation, he would not break through to the second level. Only by accumulating deeply could one advance unstoppably.

His body grew tougher, more agile, and his mind more lucid. At this moment, subtle changes appeared in the world before Yu Chuan’s eyes.

The incantation for Qi Condensation’s first layer now seemed mired in a swamp—this was the sign of perfection, with no further progress possible. It was time to break through.

The instant the thought arose, Yu Chuan shuddered. The sea of qi within him rapidly expanded, while his meridians grew sturdier. All the spiritual power in his body surged toward his qi sea, condensing as it gathered. Soon, his qi sea had grown to two or three times its former size.

"Second level of Qi Condensation!"

Yu Chuan’s eyes shot open, gleaming with renewed intensity. His senses stretched out to sixty feet. In that moment, he detected two living beings nearby, but they were ordinary mortals, devoid of spiritual fluctuation.

For another day and night, Yu Chuan consumed several bottles of different pills, only to find their effects gradually waning—perhaps his body was acquiring resistance. Yet, the Foundation Pill still worked wonders, each dose reshaping and solidifying his qi sea anew.

Along the way, he slaughtered all the rats, collecting even more pills—among them, a single Blood Pill. Not knowing its effects, Yu Chuan dared not take it recklessly.

Once everything was in order, he left a small vial in the room, containing a Marrow Cleansing Pill. That pill was of no further use to him, and he dared not trade it openly, lest he attract unwanted attention. So he left it as a reward for the little beggar—the past two days had indeed been quiet.

Today marked the true beginning of the trial.

He needed to find out quickly how to participate. With that thought, Yu Chuan left the cottage at once. His steps were swift, and soon he vanished into the throng around the corner.

A shadow crept up to the house—it was the little beggar who’d brought Yu Chuan here, gazing in the direction Yu Chuan had gone. After a few glances, he entered, and his eyes shone when he saw the small bottle on the straw mat. He uncorked it and tipped out a pill the size of a longan fruit. Tossing his head back, he swallowed it in one gulp, exclaiming with surprise as the pill took effect.

By now, Yu Chuan had arrived at the magistrate’s office, where a notice had been posted: All those participating in the Dao Attendant trial were to go to Five Wolves Mountain, north of the county. The trial would last a month. Survive inside for one month, and bring out a soul-capturing stone tablet containing the soul of a demon—this alone would mean success.

But what drew Yu Chuan’s eye most was an important detail: there was a ninth-level demon in the trial grounds, a creature already possessed of some intelligence. If one could capture its soul, one would be made a squad leader in any hall, immediately.

Dao Attendants always started from the bottom, and it could take many years to rise. To become a squad leader at once would save at least three years of hardship—a chance many would surely fight for.

Yu Chuan committed everything to heart and silently made his way to Five Wolves Mountain.

At the foot of Five Wolves Mountain, a crowd had already gathered, with more people streaming in to participate in the trial. Some turned back midway, only to be blocked by the magistrate’s constables wielding blades.

Yu Chuan understood: Having chosen to participate, one would either die inside or rise above others. The path of cultivation admits no turning back.

This is a road that leads only into ever deeper darkness.

He found the entrance, showed his stone token to the constable, and entered directly.

The mountain stretched for hundreds of miles, but only Five Wolves Mountain was relatively safe, for the demons inside had been specifically culled by the authorities—these were the remnants. Such a place was suitable for mortals to try their luck, perhaps earning a chance to enter the path of immortality.

But for all their strength, mortals could never truly contend with demons.

Thus, Yu Chuan saw only heaps of corpses.

The lives of mortals are as worthless as weeds.

Looking at those bodies, Yu Chuan saw the fate that had once awaited him. Without that drop rate attribute, it would have been utter fantasy for him to become a Dao Attendant.

The world would show him, once and for all, the meaning of cruelty.

He stepped over the corpses, heading straight for the depths. His goal was simple: slay a ninth-level demon and become a squad leader.

Soon, he saw a group surrounding a ghost-faced leopard, trying to bring it down. But the leopard was a genuine monster, and in an instant, it swatted aside several people, tore out a man’s throat, and broke through the encirclement—charging straight at Yu Chuan!

He paused for a brief moment, then drew a dagger from his lower back...