Chapter 75: The Southern Wild Ridge

Dongling Sect held its once-every-three-years outer sect trial, a tradition said to have continued for over a thousand years. Though the content and format had changed many times, the essence remained: to test the disciples and ensure that each one possessed the ability to stand on their own.

With nearly ten thousand outer sect disciples, it was impossible to arrange for all to be tested at once. Thus, they were divided into twelve groups, their assignments determined by random draw, and dispatched in batches to different locations for their trials.

The assessment typically revolved around eliminating demonic beasts; disciples could form teams or act alone. Given such lenient requirements, few failed to pass. Those who succeeded were granted the privilege to select a technique from a designated range within the Scripture Repository as a reward.

For many outer sect disciples, lacking the wealth to study new techniques at their own expense, this reward was eagerly anticipated—a rare chance to learn a new skill.

Yet, inevitably, a few would fail to meet the trial’s requirements. Any disciple who failed three times in succession would be expelled from the sect.

“I’m in the third group; our trial location is Nanhuang Ridge.”

Jiang Min stood before the wall where the assignment lists were posted, searching for quite a while before finally spotting her own name.

She then lifted her gaze to see who would be leading this group.

Each trial group was overseen by three powerful Jindan cultivators—rarely intervening unless in dire moments—and over a dozen inner sect disciples who acted as leaders and supervisors. For those newly admitted to the inner sect, leading an outer sect trial was itself a part of their initiation.

“Three Masters: Baojun, Xucheng, and Duanyang.”

“Sixteen inner sect disciples: Bian Shan Quan, Zhang Xi Ming, Lou Zong An, Zhao Fu He… Jiang Su Ling?”

Jiang Min’s eyes lingered on the last name.

Jiang Ziyi, of the Su generation, courtesy name Su Ling, now an inner sect disciple of Star-Gazing Peak.

As a newly promoted Foundation Establishment disciple, Jiang Ziyi was required to lead an outer sect trial as her own entry assessment—though only the one time.

Seeing her name, Jiang Min’s heart grew heavy. Narrowing her eyes, she thought, “A coincidence? I don’t buy it.”

Out of twelve groups, she happened to be assigned to this one?

Coincidence or not, Jiang Min would treat it as anything but. Who could know what might happen during the trial?

“To be safe, I must make extra preparations.”

Jiang Min slipped away from the bustling crowd, boarded a ferrying flying boat, and left the sect grounds for a nearby market town.

There, after disguising herself, she deftly found a fence to sell off some ill-gotten spirit tools of unclear origin, as well as her own items that were now of insufficient grade.

With the spirit stones gained, she outfitted herself from head to toe with a brand-new set of superior spirit tools, enough to face many unforeseen situations.

As for treasures more powerful than spirit tools—her current resources couldn’t afford them. Even this new set of superior spirit tools had nearly emptied her savings.

“Out of spirit stones again,” Jiang Min mused as she entered a general store. “Looks like I’ll need to find another way to make money after this outer sect trial.”

She would have preferred to focus on secluded cultivation and breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Yet the Five Elements Tribulation was perilous; she needed rare healing elixirs in preparation, all of them prohibitively expensive. With the paltry spirit stones left in her pouch, she could afford none.

After purchasing a few supplies for venturing into the mountains, she was about to leave when she noticed two middle-aged cultivators, one plump and one thin, entering the shop. The tall, thin man asked the shopkeeper, “Do you have a map of Nanhuang Ridge?”

Nanhuang Ridge?

Jiang Min, just about to turn away, pretended to continue browsing as she covertly listened.

“Nanhuang Ridge is precisely where my group’s trial will be held,” she thought. Each group had a different location; hers was to be Nanhuang Ridge.

The shopkeeper nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, please wait a moment, fellow cultivator.”

He rummaged behind the counter, producing a roll of beast hide, and handed it to the tall man. “This is a very detailed map of Nanhuang Ridge. Two lower-grade spirit stones.”

“Fine.” The tall man glanced over the map, tossed the shopkeeper two spirit stones, and departed with his companion.

Only after the two had long gone did Jiang Min look up. She selected two more trinkets, then asked, “Shopkeeper, do you have maps of the various regions of Jinyun Country?”

The shopkeeper smiled. “Not every region, but I have complete maps of the surrounding areas, even the mountains and marshes where few people go.”

Disguised and maintaining a cold demeanor, Jiang Min responded, “I’ll take a map of Nanhuang Ridge as well.”

“Of course!”

Upon returning to Peach Blossom Slope, Jiang Min unfurled the beast hide map and studied the terrain of Nanhuang Ridge, committing every detail to memory so she would know where to retreat if trouble arose.

After memorizing the map, she rolled it up and mused silently to herself.

“Let’s hope nothing untoward happens.”

If not for Jiang Ziyi’s presence, this trial would have meant little to Jiang Min; her true goal was Foundation Establishment.

Only by reaching Foundation Establishment could she truly step onto the path of immortality and have a chance at entering the inner sect.

With Foundation Establishment, she could finally return home.

…

Nanhuang Ridge lay to the south of Jinyun Country, its mountains sprawling wide. To the north were populous counties such as Guangxing and Mengxi; to the east, a minor sect called the Bilang Sect; to the west, the perilous Soul Burial Gorge; and to the south, lofty, treacherous mountains.

In recent years, demonic beasts had run rampant in Nanhuang Ridge, expanding their territory and frequently threatening the northern human settlements, causing many casualties.

Though these beasts were low in rank, the small Bilang Sect lacked the strength to suppress them. Thus, Bilang reported the situation to Dongling Sect, the foremost sect in Jinyun. Dongling responded by making Nanhuang Ridge one of the outer sects’ trial grounds, assigning disciples the task of purging these low-ranked beasts.

On this day, several grand flying boats descended into the Qishui Forest, south of Guangxing County.

An elderly woman, a Jindan Master, stepped from the lead vessel and declared in a loud voice, “We shall set up camp here as the base for this trial.”

“Yes, Master,” came the response.

Hundreds of disciples quickly cleared a suitable area for the encampment. Each day, they would venture into Nanhuang Ridge to hunt beasts, returning at night to avoid staying overnight in the perilous mountains.

Among the disciples, one could easily distinguish different approaches: some kept to themselves, while others formed groups, perhaps to cooperate in slaying beasts.

Jiang Min was used to solitude, and as always, kept to herself.

Yet this time, she saw many familiar faces.

Besides her neighbor Xue Yiniang, and Jiang Ziyi, who led the group, even Qi Yan—her old rival for a place in the swordplay class—was among those assigned to the Nanhuang Ridge trial.