Chapter 76: Ancient Azure Lotus

Jiang Min glanced at Qi Yan's retreating figure, and as she drew back her gaze, Xue Yiniang approached and asked, "Junior Sister Jiang, are you planning to go alone or join a team?"

"Hmm? I'll go alone. I might wander deeper into the Southern Wild Ridge—it’s rather dangerous there."

Though Xue Yiniang’s inquiry was phrased gently, it was an implicit invitation to team up, but Jiang Min declined just as tactfully.

She remained wary of being grouped with Jiang Ziyi for the trial. Not wanting her own troubles to implicate others, she chose to go solo. Besides, when she was only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, she had dared to venture into the Five-Finger Mountain Range—now, at the twelfth level, entering the mountains alone held no fears for her.

Sensing Jiang Min’s polite refusal, Xue Yiniang didn’t press further, but instead expressed concern, "Very well, take care and stay safe."

Jiang Min had long concealed her true cultivation, so Xue Yiniang was unsure of her current strength, but caution was always wise when out in the world.

Warmed by Xue Yiniang’s care, Jiang Min smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Senior Sister Xue. You be careful too."

Elsewhere, the white-haired, elderly Bao Jun—the Immortal Bao Jun—was spreading a vast map scroll across a stone platform, assigning regions of responsibility to the inner sect disciples present.

"Shanquan, you will take this valley. Ximing, patrol these mountain slopes. Suling, this gorge is yours."

With a finger on the map, Bao Jun divided up the regions one by one.

"Your task is to watch over the disciples undergoing the trial within your assigned area. If they call for help, respond at once and render aid."

"If you encounter a second-rank beast that the disciples cannot defeat, you must intervene and eliminate it."

"If you come across a problem even you cannot resolve, use your communication talisman to contact us—the Golden Core elders," Bao Jun instructed.

The three Golden Core elders would intervene only in dire emergencies threatening the lives of many disciples, or if a particularly troublesome situation arose that the Foundation Building inner disciples could not handle—such as the appearance of a formidable beast or a powerful evil cultivator attacking disciples. Otherwise, they would not interfere in every matter.

After all, this was not child's play, but a trial meant to teach the disciples to face danger and adversity independently.

A sect could protect its disciples for a time, but not forever. Each disciple must learn to stand on their own—this is the very purpose of the outer sect trial.

Of course, the sect would not allow its disciples to be slaughtered at will; hence, the presence of Golden Core elders and more than a dozen Foundation Building inner disciples patrolling to assist.

But even so, given the vast and complex terrain, the patrolling inner disciples could not watch over everyone at all times. As a result, every trial saw some disciples—whether due to lack of skill or simple misfortune—fall prey to beasts or accidents. These bloody lessons reminded everyone just how harsh life outside the sect could be.

Upon hearing Bao Jun’s assignments, Jiang Ziyi glanced at her designated area, her long lashes lowering to hide her expression. Then she turned her head slightly to look at Jiang Min among the disciples, but quickly averted her eyes.

When the campsite had been cleared and prepared—

All the outer sect disciples stood ready, awaiting departure.

From a high vantage, Bao Jun raised her hand, conjuring a map of the Southern Wild Ridge in shimmering spiritual light. About a third of the northern region gleamed brightly in the air.

"The illuminated area is the trial zone. Inner sect disciples will patrol and supervise here. If any emergency arises, call out loudly and an inner sect disciple will come to your aid."

"If you go beyond this zone, you will bear the consequences of any mishap yourself."

The Southern Wild Ridge stretched boundlessly, and it was said that powerful beasts roamed its southern reaches. It was impossible to monitor the entire ridge; overseeing the northern third was the limit.

The explanation was clear: whether to venture beyond that area into deeper mountains was up to each disciple.

"Let me repeat the trial rules."

"You have ten days. Each disciple must slay at least five beasts—teamwork is allowed, or you may hunt alone. After ten days, return here and submit the beast corpses for inspection. You may keep valuable materials such as demon cores."

"At night, during rests, or upon completing your task early, you may return here to camp."

"If there are no questions, you may enter the mountains now."

Night fell.

A beastly roar echoed through a certain woodland.

With a howl, a creature—part wolf, part tiger—collapsed in anguish. Only then did a bloodstreak appear across its head, blood gushing forth.

Jiang Min approached, expertly extracting its core, stripping the valuable pelt, and collecting the claws worth a few coins before storing the carcass in her pouch.

"Five—enough to pass the trial," she murmured.

She had deliberately chosen a direction completely opposite to Jiang Ziyi’s assigned area, actively seeking out beast tracks. In less than half a day, she had slain five, meeting the requirement.

"Time to head back to camp."

Jiang Min wanted only to complete the trial smoothly and prepare for her impending Foundation Establishment. Since the goal was met, there was no need to linger in the ridge.

She was about to turn back when suddenly, the little grass in her bosom poked out a blade, pointing westward, its other leaves patting her chest urgently, trying to get her attention.

"To the west? Something valuable?"

Jiang Min trusted the little grass's keen senses—it had helped her find many treasures before.

The grass nodded excitedly. Something good!

"How good? I don’t want to take risks for something ordinary. If it's just a common treasure, let’s forget it," Jiang Min said seriously, showing no excitement.

With Foundation Establishment just ahead, and greater strength within reach, she would soon be able to seek rarer treasures herself. Risking all for something mediocre was pointless.

The grass leapt from her arms, waving its blades to draw a large circle.

Something very, very precious. Far better than anything before!

"Better than Fire Jade Marrow?"

Absolutely! The grass nodded its leaves with utmost confidence. Seeing Jiang Min still hesitate, it wrapped a leaf around her sleeve and tugged her westward. Jiang Min had never seen it so excited. Narrowing her eyes in thought—a treasure even better than Fire Jade Marrow...

"Seems promising. Let’s go!"

She immediately followed the little grass’s lead, heading west, soon leaving the patrolled area of the inner disciples—

By deep night, beneath a moonless sky, the mountains lay shrouded in darkness.

From time to time, chilling beastly roars echoed from the depths.

Meanwhile, in a low-lying marsh on the western edge of the ridge, four disciples in the blue robes of the Eastern Spirit Sect stood locked in heated argument.

One of them clutched a seemingly ordinary blue lotus, glaring at his three fellow disciples who had surrounded him. "I found this Ancient Profound Blue Lotus. It should be mine to divide first. I never said I wouldn’t share it—why must you go this far?"

His companions were unmoved. A slightly plump disciple narrowed his eyes and retorted coldly, "Senior Brother Shen, you want to take five petals and the whole seed pod for yourself? We all saw it—everything should be divided equally!"

A tall, thin disciple stared at the seemingly unremarkable lotus in Shen’s hand, eyes burning with greed.

"The Ancient Profound Blue Lotus is a relic of the Dao, an ancient divine treasure. Even a single petal can greatly enhance one’s cultivation. A lotus seed could perfect a Foundation Establishment. Senior Brother Shen, such a priceless treasure—and you want the lion’s share? Isn’t that a bit greedy?"

Seeing the avaricious faces of those he had once called brothers, drinking and feasting together, Shen's expression darkened with anger and dismay.