Chapter 1016: Soul-cleansing Liquid

Lingzhuzi paused, then his tone shifted, and he warned in a deep voice: "The fastest few individuals who successfully complete the entire trial will receive substantial rewards. These include magic treasures of mid-grade or higher, as well as peculiar damaged ancient artifacts. However, the Trial Realm is not a safe place. It has consumed countless lives, and every time the Inner Hall appears, many highly talented juniors regretfully perish here, which is truly a pity..."

As Lingzhuzi explained the Trial Realm, a murmur spread across the plaza.

The damaged ancient artifacts Lingzhuzi mentioned were likely similar to the Crimson Essence Veil. These ancient artifacts, due to damage, had little power remaining, making it impossible to determine their original grade when intact. Furthermore, without the corresponding spiritual materials and knowledge of their crafting methods, they were incredibly difficult to repair.

Nevertheless, the power of these damaged ancient artifacts was extraordinary, and their effects peculiar, potentially yielding remarkable results.

Listening to Lingzhuzi's explanation, Qin Sang also gained some understanding of the Trial Realm.

The Trial Realm was not a single continuous path but was divided into several stages. Upon completing each stage, a teleportation array would appear at its end. One could choose to withdraw or continue to the next stage. If one failed to pass three stages, withdrawing would result in being teleported back to the Inner Hall entrance. Only after successfully completing three stages would one be permitted to enter the Inner Hall.

The Trial Realm was indeed as Lingzhuzi described, left by human ancestors with a protective intent for future generations, preventing them from blindly sacrificing themselves. This also indirectly confirmed how dangerous the Inner Hall was.

Additionally, cultivators participating in the trial could only find the teleportation array after completing each stage; withdrawal midway through a stage was not permitted. The dangers Lingzhuzi spoke of stemmed precisely from this.

The Trial Realm was not static. After so many years, its full contents had not been entirely discovered, making it very difficult to prepare specifically. Even if one didn't die on the spot, suffering severe injuries or becoming trapped inside would likely lead to a grim outcome.

Qin Sang pondered silently. He believed that if someone of his strength couldn't complete the trial, then probably no other Cauldron-Forming cultivator present could either.

Qin Sang was quite interested in the damaged ancient artifacts. However, on second thought, setting aside the risks, focusing solely on passing the trial might take a considerable amount of time. If he missed something important because of it, it wouldn't be worth the effort. Moreover, he wasn't short on magic treasures; he even possessed two top-grade ones. No matter how good the Trial Realm rewards were, they likely wouldn't include top-grade magic treasures, would they?

Qin Sang frowned slightly, his mind already leaning towards giving up. He glanced at Ning Wuhui ahead, preparing to find an opportunity to discuss it with him and ask for his opinion.

At the same time, Qin Sang had also been secretly searching for Senior Qingzhu. By this point, fewer and fewer new cultivators were arriving. To his surprise, he still hadn't seen Qingzhu. *Could Senior Qingzhu be hiding his identity?* Qin Sang wondered.

Up ahead, Lingzhuzi finished explaining the Trial Realm's rules, then said no more and stepped aside from the entrance. After a brief commotion, the Cauldron-Forming cultivators rushed up the steps, vying to enter the door on the right.

Qin Sang noticed Ning Wuhui slowing down, and with a thought, he flashed forward. As he reached the door, an ethereal voice transmission whispered into Qin Sang's ear. His eyes suddenly changed, then he maintained a normal expression and stepped into the light barrier. At this moment, he had secretly made up his mind: he must complete the entire trial and contend for the rewards!

The voice transmission was from Ning Wuhui. Among the Trial Realm's rewards was a crucial treasure called Soul Cleansing Fluid. This item was not a magic treasure but a spiritual liquid. When consumed by cultivators, Soul Cleansing Fluid greatly benefited their spiritual sense and could even assist in forming a Nascent Soul!

Because this item was exceptionally precious and appeared in very limited quantities each time, the competition for it was extremely fierce. However, the contention for Soul Cleansing Fluid was mostly confined to major powers and sect heirs. Nascent Soul cultivators who knew of Soul Cleansing Fluid's existence, as well as various factions, whether intentionally or not, tacitly kept silent about it. Very few outsiders knew of its existence.

As a rogue cultivator, Qin Sang had inquired for so long on Tianxing Island without receiving any hint of it. Ning Wuhui hadn't known about it before either. He had only learned about the Soul Cleansing Fluid and its astonishing effects from his sect elders just before entering the Seven Kills Hall.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, if you are interested, you might try to contend for the Soul Cleansing Fluid. Although our time is tight, we do have enough for this. However, the further into the trial you go, the more dangerous it becomes. Please be extremely careful and remember not to overexert yourself," Ning Wuhui reminded him.

Qin Sang, of course, didn't hesitate for a moment before giving a definitive reply. He was incredibly grateful that Ning Wuhui had shared this information with him. Soul Cleansing Fluid was not an ancient artifact. He had to seize every opportunity that could aid in forming a Nascent Soul. If he could return to the Minor Cold Domain, the Soul Cleansing Fluid, combined with the Nine Illusory Heavenly Orchid, would surely yield even better results!

After a brief exchange, the two entered the barrier one after another.

After watching all the Cauldron-Forming cultivators enter, Lingzhuzi chuckled, "All these juniors have entered. It's time for us to depart as well. Fellow Daoists, please proceed." With that, Lingzhuzi stepped into the large door on the left.

The Demon Lord took a step, then suddenly paused, looking at the three Merchant Alliance leaders. "I wonder, Fellow Daoists, will the three of you remain inseparable even within the Inner Hall?"

The faces of the three Merchant Alliance leaders stiffened. A playful smile appeared on the Demon Lord's face as he stepped into the Seven Kills Hall.

Within the Inner Hall, in an unknown space, lay a celestial landscape of auspicious clouds and shimmering rainbows. The space was utterly silent. Suddenly, four figures appeared out of thin air: two males and two females. Two elders accompanied a young boy and girl. They flew through the auspicious clouds to the deepest part of the space.

There was a colossal white cloud floating motionless in mid-air, and deep within it, a restriction seemed to seal something. The old woman stepped forward, raised the staff in her hand, and began to chant. Suddenly, with a dragon's roar, the staff came to life, transforming into a lifelike golden dragon that circled in mid-air for a moment before diving into the depths of the white cloud.

*Swoosh!* The golden dragon vanished from sight. The young boy and girl showed expressions of curiosity. The two elders, however, remained expressionless, quietly watching the white cloud.

Before long, golden light suddenly burst forth from the cloud mass, and a golden passage appeared before the four, leading directly into the depths of the white cloud. Immediately, the old woman made a beckoning gesture. The golden dragon flew out of the cloud, rapidly shrinking, its runes fading from its body, and once again transformed back into the remarkably ordinary staff, falling into the old woman's hand.

"Let's go," she said. The old woman tapped her staff, and she and the old man walked side by side into the passage. Upon entering the passage, golden light filled their vision. The young boy and girl, squinting their eyes, followed closely behind the two elders, curiously observing everything.

"Did you remember the incantation I just performed?" the old woman suddenly asked, her voice hoarse.

The young boy and girl's expressions changed in surprise, and they respectfully replied, "Reporting to Ancestor, we have all committed it to memory."