Chapter 487: Trial Mountain Path

"The Path of Trials." Watching Zhou Yuan's figure disappear into the mist, Arch-Sect Master Qing Yang, high above, let out a sigh and said, "This Path of Trials is unpredictable and extremely perilous. No one knows what kind of test one might encounter within..."

"I recall when Master was still in charge of the Cangxuan Sect, if any disciple could pass through the Path of Trials, they would be allowed to ascend the mountain and receive his guidance. However, even during the Cangxuan Sect's most prosperous era, very few disciples managed to pass this Path of Trials." He added, "I wonder if Zhou Yuan will be able to pass through it."

The white-browed elder beside him stroked his long eyebrows and said, "Currently, this Path of Trials is under a seal set by Master, so we cannot know what is happening inside. It seems we can only wait for the final Profound Bell to ring." He continued, "Out of nine rings of the Profound Bell, achieving at least six rings is considered a pass."

On the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak, there was an ancient bell left by the Cangxuan Ancestor. When a person completed the trial on the mountain, the Profound Bell would ring on its own, providing an evaluation of the challenger. The highest evaluation was, naturally, nine rings. However, achieving just six rings was already considered a pass, but over the years, generation after generation of chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak had failed to reach six rings. The highest anyone had ever achieved was barely five rings, which was regrettable.

"I find this young man quite perceptive; he might not fail to achieve six rings this time," said the smiling Peak Master Lianyi of Snow Lotus Peak. As she spoke, she glanced sideways at Peak Master Ling Jun, who had remained silent. The latter had been quite uncomfortable these past few days because one-fifth of the cultivation resources had begun to be transferred, which was a significant loss for Sword Origin Peak.

"Six rings of the Profound Bell, even in our era, were rarely achieved by anyone," Peak Master Ling Jun said indifferently. His implication was clearly that he did not believe Zhou Yuan could achieve it. "You said something similar before the chief disciple competition, didn't you?" Peak Master Lianyi retorted with a slight curl of her red lips. Peak Master Ling Jun's eyes grew slightly cold, and he let out a cold snort.

"Then let's wait and see."

The moment Zhou Yuan stepped into the mist, he felt the surrounding world begin to transform. The next instant, he found himself standing at the foot of an ancient mountain path. On both sides of the path, dense mist obscured his view. A long stone path wound its way upwards, like a stone dragon, eventually disappearing into the clouds. Zhou Yuan stood alone at the base of the path, appearing quite small.

"Is this the path to ascend the mountain?" Zhou Yuan gazed at the path before him and murmured to himself.

"The Path of Trials is unpredictable and perilous. Challengers, proceed with caution." As Zhou Yuan stared at the ancient path before him, an indifferent voice suddenly echoed through the air. Zhou Yuan blinked. The voice sounded slightly familiar. He thought about it, then was startled: wasn't this Elder Xuan's voice? It just wasn't as aged as it now. Could it be that when the Path of Trials was first established, it was Elder Xuan who left this recording? Zhou Yuan chuckled to himself, dismissed the thought, and prepared to take a step forward.

"Remember what you said earlier." Just as he was about to take a step, a soft, murmuring voice seemed to drift into his ears from an unknown location. Zhou Yuan paused slightly. This voice was indeed Elder Xuan's... He blinked, saying nothing, assuming Elder Xuan was secretly transmitting a message. But what did he mean by that? Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, then temporarily put the thought aside. He focused his mind and calmly scanned his surroundings, but found no unusual fluctuations. The mountain path before him seemed ordinary. But Zhou Yuan knew this was impossible; otherwise, so many chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak before him wouldn't have consistently failed to reopen the mountain gate. He pondered briefly, then finally lifted his foot and stepped forward, fully alert.

His foot landed on the stone slab without any apparent change. Zhou Yuan hesitated slightly, then continued to walk forward. However, after a dozen steps, the entire area remained quiet, with no movement whatsoever.

"Could it be that this ancient Path of Trials is broken?" Zhou Yuan muttered in confusion. However, the moment his voice faded, Zhou Yuan's pupils suddenly constricted. At that moment, he truly sensed that something was amiss. The anomaly wasn't external; it came from within his own body. He felt that within his Qi Dwelling, a single Genesis Qi star seemed to have dimmed slightly, as if a wisp of Genesis Qi had quietly dissipated. This dissipation wasn't like a normal consumption; it was as if something unknown had swallowed it, making it permanently vanish...

"How can this be?!" Zhou Yuan's heart trembled, and his expression changed as he stared at the silent ancient stone path before him. Now, in his eyes, the path emitted a strange, unsettling aura. He looked up at the path disappearing into the clouds. "Could it be that I need to reach the end of the path before all my Genesis Qi disappears?" Zhou Yuan's eyes flickered. He then took a deep breath, realizing that hesitation here was useless. He needed to figure out what this path was truly testing.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Yuan no longer hesitated and stepped forward immediately. He ascended the long stone path, stepping on the stone stairs one by one. As Zhou Yuan passed each flight of stone stairs, he could clearly feel that within his Qi Dwelling, the previously bright and dazzling Genesis Qi stars began to dim one by one, then vanish completely. They were truly vanishing, not merely dissipating. The Genesis Qi radiating from Zhou Yuan's body was also gradually weakening.

Zhou Yuan's face was solemn, and his fingers were tightly clenched. His mood was clearly terrible. After all, anyone who watched their internal Genesis Qi inexplicably vanish like this would likely struggle to remain calm. After all, it was all cultivated by him, bit by bit, through arduous effort. Yet, as his Genesis Qi disappeared bit by bit, Zhou Yuan's pace up the mountain became faster and faster.

After nearly an incense stick's time, a hint of paleness had appeared on Zhou Yuan's face. Within his Qi Dwelling, more than half of his four thousand Genesis Qi stars had vanished... Such a bizarre situation, had it been someone with weaker mental fortitude, they would likely have been in a state of panic and even fear by now. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. This Path of Trials truly lived up to its name, startlingly bizarre.

"Another hundred have vanished..." Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, his gaze somewhat clouded as he stared at the winding mountain path disappearing into the mist. Facing this situation, even he felt a slight tremor in his heart. He wasn't sure if he could reach the end before all his Genesis Qi stars disappeared. And what worried him most was... even if he reached the end, would that truly mean he had passed this trial?

Facing this incredibly bizarre Path of Trials, a hint of unease welled up in Zhou Yuan's heart.