Chapter 577: The Test Begins

The Qiongqi Tribe Elder saw the Third Senior Sister so severely wounded. His expression turned fierce, his brow furrowed, and he retorted loudly: “Demoness of Heavenly Sound, stop slandering us! When did our Qiongqi Tribe ever ask you to do such a thing?!”

Initially, everyone who had been preparing to capture the Demoness of Heavenly Sound upon her appearance now held back, a silent understanding passing between them as they witnessed the scene. The Demoness of Heavenly Sound was severely wounded and couldn't escape anyway. This was a perfect opportunity to find out who was truly behind her actions.

The Third Senior Sister sneered repeatedly: “Didn’t do it? You dare to do it but not admit it – cowards! Previously, your Qiongqi Tribe sent someone to contact me, telling me to secretly investigate the true strength of various tribes, focusing on whether any ancient ancestors were still alive. Seeing your tribe’s generous offer, I accepted this commission and risked my life to investigate the ancient tombs of various tribes. At first, I didn’t understand what your Qiongqi Tribe wanted to do. Now I finally realize that your tribe long ago pledged allegiance to the ancient Di Jiang! Investigating the tribes’ foundations was precisely to better control them! Now that the ancient Di Jiang’s power is established, you’re trying to discard me like a worn-out donkey and silence me!”

The Qiongqi Tribe Elder angrily refuted: “Nonsense! Everyone knows our Qiongqi Tribe is so poor we need to borrow money from the Meng family. How can you say we’re generous with money?! If our Qiongqi Tribe had pledged allegiance to the ancient Di Jiang, why would we be so poor?!”

The Third Senior Sister was momentarily speechless; it seemed he had a point.

“Wait,” she then said, “I remember the first tribe to openly pledge allegiance to the ancient Di Jiang was the Jiuying Tribe, and the one who hired me also told me to investigate the Jiuying Tribe first!” The Third Senior Sister abruptly pointed at the Jiuying Tribe Elder, her body trembling slightly, whether from her injuries or from feeling betrayed. “It was your Jiuying Tribe that hired me! To clear yourselves of suspicion, you made me investigate your own Jiuying Tribe’s ancient tomb first!”

The Jiuying Tribe Elder nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood. He had been comfortably watching the drama unfold; how had he suddenly become the one on display? “Nonsense!”

The Third Senior Sister sneered: “You know whether it’s nonsense or not! The assassination attempt on me today will surely be repaid in the future!” With that, she made to leave.

“Quick, stop her!” Seeing the Demoness of Heavenly Sound about to escape, the elders of the various tribes immediately moved to surround and intercept her. Realizing the situation was dire, the Third Senior Sister spat out a mouthful of vital blood, using her last strength to activate the beast skin. The beast skin soared through the clouds, leaped through space several times, and then vanished. This infuriated the various demons, who cursed incessantly, with the Jiuying Tribe cursing the most fiercely.

Half an hour later, the Third Senior Sister, now disguised, returned to the Phoenix Tribe's group, showing no signs of her severe injuries. Even the Phoenix Tribe Elder couldn’t help but transmit a question: “Was it really the Jiuying Tribe who hired you?”

“Of course not. That was just a play I staged with the Qiongqi Tribe Elder to clear the Qiongqi Tribe’s suspicion. The ancient Di Jiang is uniting the Demon Realm through force, which will surely lead to discontent among the various tribes. This was a perfect opportunity to sow discord among them by using the Jiuying Tribe as an example.”

“So, you really went to the Jiuying Tribe first?”

“No, that’s also false. For something like this, whatever I say, you’ll believe it.”

The Third Senior Sister indeed had no direct evidence to frame the Jiuying Tribe. But to frame someone, who needs evidence? Suspicion is enough.

The Third Senior Sister said coldly: “Since the Jiuying Tribe indulged their young master, they will have to bear the consequences of that indulgence later.”

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, who had already entered the Ancient Realm of Creation, were unaware of the Third Senior Sister's actions. They were carefully listening to the rules of the Ancient Realm. Upon entering the Ancient Realm, a voice, neither male nor female, emanated from above them.

“Welcome to the Mystic Realm. The Mystic Realm is divided into three layers. Only by entering the second layer will you obtain opportunities. The higher your evaluation in each layer, the richer the opportunities you will receive.”

A three-tiered pagoda appeared before everyone. Each layer represented a space, a miniature version of the Ancient Realm of Creation. They were currently at the entrance of the first layer.

“This layer contains a large number of Nascent Soul stage demonic beasts. For each beast you slay, you will obtain one essence. Collecting ten essences means you have passed the first trial. The duration of the first trial is ten days. At the deepest part of the first layer, there is a Heavenly Ladder leading to the second layer. You can proceed to the second layer by possessing a certain number of essences. Please note that the second trial will only begin after the first trial has completely concluded. The first trial begins now.”

A gigantic hourglass appeared in the sky, visible from anywhere in the first layer. Sand rustled down, representing a ten-day countdown.

“Immortal, have you seen this Mystic Realm before?” Lu Yang asked.

The Immortal Fairy shook her head: “No, I haven’t. I don’t know if I simply haven’t encountered it before, or if it appeared only after I died.”

After hearing the rules, most of the demonic clan prodigies dispersed, entering the first layer to hunt demonic beasts. Slaying ten Nascent Soul stage demonic beasts was no easy feat. Not everyone could challenge opponents a whole cultivation level higher, like Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Furthermore, the rules stated that the higher the evaluation in each layer, the richer the rewards, so it was certainly better to kill as many demonic beasts as possible.

Meng Jingzhou remained still, scratching his chin. The rules sounded strict, but upon closer inspection, there seemed to be many exploitable loopholes. Meng Jingzhou shot Lu Yang a look: *What do you say?* Lu Yang likely guessed Meng Jingzhou’s thoughts and returned a glance: *Let's kill a few demonic beasts to warm up first.*

“Gentlemen, shall we team up to slay demonic beasts?” Jiang Shishi asked. The conditions of the first layer were ideal for an alliance. Two people could encircle and slay demonic beasts for higher efficiency, while one could observe nearby to prevent others from snatching their spoils. As for the Phoenix Tribe’s followers, they could form their own teams to hunt beasts and simply rendezvous at the Heavenly Ladder entrance later. Followers were not bodyguards; battling demonic beasts was an excellent opportunity for training, so there was no need to protect Jiang Shishi.

“Let’s first check the quality of the demonic beasts,” Lu Yang said. Lu Yang was very cautious. He didn't want to encounter demonic beasts that, like them, were exceptionally talented and could display the combat power of a Soul Transformation stage cultivator despite being only Nascent Soul stage.

“Alright,” Jiang Shishi replied. Before entering the Ancient Realm, Jiang Shishi had been advised by her elders to consult Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou if any issues arose within the realm.

The first layer was a dense forest environment, where menacing Nascent Soul stage demonic beasts lurked deep within. The three cautiously extended their spiritual senses. The sound of fighting nearby startled a great ape with a striped back, hidden in a tree. The ape, with a patch of white fur on its chest, pounded its chest, swung through the trees, let out a roar, and swung its fists down fiercely at the three.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, with their rich combat experience, had long since noticed the ape’s presence.

“Arhat Fist!”

“Strike!”

The two attacked simultaneously. Meng Jingzhou met the great ape’s fists with his Arhat Fist. The ape was overpowered by Meng Jingzhou’s strength and was actually blasted into the air. Lu Yang propelled himself upwards, leaping, drawing and sheathing his sword. The great ape was instantly decapitated, its massive head rolling to a stop near Jiang Shishi’s feet.

Jiang Shishi was dumbfounded. This was a peak early-stage Nascent Soul Great Ape with a Striped Back, a pure-blooded beast, and it was dealt with so easily?

“Done!”

The two high-fived, looking relaxed and pleased.

“It seems they are all ordinary Nascent Soul stage beasts,” Lu Yang said. “We can proceed with the plan.”