Chapter 5: The First Elimination

At a single command, a throng of disciples surged into the Trial Mountain like an incoming tide.

The moment their feet touched the first step of Trial Mountain, a swirling mist enveloped them, and in the very next second, they found themselves randomly teleported to various points within the vast expanse of the mountain.

These individuals, all cultivators primarily above the fifth stage of Qi Condensation, were well accustomed to such teleportations.

Just as some, brimming with excitement, prepared to charge further up the mountain, pairs of blood-red eyes materialized behind them.

With a bloodcurdling shriek echoing through the sky, the first batch of eliminated participants appeared.

Yet, even this couldn’t dampen the eager spirits of the others.

In merely the time it takes an incense stick to burn (TL Note: Approximately 30 minutes), the plaza had become utterly deserted.

After watching Yu Lingyue enter Trial Mountain, Qin Yangjun also departed, accompanied by two assistant examiners.

They needed to reach the endpoint to await the final tally.

Along the way to the endpoint, Qin Yangjun fell into contemplation.

If he recalled correctly, Yu Lingyue was destined to encounter a peak Qi Condensation stage Bewitching Treant on Trial Mountain.

‘The treant’s abilities can shield against surveillance artifacts within a certain range, making it convenient to act without fear of being seen by the Disciplinary Hall.

As for the Earth-Burrowing Talisman… it’s merely a low-grade spirit artifact.

As long as I act swiftly enough, only a corpse will be transmitted to the safe location.

However, some details still need optimization, such as how to disguise the act as a treant’s kill…’

Lost in thought, the trio soon arrived at the endpoint.

Qin Yangjun looked up at the sky; it was currently midday.

Accounting for his slight delay, the protagonist should encounter the Bewitching Treant precisely at night.

He then glanced at the two assistant examiners beside him.

By then, a small trick to send these two simpletons away would leave the protagonist entirely at his mercy, wouldn’t it?

All he had to do now was wait for nightfall.

But there was still some time until night.

Perhaps he should go cultivate for a while.

‘If he didn’t pay attention to this protagonist, she shouldn’t run into any problems, right…?’

As Qin Yangjun pondered this, ever since confirming his identity as a villain, he had become exceptionally diligent in his cultivation.

There were two reasons for this.

Firstly, as an ordinary person in his previous life, he had yearned for the power to move mountains and fill seas.

Now that fate had suddenly granted him this opportunity, if not for the sensitive nature of his current identity, he would have long since been running wild with his spirit sword, exploring the world.

Secondly, he understood that personal strength was the very foundation of survival.

As a villain, he was at the center of the protagonist’s conflicts, and his future enemies would only grow stronger.

The looming shadow of death compelled him to never slacken.

Considering this, Qin Yangjun exhaled deeply, then immediately sat cross-legged on the spot, immersing himself in cultivation.

Watching Qin Yangjun, whose body was wreathed in spiritual aura, the two assistant examiners exchanged bewildered glances.

–Senior Brother is truly diligent, never forgetting to cultivate, even at a time like this.

–There’s no helping it, Senior Brother is number one on the Heavenly Rankings.

Countless eyes are fixed on that position; if he weren’t diligent, he would have been knocked off long ago.

–That’s true.

Speaking of which, in a few days, it’ll be time for the Inner Sect Heavenly Rankings to be re-evaluated, won’t it?

We’ll probably get to see Senior Sister Yueyao in action then.

Her heroic demeanor during serious combat still makes one yearn when recalled.

–Compared to Senior Sister Yueyao, I’m actually more optimistic about Senior Brother Jiang.

I just wonder if the two of them will eventually clash.

I’m already starting to look forward to it.

–Senior Brother Jiang is a bit arrogant and has always been at odds with Senior Brother.

If they really do clash, the battle will likely be quite fierce….

The two continued to debate beside him, utterly unaware that from within the main hall of the sect behind them, a clear gaze was observing their every move.

A soft murmur drifted towards the sky with the gentle breeze.

‘The Chief Disciple, then…’

While Qin Yangjun cultivated, the assessment on the other side proceeded.

Three hours passed in the blink of an eye.

The crimson sunset illuminated the lands of Trial Mountain.

After this period of elimination, over seventy percent of the participants on Trial Mountain had already been weeded out.

The reason for such a rapid elimination rate wasn’t solely due to the demon beasts; it was also due to the ‘surprises’ mentioned earlier.

Embarking on the path of cultivation, strife was an inevitable part of the journey.

As a major cultivation sect, the Yuqian Sect naturally understood that cultivating the Dao meant contending with both heaven and man.

Therefore, within Trial Mountain, there were many treasures and spirit herbs deliberately placed by the Yuqian Sect.

Their variety was extensive, and though they were mostly low-grade, they were excellent finds for Qi Condensation cultivators.

Some could even be used by Foundation Establishment cultivators, so few could resist their allure.

Furthermore, there was also the consideration of luck.

If one was lucky, they might discover it alone and quietly take it.

If luck was not on their side, then it would come down to individual ability and strength.

Yu Lingyue, however, fell into the category of having neither exceptionally good nor bad luck.

Her good fortune was that she discovered a Grade Two Fiery Sun Grass, an excellent material for refining the Grade Two Body Tempering Pill, which was precisely what she currently needed.

Her bad luck, however, was that she wasn’t the only one who found it; another group of people had also stumbled upon it, and they were proving exceptionally troublesome…

The leader, clad in luxurious robes and brocade, held a folding fan in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips as his gaze unabashedly scanned Yu Lingyue from head to toe.

It was none other than Li Xuanyang.

Yu Lingyue couldn’t help but feel a surge of ill fortune, realizing she had been targeted by this particular fellow.

Clutching the Fiery Sun Grass in her hand, she surveyed the surrounding individuals with her cold gaze.

Meanwhile, her female companion, terrified, cowered behind Yu Lingyue.

–What should we do, Lingyue? We’re no match for them.

Perhaps we should just give it to them.

The girl beside Yu Lingyue whispered, prompting Yu Lingyue to ponder for a moment.

Four cultivators at the eighth stage of Qi Condensation, one at peak Qi Condensation, and moreover, a royal descendant of the Great Yang Dynasty.

If they truly fought, they wouldn’t win.

If they tried to run, they would likely still be targeted by this group later.

After much deliberation, she quickly made her decision.

It was merely a Grade Two herb; once inside the Yuqian Sect, it wouldn’t be a rarity.

Without a word, she extended the Fiery Sun Grass.

By then, Li Xuanyang had already approached Yu Lingyue, his fan softly snapping shut.

Using his fan, he lightly nudged Yu Lingyue’s hand open, his entire body leaning slightly forward with an eager expression.

–I wouldn’t deign to look at such a thing.

I have plenty of finished Body Tempering Pills myself.

If you require them, fair maiden, I can give you some.

I merely wonder… what is your esteemed name, fair maiden?

Upon hearing this, Yu Lingyue’s face instantly turned cold.

‘Another scoundrel!

Outwardly lavish, inwardly filthy.

Compared to the Chief Disciple…’

Yu Lingyue’s heart skipped a beat, and she instantly cut off her own thoughts.

She didn’t know why she had suddenly thought of Qin Yangjun.

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