Chapter 411: The Trial's Rules

"What do you think you're doing?"

Instantly, Wan Hai stepped forward, shielding Tang Yi and blocking Pan Cheng.

Pan Cheng froze, his brow furrowing. "Yi, come with me. I guarantee you'll get into Pengze Immortal Island!"

But Tang Yi acted as if she hadn't heard him. Hiding behind Wan Hai, she whispered, "Wan, I don't like it here. Let's go."

With that, Tang Yi pulled Wan Hai away without giving Pan Cheng a single glance, leaving him standing there in a daze.

Seeing this, the gloomy man behind Pan Cheng stepped forward and sneered, "What an ungrateful bitch! Just some official's daughter from an ordinary dynasty. Senior Brother, you're better off without a woman like that!"

SLAP!

A sharp crack echoed.

Pan Cheng had slapped the gloomy man hard across the face. His expression was now utterly grim, as dark as it could possibly be.

Abruptly, Pan Cheng shot a glacial look at Wan Hai's group as they retreated. The next moment, without any visible movement, he vanished.

Where he had stood, a pair of deep footprints was all that remained.

Meanwhile, Wan Hai led Tang Yi and Shen Daoxing away at a brisk pace, almost as if they were fleeing. He seemed extremely wary of the two men they had just encountered. Trailing behind, Shen Daoxing couldn't help but ask curiously, "Senior Brother, who were those two?"

Hearing this, Wan Hai's expression turned grave. "Pan Cheng and Luo Ying. You could say they're the two strongest among the current Inner Sect Disciples. Both are late-stage Earth Profound Realm masters. Pan Cheng is even a Ninth Layer Earth Profound Realm expert, and rumor has it he's already trying to break through to the Refining Dust stage. It's best we don't provoke them."

"Oh?"

Shen Daoxing's interest was piqued. "The two strongest among the Inner Sect Disciples? How do they compare to Jun Wushuang and Gu Muyun?"

At this, Wan Hai laughed. "Not even close! Pan Cheng and Luo Ying are just the strongest of the younger generation among the Inner Sect Disciples. Compared to the true prodigies of the Four Vein Disciples, they're far from their level."

"Oh, is that so!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Daoxing immediately lost interest in the pair.

Soon, half an hour passed.

The disciples had formed their teams and gathered at the designated location.

When Shen Daoxing's group arrived, they also saw Pan Cheng and Luo Ying. A woman in a green dress now stood beside them.

The woman was tall and slender with a lovely face, and her eyes were filled with affection as she looked at Pan Cheng.

But at that moment, Pan Cheng didn't spare the woman a single glance, his gaze instead flicking toward Shen Daoxing's group from time to time.

Unfortunately for him, Tang Yi never looked his way.

This made Pan Cheng's expression grow darker and darker.

Without even looking at Pan Cheng, Shen Daoxing could feel a cold, sinister aura rolling toward them.

Shen Daoxing shook his head helplessly. 'I'm only participating in this Immortal Island trial to get into Pengze Immortal Island and examine that ancient Stone Stele. I want to decipher the Venerable Supreme's secret and obtain the Venerable Power. I couldn't care less about the position of Pengze's Island Master. After all, my identity is too sensitive; it's better to keep a low profile. As long as I can pass the trial safely, become a disciple of the Pengze Immortal Island, and stay behind to study the Stone Stele, that's all that matters.'

'So, I'll avoid trouble if I can. But if someone insists on making trouble for me, I won't show any mercy.'

"Alright, it's about time. The Immortal Island assessment is about to begin."

Just then, an aged voice rang out. A moment later, the Steward Elder appeared before the crowd.

Grand Elder Wang Guyuan had already left and was waiting for everyone at the summit of Pengze Immortal Mountain.

The Steward Elder slowly began to speak. "The Immortal Island trial will begin shortly. At several other locations on Pengze Immortal Island, the Four Vein Disciples will be starting at the same time as you. The first six teams to reach the foot of Pengze Immortal Mountain will pass the first stage of the assessment."

The Steward Elder paused, then gave a meaningful smile. "Oh, and one more thing. Each of your teams will receive one assessment Jade Token. If you want your entire team to pass, you must acquire two more assessment Jade Tokens for your teammates before you reach the foot of Pengze Immortal Mountain."

As he spoke, the Steward Elder flicked his sleeve, and Jade Tokens flew out, landing in the hands of each team's leader.

After hearing the Steward Elder's words, the disciples in their various teams froze for a moment. Then, suddenly wary, they all began to distance themselves from the surrounding teams.

The atmosphere instantly became tense and hostile.

Abruptly, Shen Daoxing felt dozens of gazes turn toward them. It was obvious that among the twenty-some teams, everyone saw the seemingly weak team of Shen Daoxing, Wan Hai, and Tang Yi as the most succulent prize.

The Steward Elder seemed to want exactly this result. He nodded in satisfaction at the tense atmosphere. "Very well. A Steward will now lead each of you to your respective starting positions. When the time comes, the assessment will begin immediately."

As the Steward Elder finished speaking, several sect Stewards stepped forward to lead the teams to their designated locations.

Just then, Pan Cheng appeared out of nowhere, blocking the path of Shen Daoxing, Wan Hai, and the others. He looked at Tang Yi indifferently. "Junior Sister Tang Yi, it's not too late to change your mind! Come with us!"

"Heheheh, that's right!" Luo Ying chimed in. "Junior Sister Tang Yi, with me and Senior Brother Pan Cheng here, we can guarantee you'll pass the Immortal Island trial. Just look at the two wastes you're following. Sticking with them is a dead end."

Yet Tang Yi still acted as if she hadn't heard them. She looked up at Wan Hai and said earnestly, "Wan, I trust you!"

With that, she pulled Wan Hai and walked away, not sparing Pan Cheng a single glance.

This left Pan Cheng standing there amidst the crowd, feeling utterly humiliated.

CRACK!

A sharp sound rang out.

At some point, a long crack had split the ground beneath Pan Cheng's feet.

As they left, Shen Daoxing could clearly feel dozens of eyes still fixed on them, obviously marking them as the easiest target.

...

A short while later, Shen Daoxing, Wan Hai, and Tang Yi were led by a sect Steward to the entrance of a forest. Inside, dense shrubs grew among towering ancient trees. It was utterly silent, seemingly devoid of any danger.

They were the only team in the vicinity; no one else was in sight.

Suddenly.

SKREEE!

The loud cry of a crane echoed through the air.

Then, a colossal Xianhe spread its massive wings and flew across the sky above them.

This was the signal that the Immortal Island assessment had begun.

Immediately, Shen Daoxing saw the invisible barrier before them ripple, dissolve into motes of starlight, and slowly fade into the sky, revealing a long path leading into the forest.