MTLNOVEL Chapter 272: Trial
"Ah!!"
A roar echoed through the canyon, as if trying to break through the clouds.
The voice was filled with excitement and exhilaration.
"I've made it!"
"Soul Elder, I have finally mastered this technique. Peak Golden Core, here I come!!"
The young man's shout lingered in the canyon for a long time, as if the entire world could hear him.
Years of effort finally bore fruit today.
Xiao Ran was shirtless, sunlight shining on his body, his exposed muscles clearly defined.
He clenched the great sword tightly, recalling the day he broke off his engagement, thinking of Su Wan, thinking of Mount Shushan.
In his youth, he had indeed resented Su Wan.
He even resented Mount Shushan.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river;
never underestimate a young man in poverty.
But after all the experiences, Xiao Ran had matured a lot.
He was no longer as immature as he once was.
Xiao Ran slung the great sword on his back and set off for Mount Shushan.
To honor the old promise!!
"........."
Li Xuanxiao scratched his head.
ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh
What was destined to come had finally arrived.
The promise between Xiao Ran and the abstract senior sister Su Wan.
Xiao Ran was not some villainous rogue;
his heart was firm, with a clear sense of right and wrong.
Moreover, after all these years of guidance and influence, Xiao Ran had long become an outstanding young man of Zhongzhou, excelling in virtue, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor.
The reason Li Xuanxiao had paid so much attention and spent so many years of effort was because this directly involved senior sister Su Wan.
Senior sister Su Wan's characteristic was indescribable terror, an unspeakable existence, and an unfathomable story.
Cthulhu senior sister.
Li Xuanxiao planned to temporarily put aside his current matters and focus wholeheartedly on resolving the issues between Su Wan and Xiao Ran before preparing for the Xuan Yin Cult's affairs.
He closed his eyes, and a huge chessboard hologram appeared before him.
One white piece was flashing with light.
This represented Xiao Ran's piece.
Though he did not allow Xiao Ran to call him master, he had indeed become his master in practice.
There were many such pieces on the board.
Also included was his little junior sister Zhao Lu.
Feng Liuli...
Among them, Zhao Lu's light was the deepest.
This likely represented those most connected to him or most deeply influenced by him.
Feng Liuli was also gradually brightening as time passed.
In addition, there was Di Nü Feng.
Di Nü Feng's piece was special.
How to put it? This piece was sticky.
Li Xuanxiao did not know why, but whenever he moved his mind, the white pieces on the board would move.
But Di Nü Feng's piece required him to pick it up personally.
And once he touched it, it stuck to his hand, flooding his mind with all thoughts about Di Nü Feng.
It stirred his heart deeply.
Thus, Li Xuanxiao always suspected this was some trap set for him.
Was someone trying to corrupt his Dao heart?
Li Xuanxiao still could not see the true face of this chessboard.
And only white pieces appeared.
Where were the black pieces? Where had they gone?
"..........."
Behind was the Yihong Courtesan House, situated in the bustling market.
The fox-faced man held a folding fan, squinting slightly.
Three years ago.
Outside Zhongzhou, Old Man Kuaihuo placed a black piece on Chessboard Mountain.
The young fox-faced man knelt beneath the hall.
"You are my youngest disciple and it's time for you to undergo training. Where do you want to go?"
"I want to go to Zhongzhou!" The fox-faced man said loudly.
Old Man Kuaihuo was somewhat surprised. "Zhongzhou? That place is a dragon's den and tiger's lair."
"I am willing to go!" The fox-faced man said firmly. "If I'm going, then I'll brave the dragon's den and tiger's lair!"
Old Man Kuaihuo chuckled. "More ambitious than your senior brothers. Long ago, I set some idle chess pieces in Zhongzhou. Go check them out;
consider it your trial."
"I understand, thank you, master!"
The fox-faced man kowtowed once.
"..........."
The fox-faced man withdrew his thoughts, flicked open the folding fan, and walked into the residence of Zhongzhou's top astrologer.
Goushengzi cracked open the door a slit, then cautiously glanced around before letting the fox-faced man in.
"What brings you to Zhongzhou?"
The fox-faced man respectfully saluted.
"By order of my master, I have come to Zhongzhou for training!"
"Training? Coming to Zhongzhou to train at this time? Your master's guts are really big!"
Goushengzi snorted.
"I'm telling you, behave yourself. If you ruin our grand plan, we won't spare you!"
"Uncle Senior, rest assured."
The fox-faced man smiled slyly, looking every bit like a fox.
"Years ago, my master casually set some idle chess pieces. Now I'm just following his orders."
"So where do you plan to head first?" Goushengzi clasped his hands behind his back.
"Golden Thunder Sect." The fox-faced man said lightly.
"............"
Golden Thunder Sect.
Golden Thunder Sect was mainly composed of body cultivators.
Zhang Tianxin was once a disciple of Golden Thunder Sect.
The sect leader inside had cultivation at the Consolidation stage. According to Zhongzhou's rules, reaching the Transformation stage was enough to found a sect.
Back then, the sect's ancestor was at the Tribulation Transcension stage.
However, he fell in battle later.
The sect's disciples lacked strength and no longer ranked even as a second-rate power.
The current leader of Golden Thunder Sect had two long-established famous disciples.
The eldest disciple was Nameless, and the second disciple was Wuxiu.
The eldest was honest and steady but somewhat less talented.
The second was lively, alert, and intelligent.
The sect leader had yet to break through his cultivation, and with his lifespan running short, he planned to pass both his daughter and the sect leadership to one disciple.
But he had been unable to decide which disciple to choose.
The sect leader asked his daughter, "A Yao, tell your father, do you like your eldest senior brother or your second senior brother?"
A Yao hesitated for a moment. "I... I like the eldest senior brother. I want to marry him."
"Hmm, good."
The sect leader patted A Yao on the shoulder.
"Father will arrange the wedding between you and the eldest senior brother."
........
"I will now marry Yao'er to Nameless, and on the wedding day, pass the sect leadership to Nameless."
Upon hearing this, Nameless suddenly raised his head, his face filled with joy.
The second disciple Wuxiu's expression changed, and he clenched his fists tightly, eyes full of jealousy and resentment.
Why, why!
Why couldn't it be me?
That night.
In the small forest, Wuxiu met with A Yao.
"Why? Why is it the eldest senior brother?"
A Yao wept, "For the sect's sake, I have no choice."
"Why!? Is it because I'm not strong enough?"