MTLNOVEL Chapter 320: Who Dares to Act Recklessly?
At this moment, outside the Thousand Mechanism Tower, the Jianghu guests observing the Illusion Realm began to speculate about the inn that appeared.
"According to Huangshan Taoist's style from the previous trials, the first test is to caution the talented ones not to be overly rigid and to dare to break rules and forge ahead fearlessly."
"The second test is to teach them to have a sense of vigilance, especially when faced with the goodwill of strangers, so that they are not easily deceived."
"The desert in the third test is relatively easy to understand, as one must remain restrained in the most thirsty and desperate situations and not be deceived by immediate temptations."
"And for the fourth level of the Thousand Mechanism Tower, the inn surely holds some kind of test, seemingly centered around those fierce and vicious Jianghu guests..."
"If you ask me, Fairy Youxiang should directly slaughter everyone inside the inn as before and be done with it."
"Absolutely not! Didn't you see there are elders and children inside?"
"Indeed, it's because Fairy Youxiang considered this point that she chose not to act directly."
"But we've been traveling the Martial World for years and should know that monks, Taoists, elders, and children are the ones we should be most wary of, even more dangerous than the scholar in the second level!"
"Does danger mean we should recklessly slaughter? What if this test does not examine vigilance, but rather the kindness in the hearts of the talented ones?"
"This..."
Not only did the Jianghu guests and commoners start discussing, but the talented ones on the arena also pondered how to solve the riddle.
However, after thinking for a long time without any more clues, they couldn't figure it out, though they did understand why Jiang Ye and Hua Youxiang cursed Huangshan Taoist so harshly.
If it were them, facing such endless and unfathomable trials, they would curse as well.
"Xue Ru, it seems our previous idea of charging ahead won't work," Xiao Xuanzhen said with a frown.
"Yeah," Lin Xueru kept her eyes fixed on Hua Youxiang in the illusion and said, "What you cursed before was right, and Grandmaster Xuan Jian said it well too."
Such "training" was too malicious—it didn't test their cultivation, techniques, and talents but only their approach and weaknesses in temperament, striking at most people's vital points.
Upon hearing this, Fairy Hua was full of distress, almost writing "Too Difficult" on her exquisitely beautiful face.
"I hope my sister can pass this level."
Meanwhile, in the highest pleasure boat, Chen Yi was also somewhat displeased. His gaze towards Huangshan Taoist lost its previous admiration because those undergoing the "training" inside the Thousand Mechanism Tower included his younger martial sister.
"Heroic Marquis, now you know how I felt earlier?" The Great Master asked with a chuckle at this moment.
"Even if my younger sister stops here, she is still stronger than the top talents of your Kyoto Academy."
Realizing that his words made no difference, Chen Yi simply ignored how Jiang Ziqi felt and continued:
"But if this Marquis were facing the fourth level, I would unhesitatingly slaughter everything."
"Even the elders and children?" The Great Master questioned, "I know the Sword Dao you cultivate is the Slaughter Sword Dao, but is indiscriminate slaughter not biased?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wei, Xie Jing, and others nearby also looked over.
Chen Yi glanced at them, raised his hand pointing into the Illusion Realm, and said, "Those Jianghu guests appear fierce and vicious, but in fact, they are concerned about the elders and children at the neighboring table—"
"The one drinking scanned with the corner of his eye, and the one next to him who turns his back to the elders and children seems normal but is tense, with the tip of the left foot on the ground, and the one opposite has a hand always in his bosom..."
Emperor Wei listened to the explanation, observing closely, and pondered, "Heroic Marquis notices details, but it doesn't necessarily mean those two deserve death."
The Great Master, however, figured it out and sighed, explaining, "Holy Emperor, what the Heroic Marquis said is right; all those seated inside the inn deserve death at this moment."
Emperor Wei looked closely again but still didn't find anything, "Why? Just say it directly, why keep it a mystery?"
As the Emperor of the Great Wei, he had spent his life in the Imperial City and Kyoto Prefecture, rarely going out, so he'd never seen the twists and turns of Jianghu guests and truly discovered nothing.
At this time, Xie Jing, who also saw the issue, spoke with a bow:
"Your Majesty, being supreme, such shameless and degrading people indeed should not sully your view."
Emperor Wei glared at them, "Speak!"
Xie Jing glanced at the calm expressions of the Great Master and Chen Yi, shook his head, and stood up, saying:
"In the Illusion Realm, that elder seems kind but always keeps hold of the child's arm, fearing he might run away."
"And while the child obediently eats, he took the opportunity of Daoist Hua Youxiang's appearance to poison the elder..."
Emperor Wei's expression instantly turned bewildered, "Why is that? Shouldn't the elder be holding hands to guard against the Jianghu guests at the next table?"
"Not so," Xie Jing sighed, "that elder is likely a kidnapper, and the child at his side was abducted."
"And the child is even more malicious, having cultivated some evil magic, deliberately preventing his body from growing and aiming to seize the kidnapper's money."
"..."
Emperor Wei was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage, slamming the table beside him, "Nonsense, how can there be so many heinous people in the world? Are such people abundant across the Wei Dynasty's Seventeen Prefectures?"
The neighboring imperial court ministers, having realized the situation, remained silent, clearly having heard of such matters in the Jianghu.