Misty Sky

Just as Fudao Shanren’s voice penetrated through the entire mist, everyone suddenly felt the Heaven-Connecting Platform beneath their feet trembling violently.

Almost at that very instant, Jian Chou unhesitatingly rose into the air on the wind. A brilliant golden light flashed before her eyes, and the massive Heaven-Connecting Platform that had been floating beneath their feet suddenly shrank!

Crack crack crack crack!

After four crisp sounds, Jian Chou’s four Heaven-Connecting Platforms that had merged into one actually transformed into four palm-sized stone tokens strung together, automatically hanging at Jian Chou’s waist, becoming like a string of pendant ornaments.

All four stone tokens were engraved with the same four characters—

Heaven-Connecting Platform Seal!

The Heaven-Connecting Platform…

Had become individual tokens?

Jian Chou raised her hand to grasp these four Heaven-Connecting Platform Seals, turning to look around. She indeed saw that the other seven people who had previously gathered here were all in the same situation.

The first trial: Misty Sky.

The rule was that whoever first obtained ten Heaven-Connecting Platforms could directly escape the Misty Sky. Of course, the implication of this statement was that after gathering ten Heaven-Connecting Platforms, one could also choose to continue fighting in the Misty Sky.

No matter what, the focus of this round of combat was on the Heaven-Connecting Platforms, or rather, the “Heaven-Connecting Platform Seals.”

Jian Chou pondered for a moment, but her gaze didn’t move away from those seven people as she carefully observed them.

It didn’t matter when she wasn’t looking, but once she did, she was somewhat dumbfounded.

So many familiar faces!

Among the seven people, four were actually old acquaintances.

One was Gu Qingmei from Kunwu, a pair of Dao companions she had met in Black Wind Cave—Qin Lang and Zhou Qingyun, and also…

Qian Que?!

Jian Chou instinctively started to speak: “Qian…”

That golden abacus had long since disappeared to who knows where. The current Qian Que wore long robes and carried a long staff, chest held high with apparent heroic spirit, but he kept a pair of small mustaches that gave him an indescribably strange appearance.

Seeing the people around him clearly at this moment, he felt like banging his head against a wall and dying!

Look at who these people were!

Qin Lang, Zhou Qingyun, and Jian Chou from Black Wind Cave who knew his identity as Golden Abacus Qian Que—that was bad enough, but damn it, there was also Gu Qingmei next to him, explosive as thunder!

What was all his effort to change his temperament for?

He actually ran right into the firing line at the first trial of the minor competition!

If Gu Qingmei heard his voice or that distinctive abacus sound, he would never be able to continue mixing around—he would definitely be dismembered into eight pieces by this tyrannical and vicious Gu Qingmei!

Being a cultivator was troublesome—everyone had spiritual sense that could directly see through the truth. To disguise as someone else, the best method was soul seizure.

But where did he have that ability?

Damn it, this was trouble.

Qian Que was collapsing internally, enduring Gu Qingmei’s gaze from nearby with his scalp already going numb. When he suddenly heard Jian Chou’s mouth producing the word “Qian,” his soul nearly left his body!

Young mistress!

I was wrong, I was wrong, isn’t that enough? Back then I was blind and didn’t recognize Mount Tai, not knowing you were Yashan’s eldest senior sister—I was wrong, alright?

Don’t speak anymore!

Moreover, there were still Qin Lang and Zhou Qingyun nearby. If any one of them exposed his identity, it could lead to danger!

Qian Que didn’t hesitate and directly spoke up, roughening his voice with heroic heartiness to interrupt Jian Chou: “Previously met Immortal Jian Chou in Black Wind Cave, didn’t expect to encounter you again at the minor competition—truly fortunate, truly fortunate! Fellow Daoist Qin, Fellow Daoist Zhou, Meng Xizhou presents his respects here!”

Meng… Meng Xizhou?

Jian Chou truly didn’t react immediately. Qin Lang and Zhou Qingyun had the same expression, exchanging glances and wisely choosing to observe for now, not immediately exposing him.

Gu Qingmei only felt the atmosphere among these people was strange, but didn’t think much of it, continuing: “Unexpectedly, there are quite a few old acquaintances here. It seems the left three thousand of the Central Domain isn’t very large. Fellow Daoist Meng, since parting at Killing Red Minor Realm, meeting again now—you and I can be considered fated.”

Killing Red Minor Realm, at the Azure Overwhelming City checkpoint, Qian Que had desperately improvised by impersonating Meng Xizhou, managing to avoid being beaten to death by Gu Qingmei in the Killing Red Minor Realm and escaping with his life.

Now seeing people who knew both his identities all here, he almost wanted to cry.

Walking a tightrope wasn’t this thrilling!

If Gu Qingmei found out he was that foul-mouthed…

Oh heavens, he didn’t want to live!

Hearing Gu Qingmei actively mention the Killing Red Minor Realm, Qian Que forcibly suppressed the urge to make a mournful face and continued with heroic spirit.

“Meng’s martial arts were lacking—losing to Immortal Gu that day, I was completely convinced. Now being able to be on the same team, this is truly Meng’s fortune. From now on, I’ll have to rely on the immortal’s care!”

Hearing the shrewd and calculating Qian Que speak with this kind of rough, heroic voice, Jian Chou, Qin Lang, and Zhou Qingyun all showed expressions that were hard to describe.

Besides these five, the other three could barely understand what they were talking about.

Only a male cultivator standing at the very edge, wearing gray robes, tall and thin with slanted eyebrows, triangular eyes showing a few points of gloom, and a hooked nose hanging down giving an even more dangerous feeling, held a black refined iron hook in his hand.

After hearing “Meng Xizhou’s” words, his gaze wandered among these five people, silently gave a strange smile, and said nothing.

On Gu Qingmei’s side, hearing “Meng Xizhou” being so tactful, subtly revealing the events in the Killing Red Minor Realm while praising her, she couldn’t help but smile.

But the next moment, she thought of things related to Meng Xizhou.

Like the Killing Red Minor Realm, the Dijiang Guyu…

After the Killing Red Minor Realm battle, Gu Qingmei was severely affected and depressed for a long time, almost becoming the seat of inner demons.

Having finally broken through to Golden Core, she thought that was a thing of the past. She never expected to encounter “Meng Xizhou,” who had fought with her once in the Killing Red Minor Realm, in this first trial of the minor competition.

Scene after scene from the past that had almost been forgotten all surfaced in her heart…

Gu Qingmei couldn’t help but secretly clench her fingers, hatred rising in her heart!

If one day her cultivation achieved great success, she would definitely drag out that axe-wielding male cultivator with strange cultivation and fully repay the grudge from that day!

Jian Chou observed comprehensively and immediately noticed the gloom that flashed across Gu Qingmei’s delicate face.

Qian Que used the alias Meng Xizhou, not daring to reveal his identity before Gu Qingmei. Their conversation mentioned the Killing Red Minor Realm—clearly, at the Azure Overwhelming City checkpoint, Qian Que must have disguised himself as Meng Xizhou. But now, he happened to encounter three people who knew his identity…

And there was herself, someone who didn’t say a word in the Killing Red Minor Realm but carried a ghost axe and snatched away the Dijiang Guyu…

If Gu Qingmei found out…

Jian Chou couldn’t help but feel somewhat melancholy. Could their team really last long?

Such complicated relationships were truly unprecedented.

Just thinking about it gave her a headache. Jian Chou directly spoke up: “Now we have eight people. Although some know each other, there are also new friends. Why don’t we all get acquainted?”

This was exactly what the others wanted.

Gu Qingmei, Qian Que, and the others stopped “reminiscing” and began introducing themselves one by one.

Besides those she already knew, there were three strangers.

The other two were quite ordinary—Jian Chou didn’t pay them much attention—but she immediately noticed the cultivator with the gloomy face holding the hook.

“This humble one is Zhao Bianzhou. I’ve met all fellow Daoists.”

That hook-wielding cultivator showed a kind of ingratiating smile toward several people, extremely inconsistent with his gloomy features, immediately giving off a fawning feeling.

Gu Qingmei was accustomed to seeing this kind of smile and immediately showed contemptuous eyes.

However, she didn’t say much, only saying: “Now that everyone knows each other, why don’t we discuss the first trial? We are in the mist and cannot know the situation of other teams. Do any of you have ideas? Senior Sister Jian Chou?”

Asking her?

Jian Chou was startled, glancing at her and seeing her smiling warmly, apparently without any hostility toward herself. She couldn’t help but think of the life-and-death struggle in the Killing Red Minor Realm and felt her teeth ache.

“I don’t have any particular ideas. I’ve long heard that Junior Sister Gu is precocious at Kunwu—surely you already have a method?”

Another tactful one…

Gu Qingmei was slightly surprised and secretly pleased.

Previously, she had heard that Senior Brother Wu Duan from her sect was getting close to this Yashan eldest senior sister, and often heard Wu Duan speak highly of Jian Chou. It seemed everyone had good evaluations of Jian Chou, which made Gu Qingmei somewhat unconvinced.

Now with Jian Chou’s words, she finally understood why.

Understanding and considerate, so thoughtful—who wouldn’t like that?

Gu Qingmei also developed some good feelings, thinking Jian Chou was very socially aware, and the smile on her face became more naturally genuine.

At Kunwu, she undoubtedly carried herself with a master’s bearing.

With delicate features and an early reputation for wisdom, when she spoke with a hint of a smile, although her expression held some unapproachable pride, on the surface she was still very well-received by everyone.

Especially…

Behind her was Kunwu, the ranking on the “One Person Platform Notes” that was higher than all the others.

She looked at the vine tendrils reaching toward heaven through the surrounding mist and smiled: “I’ve lived on Kunwu’s main peak for years and am very familiar with the mountain below. In all of Kunwu mountain’s underground areas, there’s everything except this kind of thing. Presumably, this is something Elder Fudao set up in Kunwu mountain, forming its own realm. Why don’t we descend to ground level first to investigate, then think about whether there are other methods or other intentions that might let us encounter people from other teams.”

Floating in the air, these countless vines were like countless giant nets, indeed somewhat intimidating.

The idea Gu Qingmei proposed aligned with her own thoughts, so Jian Chou nodded: “Junior Sister Gu speaks reasonably.”

“We also have no objections.”

The others also expressed agreement.

So Gu Qingmei smiled and, taking the lead on her ice sword, said: “Then let’s go down.”

After speaking, she descended straight down into the endless mist below.

In the thick fog, the others couldn’t see clearly, but the other seven quickly followed, sinking lower and lower.

But after going only a short while, Jian Chou discovered something was wrong.

Her Heaven-Connecting Platform was 120 zhang high, and their distance from the ground was at most 120 zhang. Flying on artifacts, it should have been a matter of moments, but after several breaths had passed, there was still no end.

It seemed that the gray light released by Fudao Shanren wasn’t merely a mist, but very likely a unique space.

The further down they went, the thinner the surrounding mist became, and the scenery became increasingly clear.

In their field of vision, they could already see increasingly thick vines and vaguely some towering trees that seemed to reach the heavens—a frightening sight.

The green in the thick fog became more and more abundant, gradually making everyone’s hearts tremble with fear.

But during this descent, besides their group of eight, they hadn’t seen any other people.

Where were the others?

One hundred and twenty Heaven-Connecting Platforms—those who obtained ten could pass through. That meant this trial could leave at most twelve people.

But their team alone had eight people.

…

Eight people, twelve total.

A flash of inspiration struck her mind, and Jian Chou suddenly felt her back go cold, filled with dread!

The only standard for measuring whether one could pass through was the number of Heaven-Connecting Platforms.

Fudao Shanren said eight people per group would participate in combat, but he never said they couldn’t attack their own companions!

He said eight people per group, and everyone subconsciously assumed that all who appeared were their companions…

This was a blind spot in thinking caused by the rules!

Allies and enemies, traveling together…

Fellow travelers weren’t necessarily companions—they could also be enemies!

“…”

She was really fed up with this crafty master.

Great, having figured this out, she felt her way of looking at those seven people ahead had become strange.

To act or not to act?

That was the question.

After hesitating for a while, she ultimately shook her head and dismissed that thought.

Who knew if others had also thought of this but simply hadn’t acted?

Besides, with no grievances or enmities, who knew if they might become friends in the future?

She would act according to circumstances.

Jian Chou withdrew her gaze and couldn’t help but look up toward the sky above.

In the firmament above, everything was a vast expanse of thick white.

Somewhere else.

“Now that we eight are in a group, we can be considered companions. Do any of you have suggestions?”

The speaker was an ordinary cultivator who looked somewhat timid and fearful.

His gaze swept across several people and finally settled on the youth in dark red robes.

Xia Houshe stood in that thick mist, wearing a gloomy and oppressive dark red robe that covered him completely. On his delicate face was not a trace of emotion, and his dark red pupils flickered with light.

Three Heaven-Connecting Platform Seals hung at his waist as he slowly raised his gaze.

“Companions?”

A seemingly puzzled voice issued from his mouth.

The other seven were startled.

The cultivator who had spoken earlier knew this was someone with ruthless methods who was difficult to approach. Hearing his question, his heart grew even more fearful as he replied: “Xia… Brother Xia Hou, what about companions?”

What about companions…

He slowly curved his lips, mockery floating in his eyes. With a light tap of his toe, a blood-red battle disc over two zhang in diameter suddenly appeared in mid-air. Phantom images of various magical artifacts quietly floated in this blood-red light!

Xia Houshe stood on the blood light of this battle disc, among the phantom images of myriad weapons!

Everyone was terrified!

A group of ants—did they deserve to travel with him?

The mockery in Xia Houshe’s eyes turned completely cold: “Companions? Are you worthy?”

Slowly raising both hands, a blade and sword automatically rose from the battle disc and fell into his palms. Xia Houshe’s dark red eyes narrowed slightly: “Seven pieces, just right.”

Hands raised, blade and sword fell.

The slaughter had begun!

The thick white mist was stained with deep red.

But layer upon layer was obscured completely, revealing nothing at all.

Jian Chou withdrew her gaze from the thick mist. Looking down, she could finally see the ground—countless giant trees with moss-covered trunks soaring toward the sky. Those vine tendrils that had previously extended upward actually all wound toward a certain direction on the ground, seeming to originate from the same place.

Everyone focused their gaze. The thick mist had thinned to smoke-like consistency and no longer affected their vision.

The ground was covered with soft moss and towering ancient trees.

On a huge flat area below, there was vaguely a snow-white hall built in the forest, too old to make out its original appearance. Those countless vines emerged from the many doors and windows of this ancient, weathered hall like giant pythons and serpents, extending their claws toward the deepest part of the mist above.

Above and below the hall’s entrance were actually two rows of fierce beast teeth!

It was like…

A seed had fallen into something’s skull and been nourished, taking root and sprouting, then frantically emerging from the seven orifices—eyes, ears, mouth, and nose!

“What is… that…”

Gu Qingmei’s voice carried an indescribable dryness and terror.

This scene before them had a strange demonic feeling, like a heavy hammer striking everyone’s hearts.

Jian Chou stood quietly in mid-air, slightly frowning without speaking.

Misty Sky…

It seemed there were quite a few “surprises” indeed.