Sacred Land Trial Chapter Thirty-One: Qionghua

After Luo Chen finished speaking, Wu Yue nodded. The two of them then walked outside. Watching their departing figures, Wu Yue wondered, was it really just for a promise? At that moment, Wu Yue realized that, despite being a recluse for a hundred years, she couldn't see through this young man who called himself Nameless at all. She picked up her teacup again, gazed at the ripples in the tea, and set it down, shaking her head in resignation.

"It seems I've been secluded for too long..."

As they walked through the corridor and courtyard, Luo Chen and Qing Xuan Yu soon left the Treasure Pavilion. This time, they emerged into a small alley, almost devoid of people. Luo Chen glanced back at the pavilion behind them, then looked at Qing Xuan Yu, who was staring fixedly at him.

"Yu'er, what's wrong?"

Qing Xuan Yu didn't reply. Instead, she rushed into Luo Chen's arms, clutching his shirt tightly, her muffled sobs reaching Luo Chen's ears. He was puzzled—just moments ago she seemed fine, why was she suddenly crying? But Luo Chen didn't dwell on it; he simply smiled and gently embraced her. Perhaps, deep down, he didn't truly understand Qing Xuan Yu, nor what kind of person she really was. Maybe the strength he saw in her was all an act. What had she experienced before? That question became the only thing Luo Chen wanted to know now.

They stood embraced in the alley for a long while until Qing Xuan Yu's emotions calmed. Luo Chen then led her toward the arena. It was already past noon; if they delayed any longer, they'd miss the afternoon matches. He wondered which factions had made it to the semifinals, but a faint answer was forming in his heart. All would be revealed once they reached the arena.

Not long after, they arrived at the Heavenly Sky Academy's preparation area. Luo Chen immediately noticed something: aside from Qing Xing Yue, the other pavilion masters were nowhere to be seen. As they walked side by side, Qing Xing Yue sensed their presence but said nothing. Qing Xuan Yu returned to Luo Xiao Ya's side as usual, while Luo Chen approached Qing Xing Yue.

"Old Yue, why are you alone today?"

"They've answered the Sacred Land's summons, preparing for the second round of the team competition. Today, you'll have to watch with this old man."

Luo Chen sat where Bai Li Luo Hua had previously been seated. Qing Xing Yue glanced at him but said nothing more. Moments later, the golden knight appeared on the arena, followed by the tolling of the bell.

"Why don't you try going up today? You might encounter someone you know."

Hmm? Someone I know? Luo Chen was puzzled. He shouldn't know anyone in Tianfeng City. Was Qing Xing Yue trying to trick him into participating? Luo Chen recalled everyone he'd met so far, but he had seen all the quarterfinalists that morning—none of their auras were familiar. He glanced at Qing Xing Yue in confusion.

"Old Yue, you're not trying to fool me into competing for the academy again, are you?"

Qing Xing Yue rolled his eyes at Luo Chen and ignored him. Luo Chen looked back at the academy crowd; Qing Xuan Yu seemed to be whispering to Xiao Ya, while the others stared nervously at the arena. Luo Chen frowned slightly. That shouldn't be—he had investigated the competitors earlier. The strongest was only at the eighth level of the Earth Spirit realm.

Even so, if they sent Qian Da Zhuang, the chubby fellow at the fourth level, the academy should easily secure a spot in the top four. Besides, he'd learned from Qing Xuan Yu that the competition had three stages: individual, team, and finally the true Sacred Land trial. The individual and team events were merely to select qualified candidates for the trial.

Before the academy set out, the Empire had only required a top ten finish. Now they'd already achieved that in the individual event. There shouldn't be so much tension.

"You're really not going up?"

Luo Chen looked at Qing Xing Yue, baffled by his insistence. Only he and Xuan Yu knew his true identity. He had already told Xuan Yu not to tell Xiao Ya yet. If he exposed himself on stage, he wouldn't know how to explain it later. After thinking it over, Luo Chen shook his head.

"What if I told you that the thing you've been seeking is connected to the ultimate purpose of the Sacred Land trial? Would you still refuse?"

What? Connected to this competition? Luo Chen shot to his feet, staring at the arena. His original plan was to wait for the festival to end, reveal his identity to Xiao Ya, then leave the Heavenly Sky Continent for another continent across the Endless Sea. Ever since leaving Thunder Abyss, Luo Chen felt his origins couldn't be traced here. Qing Xing Yue's words struck him like lightning.

"Will the contestants holding bye tickets and the top four please enter the arena!"

The golden knight's words echoed in Luo Chen's ears. He clenched his fists, caught between two decisions, unsure whether to trust Qing Xing Yue. As the other semifinalists appeared on the stage, everyone waited for the Heavenly Sky Academy's representative. Qing Xing Yue glanced at Luo Chen, who still hadn't replied.

"Yu'er, you—"

Qing Xing Yue hadn't finished before Luo Chen gestured for silence. Luo Chen turned to look at Qing Xuan Yu, who smiled gently at him. Luo Chen then looked at the arena and leapt onto the stage. Seeing him go first, Qing Xuan Yu hurried to Qing Xing Yue's side.

"Second Grandfather, this—"

Qing Xing Yue didn't answer, his gaze fixed expectantly and helplessly on Luo Chen, now onstage. As the five contestants ascended, familiar jade tokens appeared overhead. Moments later, four tokens paired off, while another token descended first.

"Round four: Withered Wood Cliff holds the bye ticket!"

"Arena One: Heavenly Sky Academy versus Hundred Flowers Palace."

"Arena Two: Heavenly Sword Hall versus Sacred Lake Sanctuary."

As the golden knight finished, Luo Chen glanced at Xue Luo, the Hundred Flowers Palace disciple who had jumped onto Arena One. After a brief hesitation, he too leapt, landing opposite Xue Luo.

"Heavenly Sword Hall disciple Li Mu Feng concedes!"

What? The crowd erupted. Luo Chen's attention was drawn by the movement behind him. Turning, he saw Li Mu Feng returning to Heavenly Sword Hall's prep area. Luo Chen was baffled—he hadn't even stepped onto the arena. Both Li Mu Feng and Sacred Lake Sanctuary's disciple were at the eighth level of the Earth Spirit realm. Why concede without a fight?

"Young master, it's rather rude to be distracted during a duel!"

"Jurassic—Fang Strike!"

Luo Chen was still pondering Li Mu Feng when he heard a voice behind him. Before he could turn fully, he caught sight of dozens of vines spiraling through the air, forming a spear that shot straight at him. The next moment, a powerful blow to his chest forced him back several steps. Luo Chen looked at Xue Luo opposite him—she hadn't given him any time to prepare and attacked immediately. Glancing at his chest, he saw a gaping hole in his shirt, exposing his muscular torso.

Seeing this, Xue Luo was startled—her opening move had been taken head-on, yet apart from his torn clothes, he had not suffered a scratch. How could that be? Her expression hardened as two flower petals appeared in her hand.

"Purple Wind—Dark Night!"

As Xue Luo spoke, the petals spun in front of her. Luo Chen suddenly felt his aura locked onto by something unseen.

"This isn't good!"

He darted away from his original spot. Instantly, dozens of dark purple thorns erupted from a magic array on the ground, each covered in sharp barbs. Luo Chen gulped nervously, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Before he could ponder further, the locking aura returned—this time, two sources locked onto him. Luo Chen could only think of evading. But to his surprise, each dodge doubled the number of locking auras. Soon, eight auras were tracking him relentlessly from every direction.

This couldn't continue. The arena wasn't large; if the locking auras filled the space, he'd have nowhere left to dodge. Leaving the arena would mean forfeiting. Luo Chen's mind raced for a solution.

Kunlei Sword Technique? No, he hadn't fought much—if he couldn't control it, it'd be disastrous. Extreme Thunder Five Formations? Too forceful. Was he forced to take the attack head-on? His body was at the Void Breaking realm, but those dark purple thorns gave him a chilling sense of dread.

Wait—suddenly inspiration struck. Luo Chen flashed across the arena several times, landing firmly on the ground. His aura surged outwards, hands weaving complex gestures. In a moment, four arrays about a meter in diameter formed around him. Seeing this, Luo Chen smiled at Xue Luo.

"Miss Xue Luo, forgive me!"

As he spoke, Xue Luo saw Luo Chen vanish from sight. The four small arrays instantly merged into a larger one, expanding rapidly to cover the entire arena. Xue Luo frantically used her spiritual sense to search for Luo Chen's presence.

"Wood's Ultimate—Qiong Hua!"