“Oh no, this is bad!” Another cultivator shared Ban Ji’s sentiment.

He had been observing discreetly, hiding his appearance and identity.

But now, he knew he couldn’t stay put.

He walked over to Ban Ji, offering, “Young Master Ban Ji, I’m here to help you!”

He revealed his true face and deliberately spoke loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.

Ban Ji was surprised. He looked at the newcomer and, recognizing an old acquaintance, snorted, “Why are you here?”

The newcomer was none other than Xiu Zaijiang.

He was cloaked entirely in a dark red iron robe, beneath which the faint outline of a metallic skeleton could be seen. Every movement he made produced a dull, metallic scraping sound, and sometimes, rust flakes would fall.

Xiu Zaijiang transmitted his thoughts directly, unapologetically. “Hmph! Do you think I’d come if Ban Jie hadn’t heavily paid me to secretly assist you? To see your grim face?”

Xiu Zaijiang had previously accepted a substantial payment from Ban Ji to deal with Ning Zhuo. However, Ning Zhuo’s high-profile actions made him realize the latter’s strength. Coupled with the disappearance of Pan Si Niangzi, Xiu Zaijiang decisively found Ban Ji with two others, forcefully demanded a refund, and withdrew from the plan.

Naturally, Ban Ji had no kind words for Xiu Zaijiang.

Xiu Zaijiang continued to communicate via divine sense. “Do you think I want to stand out and support you in public? Reign in your temper, do you still think you’re in the Ban family?”

“If this continues, you might be targeted by everyone again.”

“Think about what happened on Qing Zhu Peak!”

Ban Ji gritted his teeth. “I was just careless that time.”

Xiu Zaijiang replied, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

Ban Ji narrowed his eyes, falling silent for a moment.

A few breaths later, he moved towards Lu Zeng, first thanking him. After all, Lu Zeng had just voluntarily given him a jade token.

Lu Zeng, being a merchant, naturally wouldn’t offend Ban Ji.

After receiving a good response, Ban Ji then visited Ao Pan. Ao Pan’s attitude towards him was as enthusiastic as it was towards Ning Zhuo.

Ao Pan, being from another country, needed to foster good relationships. Since Ban Ji took the initiative to visit, he also wanted to establish a good connection with Ban Ji and the Ban family.

In his view: Ning Zhuo and Ban Ji may be at odds, but that doesn’t stop me from being friendly with both!

Ao Pan then visited Tie Zheng, who responded with equal indifference.

Next, he visited Zhang Wangxing. They communicated through divine sense, frequently glancing at Ning Zhuo, seemingly engaged in a transaction or negotiation.

Ning Zhuo had been observing Ban Ji all along and understood his actions. “Ban Ji was groomed by the Ban family from a young age and possesses political acumen. He chose his conversation partners carefully, and the sequence was correct.”

Ban Ji leveraged the attitudes of Lu Ban and Ao Pan to break the stalemate. Soon, many cultivators approached him for a chat.

Ban Ji was, after all, a representative of the Ban family.

The Ban family was a renowned righteous sect, and the Wan Xiang Sect had always welcomed cultivators from both demonic and righteous paths. As long as these cultivators abided by the sect’s rules after joining.

The Wan Xiang Sect’s rules were almost the fewest and most lenient among super sects.

Ban Ji was forced into the arena by Ning Zhuo, but he still had his tactics. Learning from his experience, he skillfully diffused much of Ning Zhuo’s momentum, transforming a crushing defeat into a minor loss.

A Golden Core stage cultivator emerged from the Xuan Jia Cave, announcing that the time had come and the Xing Yun Minor Trial officially began.

Given permission, everyone displayed their identity tokens and streamed into the cave.

Most identity tokens were made of wood, except for Ning Zhuo’s and Ban Ji’s, which were stone.

The moment Ning Zhuo stepped into the cave, his vision abruptly shifted.

He found himself in complete darkness. No matter which way he walked, there were invisible barriers, as if the air had turned into walls, sealing him within.

Ning Zhuo didn’t panic. Before coming, he had memorized all the information regarding this Xing Yun Minor Trial.

Like the Zhu Xie Hall, the Xing Yun Minor Trial of the Jiu Chong Xuan Bing Jia was almost always the same.

Sure enough, a divine sense emanated from the darkness, instructing Ning Zhuo to use his divine sense to clear a path.

Ning Zhuo activated his divine sense, expanding it as far forward as possible.

His divine sense pushed away a layer of grime, leaving an opening similar to his own size.

Ning Zhuo strode forward, his divine sense clearing a path ahead, creating a temporary passage for him to move through.

“This is the first stage of the Jiu Chong Xuan Bing Jia’s minor trial, the Divine Sense Stage.”

“Without ample divine sense, it’s impossible to pass through here.”

Ao Pan, despite his hunched back, walked with the powerful strides of a dragon and tiger.

Tie Zheng stood with his arms crossed, expressionless and composed.

Lu Zeng stroked the ruler on his chest, his divine sense swirling around him, continuously emanating outwards, creating a spherical void around him.

This stage did not restrict cultivation level, so Golden Core cultivators could generally pass easily. After all, their cultivation was superior, and their divine sense, magic power, and energy often surpassed those of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Foundation Establishment cultivators, however, had to showcase their individual abilities.

The surface of Zhang Wangxing’s robe rippled like waves, and he walked very slowly.

Ban Ji’s eyes were bloodshot, glaring forward. His Tan Ji Mo Xin Gong primarily cultivated the upper Dantian, making him a top-tier Foundation Establishment cultivator in terms of divine sense, so he had no obstacles.

Ning Zhuo hadn’t made any special preparations in this regard. The reason was that he cultivated all three Dantian, and his cultivation of the Jing Tai Tong Ling Jue gave him a divine sense foundation far exceeding that of fellow cultivators who focused on the qi or essence seas.

His advantage in divine sense, unlike Ban Ji’s, lay in control. Therefore, he precisely emanated his divine sense, only pushing away enough space for himself, forming a passage, saving both time and effort.

Zhang Dadan remained silent. He primarily cultivated the essence sea, and his divine sense, though empowered by a secret technique, was stubborn and difficult to disperse, but protecting himself was not an issue.

Xiu Zaijiang’s divine sense was very peculiar. As it carved a path forward, it sizzled, corroding the invisible barriers completely. Although slower, it was remarkably effortless.

Almost all cultivators participating in this Xing Yun Minor Trial had investigated the intelligence beforehand. Even if they hadn’t, the previous divine sense transmissions had informed them of the relevant content.

Everyone displayed their abilities and continued forward.

Surrounded by endless darkness, with no reference points, they weren’t worried about direction.

This was because the rules clearly stated that even if one walked in circles, it didn’t matter. As long as they persisted for a certain period and covered the standard distance, they would enter the next stage.

Among the three Golden Core cultivators, Tie Zheng was the first to exit and enter the second stage.

His divine sense, modified by a secret technique, was the sharpest.

Lu Ban and Ao Pan followed.

Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ban Ji arrived first, followed by Ning Zhuo. Zhang Wangxing, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, lagged behind, as divine sense was his weakness. Even Zhang Dadan passed faster than him.

Ning Zhuo’s vision suddenly brightened, and he found himself in a spherical space.

This was still a space within the array, but with a different structure.

Before Ning Zhuo, a sword floated in mid-air.

The sword was made of bronze, its tip pointing vertically towards the ground.

A divine sense transmission informed him of the rules. Ning Zhuo listened carefully and found that the trial rules for the second stage were exactly the same as before, without any change.

The divine sense transmission began counting down.

After counting from ten to one, the hovering bronze sword, as if wielded by someone, thrust violently at Ning Zhuo.

The sword tip sliced through the air, producing a brief, piercing shriek as it lunged directly for Ning Zhuo’s throat.

Ning Zhuo’s pupils contracted sharply, and his waist snapped backward like a taut bow.

Iron Bridge!

The cold sword wind brushed past his nose, shearing off a few stray hairs.

Missing its mark, the bronze sword showed no hesitation. Its blade trembled, turning the thrust into a horizontal sweep, aiming at Ning Zhuo’s exposed, backward-bent neck.

The blade cut through the air, razor-sharp, emitting a hissing sound like tearing silk.

Ning Zhuo twisted his body.

His physical foundation was strong, and even in such an awkward posture, he could forcefully rotate his entire body sideways, moving to one side.

*Tear—*

Ning Zhuo’s garment was sliced open by the sword, leaving a clean cut. A thin line of blood appeared on his neck. After a few drops of blood seeped out, his muscles tightened, stopping the bleeding.

Although it was just a graze, it stung intensely.

Ning Zhuo moved sideways, retreating continuously. Before he could fully regain his stance, the bronze sword struck again.

This time, it was an upward slash, its gleam like a venomous snake’s tongue, incredibly tricky, aiming directly at Ning Zhuo’s unsteady lower body.

Ning Zhuo’s eyes darkened. He stomped his left foot on the ground, using the momentum to spring backward, while simultaneously striking down with his right palm like lightning.

Of course, he wouldn’t meet the sword edge head-on. Instead, he angled the edge of his palm to strike the middle of the sword’s spine, with precise speed, angle, and force.

The bronze sword was struck downwards, hitting the ground. Ning Zhuo then stomped forward, but missed.

The bronze sword retreated, evading Ning Zhuo’s stomp, and immediately thrust forward again.

Ning Zhuo adjusted his posture at the crucial moment, but his outer thigh was still grazed, adding another bloody mark.

Unable to defeat Ning Zhuo, the bronze sword changed its tactics. Its sword intent shifted, becoming continuous and relentless, like a surging river!

Points, thrusts, slashes, lifts, cuts, chops—all basic sword forms were executed to their extreme, moving so fast that dozens of blurry green afterimages trailed in the air, weaving into a deadly sword net that tightly enveloped Ning Zhuo!

Ning Zhuo’s figure weaved and dodged within this storm of death, like a lonely boat amidst raging waves.

Sweat mixed with blood beads seeping from his wounds, drawing wet trails on his skin.

“Splat!” A chill on his left cheek, a wisp of hair and a trickle of blood flew. The sword tip grazed his cheekbone.

“Pfft!” The cloth on his right rib was torn open, flesh ripped, blood instantly staining his clothes.

“Clang!” Unable to dodge, he could only parry a diagonal chop with the outer side of his left forearm. His arm bone ached terribly, his sleeve was shredded, and a deep, bone-visible wound appeared, bleeding profusely.

Despite the perilous situation and accumulating injuries, Ning Zhuo’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Such difficulty was expected and not surprising.

“My close combat and fist-and-foot techniques were only foundational in Huo Shi Xian City.”

“It was only after arriving at Wan Yao Sect that I compensated for this shortcoming.”

“During the two major battles in Guo Qian Feng Lin, I learned some military combat techniques, simple, direct, and adding a fierce spirit.”

“Normally, they’re sufficient against peers. But in the Jiu Chong Xuan Bing Jia’s Xing Yun Minor Trial, they’re not enough.”

“The difficulty of the second stage is progressive. The first weapon I encountered presented the lowest challenge difficulty, but it already slightly exceeded my limit.”

Ning Zhuo’s close combat martial arts were no longer a weakness, but they had never been a strength either.

The second stage trial of the Jiu Chong Xuan Bing Jia was designed to filter out cultivators skilled in martial arts and eliminate those who were merely mediocre.

Facing such a trial, with the suppression and封禁 (fēng jìn) of the array, Ning Zhuo couldn’t use other powers. He could only rely on martial arts to resist, naturally leading to perilous situations and extreme disarray.

An ordinary cultivator would have long been severely injured and eliminated.

Ning Zhuo’s ability to endure this long was thanks to his robust physique. His body could contain millions of souls, and many minor injuries healed quickly.

Ning Zhuo’s persistence was not a futile struggle. In the intense struggle, his martial arts were rapidly improving.

His footwork initially involved only constant dodging, but now it gradually became more systematic.

At times, he moved as if treading on stars, using small steps to avoid sharp edges; at times, he moved as if wading through a swamp, his body sluggish but narrowly evading the blade; at times, he spun like a whirlwind, his afterimages and the sword light intertwining, indistinguishable, yet without adding new sword wounds.

“‘Review’ successful!” Ning Zhuo’s heart was stirred.

He used soul-searching techniques to mete out righteous judgment to a pile of demonic souls. His innate talent protected him, and the Fen Zhou Du Hun Shu caused his foundation to surge.

Among these demonic cultivators, many were proficient in close combat. Their lifelong experiences in this area became part of Ning Zhuo’s foundation.

However, Ning Zhuo hadn’t had time to practice. Now, in the fierce battle with the bronze sword, he swiftly reviewed and mastered them all, truly making them his own.

The longer Ning Zhuo fought, the steadier and more composed his stance became.

His most severe injury was on his left forearm, but his physique was truly formidable. Even a bone-deep wound, despite the intense exertion, still stopped bleeding and began to slowly heal.

Another reason was that the bronze sword itself had no attached magic power; it relied solely on the sharpness of its blade.

This stage tested martial arts and close combat.

For such flesh wounds, Ning Zhuo’s physical foundation was more than capable of sustaining him.

“Now!”

Ning Zhuo’s eyes flashed with brilliant light. He suddenly crouched and raised his foot, aiming his toes at the sword body, and kicked forcefully, sending the bronze sword flying.

The bronze sword was forced to create distance between itself and Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo’s heart was elated; this was his first effective counterattack.

The bronze sword attacked again. Ning Zhuo’s eyes gleamed, full of renewed confidence, as he met the challenge.

After several rounds of such combat, Ning Zhuo’s stamina remained inexhaustible, and the bronze sword was kicked away with increasing frequency.

The bronze sword thrust directly at Ning Zhuo’s heart. Ning Zhuo, instead of retreating, advanced with full confidence, gracefully sidestepping to avoid the blade. His left hand moved like picking flowers and brushing willows, fingers splayed, reaching for the sword hilt and gripping it firmly.

The bronze sword struggled with all its might in his hand.

Ning Zhuo could have suppressed it, but with a faint smile, he deliberately let go, allowing it to dart into the air like a fish, escaping once more.

“Again,” he said, clapping his hands at the retreating bronze sword, actively provoking it.

Thus, Ning Zhuo used the bronze sword to train himself, and his close combat abilities steadily soared. This scene drew the attention of the cultivators overseeing the trial.

“What’s going on with this Ning Zhuo?”

“At first, I thought he was nothing special, purely here to make a fool of himself. Who would have thought that in just a quarter of an hour, he’d improve so much!”

“It’s hard to believe! But it’s happening right before our eyes. Is his comprehension of martial arts really that strong?!”

“To grow so rapidly from practical combat, this is quite rare!”

The cultivators exclaimed in continuous admiration.