Chapter 133: Accepting the Trial

"Every year, powerful beings come in to carve up the resources? Wouldn't that mean..."

Zhang Yi suddenly thought of a problem: the total amount of spiritual energy in this Trial Land is limited. If people come in to carve it up every year, wouldn't the remaining spiritual energy become less and less as time goes on?

As if seeing through Zhang Yi's doubts, He Lao smiled and said, "Little friend, do not worry. The spiritual energy in this Trial Land recovers automatically, flowing in an endless stream. However, someone different has come this year."

He Lao's gaze fell upon Zhang Yi, and he said meaningfully, "You have refined the Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud; the barrier at the entrance can no longer trap you. From now on, you may enter and leave the Trial Land freely."

Zhang Yi was stunned, only then remembering the matter of him refining the Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud earlier.

He had not expected that refining the Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud would actually have such a benefit!

"He Lao, do you mean that I can enter and exit this Trial Land at any time?"

Zhang Yi asked, somewhat unable to believe it.

He Lao nodded: "That is correct. You can treat this place as your own backyard; come when you want, leave when you want."

Zhang Yi was instantly overjoyed.

The spiritual energy in this Trial Land is so dense; if he could enter and exit at will, his cultivation speed would be greatly increased!

"That's great!"

Zhang Yi said excitedly, "He Lao, I will definitely come to visit you often in the future!"

He calculated inwardly that since he could enter and exit freely, he might as well take the opportunity to get closer to He Lao; perhaps he could even wheedle more information about the Trial Land out of him.

"Hehe, little friend is very thoughtful."

He Lao stroked his beard and smiled, "Since that is the case, this old man shall give you a welcoming gift."

"A welcoming gift?" Zhang Yi asked curiously.

He Lao pointed to a valley deep within the golden forest and said, "That is the place where the spiritual energy of this Trial Land is most dense, known as the 'Gathering Linggu'. However, to enter the Gathering Linggu, you must still pass my test."

"A test?"

Zhang Yi's heart tightened; he knew that to obtain benefits, one must inevitably pay a corresponding price.

"Indeed, to enter the Gathering Linggu, you must pass my three tests."

He Lao said, "The first test is named 'Heart Demon Illusion'."

As He Lao spoke, he waved his bamboo staff lightly, and a golden light shot into the center of Zhang Yi's brow.

Zhang Yi felt his vision blur, and the surrounding scenery changed instantly.

He found himself in the middle of a vast desert, with the scorching sun high in the sky and heat waves rolling in.

"This is..."

Zhang Yi looked around in confusion.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind him: "Zhang Yi, do you still remember me?"

Zhang Yi turned his head abruptly to see a woman in white standing behind him, a gentle smile on her face.

"Are you... Xiao Rou?" Zhang Yi said in surprise.

Xiao Rou was his childhood sweetheart, but she had unfortunately died in an accident.

"Zhang Yi, I miss you so much..." Xiao Rou walked over gracefully, extending her slender, jade-like hand, wanting to stroke Zhang Yi's face.

Zhang Yi's heart trembled; he subconsciously wanted to dodge, but then he stopped.

Xiao Rou was already dead; this was just an illusion, why should he dodge?

He took a deep breath and let Xiao Rou's hand stroke his cheek.

"Xiao Rou, I miss you too..." Zhang Yi said, choking with sobs.

"Zhang Yi, come with me, let us be together forever..." Xiao Rou's voice was full of temptation.

In Zhang Yi's heart, a strong feeling of longing welled up.

He was almost about to agree to Xiao Rou's request and leave this world with her.

Just at this moment, a thought flashed through his mind.

No! Xiao Rou is already dead!

This is an illusion!

He opened his eyes wide, and the Xiao Rou before him vanished instantly.

The surrounding scenery also returned to its original state; he was still standing in the golden forest, and He Lao was looking at him with a smile.

"Congratulations, little friend, you have passed the first test."

He Lao said.

Only then did Zhang Yi realize that he had almost fallen into the Heart Demon Illusion just now.

"Many thanks for the reminder, He Lao." Zhang Yi said gratefully.

"No need for formalities."

He Lao waved his hand, "Next, is the second test..."

"The second test is named 'Strength Uprooting Mountains and Rivers'."

As He Lao spoke, the ground shook, and a massive black rock slowly rose from beneath the earth.

It was the size of a house, its surface pitted and scarred, exuding a heavy aura.

"You need to lift this rock above your head and hold it for ten breaths of time," He Lao said indifferently.

Zhang Yi looked at this giant rock and could not help but swallow his saliva.

This rock was so huge that it likely weighed no less than ten thousand catties; even with his current strength, he might not be able to lift it.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yi walked in front of the giant rock, grabbed the bottom of the rock with both hands, and exerted force suddenly.

"Hah!"

Veins bulged and muscles tightened; Zhang Yi used all his strength, yet the giant rock did not budge in the slightest.

"Again!"

Zhang Yi did not believe in such things and exerted force again, but the boulder still did not move in the slightest; instead, it made him feel a surge of blood and Qi.

"It won't work, this stone is too heavy!"

Zhang Yi panted heavily, feeling somewhat dejected in his heart.

He Lao watched quietly from the side, not making a sound.

Zhang Yi gritted his teeth and tried again, but still to no avail.

After trying several times in succession, Zhang Yi was already exhausted, yet he could not even shake this boulder.

"Could it be that I cannot even pass the second stage?"

Zhang Yi's heart was filled with a sense of frustration.

Just when he was about to give up, the figure of Mother Jubiao suddenly appeared in his mind.

"Mother is still waiting for me to take her to a place with abundant spiritual energy!"

Thinking of this, a flash of determination crossed Zhang Yi's eyes; he walked in front of the boulder again and took a deep breath.

This time, he did not act recklessly.

Instead, he circulated the spiritual energy within his body, concentrating his strength into his arms.

"Rise for me!"

Accompanied by an angry roar, the boulder actually trembled slightly.

Zhang Yi felt a surge of joy in his heart and exerted force again; the boulder slowly left the ground, rising higher and higher, until finally, he lifted it over his head.

"One... two... three..." He Lao began to time him.

The weight of the boulder made Zhang Yi's legs tremble and sweat pour down like rain, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted, refusing to put it down.

"Seven... eight... nine... ten!"

As soon as He Lao's voice fell, Zhang Yi could no longer hold on; the boulder crashed to the ground, smashing out a huge pit.

Zhang Yi collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily, feeling as if the bones in his entire body were about to fall apart.

"Congratulations, young friend, you have passed the second trial."

He Lao's voice sounded once again.

Zhang Yi struggled to stand up and looked at He Lao with gratitude.

"The third trial is named 'Asking the Heart'."

He Lao's expression became serious.

"'Asking the Heart'?" Zhang Yi asked in confusion.

"I will ask you three questions, and you must answer them truthfully."

He Lao said, "If your answers cannot satisfy me, then you will not be able to pass the trial."

Zhang Yi felt a shiver in his heart; he knew that this third trial was the most difficult one.

"The first question: why did you enter the Trial Land?" He Lao asked.