Chapter 78: The Four Sects Trial

At the center of the "Tianjiang Plain," a group of nearly one thousand cultivators stood neatly divided into four groups, with a leader standing at the front of each.

One hundred zhang away from the four groups, a massive Dharma Array was constantly emitting a humming sound; surrounded by swirling spiritual light, the pillar of light shooting into the sky rotated incessantly, radiating a daunting power that made disciples around the Foundation Establishment stage afraid to approach easily!

However, these people did not seem to fear the Dharma Array, all casting their gazes upon it with anticipation. Suddenly, a boom erupted from within the array, and at the same time, bursts of dazzling spiritual light surged out once more, instantly merging into the sky-piercing pillar of light.

Seeing this, an old man in green robes standing at the front of the group stroked his beard and spoke.

"Haha! It seems the great array will be fully activated in another day. Three fellow Daoists, have your sects' disciples prepare!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhuge is right; all the disciples of my Wuji Sect can hardly wait!"

The person speaking was a middle-aged man of about fifty, with a very burly physique; even through his clothes, one could see the bulging muscles on his body.

This person was none other than the Sect Leader of the Wuji Sect, Xiao Zhengxing! And the old man who had just spoken was the Sect Master of the "Nanxuan Sect" on the "Tianjiang Plain," Zhuge An!

"Judging by Sect Leader Xiao's tone, you are determined to win this Four Sects Trial?"

At this moment, a sinister voice suddenly rang out. Those who heard it felt goosebumps rise all over their bodies. Xiao Zhengxing frowned slightly and glanced sideways at the speaker.

This person was over forty, his body so thin it was just skin and bones, and his small eyes flickered with a ghastly aura. This person was the Sect Leader of the "Corpse Refining Sect" on the "Tianjiang Plain": Leng Xinghun!

"I have no such intention! Among the Four Great Sects on our 'Tianjiang Plain,' which one does not have a multitude of experts? Who would dare guarantee their own sect will take first place?"

Xiao Zhengxing disliked Leng Xinghun from the bottom of his heart. This person gave off a sinister feeling, which might have a great deal to do with the techniques he practiced. As the name suggests, the "Corpse Refining Sect" makes use of the corpses of cultivators, and almost every disciple in the sect has a corpse they control.

When fighting against others, it is always the corpses that strike. Most righteous sects find this behavior quite shameful, yet the "Corpse Refining Sect" has existed on the Tianjiang Plain for thousands of years, and its foundation is very solid. It is not an easy matter to shake it.

"I think the two fellow Daoists should stop engaging in sharp-tongued bickering. In another day, once the disciples enter the Trial Ground, won't the outcome be clear in three years?"

A soft, beautiful woman's voice suddenly rang out, and immediately, the Sect Masters of the three sects turned their gazes toward the source of the sound. There, a tall, graceful young woman was smiling as she spoke.

"Sect Master Zhuo Zhiyan of the 'Beixuan Sect' is right; who will emerge victorious can only be known after the trial ends!"

Leng Xinghun's mouth curled up, and his sinister smile appeared again.

Zhuge An glanced at the young woman and let out a cold snort. He was the Sect Master of the Nanxuan Sect, while Zhuo Zhiyan was the Sect Master of the Beixuan Sect. Although the names of these two sects sounded very similar, they were actually of the same lineage, only splitting into two sects later for some reason, with each sect claiming to be the orthodox one.

That was a matter from thousands of years ago. Now, few cultivators on the "Tianjiang Plain" know why they split into two sects, but the secret rivalry between the two is visible to everyone.

Zhuo Zhiyan swept a glance at Zhuge An but ignored him, turning her head back to look at the huge pillar of light in the distance, a faint, cold smile appearing on her face.

The Sect Masters of these four sects all possessed the strength of the Golden Core Late Stage and were renowned figures on the Tianjiang Plain, so they rarely had open friction, but they were constantly engaged in secret intrigue.

On the Tianjiang Plain, there has been a Dharma Array since ancient times, built by some great master of unknown identity. This array opens once every three hundred years. Through the array, cultivators can enter another space, which contains many kinds of Spiritual Medicine—rare treasures in the Cultivation World. But at the same time, the demonic beasts inside are countless; it can be said that opportunities and dangers coexist.

No one knows when it started, but the Four Great Sects on the Tianjiang Plain began to use this teleportation array to enter the unknown space to harvest the Spiritual Medicine inside. While harvesting the Spiritual Medicine, it also serves as a trial for every disciple.

However, the Four Great Sects have set a rule: the cultivation of disciples entering the Dharma Array cannot exceed the Golden Core stage. Only in this way can it be ensured that disciples are not one-sidedly slaughtered when they enter the unknown space.

Within this unknown space, there are no other cultivators besides demonic beasts, and the Spiritual Qi inside is very thin, only about forty to fifty percent of that in the outside world. It is extremely unfavorable for a cultivator's training.

If it were not for the fact that the spiritual herbs growing there are too tempting, perhaps no one would let their disciples enter. In the unknown space, disciples of the Four Great Sects can kill each other, and once they leave the unknown space, they are not allowed to seek revenge on each other. This unwritten rule has caused countless cultivators to die there.

The Sect Masters of the Four Great Sects do not care about this; only through such life-and-death trials can more outstanding disciples be selected from within the sects. As for those who die inside, they can only blame their own lack of skill!

Finally, the four sects see which sect has the most disciples emerge from the Trial Ground. The sect with the most will enjoy thirty spiritual herbs contributed by the other sects. If the spiritual herbs are insufficient, they must be supplemented at a rate of ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones per herb!

Because of this, the Four Great Sects attach great importance to this trial, each sending out their most outstanding disciples in order to win the final, generous reward!

In addition to the spiritual herbs obtained by their own disciples, there are the thirty spiritual herbs contributed by the last-place sect, which is definitely not a small number! Even if converted entirely into Spirit Stones, that would be as many as three hundred thousand Spirit Stones!