42: Chapter 42, Second Survival Trial, Hidden Dangers

Qi Yang coughed heart-rendingly on the surface, putting on a weak appearance as if he was about to be fainted by the poisonous gas, but his hand movements were getting faster and faster.

After each blackened Spiritual Plant passed through his hands, the layer of disgusting mucus on the surface vanished without a trace, and they once again radiated a crystal-clear spiritual light!

"Hm?"

Steward Zhang Tong of the Spirit Plant House, standing on the high platform, was originally looking at the flustered handymen with full of disappointment when suddenly, his gaze was attracted by a stooped figure in the corner.

Steward Zhang Tong's perception was incomparably sharp; at a single glance, he saw that the Spiritual Plant in Qi Yang's hands had undergone a qualitative change!

"How is this possible?"

Steward Zhang Tong's brows furrowed sharply, a trace of disbelief flashing in his eyes.

"An old Trash with withered Qi and blood, at the Qi Condensation Third Layer with Five-Element Mixed Spiritual Roots, can actually strip away the compound toxic miasma?"

Steward Zhang Tong couldn't help but step down from the high platform, silently arriving behind Qi Yang.

Qi Yang's perception had long since detected Steward Zhang Tong's approach, but he wasn't flustered in the slightest.

He deliberately slowed down his movements, vividly displaying that clumsy water-fire alternation method.

Steward Zhang Tong stared fixedly at Qi Yang's technique for a full half-stick of incense, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"Water-fire alternation, utilizing the characteristic that the Five-Element Spiritual Power within the Five-Element Mixed Spiritual Roots is mixed yet balanced, forming a weak cycle on the surface of the Spiritual Plant, forcefully filtering out the toxic miasma?"

Steward Zhang Tong deduced inwardly, and the more he deduced, the more shocked he felt!

This method could definitely not be used by geniuses with Dual Spiritual Roots and Three Spiritual Roots, because their Five Elements were incomplete within their bodies, and once they tried, they would bring disaster upon themselves.

This was simply a clumsy method custom-made for the Five-Element Mixed Spiritual Roots! Although the efficiency was extremely low, it was incomparably safe!

"This old man has some skills! Although his Aptitude is that of Trash, this tenacity in studying Spiritual Plants and his extremely deep understanding of the mutual generation and restriction of the Five Elements make him absolute Genius at farming!"

Steward Zhang Tong's look at Qi Yang had a bit less contempt and a hint of appreciation.

What the Inner Sect Spirit Plant House lacked the most wasn't geniuses who could fight, but this kind of old working ox that could steadfastly tend to high-grade Spiritual Plants!

"Time's up!"

As the stick of incense burned out, Steward Zhang Tong shouted loudly.

Out of the hundreds of handymen in the audience, more than half collapsed to the ground wailing due to being tainted by the toxic miasma, and the rest were also covered in sweat, holding a few still-blackened Spiritual Plants with expressions ashen like death.

"Unqualified! Eliminated!"

Steward Zhang Tong coldly announced the results.

When he walked in front of Qi Yang, Qi Yang tremblingly held up more than a dozen crystal-clear purple-leaf orchids emanating a faint fragrance.

"Lord Steward, this old man... this old man has done his best."

Qi Yang coughed twice, his face full of panic.

Steward Zhang Tong picked up a purple-leaf orchid and carefully inspected it.

Purity ninety percent!

Not only was the toxin completely stripped away, but even a large portion of the originally lost medicinal properties was retained!

"Very good."

Steward Zhang Tong unexpectedly revealed a trace of a satisfied smile, tossing a jade token symbolizing passing the test to Qi Yang.

"You have passed the first trial, go prepare for the second trial."

The surrounding eliminated handymen all widened their eyes, looking at Qi Yang as if he were a monster.

A hundred-year-old Trash at the Qi Condensation Third Layer had actually become the only person in the entire audience to pass with a perfect score?

This simply defied heaven!

Qi Yang received the jade token with both hands, expressing gratitude repeatedly.

He walked toward the venue of the second trial with a stooped back, but his hands under his wide sleeves were tightly clenched into fists, feeling the Poison Wood Spiritual Power in his Dantian grow stronger by a fraction once more, feeling secretly joyful in his heart.

The second trial of the Inner Sect handyman assessment was set within a massive Formation barrier.

This place simulated the real environment of the Sect's back mountain Yao Beast Forest, with towering giant trees blocking the sky and the sun, and the air permeated with a suffocating smell of blood.

"The second trial, survival test!"

An Inner Sect Law enforcement Disciple expressionlessly read out the rules.

"Groups of ten will enter the simulated Yao Beast Forest, where First-Rank Yao Beasts will be randomly released inside."

"Your task is very simple: survive inside for the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn! Using any means is permitted; crushing the protective jade talisman in your hand allows you to forfeit and save your life, but it will simultaneously be regarded as elimination! Now, enter in groups!"

Holding his number plate, Qi Yang slowly walked into his team.

As soon as he stood firm, he felt several malicious gazes fall upon him.

Qi Yang slightly raised his eyelids, taking a calm glance without a change in expression.

The other nine people in the same group as him were all youths in their early twenties, with cultivation bases around the Qi Condensation Fifth or Sixth Layer.

These people wore uniform cyan short attire and hung decent-textured Magical Artifacts at their waists; at a glance, they were clearly not ordinary bottom-tier handymen.

"Yo, isn't this that old immortal who just showed off so spectacularly?"

A youth with a scar on his face sneered and walked over, his eyes full of disdain and jealousy.

"A Trash at the Qi Condensation Third Layer relying on a blind cat running into a dead mouse while farming to pass the first trial, and you really think you can enter the Inner Sect?"

The scar-faced youth was named He Wu, and he was the biological nephew of a powerful steward in the Outer Sect.

This group of people had long banded together in secret, preparing to join forces to clear the field during the second trial, forcing back all the handymen without background so they could steadily take away the quotas for entering the Inner Sect.

An old man like Qi Yang who had no background yet showed off completely naturally became a thorn in their side.

"Senior Brothers are joking, this old man just got lucky."

Qi Yang stooped his waist, smiling all over his face, acting just like a pushover who swallowed insults and endured humiliation.

"When we enter the forest later, this old man hopes Senior Brothers will take care of me, and this old man will definitely not steal everyone's spotlight."

The Law of Goulism: Before having absolute certainty of killing with a single strike, never argue over momentary anger with idiots.

"Consider you knowing what's good for you!"

He Wu let out a cold snort, turning his head to exchange a vicious look with the other few people.

They had long spent a heavy sum of money to bribe the Inner Sect Disciple who manipulated the Formation.

Once they entered the forest later, the Formation would automatically guide the fiercest Yao Beast toward this old fellow.

Facing a First-Rank Yao Beast at the Qi Condensation Third Layer, he wouldn't even have the chance to crush the jade talisman and would be torn straight into pieces!

"Enter the Formation!"

Following the Law enforcement Disciple's order, the ten people filed in one after another, stepping into the dimly lit simulated Yao Beast Forest.

As soon as they entered the forest, He Wu and the others tacitly scattered, occupying a few relatively safe high grounds, sneering as they looked at Qi Yang standing alone in the open space.

"Roar!!!"

Just as the Formation closed, a deafening wolf howl exploded deep within the forest!

Immediately following that, a demonic wolf the size of a calf, covered in black steel bristles all over its body, with scarlet eyes and carrying a nauseating stench of blood, leaped out from the bushes!

"First-Rank Middle Stage! Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf!"

He Wu and the others standing on the high ground drew in a sharp breath of cold air, and then cruel smiles appeared on their faces.

The Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf was renowned for its speed and brutality, and its strength was equivalent to a human Cultivator at the Qi Condensation Seventh Layer. However, a Yao Beast's Physical Body was innately sturdier than a human's; even an ordinary Qi Condensation 8th Layer Cultivator would have to give it a wide berth upon encountering it.

This old fellow is dead for sure!

Sure enough, guided by some Formation power, that Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf completely ignored He Wu and the others in the trees. Its scarlet beastly pupils locked firmly onto Qi Yang standing in the open space, and opening its bloody mouth full of fangs, it directly pounced over!

"Ah! Help!"

Qi Yang let out a terrified scream, scrambling in a panic toward the depths of the dense forest.

He ran in a stumbling manner, almost tripping over tree roots several times, looking wretched to the extreme.

"Hahaha! Running? Can you outrun the Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf?"

He Wu laughed wildly in the tree, as if he had already seen the bloody scene of Qi Yang being torn into pieces.

But he didn't see at all that when Qi Yang appeared flustered and tumbled, the fingers of his right hand had silently wiped a layer of almost transparent powder onto the tree trunks and low bush leaves along the way.

tendon-softening powder!

This was a colorless and odorless poison refined by Qi Yang using top-grade poisonous plants ripened with the black gourd!

It specifically targeted the formidable Physical Body of Yao Beasts; as long as a trace of it was inhaled, it could cause their muscles to relax and their spiritual power to stall!