14: The trial begins, Liang Jian

Cangyun Valley Trial Grounds.

The trial duration is three days. After three days, regardless of whether the collection tasks are completed, everyone must gather at the flying boat.

As the Disciples left the flying boat, it marked the beginning of their trial.

Jiang Yan did not team up with anyone. In his view, teaming up meant splitting the resources obtained and having to consider everyone's individual tasks, so he chose to act alone.

After greeting Ma Zi, he headed toward the depths of the valley.

According to Ma Zi, as long as they didn't go to the central area of the valley, they wouldn't encounter any danger.

But Jiang Yan always felt that this trial wasn't that simple.

Jiang Yan scanned the surroundings and noticed only a few scattered Disciples nearby, so he quickened his pace.

Once there was no one left around him, he stopped hiding his cultivation.

Passing through patches of dense forest, he finally found his first collection task resource.

three-leaf flower. This spiritual plant was very common and could be found everywhere in the Sect's spiritual plant garden.

Although he didn't know why the trial task required them to collect such ordinary spiritual materials, since it was the task, he could only comply.

Just as he was about to pick the three-leaf flower in front of him, a dark shadow suddenly streaked out from the deep grass nearby.

Clang!

Jiang Yan was quick of hand and eye, immediately using his longsword to block.

As the dark shadow landed, he could finally see clearly what it was that had attacked him.

"Spotted Flower Spirit Snake?"

Jiang Yan was very surprised because this thing belonged entirely to the category of medium-sized Spirit Beasts.

He often fed these creatures in the middle area of Spirit Beast Peak and knew their habits like the back of his hand.

'I see. It seems the purpose of the trial is these things.'

The Spotted Flower Spirit Snake let out a hostile hiss.

Then, its body arched, and it pounced toward Jiang Yan with a spring.

"Courting death!"

He held his longsword horizontally and launched the Swallow Flow Sword Technique from bottom to top.

The sharp sword light was like cutting through melons and vegetables, directly slicing the Spotted Flower Spirit Snake into two segments.

As the brown blood splattered on the ground, he quickly rushed to the Spotted Flower Spirit Snake and delivered a final blow to end its life.

[Killed Spotted Flower Spirit Snake. Gained EXP: 600. Gained life span: 29 years. life span: 97 years.]

[Current EXP: 18.32%]

[Plundered 0.1 essence from Spotted Flower Spirit Snake.]

[Sword Weapons LV3 (215/10000)]

After picking the three-leaf flower and putting it in his pocket, Jiang Yan carefully observed his surroundings.

'Since there's a Spotted Flower Spirit Snake here, there should be other Spirit Beasts hiding nearby.'

He certainly wouldn't easily let go of Spirit Beasts from which he could plunder essence; after all, essence was an important attribute for increasing his physique.

Over the past half month, he had studied carefully and found that immortal cultivators rarely focused on physique Cultivation. He had also asked his Cheap Master if there were any books for practicing Body Tempering methods.

And the answer Li Yi gave was just two words: "None."

Although the answer was disappointing, he gained some information from it.

If he could raise his physique to the point where it could withstand a Magical Artifact, would that mean he could directly fight those in the Foundation Establishment Realm?

Although this idea was a bit far-fetched and a bit Xuanhuan, it was still a direction. After all, even a salted fish has dreams.

The trial continued fervently, and by now, many Disciples had already been attacked by Spirit Beasts. Deaths and injuries were inevitable; after all, this was the path of choosing to Cultivate immortality.

The Great Dao is non-action; if one doesn't strive, what kind of immortality cultivation is that?

Cultivating immortality is inherently going against the heavens, and only through a path of hardships can one strive for that glimmer of longevity.

Jiang Yan searched for spiritual materials while looking for hidden medium-sized Spirit Beasts.

In the blink of an eye, the afternoon passed, and Jiang Yan's pocket already contained dozens of types of spiritual materials.

As for Spirit Beasts, he had also slaughtered dozens that contained essence.

Although most Spirit Beasts had no essence, he couldn't resist the sheer number of them.

Not long after going deeper into the forest, before he could even rest, he heard the sound of fighting nearby.

He quietly approached and saw two Disciples besieging a medium-sized Spirit Beast, a "Fire Refined Snake." Next to the snake's nest, a "Cold Spirit Grass" was growing.

According to his spiritual plant appraisal, this material was the main ingredient for refining qi yuan pills.

Those two had clearly discovered the Cold Spirit Grass as well, and they showed no mercy in their attacks.

Jiang Yan didn't step forward to interfere, just quietly waiting.

In his view, these two Disciples from great clans might look impressive, but they were completely outmatched by the Fire Refined Snake.

He would wait until they showed signs of defeat before stepping in. This way, he would not only earn their gratitude but also be able to ask them some things. As for that Cold Spirit Grass, he could ignore it entirely since it wasn't part of his task.

After the two Disciples fought with the Fire Refined Snake for dozens of rounds, they were clearly showing signs of fatigue.

"Brother Liang Jian, this fellow is too hard to deal with. If it doesn't work, let's retreat. Don't throw our lives away," shouted the youth holding a saber.

The youth called Liang Jian gritted his teeth and insisted, "No, I'm just one spiritual material short of completing the trial task."

"But this guy is too tough. If you won't give up, then I can only leave first," the saber-wielding youth said.

Just as the two were struggling, they felt a blur before their eyes, as if a bolt of lightning had flashed past the Fire Refined Snake.

When they looked closely, both were startled by the person who had appeared.

"You, you are... that Menial Servant from the back of the boat?" Liang Jian asked in shock.

Jiang Yan, with his back to the two, did not answer. Holding his longsword, he struck at the Fire Refined Snake's head.

[Killed Fire Refined Snake. Gained EXP: 650. Gained life span: 24 years. life span: 119 years.]

[Current EXP: 92.59%]

[Plundered 0.1 essence from Fire Refined Snake.]

[Sword Weapons LV3 (2415/10000)]

Looking at the Cold Spirit Grass not far away, Liang Jian spoke with some difficulty.

Noticing Liang Jian's expression, the saber-wielding youth said pretentiously, "Hey, you Menial Servant, we are Young Masters from the Prime Minister's Residence of the Heavenly Wind Dynasty. Seeing as you have decent skills, how about becoming my servant?"

Hearing his companion's words, Liang Jian was instantly dumbfounded and hurriedly waved his hands. "Senior Brother, my brother's brain isn't working right. Please do not be angry."

The saber-wielding youth was displeased and questioned, "Liang Jian, what do you mean? He's just a Menial Servant, let..."

Before the saber-wielding youth could finish, Liang Jian quickly covered his mouth and lowered his voice, "Do you want to die? He could kill a Fire Refined Snake in one blow. Do you think he's an ordinary Utility Disciple?"

Hearing this, the saber-wielding youth looked at the dead Fire Refined Snake on the ground and then at Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan ignored these two pampered sons. Originally, he wanted to gather some information from them, but they clearly looked down on him. He simply picked the Cold Spirit Grass and prepared to leave.

Seeing Jiang Yan walk toward the Cold Spirit Grass, Liang Jian hurriedly said respectfully, "Thank you for saving us, Senior Brother. May I ask for your name? Would you be willing to join us?"

"No need, I'm used to acting alone," Jiang Yan replied simply.

"Senior Brother, could you let me have that Cold Spirit Grass? I can exchange five Spirit Stones with you for it," Liang Jian quickly stepped forward.

Hearing 'five Spirit Stones,' Jiang Yan's expression was a bit surprised, but then he understood.

An ordinary spiritual material like Cold Spirit Grass could usually be exchanged at a rate of ten plants for one Spirit Stone. But this was in the trial; there would surely be many people needing it, and the price would naturally be higher than outside.

But even so, it couldn't be worth five Spirit Stones. It was clear that Liang Jian wanted to befriend him.

Jiang Yan had no intention of taking the Spirit Stones and asked instead, "You need it?"

"To be honest, Senior Brother, this Cold Spirit Grass is my final task," Liang Jian said truthfully.

"Take it then," Jiang Yan said, waving his hand nonchalantly.

Ah?

Liang Jian and the saber-wielding youth were both stunned, completely unable to understand what Jiang Yan meant.

Noticing their expressions, Jiang Yan said indifferently, "I don't need this thing. I only stepped in because I saw you two were no match for the Fire Refined Snake. As for this person's way of speaking, I dislike it very much."

Hearing this, the saber-wielding youth's expression became awkward. He was just used to the lifestyle of a pampered son and hadn't corrected it in time.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. May I know your name? Once I enter the Outer Sect, I will surely bring gifts to thank you in person," Liang Jian asked.

"Jiang Yan," Jiang Yan said casually, then waved his hand. "No need for personal thanks. I want to ask, do you know this Cangyun Valley well? Do you know where the sickle scarlet beehive can be found?"

Actually, Jiang Yan was also missing his final item, but despite wandering around, he hadn't encountered a Sickle Scarlet Bee.

Hearing that Jiang Yan wanted to know about Cangyun Valley to find the Sickle Scarlet Bee, Liang Jian immediately smiled and took out a parchment map from his robe.

"Senior Brother Jiang, this is a map of Cangyun Valley. However, the Sickle Scarlet Bee you're looking for... I'm afraid you'll have to enter the central area to find it."