78: The trial begins, and the two beauties come to join.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the starship’s Cultivation Chamber, Lin Yang’s aura surged. His liquid True Essence, interwoven with silver-white and pale gold, was like a boiling ocean, constantly slamming against an invisible barrier. Before him, several demon cores and pieces of Strange Metal, their energy depleted, crumbled into fine dust and drifted away.

Finally, he abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp light bursting forth. A powerful aura, far stronger than before, spread out, causing the Chaos Spiritual Qi within the entire Cultivation Chamber to tremble.

“The Ninth Layer of Innate, Perfection Peak!” Lin Yang felt the surging power within his body and smiled with satisfaction. Although he had failed to Break through to the Gang Qi Realm in one go, he was now only half a step away from that barrier, and the condensation level of his True Essence had reached an astonishing degree.

Beside him, Bai Wanqing and Su Qingyue also finished their Cultivation. Bai Wanqing successfully stabilized her Realm, her aura becoming more mellow and contained. Su Qingyue, utilizing the Chaos Spiritual Qi, not only fully recovered from her old injuries but also Cultivated the Star Moon Vein Nurturing Art to the Minor Achievement stage, greatly enhancing her control over her True Essence.

Just then, the starship's sensing System transmitted a slight fluctuation, and a message from the Sect entered Lin Yang's mind—the Trial of the Heavens Passage would officially open tomorrow at noon!

“It’s finally time.” Lin Yang rose to his feet, his eyes burning with Battle Intent and anticipation.

The trio left the starship and returned to the Star Moon Sect. The atmosphere in the Sect was distinctly different now; a tense yet excited emotion permeated the air. All Disciples who had obtained the trial qualification were ready and gathered at the Mountain Gate Plaza.

As the Young Lord and Chief Disciple, Lin Yang naturally stood at the very front of the team. The Sect Master personally came to send them off, offering another round of encouragement and warnings, his gaze lingering on Lin Yang for a long time, holding deep meaning.

“The hour has arrived, set off!” Following the command of the Elder in charge of the expedition, over ten qualified Star Moon Sect Disciples boarded the Sect’s Flying Magical Artifact, transforming into streaks of light and flying toward the specific airspace on the edge of Qingzhou.

The Passage for the Trial of the Heavens was not fixed in one place, but rather forcibly opened by various major forces working together in that specific airspace at a particular time.

During the flight, Lin Yang sat cross-legged, silently adjusting his state. Bai Wanqing and Su Qingyue guarded him, one on his left and one on his right.

However, just as the Flying Magical Artifact was about to reach its destination, two hurried sounds of sword howling suddenly came from the rear!

“Someone is approaching!” The Elder responsible for protection immediately became vigilant.

Two streaks of light rapidly closed in. When the Sword Light dispersed, it revealed two stunning women wearing Xuantian Sword Sect robes, who looked eight or nine parts alike. Both were graceful and slender; one had a cold, icy temperament, and the other was lively and agile, but both currently wore expressions of anxiety and determination.

“Is that them?” Lin Yang recognized the arrivals—they were the Chu Sisters, Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning.

The Flying Magical Artifact stopped, and the Sword Sect Twin Beauties also arrived nearby, standing in the air.

“Senior Sister Chu, Junior Sister Chu, what is the meaning of this?” The Star Moon Sect Elder frowned and secretly became wary. The relationship between the Xuantian Sword Sect and the Star Moon Sect was not amicable.

Chu Yunxi cupped her fist in salute, her voice clear and crisp: “Elder, please do not be alarmed. My sister and I did not come representing the Sword Sect.” She turned her gaze to Lin Yang, her eyes complex. “Senior Brother Lin Yang, I hope you have been well.”

Lin Yang stood up and came to the edge of the Magical Artifact, nodding slightly. “Senior Sister Chu, is there something you need?”

Chu Yuning rushed to speak, her tone filled with dissatisfaction and urgency: “Big Brother Lin Yang, we came to join you! Those old fogeys in the Sect, especially Elder Wu and his group, have been constantly ostracizing us. They even said we colluded with you because of the Qingmeng Mountain incident last time, and they want to punish us! We left the Sword Sect in a fit of anger!”

Chu Yunxi added, her tone calmer: “It wasn’t entirely rash. My sister and I deeply admired Senior Brother Lin Yang’s demeanor that day. Now, Senior Brother has obtained a fortuitous encounter, his name shakes Qingzhou, and he has been established as the Young Lord of the Star Moon Sect. We believe that following Senior Brother has far more potential than remaining in that Sect full of intrigue and scheming. We heard Senior Brother is leading a team to participate in the Trial of the Heavens, and we, as Loose Cultivators, wish to join Senior Brother’s team and be at your disposal. We ask that Senior Brother take us in!”

These words caught everyone by surprise. The Star Moon Sect Elder looked stunned, and the other Disciples began to discuss amongst themselves.

Lin Yang’s gaze swept over the Twin Beauties. Their eyes were clear and firm, not seeming fake. He understood their intentions. These two possessed extraordinary Talent and righteous Heart-Nature; accepting them would undoubtedly be two great aids.

“Do you know that this journey into the Trial of the Heavens is fraught with perils lurking everywhere, and you might attract strong enemies because of me?” Lin Yang asked plainly.

“We’re not afraid!” Chu Yuning puffed out her chest. “Following Big Brother Lin Yang is definitely better than suffering grievances in the Sword Sect!”

Chu Yunxi also nodded firmly: “Since we came to join you, we shall advance and retreat together with Senior Brother.”

Lin Yang smiled: “Good! Since that is the case, I shall take you in. From now on, you are my people, and friends of the Star Moon Sect.”

He waved his hand, agreeing immediately. The Star Moon Sect Elder, seeing Lin Yang give his word, naturally did not object further.

Upon hearing this, the Chu Sisters immediately showed joy, quickly flying onto the Star Moon Sect’s Flying Magical Artifact, officially joining the team.

The team set off again. With the addition of Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning, two geniuses of the Sword Dao, their strength increased by several points.

Before long, the Void Realm ahead began to fluctuate violently, and a massive, colorful Energy Vortex slowly formed—the Trial of the Heavens Passage had opened!

The Flying Magical Artifacts of the various Sect forces gathered here, and the Disciples leaped into the Passage one after another.

“Let’s go!” Lin Yang commanded, taking the lead and turning into a streak of light to rush into the Passage. Bai Wanqing, Su Qingyue, Chu Yunxi, and Chu Yuning closely followed.

After a dizzying sensation of space-time travel, everyone appeared inside a strange, colorful Passage, surrounded by rapidly receding starlight spots.

Lin Yang did not hesitate, immediately summoning the starship!

The colossal, grey-gold object suddenly appeared in the Passage, stabilizing everyone’s bodies.

“Board the ship!” Lin Yang led everyone into the starship’s Main Control Room.

“Target, Blazing Fire Realm!” Based on the sensing of the chaos star core, Lin Yang issued the first instruction.

The starship roared, tearing through the Passage's Void Realm, and sped toward the Coordinates of the first Small World.

The expedition of the Trial of the Heavens officially commenced!