222: Guardian #4

As more and more people withdrew, the remaining people attracted much attention.

Xiao Weiqing was one of them.

At this moment.

He stopped at the 39th floor.

"No way, is that new kid actually going to try and clear the 40th floor?"

"It's possible. I just asked around; this kid is no simple character."

"Tell me more."

"Xiao Weiqing, Level 6 True Art, less than a year since his Supernatural Awakening."

"Level 6 True Art! Doesn't that mean he's guaranteed a Second Awakening?"

Some were already envious. Level 6 True Art was extremely rare in the Training Camp—you could count them on both hands.

"That's not all. He surpassed geniuses from various countries in Civilization Relic No. 1 and passed the final assessment. Also, a while back, he defeated Zang Yu in the Great Xia Supernatural University Exchange Competition and took first place."

"Zang Yu? The kid whose Mental Energy is so strong he can't even control it himself?"

"Yeah. Back then, they had both already reached the Third Realm. Judging by his base combat power value, he's probably not far from the Fourth Realm."

"Good heavens, he's a monster. And his Awakening hasn't even been a year yet."

Amidst the discussion of the crowd.

Xiao Weiqing began to slowly lift his foot and stepped into the 40th floor.

"He actually went up!"

"Do you think he can succeed?"

"Probably not... I guess."

"I don't think so either. Even those Spirit Cultivators with Mental Energy over Rank 40 aren't guaranteed to clear the 40th floor."

"We'll know when we watch."

In a stretch of the Void Realm.

Under his feet was a piece of soft... white cloud?

Xiao Weiqing barely managed to stand steady on it.

A hundred meters away.

Opposite him, an old man with white hair stood like a pine tree.

"Young man, stand steady."

"Don't fall off before I even make a move."

The old man laughed cheerfully.

"May I ask how to address you, Senior?"

"I have no name. My codename is Guardian No. 4."

"May I ask what I must do to pass?"

Guardian No. 4 said, "You have two choices. The first is to defeat me."

"The second is to clear the Hundred Silk Bell Array."

Without wasting words, Xiao Weiqing gestured with his hand, condensing a blade...

"Hmm?"

Something seemed wrong.

Xiao Weiqing looked down at the translucent dagger in his hand, his face full of confusion.

Where is my massive thousand flame blade!!

Guardian No. 4 seemed to have expected this and chuckled,

"Here, you can only use Mental Energy. This old man doesn't have much strength; I can't withstand the fists of you young lads."

Xiao Weiqing narrowed his eyes. "A dagger it is."

As the saying goes, fists fear the young and strong; the old man opposite him would probably go down with one punch.

Xiao Weiqing stomped his foot, stepping onto the marshmallow-like white cloud, and suddenly stumbled.

He flew forward, falling in front of the old man.

"Young man, what are you doing?"

"Do you need me to help you up?"

"No need!"

Xiao Weiqing slapped the ground hard and leaped up.

He launched a sneak attack.

However.

Guardian No. 4 stepped back slightly, dodging Xiao Weiqing's fist with absolute ease.

Xiao Weiqing threw a punch, but because he used too much force, he nearly fell over again.

Guardian No. 4 shook his head and said, "Your Divine Soul is very powerful, and your Mental Energy Rank is high, but your usage is very crude."

"I know!"

Even if he were any duller, Xiao Weiqing would have realized by now that this was a test of his control over Mental Energy.

"Again!"

Xiao Weiqing stood up and attacked with wild, flailing movements, throwing punches indiscriminately.

Three minutes later.

"Huff... huff..."

"Let's take a break!"

"I'm fine with that, but the longer it takes, the smaller your chance of clearing this."

Guardian No. 4 smiled and pointed to Xiao Weiqing's feet.

Xiao Weiqing looked down.

At some point, his ankles had already sunk into the white cloud.

"So that's it."

"I was planning to play a bit longer."

"What?"

Hum!~

A violent aura exploded within Xiao Weiqing, blowing a large chunk out of the white cloud beneath his feet.

He took a step, planting his foot firmly.

Mental Energy erupted from around Xiao Weiqing, his Mind Shield becoming nearly tangible, and he slammed into the old man.

"Bang~!"

Guardian No. 4 was sent flying like a ball, falling off the white cloud.

However.

Guardian No. 4 floated gracefully in the Void Realm and flew back slowly.

Xiao Weiqing's Mental Energy was completely exhausted, and he could barely stand.

"No way, you're that old and you're still cheating?"

Guardian No. 4 shook his head. "No, you won, although not in the way I expected."

"You may proceed to the next level."

Xiao Weiqing moved his feet slowly.

"By the way, what is the Hundred Silk Bell Array?"

The old man waved his hand.

A hundred silver threads appeared, both ends suspended in mid-air. The silver threads crisscrossed, barely visible unless one looked closely, and a small bell was tied to each thread.

"Walk from one side to the other without touching the bells, and you can also pass this level."

Xiao Weiqing forced himself to focus and examined them carefully. They looked intricate and complex, but in reality, there were gaps between the threads that one could pass through.

This Hundred Silk Bell Array, it seemed, was also a test of Mental Energy.

"If I come back next time, can I still challenge you?"

The old man shook his head. "Since you've cleared the challenge, I won't appear again. However, the illusion trials from the 31st to 39th floors will remain."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Weiqing withdrew the leg he had stepped out with.

"Old Man No. 4, I'll come back tomorrow."

Under Guardian No. 4's surprised gaze, Xiao Weiqing spread his arms and fell backward onto the white cloud.

"Comfortable!"

Gradually, Xiao Weiqing's consciousness blurred.

On the plaza.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Why did Xiao Weiqing step out with one foot and then pull it back?"

"Did he pass or not?"

"Probably not. If he passed, he would definitely be on the 41st floor."

"Lord Divine Envoy, I want to check the rankings."

The Elf Divine Envoy waved her little hand, and a leaderboard appeared in mid-air.

This was the leaderboard for clearing the Spirit Illusion Peak.

"Found it. 115432, Xiao Weiqing, combat power value 390."

"Looks like he didn't pass."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "I told you. How could there be so many Prodigies who clear the 40th floor on their first try, especially when he's only in the Third Realm."

"Let's disperse, let's disperse."

The crowd left one after another.

When Xiao Weiqing opened his eyes again.

He found himself on the high-altitude Crystal Long Bridge. Looking up, he could see the floating mountain peaks. Scanning around, there were fewer than thirty people left on the Crystal Long Bridge.

There weren't many left on the plaza either.

Back on the plaza.

The Elf Divine Envoy flew in front of Xiao Weiqing.

"What is your name?"

"Xiao Weiqing."

"You are strange!"

The Elf Divine Envoy circled around Xiao Weiqing a few times, looking him up and down.

"Thank you, Divine Envoy. I know I'm handsome. Goodbye!"

"Eh?"

Taking advantage of the Elf Divine Envoy's daze, Xiao Weiqing slipped away, afraid of being seen through.