314: Desolate Tower Trial

Zhang He received his orders and left.

Li Heng casually posted a major announcement in the student group chat:

"Dean - Li Heng: In three days, a delegation from the European Magicians Association will arrive at the Academy for a week-long visit. All departments, please prepare for their reception."

As soon as the news broke, the student group, which had been enthusiastically discussing the "Desolate Pagoda," instantly erupted.

"Sword Cultivator Liu Lian: Holy crap! The Europeans are coming? What are they coming for? To pay their respects to our Kunlun?"

"Sword Cultivator Liu Lian: What's the difference between magic and our Spells? Do they also chant incantations? Are there any beautiful blonde, blue-eyed female Magicians? @All Members"

Liu Lian's string of questions precisely poked at the curiosity of all the male students.

"Spell Cultivator Fang Yuan: Magic is a power system vastly different from the spiritual energy system. It primarily relies on Mental Energy to resonate with the elements between heaven and earth. The Dean mentioned before that its upper limit isn't high."

"Formation Xie Wangsheng: The essence is different. Spells are 'internal seeking,' using one's own spiritual energy to draw upon the power of heaven and earth; magic is 'external borrowing,' purely utilizing elemental power. I'm very interested in their Spell models. If I can analyze them, it might help with my Formation deductions."

"Artifact Refining Li Ziyuan: Then how does their alchemy compare to our Artifact Refining? Can they build a lithography machine?"

Li Ziyuan's statement instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the Artifact Refining Department students.

"Artifact Refining Wang Dachui: Exactly! We should let them witness our 'Fully Automatic Rune Engraving and Spiritual Energy Infusion Integrated Machine'! This is what Immortal Cultivation industrialization looks like! (Tactical lean back)"

"Artifact Refining Wu Zhe: At that time, we must have a good 'friendly exchange' with the European Great Masters of alchemy."

The students showed unprecedented curiosity and a desire to explore the upcoming foreign power system.

However, after the initial novelty wore off, everyone's attention quickly returned to a more practical matter.

The Forbidden Ground in the back mountain, that black ancient pagoda emitting an ominous aura.

The Desolate Pagoda!

Everyone understood that the pagoda could reflect one's inner self and induce a Heart Demon, but it was also an excellent Trial Grounds for Foundation Establishment Stage Great Perfection students to see through themselves and condense a Golden Core.

"Sword Cultivator Liu Lian: No, I need to go try it quickly! Why are Lin Xiao and Fang Yuan already Golden Core, while I'm still lingering in the Foundation Establishment Stage! This is unscientific!"

"Sword Cultivator Liu Lian: @All Members I, Liu, will go challenge this Desolate Pagoda today to scout the way for everyone! Wait for my good news of Breaking Through to Golden Core!"

After sending the message, Liu Lian poked Han Li and Fang Yuan individually.

"Old Han, Old Fang, coming along? To see what your Heart Demon looks like?"

Han Li slowly replied: "My Dao Heart is stable, so I won't join the fun."

Fang Yuan also refused: "I just entered Golden Core, my Realm is not stable, I need to consolidate it."

"Tsk, boring."

Liu Lian pouted and put away his phone.

He, alone, transformed into a sword light and flew directly towards the Forbidden Ground in the back mountain.

Outside the Desolate Pagoda, Liu Lian tidied his robes, took a deep breath, and with great confidence on his face, stepped into the pagoda.

Inside the pagoda was a boundless Chaos and darkness.

Immediately after, a light screen slowly unfolded before Liu Lian.

In the light screen was the arena of the Kunlun Academy finals.

He saw Lin Xiao's peerless grace when he performed "Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate," drawing everyone's attention.

He saw Fang Yuan's mighty heavenly power when he activated "Azure Thunder Transformation," shocking the entire audience.

And he himself, though he also performed well, all the limelight was completely overshadowed by those two.

A poisonous fire called jealousy quietly ignited in his heart and was infinitely magnified.

Why?

Why could they always stand in the most dazzling place?

Am I, Liu Lian, inferior to them?

As this thought arose, the scene before his eyes instantly changed.

He saw himself successfully Breaking Through to Golden Core, causing a heaven and earth anomaly that even surpassed Fang Yuan's!

He saw himself Breaking Through to Nascent Soul, becoming the focus of the entire Academy, even the Dean looked at him differently!

He saw himself holding a Divine Sword, treading on auspicious clouds, and becoming the undisputed number one person in Kunlun Academy under the envious and adoring gazes of all his classmates!

"Hahahahaha!"

Liu Lian was intoxicated in this beautiful illusion, letting out a triumphant laugh, completely lost in himself.

However, just as he was laughing most complacently.

"Bang!"

An irresistible force came, and Liu Lian's figure was mercilessly thrown out of the Desolate Pagoda, falling heavily to the ground.

His face was pale, his body soaked in cold sweat, his eyes lifeless, and he looked as if all his essence and spirit had been drained.

Liu Lian stared blankly at his hands, his mind constantly replaying the ugly, smug face of himself in the illusion.

Pain, shame, utter mortification.

He had always thought that his greatest enemies were Lin Xiao, Fang Yuan, and those peers who were more dazzling than him.

Only now did he painfully realize.

It turned out that deep within his heart, such unbearable vanity, jealousy, and greed were hidden.

The most difficult enemy to defeat was never others.

It was himself.

Liu Lian's "precedent" instantly calmed down other eager students, making them more cautious.

But there were still students who believed their Dao Heart was firm, and they successively entered the Desolate Pagoda.

Some, like Liu Lian, suffered damage to their Dao Heart and returned in disarray.

Others saw through their Heart Demon, and although they were tired when they came out, their eyes became clearer and more resolute than ever before.

At the same time.

Thousands of miles away, in the depths of the Amazon rainforest in South America.

A dark figure silently passed through the damp and dense jungle, finally stopping before an ancient altar covered with countless vines.

It was Kishibe Rokuji, who had been ordered by "the Company" to awaken the ancient Yao Race.

He looked at the altar, which exuded an aura of age and wildness, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He formed strange hand Seals and chanted an eerie incantation.

As he cast his Spell, streaks of dark energy surged into the altar.

The Seal runes on the surface of the altar flickered a few times, then completely dimmed.

Kishibe Rokuji then cut his wrist, letting blood containing an evil power drip onto the center of the altar.

"Buzz—"

The entire altar vibrated violently, and a terrifying aura that had been dormant for ages slowly awakened.