171: Chapter 171 Brother Xia, are we being targeted?

Three days was a very short time for Cultivators like Xia Jin; one could even say it passed in the blink of an eye.

However, since they had been settled here, not a single person had come to find Xia Jin and the others during these three days, which was somewhat unusual.

Xia Jin didn't mind. If they weren't in a hurry, he was in even less of a hurry.

After all, the spiritual energy permeating the heavens and earth where this Divine Temple was located was more than ten times denser than that of the Eastern Profound Continent.

After stepping into the Creation Realm, his Nine Turns Creation Sutra had reached the eighth stage of the seventh turn. Even without intentionally practicing, his Physical Body was devouring the surrounding spiritual energy at every moment.

He simply set up a Grand Tutor's Chair in the courtyard and lay on it every day with his eyes closed to rest, as if he had come to the Divine Temple for a vacation.

But at noon on the fourth day, while Xia Jin was still lying on the chair, his eyelids suddenly twitched slightly.

Someone was coming.

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a burly middle-aged man with a full beard strode in.

As soon as the man entered, his gaze fell upon Xia Jin, who was reclining in the chair.

"This kid... how can he be so lacking in manners!!" The bearded man's brow furrowed slightly, and he looked with an unfriendly expression at Xia Jin, who remained motionless with his eyes closed.

He strode up to Xia Jin and looked down at him from above, his dissatisfaction completely unconcealed.

*Cough!*

He coughed heavily.

Xia Jin still didn't move.

The bearded man's eye twitched. He coughed again, louder this time.

Xia Jin finally reacted. He lazily lifted his eyelids, glanced at the visitor, and then closed them again.

"..." The bearded man's face instantly darkened.

He had been in the Divine Temple for many years. Although he wasn't someone of high status or great power, he was at least a veteran. Normally, which of those Divine Temple Disciples didn't have to politely call him "Mr. Yu" when they saw him?

Only those few monsters with freakish talent and strength would ignore him.

And this green brat who had just entered the gates three days ago actually dared to neglect him like this?

"Get up." His voice was low, even carrying a hint of fury.

Only then did Xia Jin slowly open his eyes, yawn, and stretch. "What? If you have something to say, say it quickly."

Mr. Yu's eye twitched violently.

He took a deep breath, and then another, trying hard to suppress the anger in his heart before speaking. "Tomorrow, all Earth-rank Disciples will enter the Thunder Pool for the triennial assessment. Those who fail the assessment will be expelled from the Divine Temple. You newcomers will also have to participate."

After saying this, he gave Xia Jin a fierce glare, turned around, and left.

He was afraid that if he stayed a moment longer, he wouldn't be able to resist striking this arrogant newcomer. However, the rules of the Divine Temple did not allow fellow Disciples to directly attack one another. Even he did not dare to violate this rule.

"Take care, I won't see you out!"

Xia Jin's lazy voice drifted from behind him. Mr. Yu's footsteps paused; he gritted his teeth and his face darkened, but in the end, he didn't look back and strode out of the courtyard.

...

Mr. Yu's face was so grim it looked as if it could drip water.

"Good, very good." He spoke through gritted teeth, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

He reached out his hand, and three white beads appeared in his palm.

"Originally, according to the Divine Temple's rules, you newcomers receive special treatment and can wear a lightning protection bead when entering the Thunder Pool to block the first three strikes of heavenly lightning." Mr. Yu let out a cold laugh. "What a pity, what a pity. Since you don't know your manners, don't blame me."

He squeezed his fingers tightly, and the three white beads instantly turned into powder, scattering with the wind.

After doing all this, he gave a cold huff and turned to leave.

...

Inside Xia Jin's courtyard.

Not long after Mr. Yu left, the figures of Venerable Miaodi and Jian Wuhen appeared before Xia Jin.

"Brother Xia!" Jian Wuhen looked at Xia Jin, who was still lying in the chair, and couldn't help but ask with a frown, "Who was that person just now? I saw him leaving with a dark face. Could he be looking for trouble with you again?"

"You mean that guy? Is he even worthy of looking for trouble with this Prince?" Xia Jin said with a smile. "However, he did mention that we're supposed to participate in some triennial Thunder Pool assessment tomorrow."

...

Early the next morning, the three of them arrived outside the massive Stone Gate that led to the Thunder Pool.

At this moment, dozens of people had already gathered before the Stone Gate.

"Hmm? Quite a lot of people!" Xia Jin casually scanned the surroundings and found that besides the five others who had passed the assessment with them that day, he hadn't seen any of the rest. Clearly, they were all veterans who had entered the Divine Temple early on.

And that Mr. Yu was standing to one side of the Stone Gate. Upon seeing Xia Jin's arrival, a faint, flickering sneer appeared on his face.

"The hour has arrived."

"The assessment begins."

A low voice suddenly rang out, coming from within the Stone Gate.

As soon as the voice fell, the veterans immediately moved. They scrambled to rush into the Stone Gate, and within a few breaths, dozens of people had all entered the Thunder Pool, leaving only Xia Jin and the few other newcomers standing there.

Mr. Yu walked out from the side of the Stone Gate and looked at Xia Jin and the others with a faint mockery on his face.

"You're still not going in?" A sneer appeared on his face as he spoke. "A reminder: the further you go into the Thunder Pool, the more violent the heavenly lightning becomes. If you don't enter now, don't regret it later."

The three from the Xiji Continent exchanged glances and, without hesitation, rushed directly into the Stone Gate.

The two from the Tianqi Continent followed closely behind, with the man carrying the black spear leading the way.

The moment he stepped into the Stone Gate,

*Boom!*

A thick bolt of heavenly lightning descended from the sky, striking straight toward the top of his head.

The man's expression changed, and his black spear instantly lashed out, intending to meet the falling lightning. But just as the lightning was about to hit him, the white bead hanging around his neck suddenly lit up, and a transparent light shield instantly enveloped his entire body.

The heavenly lightning struck the light shield, letting out a muffled thud before dissipating into nothingness.

"What's going on!?" A flash of confusion appeared in the man's eyes, but he didn't stop. He continued forward and soon disappeared into the lightning glow.

Xia Jin's pupils constricted slightly as he instantly spotted the problem. Those people all had the same white beads hanging around their necks.

He then looked at Jian Wuhen and Venerable Miaodi beside him; their necks were empty.

Xia Jin narrowed his eyes and turned to look at the sneering Mr. Yu.

For a moment, their eyes met.

A mocking smile curled at the corner of Mr. Yu's mouth, as if to say: *Now you know the consequences of offending me?*

Xia Jin withdrew his gaze and suddenly gave a light chuckle.

"Interesting." He looked away and then turned to the two beside him. "Let's go, we'll go in and take a look too."

"Brother Xia, we couldn't have been screwed over by this guy, right..." Jian Wuhen wanted to say more.

Xia Jin waved his hand, interrupting him. "Just a few bolts of heavenly lightning, what's there to fear? Follow this Prince, and you won't have any trouble!"

After saying that, he strode toward the Stone Gate.

Jian Wuhen and Venerable Miaodi exchanged looks, glared fiercely at Mr. Yu, and then hurriedly followed.

The three figures soon disappeared into the Stone Gate.

Mr. Yu watched their departing backs, the cold sneer on his face deepening.

"Arrogant newcomers. Without those lightning protection beads, I'll see how long you can last. The heavenly lightning in the Thunder Pool is no joke."