The Crimson Trial was scheduled for the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, exactly ten days from now.
For the past ten days, Ning Bufan had practically glued himself to the medicine garden. Besides his daily watering of spirit herbs, all his remaining time was dedicated to tinkering with his "treasures." In a corner of his small courtyard lay a pile of scraps: the flood dragon scales stripped from the Azure Flood Dragon Banner were sizzling as he roasted them with spirit fire, the broken teeth of the Gale Saw were ground into fine iron sand, and even the half-block of thunder-patterned stone from Lu Mingyuan's storage bag was pounded into powder—these seemingly unremarkable materials, when mixed and refined into talisman brushes, could boost the power of first-grade lightning talismans by twenty percent.
"Tsk, tsk. Lu Mingyuan was well served by his death; even his bone dregs can be put to good use," Ning Bufan mumbled, a piece of licorice in his mouth. He held a gleaming beast bone, polishing a newly made talisman brush. This bone, picked up from the back mountain, was said to be from the leg bone of a "Iron-backed Azure Wolf," a demonic beast. It was hard and contained a faint earth attribute spirit power, making it perfect for drawing first-grade defensive talismans.
Suddenly, he gasped, "Hiss!"—the tip of the talisman brush was too sharp and almost poked his finger. Ning Bufan shook his hand and looked at the opened pill recipes on the table, his brows furrowed.
The ingredients for the "Spiritual Clarity Pill" were missing one item: "Spirit Awakening Flower." The cinnabar for the "First-grade Explosive Flame Talisman" was also running low. Most critically, his Black Tortoise Shield had sustained a small dent when blocking the Azure Flood Dragon's phantom image last time. If it wasn't repaired, it might not withstand a single blow from a demonic beast during the Crimson Trial.
"I need to make a trip to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion," Ning Bufan said, dusting off his clothes. He stuffed the talisman brush into his storage bag and turned to ask Uncle-Master Ma for leave.
When he returned to the medicine garden from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in the evening, the sun was already setting in the west. Ning Bufan plunged into his small courtyard, closed the door, and began to work.
He first mashed the Spirit Awakening Flower, added it to the other ingredients in the alchemy furnace, and summoned a cluster of pale green flames from his palm—this was the basic fire element spell that came with his "Evergreen Cultivation" technique. Although it was only an entry-level spell, it was more precise than ordinary flames, making it ideal for refining first-grade pills.
The ingredients in the alchemy furnace gradually melted, releasing a rich medicinal aroma. As Ning Bufan controlled the fire, he took out the cinnabar and crushed jade, beginning to grind them. The crushed jade turned into fine, snow-white powder. Mixed with the vermilion cinnabar, it actually glowed with a faint golden light, as if a handful of gold dust had been sprinkled in.
"Perfect." Ning Bufan looked contentedly at the prepared cinnabar. He picked up the newly made beast bone talisman brush and began drawing talismans on the yellow talisman paper. His movements were extremely swift; the brush tip glided across the paper, leaving trails of shimmering red light—these were the runes for the "First-grade Explosive Flame Talisman."
As he was drawing the thirtieth talisman, the alchemy furnace emitted a soft "buzz." The lid automatically popped open, and three crystal-clear pills floated out, spinning in the air and emitting a fresh medicinal fragrance.
"It's done!" Ning Bufan, with quick hands, took out a jade bottle and collected the pills. This "Spiritual Clarity Pill" was a low-grade first-grade pill. It could not only counteract the miasma commonly found in the Crimson Trial but also calm the spirit and stabilize the soul, making it perfect for dealing with second-grade demonic beasts that could cast low-level charm spells.
Next was the Black Tortoise Shield. Ning Bufan poured the profound iron liquid onto the small dent on the shield's surface, then sprinkled a handful of flood dragon scale powder, which he had stripped from the Azure Flood Dragon Banner. Flames flared up from his palm again, carefully scorching the gap. The profound iron liquid melted upon contact with the heat, merging with the flood dragon scale powder, and slowly filled the unevenness. In the end, only a shallow white mark remained, barely noticeable if not for careful inspection.
"All done!" Ning Bufan raised the shield and held it up to the sunlight, nodding with satisfaction. The Black Tortoise Shield was originally a mid-grade first-grade defensive magic tool. After the repair, it not only retained its original physical defense but also gained a slight lightning-resistance property, which was an unexpected bonus.
In the following days, Ning Bufan became a complete "homebody cultivator."
Every day, he would get up before dawn to practice his sword skills, perfecting the seventh stance of the "Blink Sword Style," "Starfall." This stance emphasized surprise attacks; the sword tip could leave three afterimages in the air, making it most effective against fast demonic beasts. By the time the sun was high, he would go to the medicine garden to help Uncle-Master Ma, using the opportunity to sneakily learn some techniques for cultivating spirit herbs. Occasionally, he would even get to sample the old man's private stock of spirit tea.
In the afternoon, he would lock himself in his small courtyard, drawing talismans, refining pills, and polishing his magical treasures. Sometimes, he would take out the Crimson Trial map he had found in Lu Mingyuan's storage bag and study the red dots on it—where the demonic beasts were weakest, where the spirit herbs were most abundant, and where would be a good place for an ambush...
"The miasma in the Misty Marsh is the thickest, so I'll need to bring more bottles of Spiritual Clarity Pills; the Iron-backed Azure Wolves in Black Wind Valley are gregarious. If I encounter them, I can't fight head-on. I'll just use the Profound Sky Lightning to scatter them; the inscription forest east of the altar is said to have ancient restrictions, so I must never go near it..." Ning Bufan traced lines on the map with a charcoal pencil, looking like a primary school student preparing for a spring outing.
One evening, as he was waxing a newly drawn "First-grade Diamond Talisman," Uncle-Master Ma's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate: "Bufan, come out for a moment."
Ning Bufan's heart skipped a beat. He placed the talisman paper on the table and lifted the curtain to go out.
Uncle-Master Ma stood at the courtyard entrance, holding a palm-sized jade box. Seeing him emerge, he directly handed it over: "Open it and take a look."
Ning Bufan lifted the lid of the box, and a stream of bitter medicinal fragrance wafted towards him. Inside lay three pills, the size of pigeon eggs, a pale gold hue, with a fine luminous aura on their surfaces. Their spiritual power fluctuations were several times more potent than ordinary Qi Condensation Pills. "Is this... 'Solid Origin Pill'?!" he asked, slightly surprised. Although this mid-grade first-grade pill was not a high-grade item, it could quickly replenish vital energy when spiritual power was depleted and also temporarily stabilize one's cultivation realm. For Qi Refining stage cultivators, it was practically a life-saving pill.
"You certainly have a discerning eye, boy." Uncle-Master Ma raised an eyebrow, his tone still nonchalant. "During the fierce fighting in the Crimson Trial, spiritual power gets depleted quickly. Keep this medicine on you; it can quickly restore what's lost."
Ning Bufan picked up a pill. It felt slightly cool to the touch. The medicinal fragrance entered his lungs through his nostrils, invigorating his spirit. He quickly tucked the jade box into his embrace and looked up, intending to thank him, only to see Uncle-Master Ma turning to walk into the inner garden, leaving behind only a faint remark: "If you return alive, the Qi Condensation Grass in the medicine garden still needs you to water it."
Ning Bufan watched his retreating figure, then touched the warm jade box in his pocket. Suddenly, his nose felt a little sore. This old man, though he didn't say it aloud, cared about him more than anyone else.
Ning Bufan's heart warmed. Just as he was about to say thank you, he heard Uncle-Master Ma say again, "Gather at the Sect Main Hall Square at the hour of Mao tomorrow. Elder Li will lead the team. Don't be late."
"Elder Li?" Ning Bufan's heart leaped, and he instantly realized—wasn't that Li Huayuan! The Golden Core elder, renowned for his impartiality in the original work, was not only the leader of this Crimson Trial but also the cultivator who, by chance, took Han Li as a disciple after the trial. Now, he was about to depart with him.
"Understood, Uncle-Master."
Uncle-Master Ma seemed about to say something more, but ultimately only sighed, turned, and left. "Get some rest early, and don't be late at the hour of Mao tomorrow."
Back in his room, Ning Bufan touched his grey robe and felt a little uneasy. This old man, who usually seemed carefree, had thought of everything for him. He took out the bag of sulfur powder Uncle-Master Ma had given him from his storage bag, opened it, and a pungent smell shot straight to his head—this stuff could indeed ward off the "Heart-Devouring Worms" commonly found in the Crimson Trial. It seemed the old man truly cherished him as a quasi-disciple.
"Don't worry, Uncle-Master, I'll definitely come back alive," Ning Bufan murmured to the moonlight outside the window, then began to pack.
In his storage bag, spirit stones, Spiritual Clarity Pills, Solid Origin Pills, First-grade Explosive Flame Talismans, First-grade Diamond Talismans, the Black Tortoise Shield, Golden Cicada Parent-Child Blades, and other items were neatly categorized. Even spare straw sandals were packed in pairs. He checked three times to ensure nothing was left behind before blowing out the oil lamp and lying on the bed to rest his eyes.
The moonlight outside the window cast upon the Crimson Trial map on the table, illuminating the densely packed red dots.
Ning Bufan's lips curved into a slight smile.
The Crimson Trial—he had waited a long time for this day.
Marrow Jade, Purple Monkey Flower, and those hidden opportunities... Just you wait, here I come.
At the hour of Mao the next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ning Bufan left the medicine garden, his storage bag on his back.
The Yellow Maple Valley was shrouded in a light mist in the early morning, the air filled with the fragrance of spirit herbs and dew. On the road leading to the Sect Main Hall, many disciples were already on their way, gathering in small groups, their faces a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Ning Bufan mingled with the crowd, listening to their discussions.
"I heard Elder Li is leading the team this time. Anyone who dares to fight privately in the trial will face severe consequences!"
"The female disciples from the Moon Concealment Sect are also participating. Their sect's techniques are on the gentler side, so be careful if you encounter them!"
Ning Bufan listened, secretly amazed. The scale of this event was much grander than he had imagined. He quickened his pace and soon arrived at the Sect Main Hall Square.
Dozens of people were already standing in the square, dressed in various Daoist robes. Most of them were at the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Refining, while a few were above the tenth layer of Qi Refining, standing proudly at the front with arrogant expressions.
In the center of the square stood a middle-aged elder dressed in a bright yellow Daoist robe. His posture was as upright as a pine tree. Although past middle age, his beard and hair were as black as ink, with only a few silver strands at his temples, which paradoxically lent his lean face an air of dignified composure hardened by the passage of time.
The collar and cuffs of his Daoist robe were embroidered with dark gold cloud patterns. Though not made of luxurious material, it was meticulously maintained. Only the dark black jade belt at his waist was loosely tied, with the end hanging down, the jade pendant at the tip swaying gently with his movements, exuding a sense of casualness.
As he stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze swept across the square. His eyes were as clear as autumn water, sharp enough to pierce through the distractions in people's hearts, yet devoid of any condescending arrogance. The surrounding disciples unconsciously quieted down as his gaze passed over them—not out of fear, but captivated by the upright and magnanimous aura he exuded, as if any attempt at sly maneuvering would be exposed before him.
However, upon closer inspection, one could notice a subtle, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. When he looked at a few low-level disciples whispering and unable to hide their excitement, his eyes even held a hint of indulgence. Earlier, a young boy had stumbled while being called out due to nervousness, but he merely waved his hand, told him to get up, and boomed, "Cultivation itself is not like a drawn bowstring. If you can't even stand steady, how can you talk about venturing into the trial grounds?"
This was Li Huayuan.
As one of the few Golden Core elders in Yellow Maple Valley, he was known for his integrity. If any disciple in the sect engaged in fraud or favoritism, he would punish them regardless of whether they were direct disciples. Yet, he disliked rigid rules the most, often saying, "Cultivation is about cultivating the heart, not cultivating for others to see." If he obtained a good pot of wine, he would sit on the stone steps with outer disciples and drink together. When discussing bottlenecks in cultivation, he would directly advise, "If your thoughts are blocked, go and break through. If you don't even dare to risk your life, what kind of immortal are you cultivating?"
At this moment, he was fiddling with a token the size of a copper coin, inscribed with the words "Yellow Maple." As spiritual energy flowed through it, it emitted a gentle glow. Seeing that most of the disciples had arrived, he cleared his throat. His voice was not loud but reverberated through the square like a thunderous bell: "Stop dawdling and form ranks. We depart in half an hour. Remember, the Crimson Trial is for you to seek opportunities, not to make enemies—but if someone truly pushes you too far, don't shame me. When you need to act, let your thoughts be clear!"
As his voice fell, he casually tossed the token into the air. With a "buzz," the token transformed into a luminous screen about ten feet wide, displaying a simplified map of the trial grounds. The sunlight shone on his bright yellow Daoist robe, outlining his upright figure with a touch of nonchalance, dispelling much of the disciples' nervousness and instead fostering the thought, "Following such an elder, it would be worth it even if we had to brave mountains of knives and seas of fire."
Ning Bufan found an inconspicuous corner to stand, looking at Li Huayuan, and muttered to himself, "So this is the Elder Li whom Han Li respected? First impressions are indeed quite good."
As he was observing, Li Huayuan suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but clearly heard throughout the entire square: "Time is up, report!"
The square instantly fell silent, leaving only the monotonous voices of the officiant responsible for taking attendance.
As soon as the roll call was finished, Li Huayuan patted his waist with his left hand, and a palm-sized beast pouch suddenly emitted a dazzling golden light.
"Roar—"
A deafening flood dragon's roar echoed through the sky. From the golden light, a colossal beast lunged out, with a dragon's head and a flood dragon's body, covered entirely in scales of brilliant gold. Between the gaps of the scales, wisps of silver arcs of electricity were intertwined—it was Li Huayuan's spirit pet, the Golden Electric Flood Dragon!
As soon as it appeared, the spirit pet circled above the square. Its immense body blotted out the sky, and the wind it generated made many disciples with lower cultivation levels involuntarily shrink their necks. The Golden Electric Flood Dragon's pair of vertical pupils scanned the crowd below. Although without malice, it exuded the pressure of a high-grade spirit beast, causing the disciples' breathing to lighten subconsciously.
"What are you all gawking at?" Li Huayuan leaped onto the Golden Electric Flood Dragon's broad back and patted its neck, "Get on! This beast is extremely fast and can reach the trial grounds in half an hour."
The disciples finally reacted, their faces instantly beaming with excitement.
"Quick! Hurry up and get on!"
"Slow down, don't push!"
The disciples scrambled onto the Golden Electric Flood Dragon's back. The dragon's back was over thirty feet wide, covered with several layers of thick cloud-patterned felt. It could comfortably accommodate not only these dozens of people but even twice as many.
Ning Bufan mingled with the crowd, finding a spot near the dragon's tail. He subtly touched the Golden Electric Flood Dragon's scales with his fingertip, feeling them icy cold and hard. The arcs of electricity on the scales gave off a slight tingling sensation, making him marvel, "This spirit pet is at least at the peak of the third grade, only one step away from the fourth. Elder Li truly has deep reserves."
Once everyone was seated, Li Huayuan gave the order: "Let's go!"
The Golden Electric Flood Dragon let out a heaven-shaking dragon roar, its massive tail slammed the ground, and its entire body soared into the sky, carrying dozens of disciples straight towards the clouds.
"Wow—!"
Many disciples were flying at such a high altitude for the first time and couldn't help but exclaim. Ning Bufan also peeked down. The outline of Yellow Maple Valley gradually shrank beneath them. The usually towering peaks transformed into small mounds, winding rivers looked like silver ribbons, and the spirit fields and medicine gardens resembled colorful brocade, woven into a magnificent tapestry.
As the Golden Electric Flood Dragon flew higher and higher, the scenery below became even more majestic. Continuous mountain ranges lay like dormant giants, vast lakes resembled sapphires embedded in the earth, and occasionally, patches of primeval forest could be seen, with the fleeting figures of demonic beasts glimpsed within.
The Golden Electric Flood Dragon carried the group rapidly towards the Crimson Trial grounds. Li Huayuan stood steadily at the dragon's head, his spirit power flowing, his robes fluttering in the wind. He turned to look at the disciples behind him and cleared his throat. His voice was deep and powerful, piercing through the wind to reach everyone's ears: "Listen carefully, this Forbidden Land is no simple place!"
The disciples immediately fell silent. Li Huayuan pointed towards the horizon, his expression grave: "This place is an ancient cultivator ruins, sealed by a wind attribute ancient restriction. Every sixty years, the restriction weakens for five days, giving us an opportunity to enter. This is a once-in-sixty-years chance, but also a great danger!"
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "Once you enter the Forbidden Land, be extremely cautious. There are rare spirit medicines, and even more savage demonic beasts. A moment's carelessness can lead to death."
"Elder Li, are the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill inside the Forbidden Land?" a disciple couldn't help but ask.
Li Huayuan nodded: "Indeed. The Marrow Jade and Purple Monkey Flower, used to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, are extinct in the outside world and can only be found in the central ring mountain range of the forbidden land. The significance of this to you Qi Refining cultivators needs no further explanation."
Everyone's eyes instantly blazed with desire.
"Remember, you can only stay in the Forbidden Land for five days!" Li Huayuan held up five fingers, emphasizing his words: "After five days, when the bell tolls, you must come out, or the restriction will seal, and you will be trapped for sixty years!"
The disciples gasped. Sixty years was enough to waste a cultivator's lifetime.
"The Forbidden Land is divided into central and peripheral areas." Li Huayuan continued, "The central area is perpetually shrouded in mist. Without the Moon Concealment Sect's Moon Sun Pearl to disperse it, entering means certain death. The outer areas, while relatively safer, are still rampant with demonic beasts, and open strife and veiled struggles among disciples from various sects are inevitable."
"What if we clash with disciples from other sects?" Ning Bufan muttered softly from the corner, but Li Huayuan heard him.
Li Huayuan glanced at him, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips: "Each according to their own abilities! Don't shame Yellow Maple Valley. You don't have to endure being bullied; act when your mind is clear, but don't make enemies needlessly."
Following that, Li Huayuan waved his hand, and dozens of bronze bracelets flew out, landing precisely in the hands of each disciple: "This is a 'Fellow Disciple Token.' If you inject it with spiritual energy, you can sense the location of other tokens. If the rune dims, it means the person is gone."
The disciples clutched their tokens, injecting spiritual energy with their fingertips, and the bracelets lit up with a faint glow.
The Golden Electric Flood Dragon continued to fly. Suddenly, a beam of green light flew from among the clouds ahead. Within the green light was a giant gourd, upon which stood disciples dressed in green Daoist robes. The elder leading them, a man with white beard and hair, held a whisk. This was none other than Floating Cloud Son, the team leader elder of the Pure Void Sect.
"Old Li! Finally caught up to you!" Floating Cloud Son's voice was loud. "You still owe me three jars of 'Drunken Flowing Clouds' from last time. Let's make another bet!"
"What do you want to bet on this time?" Li Huayuan raised an eyebrow.
"Let's bet on which sect's disciples collect more spirit herbs in total. If it's a draw, we'll bet on the number of survivors!" Floating Cloud Son laughed heartily. "The loser has to share their sect's most prized spirit tea!"
"A bet is a bet! How could my Yellow Maple Valley lose to you?" Li Huayuan's lips curled into a competitive smile.
The Golden Electric Flood Dragon and the Jade Gourd of Verdant Vines flew side-by-side. Li Huayuan and Floating Cloud Son chatted enthusiastically. The disciples sized each other up; those who were acquainted greeted each other from afar, momentarily forgetting the competition of the trial.
Ning Bufan touched the spirit herb map in his storage bag, thinking that besides the ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, he also needed to pay close attention to spirit herbs—he couldn't let the sect lose.
After flying for another hour, the sky ahead gradually darkened, and a faint smell of blood permeated the air. Li Huayuan's smile faded, and he said sternly, "We're almost there, everyone, stay alert!"
The Golden Electric Flood Dragon and the Jade Gourd of Verdant Vines slowed down simultaneously, descending slowly. Below them appeared a vast basin, with a black altar in the center. Seven areas were scattered around, each with a flag of a different sect planted in front of it—this was the Crimson Trial ground.
Ning Bufan jumped off the dragon's back with the others. The moment he landed, an oppressive aura struck him, several times heavier than the pressure from the Golden Electric Flood Dragon. He subconsciously circulated his spirit power to resist, frowning as he thought, "This killing aura is so strong. No wonder it's called the Crimson Trial."
Looking around, the other five sects had already arrived. The team leader elder of Heavenly Gate Fortress directly in front was a burly man wearing black armor and wielding a giant axe. His disciples were also mostly tall and sturdy, carrying heavy weapons, clearly adept at close combat. To the right was the Spirit Beast Mountain, whose team leader wore animal skins and was accompanied by a snow-white little fox, a heavy-shelled turtle, and a fierce black eagle. The disciples either held small beasts or had birds perched on their shoulders, appearing exceptionally close to their spirit beasts. Further to the right were the Giant Sword Sect and the Flowing Blade Dock. Their team leaders carried giant swords and large sabers respectively, and their disciples were also armed with various swords and blades, exuding a sharp aura.
With the disciples of the seven sects gathered, although each occupied their own area, an invisible competitive atmosphere already permeated the air. Many were secretly sizing up disciples from other sects, their eyes mixed with curiosity, vigilance, and a competitive spirit.
Li Huayuan and Floating Cloud Son, after landing, were greeting the other five sect elders, their faces smiling, but their tones conveying politeness and a subtle distance—after all, with seven sects gathered, no one wanted to appear inferior.
Ning Bufan found a corner to stand, looking at the lively yet tense scene before him, and silently encouraged himself: "No matter how dangerous it is, no matter how many opponents, I must survive, obtain opportunities, and achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible to establish a firm foothold in this immortal cultivation world!"
His gaze swept across the crowd and suddenly stopped—he saw two familiar figures.
One was in the Spirit Beast Mountain team, wearing a leopard-print skirt that revealed her fair legs. It was Han Yunzhi, whom he had met at the Tai Nan Small Gathering. She was dressed in Spirit Beast Mountain's signature light brown short shirt and leopard-print skirt, the hem reaching just above her knees, exposing two shapely fair legs. A small pouch adorned with beast teeth was tied to the side of her leg, presumably for spirit pet snacks. Her black hair was loosely tied into a bun, with a wooden hairpin carved in the shape of a fox inserted diagonally. A few strands of loose hair fell by her cheeks, swaying slightly with the movement of her head. She was holding a palm-sized snow-white little fox in her arms, gently scratching its chin with her fingertips. The corner of her mouth curved into a sweet smile, her eyes filled with tenderness. When she saw Ning Bufan looking, she was momentarily stunned, then her eyes lit up as if sprinkled with starlight. She quickly raised her hand and made a "hello" gesture to him, her smile filled with youthful vibrancy and an amiable warmth, showing no sign of being in a dangerous trial ground. However, before she could say more, her sleeve was tugged by a fellow disciple behind her. She stuck out her tongue, blinked at Ning Bufan, and then obediently returned to the Spirit Beast Mountain team with the little fox, her retreating figure exuding a touch of liveliness.
The other was in the Moon Concealment Sect team. The disciples of the Moon Concealment Sect were all women dressed in purple long dresses, exuding a cold demeanor. Amidst the crowd stood a female cultivator who appeared young but possessed an transcendent aura, her beauty unparalleled, yet her eyes were as cold as ice—it was the Moon Concealment Sect's Golden Core elder whom he had met at the Tai Nan Small Gathering. At that moment, the Moon Concealment Sect's team leader elder was still seeking her instructions. She wore the Moon Concealment Sect's uniform pale purple cross-collar long dress, the hem embroidered with a few dark-patterned orchids. The material was ordinary, but she wore it with an elegant and ethereal grace. Her black hair was secured with a simple silver hairpin, without any superfluous decorations. The hair hanging down her shoulders was so smooth that not a single strand was out of place.
She stood at the edge of the Moon Concealment Sect disciples' formation, not conversing with others, but merely gazing downwards, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the orchid patterns on her sleeves. Despite wearing the attire of a Qi Refining disciple, she exuded a serenity unbefitting her age. Her posture was exceptionally upright, her back as straight as a blade, like a blade of orchid in the wind.
When she sensed Ning Bufan's gaze, she slowly raised her eyes. Those eyes were as clear and shallow as an ice lake, without the slightest ripple. She merely glanced at him indifferently, showing neither curiosity nor vigilance, as if she were merely looking at an ordinary stone. The next second, she withdrew her gaze and looked down at the ground again, her aura becoming even more distant. Though standing in the crowd, she seemed to be separated by an invisible barrier, making people hesitant to approach her—it was the composure born from years of experience, an aura that no ordinary Qi Refining disciple could possess.
"As cold as expected," Ning Bufan withdrew his gaze, reminding himself: if he encountered her during this trial, he would need to think carefully.