Chapter 149: The First Trial

Faced with the sudden disappearance of her aura, although both men knew what it meant, they were still stunned. Here, there was nothing but trees, and more trees. Where could Xie Yingying have gone? They walked onward, through a desolate wasteland devoid of any sign of life.

For reasons unknown, Bai Qirui turned to look at Bai Shengyun. Though the latter remained expressionless, only Qirui could discern the hidden worry in his gaze, a realization that left him feeling strangely unsettled. With no one else around, they dared not wander aimlessly and could only pace in circles.

In this deserted environment, where a single misstep could lead to danger, Bai Shengyun considered their predicament and said, "We should split up."

Bai Qirui was momentarily frozen. Why? Was he trying to hasten their demise? This method was far too reckless.

"I don't think that's wise," he replied, his voice calm and steady, considering the bigger picture. "We are in such danger; if you leave and we all get separated, what then?" Bai Shengyun could find no retort. "Even if we possess the ability to protect ourselves, if we both get lost in this vast forest, what are we to do?"

Facing Bai Qirui’s questioning, Bai Shengyun was truly at a loss, yet the thought of Xie Yingying made him realize this plan had to be carried out. But he had no other way.

Bai Qirui stood up. Due to their long journey without the luxury of washing or bathing, their faces were stained with exhaustion, their eyes dim and lusterless. Qirui looked even worse; his hair was slightly disheveled, and the sand carried by the wind had coated his white robes. His once pristine attire was now overtaken by yellow dust, ruining the aesthetic, yet at a time like this, no one cared. Both men stared intently at Bai Qirui, hoping he might say something.

"Third Brother, calm yourself. I am not particularly fond of the idea of splitting up either, but since we are trapped in this fairyland with no way in or out, splitting up increases our chances of finding a path."

The logic held, but Bai Qirui personally disagreed. After cycling through their energy several times, they had no strength left to worry about such things, yet they had no choice but to split up—Bai Shengyun’s proposal was, after all, the most viable option.

"Very well, Shengyun, I will follow your plan. But remember, no matter what danger you encounter, protect yourself above all. After all, you are the hope of our Celestial Fox clan."

"Do not worry, Brother. If I encounter anything, I will report it. Please have no concerns."

Bai Qirui understood that this method was overly risky, but out of concern for Xie Yingying, he could only go along with it. For her sake, what had he not done? In truth, both knew that if no one went to find a way out, they would simply be trapped here until they perished.

However, the human heart is complex. While both men wanted to find an exit, they were each harboring their own thoughts. The method was dangerous, yet feasible. As if having reached a decision, Bai Qirui finally nodded to Bai Shengyun, and they parted ways.

The surroundings were deathly silent. Bai Shengyun walked this path alone—it was longer, darker, and occasionally punctuated by the cries of birds, to which he could not react, for the darkness was absolute.

Bai Qirui fared no better. The loss of Bai Shengyun left him filled with anxiety. Although his younger brother was powerful, he was always a source of worry, yet he had always returned safely in the past; surely, this time would be no different. As he walked, he felt the path was winding and left markers, but now he worried about losing his way.

Sure enough, he arrived back where he started. Helpless, he was distracted when he suddenly saw Bai Shengyun. Bai Shengyun spotted him as well, feeling a strange sensation, but their reunion proved this was the right direction, and they had no choice but to continue together.

As they pressed on, Bai Shengyun spotted a token. It was pitch black, and the characters upon it were illegible, but the texture of the engravings told them it was of immense value.

"What is this?"

"I do not know. Let us keep it for now, and then..."

Before he could finish, a sudden tightness gripped his chest, and an overwhelming pressure descended instantly. Bai Shengyun and Bai Qirui nearly collapsed. Neither knew what was happening; they only felt a sense of weightlessness as the earth cracked and the ground around them caved in, with soil and boulders raining down. Bai Qirui used his remaining strength to barely fend them off.

The pressure ceased. Just as the two thought it was over, the sight before them made their legs go weak. Only a select few could remain calm; some, with strength comparable to theirs, managed to struggle to their feet.

Before them stood a demonic cultivator at the Spirit Severing stage.

The two exchanged a glance, a tacit understanding passing between them. Although their own cultivation was also at the Spirit Severing stage, demonic cultivators were different—they possessed superior physiques, faster cultivation, and were notoriously difficult to kill. At this thought, they felt not relief, but a deep sense of dread.

Without a word, their silent agreement led them to act. Bai Shengyun suddenly lunged at the demonic cultivator, whipping up sand and stone in a rustling whirlwind. Bai Qirui channeled his spiritual energy, his white robes billowing and snapping in the wind.

Their combined spiritual power exploded. Sand and dust flew, the blast further unsettling the already chaotic landscape. Though they had to combine their efforts to barely gain the upper hand, the demonic cultivator was eventually defeated and vanished.

The token began to restore itself, glowing with rich spiritual energy. Bai Qirui watched this scene in pleasant surprise. It seemed the trial was to collect all the tokens. As they pondered this, the Guardian of the Realm appeared.

"You have passed the first trial and found three tokens. There are three trials in total. Good luck." With that, he vanished.

Bai Qirui and Bai Shengyun exchanged a look, both seeing joy in the other's eyes. They had not waited for him to speak further before the Guardian began to fade; they had hoped to detain him to learn more, but he was gone entirely.

On the other side, Xie Yingying was not faring well. She had encountered another demonic beast and fled into a cave to treat her wounds. The cave was extremely cold and damp, and she felt her injuries worsening by the moment.

The dripping water felt as though it were piercing her very heart. Xie Yingying felt immensely aggrieved. "How long is this going to last? I’m exhausted! If I had known, I wouldn't have been so reckless."

Just then, she heard the news that the first trial had been cleared.

A smile broke across Xie Yingying’s face—a smile like the first light of dawn. She felt she had never been so happy in her life.