Two figures slowly descended from the sky, landing on the platform to reveal themselves: none other than the last to arrive, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran. Their appearance naturally attracted many gazes in the arena, but aside from a few, most people did not recognize Xiao Yan. Although his name had become quite well-known due to his recent conflict with the Wind and Lightning Pavilion, in the minds of some, he still fell short compared to young elites like Miss Feng and Tang Ying.
Xiao Yan paid no heed to the attention, his gaze sweeping the field. He was surprised to see nearly twenty figures already present. He hadn’t expected them to be so swift, even despite his own overnight rush. Of course, this was largely due to Xiao Yan’s unfamiliarity with the path. Most of the individuals present were extremely familiar with the Tianmu Mountain Range, and knew several shortcuts. In comparison, being unfamiliar with the area, Xiao Yan was at a disadvantage. If not for meeting Nalan Yanran at the last moment, he might not have arrived on time.
While scanning the crowd, Xiao Yan spotted a few familiar faces. His gaze first paused on Miss Feng, who exuded an aura of nobility. This woman’s beauty was no less than Nalan Yanran’s, and her charm seemed to incite a desire for conquest in some men.
Not far away, Miss Feng, noticing Xiao Yan’s gaze, directed her eyes toward him, a hint of challenge in her expression. The recent conflict with the North Wind and Lightning Pavilion had made quite a stir, to the point where even the mighty Fee Tian had failed to capture him, causing significant embarrassment to the North Pavilion. If she could capture Xiao Yan and hand him over to the North Pavilion, it would be a favor they owed her, which could greatly aid her in the future contest for Pavilion Master.
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Miss Feng’s lips. It seemed this man could not be allowed to escape. If he left the Tianmu Mountain Range, he could once again receive help from that powerful soul, making him nearly impossible to overcome even for her.
“Since you’ve come to me, I won’t let you go,” she thought.
Of course, Xiao Yan was unaware of her intentions, and even if he knew, he would dismiss them. Though he did indeed fear the old masters of the Wind and Lightning Pavilion, there were few among his peers who could force him into such a predicament.
Shifting his gaze from Miss Feng, his eyes landed on two more figures—Tang Ying from the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion and Wang Chen from the Yellow Springs Pavilion. Tang Ying nodded slightly at Xiao Yan, but Wang Chen wore a dark, cold expression, seemingly not particularly fond of Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan also nodded at Tang Ying, ignoring Wang Chen, and was about to look away when he caught sight of a small, green-clad girl. She appeared to be the youngest on the platform, with large, expressive eyes that made her look both cute and out of place in the environment.
“Be careful of that girl. She is not as simple as she appears,” Nalan Yanran whispered beside him.
“How so?” Xiao Yan inquired, expression unchanged.
“Because she is the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Starfall Pavilion,” Nalan Yanran replied.
“The Starfall Pavilion? Mu Qing Luan?” Xiao Yan’s eyes narrowed. He had heard of the most outstanding figures among the Four Great Pavilions’ younger generation.
“Yes, within the Four Great Pavilions, the Starfall Pavilion has the fewest disciples, but each one is exceptionally powerful. And Mu Qing Luan is the best among them. Moreover, although she looks like a young girl, she has looked the same for several years, and her strength is undeniably formidable,” Nalan Yanran explained.
Xiao Yan felt a mix of surprise and admiration. The Starfall Pavilion truly lived up to its reputation. Given the vast power and astonishing talent of the Four Great Pavilions, it was not surprising to see such exceptional disciples.
As Xiao Yan watched Mu Qing Luan, she turned and winked mischievously at him. Unfazed, Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.
When Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran entered the platform, the small, elderly man at the stone steps glanced at them. “I am Goldstone, the Patriarch of the Gold Devouring Mouse Clan. Since you are here, you must not be ordinary. The rules of Tianmu Mountain are clear. Only those who pass our trials can obtain one of the remaining eight spots.”
On either side of Goldstone stood two enormous, dark-golden rats. These Gold Devouring Rats were at the Tier 6 level, and presumably, they were two more candidates for entering the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. If they broke through to the Battle Emperor stage and withstood the heavenly tribulation, they would transform into humans and become core members of the Gold Devouring Mouse Clan.
Goldstone’s listless voice echoed across the platform. Despite his frail appearance, no one dared to challenge him. Goldstone’s reputation was well-known; he had displayed great prowess in the battle for the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool years ago, even resisting the attacks of formidable figures like Fee Tian. This demonstrated his immense strength.
Xiao Yan’s gaze lingered on Goldstone, and he detected a faint injury in the old man’s voice. The injury was not fresh, but rather a long-standing one.
After coughing, Goldstone swept his gaze across the crowd and waved his sleeve. A flurry of movement surrounded the stone steps leading to the mountaintop, and hordes of gold-furred rats emerged. The sheer number was enough to make one shudder.
“The trial is simple. Those who can reach the top of the mountain while enduring the rat sound wave will pass,” Goldstone said, pointing to the horde of rats.
This announcement caused many faces to blanch, and whispers filled the air. Noticing the reactions, Xiao Yan was momentarily puzzled until Nalan Yanran explained in a low voice, “The Gold Devouring Mice are experts in sound wave attacks. Even a Battle Emperor would find it challenging to withstand the massive combined assault. It seems few will pass this trial.”
Xiao Yan understood. Sound wave attacks—indeed quite a niche technique.
Ignoring the commotion, Goldstone said, “You have five minutes to prepare. After that, the sound wave array will activate. Whether you pass or not will depend on your skills. If fewer than eight people pass, the remaining spots will be decided by drawing lots.”
After speaking, Goldstone closed his eyes, no longer paying attention to the crowd.
As Goldstone closed his eyes, the crowd began to stir, and some even began to seek partners to face the challenge together.
“Try to block your ears with your Dou Qi and stay behind me,” Xiao Yan told Nalan Yanran, his eyes scanning the dense horde of rats.
“Sound waves from the Gold Devouring Mice can bypass Dou Qi. Once they enter the mind, they can cause hallucinations and dizziness, making them hard to defend against. You should focus on yourself. For me, reaching here is already a limit. The others here are all formidable, and competing with them will be difficult,” Nalan Yanran replied, shaking her head.
Xiao Yan frowned. “Then how can we resist them?”
“Against the sound waves of the Gold Devouring Mice, you need either robust Dou Qi or a sound wave Dou Technique. However, the Gold Devouring Mice are natural sound wave experts, and ordinary techniques may not be effective,” Nalan Yanran hesitated.
“Sound wave Dou Techniques…” Xiao Yan mused, his eyes brightening. “Lion and Tiger Break Gold Chant” was a high-level sound wave technique. More importantly, Xiao Yan had once taken the Seven-Colored Dragon Dan, which contained a trace of dragon roar, amplifying the power of his sound wave techniques. Could this help him withstand the rat sound wave?
Thinking of the “Seven-Colored Dragon Dan,” Xiao Yan recalled its miraculous power to aid breakthroughs, a power that had never manifested since he took it. Was it only when he reached a certain level that its effects would appear?
As Xiao Yan sighed internally, Goldstone opened his eyes and scanned the crowd. He waved his hand, and a voice echoed in everyone’s ears. “Time’s up. Begin the trial.”
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