The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 169: Tianshu Academy Gathering

Far away in the horizon, a volcano that had been dormant for many years was now moving violently, with magma swirling in the deep crater.

Although there was no violent vibration, there was white smoke all around and a burning smell in the air.

However, in this oppressive atmosphere, a lone figure hovered above the crater.

The man's hair was white as snow, his robes fluttering slightly in the volcanic wind. His face was old, deeply wrinkled by time. But his eyes shone with an extraordinary brilliance, deep as the sea, sharp as a sword, as if he could see through everything in the world.

This person is Taoist Xuanqing, one of the only six remaining gods in the world - Dinghai God.

He has been in seclusion in this volcano for many years, and the dormant crater has become a holy place for his practice.

Although the volcano seemed like it could erupt at any time, Taoist Xuanqing remained unmoved.

He opened his eyes slightly, slowly raised his hand, and murmured, casting a thousand-mile sound transmission technique: "Qin Liang, come see me."

As soon as the voice fell, a slight sound of wind suddenly sounded in the air.

Then, a man in a green robe with sharp eyebrows and eyes appeared in front of Taoist Xuanqing.

His eyebrows are thick and slightly raised, and his facial features are three-dimensional and delicate, giving people a calm yet sharp feeling.

"Disciple, hello, Master!" Qin Liang knelt down and saluted, his tone respectful but without any fear.

Taoist Xuanqing waved his hand gently, signaling Qin Liang to relax his composure. "No need. I've lived for a thousand years and am already tired of these mundane rules."

"I understand!" Qin Liang responded, standing up, his eyes clear and his gaze never leaving his master.

"How is Lin Xiao doing recently?" asked Taoist Xuanqing, with a hint of expectation and inquiry in his tone.

Qin Liang answered without hesitation: "Master, after four years of training, Lin Xiao has broken through to the seventh level of Jiayin."

He paused, his eyes flickering slightly, "I have been secretly monitoring you. Master has made rapid progress and is very talented."

When Taoist Xuanqing heard this, he was relieved and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Yes, you are worthy of being the chosen one."

Suddenly, his smile disappeared, his brows furrowed, and he muttered to himself, "What a pity, ten years have been wasted. If that accident hadn't happened, he would have already broken through to the Jiawu realm."

Qin Liang wanted to speak to comfort him, but when he saw the deep worry in his master's eyes, he dared not say anything.

Finally, Taoist Xuanqing interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "Unexpected things are hard to predict. No need to say more."

Qin Liang lowered his head and stepped back silently. He understood his master's thoughts, then disappeared into the air, continued to carry out his mission, and returned to Lin Xiao.

Taoist Xuanqing looked into the distance at the crater, and his eyes gradually regained calm.

He patted the air lightly, releasing a stream of icy air that instantly covered the boiling magma, and the volcanic atmosphere subsided slightly.

After doing all this, he closed his eyes again, his body still, as if he had merged into this eternally silent volcano.

……

At the same time, at the north gate of Tianshu Academy, a golden light flashed, and the portal suddenly opened, and Lin Xiao walked out of it.

The moment he stepped into this new area, the portal quickly closed behind him, as if it had never existed.

Lin Xiao looked around and his eyes were attracted by the scene in front of him.

The gate of the academy is extremely tall and majestic, as if it is connected to the sky. It is as powerful as a rainbow and reaches into the clouds, which makes people feel awe.

In comparison, his daily life at Feng Shui Academy and the vague memories of Xianyun Sect when he was a baby, the majesty of the academy before him made him feel a little shocked.

Next to the door, a wooden table was quietly placed, and behind the table sat a man with a serious face.

He has deep facial features, thick eyebrows, a resolute face, and an aura of majesty without anger emanating from him.

He was looking down at the book in his hand. He only looked up when Lin Xiao approached, and glanced at him sharply.

There was a sign on the table - Brave Trial Registration Office.

Next to the registration desk stood all kinds of monks, all with different expressions. Some looked restless, some rubbed their hands nervously, and some whispered to each other, their eyes full of hostility towards each other.

After all, these people are potential opponents in the future.

Lin Xiao smiled slightly, walked to the table, and said politely: "Brother, I am here to participate in the Brave Trial."

Before he finished speaking, everyone's eyes instantly focused on Lin Xiao.

Those eyes were filled with curiosity, contempt, and even some venom.

Soon, someone whispered, "Another fearless dreamer." Their eyes could almost penetrate Lin Xiao's aura and see through his Jiayin seventh level of cultivation at a glance.

After hearing Lin Xiao's words, the man at the table didn't show any expression.

He quietly pulled out a paper agreement from the table, the thick paper making a rustling sound. "This is the agreement and rules for participating in the trial."

He said in a deep voice, "If you decide to participate, sign it and give it to me. Then wait aside. Once the number of people is complete, I will arrange for you to enter the trial field."

Lin Xiao took the agreement with a little surprise. He didn't expect everything to be so direct without even a tentative word.

He opened the agreement, and the first one was a life and death agreement, which was concise and clear - participants voluntarily joined the trial, and all life and death during the trial had nothing to do with Tianshu Academy. There were no additional requirements for the final signature, and there was not even a requirement to fill in where they were from.

Lin Xiao secretly complained in his heart: Isn't this just a waiver agreement? However, since he had decided to participate, there was no turning back.

He continued to flip through the second page, his eyes tightening slightly.

The second piece of paper clearly stated the rules: All participants will be transported to a suspended island. The island is divided into four zones: east, south, west, north, and central. Every two days, at midnight, one zone will sink. Failure to reach a surviving zone will result in death from the fall. At noon before the sinking, a warning will be displayed, warning of the upcoming sinking zone. Most cruelly, only five survivors are allowed in the last zone on the last day. If one more person survives, everyone will be eliminated and sink with the final zone, meeting their doom.

These rules were even more cruel than death itself. Lin Xiao couldn't help but sneer in his heart: This wasn't some "Trial of the Brave" at all, it was simply a "Trial of Death"! No wonder the Sect Master and the Sweeping Monk had tried so hard to stop him from coming; it turned out they had already seen through the dangers involved...

Lin Xiao was filled with resentment, but he did not stop flipping through the pages.

The third page was even shorter, simply listing some precautions and reminding contestants that there were monsters on the island and that defeating powerful monsters might result in unexpected rewards, but it did not explain in detail what the rewards were.

He took a deep breath, put down the agreement, turned back to the first page without hesitation, and signed his name - Lin Xiao.

After signing, he checked the agreement and found no problems, then handed it back to the man at the table.

At this moment, he still had a question in his mind, so he asked, "Brother, do you know a disciple named Lin Jiao? She also joined Tianshu Academy last year."

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere around them instantly became tense.

Several sharp gazes shot towards Lin Xiao like arrows, and the sense of oppression in the air rose rapidly.