The Feihong Mountain Range was located east of the Li Huo Sect, stretching over a thousand li from north to south with complex terrain.
At the northernmost end, Outer Sect Elder Chen Tianyang released the last Spirit Beast, his expression worried. "Jiang, aren't these Spirit Beasts a little too strong?"
He had come to set up the trial today, only to discover that among the Spirit Beasts the Sect had prepared, there was actually a late-stage Qi Refining Ghost-faced Spider.
If any disciples got unlucky, the consequences could be severe.
"Junior Brother Chen, I have already requested instructions. The Daoist's intention is that a few disciple casualties are acceptable."
"Why the rush? They're the future of our Sect."
"How can we not be in a rush? I heard rumors from the Commerce Association in the Marketplace that the Yingyue Immortal Sect has already been defeated. In a few more years, the Demonic Calamity might reach our Li State."
Hearing this, Chen Tianyang paused. "This can't be true, can it? No wonder it feels like there have been far fewer merchant caravans passing through lately."
For the past hundred years, Demon Cultivators flying the banner of the Divine Fire Sect had been active throughout the Southern Domain, attacking passing cultivators.
This sort of thing was originally quite normal. The path to immortality is arduous, and cultivation is not easy.
Thus, there were always people looking for shortcuts, willing to pay any price.
All sorts of unorthodox paths, and even Evil Demons and Outsiders, emerged endlessly, and the various sects would periodically crack down on them.
But the Divine Fire Sect was different. Despite being defeated multiple times, it would quickly regroup and return, stronger each time. Now, it was growing more and more intense.
Fortunately, Li State was located on the western side of the Southern Domain and was relatively barren. Logically, it shouldn't attract the attention of the Divine Fire Sect and become their next target.
'The Daoists must just be taking precautions,' he figured.
'I hope the disciples from the Chen Family have better luck and don't run into the Ghost-faced Spider.'
With this in mind, Chen Tianyang said a brief farewell and hurried to the assembly point at the southern end of the Feihong Mountain Range, planning to give a warning.
This year, because it involved actual combat, the twelve divisions of the Outer Sect were not being assessed together. Instead, they would set off in sequence.
On the first day, only the disciples of the First Division would enter the Feihong Mountain Range.
The task for this trial was to safely traverse the Feihong Mountain Range, which was now filled with Spirit Beasts, within seven days.
Additionally, they had to kill the Spirit Beasts they encountered along the way and retrieve the Points Jade Tokens that had been placed inside them beforehand.
Disciples who obtained fewer than six points or failed to arrive at the northern assembly point in time would have it recorded. Three such failures would result in losing the qualification to be promoted to the Inner Sect.
Of course, since it was a trial, there were rewards as well as punishments.
The ten disciples with the highest scores from each division would automatically become inner sect candidates for the new year. They would also receive additional rewards based on their ranking.
The first-place disciple would be rewarded with their choice of any Xuan-level Technique. The second and third-place disciples would be rewarded with one of three designated Xuan-level techniques,
Those ranked from fourth to tenth would be rewarded with their choice of one Yellow-level Technique.
Steward Chen gave a special reminder, "I know many of you have chosen Xuan-level Cultivation Techniques, but do not underestimate the importance of Yellow-level Techniques because of it."
"A technique that can be singled out and specially cultivated has its own unique advantages and is far stronger than a general-purpose one."
"For example, someone at the sixth layer of Qi Refining who can only cast the Fireball Technique according to their Heart Method will naturally be no match for a fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator who has specially practiced the Fire Snake Technique."
"It's no exaggeration to say that if all other conditions are similar, the outcome of a fight between these two would be a nine-to-one split."
Just then, Chen Tianyang descended on his sword and added, "Correct. As the saying goes: 'The Law Practitioner follows the great Dao of longevity; the Technique Practitioner wields the sharp tool that protects the Dao. The Law guides the lost, and Techniques defend against adversity.'"
"These principles are all in the Sect's code of conduct. You should read it often and contemplate it deeply. Now, go and prepare for the trial. Zhi'an, you come with me first."
The disciples below all cupped their hands. "Thank you for your teachings, Elder."
Taking advantage of this rest period, Xiao Chen also did a quick review of the few Small Magic he currently knew.
Just as Steward Chen had said, most Cultivation Techniques came with a few Basic Magic. For example, the Qi Nourishing and Breathing Technique came with five Small Magic.
Corresponding to the Five Elements of heaven and earth, they were named the Golden Light Technique, Wood Vine Technique, Water Therapy Skill, Fireball Technique, and Earth Shield Technique.
Although their effects were usually quite average, for now, they were all the tools Xiao Chen could rely on for this mock-combat Outer Sect trial.
The effects of these few Small Magic were simple and clear, almost exactly as their names suggested.
They corresponded to five common scenarios: exorcising evil, trapping enemies, Healing, attacking, and Defense.
Each technique consumed at most one sliver of Magical Power, but one could also voluntarily reduce the supply of Magical Power to lower its potency.
Although they seemed the same for everyone, one could achieve completely different effects through specific casting skill training.
Within the Sect, there were Cultivation Chambers specifically for practicing magic. Three hours cost only one Spirit Stone. Xiao Chen had gone once, but he later gave up on delving into it.
The reason was extremely simple: the enhancement from his Featherweight Augment was also effective on magic. At least, practice had shown it was effective on the magic that came with the Qi Nourishing and Breathing Technique.
In the Cultivation Chamber, there was a Refined Xuan Iron Stele used for repeatedly testing the Fireball Technique.
The first and only time Xiao Chen tried it, he naturally went all out. As a result, the Refined Xuan Iron Stele, which was supposed to withstand thousands of attacks, was directly scorched, leaving a large pit.
It was quite awkward. He had seemingly damaged public equipment.
So, Xiao Chen didn't test the rest of his magic. He just turned around and slipped away.
Miraculously, no disciple ever came to question him or ask for compensation afterward. The matter was simply dropped.
What Xiao Chen didn't know was that the disciple in charge of inspections that day only thought about it for a Quarter Hour before naturally concluding that the quality of the Refined Xuan Iron Stele itself was the problem.
After all, it was a new stele that had only been replaced a month ago. How could it possibly be damaged by a Qi Refining Stage disciple?
Therefore, Xiao Chen was actually very confident in the power of his magic.
Whether it was through arena fights or a practical combat simulation like this one, he was quite confident.
He even hoped in his heart that the assessment this time would be a bit more difficult; otherwise, it would be inconvenient to widen the gap between him and the other disciples.
The disciples of the Second Division were departing on the second day, so Xiao Chen slept soundly.
When they gathered the next morning, he noticed that several of his junior brothers looked exhausted, clearly not having slept well.
"Xiao, you don't seem nervous at all. I only slept for two hours last night."
"Junior Brother Liu, you've always diligently studied Magical Combat. Why are you worried now?"
The one who spoke, Junior Brother Liu, had also chosen to cultivate a Spirit Field. Their Spirit Fields were right next to each other, so they saw each other every day and gradually became familiar.
Normally, Junior Brother Liu loved to find people for Magical Combat training. He had invited Xiao Chen many times, and even though he was always politely refused, he still called out to him whenever he had free time.
Logically, he should have been more confident about this kind of confrontation.
Unexpectedly, Junior Brother Liu leaned in close. "This time, the points for Spirit Beasts are based on their Cultivation Realm. To get six points, you have to kill a sixth-layer Qi Refining Spirit Beast."
He lowered his voice. "I heard a junior brother from the First Division ran into trouble."
'Huh?'
'Does this mean the Sect wants them to fight opponents of the same level?' Xiao Chen was a little surprised.
He originally thought the Sect would only catch a few Spirit Beasts around the fourth layer of Qi Refining.
'But from the sound of it, could it be that there are already sixth-layer Qi Refining Spirit Beasts in the Feihong Mountain Range?'
This news was soon confirmed.
At 7:45 AM, Steward Chen gathered all the disciples of the Second Division, his expression grave.
"This trial... carries a certain degree of danger. If anyone doesn't want to participate, you have one hour to come find me and withdraw."
"Some of you may have already heard, and I won't hide it from you. Yesterday, a disciple from the First Division who entered the mountains had an accident."
"A fifth-layer Qi Refining disciple was seriously injured and rescued by Elder Jiang. And another, a new disciple at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, encountered a Ghost-faced Spider..."
Steward Chen paused for three breaths.
"Confirmed dead!"