The door opened, and Xiang Zixuan was the first to appear before everyone. He walked unsteadily, looking completely drained of energy. Right after he strode out of the door, he collapsed onto the ground. The Black and White Guardians quickly dashed over and held him up.
“Splendid. I knew Xiang Zixuan would pass this trial,” praised Hu Yanbo.
“Yes, he’s doing very well for someone his age. That is, after all, a trial the hall master had set personally,” said Sha Hanbiao with a satisfied look.
The others also started raining praises on him. They seemed to be in a good mood.
Hu Yanbo smugly began, “Old Urchin, remember the bet—”
A second person leisurely strolled out the door before he could finish his sentence.
“If you can’t withstand it, don’t force yourself. Youngsters nowadays really care about their reputation more than life,” nagged Xiang Shaoyun with the tone of an elder.
Xiang Zixuan was so infuriated he was shaking. “You…”
However, he had no words. Although Xiang Shaoyun had remained sprawled on the ground since the very beginning, he had actually stood up right at the end and had easily left the room.
He even wondered if Xiang Shaoyun was cheating, but he did not dare to voice his concern for fear of offending the Holy Hall.
“Haha, well said. Well said. If you’re not capable, don’t force yourself. I think you might as well give up on the second trial,” said Old Urchin with delight. He looked at Hu Yanbo and continued, “Come, remember the bet. Pay up.”
Hu Yanbo’s mood plummeted, feeling like he had just eaten a housefly.
He replied unwillingly, “Don’t worry. I won’t run from the bet.”
“Alright. Let’s proceed with the second trial,” said the first elder.
At this time, Sha Hanbiao said, “First elder, should we take a break before that?”
Obviously, he was trying to give Xiang Zixuan some time to recover.
“Hehe, you sure are good at giving a certain someone preferential treatment,” Old Urchin mocked.
The first elder replied, “It was not mentioned that breaks would be given in between trials. You two, come with me. We will proceed with the second trial.”
Soon, they arrived before a ring. Both Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan wondered if they would be required to fight here.
“Kid, you’re dead for sure this time,” said Xiang Zixuan with a smug grin.
Although Xiang Zixuan had been squeezed dry during the first trial, he had nevertheless benefited greatly from the trial as well. After consuming some recovery spring water, his condition had improved significantly. If this trial required a battle between him and Xiang Shaoyun, he was confident he could slay Xiang Shaoyun with his sword.
As a response, Xiang Shaoyun laughed and said, “Wow, my victory is practically set in stone if this is a duel.”
“Ignorant kid,” said Black Guardian, who was standing beside Xiang Zixuan.
Black Guardian had a high cultivation level, and he was able to see through Xiang Shaoyun’s strength with one look. He did not believe Xiang Shaoyun would be able to defeat Xiang Zixuan. In fact, Xiang Zixuan should be able to win easily. Thus, he found Xiang Shaoyun’s words reeking of ignorance.
“You will soon see who’s the ignorant one,” said Xiang Shaoyun nonchalantly, not bothered to argue.
Standing before the ring, the first elder demanded, “Both of you, step onto the ring.”
Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan stepped onto the ring at the same time.
On the ring, Xiang Zixuan beckoned at Xiang Shaoyun and said, “Come and die.”
Before Xiang Shaoyun could muster a response, the first elder’s voice rang out again, “Formation, activate.”
Abruptly, curtains of energy rose all around the ring and enclosed the ring entirely. A phantom appeared before the two candidates. This was yet another clone.
“Since you are here, you must have passed the first trial. In this trial, I will personally spar with both of you. I will be restricting my strength to your level, and the one to defeat me will be able to pass the trial,” said the clone.
At this time, the many elders outside knelt down and greeted, “We greet the hall master.”
“Rise. It seems I have not been forgotten. Just watch. These two kids are somewhat acceptable,” said the hall master’s clone.
The elders could hear the blame in the hall master’s voice, as though rebuking them for selecting poor candidates, or perhaps he was blaming them for presenting him with too few options, limiting his choices. Even the first elder broke out in cold sweat at that realization.
The clone split into two, each facing a candidate as they said, “Come. If you can defeat me, you will pass the second trial.”
The two clones were respectively at the third-stage Dragon Ascension Realm and first-stage Soul Foundation Realm, matching the cultivation levels of Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan.
When Xiang Zixuan noticed that, he immediately voiced his objection, “Lord hall master, this is unfair.”
“How is this unfair?” asked the clone.
“You should treat us equally, not lowering your strength for him. This is unfair for me,” said Xiang Zixuan in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing.
“Hehe, you can earn my approval just by defeating me when we have the same cultivation level. In any case, I hold the sole prerogative to determine what’s fair and not,” said the clone.
Xiang Zixuan wanted to offer a retort, but he found that Xiang Shaoyun was already making a move on the other clone. Xiang Shaoyun was surprised to learn the nature of this trial, but it was something good for him.
The first trial was challenging enough, but the second trial was against an opponent of the same cultivation level. Xiang Shaoyun had never feared any opponent of the same realm, even if his opponent was the mighty Holy Hall’s master.
While Xiang Zixuan was still speaking with the other clone, Xiang Shaoyun did something nobody expected and attacked. He had thought that this would gain him some advantages, but this clone actually reacted speedily. Before his attack could land, the clone had already moved away.
“Not bad. Come at me harder, or you will suffer an ugly defeat,” said the clone.
“Hehe, I’m afraid you will be defeated the moment I use my full strength,” said Xiang Shaoyun confidently.
The faces of the elders turned unsightly when they heard that. Xiang Shaoyun actually had the galls to look down on their hall master. That was no different than looking down on them, and it strengthened their dislike of him.
As for Old Urchin, he acted as if he wanted to watch the world burn. Roaring with laughter, he said, “I knew I made the right choice. This is how it should be. Beat him up!”
Even Tuoba Wan’er also couldn’t help speaking up, “Grandpa Urchin, please don’t say that.”
The hall master was her grandfather. She would naturally stand on her grandfather’s side.
“Not bad. This is the kind of confidence a youth should have,” said the clone. With a smile on his face, he made his move.
