The Romantic Cultivator

Chapter 685 Prelude To The 2nd Upper Final Trial (3)

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Hua Yunzi shifted uncomfortably when she saw that Ji Yuan was suddenly staring down at her bosoms.

She quickly whispered, "Be wary of some of the cultivators here. There are a few cultivators that are from the Evil Cultivation Palace here and you are their target."

With that she had quickly left to rejoin the group of celestials that were slowly shifting from their meditations; it was because this may mean that the trial was going to start anytime soon and they were now ending their meditations. 

Ji Yuan took a quick look at the male and female celestials that were all looking in his direction.

It was easier to identify the men from the Evil Cultivation Palace since they were from the Desolate Celestial Fraternity and should have a beard. Also, their robes may mark the origin of their celestial fraternity but this was not reliable. 

But then again, the cultivators from the Evil Cultivation Palace may come from a different celestial fraternity like Hua Yunzi too. 

So, he gave up on trying to guess who his enemies were.

At least he knows that they would not strike at this moment since they need his group to open the trial first.

Ji Yuan was quickly joined by his group as they slowly walked to the black stele in the middle of the platform. 

Almost 300 cultivators were now checking them out.

Ji Yuan could feel that every single one of these cultivators were all formidable figures in their own right. 

There were also some unfathomable old freaks like his old master the White Sword Monarch too and they were watching them quietly. 

Xiao Muhan could not help but shiver under their intense gazes and he was muttering, "I guess this place isn't for the likes of a mere saint like me…"

Ji Yuan nodded as he could tell that more than half of the celestials here did not look the least friendly at all and they were looking at them impatiently to touch the black stele.

But Ji Yuan did not touch the black stele as these celestials had hoped and instead, he was laughing out loud, "Let's read the black stele first…"

Xi Huangdi had heard him and he was raising his voice impatiently, "It doesn't matter. Just touch the black stele and the portal will open for us. You can choose not to enter the portal to take the trial. Do us a favor and hurry!"

But Ji Yuan pretended not to hear him and his group was also showing no interest in touching the black stele too; they were all purposely trying to infuriate everyone here. 

Ji Yuan began to read the inscriptions on the black stele and he was quite startled that this was actually a SS Trial.

"SS Trial… and it is also an individual trial. So, there are no chance that we may meet inside. It requires 300 cultivators to touch the black stele for the portal to open. Also, this is a spiritual trial? What is a spiritual trial?" 

Ji Yuan turned to his group and asked, "So who is going to take the trial with me?"

Ling Feiyue and Shui Xisi were giggling as they said, "Take us with you!" 

The Smiling Divine Maiden, the Lovely Empress and Zhi Jiugong were also nodding to indicate that they were also willing to take the trial.

The White Sword Monarch muttered a word of warning, "This is not a joking matter. This is a SS Trial and also an individual trial. Therefore, it won't be easy."

Yun Chi had suddenly said, "I'll stay here instead."

Ji Yuan was surprised, "You're sure?"

Yun Chi nodded, "We won't know of the hidden mystic laws until we are inside the portal. I am not taking any necessary risks after the last trial."

Bai Qianfeng was also saying, "I will also stay here instead. The trials here are too unfriendly to us…"

She had neglected to mention that she is an immortal like Yun Chi because she did not want Xiao Muhan, Mo Bei and Qin Shuang to know of their immortal origins. 

Mo Bei gave Ji Yuan a pat as he said, "Junior Ji Yuan, I am not going to the trial. Maiden Qin Shuang and I shall stay in this place."

Ji Yuan nodded and said, "So I guess that Xiao Muhan is also staying with you?"

But Xiao Muhan quickly said, "Do you think that I am a coward like you? Of course, I am going inside the trial. This is a SS Trial and I want to experience what a SS Trial."

In front of Yun Chi, he had to act braver than Ji Yuan, of course.

Ji Yuan rolled his golden eyes as he muttered weakly, "Friend, are you sure? I can't protect you if you insist on going inside the portal."

Xiao Muhan laughed it off, "Don't worry about me. Worry about your maidens first."

Yu Jingjing smiled as she interrupted them, "I'm not going."

"Same here." Yang Mi was also saying. "I will accompany my Jingjing here."

They really did not have any confidence in making through this trial after the last trial. Moreover they were not sure if they could use the golden talisman to escape from this trial. 

Feng Minyue said gently, "Ji Yuan, I will stay here as well."

Ji Yuan was surprised, for Feng Minyue is a peaked great saintess and she was more than capable to survive the trials.

Feng Minyue actually did not enter the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth to seek any lucky occurrence and she had merely entered to accompany Fan Yuqing. She was actually a passive maiden that had no worldly interest, even giving up her sect leadership position in the past too so that she could retire from the intrigues of the Nine Celestial Fraternity. 

Little Princess was smiling mesmerizingly, "I shall accompany Maiden Feng here as well."

Ji Yuan began to smile weakly, "It seems that half of our group is staying in this place. But this is good…"

He had actually wished that the maidens would not enter this trial because this was an individual trial and he did not want to endanger their lives.

But they are all cultivators and he had to respect their decisions. 

The White Sword Monarch said to Ji Yuan, "Little Rascal. I'll be staying here as well."

Ji Yuan laughed aloud, "Old man, you are afraid? I've thought that you are full of iron guts?"

The White Sword Monarch frowned unhappily, "Can't you read? This is a spiritual trial. I am lacking in my inner spiritual seas. This will be hard for me. As for you, are you sure that you are able to take a spiritual trial?"

Ji Yuan blinked his golden eyes before he looked at everyone, "I do have a pure soul sea, you know."

Everyone: …

Everyone: …

Everyone: …

Ling Feiyue muttered weakly, "He just wants to try all the trials that he is encountering. He is so greedy."

Ji Yuan frowned, "Isn't this the purpose of coming to the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth in the first place?"

Once everyone had decided their options, Ji Yuan and his group proceeded to touch the black stele. 

Almost immediately, a red portal had suddenly opened in front of the platform that was facing a steep mountain. 

Almost immediately, the celestials that were nearby began to make a mad rush into the red portal to seek their lucky occurrence. 

Ji Yuan, Xiao Muhan, Ling Feiyue, Shui Xisi, the Lovely Empress, the Smiling Divine Maiden and Zhi Jiugong began to follow the celestials into the red portal. 

Yun Chi, Bai Qianfeng, Yu Jingjing, Yang Mi, Mo Bei, Qin Shuang, Feng Minyue, Little Princess and the White Sword Monarch had decided to camp in this place as they awaited the return of Ji Yuan and his group.

They could only wish the best of luck for Ji Yuan and his group; it was because it was the way of the cultivators to take on the trials and no one should dissuade anyone from making their life and death callings. 

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Author Note:

1. What kind of a SS Trial is this?