"Senior Brother Li, does this count as a trial?"

"Senior Brother Li, the elder has divided us into two teams to carry out the same task. Is there an intention for mutual competition and evaluation?"

"Senior Brother Li, half a year ago, an Inner Sect Disciple died during the Great Marsh Mountain trial. Does the sect really care nothing for our lives?"

...

It has been three years since I officially embarked on my cultivation journey.

On this day, the Dharma Transmission Hall elder summoned five people to investigate and capture a thief cultivator from a destroyed family in the state.

Just after exiting the hall, the three True Disciples urgently transmitted their inquiries.

Li Ji’an nodded and said openly, "As far as I know, this is indeed a sect trial. As for being divided into two teams for the task, it certainly has the intention of competition and evaluation.

Whether the sect cares for our lives, I believe they certainly do not wish for us to die.

However, last year Junior Brother Liu was demoted to Inner Sect Disciple as an observation of later effects, indicating that whether we hold the True Disciple status is also decided by the sect."

Living at Pill Cauldron Peak since the age of eight is no secret, being the Chief True Inheritor makes it hard to avoid answering the juniors’ questions.

However, the news about True Disciples having Guardians is a sect secret and not known unless at a certain level, so he could not speak plainly.

Last year, one of the originally six True Disciples, due to a breakthrough to the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation within two years, became a bit impetuous, and due to some ties with family before entering the sect, couldn’t resist associating frequently with the family, ended up being made an example of, demoted to Inner Sect Disciple as further observation.

"Enough talk. Who’s with me? Let’s set off to the Pinghu Xue Family immediately." Yao Rui, who had been silent since leaving the Dharma Transmission Hall, suddenly spoke, her gaze sweeping over the other three.

"This..." The other three True Disciples, except for Li Ji’an, looked at each other in dismay.

They then glanced at Li Ji’an and then at Yao Rui, feeling a bit conflicted for a moment.

Li Ji’an didn’t mind at all.

Since being set up during a trial by Elder Tian, he estimated that the discord was irreconcilable, and plots to have Yao Rui replace him have come up frequently over the past three years.

Furthermore, it was openly discussed that there were thoughts of taking Yao Rui as a Direct Disciple.

However, for a sect True Pill Elder to accept a Direct Disciple, they must be the Chief.

In other words, it was encouraging Yao Rui to push harder.

Coincidentally, Yao Rui lived up to expectations, relying on Earth Spirit Root talent, and practiced an Earth-Level Middle-Grade Fire Element Technique brought back from the Black Water Swamp Ancient Tomb a few years ago. Although the technique and Pill Medicine rationing were not on par with Li Ji’an, her cultivation progress was always closely behind.

Over three years, Li Ji’an broke through to the peak of the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer three months ago, just a step away from the late period.

The other three True Disciples just barely entered the Qi Cultivation 5th Layer.

Unexpectedly, Yao Rui also broke through to the peak of the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer yesterday, nearly matching Li Ji’an.

The spirit root talent of Li Ji’an and Yao Rui, although one is Upper Grade and the other Earth Spirit Root, their actual Spirit Charm sensing differs by only four strands, and at the Qi Cultivation stage, both nearly reach the refining magical power limit, with little difference.

Even if it’s Celestial Spirit Root, the gap between the mid and upper ranks of the Qi Cultivation stage with Upper Grade High Spirit Roots is nearly non-existent.

The greater difference actually lies in cultivation techniques, resources, and personal heart nature endurance.

Li Ji’an cultivates an Earth-Level Upper-Grade technique on par with the sect’s foundation technique, and the Evergreen Wood Technique, due to the nurturing effect of Wood Magic Power, synchronously nourishes and repairs the Spirit Vein during cultivation, resulting in stronger endurance and higher efficiency.

This should have been his advantage.

However, in this advantageous field, he was not far ahead.

Regarding the already disadvantaged magical power potency and magical combat advantage, he is even less comparable to Yao Rui.

The Fire Element Magical Power cultivated from her Heaven-Burning Technique is fierce, explosive, and restrains Wood Magic Power. Half a year ago, she competed with a late-stage Qi Cultivation Inner Sect Disciple, using her Qi Cultivation 6th Layer cultivation to win across a small stage, garnering the admiration of countless disciples.

If Li Ji’an were to engage her in magical combat, without revealing his Body Cultivator and Soul Cultivator strengths, even with thick and enduring Wood Magic Power, it would only be a matter of holding out a few extra hours.

"Senior Brother Li, I’m sorry, my... first trial..." Zhou Zheng awkwardly lowered his head and cupped his hands towards Li Ji’an before moving behind Yao Rui.

"I’ll go ahead first!" Shen Xingchen was much more straightforward.

Li Ji’an smiled and nodded, unconcerned.

"I..." Hu Zaiyi originally also considered choosing Yao Rui, especially since her magical combat strength is exceptionally high, and facing a late-stage Qi Cultivation thief cultivator responsible for a clan extermination this time, having a strong backup would be more secure. However, feeling uneasy, he hesitated and was a half-beat slow, leading the other two to choose Yao Rui.

"Then I’ll follow Senior Brother Li." Ultimately, Hu Zaiyi felt uneasy about leaving Li Ji’an the lone team, so he chose to stand behind Li Ji’an.

"Let’s go!" Yao Rui gave a triumphant smile, ready to leave on her Flying Sword.

Seeing this, Li Ji’an couldn’t help but frown.

Despite constantly receiving spiritual resources over the three years since joining, they only get Pill Medicines and Magical Artifacts necessary for daily cultivation, with no additional rations.

Other than Li Ji’an, the other four’s Storage Pouches only contained an Upper Grade Magical Artifact rewarded for stepping into the mid-stage Qi Cultivation.

The journey is long, and for them in mid-stage Qi Cultivation to ride a Flying Sword to the destination would require many stops along the way to replenish magical power.

Furthermore, much of the area en route is Spirit Starved Land, with thin Spiritual Qi. Fully replenishing magical power without Spirit Stones and Pill Medicine is nearly impossible.

As a result, by the time they reach the destination, it’d be fortunate if each has half of their magical power left.

"Don’t rush. The elder only mentioned the general situation; it’s better to clarify specifics." Li Ji’an spoke up.