Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 330: Trial of Sky Mountains

The usually empty, open ground below the Hundred Sky Mountains was filled with countless shops, where shopkeepers loudly offered pills, weapons, armours, and many other artifacts. The area bustled with hundreds of people, each clad in a different style of attire, representing their culture, as if people from every corner of the world had gathered here.

"Woahh!! The rumours about this place weren’t the least bit exaggerated," one cultivator murmured, his eyes fixed on the sky as he stared at the floating mountains. "This place truly looks like the heavens have descended upon Vyoman."

"Haha, today, I will become a part of this heaven," the cultivator beside him declared confidently. "I have been preparing for this day for the past five years!"

"Hah! Do you think five years of preparation is enough to clear the Trial of the Sky Mountains?" an old man scoffed as he joined them. He had a long white chin beard and a slightly hunched back. "I have been preparing for this test for the past thirty years."

"Thirty years!?" the two cultivators gasped in unison.

"Is the Trial of the Sky Mountains really that difficult?" one of them asked.

"Of course!" the old man replied. "I have taken the trial five times. This senior has the most experience under the heavens when it comes to the Trial of the Hundred Sky Mountains!"

With a sly grin, the old man moved closer and whispered, "As a matter of fact, after analysing the pattern of trials over the past thirty years, I have predicted the trials we might face this year."

The young cultivators’ eyes instantly brightened as they murmured in low voices, "Handsome senior, may you share your findings with us?"

"Hahaha, sure, sure," the old man laughed, before his expression turned serious. "One hundred kilograms of Grade 1 Low-Tier Soul Stones for each trial!"

"G-grade 1?" The two cultivators flinched at the exorbitant price. "S-senior, that’s just daylight robbery."

"Tch! Then I assume you don’t need them," the old man clicked his tongue and turned away.

The two cultivators exchanged a silent glance before calling out hurriedly, "W-wait, senior! W-we’ll buy them!"

After selling the scrolls containing information about the trials, the old man moved to another corner of the area. There stood a handsome young man with long crimson hair and bloodshot eyes, dressed in a simple black robe. Beside him stood a woman of otherworldly beauty. With long, silken pink hair and ethereal eyes of the same colour, she effortlessly captured the attention of everyone present.

"Hohoho~ Young man, you must be here for the Trial of the Sky Mountains," the old man said as he approached the pair. "As a matter of fact, I have already predicted the trials we might face this year."

The crimson-haired man cast a sharp gaze at him and muttered, "It has barely been a month since we entered the Mainland, and you have already started scamming people? Do you wish to return to the Abandoned Lands again, Vyrion?"

The sly smile vanished instantly from the old man’s face. With pleading eyes, his husky voice shifted into that of a younger man. "I-I was only having some fun, Sir Morningstar. Please do not take offence."

Before the crimson-haired man, or rather, Taranis under the identity of Lucifer Morningstar, could say anything further, a deep voice echoed throughout the area.

Though calm, the voice was laced with Soulforce, making every individual present hear it loud and clear.

"Welcome, warriors from the far lands who have gathered here today to participate in the Trial of the Sky Mountains, which occurs once every five years!"

The bustling crowd fell silent as every gaze shifted skyward toward the source of the voice.

From above, a middle-aged man slowly descended, defying gravity. He wore a long white silken robe adorned with intricate cloud patterns.

"There will be three trials this year. Any individual who clears all three will become an outer disciple of one of the seven great sects, depending on their attribute."

After a brief pause, the man continued, "Snow, water, wind, flame, rock, flower, and lightning. Warriors who possess any of these attributes may become disciples of the Hundred Sky Mountains. Those who do not possess any of the listed attributes should return."

At his words, around thirty cultivators stepped back, disappointment and sadness clearly written across their faces. Among them was Vyrion, still wearing the guise of the old man.

Once the unqualified crowd had left, the middle-aged man formed a series of swift and fluid hand signs, materialising a path of white stairs that extended toward one of the floating mountains.

"Any individual who climbs these stairs and reaches the mountain within thirty minutes will pass the first trial. The rest must return home. The use of artifacts, attacking other participants, or any other unfair means is strictly prohibited. Anyone caught violating the rules will be permanently banned from participating in the Trial of the Sky Mountains."

With a powerful voice, the middle-aged man lowered his hand and declared, "The first trial begins now!"

The moment the Examiner spoke those words, the participants instantly rushed toward the stairs and began climbing.

The reason for their haste was obvious. The Sky Mountain to which the white stairs were connected was nearly thirty kilometres above the ground, and climbing such a height within thirty minutes was a daunting task even for cultivators.

Strangely, after passing the first hundred steps, the movements of the participants slowed significantly. As they climbed further, sweat began to pour down their faces, and their breathing grew heavier with every step.

"Wh-what is this heaviness?" one of the participants muttered. "It feels like my entire body has doubled in weight, yet my strength remains the same."

"A-as I thought, their trials could not be as simple as merely climbing the stairs," the one beside him muttered. "Th-there must be some hidden method to ascend these stairs."

While most had already begun climbing, there were two individuals who still remained on the ground, silently observing the other participants.

"Should we move now?" Lucifer asked the beautiful pink-haired woman, who was none other than Ume, disguised as a human.

After giving a slight nod in response, the duo stepped onto the stairs and began their ascent.