Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword-Chapter 602 - 579 Age Test (1/3)

Yang Lanxin never revealed who had poisoned her.

Zhou Heng could guess that it was either Lin Caijun or Liu Hanye. After all, neither of them were decent characters. Yang Lanxin, clinging to past affections, didn’t wish to kill anyone, but how could he let it go?

If it weren’t for Yang Lanxin’s resolute will to run to him, wouldn’t he have been made a cuckold?

He didn’t want to make Yang Lanxin uncomfortable, so he didn’t act out immediately but chose to wait a few nights before slaughtering both Lin Caijun and Liu Hanye—no matter who was the actual perpetrator!

In a few days, the Starwind Trial would begin.

Although the Starwind Trial was a huge opportunity for everyone, it didn’t mean it was without risks or that treasures were simply lying around for the taking. On the contrary, the Starwind Trial was extremely dangerous, and a large number of people always died!

If Lin Caijun and Liu Hanye were to die during the Starwind Trial, everyone would believe it was an accident, and it wouldn’t arouse any suspicion.

A day later, the Pharmacists Association of Wild Horse City officially invited Zhou Heng to participate in the upcoming Starwind Trial.

Not everyone could participate in the Starwind Trial; one first had to be invited, like Zhou Heng now holding three slots in his hand, allowing him to arrange for three people to enter the Starwind Space.

However, there were additional restrictions on the participants themselves.

The primary intention of the Starwind Trial was to select promising youths, not just to assess their power.

Immortals live for long spells, and lifespan varies across different realms. At ten thousand years old, one could be a Moonlight King and nearing their twilight years, and another could be a Moonlight Emperor in their prime; when converted to mortal age, it’s about the twenties.

Thus, Wild Horse City’s Starwind Trial has these stipulations.

Moonlight Kings must be below five thousand years old, Moonlight Sovereigns below eight thousand years, and Moonlight Emperors below twelve thousand years—these are strict regulations set by Juexian City, and no one dares to defy them.

If Yang Lanxin and Liu Hanye cannot advance to the realm of Moonlight Emperor, then this could be their penultimate chance to participate in the Starwind Trial, whereas for Lin Caijun, it was his last.

Zhou Heng now had three slots in his hand; one was definitely for himself, another for Black Donkey, but the last one was a dilemma for him.

The Yang family had not considered him at all for a slot in the Starwind Trial, so naturally, he wouldn’t unjustly favor anyone from Yang’s family. Yang Tiehu had looked down upon him a hundred times, and although Zhou Heng wasn’t one to hold petty grudges, he wasn’t generous to that extent either.

In the end, he threw this tough decision to the ladies to choose someone for that slot.

"I’ll go!" Huo Tian, who had been silent, said flatly without a hint of emotional fluctuation.

Zhou Heng frowned and said, "If you go, I worry about the house!"

Without Huo Tian in charge, how could they suppress any malevolent spirits? What if something happened at home? He might as well not go then!

"Don’t worry!" Huo Tian had recognized Zhou Heng as her junior brother and was quite caring toward him, "I can take them with me!"

"Starwind Gate doesn’t allow space artifacts—" Zhou Heng hadn’t finished speaking when he saw Huo Tian cock a proud smirk, wisely cutting himself off. If Huo Tian said it could be done, then it surely could.

Starwind Space was created by the great powers of Juexian City, but who was Huo Tian? A being capable of annihilating the Creation Realm!

This solved Zhou Heng’s biggest problem; all the ladies would enter the Nine Mystic Trial Tower, and she would "smuggle" them through.

"Won’t you shatter the star gate?" Zhou Heng asked worriedly. She had already collapsed the starry passageway previously when traversing through star gates. The Peerless Heavenly Maiden possessed terrifying and unfathomable power within her. A slight overflow might result in a huge disaster!

Back when the original owner of Black Sword battled, a mere residual Sword Qi wave shattered a piece of the Fairy Continent. Though Huo Tian might not compare to him, she was at most a notch below, equally capable of snapping her fingers to collapse heavens and obliterate the earth!

"No!" Huo Tian displayed great patience towards this junior brother.

"How about we sleep together tonight!" Zhou Heng took the opportunity to suggest.

"Get lost!"

...

Representing the Yang family, Yang Lanxin, Lin Caijun, and Liu Hanye, and representing Zhou Heng, the Three Stars Pharmacist, Zhou Heng, Black Donkey, and Huo Tian, traveled to Wild Horse City a day earlier; they had to go through a review before they could enter the transfer gate into Starwind Space the next day.

Zhou Heng glanced over, noting both Lin Caijun and Liu Hanye appearing very calm, with no doubts from their demeanor alone.

However, that didn’t matter. He was certain it was one of these two who had played a dirty trick on Yang Lanxin, otherwise, why would she bear the burden in silence? As soon as they entered the Starwind Trial, he would make sure these two were dead!

Liu Hanye was genuinely calm, while Lin Caijun was merely feigning it.

Initially terrified, his relationship as Yang Tiehu’s distant nephew meant nothing; daring to harm his daughter meant certain death! After the incident, he quickly fled down the mountain, but as days passed, all remained quiet.

After some thought, he realized his cousin couldn’t bring herself to severely punish him and acted as if nothing had happened. He boldly returned to the Yang family, thinking to get through the Starwind Trial before making further plans. This was significant, and his luck could possibly shoot him straight to a Moonlight Emperor!

Everything was indeed as he thought, but when he saw Yang Lanxin again, she evidently seemed different.

Even more glamorous and charming, every frown and smile carried an allure that seemed to emanate from her bones.

As a veteran in the art of flirtation, Lin Caijun knew this flower had finally been plucked by someone!

Seeing the unintentional affection displayed between her and Zhou Heng, Lin Caijun realized who had "cabbaged" this fine lady. He did not reflect on his own actions at all, instead, he grew even more resentful towards Zhou Heng.

If it weren’t for this guy, he would be the one exchanging loving looks with Yang Lanxin right now!

He lingered at the very back, his gaze fixed on Zhou Heng with killing intent boiling over.

—There were countless dangers in the Starwind Trial; how would being a Three Stars Pharmacist save Zhou Heng when the Demon Beasts inside show no mercy?

With various thoughts in mind, the group quickly arrived at Wild Horse City and went straight to the City Lord’s Mansion, also known as the Situ Family residence.

Today, all participants of the Starwind Trial had to gather here for age and cultivation level matching tests, in which no one dared to cheat; otherwise, once the news leaked, this would be tantamount to opposing Juexian City!

Which power could afford to be enemies with Juexian City?

Upon learning of Zhou Heng’s arrival, the five Peak Moonlight Emperors of the Situ Family personally came out to greet him, providing him with the highest standard of treatment. The accommodation arranged for him was the best, and even Liu Hanye and Lin Caijun benefited from his light.

Huo Tian used a special technique to disguise her peerless beauty. Although she still looked stunning, she was no longer the type to drive people insane.

This eased Zhou Heng a bit, otherwise, he wouldn’t even need to fight monsters in the Starwind Space!

After settling down, he, along with Huo Tian, Black Donkey, Yang Lanxin, Liu Hanye, and Lin Caijun, went to undergo the age and cultivation level matching tests. Due to the crowd, they had to hurry to complete it.

The tests were conducted in the grand hall of the Situ Family’s mansion, not only attended by the fourteen families with deciding power in the Heavenly Might Hall, but the Pharmacists Association also sent a large number of personnel to assist.

These fourteen families were only responsible for supervision; the real administration of the age test was by the Pharmacists Association because it involved Juexian City, and no one dared to be negligent, lest they provoke Juexian City’s wrath, which could obliterate the entire population of Wild Horse City with a single finger!

The hall was crowded, forming a long queue. However, Zhou Heng’s status was special, and he still enjoyed certain privileges. No need to queue up as a representative from the Pharmacists Association came forward to conduct the age tests for Zhou Heng and his group.

And it was Tu Gang, the Great Elder, himself!

Normally, he wouldn’t have needed to come personally, but how could he miss such a great opportunity to flatter someone? Not only did he personally come, but he also exercised the privileges of a Great Elder, leaving Yuan Feng and Li Xiufen back at the Pharmacists Association.

—The old man’s intellect hadn’t been dulled by alchemy at all.

The age test required collecting fresh blood. Yang Lanxin, Lin Caijun, and Liu Hanye all completed it smoothly; none of them was over eight thousand years old. Since they were all Moonlight Sovereigns, they naturally passed without any issues.

Then it was Black Donkey’s turn.

Seeing a donkey stand upright and swagger up to be seated right before him, even Tu Gang couldn’t help but twitch his lips, revealing a surprised expression.

The people in the hall initially thought that Black Donkey was Zhou Heng’s beast pet. While they didn’t say it out loud, seeing Black Donkey dressed in a floral dress, they secretly sneered at Zhou Heng’s odd taste.

But a donkey undergoing an age test meant the donkey was also participating in the Starwind Trial?

That was utterly bizarre!

"Er, sir, this donkey is also participating in the Starwind Trial?" Tu Gang looked over at Zhou Heng, feeling somewhat surreal.

"Is there a problem?" Zhou Heng responded.

"Juexian City indeed has no rule that forbids beast pets from participating in the trial, but isn’t it a waste to use up a spot like this?" Tu Gang said, sincerely considering Zhou Heng’s best interest.

A beast pet could never be compared to humans!

"Old chap, are your dog eyes looking down on donkeys? How could I possibly be this kid’s beast pet? I am an Auspicious Omen of Heaven and Earth; attending your Starwind Trial is an honor for you, and you should feel immensely proud!" Black Donkey snapped, immediately getting heated.

"I am a paragon of martial and cultural virtue, to unify the world, my legacy will last through the ages, respected by all for eternity!"

"I am handsome and suave, adored by people, where flowers bloom in my presence!"

"I am..."

This shameless donkey praised itself sky-high, causing everyone’s expressions to turn extremely weird.

A Demon Beast that could talk was already a shocking thing, but this donkey was outrageously brazen—wearing a floral dress and having such thick skin!

Demon Beasts in the Immortal Realm were fully grown in Spiritual Wisdom and could communicate with humans using Divine Sense, but to actually speak out loud... Black Donkey was truly one of a kind!

The most embarrassed was Tu Gang, his old face splattered with spit, and since he saw that Black Donkey had a close relation with Zhou Heng, he dared not talk back but had to keep up a smiling face, which was really hard to bear.

He began to regret trying to curry favor this way. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and add it to your favorites at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)