Jiang NanNan's devout prayers soon received a response from the Silvermoon Goddess's statue. A beam of white radiance descended, enveloping her—just like what had happened to Zhang Yuexuan. Then, just as before, the white glow swiftly shifted to yellow, then violet, then black.
Xu Jianwei's mouth fell open in disbelief. "Heavens… don't tell me it's going to be another Red Trial?"
As if to confirm her words, the black light instantly transformed into a brilliant crimson glow.
Seeing the red light, Zhang Yuexuan's lips curved into a joyful smile, genuinely happy for Jiang NanNan. Xu Jianwei, however, was dumbstruck, unsure what to think. Meanwhile, Zhu Ziyang clasped his hands together, silently praying.
But then, to everyone's astonishment, the crimson radiance cloaking Jiang NanNan shifted once more.
A dazzling golden brilliance burst forth, piercing through the red light and flooding the entire temple. The sacred aura it carried filled every corner of the hall, so bright and holy that all three of them instinctively narrowed their eyes against its brilliance.
"This… this, how can there be gold?!" Xu Jianwei was utterly bewildered. Never in all her inherited records had she seen mention of a golden level of trial.
Zhang Yuexuan's delicate face was equally stunned. She didn't know what the golden light meant, but she understood one thing clearly—this golden trial was rarer and more difficult than even her own Red-level Eight Trials!
Zhu Ziyang's face, however, lit with a smile. The moment the golden light appeared, Xiaobai's voice rang once again in his mind, tinged with surprise:
"So it truly has appeared—the God-Level Trial!"
"You mean… this golden light is the sign of a god's inheritance trial?" Zhu Ziyang asked quickly.
"Yes," Xiaobai confirmed. "This girl has received the God Seat inheritance trial of the Taiyin Deity. Her test shall be called the Taiyin Nine Tests. If she completes all nine, she will succeed the god seat and become the new Taiyin Deity."
"Excellent!" Zhu Ziyang's heart soared with joy and satisfaction.
The golden light soon faded, transforming into nine golden screens of light that sank into Jiang NanNan's brow. There, they condensed into a silver crescent mark, which shimmered a few times before sinking beneath her skin.
When Jiang NanNan opened her eyes, her gaze was dazed with wonder. She had felt it all, and the experience left her slightly stunned. "Senior Xu, what is this golden trial? What does it mean?"
"I… I don't know!" Xu Jianwei shook her head in frustration, just as confused as NanNan. "In the entire history of the Yin Clan and Moon Vein, there has never been a golden trial. The highest ever recorded was the Red-level Seven Trials. I can't explain it… perhaps because you aren't of Yin or Moon Vein bloodline, the golden trial appeared."
But even Xu Jianwei's own words did not convince herself.
"Alright," Zhang Yuexuan said gently, stepping forward. "Whether gold or red, the point is, NanNan—you've also received a trial. And yours is a Nine Test, too! That proves your talent is even greater than mine."
"Hehe, you're right!" Jiang NanNan laughed, throwing her arms around Zhang Yuexuan. "Sister Yuexuan, you always know what to say! No matter what this golden trial means, I'll just complete it first. When I finish the Nine Tests, I'll definitely understand what it truly signifies.
"Oh, Sister Yuexuan, look! Do I also have a flower mark on my forehead like you?"
Zhang Yuexuan peered closely, then shook her head with a smile. "No, there isn't one."
"Aw, really? That's such a shame. I actually liked that little osmanthus flower mark of yours," NanNan pouted. But soon her thoughts shifted again. "Oh right! Sister Yuexuan, what's your first trial about? Let's compare!"
While the two chatted, Zhu Ziyang listened quietly, realizing something. Jiang NanNan had indeed received a god-level inheritance, but she herself didn't know it.
"That's because the god's examiner failed in their duty," Xiaobai explained to Zhu Ziyang. "Normally, before bestowing a god trial, the examiner must explain the god's nature and responsibilities, to give the inheritor a choice. But since the Taiyin Goddess fell completely, her examiner no longer exists. That's why the girl received the trial without any knowledge."
"Will this affect NanNan's inheritance of the god seat?" Zhu Ziyang asked in concern.
"No," Xiaobai replied. "God Seat inheritance depends on affinity. Once her affinity with the god seat surpasses fifty percent, she will automatically gain the knowledge of her god's domain and duties. She won't remain ignorant forever."
"I see." Relief flooded Zhu Ziyang's chest, though his resolve only grew firmer.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yuexuan and Jiang NanNan had begun comparing their first trials.
"My first test is called Moon-Draws-Tides. I have to endure tidal tempering for at least six hours every day, for a whole month," Zhang Yuexuan explained. A crimson screen of light hovered before her, golden runes shimmering across its surface.
"What! Mine is eight hours!" Jiang NanNan yelped, despairing. A golden screen hovered before her too, silver characters leaping across it.
"Maybe that's the difference between the golden and red trials," Zhang Yuexuan mused. "The harder the test, the greater the blessing afterward."
"That's right," Xu Jianwei added. "My own Violet-level Five Tests began with Moon-Draws-Tides too, but I only had to endure three hours a day. Your trials are harsher, but so too will be the rewards. Still, I must search our ancestral records—never have I heard of a golden trial before."
With that, Xu Jianwei hurriedly left the Moon Worship Hall to search the clan's archives.
Jiang NanNan sighed as she watched her leave. "Eight hours of tidal tempering a day… hmph, fine! I, Jiang NanNan, will manage it! But, Sister Yuexuan, do you even know what tidal tempering is?"
"…No," Zhang Yuexuan admitted sheepishly. "Let's ask Great-Grand Aunt later. She's experienced something similar."
"That's true," NanNan agreed with a shrug.
Zhu Ziyang smiled as he approached the two girls. "NanNan, Yuexuan—these are trials you must endure. Only by passing them can you be worthy of the Taiyin Nine Tests."
"Eh? Brother, what do you mean, the Taiyin Nine Tests?" Jiang NanNan asked in confusion. Then, suddenly, her eyes widened. "Wait—Brother, your forehead… why do you have a mark that looks just like a Higanbana blossom?"
"Haha, that's exactly what I wanted to tell you," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "Both of you received what you think are 'moon trials,' but you don't yet know their true nature."
"Ziyang, you know?" Zhang Yuexuan asked curiously.
"Yes," Zhu Ziyang said. "And I'll explain it all. But first, NanNan, you weren't mistaken—my forehead does indeed bear this mark. Like you, I too have accepted a divine trial."
The two girls stared at him in astonishment, waiting for his answer.
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