"The trials you received are, in truth, a form of divine assessment," Zhu Ziyang said gravely, his tone solemn.
"Divine… assessment?!" Jiang NanNan and Zhang Yuexuan glanced at each other, their faces blank with shock and confusion.
"Ziyang, the god you speak of—do you mean the same kind of god as the Sea God?" Zhang Yuexuan asked, her voice trembling.
"Yes," Zhu Ziyang nodded. "A true god like the Sea God. The one who granted your trials should be called the Taiyin Goddess."
"The Taiyin Goddess?" Zhang Yuexuan echoed, surprise dawning in her eyes. "A god related to the moon?"
"Of course," Zhu Ziyang replied. "Though she is not the Moon God herself, she can channel the moon's energy. The so-called Silvermoon Goddess worshiped in the Sun Moon Empire is, in fact, this Taiyin Goddess."
"Alright, alright—enough about this Taiyin Goddess for now," Jiang NanNan cut in, impatient. "Brother, just tell us directly—what is the purpose of these divine trials?"
"Very well." Zhu Ziyang nodded. "Divine trials serve two main purposes. First, to bestow blessings upon believers. Second, and more importantly, to search for successors.
"As Elder Xu mentioned before, divine trials are divided into White, Yellow, Violet, Black, and Red levels. Among them, Yuexuan-jie's Red-level Eight Trials are of the highest tier, usually reserved for the high priestess serving a god.
"But NanNan—your golden trial is different. It is a God-Level Nine Trial, also called the Taiyin Nine Tests. If you can complete all nine, you will inherit the god seat of the Taiyin Goddess. You will transcend mortality, ascend to godhood, and become an eternal deity!
"So tell me—future Taiyin Goddess Jiang NanNan, and her High Priestess Zhang Yuexuan—are you ready?"
"This…" Jiang NanNan and Zhang Yuexuan both froze, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Their faces showed nothing but shock and incredulity.
"Now you understand what a divine trial truly means," Zhu Ziyang said with a faint smile.
"Brother… you're saying I have a chance to become a god? Like the first generation of Shrek's Seven Monsters, ten thousand years ago?" Jiang NanNan's voice was tinged with bewilderment and hesitation. The news was so overwhelming that she didn't know how to react.
"That's right," Zhu Ziyang said firmly.
"But…" The girl's delicate face clouded with worry, as though she had words she dared not speak.
"Ziyang, do you also possess a god inheritance?" Zhang Yuexuan asked shrewdly. She could see the uncertainty in NanNan's heart, but she herself, more mature in mind, quickly accepted Zhu Ziyang's words. Beyond the initial shock, her feelings were a mix of envy and heartfelt joy.
She continued, "If you know all this, it must mean you, too, have been chosen."
"As expected of you, Yuexuan-jie," Zhu Ziyang smiled. "Yes, I have also gained the inheritance of a god. I've already completed the first three trials and am now undertaking the fourth."
"I see!" Zhang Yuexuan gasped, then suddenly recalled something. Her eyes widened. "So that's what Elder Mu meant back then—it was because of you!"
"Not entirely," Zhu Ziyang chuckled, not denying it.
"Brother, so when you brought me and Sister Xiao Tao to the Spirit Battle Arena, it was for your divine trial, wasn't it?" Jiang NanNan said, realization dawning.
"Hehe, it was just something I did along the way," Zhu Ziyang said lightly. "NanNan, Yuexuan-jie—you should focus your time and energy on your trials. The rewards are abundant. As Elder Xu said, soul power increase is only the lowest level of reward. Above that, there are extended spirit ring ages, god-bestowed rings, soul bones, even martial soul evolution!"
"We understand!" Zhang Yuexuan and Jiang NanNan both nodded seriously.
"Oh, and NanNan," Zhu Ziyang warned, "don't reveal anything about the Taiyin Nine Tests to others. Until we're strong enough to protect ourselves, we must hide the truth of our inheritances."
"Mm! I understand!" Jiang NanNan nodded immediately, silently vowing to tell no one.
"Ziyang, NanNan, I'll keep your secrets as well," Zhang Yuexuan said solemnly. "If I ever reveal anything, may the heavens strike me down with lightning—"
"Yuexuan-jie, we trust you," Zhu Ziyang interrupted gently, stopping her oath. "Both of your inheritances come from the Taiyin Goddess. That means your trials will have many similarities. Since you'll be spending the coming years together, you should complete them side by side. It will benefit you both."
"Brother, even if you didn't say it, that was already our plan," Jiang NanNan said with a bright smile.
"Ziyang, when do you plan to return to the Academy?" Zhang Yuexuan asked, hearing something between his words.
"I had planned to leave within a few days," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "But now… I think I'll stay a little longer, at least until I see the content of your first trials."
"So soon?" Jiang NanNan's eyes filled with reluctance. She hugged him tightly.
"I need to complete my own divine trial too," Zhu Ziyang said helplessly, rubbing her head. "In the coming years, I'll be wandering the continent for training. But don't worry—whenever I can, I'll come to see you."
As they spoke, Xu Jianwei finally returned from her search through the clan archives. But the expression on her face made it clear she had found nothing.
Just as Zhu Ziyang had expected. After all, the Yin Clan were no more than half-trained priests. Their ancestor had stumbled upon the Taiyin Goddess's divine trial by accident. Most of their knowledge was mere speculation. How much of it could truly be accurate?
"Alas," Xu Jianwei sighed. "The records contain no mention of a golden trial. Miss NanNan, what you've encountered is entirely unprecedented."
"Great-Grand Aunt, don't worry yourself," Zhang Yuexuan comforted her. "It's simply another level above Red. No need to overthink it."
"Yes… perhaps so," Xu Jianwei said with a helpless smile. "Still, NanNan, may I ask that you share the details of your golden trial with me later? I must record them for the sake of future generations."
"Of course!" Jiang NanNan agreed without hesitation.
With that, the four of them left the Moon Worship Hall.
"Elder Xu, do the Sun Vein or the Yang Clan have anything similar to these moon trials?" Zhu Ziyang asked thoughtfully. The Yang Clan, known as the Golden Sun Priests, had once stood equal with the Yin Clan. Since they represented the faith of the sun, might they too hold divine trials?
"The Sun Vein, certainly not. As for the Yang Clan…" Xu Jianwei frowned. "Unlike our Yin Clan, which merged into the imperial Moon Vein, only one branch of the Yang Clan—the one tied to the Golden Sun Empress—merged into the Sun Vein of the imperial line. The main branch of the Yang Clan disappeared not long after the empire's unification.
"Their priestly rights to the Sun were transferred to the Sun Vein, but the rest… all remained with the Yang Clan."
"I see," Zhu Ziyang murmured, nodding. "And do you know the details of their disappearance? Did they leave the Sun Moon Empire, or go into seclusion?"
"I'm afraid I don't know," Xu Jianwei admitted, shaking her head. "Our Moon Vein had little connection with them. No one cared where they went. Only the Sun Vein has been searching for them for thousands of years, but without success. I suspect they left the continent altogether."
"I understand." Zhu Ziyang nodded again, a trace of regret flickering in his eyes.
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