While Wang Jianqiang was frantically gathering Xuan Yu Ginsengs, in other corners of the vast medicine garden, others too were harvesting herbs.
"So this trial actually strengthens itself based on the strength we show!"
Su Yutong bit her lip, vexed.
"What a pity… I revealed too many techniques at the beginning, which made the later trials unbearably difficult. I only managed to pass three of them."
…
"Damn it! This bullshit trial didn't even give the slightest hint!"
Ye Lingyun's eyes were bloodshot, rage boiling in his chest. Not long ago, when he picked his very first herb, he had been pulled into the trial space.
In order to end things quickly, he had unleashed his full might, sweeping the light-shadow into dust with overwhelming force.
The result? The second trial's opponent mimicked too many of his moves. Though he barely passed, he was gravely injured.
Only then did he understand the rules of the trial. Now he dared not continue, meaning his harvest would end here.
Elsewhere, Su Su and Yang Yun of the Zhengyang Sect, Liu Qing'er and Sword Nine of Myriad Sword Sect, and Bai Xiruo with Mu Lingxi were also undergoing their own trials.
At the same time, Ye Qingxue and Wang Yuyao passed the entry test and entered the medicine garden as well.
…
Inside the ancient building's second floor—
Lin Xian'er sat cross-legged in the spiritual pool, her bare skin glowing faintly. The pool, once brimming with luminous water, had been drained completely. What remained was her flawless, delicate body, unveiled under the pale light.
Buzz!
Her body trembled. In the next moment, a powerful aura erupted, sweeping across the entire floor.
"Mid Foundation Realm!"
Lin Xian'er opened her eyes, joy flashing across her face. She had not expected the spiritual water to be so miraculous. Just one month ago she had only stepped into early Foundation Realm, and now she had already broken through.
But her excitement quickly cooled. Breakthrough or not, if she couldn't activate the altar's teleportation array, she would die here, trapped forever.
Her heart clenched, and once again the shadow of that old man appeared in her mind.
Her teeth ground together.It was that despicable elder—not only had he taken her purity, but he had also left her stranded in this cursed ruin.
After a long moment, she calmed, preparing to leave the empty pool.
Suddenly, she noticed something beneath her—an entire layer of gleaming, jade-like stones lining the pool's bottom.
She froze, then picked one up.
A brief inspection later, her lips curved in astonishment.
"High-grade spirit stones!"
The energy within was vast and pure—unmistakably superior quality.
A murderous glint passed through her eyes.
"With these high-grade spirit stones, I can finally activate the altar and leave this place.""Old bastard… your death is coming."
…
Inside the trial space, Wang Jianqiang's figure flashed into being. In the end, he had chosen to challenge the tenth trial.
Buzz!
A humanoid silhouette of light condensed before him. Without hesitation, it unleashed the Small Five-Element Sword Array, trapping him inside.
But Wang Jianqiang had already anticipated this. He gathered his own Five-Element Sword Array into his fist and smashed forward.
Sword array against sword array—
Boom!
The cage of swords shattered, along with the destructive energy on his arm. Staggering back, he didn't pause. His intent moved, and his Perfect Cloudwater Frost Sword streaked forward.
The shadow mirrored him, sending its own Frost Sword hurtling his way.
The swords crossed paths, each targeting the other.
Instead of retreating, Wang Jianqiang's feet flared with the light of the Perfect Windchaser Boots. He blurred past the incoming strike, closing in like a storm.
Meanwhile, the light-shadow summoned a long flowing skirt—moonlight spilled from it, shielding its form.
Clang!
His sword strike was stopped cold.
Wang Jianqiang grinned instead of despairing. He swung his arm, summoning the Perfect Thousand-Mountain Seal. A mountain-sized tablet crashed downward, suppressive force choking the light-shadow's movements.
The shadow's Perfect Water-Mystic Ring flashed, moonlight exploding outward to push back the crushing seal. It narrowly escaped, but not fully—its skirt shattered, leaving it battered but still intact.
The duel raged. Wang Jianqiang was slammed by a counterattack, blood spraying from his lips. Yet instead of retreating, he roared, his body swelling into a towering giant.
"Let's see you take this, you fake bastard!"
His massive fist hammered the shadow's face, sending it flying. Immediately, he followed with the Thousand-Mountain Seal once more, smashing the opponent into pieces of scattered light.
Panting heavily, he spat blood-tinged saliva.
"Hah… I've got more than one way to get bigger and harder."
The trial shattered, and he reappeared in the medicine garden. After recovering, he continued harvesting, eventually stopping at sixty stalks.
Though he gazed longingly at the endless fields of spirit herbs, he knew he had reached his limit. The eleventh trial would be suicide.
Sighing, he activated the meditative seal on his hand and vanished.
A heartbeat later, a woman in white appeared where he had stood moments ago. Her aura was ethereal, her figure tall and graceful—Lin Xian'er, freshly escaped from the ancient ruin.
By sheer coincidence, she stood less than ten meters from Wang Jianqiang's departure point.
Her eyes scanned the vast garden, icy light flashing within.
"Finally… freedom."
Her lips curved into a cold smile.
"Wang Jianqiang… just you wait."