Chapter 53: A Meeting Between Two

Before long, a figure in white robes emerged, revealed by the gentle breeze of blue-green wind. The figure glanced around, his gaze finally settling in astonishment upon Tianming and the nearby soul clad in azure.

“…Wasn’t I in the middle of the trial? How did I end up here?” Chu Qingchen stared at the two before him, utterly confused.

Although this place was almost identical to the third trial he had just faced, he couldn’t tell whether he had succeeded or failed.

As Chu Qingchen stood puzzled, Tianming approached with a smile. “Brother, this is the guardian of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, the revered Azure Soul!” Nodding to Chu Qingchen, Tianming quickly explained, having noticed his curiosity.

“Inner disciple Chu Qingchen greets the elder!” Chu Qingchen immediately turned and bowed deeply. Though he was surprised to see this celestial soul appear here, there was no room for doubt or disrespect.

“Hmm! You’re quite the young talent. The technique you used earlier was the Heaven-grade Origin Art—the Five-Wheel Departed Flame Method, wasn’t it?” Azure Soul nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes, elder, though I was only fortunate enough to acquire two of its formulas,” Chu Qingchen replied humbly. He had obtained the Five-Wheel Departed Flame Method here, so it wasn’t surprising that Azure Soul saw through him. But why was this elder bringing it up now?

“The Five-Wheel Departed Flame Method is said to have been created by the ancient Emperor Greed Wolf. As it happens, I possess the remaining three formulas—I’ll gift them to you.” Azure Soul spoke with calm indifference.

Just as Chu Qingchen was about to ask further, he felt something unusual in his hand. Looking down, he discovered an ancient scroll had appeared before him.

“This… how could I accept such a gift?” Chu Qingchen stammered in disbelief. Though he dearly wanted to complete the method, this unexpected generosity from a stranger left him at a loss.

Seeing Chu Qingchen’s dilemma, Tianming quickly intervened. “Brother, there’s no need to be polite. We’re all on the same side here.” He winked at Chu Qingchen, grinning.

Azure Soul’s lips twitched in response, but he maintained a peaceful smile, though inwardly he made a mental note of Tianming’s impertinence.

“Well then, thank you, elder. I shall accept it,” Chu Qingchen finally said, glancing at Azure Soul before storing the scroll in his spatial ring.

“Hahaha! That’s the spirit. In that case, let’s proceed to the fourth trial,” Tianming declared with a hearty laugh.

Chu Qingchen thanked Tianming with a grateful nod, knowing full well he owed this opportunity to him. Without Tianming’s presence, such fortune would have been unimaginable.

Yet as Chu Qingchen considered their conversation, his expression shifted in surprise. “Wait—the fourth trial?” he exclaimed, momentarily stunned.

“What’s the matter?” Tianming asked, puzzled by Chu Qingchen’s reaction.

“But I haven’t completed the third trial yet. Isn’t this breaking the rules?” Chu Qingchen replied, somewhat embarrassed. He hadn’t expected that, as a Spiritual Void cultivator, he would be outpaced by Tianming, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. The thought left him feeling ashamed.

“What’s the harm? With this elder present, the rules are as he says, hahaha! Isn’t that right, Azure Soul?” Tianming patted Azure Soul’s shoulder, his tone brimming with pride, as if Azure Soul were his personal attendant.

“Don’t flatter me. He has the strength to pass the third trial—otherwise, do you think I’d so casually bend the rules?” Azure Soul retorted, sounding somewhat annoyed.

“I’m only joking, don’t take it seriously!” Tianming replied with a sheepish grin as Azure Soul’s expression darkened.

“Hmph!” Azure Soul snorted coldly.

“All right, we’ve lingered long enough on this trial. Time to move on to the fourth. Azure Soul, open the portal,” Tianming ordered, casting a contemptuous glance at Azure Soul for his lack of humor.

Though Tianming was surprised by Chu Qingchen’s strength, he was eager to change the subject, anticipating the rewards of the fourth trial, hoping to compensate for the loss of cultivation levels he’d suffered earlier.

At this thought, Tianming couldn’t help but feel some disdain for Almighty Doraemon—despite its impressive appearance and aura, in the end, it had only cost him six minor cultivation realms for show, good for scaring the ignorant at most.

“It’s not time yet. We need one thousand participants before we can begin!” Azure Soul shook his head seriously.

“Can’t you be flexible? Must it be exactly one thousand?” Tianming asked, exasperated by Azure Soul’s stubbornness.

This was the one flaw in an otherwise excellent guardian, Tianming thought with resignation.

Chu Qingchen, too, nodded in agreement.

“Rules are rules—they cannot be changed!” Azure Soul shook his head again, his expression stern. “However, in the meantime, I can explain the rules for this trial.”

“Then hurry up and tell us!” Tianming urged, barely pausing to think. Better to prepare than to stand around bored.

Both men turned their expectant gazes to Azure Soul, waiting.

“This trial is unlike the previous ones. It follows a ranking elimination system. I will place two energy markers on each of you. The more challengers you eliminate, the higher your rank and the richer your rewards. When only one hundred survivors remain, those who endure are deemed successful, and rewards will be distributed based on the number of eliminations,” Azure Soul explained slowly.

“What are the rewards?” Tianming’s eyes brightened.

“You’ll know if you survive that long—young men shouldn’t aim too high,” Azure Soul replied with a meaningful look.

Tianming fell silent, disheartened by the answer. Though it was the truth, he wished Azure Soul would at least offer some hope.

“By the way, brother, what rewards did you get in the earlier trials? Did you receive any Heaven-grade elixirs?” Tianming asked suddenly, curious.

He had his suspicions but wanted confirmation.

“Heaven-grade? That’s impossible! Even an Earth-grade elixir is a one-in-a-million reward. Don’t tell me yours was Heaven-grade?” Chu Qingchen stared at Tianming in shock.

“Heh, you guessed right!” Tianming grinned slyly.

“No wonder!” Chu Qingchen nodded in understanding, looking at Tianming with envy. He had wondered how Tianming had advanced so quickly to the ninth grade of Foundation Establishment—now he knew Heaven-grade elixirs were the reason.

A cough interrupted their conversation.

“The participant count has reached one thousand. I now announce that the fourth trial will begin in ten seconds—please prepare yourselves!” Azure Soul’s voice rang out as both men turned to him.

The fourth trial—here I come!

Hearing these words, Tianming could barely contain his excitement, his entire body tensed in anticipation.