Everyone looked up at the immortal in disbelief, "What!? How can you do that! You promised to let everyone pass so long as we hand him over!

But the female immortal didn't even blink an eye when questioned.

"My sect doesn't recruit white eyed wolfs. No matter how talented you are, if you dare think about betraying our sect or others, then our sect doesn't welcome you!"

She waved her sleeve and the contestants fell down. Liang Chen and the young man stood up and looked around at the contestants on the ground.

"Don't worry, they just fell asleep. When they wake up, they won't be able to remember the trial and only know they've failed."

She stepped down from her crane and with a single wave of her hand, they were both transported into a room.

Is this what an immortal could do?!

Liang Chen's heart raced excitedly. Now that they were in a closer proximity, he could see the female immortal up close. Before, it felt that she had a mystical aura around her that concealed her appearance.

She wore a white robe and blue accents which felt right with her ice cold demeanor. Judging from her plain accessories, Liang Chen was sure that she didn't bother with things outside of cultivation.

I can't judge how old she is though, an immortal can live forever!

"This was just the opening of the trial. When the other contestants are finished with their tests, you will be moving on to the next trial."

They clasped their hands in front of them and bowed towards her, "Yes".

Then in a instant she vanished.

Liang Chen then breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that the two of them were alone, they loosened up and talked casually.

"This sir, I'm wondering if I could get your name? I still have to thank you for defending me when others didn't."

"Aigh~ Don't worry about this. In fact, I should be thanking you. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to pass."

"Still, when you defended me, I couldn't help but feel endless gratitude and respect for your words. I, Liang Chen would like to become friends and it would be an honor."

The young man smiled, "Since you said such words, it would be impolite of me to keep concealing my name. My name is Luo Guang. Likewise, I would like to become friends with brother Liang."

As Liang Chen and Luo Guang stand there, getting to know each other better, they hear a soft humming noise coming from outside. They walk over to the window and see a golden light enveloping the entire area where the array formation was.

"It seems like the next trial has started," Luo Guang says, his eyes fixed on the golden light."Let's go and see what it's all about."

Liang Chen and Luo Guang make their way out of the room, following the golden light until they reach the array formation. They see that the other contestants have gathered and are now standing in the center of the formation, surrounded by the golden light.

An older man, dressed in robes adorned with gold embroidery, stands in front of the formation, overseeing the trial. "Welcome, young ones."

The man's voice booms out, commanding the attention of everyone present. "Today, you will be tested on your ability to cooperate and work together as a team. You must work together to gather the resources scattered throughout this trial ground and bring them back to the formation within the allotted time. Each group will consist of 5 people and will be random. Weapons are prohibited."

The older man continues, "There are many dangers lurking in the shadows, and you will need to protect each other if you hope to succeed."

Initially they were all ecstatic about such an easy task, but after hearing about the dangers, they felt afraid. But how could they? This was a one in a life time opportunity to change their lives!

The older man sees no one wanting to quit and nodded. He claps his hands, and the golden light surrounding the formation disappears, revealing a dense forest beyond a portal. "You may begin."

The contestants hesitantly step forward, glancing nervously around them as they enter the forest. The trees are thick and towering, casting deep shadows over the ground. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves.

As Liang Chen follow the other contestants into the forest, they can't help but feel a sense of unease. The darkness seems to close in around them, and every rustle of leaves or crack of a twig sends their hearts racing.

Despite the danger, the group presses on, determined to complete the trial and enter the Mystic Peak Sect.

As they venture deeper into the forest, they come across a fork in the path. The group hesitates, unsure of which direction to take.

A young man with a red ribbon tied to his hair spoke. "Lets split up, all of you go that way, and I'll go this way." He pointed to the right.

Instantly there was outrage within.

"Hah!? Are you sick in the head? Separating as a group means that we're more likely to get lost or even..."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He stopped himself, afraid that the next words would decide his future.

"Eh~ you can be a coward all you want, but don't drag me down to your level, okay?"

"You! Fine! Go, I hope you don't meet anything that will tear your stupid head off!"

Liang Chen couldn't bear it anymore.

"I'll go with him."

"Even you are muddle headed?"

Liang Chen shook his head, "At this rate, we'll be stuck here arguing all day long while the other teams will get all the medicine. Besides splitting up means more opportunities. If you don't take risks, how can you afford to win?"

"Fine, fine, fine, lets just hurry up and get the medicine so we can get out of this creepy place!"

Liang Chen nodded. He turned around to see his teammate staring at him.

"You better not drag me down." he said as he looked Liang Chen up and down.

Liang Chen chuckled internally and joked, "Sure, feel free to abandon me if I do."

"....hum..." His teammate was speechless and didn't know what to say. He shook his head to clear the thoughts.

He and Liang Chen separated from the group and went right whereas they went left.

Although Liang Chen tried to keep his cool, he still couldn't stand the creepiness of the forest.

"Psh~ Look at you all scared like a little mouse!"

Liang Chen scratched the back of his head, "H-haha, this friend, aren't you scared?"

"Scared? They should be scared of me! If they dare come out I'll beat them black and blue!"

Liang Chen breathed in cold air from his nose, "So fierce?!"

The man knelt down and picked up herbs along the way. Liang Chen also began plucking herbs.

Feeling like there was nothing to do, Liang Chen started small talk.

"We still haven't introduced ourselves. My name is Lian Chen, I'm just a....Haha, waiter. I wonder what this young hero's name is?"

Hearing Liang Chen flatter him he grinned uncontrollably, but then hid it instantly with a poker face.

"Remember it well! You can brag about it later when I become famous! My name is Long Qi, the next Great Immortal Emperor!"

Liang Chen was stunned, flabbergasted! His next words caused Long Qi to almost lose his balance.

"...uhm...Whats a great immortal emperor?"

Long Qi looked back at him with a dreadful face. "This is common knowledge..."

"A-Actually I only know the first 5 levels of cultivation..."

"...Unbelievable..." Long Qi stared at Liang Chen as if examining a rare specimen he never thought existed. "How is there such a person on this world?"

"P-please enlighten me."

"Why should I? It's your fault you didn't study before coming here." He plucked the last herb and started walking again, leaving Liang Chen behind a few steps.

Liang Chen quicken his pace and took all the herbs before running next to Long Qi.

"Could it be that brother Long, also doesn't know?" Liang Chen side glanced Long Qi to see his reaction.

Long Qi facepalmed, "Sigh~ what is my luck...To be stuck here not with a beautiful fairy, but a stupid man! How can other heroes be forced with a charming sister, but I can't?"

"Am I not charming enough, brother Long?"

"Scram!" Long Qi furiously walked faster.

"Aiyah~ it was just a joke young hero Long."

All of sudden Long Qi stopped in place and knelt down.

"Brother Long?"

"SHH!"

Sensing in the change in atmosphere, Liang Chen understood that something was wrong and also knelt down. He crawled closer to Long Qi to see what he was looking at.

shu shu shu

Coming in closer, he heard a river or water. He slowly lifted his head to see through the bushes.

Liang Chen almost screamed out in surprise, but Long Qi quickly covered his mouth.

In front of him was a lake and in that lake...was a young lady who was completely naked taking a bath!

Liang Chen looked at Long Qi as if he was filth. Sensing his gaze, Long Qi wanted to punch Liang Chen, but suppressed his feelings.

He whispered right into Liang Chen's ears.

"Think about it, in this type of place, there's a woman taking a bath? Are you really that stupid to not see what's wrong with that?"

Liang Chen widened his eyes and looked back at the woman. It wasn't because he was lecherous or anything, but he was full of fear. He felt that the moment he took his eyes off of her, she would disappear like a ghost and appear next to them.

Long Qi took his hand off Liang Chen's mouth slowly and continued to whisper, "If you understand, then crawl back step by step. Not too quick, and not too slow."

Long Qi also started to back off. Following his movements, Liang Chen also started to back off.

He felt cold sweat on his back and didn't dare to look away.

"Is someone there?"

An charming voice rang out in the dead of night and completely stopped Long Qi and Liang Chen in place. Their breathing started to feel rush and they could feel their hearts beating faster. They felt a gaze sweep over them, but they were stunned in place like rocks.

"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to look!"

They heard a man's voice...it was...familiar....

They look over to the left slightly to the lake and there were three young men shielding their eyes.

"Why are they there!?" Long Qi expressed shock and annoyance.

The voice rang out in embarrassment. "Turn around! What are you still looking at!?"

"S-sorry!" The three of them quickly turned.

These three young men were not experienced with women and lost their thought process when they were shown such a scene.

Then Liang Chen saw it....Although he was surprised by the appearances of his teammates, he quickly looked back at the woman. His eyes widened further. The woman's body was rising up further and further. From the waist down was a large fish with sharp teeth walking on spider legs.

Long Qi gulped. "Listen, we can't save them. We should use them as bait and quickly leave! Immediately!"

Liang Chen was hesitant, but made his decision and nodded.

"You leave first."

Long Qi furrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me that you're-"

"I'll save them. You go first." Liang Chen quickly picked up stones on the ground the size of his hand.

"Liang Chen!"

"I told you didn't I? If I drag you down, you can abandon me."

Liang Chen rushed out.

The monster opened its mouth wider, inch by inch per second. Soon the sharp teeth were only a couple of spaces away from the head of one of the young men.

"HEY!" A rock flew and hit the eye of the woman on top of the monsters head causing her to bleed.

"GAAAAAAGGH!!!" She screamed out in pain in unison with the monsters roar.

Hearing this commotion, the 3 young men turned and fell back.

"M-m-Monster!!!"

"What are you crying there for!? Run, you morons!!" Long Qi also threw a stone, but this time the woman dodged.

"L-long Qi? Why didn't you leave?"

"Stupid! What Great Immortal Emperor gets saved by a mortal?!" He then proceeds to yell at the monster and threw another rock. "What an ugly monster!"

The monster rushed Liang Chen in rage.

"How dare you injure me!"

Liang Chen started running as fast as he could to evade the monster. He looked behind as quickly as he could in order to evade its attack.

"Up!" Long Qi yelled out.

Turning his gaze up, he saw the monster in the air about to land in his area.

With a donkey roll, he managed to get out of there in a quick manner.

BOOM!

The monster landed and debree hit everywhere.

"You three! Pick up stones and attack the monster!" Long Qi yelled out.

"I-I-I-"

He couldn't even talk as he remembers that he was on the edge of the monsters mouth.

"I can't!" He crawled up and held his head in his arms.

The other 2 were in better condition, but they showed no signs of moving.

"D-Don't blame me!! Without weapons how can we kill it!!"

They ran away as quickly as they could.

"Damn useless bastards!" Long Qi clenched his hands. "If only I could use a weapon..."

Long Qi looked at Liang Chen with hesitation and took out a knife hidden in his belt. "Forget it! I can always try next time."

Liang Chen breathed heavily while still dodging the monster. All of a sudden he became pinned in a corner and the monster was coming right at him. At this moment Long Qi jumped from above directly to the woman and with a thrust of his knife, cut off it's head.

The monster stopped and fell down dead as it flinches uncontrollably.