Only with sufficient experience would such losses gradually decrease.
Those who survived to the end were almost all shrewd individuals with formidable techniques.
Although it was called a trial, it was in reality a contest between the cultivators of two nations for cultivation resources. There was no room for fairness.
A cultivator who had just arrived at Yongzhou Pass, if their luck was poor, could run into one of these experts on their very first night.
"And there are the demons," Yan Jin said, her expression filled with deep apprehension as she looked at the Demon Slaying Book.
Don’t be fooled by how that Demon General was instantly slain under the Mountain God Mirror today.
If its presence hadn’t been discovered beforehand, that beast could have easily slaughtered most living creatures in its vicinity within a very short time.
"Why are there only names?"
Lin Shu slowly opened the book. The first thing that met his eyes were two crimson names.
Yuan Yuan, Su Xin.
Just looking at the words on the page made Lin Shu’s eyes feel dry and start to sting.
Below these two Demon Kings were the various Demon Monarchs.
He began flipping through the pages faster, paying no mind to these beings that were currently beyond his reach.
Finally, the names of numerous Demon Generals appeared in the book.
A demon who holds the rank of general is comparable to a Core Formation Cultivator.
It was only at this point that, in addition to their names, there were descriptions of their techniques and auras.
’A single clue is worth a thousand merit points.’
Lin Shu hadn’t forgotten his Soul-Splitting Divine Technique, which would keep his true self from perishing.
He didn’t dare consider engaging a Core Formation Demon General in Magical Combat for now, but if he had the chance to send out a split soul and find a clue, that was another way to earn merit points.
’Who would ever complain about having too few elixirs and magical artifacts?’
"In my humble opinion, it’s best not to provoke them." The worry Yan Jin had been suppressing finally surfaced.
Most cultivators who come to Yongzhou Pass are blinded by the promises of the Immortal Families and become unusually restless.
Earning merit is one thing, but you have to be alive to spend it.
’Daoist Brother Lin was able to rescue us from Black Water City. Both his temperament and his strength far surpass our own.’
’It was for this very reason that a Celestial Pride like him would harbor some arrogance in his heart and would never be content with a mundane life, unlike her.’
In Yongzhou Pass, that sliver of arrogance was the deadliest thing one could possess.
This place has never lacked for geniuses, and each one is more monstrously talented than the last!
"I understand."
Lin Shu nodded lightly. He had seen many new and fascinating things today, but ultimately, he knew he had to remain grounded.
’Now, at last, I have a direction.’
’As long as I earn enough merit points, I can get elixirs and magical artifacts. I can also use Merit and Sin Coins to deduce Cultivation Techniques and do everything I can to raise my cultivation level and improve my methods.’
’Once I gather five thousand points and obtain the Cyan Simurgh Jade Pendant, I’ll gain a certain status as well.’
’Only then will I be qualified to seek answers to the problems that plague me.’
"You should head back. We don’t want your Master to get the wrong idea."
Lin Shu closed the book and put it away.
Seeing this, a look of resignation flashed across Yan Jin’s face.
’I took the initiative to approach him, but he still gently turned me down.’
"Yongzhou Pass is dangerous, but it’s not as if people are trying to breach it every single day. Nothing is guaranteed to happen. I wish you good luck, Daoist Brother."
Yan Jin sighed, stood up, and left the inn.
’Not guaranteed, huh...’
Lin Shu gazed quietly at the color of the sky.
He suddenly recalled the Steward’s superfluous explanation from before.
He averted his gaze and continued to read through the Demon Slaying Book, memorizing the information on several Demon Generals.
「Evening soon arrived.」
The young man put the book away and slowly rose to his feet.
The small child sitting on the floor suddenly latched onto his ankle.
Yu Sheng had no intention of stopping him; he was simply making it clear, without a word, that he wanted to go too.
At this, Lin Shu gently rubbed the bridge of his nose and said with some emotion, "Being your apprentice is really a loss of face."
He bent over, picked the little guy up, and placed him on the table.
These words made Yu Sheng’s small face turn deathly pale in an instant.
He regulated his breathing and continued, "Of course, part of the reason is my fault."
As he spoke, Lin Shu reached out and pinched the child’s cheek. "But we can’t keep losing face," he said seriously. "You need to pull yourself together, understand?"
"I... what do I do?" Yu Sheng’s eyes widened, only half-understanding, as Lin Shu pinched his cheek.
Lin Shu let go. A faint, roguish look appeared on his handsome face.
’What a load of bullshit these Immortal Sects are.’
’Looking at them now, they have no Immortal Qi, no chivalry—just a belly full of tangled interests.’
’They’re nothing more than a bigger Black Water Gang.’
’All they do is kill and engage in the filthy business of scheming and backstabbing.’
’If this is the kind of sullied place it is...’
"Stay put and be a good Master."
Lin Shu strode forward, the apprehension he’d felt in this strange environment now faded from his face. All that remained was the easy confidence of someone moving in a familiar world.
He strode quickly out of the inn, his casual voice trailing behind him.
"Leave the rest to me."
「The night was deep.」
Even an entire Earth City seemed minuscule before the majestic mountains.
And the mottled, ten-zhang-tall Signal Towers were even more difficult to spot with the naked eye.
The distance between any two Signal Towers was vast, roughly at the limit of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s senses.
They were like glowing lamps, and the cultivators were the oil that fueled them.
One after another, they illuminated this Border Region, stretching for thousands of miles.
If someone were to bypass the Signal Towers, they could slip into Yongzhou Pass undetected. From there, they could reach the elixir fields, mines, and market squares, plunder them at will, and then calmly retreat along the same path.
Such incidents happened often.
The disciples guarding the pass paid with their lives, and the Immortal Descendants who sponsored them would have their merit docked, leaving them with a reputation for incompetence within their clans.
Therefore, when the dozen or so cultivators at Shihu City’s thirty-ninth Signal Tower rose to their feet, weary and ready for the shift change...
They stared at the figure below the Signal Tower, astonishment filling their eyes. "What’s going on? Why are you here all by yourself?"

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