Chapter 92: First Trial, Returning in Defeat

Su Yun stood at the valley entrance, looking at the several brand-new buildings before him, his mood quite good.

Elder Han Yue leaned over, curiously eyeing the black tower: "Husband, this Trial Tower… can it really improve combat ability?"

Su Yun nodded: "Products from a blessed land shouldn't be bad. However, the specific effects will have to be tested to know."

He turned to look at Liu Wugou: "Arrange twenty Disciples at the Late Qi Refining Stage to enter the tower in an hour to test it."

Liu Wugou acknowledged and turned to make the arrangements.

An hour later.

In front of the Trial Tower, twenty girls at the Late Qi Refining Stage stood in a row.

They were all veterans of Qingyou Valley, some from Cuiwei Town, some from Blood Ghost Hall, and some from Qinglan Sect.

At this moment, they were all both excited and nervous, looking at the pitch-black tower with curiosity sparkling in their eyes.

Su Yun stood before them and gave a few brief instructions: "After entering, you will face trials matched to your own strength. It might be combat, it might be survival, or it might be something else."

"Death inside the tower won't be real, but you will suffer intense pain to your Divine Soul. So, do not treat this as a game."

"Do your best, survive, and complete the trial."

The twenty girls responded in unison: "Yes, Master!"

The tower door opened silently, revealing a pitch-black space.

The girls filed in one after another.

Then the tower door closed.

Su Yun withdrew his gaze and turned to walk toward the main hall.

Liu Wugou followed behind him.

Inside the main hall.

Su Yun sat down on the couch, and Liu Wugou walked to his side very naturally and sat down next to him.

"Master. There are now five dormitory buildings, enough to accommodate everyone. Your subordinate plans to redistribute the rooms, arranging for a sister at the Foundation Establishment Stage to be stationed in each building to be responsible for daily management."

Su Yun nodded: "That's fine. You can arrange it as you see fit."

Liu Wugou acknowledged and continued: "When will the Disciples from Shuiyue Nunnery arrive?"

Su Yun thought for a moment: "I asked Jingyue to bring them over; there are over eighty people, so I estimate three or four days."

"Very well, your subordinate will have the rooms prepared in advance." As Liu Wugou spoke, she moved a little closer to Su Yun.

The distance between the two of them was already somewhat ambiguous.

Su Yun glanced at her.

Liu Wugou's face flushed slightly, but she did not retreat; instead, she leaned closer to him.

Liu Wugou's soft voice came: "Master… your subordinate has been feeling that some aspects of Cultivating recently have not been very smooth…"

Su Yun raised an eyebrow. "Where is it not smooth?"

Liu Wugou lowered her head, her fingers gently tracing his sleeve: "It's just… when circulating spiritual power, I always feel like something is missing. Perhaps I need Master… to provide some guidance."

Su Yun chuckled. This woman, her excuses were becoming increasingly perfunctory.

He reached out, pinched her chin, and forced her to look up.

Liu Wugou's face was as red as if it were dripping blood, but her eyes looked at him brightly, filled with anticipation.

"Want guidance?" Su Yun teased her intentionally.

Liu Wugou nodded, then shook her head, and finally said softly: "Your subordinate… your subordinate just wants to stay by Master's side a little longer…"

Su Yun smiled. He let go, and Liu Wugou immediately leaned into his embrace, pressing her entire body against his chest, her face buried in the crook of his neck.

"Master…" she called out muffledly.

Liu Wugou suddenly raised her head and looked at him: "Master, your subordinate has a question I would like to ask you."

"Ask."

"Is your subordinate… very shameless?"

Su Yun was taken aback.

Liu Wugou lowered her head, her voice even quieter: "Your subordinate was not like this before. But later, your subordinate… just couldn't help but want to come find Master. Even though I know Master is very busy, and I know I shouldn't be like this, I just can't help it…"

She bit her lip: "Is your subordinate… very strange?"

Su Yun was silent for a moment. Then, he reached out and ruffled her hair. "Not strange."

Liu Wugou looked up, her eyes red.

Su Yun looked at her seriously: "You are my Enslavement, and being close to your Master is a natural instinct. Besides… I haven't rejected you, have I?"

Liu Wugou was stunned. Then, tears welled up. But she was smiling.

She buried her face back into Su Yun's chest and rubbed against it vigorously.

The two of them stayed there quietly like that.

After a good while, Liu Wugou finally calmed down. She raised her head, still with tear stains on her face, yet smiling exceptionally brightly.

"Master, your subordinate likes Master so much."

Su Yun chuckled.

The pleasant time passed just like that, when Su Yun suddenly sensed a fluctuation coming from the direction of the Trial Tower.

He got up, put on his clothes, and patted Liu Wugou beside him: "The challenge is over. Let's go, let's see how they fared."

Liu Wugou hurriedly got up, picked up her scattered clothing to put on, and followed behind him.

In front of the Trial Tower. The tower door opened, and twenty figures stumbled out.

Su Yun raised an eyebrow. They looked even more disheveled than he had expected.

Some had messy hair, some had torn clothes, some were pale-faced, and some had legs that were trembling.

A few were even being supported by their companions, and as soon as they came out, they collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.

When they saw Su Yun, they all lowered their heads in shame.

Su Yun walked over and looked at the girl at the lead. She was a Disciple from Blood Ghost Hall, at Qi Refining Level 9, and was usually considered relatively steady in the valley.

"What happened?" he asked.

The girl lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs: "Master… your subordinate is incompetent; the challenge… failed."

Su Yun did not speak, signaling for her to continue.

The girl took a deep breath and recounted the situation inside the tower. After entering the tower, they appeared in a dense forest.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the rustling of wind through the leaves.

At first, they were very vigilant and moved forward in formation.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a low beast roar came from ahead.

Then, a huge Yao Beast rushed out of the forest.

It was a giant wolf, pitch-black all over, standing two zhang tall, with thick Demonic Qi swirling around its body.

It had the cultivation of the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9. But its actual combat power far exceeded human Cultivators of the same rank.

The giant wolf's speed was astonishingly fast, its sharp claws could tear through protective spiritual light, and its fur was so hard that even Magical Artifacts could not cut into it.

The twenty of them formed a formation to surround and attack, fighting for a full hour, exhausting their spiritual power, yet only managed to injure a tiny bit of the giant wolf's fur.

In the end, the giant wolf tore them all to shreds, one bite at a time.

Although they knew they wouldn't really die, that intense pain of being torn apart was real. So when they came out, each one of them looked like they had died once.

Su Yun listened and was silent for a moment. Twenty Late Qi Refining Stage Disciples, surrounding and attacking one Yao Beast at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9, and they were completely wiped out? Was this Yao Beast that strong?

He looked at True Monarch Bingpo. The little one had run over at some point and was squatting on the side, curiously watching the disheveled girls.

Noticing Su Yun's gaze, she looked up and blinked. "Master, is that tower… fun inside?"

Su Yun's mouth twitched. "You'll know once you go in and try."

True Monarch Bingpo's eyes lit up. "Really? Can your subordinate go in?"

Su Yun nodded. "I'll let you go in tomorrow."

True Monarch Bingpo jumped up happily, her little face flushed.

Su Yun withdrew his gaze and looked at the disheveled girls. "Today's task is complete. Go back and rest; continue tomorrow."

The girls responded in unison and left, supporting each other.

Su Yun stood in front of the tower, looking at the pitch-black nine-story tower, deep in thought.

A Yao Beast at Qi Refining Level 9, and twenty of the same rank attacking together couldn't defeat it. The difficulty of this Trial Tower was higher than he had expected.

But that was also good. High difficulty could force out potential. It could allow them to truly grow.

He turned and walked toward the main hall. Behind him, Liu Wugou followed closely.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly asked in a low voice: "Master, tomorrow… may your subordinate go in and try?"

Su Yun paused his steps and turned to look at her.

Liu Wugou's face flushed slightly, but she bravely met his gaze: "Your subordinate is now at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, so I should… be able to pass, right?"

Su Yun thought for a moment. "Alright. We'll go in and try together tomorrow."

Liu Wugou's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Master!"

Su Yun smiled and continued walking forward.

Behind him, Liu Wugou trotted to catch up.