That night, everyone ended up thoroughly drunk, even Lei Xiuyuan was propping his chin up, barely able to stay awake. Li Fei had long since fallen asleep against his shoulder, while Chang Yue was also completely wasted, nestled in Baili Gelin's arms. Ji Tongzhou stared blankly at the wine cup in his hand, Ye Ye drunkenly joked with Ge Lin, who was so disoriented she mistook Lei Xiuyuan for some male disciple she knew, clinging to his arm with nothing but laughter.
Lei Xiuyuan gently withdrew his arm and murmured wearily, "Over these five years, have any of you heard news of Zhen Yunzi?"
This matter had been weighing on his mind, but with Ji Tongzhou present, it had been difficult to bring up. Now that he was finally drunk—though the others were nearly as wasted, with Ye Ye even starting to giggle foolishly—he seized the chance. "N-no news..." Ye Ye slurred.
Ji Tongzhou suddenly jolted, mumbling thickly, "Senior Zhen Yun? What about him? His cultivation regressed so much he couldn't remain a Profound Gate Elder, so he's been wandering around to clear his mind, hasn't he?"
Wandering to clear his mind? Lei Xiuyuan couldn't help but sink into thought.
They had once believed that leaving the Academy's protection would expose them to storms of trouble, yet these five years in their sects had been even more peaceful than their time at the Academy. This was partly due to the near-secluded training of newly inducted disciples in Immortal Sects—Zhen Yunzi might have found no openings to strike, but the complete lack of movement was unlike his style. Back then, he had bided his time all the way from the Academy to Green Mound, plotting for so long—how could he simply be wandering to clear his mind?
But he was too drunk to dwell on it further. Seeing everyone sprawled haphazardly over tables and chairs, with Li Fei curled sweetly against his shoulder in deep sleep, Lei Xiuyuan finally gave in, leaning back in his chair and slowly drifting off.
Three days passed in a flash, and more and more Mountain Sect and Sea Sect disciples gathered in the city. Apart from a very few young disciples like Li Fei and her friends in their teens, most who came were in their twenties or thirties, long past impulsive youth. Surprisingly, the disciples of both sects got along quite well—sometimes in taverns, they could even be seen sitting together, drinking and chatting in a harmonious atmosphere. It didn’t seem at all like the Guangshenghui disciples had intended to pit the two sects against each other.
At noon on the fourth day, the disciples of both sects, who had lingered in the city for three days, were finally led away by their respective elders, somewhat reluctantly. After flying for over an hour, they all landed on a vast, uninhabited silver-white beach. The sea ahead was eerily calm, yet within its azure clarity lurked tendrils of black mist. The disciples immediately recognized it as the power of a Barrier Immortal Technique—could the so-called Trial Grounds actually be in the sea?!
Lei Xiuyuan scanned the surroundings. The Mountain Sect stood on one side, the Sea Sect on the other, each with roughly a hundred disciples. For the countless cultivation sects, sending only two hundred disciples in total for this first exchange was pitifully few—evidently, both sides were proceeding with caution.
At that moment, whether Mountain or Sea Sect, everyone was whispering and speculating about what this Trial Grounds would be like. For Sea Sect disciples, a new Trial Grounds in the ocean must have been a rare novelty—even those from Guangshenghui wore expressions of astonishment.Before long, the sound of rushing wind came from above. In the blink of an eye, three white-haired yet youthful Celestials descended before the crowd. Numerous elders from both the Mountain and Ocean Sects immediately stepped forward to bow in greeting. Li Fei's sharp eyes quickly recognized one of them as the long-unseen Zuoqiu Xiansheng, and she couldn't help feeling excited.
Dongyang Zhenren said with a smile, "Zuoqiu Xiansheng, what do you think of the Mountain Sect's hundred disciples? As per your suggestion, we've selected the most outstanding among those who've broken through the second bottleneck."
Shen Xiansheng from the East Sea Myriad Immortals Assembly also smiled, "Indeed! Our Ocean Sect's hundred disciples have also been rigorously trained—the finest among us!"
Zuoqiu Xiansheng returned the courtesy and said warmly, "This is excellent. I'm deeply grateful for your efforts and support."
Guangwei Zhenren remarked with a smile, "Zuoqiu Xiansheng, your vision is far-reaching. Since you've taken the initiative to bridge our sects, why wouldn't we be delighted to cooperate? This trip to the Eastern Sea has truly broadened our horizons. It's better for our Mountain Sect disciples to witness the Ocean Sect's grandeur firsthand than to remain frogs at the bottom of a well."
Several Ocean Sect elders hurriedly offered modest replies. Watching the elders converse cheerfully in harmony, Li Fei tugged at Lei Xiuyuan's sleeve and whispered, "Look, even Zuoqiu Xiansheng is here. Surely they're not making us engage in magical combat with the Ocean Sect."
Lei Xiuyuan pondered, "If the goal is mutual exchange, understanding each other's strengths, and maintaining harmony, then the two sects will likely enter the Trial Grounds together and form teams freely."
"What's your brain made of?" Li Fei reached up to pat his head. "You guess everything right. Open it up and let me see what's inside."
Lei Xiuyuan suppressed a laugh and patted her head in return, murmuring, "At least it's not filled with plain water like yours."
Li Fei immediately flexed her fingers, trying to crack them threateningly as she used to in childhood. But after years of neglecting this street ruffian habit, her joints refused to cooperate, producing no sound at all.
Lei Xiuyuan couldn't hold back a snort of laughter. "Dummy."
Li Fei kept fiddling with her fingers—still no sound. She'd probably forgotten all her sharp close-combat skills too. Why did she seem to grow weaker with age?
Her hand was suddenly gripped firmly by Lei Xiuyuan, stirring something in her heart. Just then, Dongyang Zhenren's clear voice rang out, "Disciples of the Mountain Sect, listen well! You will soon be sent to the New Trial Grounds in the Eastern Sea. Everything there differs entirely from what you're familiar with—do not judge it by ordinary standards. This trial will be conducted jointly by both sects, marking a grand occasion for our unity. Be rigorous and take nothing lightly!"
The disciples erupted in chatter once more. After three days here, seeing both sects gathered, even the dullest could grasp the trial's true purpose. Were the two sects truly beginning to establish mutual ties?
"This Trial Grounds teems with Demons and is extremely perilous. Within it lie thirty Demon Vermilion Fruits. Upon exiting, each group must collect at least three. Failure to do so means failure in the trial. Only Monstrous creatures can harvest the Demon Vermilion Fruits—do not presume to obtain them by human means."As Dongyang Zhenren's words fell, the Mountain Sect disciples erupted into chaos once more. Thirty Demon Vermilion Fruits, with each group needing to collect at least three. Yet there were two hundred disciples in the Trial Grounds—no matter how they grouped, it was impossible to have twenty-plus people per team. This meant they not only had to deal with Demonic Beasts but also guard against others! And what was this about "Demon Vermilion Fruits" that could only be picked by demons? How were they supposed to get demons to gather the fruits for them? Only the Sea Sect could command demons, right?
The Mountain Sect disciples buzzed with noisy confusion, while on the other side, Shen Xiansheng of the Sea Sect spoke up: "For this trial, each group that obtains three fruits will pass. However, if a group consists solely of Sea Sect disciples, it will be considered a failure."
The Sea Sect members immediately erupted as well. A group with only Sea Sect disciples would fail—did that mean they had to team up with the Mountain Sect? Their cultivation methods were completely different—how could they possibly cooperate?
"Silence!" Shen Xiansheng suddenly roared, startling the Sea Sect disciples into immediate quiet. The leader of the East Sea Myriad Immortals Assembly was known for his stern and ruthless demeanor, infamous even among those outside the Assembly.
"This is the Eastern Sea—you are the hosts! Our guests have traveled thousands of miles to be here. As fine men and women of the Eastern Sea, you must act as proper hosts! Those who only care about winning, who only think of themselves—such disciples are worthless even if they win! Do I need to remind you how the people of the Eastern Sea should treat their guests?!"
His words instantly roused the Sea Sect disciples, their resounding cheers shaking the heavens.
With all instructions given, the Mountain Sect elders withdrew. Zuoqiu Xiansheng smiled and said, "Shen Xiansheng, the task of sending these two hundred disciples into the Trial Grounds falls to you."
Shen Xiansheng nodded. "Naturally. Listen well—this trial lasts one month. Until the final day, no one should let their guard down. Hold tight to any Demon Vermilion Fruits you obtain—stealing is permitted!"
For the Sea Sect disciples, magical combat and competition during trials seemed commonplace, and they remained composed. But the Mountain Sect disciples couldn't help feeling uneasy. No wonder the elders had lamented before departure—while Mountain Sect disciples excelled at Slaying Demons and Exorcising Evil, they lacked experience in magical combat against people. They could only hope this joint trial wouldn't drag the Sea Sect disciples down.
Suddenly, Shen Xiansheng swept his sleeve, and the calm sea surged upward, forming a towering wall of azure water veined with swirling black mist. Before anyone could react, an invisible force shoved them violently forward, sending them tumbling into the watery barrier. Li Fei's hand was clenched tightly in Lei Xiuyuan's grip—so tight it hurt unbearably. The immense pull stretched them taut, and she felt her arm might tear from the strain.
In the next instant, her vision blurred as icy seawater flooded her nose and mouth. Li Fei choked on the briny water, her sight filled with shifting shades of blue. Though it was her first time seeing it, an inexplicable familiarity surged within her—those vast, deep, boundless hues felt as though they had been etched into the depths of her mind since birth.After what felt like an eternity, the seawater that had submerged her body suddenly vanished. Li Fei found herself engulfed in pitch-black darkness, unable to see anything. It was as if she had plunged into an abyss, her body plummeting downward uncontrollably. Yet, her left hand remained tightly grasped by Lei Xiuyuan, and a wave of reassurance washed over her. Almost immediately, a layer of Floating Fire flickered to life around Xiu Yuan, its bright flames instantly illuminating their surroundings. Beneath their feet, white clouds condensed, slowing their rapid descent.
They seemed to be in a narrow, pitch-black cavern. The walls were made of dark, dull stones, likely eroded by constant seawater exposure, riddled with countless holes that felt rough yet oddly slippery to the touch.
Lei Xiuyuan looked up and saw only a thin sliver of white light above—the opening they had fallen through. Glancing downward, he spotted churning blackish-gray seawater about a dozen zhang below, and another cave opening on the wall near the water's edge.
"Let's head down first."
Pulling Li Fei along, he flew toward the lower cave. After half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the space suddenly opened up before them. High above, deep blue seawater loomed like a sky, yet not a single drop fell. Beyond the cave lay an open seabed, dotted with towering coral formations taller than a person, seaweed covering the ground, and fine white sand soft as silk.
Without the Floating Fire surrounding Lei Xiuyuan, they wouldn’t have been able to see anything beyond three steps. The depth of this place was unfathomable—utterly dark and eerily silent. Li Fei immediately conjured two layers of Bronze Wall Technique, and a flicker of Floating Fire also appeared around her.
She clutched Lei Xiuyuan’s sleeve tightly, instinctively leaning closer. This silent, lightless seabed was far from pleasant, especially since most of them had never even seen the ocean before, let alone ventured to its depths. A shiver of unease ran through her.
"You’re going to tear my sleeve," Lei Xiuyuan murmured.
Even now, he couldn’t resist teasing her! Who was the one who had clung to her so desperately earlier? Li Fei shot him a glare, but Xiu Yuan suppressed a laugh and extended his hand. "Here, take this."
Her heart skipped a beat—was he offering his hand to hold? A surge of joy rose within her, yet it was tinged with hesitation. He could show her endless kindness, yet he withheld even a single word of affirmation. She feared diving in headfirst, but the happiness in her heart was undeniable.
Almost against her will, she reached out, half in hope, half in trepidation, and grasped just one of his fingers.
In the next moment, his hand closed around hers, enveloping it completely in his scorching palm.
Li Fei was overwhelmed with joy, yet a lingering fear gnawed at her. She averted her gaze, staring into the distant, impenetrable darkness—as if Lei Xiuyuan’s heart lay hidden within it.
Unfathomable, his heart.
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