If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

"quiet!"

Just then, a majestic and grand voice, like a morning bell and evening drum, instantly suppressed the noise of the entire scene.

On the high platform.

Jiang Wei, the sect leader of the Hehuan Sect, stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a purple-gold flowing cloud robe. His usually dignified and profound face was now adorned with an inscrutable smile.

Behind him, the various peak masters and elders lined up in order.

Qingquan Peak Master Yan Chenyu still looked like she hadn't woken up yet, leaning against the soft couch, casually playing with a jade slip in her hand.

But when she saw her four apprentices standing there in a somewhat disheveled state, the lazy smile in her eyes deepened considerably.

"The Apocalypse Trial is now over."

"I know that many of you harbor resentment."

"They think I'm ruthless, that the difficulty is too high, and that it's a sure-fire way to die."

Jiang Wei's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable coldness.

"But I tell you."

"In the world of cultivation, there have never been any safe zones!"

"Do you really think those so-called reputable sects outside will talk to you about fairness or martial ethics?"

"wrong!"

"They will be even more ruthless than the collapse of the void! More merciless than the war puppets!"

"If you can't even pass this mere trial today, you'll be nothing more than experience points for others on the battlefield! Just a pile of bones!"

"But you did a good job, very good."

Jiang Wei surveyed the entire room, his gaze sweeping across the faces of each disciple.

"This Apocalypse Trial, although there was a... minor accident."

"But your performance, especially your unity and explosive energy when facing the final desperate situation, has made me very pleased."

Jiang Wei paused, then his gaze suddenly sharpened, piercing straight at the people standing at the front.

"Especially Ye Wushang, Xiao Fan, Ye Changfeng, and... Lin Miaoyin."

The four people whose names were called out instinctively straightened their backs.

"In this critical moment, you showed no fear of a powerful enemy, daring to unsheathe your swords and demonstrating the courage and spirit of the disciples of the Hehuan Sect!"

"By special privilege, the four of you may enter the top floor of the 'Scripture Pavilion' once, and may freely choose one cultivation technique or secret art."

Whoosh—!

These words caused an uproar in the room.

The top floor of the Sutra Repository!

That place is reserved for elders or true disciples who have made great contributions! Everything stored inside is the accumulated treasure of the Hehuan Sect over thousands of years!

Ye Wushang's previously gloomy expression instantly brightened. A glint flashed in Xiao Fan's eyes. Ye Changfeng bowed with his sword clasped, his expression indifferent. Lin Miaoyin gave a graceful curtsy with alluring eyes.

Jiang Wei stood with his hands behind his back on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the few oddly styled figures below, finally settling on Mo Chengyue's bulging storage bag.

The old fox was indeed an old fox; his smile remained unchanged, with only the muscles at the corners of his eyes twitching extremely slightly.

"As for the others..."

Jiang Wei drew out her words, as if giving everyone ample time to prepare mentally.

"Qingquan Peak, Xie Buci, Qin Wanzhuang, Wenren Ji... and Mo Chengyue."

When she read out the last name, Jiang Wei paused for a moment, as if the name was a little too hot to handle.

Thousands of ears perked up, eager to hear how the sect leader would evaluate this bizarre team that had turned the Apocalypse Trial into a "scavenging site."

"The four of you cooperated seamlessly and remained calm under pressure." Jiang Wei paused, then squeezed out four words through gritted teeth, "Your tactics... were quite innovative."

cough cough cough.

On the side of the platform, several elders who were in charge of recording couldn't hold back and started coughing one after another, their old faces turning red.

novel?

Using saints as henchmen while cheering them on and collecting scraps along the way—is that what you call novel?

That's dirty! Dirty from the heart!

Especially Mo Chengyue, who single-handedly lowered the moral standards of the entire Hehuan Sect's demonic cultivators.

Jiang Wei ignored the elders' lapse in composure and waved his sleeve.

Four streaks of light cut through the air and hovered in front of the four people.

"Thank you for your generosity, and bestow upon me the superior-grade spiritual artifact, the 'Qingming Bell'."

It was a small bronze bell, no bigger than the palm of your hand, radiating a calming and serene glow.

Jiang Wei said meaningfully, "This thing can cleanse the soul, so in the future... drink less of it."

Xie Buci's peach blossom eyes curved into a smile as he reached out and took the small bell, hanging it at his waist. He then shook it, and it jingled softly. "Thank you for the sect leader's gift. This disciple will certainly...do my best."

I tried to drink less, but I didn't say I wouldn't drink at all.

Jiang Wei's eye twitched again, and she turned to look at Qin Wanzhuang.

"Qin Wanzhuang is bestowed with the Earthly Grade Low-Rank 'Purple Sun Body Protection Technique'."

A crimson jade slip drifted down.

"After mastering this technique, one will be surrounded by a three-foot-long purple aura, making one impervious to all magic and untouched by dust."

Upon hearing the words "untouched by dust," Qin Wanzhuang's eyes, which had been staring at the ground with disdain, finally lit up.

She accepted the jade slip with utmost solemnity, even more so than when she received the Imperial Seal of the State: "Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master."

As long as it's not dirty, this practice is the ultimate truth of the universe.

"Wenren Ji".

The boy, who was gnawing on half a bone, froze and looked up blankly.

"A rare fragment of the sword manual, 'A Glimpse of a Beautiful Woman'."

A yellowed, tattered book fell into Wenren Ji's hands.

The boy's lifeless eyes constricted the moment they touched the book cover.

He looked at the bone in his hand, then at the sword manual in his arms. After hesitating for a long time, he finally hardened his heart and stuffed the bone back into his arms, then hugged the book tightly.

Really fragrant.

At last.

Jiang Wei's gaze fell on Mo Chengyue.

The kid was rubbing his hands together expectantly, looking like a penny-pincher waiting for his year-end bonus.

"Mo Chengyue".

"Disciple is here!" Mo Chengyue answered loudly, his back ramrod straight, almost as if he were standing at attention and saluting.

"You..." Jiang Wei sighed as she looked at his pathetic appearance. "I bestow upon you a superior-grade defensive spiritual artifact, the Nine Dragons Heart-Protecting Mirror."

A palm-sized protective mirror, carved with nine golden dragons, slowly floated down.

Mo Chengyue grabbed it without even looking at it closely and stuffed it into his chest.

I only feel at ease when I keep it close to my body.

This is a life-saving tortoise shell made by the sect leader!

Compared to this, the mass-produced goods on the market are simply made of paper.

With this thing, next time I encounter someone who's too stupid to stab me in the back, I'll break their wrist!

"Thank you for your great favor, Sect Master! May you live a long and prosperous life! May you enjoy eternal bliss!"

Mo Chengyue's flattery was so loud it shook the heavens, completely ignoring the disdainful looks from the surrounding disciples.

As long as you give him money and equipment, he'd do anything for Jiang Wei, let alone shout slogans. He'd even dance a square dance for her right now.

Jiang Wei waved his hand, really not wanting to look at this kid again, afraid that he would be tempted to get rid of him.

The other elders named many disciples based on their performance and distributed a considerable amount of pills and spirit stones as consolation prizes.

As the majestic voice faded, the restrictions enveloping the square slowly dissipated.

"The Trial of Apocalypse has come to an end."

"Disciples of each peak, please disperse."