Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

Outside the forbidden area, the atmosphere was somewhat unsettling.

The Core Formation elders of the seven sects sat cross-legged on either side of the valley, with Foundation Establishment deacons of each sect behind them, all waiting with slightly tense expressions.

According to past practice, disciples should emerge immediately after the exit channel is opened.

This time, however, the passage had been open for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and the dark crack hung there quietly in mid-air, without a single person in sight. This was a situation that had never occurred in previous trials.

Li Huayuan sat at the highest point of the Yellow Maple Valley area, a pot of spirit wine in front of him, but his attention was not on the wine. His gaze was fixed on the crack, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Strange," he muttered to himself.

In previous years, at least a dozen people would have already come out by this time.

The battles within the forbidden area intensified as the trial progressed. In the final moments, most disciples would rush to the exit, fleeing as soon as the passage opened. After all, every extra moment spent there increased the danger, and no one wanted to linger in such a place.

But this time, there wasn't a single one.

Li Huayuan picked up his wine cup and took a sip, his face remaining expressionless, but his mind was racing. Could something have happened in the forbidden area? Or were the disciples who went in just unlucky and encountered a massive horde of demonic beasts?

Sitting not far from him, Old Monster Qiong had clearly noticed the anomaly as well. The Core Formation Elder of Tianque Fortress was a grumpy old man who was impatiently tapping the armrest of his chair, muttering something under his breath.

Fu Yunzi of the Qingxu Sect remained calm, closing his eyes as if he were meditating.

The Core Formation elder of the Hidden Moon Sect was a beautiful middle-aged woman named Ni Chang. Her cultivation was at the mid-Core Formation stage, making her one of the few female Core Formation cultivators among the seven sects. She sat on a white jade chair, holding a string of spirit beads in her hand, her gaze cold and unreadable.

"Fellow Daoist Li!" Old Monster Qiong finally couldn't hold back any longer and shouted at the top of his lungs, "What's going on with the disciples of Yellow Maple Valley? Why hasn't a single one come out?"

Li Huayuan glanced at him: "How should I know? It's not like I told them not to come out."

"Hmph." Old Monster Qiong sneered, "Could it be that their entire army was wiped out?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present subtly changed their expressions.

completely annihilated?

Although many people die in the Crimson Forbidden Land each time, a complete annihilation has never happened in hundreds of years. The disciples selected by the seven sects are all elite disciples, so even if they encounter danger, it's not like not a single one of them will come out alive.

"Old man Qiong, shut your mouth." Li Huayuan said irritably, "It's your disciples who were completely wiped out."

Old Monster Qiong opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but in the end he didn't say anything. He was indeed a little worried. This time, there were many promising talents from the sect who entered the forbidden area, and Junior Sister Nangong was leading the team. If they all perished inside, he wouldn't be able to explain to the Supreme Elder when he returned.

Time passed little by little.

The atmosphere in the valley grew increasingly oppressive. The deacons from various factions whispered among themselves, speculating about what had happened in the forbidden area.

Some say it was a monster uprising, others say it was a malfunction in the forbidden area's formation, and still others say it was a firefight among the disciples of the seven sects that killed them all.

The various speculations became increasingly outrageous and unsettling.

Just as the Core Formation elders from various sects were about to lose their composure, a figure suddenly flashed through the dark crack.

"Someone's coming out!"

Someone shouted, and everyone's eyes turned to the passageway.

A female nun stumbled out of the crack.

She was dressed in a black outfit from the Spirit Beast Mountain, her hair was slightly disheveled, and her eyes showed obvious panic.

After running out of the passage, she paused for a moment, as if she hadn't realized she was out, before quickly running towards the Spirit Beast Mountain area.

"What happened?" The Core Formation elder of Spirit Beast Mountain was a gaunt old man surnamed Mu, known as Elder Mu. He stopped the female disciple and asked in a deep voice, "What happened inside? Why are you only coming out so late?"

The female disciple took a few deep breaths to calm herself down before speaking.

"Reporting to the elder, the exit was blocked. I was only allowed to pass after handing over the spiritual medicine."

Her voice wasn't loud, but everyone present was a cultivator with sharp ears and eyes, so her words were clearly heard by each of them.

Is it blocked?

A commotion erupted in the valley.

"Blocked? What do you mean?" Elder Mu frowned. "Who blocked it?"

"It's...it's Han Tianya from Huadaowu, my senior brother Zhong Wu, and Lin Feng from Huangfeng Valley." The female disciple rattled off three names in one breath. "The three of them set up the Three Talents Formation at the exit, demanding that everyone leaving hand over three hundred-year-old spiritual herbs, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to pass. This disciple...this disciple handed over the herbs before being released."

Zhong Wu of Spirit Beast Mountain?

Elder Mu's expression immediately became quite interesting. It wouldn't sound good if word got out that his own disciple had participated in blocking the gate and robbing people. But then he thought, "That kid Zhong Wu did a great job! Blocking the gate was a ruthless and clever idea. He truly deserves to be an elite trained by Spirit Beast Mountain."

He thought this to himself, but he couldn't show it on his face. He just nodded lightly and said, "I understand. Go and rest."

The female disciple felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly stepped aside.

But the news had already spread.

"Blocking the gate? Three spiritual herbs? How dare they!" Fu Yunzi suddenly stood up, his face ashen. "These brats dare to block the gates of my Qingxu Sect?"

The Core Formation Elder of Huadaowu, surnamed Li, was a middle-aged man with a sinister face. Upon hearing this, he replied indifferently, "Within the forbidden area, everyone relies on their own abilities. If your people feel it's unfair, they are free to fight back."

"you--"

Fu Yunzi was speechless. The rules within the forbidden area were indeed like this: the sects didn't interfere in fights between disciples of different factions. Forget blocking the gate to collect spiritual herbs; even killing all the disciples of other sects required skill.

"Fellow Daoist Li is right," Li Huayuan said slowly. "Within this forbidden area, everyone relies on their own abilities. Whether it's blocking the entrance or killing to steal treasure, it's all allowed by the rules. What's wrong with you, you old Taoist priest?"

Fu Yunzi snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and sat back down, his face darker than the bottom of a pot.

One after another, disciples emerged from the passage.

Disciples from Qingxu Sect, Tianque Fortress, Huadaowu, Giant Sword Sect, and Huangfeng Valley appeared one after another. Most of them were not in good condition; some were injured, some had exhausted their spiritual energy, and some were helping each other out.

Without exception, everyone was asked the same question: What happened inside?

Without exception, everyone's answer was similar: they were blocked at the door and only got out after paying for the elixir.

Han Tianya of Huadaowu, Zhong Wu of Lingshou Mountain, and Lin Feng of Huangfeng Valley.

Three names appeared repeatedly in the mouths of each disciple.

"It's those three again!" The old man surnamed Wu from Tianque Fortress was so angry that his beard stood on end. "Fifteen people went into Tianque Fortress, and only four came out. Each of them had three spirit herbs taken from them! Twelve spirit herbs! These brats stole twelve of my Tianque Fortress's century-old spirit herbs!"

"You only have twelve plants." Qingxu Daoist Fuyunzi shook his head with a wry smile. "Five people from my Qingxu Sect have had fifteen plants taken away."

The Core Formation elder of the Giant Sword Sect, a burly man, said in a deep voice, "Two people from the Giant Sword Sect have come out, six of them."

Li Huayuan didn't speak, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Lin Feng is from Yellow Maple Valley. If that kid is involved in blocking the gate, surely his own people won't have their spiritual herbs taken away, right?

As he was thinking, a disciple from Yellow Maple Valley walked out of the passage. The disciple spotted Li Huayuan at a glance, quickly walked over, and clasped his hands in a salute.

Elder Li.

"What's going on inside?" Li Huayuan asked. "Is Lin Feng really blocking the door?"

The disciple nodded, a complex expression on his face: "Yes. Senior Brother Lin... he, along with Han Tianya from Huadaowu and Zhong Wu from Lingshoushan, were blocking the exit to collect spirit herbs."

Li Huayuan's eyes lit up, and he was overjoyed.

Good lad, you've got guts.

"Have you submitted it yet?"

"They handed it over." The disciple shook his head. "Everyone from all sects has to hand it over; otherwise, they won't be allowed to leave. A Taoist from the Qingxu Sect tried to force his way in, but Han Tianya killed him on the spot. They don't even care about their own fellow disciples."

The smile on Li Huayuan's lips instantly froze.

He picked up his wine glass, took a slow sip, and casually glanced at the faces of the other Core Formation elders.

The old man surnamed Wu from Tianque Fortress had a livid face, the old Taoist Qingxu smiled bitterly, and the Core Formation elder of the Giant Sword Sect remained expressionless.

Only Elder Mu of Spirit Beast Mountain and Elder Li of Blade Transformation Valley had somewhat subtle expressions.

Zhong Wu of Spirit Beast Mountain and Han Tianya of Blade Transformation Valley participated in the blockade, so they should logically be happy. But the problem is, since no one from their own sect was spared, will they end up receiving fewer spiritual herbs?

"Fellow Daoist Li," Li Huayuan suddenly spoke up, "Han Tianya of your Huadaowu has really made a name for himself this time."

Elder Li chuckled dryly: "Young people are ignorant and just fooling around."

"Nonsense?" Fu Yunzi sneered. "This isn't nonsense; this is blatant robbery! You three—Hua Dao Wu, Ling Shou Shan, and Huang Feng Gu—have joined forces to block our gate. What are you trying to do? Are you going to start a war with the other four sects?"

Elder Li said unhurriedly, "Fellow Daoist Fuyunzi, watch your words. The rule within the forbidden area is that everyone must rely on their own abilities. My disciples from Huadaowu have not violated any rules. If you feel it's unfair, your Qingxu Sect can send people to block the entrance during the next forbidden area trial."

"you--"

Fu Yunzi was so angry that he couldn't speak.

Old Monster Qiong stepped in as peacemaker: "Alright, alright, let's all keep quiet. It's true that in the forbidden area, each person must fight according to their own abilities. Whether it's blocking the gate or killing someone to steal treasure, it's all allowed by the rules. What's the point of us arguing here? We can't just go in and drag people out."

Elder Ni Chang spoke calmly: "That may be true, but this incident of blocking the gate has had a terrible impact. Three juniors in the Qi Refining stage dared to block the exit and rob elite disciples from various sects. If word gets out, it will be a disgrace to all seven sects."

"Fellow Daoist Ni Chang is right." Old Daoist Qing Xu nodded. "Although this matter does not violate the rules, it is indeed a bit excessive. After the forbidden area trial is over, the various sects should have a good discussion to see if a rule should be added to prohibit ambushes near the exit."

"What's there to discuss?" the old man surnamed Wu from Tianque Fortress said irritably. "You can discuss it yourselves; Tianque Fortress won't participate. Anyway, the forbidden area will be closed for sixty years next time. By the time it reopens, these people will have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Will they still be able to get in?"

The old man surnamed Wu's words served as a reminder to everyone.

The Crimson Forbidden Land has been closed for sixty years. By the time it reopens, these disciples will either have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage or will be dead. This rule can only be discussed later.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing." Li Huayuan put down his wine glass. "What's done is done, arguing won't help. Within the forbidden area, everyone must rely on their own abilities. This has been the rule for hundreds of years, and it can't be changed just because a few juniors blocked the entrance."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Besides," he said, "they're good at blocking the door; that's their skill. If your people are strong enough, they can easily fight their way through. If they can't, then they should just hand over the elixirs obediently. What's there to say?"

Fu Yunzi was so angry at his words that his face turned green, but he couldn't find a reason to refute them.

Rules are rules, and they can't be changed just because you've suffered a loss. If you change one rule today and I change another tomorrow, hundreds of years-old rules will eventually disappear.

The argument in the valley gradually subsided.

The Core Formation elders from each faction returned to their seats and stopped talking, but the atmosphere was noticeably more tense than before.

Old Daoist Qingxu brooded alone, Old Monster Qiong closed his eyes to rest, Fairy Ni Chang counted spirit pearls expressionlessly, Elder Li leisurely sipped spirit tea, and Elder Mu seemed lost in thought, his eyes darting around.

Li Huayuan, on the other hand, was in a good mood.

He didn't have much of an impression of Lin Feng before. An outer disciple, with four spiritual roots, at the twelfth level of Qi Refining, nothing special. But this incident of blocking the gate made the name memorable to him.

To dare to join forces with Han Tianya of Huadaowu and Zhong Wu of Lingshoushan to block the gate shows considerable courage. Moreover, the fact that he's still alive proves he's not a reckless fool.

"Interesting," Li Huayuan muttered to himself, picked up his wine glass, and took another sip.

People continued to emerge from the passageway.

As more and more disciples emerged, the details of the gate-blocking incident became clearer. The names of Han Tianya, Zhong Wu, and Lin Feng were repeatedly mentioned, as if they had become the biggest winners of this forbidden area trial.

Some were indignant, some sighed, and some were indifferent, after all, they had traded the elixir for a life, so it wasn't a loss in the end.

The atmosphere in the valley remained like that until the passage closed.