Tian Shu Wu Wang Lu

The two people and the fox followed the golden light and traveled for less than half an hour before entering the deepest part of the secret realm—a magnificent and spacious ancient altar suddenly came into view.

The entire altar is built of grayish-blue boulders, with mottled ancient runes engraved on the stone surfaces. The erosion of time has not damaged them in the slightest, and pure spiritual energy flows slowly along the patterns, shimmering with a faint glow.

Above the stone seat in the center of the altar floats a translucent jade token, shimmering with a hazy glow. The awe-inspiring golden light emanates from this jade token.

This Mysterious Jade Token is condensed from a fragment of a mid-grade magic weapon. It can not only directly help one reach the top of the trial rankings, but also nourish a cultivator's meridians and solidify their cultivation foundation. For disciples of the Qixi Festival, it is an invaluable treasure that is hard to come by.

At this moment, the altar was already surrounded by outer disciples participating in the trial. People from all walks of life stood in groups, their eyes fixed on the central jade token, their expressions greedy and eager to act.

Zhou Yang, who had been defeated by Lin Ye earlier, was mingling in the crowd with his still-healing wounds. The moment he caught sight of Lin Ye, his eyes filled with resentment and venom, but he dared not rush forward. Instead, he secretly colluded with several of his close disciples, waiting for an opportunity to take revenge and vowing to reclaim the treasure and wipe away his shame.

"Brother, we're surrounded by trial disciples, all vying for the Xuanling Jade Token. Should we still try to snatch it?" Lu Chenyuan asked in a low voice, his expression grave as he looked at the dense crowd.

Lin Ye's gaze swept calmly across the entire scene. He deliberately hunched his body slightly, completely concealing the sharpness of his star power. His eyebrows drooped, and he looked like an ordinary outer disciple who was timid, cowardly, and inconspicuous.

He pulled Lu Chenyuan to a corner on the outermost edge of the crowd, even deliberately hiding behind to avoid everyone's sight. He lowered his voice to a very low level, with a hint of caution: "Don't rush, let's watch them fight. We don't need to get involved."

He portrayed the character as "mediocre and weak" so vividly that he was inconspicuous in the crowd. Anyone who saw him would only think of him as a cowardly disciple who dared not compete and only wanted to take advantage of the chaos.

He saw things clearly. Everyone present had their own ulterior motives and feared the altar's restrictions. No one wanted to be the first to step forward, and they would only fight and wear each other down. The best option was to lie low for now. This composure, precise timing, and steady approach to victory were the wisdom he had honed when he was a food delivery driver.

Xingjin nestled obediently on his shoulder, closing his eyes and pretending to be asleep. He even breathed softly, concealing his high-level spirit beast aura completely. Only wisps of invisible star power quietly spread out, enveloping the entire altar and allowing him to perceive all movements in all directions.

Before long, someone in the crowd finally couldn't hold back any longer.

An outer disciple, who was not seen before and was at the mid-stage of the third level of the Star Guiding Realm, took advantage of his agility and leaped onto the altar, reaching out to grab the Xuanling Jade Token.

The moment his fingertip touched the jade token, the altar runes suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, and an incomparably sharp pillar of starlight crashed down. The disciple was sent flying without even a scream, spitting out blood and losing his fighting ability on the spot.

Seeing this, everyone became even more cautious, but the allure of the Xuanling Jade Token was simply too irresistible. After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in chaos.

In an instant, the sounds of colliding star power, the clash of fists and feet, and shouts and curses mingled together, echoing throughout the altar.

Outer disciples fought and plundered each other, creating a chaotic scene with countless deaths and injuries, all vying for a chance to get even a step closer to the altar.

Zhou Yang, along with a group of trusted followers, lay in wait in the rear, observing the fierce battle from the sidelines. Only when everyone in the arena was exhausted and severely weakened did he suddenly lead his team out.

Relying on his superior numbers, his robes billowed, and his star power raged, blasting away all the disciples blocking his path. He charged straight towards the center of the altar with unstoppable momentum, his arrogance reaching its peak.

"The Mysterious Spirit Jade Token is mine. Anyone who dares to fight for it is an enemy of me, Zhou Yang!" Zhou Yang laughed wildly, leaping onto the altar. Having learned his lesson from the previous struggle for the Nine-Turn Soul-Gathering Grass, he cautiously approached the Mysterious Spirit Jade Token, his eyes filled with determination.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the jade token, a cold light suddenly flashed in Lin Ye's lowered eyes, and his previous cowardice and timidity vanished, leaving only a cold and sharp gaze.

Without making a sound, he lightly tapped his shoulder with his fingertips, sending a secret command to Xingjin.

The next second, the golden pattern on Xingjin's forehead suddenly became dazzling, like the dawn breaking through the stars. The invisible star power locked the altar's restrictions with precision, like fine threads, and at the same time silently wrapped around Zhou Yang's ankle, causing him to suddenly stop, his whole body stiffening and unable to move.

Almost at the same moment, Lin Ye's aura exploded!

His previously hunched body straightened instantly, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his timid and mediocre demeanor vanished, his eyes sharpened, and his aura was fully unleashed.

The pure, pale golden star power swept in all directions, and the overwhelming force of the peak third level of Stardust Infusion was far stronger than during the previous battle—

It turns out that he had been suppressing his cultivation at the early stage of the second level of Star Dust Body Infusion, and had never revealed any of his true strength!

One second he was a timid and mediocre person cowering in a corner, and the next he was an unparalleled sharpness that dominated the entire scene. The extreme contrast made those around him stare in astonishment.

"Big brother, I will protect you!" Lu Chenyuan's expression brightened, and he immediately circulated all his star power to firmly protect Lin Ye's flanks, blocking the disciples who wanted to come forward and cause trouble.

Lin Ye moved like lightning, transforming into a pale golden afterimage. With the wind beneath his feet, he instantly swept past the chaotic crowd. His speed was so fast that everyone only saw a blur before their eyes. The next second, he was already standing tall on the altar, backlit, with an aura that was awe-inspiring.

Zhou Yang turned around and, upon recognizing Lin Ye, his expression changed drastically. He was filled with shock and disbelief: "It's you! You actually concealed your cultivation level!"

Enraged, he unleashed his full power, thrusting his sword fiercely towards Lin Ye. The sword strike was sharp and ruthless, whipping up gusts of wind as he launched a desperate counterattack.

Lin Ye's lips curled into a roguish yet cold smile. His eyes were indifferent, carrying a condescending and domineering air. His tone was casual, yet every word was piercing: "Oh? Hiding your cultivation level is better than being so stupid that you can't even see through the restrictions."

He moved with a light step, casually dodging the sword's edge, unhurried, as if Zhou Yang's desperate attack was nothing more than child's play in his eyes.

He gathered pure, unadulterated star power in his palm and, before Zhou Yang could react, punched him hard in the chest.

"You think you're worthy of stealing this Mystic Jade Token?"

He showed no mercy in this palm strike, which was incredibly powerful.

Zhou Yang was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground. He coughed up blood, his star power dissipated, and he completely lost the ability to resist. His confidants were all blocked by Lu Chenyuan and were powerless to help him.

Lin Ye looked down at Zhou Yang, who was lying on the ground, his tone cold and undeniably domineering: "The disciple of the outer sect deacon has nothing to be arrogant about in front of me. If you are not as skilled as me, you should accept your defeat."

Having said that, he no longer hesitated and reached out to grasp the Xuanling Jade Token.

The jade token felt warm and slightly cool to the touch. A surge of pure and rich star power gushed out from the palm of the hand, coursing through the body and making the meridians throughout the body even more unobstructed.

He casually put the jade token into his storage bag, his posture calm and unrestrained. He leaped off the altar, his aura slowly receding, and no one dared to underestimate him in the slightest.

The people around were stunned as they watched the young man who had suddenly appeared and seized the treasure. They stood there dumbfounded, their faces full of shock, not daring to breathe.

Only now did they realize that the seemingly insignificant outer disciple who had been hiding in the corner was actually the most hidden and unparalleled expert in this trial!

The disciples who had been punished by Lin Ye earlier were terrified, their legs trembling. They dared not entertain the slightest thought of snatching anything and retreated in fear.

Lin Ye pulled Lu Chenyuan along, calmly squeezed out of the crowd, and found a secluded cave, intending to rest for a while and calmly digest the opportunities brought by the Xuanling Jade Token.

Xingjin skipped along beside him, the golden markings on his forehead shining brightly, his little face full of pride and boasting, as he rubbed against Lin Ye's cheek.

Lu Chenyuan gazed at Lin Ye, his eyes burning with fervent admiration, his voice brimming with excitement: "Big brother, we've successfully obtained the Mysterious Spirit Jade Token!"

Lin Ye chuckled and nodded, his eyes filled with confidence and composure. The sharp edge he had just displayed had faded somewhat, but he still exuded the aura of a powerful figure: "This time in the secret realm, I have gained a great deal. Now, I will wait patiently for the trial to end."

Unbeknownst to him, this astonishing reversal on the altar was witnessed by Jiang Xubai, the inner sect senior brother who was hiding in the clouds and secretly monitoring the trial.

Jiang Xubai was tall and upright, like a pine tree standing in the snow, with a handsome and refined demeanor. He usually wore a moon-white or plain-colored brocade robe with wide sleeves, and a jade sash engraved with star patterns tied around his waist. His hair was tied high with a white jade crown, and his sideburns were neatly arranged, showing his elegance and nobility. His face was gentle and handsome, with soft and clear eyebrows and eyes, and a calm and deep gaze. There was often a faint smile on his lips, which gave him a kind of aloof warmth like a gentle breeze and a bright moon, without the slightest arrogance. His aura was gentle but also dignified. Every move he made was as graceful as the senior disciple of the sect. He was gentle and approachable from a distance, but he was dignified and authoritative when facing a crisis. His eyebrows and eyes were full of reliability and determination, which made people trust him involuntarily.

This inner sect prodigy watched Lin Ye's composed figure disappear into the distance, nodded slightly, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration and amazement—such forbearance and such formidable strength were unparalleled among the outer sect disciples.

Outside the cave, the disciples who had missed out on the treasure, though unwilling, were also wary of Lin Ye's formidable strength, and none of them dared to step forward to cause trouble.

The three-day trial period was fast approaching. Lin Ye, carrying Lu Chenyuan and a bag full of rare spiritual materials and Xuanling Jade Tokens, walked calmly and steadily toward the exit of the secret realm.

During this trip to the secret realm, he concealed his true strength and played dumb to the extreme, becoming the most stunning dark horse in this outer sect secret realm trial.