On Spirit Continent, before the lake, Gu Pan sat with her chin propped in both hands. A fishing rod lay in front of her, the float already submerged as a fish took the bait, but she hadn't noticed a thing. Her empty eyes stared fixedly at the water surface, lost in thought.
Yang Kai had come to the Langya Blessed Land this time bearing news of the Inked, and she had been understandably shaken. Now, who knew how many of her senior and junior brothers were lurking within Langya, corrupted by the Ink? Among them might well be people she was familiar with, and once they were found, there would be no happy ending for them.
Gu Pan didn't want to see that happen, but there was nothing she could do.
Just then, an unusual aura suddenly flared from behind her. Though it vanished in an instant, it carried a profoundly nauseating quality.
Alarm bells screamed through Gu Pan's mind. Without a moment's hesitation, she spun around and slapped a palm backward, channeling the world force of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivator with full fury.
But the very next instant, her expression turned to shock, and she hastily pulled back most of her strength.
Her palm landed lightly on Yang Kai, who had appeared behind her without warning. He cried out as though struck by lightning, hurtling backward through the air, blood spurting from his mouth before he staggered to a crash landing.
Gu Pan's face went white. "Senior Brother Yang!"
She had already retracted most of her power the moment she recognized him. That palm shouldn't have posed any real threat to Yang Kai, so she couldn't quite understand—how had she managed to injure him?
And then there was that… nauseating aura. What was that about?
Yang Kai clambered to his feet, one hand pressed to his chest, looking thoroughly wretched. He said in a grim voice, "Junior Sister is truly formidable! I concede!"
Gu Pan blinked, then caught on and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Senior Brother, there was no need for this!"
This was plainly Senior Brother Yang staging an opportunity for her.
In this trial, whoever defeated Yang Kai would earn the chance to train within the Five Brilliance World. Yang Kai had come all the way here, letting her strike him down and concede—his purpose couldn't have been more obvious.
His injuries looked severe, but he had probably forced himself to cough up that blood on his own. Gu Pan was certain that palm of hers couldn't have done anything to Senior Brother Yang. With his abilities, he could have deflected it easily.
"Junior Sister's cultivation runs truly deep—your senior brother is full of admiration!" Yang Kai continued to spout barefaced nonsense.
Seeing him so insistent, Gu Pan had no choice but to play along. She dipped into a graceful curtsy. "I appreciate your restraint, Senior Brother!"
Yang Kai gave a slight nod.
This trial—Langya had to win. That much was crystal clear to him. If it somehow ended with him taking the victory, the entire Langya Sect would lose face. He had come here for the Inked and the Ink Clan, not to trash the place.
Besides, he had already reaped more than enough rewards from this trial and was quite satisfied.
As for the chance to train in the Five Brilliance World, passing it along to Gu Pan wasn't a bad outcome at all.
"The trial is about over. Junior Sister, come with me to see the Sect Master," Yang Kai said.
"Alright!" Gu Pan nodded, then added earnestly, "Senior Brother Yang, thank you!"
Only a few years after her advancement to the Sixth Order, she had once been permitted to train in one of Langya's Minor Source Worlds. But even as a Core Disciple who had leapt directly to the Sixth Order, she couldn't return a second time in such a short span. The entire Langya Sect had countless Open Heaven cultivators queuing for the opportunity, and its leaders couldn't show her too much favoritism.
Now, being able to enter a Minor Source World again would be immensely beneficial for her growth.
Above Wuhua Spirit Continent, everyone waited in silence for something to happen.
Moments later, two streaks of light came hurtling from the distance. Sensing the disturbance, the assembled Langya Open Heaven cultivators turned to look.
"That Yang fellow is back!"
"That's… that's Junior Sister Gu beside him!"
"Huh? Why does he look so pale and unsteady? Looks like he's been badly hurt—maybe Senior Brother Le Mang beat him?"
Moments ago, Le Mang had come scrambling back with his face swollen and bruised, clearly having been defeated by Yang Kai. But a fierce battle like that couldn't have left Yang Kai unscathed either. If Senior Brother Le Mang had roughed him up afterward, that would make sense.
Someone's eyes lit up. "So you're saying that Yang fellow fought Senior Brother Le Mang to a standstill and got badly wounded, and then Junior Sister Gu finished him off with a casual strike?"
At those words, everyone's spirits soared.
In an instant, scenes of Junior Sister Gu turning love into hate and thrashing the heartless traitor played out in countless minds. Everyone thought she had done a fine job—looking at that pasty, drained expression on Yang Kai's face, they could hardly contain their satisfaction.
"Yang Kai greets the two seniors!" Upon arriving before Li Yuanwang and Gao Ting, Yang Kai bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Master. Greetings, Martial Uncle Gao!" Gu Pan also bowed.
Gao Ting regarded Gu Pan with a warm smile.
Li Yuanwang asked, "Who won and who lost?"
Yang Kai flashed a grin. "I was defeated by Junior Sister Gu!"
Li Yuanwang stroked his beard, regarding Yang Kai with a look that said the boy had promise. Though he had seen through the charade long ago, Yang Kai's actions had left him genuinely pleased. This fellow had been bouncing all over Langya for days, causing grievances everywhere—if not for the impropriety of it, Li Yuanwang himself might have stepped in to teach him a lesson. Now, at least, the brat had the sense to leave Langya a fig leaf. Their reputation hadn't been completely dragged through the mud.
After a brief pause, he declared in a resonant voice, "Today, Gu Pan, disciple of the Langya Sect, has endured untold hardships and defeated Yang Kai. She shall be rewarded with one opportunity to train in the Five Brilliance World. All other disciples must guard against arrogance and impatience, cultivate diligently, and when you walk the Three Thousand Worlds in the future, remain true to your hearts. Do not bring shame upon our Langya Sect!"
The assembled Langya cultivators replied in unison, "We shall heed the Sect Master's command!"
Gu Pan's cheeks flushed. "Endured untold hardships"? Master really was something—she had merely slapped a palm, and then Senior Brother had coughed up blood on his own.
Master certainly knew the truth, and yet he was spouting the same nonsense with a straight face.
"Very well. This trial is now concluded. Gu Pan, come with me!"