A hearty laugh echoed through the void once more. Yet no matter how Jiang Chen probed with his divine sense, he couldn't detect a single physical body hidden within the emptiness.
This startled Jiang Chen considerably. He couldn't help but admire that the guardian of the Fifth Palace was truly remarkable. Right beside him, and even with Jiang Chen's divine abilities, he still couldn't sense the other party at all — that was truly no easy feat.
"All right, lad, stop looking around. This old man won't be stepping out personally to test you. In truth, you've already passed the majority of your trials. At least, in the testing phase, you were flawless. What comes next depends on whether this old man finds you to his taste. Well? Are you still not going to tell me how you fought your way to the Fifth Palace?"
Jiang Chen hadn't forgotten this matter and replied with a smile: "Fighting my way to the Fifth Palace was an adventure, though not without its thrills…"
He then gave a rough account of his experiences from the First through Fourth Palaces. After finishing, even Jiang Chen found it somewhat puzzling.
Could it be that the master of the Glazed Royal Pagoda, when creating these Six Inheritance Palaces, hadn't had the guardians communicate with one another? None of them knew about each other?
It certainly seemed possible.
But Jiang Chen still remembered that when he first tackled the First Gate, Lord Tiankun had warned him that one of the later guardians would be a senior from the Danxiao Ancient Sect. Jiang Chen had long since prepared himself for that.
After hearing Jiang Chen's account, the Fifth Gate guardian smiled faintly: "Not bad. You really are a likeable young man. No wonder you've been sweeping through like an unstoppable force."
"This seat can say this now — since the first four guardians all found you worthy of appreciation, it speaks well of who you are. Of course, this seat judges people by a different standard. I certainly won't grant you passage unconditionally just because they all like and admire you. If you wish to pass through the Fifth Palace smoothly and claim its inheritance reward, you must conquer me. Remember — conquer my perspective. Make me admire you, admire your talent. I must personally verify that you are truly worthy of inheriting the Six Inheritance Palaces and the Glazed Royal Pagoda. If you fail to meet my standards, I will send you back without hesitation."
The Fifth Palace guardian's attitude was resolute beyond argument.
Jiang Chen smiled and nodded: "Very well. How does the senior wish to test me?"
"Tell me — what talents do you have?"
This time, Jiang Chen had learned his lesson. He didn't blurt out an answer. Instead, he paused to think before responding: "My studies have been rather eclectic. I know a little about everything."
"Are you telling this seat that you're an all-rounder?"
Jiang Chen smiled: "The senior previously employed both talismans and pills. As it happens, I've achieved a fair degree of accomplishment in the Dao of Alchemy. It happens to be my strong suit."
His tone was deliberately humble. Jiang Chen suspected that the Fifth Palace guardian might not appreciate boastfulness. So he kept things understated.
"You're skilled in alchemy?" The voice carried a hint of pleasant surprise.
"If the senior wishes to test my alchemy, then I'll be able to let loose and give it my all — at the very least, it would put my life's learning to good use." Jiang Chen's reply was courteous enough.
"Good, then let it be an alchemy test?" The voice asked with a smile, then muttered to itself: "This old man's name is Elder Danfu. Young man, remember this — you've chosen alchemy, so you'd better perform well. Otherwise, if this old man's impression of you turns sour, passing through won't be easy."
The Fifth Palace guardian was none other than Elder Danfu?