Chapter Seventeen: A Trial of Distinction, Fraught with Hardship and Obstacles.

Dong Changfeng stepped into the valley, instantly swallowed by a dense fog.

The mist seemed almost tangible, cold and damp against his skin. He felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar; a chilling aura swept over him, goosebumps erupting all along his arms. He could distinctly feel the prickling sting with each tiny bump rising.

Squinting his eyes, he scanned his surroundings warily. Everything within the fog appeared hazy and indistinct, as if a thick veil obscured his vision. Blurred shadows flickered and swayed, as though danger could leap out from the mist at any moment.

The slippery earth beneath his feet felt soft and spongy, like stepping on rotting leaves. With every step, the soil squeezed between his toes, emitting a sickening “crunch” that echoed harshly in the silent valley, causing him to frown.

A faint stench of decay permeated the air, like a blend of rotting corpses and damp moss, seeping relentlessly into his nostrils and nearly making him gag.

“This place… eerie as a haunted crypt…” Dong Changfeng couldn’t help but mutter in disdain.

“Cough cough...” An aged voice rang out again, tinged with warning, “The assessment begins!”

No sooner had the words fallen than the thick fog abruptly dispersed.

The scene before Dong Changfeng’s eyes startled him. The once desolate valley now held a massive stone platform.

Its surface was densely inscribed with countless runes, flickering with strange, eerie light that pulsed erratically, stinging his eyes until he squinted.

“What the hell is this?” he thought, a foreboding feeling rising in his chest.

Suddenly, the runes on the platform began to spin, emitting a piercing hum that resembled a swarm of countless bees flapping wings right beside his ears, or metal being scraped sharply against stone. Dong Changfeng felt dizzy and disoriented, as if the entire world was spinning. His head throbbed painfully, as if hammered relentlessly from within.

“Damn, this assessment is intense!” he swore under his breath.

Then, questions appeared on the platform, covering an all-encompassing range—from alchemy and talisman creation to formation arrays.

“This… this is way too difficult!” Sweat beaded heavily on Dong Changfeng’s forehead, sliding down his cheek, each drop chilling his skin. His heart was full of complaints.

Minutes ticked by, and Dong Changfeng felt his mind nearing explosion, his thoughts a chaotic, boiling mess.

He racked his brain but still couldn’t solve most of the problems.

The runes flickered faster and faster, the humming grew more grating, battering his eardrums as if urging him to finish the test swiftly.

“No, I can’t give up!” he gritted his teeth, jaw clenched so tightly his cheeks ached. He forced himself to calm down.

Taking a deep breath, the cold air filled his lungs, sending a shudder through him. He struggled to recall everything he had learned.

Yet the test’s content far exceeded his knowledge, leaving him helpless.

“Am I really going to fail?” despair crept into his heart.

At that moment, he sensed a strange presence behind him—a cold breeze brushing the back of his neck, making his hairs stand on end.

“Who’s there?!” Dong Changfeng spun around sharply, shouting fiercely.

Through the fog, a shadow darted—a sly figure: Senior Brother Liu.

A sinister smile curled at Liu’s lips as he rapidly formed hand seals, blue light flickering like poisonous snake tongues around his fingertips.

“Go!” he hissed, sending an invisible wave of energy crashing toward Dong Changfeng.

Where the energy passed, the air tore open with black rifts. The surrounding fog twisted wildly as if caught in a tempest. Dong Changfeng stood at the storm’s eye, feeling the stinging slap of wind and mist buffet his face, his eyes nearly forced shut. Yet his gaze burned with fury and resolve.

A buzzing noise filled his head, scattering his clear thoughts. Hallucinations flickered before his eyes, blurring reality and illusion.

“What’s happening? My head hurts so much!” he clutched his temples, feeling a tangled mess churning inside his mind, agony wracking him.

Hidden in the shadows, Senior Brother Liu watched Dong’s struggle with a smug grin. “Hmph, you’re no match for me! Let’s see how you pass this test!”

The runes on the stone platform flickered wildly, beams of searing energy shooting toward Dong Changfeng. The air around the beams radiated intense heat, almost burning his skin.

Staggering, he dodged narrowly.

“Damn it!” he cursed, anger and frustration boiling inside him.

“Am I really going to be stopped here?” he clenched his teeth, forcing calm upon himself.

“No, I won’t give up!” he took a deep breath, striving to stay clear-headed.

Closing his eyes, he recalled all the hardships he had endured.

From the mortal realm, Dong Changfeng had come—a mere disciple in a small sect, bullied and deprived of all resources by his senior brothers. He had to study in secret by night, enduring countless beatings when discovered, yet never once abandoning his thirst for cultivation. This yearning ignited the stubborn, unyielding spirit deep within him, now awakened before this brutal test.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a steadfast light shining within.

He began to reassess the formidable questions, searching for solutions from his own experience.

He realized some problems resembled knowledge he had learned in the mortal world.

Using his unique insight, he integrated these teachings and applied them to the assessment.

With his relentless efforts, the surrounding dangers lessened, the runes’ flashing slowed.

A powerful force surged through him—a warm current flowing inside, filling him with confidence.

“Hmph, mere parlor tricks!” Dong Changfeng snorted coldly, a confident smile playing at his lips.

He extended his hand, touching the runes on the platform...

“Click”—a crisp sound—the runes abruptly ceased spinning.

“What’s going on?” Senior Brother Liu’s face paled, unease rising within him.

The runes’ light suddenly retracted, a golden glow enveloping Dong Changfeng.

Success! He had done it!

Senior Brother Liu stood dumbfounded, his face sourer than if he had swallowed a fly.

“That brat must have just gotten lucky!” he hissed through gritted teeth.

At the same time, information flooded Dong Changfeng’s mind—the assessment’s true purpose was not merely to answer questions, but to uncover hidden clues within them!

A proud smile curved his lips. “Heh, I’m no pushover!”

He swiftly scanned the questions again, his gaze sharp as lightning. The concealed clues shone like beacons in the night. Almost instinctively, he linked them together, his hands flying over the runes with precision.

Other disciples struggling nearby could only watch in shock and disbelief.

Some scratched their heads in agony, others sighed in frustration, while some had already given up, slumped on the ground with vacant eyes.

“This test is just cruel!” Senior Sister Lin complained, her usual pride wilted.

Dong Changfeng, as if possessed, followed the clues, cutting through challenges and rapidly surpassing the others.

“How the hell is he doing that?” “Is he cheating?” whispers of envy and suspicion spread.

At that moment, he shone like a rising star, radiant and dazzling.

He basked in the glory, pride and joy swelling in his heart.

“Hmph, a walk in the park!” he said arrogantly, chin lifted, pressing onward.

As the test progressed, the environment shifted.

The once barren valley transformed into a dense forest.

An overwhelming pressure bore down on him, like a mountain pressing against his chest, making it hard to breathe.

“What’s going on?” he looked around cautiously but saw nothing.

Suddenly, an immense aura locked onto him, like tangible ropes binding him tightly.

He raised his head sharply, facing a gigantic figure before him, radiating suffocating menace.

It was a virtual foe, towering dozens of feet tall, shrouded in black radiance, wielding a colossal axe—like a demon god from hell.

“This… this is ridiculous!” Dong Changfeng swallowed hard, his expression turning grave.

“You brat, prepare to die!” The phantom enemy roared thunderously, its voice crashing like lightning in his ears, lifting the massive axe to strike down upon him...