Chapter 186: First Trial?

Lin Wu was now wondering what sect these people were from. They had not said the name of the sect, and neither were they wearing clothing that was a uniform.

'Wait, could they be the ones that used the beast inciting powder? Hmm… the beetle beast said there were five of them that time, but here there are seven. Perhaps they split up at that point. Also, she did say they were strong, which means they are at the very least at the core condensation realm.' Lin Wu thought.

"System, can their cultivation bases be scanned?" Lin Wu questioned as he looked through the functions.

He had seen one function that could do something like this and was part of the identification formation array. He didn't know if it was activated or not though.

~Ding~

——

ANSWER: There is one peak stage core condensation realm cultivator, three late stage core condensation realm cultivators and three mid stage core condensation realm cultivators.

——

Right after the system answered, labels appeared on top of the cultivators that Lin Wu was seeing on the screen and he observed them.

"Hmm… so the senior brother is at the peak, one of the women is at the late stage and the other is at the mid stage. Among the rest of the men, two are at late stage and two at mid stage. A balanced realm, I guess…" Lin Wu muttered to himself.

The group of cultivators were continuing towards the depths of the tomb and were currently in the corridor before the first hall. Lin Wu was observing the corridor too, and had no difficulty seeing it due to the monitoring function.

It was actually dark there for the cultivators, but Lin Wu saw it as if there were lights everywhere.

'This is rather convenient…' Lin Wu thought.

The cultivators lit up the area using an illumination spell. It created an illusory lantern that spread light in the area at a 360 degree angle. The one using it was the woman who was at the late stage of the core condensation realm.

They all walked for about five minutes before they reached the hall. If they all had not been walking carefully and steadily, they would have reached it in less than a minute. But they seemed to want to be cautious than rush in, which Lin Wu found very reasonable.

Finally, they came upon the door of the first hall and the formation lit up.

"What's happening?" The mid stage core condensation realm woman asked in an anxious tone.

"Don't make any sudden movement's but be on your guards. We don't know what we will encounter next, since it is an inheritance ground there is meant to be danger in the trials and tests." The senior brother warned.

~gulp~

They weakly nodded their heads before forcefully swallowing down their fear. Lin Wu could see that the weaker ones were already trembling in their places.

~Rumble~

The doors of the first hall opened and the seven cultivators walked in. 

~shua~

Suddenly lights appeared in the hall and lit it up, letting everyone see the carvings that were on the wall. Lin Wu looked at them too and found them to be the same as what he had seen before in the first hall he had appeared in.

"Whoa! What is all this!" The cultivators said in shock.

Their reaction was the same as that of Lin Wu, but the Senior brother's expression had darkened instead. He was about to speak something, but before he could his eyes went dull. The others had similar expressions, and it seemed as if they were in a coma.

~ding~

——

FIRST TRIAL: Initiated

NUMBER OF CONTENDERS: Seven

SETTING DIFFICULTY: Level 2

APPROVE: Yes/no?

——

Lin Wu had not expected that the formation array would ask him for the permission. 

"Seems like being the disciple first has even more advantages. Alright, I'll approve it, I wanna see what the trials are actually like." Lin Wu replied.

~Ding~

——

TRIAL APPROVED: Beginning in 3… 2… 1… Trial started

——

Lin Wu then saw the screen in front of him change. The seven cultivators' minds had been transported into an illusion now.

"So this is what the trial actually looks like…" Lin Wu muttered as he saw the gloomy scenery.

The seven cultivators were currently standing in an area that was black. Lin Wu recognized this to be one of the planets that had been ravaged by the shadow calamity. A loud voice sounded in the ears of the seven cultivators as soon as they appeared in Lin Wu also heard it due to the monitoring formation.

"Survive for thirty minutes!" The voice said.

The expression of all the cultivators turned grim, and they took out their weapons.

"Get ready for whatever that's about to come!" The Senior brother spoke.

"I'll watch for enemies!" 

"I'll guard the rear!" 

"I scout the area with my qi skill!"

"I provide defenses!" 

One by one, the members assigned tasks to themselves and showed their teamwork.

"Huh? They calmed down rather quickly?" Lin Wu muttered, seeing the sudden change.

'Or is this their fight or flight response?' he wondered.

The cultivators were expecting to fight enemies, but the reality turned out to be very different.

~BOOM!~

The ground in front of them suddenly exploded and dark shadows came out of it. 

"RUN! That is not something we can fight" The Senior brother shouted, sensing the aura coming from the shadows.

The aura was terrifying to them, and if it had not been for the fact that it wasn't particularly directed towards them, they would have already frozen and fallen unconscious due to the pressure.

~boom~

~boom~

~boom~

The cultivators had to dodge right and left, as the ground exploded at random intervals. There was no sense or logic to the explosion, and all they got for a warning was the slight tremor that happened a fraction of a second before the explosion.

"Aargh!" one of the mid stage core condensation realm cultivators yelled in pain as sharp rock pierced his arm.