CHAPTER 303: CHAPTER 303 NO NEED TO TAKE THE TEST_1

The Wolf King said disdainfully, "And here I thought this would be difficult. I basically got up here without lifting a finger!"

Luckily, this was communicated via mind transmission, so only Qin Feiyang and Lu Hong heard it; otherwise, it would have certainly made the hundreds of people struggling to climb spit blood in anger.

Qin Feiyang chuckled. "Go pick up the Gold Coins."

Lu Hong nodded, transformed into a streak of light, and swiftly landed at the bottom of the stone stairs.

After collecting the Gold Coins piled on the ground, she gathered those from the two gambling tables as well.

As Lu Hong turned to ascend, the young man in white clothes hurriedly called out, "Miss, wait!"

"What is it?" Lu Hong’s brow furrowed slightly.

The young man in white bowed politely, smiling. "May I ask your name, miss?"

"Boring," Lu Hong replied coolly, turning and walking towards the peak without a backward glance.

"Zheng Chuan, she didn’t even give you a second glance."

"The way she looked at you, it was as if you were a fly."

"Haven’t you heard the saying? ’A toad lusting after a swan’s flesh is daydreaming.’"

The others couldn’t help but tease the young man in white.

"Hmph! Let me tell you, I really am going to eat this swan!" Zheng Chuan sneered.

Reaching the summit, Lu Hong stood beside Qin Feiyang and frowned. "These people are so annoying."

Qin Feiyang laughed. "Isn’t it good that someone admires you?"

"That depends on who it is," Lu Hong scoffed.

Curious, Qin Feiyang asked, "Then tell me, whose admiration wouldn’t you reject?"

"Well..." Lu Hong hesitated, then shook her head. "That’s personal. None of your business."

Qin Feiyang shook his head with a laugh and looked ahead.

Before him lay a plaza, several hundred feet wide. It was mostly empty and seemed somewhat desolate.

Opposite the plaza stood a gigantic, entirely black palace that exuded an ancient aura.

Four words were inscribed on the main gate: Welcome Hall.

Behind the Welcome Hall, countless tall, ancient palaces towered, scattered like stars in a magnificent and spectacular display.

"Let’s go!" Qin Feiyang said.

The two humans and the wolf strode into the Welcome Hall.

The vast hall was surprisingly empty, save for two figures. Both appeared quite elderly, one dressed in white and the other in black. Yet, their faces glowed, and they were full of vitality. They looked so similar they gave the impression of being biological brothers.

"Finally, someone’s arrived!"

"Come over here!"

Seeing Qin Feiyang and the others, the two old men immediately set aside their tasks and waved them over.

The trio approached.

Qin Feiyang cupped his fist. "Greetings to you, Seniors."

The old man in black appraised them and smiled. "Are you all together?"

"Yes," Qin Feiyang nodded.

"Alright then. You’ll take the next test together. See those two doors?" The old man in black pointed to the side.

Following his gesture, the trio saw two dark stone doors. They were over ten meters apart.

The old man in black said, "Now, enter through the stone door on the right. If you can exit from the stone door on the left within two hours, you pass the second test."

"Two hours?" The trio exchanged doubtful glances and walked towards the right stone door.

What kind of test would need two hours?

Lu Hong murmured, "Be careful. There might be something horrifying inside."

Qin Feiyang nodded, approached the stone door, and pushed it hard.

With a loud RUMBLE, the stone door slowly opened, revealing a corridor about ten meters long.

To the trio’s surprise, the corridor was completely empty. This emptiness, however, made them even more cautious.

As the trio entered the corridor one by one, the old man in white waved his hand, and with a PAH! the stone door closed behind them.

The corridor was extremely dim. Only a Moonlight Stone the size of a fist shed a faint light.

"What’s this about?" The Wolf King scanned ahead, puzzled.

At the end of the corridor was another stone door. That had to be the exit.

Lu Hong said, puzzled, "This corridor is only ten meters long. Isn’t it easy to cross? Why give us two hours?"

"Stop dawdling. Let’s go!" The Wolf King strode dismissively towards the other side.

WHOOSH!

He had only taken a single step.

Suddenly, a dense barrage of sharp arrows shot out from the walls, their tips glinting lethally!

"Damn it, an ambush?" The Wolf King yelped in surprise and hastily retreated.

Lu Hong shook her head. "It’s not an assassination attempt. Though there are many arrows, they aren’t very fast." She was confident she could easily dodge them.

Qin Feiyang scanned the walls, a realization dawning. "I get it. This corridor tests speed."

Lu Hong asked, "You mean if we dodge the arrows and reach the other side, we succeed?"

Qin Feiyang nodded.

"Isn’t that too simple?" Lu Hong said with some surprise.

"Simple?" Qin Feiyang paused, then gave a bitter smile. "Have you forgotten our cultivation levels?"

"Our cultivation?" Lu Hong pondered for a moment, then couldn’t help but chuckle. The tests here were designed for martial masters and Martial Ancestors. But they were War Kings now; such a trial was effectively meaningless to them.

"Let’s go!" Qin Feiyang waved his hand, his feet a blur as he dodged the arrow rain from both sides.

In less than three seconds, he reached the other side. Lu Hong and the Wolf King followed close behind.

"Another effortless task. How boring." The Wolf King shook his head, adopting an air of someone far too superior for such trifles, which made Qin Feiyang and Lu Hong roll their eyes.

Qin Feiyang reached out to push the door.

Suddenly, Lu Hong said, "Wait! The Mansion Master told us to keep a low profile. If we go out like this, it’ll definitely cause a sensation."

"I like being high-profile," the Wolf King declared. He swiped a paw, shattering the stone door, and swaggered out ostentatiously.

"That—that—" Lu Hong fumed. "Look at him! He’s incorrigible!"

Qin Feiyang shook his head and chuckled. "Forget it. We were already pretty high-profile back at the stone stairs. It’s too late to think about keeping a low profile now."

A bitter smile touched Lu Hong’s lips.

"HUH! They made it out already?"

When the trio emerged, the two old men shot to their feet, their aged faces etched with disbelief.

The Wolf King said smugly, "What kind of test was that? Hurry up and start the next one."

The two old men exchanged glances, a hint of suspicion in their eyes.

Could something have gone wrong with the mechanisms inside?

"I’ll go take a look." The old man in black strode into the corridor. The sight of the scattered arrows left him stunned.

Nothing seems wrong! This is strange, how could this have happened?

After the old man in black returned, he looked at the trio and said, "State your names, ages, and cultivation levels."

Qin Feiyang cupped his fist. "Disciple Qin Feiyang, seventeen years old, Two-star War King."

Lu Hong followed. "Disciple Lu Hong, eighteen years old, one-star War King."

"What?" The two old men’s eyes nearly popped out as they stared at the pair incredulously. A seventeen-year-old Two-star War King? An eighteen-year-old one-star War King? This was too outrageous!

The white-robed old man, eyes sparkling, urged, "Release your auras."

Qin Feiyang and Lu Hong exchanged a helpless glance. Exceptional talent can be troublesome too.

Two auras surged forth simultaneously.

"It’s true! They’ve really reached the War King realm!" The two old men were thoroughly shocked. No wonder they passed the assessment so quickly. For them, these trials were mere child’s play!

The Wolf King glanced at Qin Feiyang and Lu Hong, then turned to the two old men, complaining, "Hey, hey, hey! Am I invisible here?"

The two old men paused.

The old man in black, looking quite pleased, chuckled. "Alright, you tell us then."

"I’ve lived for over a decade, and I’ve barely managed to reach the Three Star War King realm," the Wolf King said lazily, though his expression was animated with immense pride.

"Three Star War King!" The two old men stared at each other. Who would have thought this wolf pup was also a prodigy!

The old man in black laughed heartily. "HAHA... I didn’t expect us to receive three such promising new talents this time."

"Go on, gloat!" The white-robed old man rolled his eyes, a hint of displeasure on his face.

Qin Feiyang looked at the two of them, puzzled. Why such a contrast in their reactions?

He didn’t dwell on it. Cupping his fist, he asked, "May I ask, Seniors, what is the next assessment?"

Is there even a need for further assessment? The two old men thought with wry smiles.

"No more assessments," the old man in black said as he took out two Identity Tokens. With a flick of his fingertip, he swiftly inscribed a name on the back of each—Qin Feiyang and Lu Hong.

The old man in black handed the Tokens to them, smiling. "These are your Identity Tokens. Be sure not to lose them."

"Thank you, Senior," Qin Feiyang and Lu Hong said, accepting the Tokens and cupping their fists in gratitude.

"Stop calling us ’Seniors,’" the old man in black chuckled. "My name is Zhou Xi, and this is my brother Zhou Dong. We’re biological brothers and both Steward Elders of the Holy Temple."

So they really are brothers, Qin Feiyang mused.

"Greetings, Elders." The pair cupped their fists again.

Zhou Xi was all smiles. Zhou Dong, the white-haired Elder, however, looked rather forlorn.

Qin Feiyang grew more perplexed.

At that moment, the Wolf King suddenly interjected, "Wait a minute, old man! Where’s my Identity Token?"

Zhou Xi frowned. "What would a Feral Beast like you need an Identity Token for?"

The Wolf King retorted angrily, "Feral Beasts can’t have one? Are you looking down on Feral Beasts?"

"ER..." Zhou Xi was taken aback. Why is this wolf pup so troublesome? But it seems the Holy Temple has no precedent for accepting Feral Beasts as Disciples.

The Wolf King pressed, "I don’t care. If you don’t give me an Identity Token, I’m not leaving."

Is it threatening me? Zhou Xi looked at Qin Feiyang and Lu Hong. "Is it your battle pet?"

The Wolf King scoffed. "Old man, are you blind? Can’t you see I’m their big brother?"

Qin Feiyang’s expression darkened.

A vein throbbed on Zhou Xi’s forehead. He growled, "If it weren’t for your talent, I’d have thrashed you soundly!" Saying this, he took out a blank Identity Token and asked, "Name?"

"Uncle Wolf," the Wolf King blurted out without hesitation.

Zhou Xi’s face twitched. He tossed the Token to the Wolf King. "Carve it yourself."

The Wolf King caught the Token and grumbled, "What’s with the attitude? Careful, or I’ll file a complaint against you!"

A complaint? Is this wolf pup itching for a beating? Veins bulged on Zhou Xi’s temples. "Get out, now!" he roared.