Chapter Five: The Trial

"What exactly do you mean by 'blood slave'?" Cao Yun asked, seizing the moment.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qing paused, casting a long, measuring look at him.

"You're not very old, but you have quite a few schemes in that head of yours. Let me give you a word of advice: being too clever in a place like this isn't necessarily a good thing." Liu Qing’s expression turned icy as he snapped.

Having lost all interest in conversing further, he led Cao Yun toward the west.

As they walked, Cao Yun chewed over the information Liu Qing had revealed. It was clear that being a blood slave was no blessing—Liu Qing’s silence was proof enough of that—but at the very least, his life should be secure in the short term. As for the talk of a path to immortality, Cao Yun remained skeptical; it might just be empty posturing on Liu Qing’s part. For now, he had to take things one step at a time. His primary goal was to survive; all else was secondary.

About an hour later, under Liu Qing’s guidance, they arrived at a remote region. In the distance stood a massive stone wall stretching for dozens of miles, its gates forged from heavy bronze, exuding an imposing aura. Inside the gates, a few fortress-like structures stood upon a clearing.

As they passed, a man dressed similarly to Liu Qing emerged from one of the fortresses. After a brief exchange with Liu Qing, they were allowed through. Cao Yun sensed, however vaguely, that the man’s gaze upon him was a complex mix of pity and mockery, leaving him with a bitter taste in his mouth.

Passing through the bronze gate, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a dense, primitive forest. Towering trees stood in tight ranks, their canopies woven together so tightly that only a few slivers of sunlight pierced through to touch the low-lying shrubs. A thin mist clung to the woods, and a narrow path wound its way into the depths, vanishing into the horizon. Stepping into the forest, Cao Yun felt the temperature drop. His ears were filled with the chirping of birds and insects, and his nose was greeted by the fresh scent of soil and vegetation. He suspected, deep down, that this place was far from any sacred land of immortals.

Half an hour into the path, the woods cleared to reveal a wide space. In the center stood a dark, bluish-black monolith, several zhang tall, inscribed with blood-red characters: "Abyss-less Valley Boundary."

A tall man in grey robes stood by the stone, his back to them. Hearing their approach, he turned slowly, revealing a face with square, stern features, furrowed brows, and cold, piercing eyes.

Liu Qing looked slightly nervous. "Elder Gui, this is the new blood slave."

Elder Gui nodded faintly. "Good." Liu Qing turned and departed immediately.

Once he was gone, Elder Gui swept his gaze over Cao Yun with indifference, as if looking at a lifeless object. He tapped a purple pouch at his waist, and with a flicker of light, a leather skin appeared in his hand out of thin air. Cao Yun’s eyes blurred; he could not fathom how the item had manifested.

The skin was made from the hide of some unknown beast, oval-shaped and about half a person's height. It was covered in strange, blood-red patterns that emitted a mysterious aura. Cao Yun reined in his thoughts, observing it with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

"For the next five days, your task is to pass this boundary stone and venture deep into the forest behind it. You must hunt a beast—a tiger, leopard, bear, or wolf—and fill this skin with its blood before returning." Elder Gui tossed the skin at his feet, his face devoid of emotion.

Cao Yun deliberately feigned weakness. "Elder, could you grant me some tools? Even an axe or a knife would suffice." He knew well that surviving in that vast wilderness as a mere mortal would be difficult enough, let alone while injured. To hunt a beast and collect its blood—one slip could mean death.

"Tools? Hmph..." Elder Gui let out a cold snort. A flash of light from his waist produced a grey bundle, which he tossed carelessly beside the skin.

Cao Yun scrambled to pick it up. Following the elder's gesture, he opened it to find only a short blade and two leather gauntlets.

"Put on the gauntlet artifacts," Elder Gui’s voice was cold and heartless.

Though he resisted the idea, Cao Yun knew he had no choice; he dared not refuse. Once he pulled on the gauntlets, he felt a fuzzy texture against his skin and silently noted that they were surprisingly comfortable.

Suddenly, Elder Gui stepped forward and placed a palm on his shoulder. Cao Yun felt a surge of heat pour from the elder's hand into his body, rushing directly toward his fists. A needle-like pain flared across his skin; the fine hairs inside the gauntlets seemed to come alive, piercing his flesh and burrowing into his muscles. The pain quickly spread to his bones, nearly causing him to black out. Gritting his teeth, he let out a guttural roar, clenched his fists, and instinctively struck the ground.

*BOOM!*

A violent tremor rocked the earth. As the pain subsided, Cao Yun’s eyes cleared, and he stared at his fists in shock.

Elder Gui frowned slightly, muttering to himself, "To unleash such power from this low-grade artifact on the first try... his spiritual force is not weak."

"Remember, do not harbor thoughts of escape. The magical power in your gauntlets was bestowed by me; it will be exhausted in five days. Once that happens, the gauntlets will transform into blood-thirsty demonic tools and begin to drain your own life essence. You will be sucked dry in a matter of days." Elder Gui stared at Cao Yun, his warning heavy with intent.

Cao Yun sighed internally. As expected, there was a failsafe. Back when he served the Imperial City Bureau, he had been fed slow-acting poisons, with the antidote provided only upon the successful completion of a mission. But those were merely mortal concoctions—there were always ways to find a cure, whether through doctors or rare herbs. But now, faced with the methods of cultivators, those mortal tricks seemed like child's play. The powers of these immortals were vast and endless, each one overturning his perception of the world. To survive in this realm, he had to tread carefully, every step calculated. A single lapse in judgment could lead to his total destruction.

"If you want to live, pass this trial to earn a cultivation manual, and stop wasting your time with foolish, redundant actions," Elder Gui instructed again, his tone brooking no argument.

With that, he tapped his waist again, not on the purple pouch this time, but on a cyan bag hanging nearby. A golden light flashed, the bag opened, and a sphere of golden radiance flew out, landing on the ground nearby.

As the light hit the ground, a shrill cry pierced the air, and a massive shadow emerged. When the light faded, a giant golden eagle, several zhang in size, stood before them. Its feathers shimmered brilliantly in the sun, and its eyes were sharp, golden, and seemingly capable of peering into the very nature of the world. Its wings, when unfurled, spanned a terrifying distance, like a golden cloud. It was majestic and awe-inspiring.

Elder Gui leaped onto the eagle's back. With a low, powerful command, the creature flapped its wings and took to the sky. A whistling wind surged, kicking up dust and leaves that pelted Cao Yun—a silent signal that the trial had begun.

Cao Yun picked up the blood-skin, slung it over his shoulder, and cast one last glance at the departing Elder Gui. A bitter smile touched his lips as he turned and began his slow walk into the depths of the forest.