Rong Zhuofan scanned the crowd and continued, “The requirement for the second round of assessment is that every disciple must wear the competition uniform. The outer robes for the upcoming matches will be handed out to you shortly.”
After saying this, Rong Zhuofan gestured with his hand.
Soon after, a group of young people walked into the square and began distributing white outer robes to everyone.
Feng Qingran took the robe and examined it carefully.
“Feng Qingran, since you reached the top of the Ask Heaven Ladder in the first round, you qualify directly for the finals and don’t need to participate in the second round,” Rong Zhuofan announced in his booming voice.
Feng Qingran looked up, a flicker of light passing through her eyes. She was genuinely curious about the Seven Kill Array.
She asked in a clear voice, “Sect Leader Rong, I’d like to take part in the second and third rounds. Is that allowed?”
“Of course, you may.” Rong Zhuofan’s eyes showed a hint of appreciation.
Not getting arrogant after victory, nor discouraged after defeat—truly admirable.
This year, Qingzhou was bound to make a name for itself in the Spirit Combat Tournament.
“Thank you, Sect Leader Rong, for your kindness.” Feng Qingran’s tone was respectful.
After speaking, she made a hand gesture to Dugu Jianyi, Qin Hanyan, and Baili Wenyue. The three leaned in close.
Feng Qingran whispered something softly into their ears.
Around them, those who had been keeping an eye on Feng Qingran noticed this scene and, clutching their robes, crowded closer, pricking up their ears to catch what she was saying.
They vaguely caught fragments like “don’t be timid,” “find their weak points,” and “watch out for sneak attacks”…
But they couldn’t make out the full picture.
Out of the corner of her eye, Feng Qingran caught sight of everyone’s movements and couldn’t help but twitch her lips. These people, really?
“Little Junior Sister, why did you stop?” Baili Wenyue asked in confusion.
He turned his head and was startled to find they had been completely surrounded.
Baili Wenyue barked, “What are you all trying to do?”
The eavesdroppers, caught red-handed, looked embarrassed and quickly tilted their heads up to stare at the sky.
Those disciples who had no idea what was going on instinctively followed suit and looked up at the sky as well.
Seeing the crowd staring upward, Rong Zhuofan also lifted his head to look—but saw nothing at all.
Up on the high platform.
Baili Xuanqing and the others, noticing Rong Zhuofan’s actions, also curiously looked up at the sky—and likewise saw nothing.
Only Feng Qingran and her companions wore expressions of utter speechlessness.
After a long while, someone finally asked, “There’s nothing up there at all! What are you all looking at?”
“Huh? Weren’t you the ones looking at something?”
Some disciples looked completely baffled. “I just saw others looking up, so I did too. I have no idea what they’re looking at!”
Another disciple, upon hearing this, was exasperated. “If none of you know, then why are you all craning your necks?”
…
The group exchanged blank glances and waved their hands at the same time. So… why exactly were they looking up?
Rong Zhuofan listened to the murmurs below, equally puzzled. None of them even knew why they were staring at the sky!
Why did everyone just follow along?
It made me misunderstand and search for nothing. I’ll have to give these little rascals a piece of my mind later.
The powerful figures up on the high platform rubbed their sore necks.
Rong Zhuofan gave a few awkward coughs, then boomed, “Everyone, the Seven Question Array will activate in a quarter of an hour.”
With that, he flew back to the high platform.
“Baili Xuanqing, if I recall correctly, when setting up the Seven Question Array, the difficulty can be adjusted for each individual, right?”
“What are you getting at, Sect Leader Rong?” Baili Xuanqing’s eyes gleamed with interest.
Rong Zhuofan stroked his bristly beard. “I want every single person in there to get a thorough beating—the kind that leaves them black and blue.”
Xiao Qingfeng said coldly, “Rong Zhuofan, that’s too underhanded! This is blatant personal vengeance!”
Rong Zhuofan shot Xiao Qingfeng a glare. “What, Sect Leader Xiao wants to plead for leniency on their behalf?”
Xiao Qingfeng shook his head. “A beating isn’t enough! I suggest that each person also experiences the temptation of beauty—that would make things far more entertaining.”
Baili Xuanqing shot a glance at the two of them. These two old coots are rotten to the core!
Do they even need to mention these things?
He had already set it all up when he arranged the Seven Question Array. The stronger the person, the stronger their opponent would be!
Seeing that the time was about right, Baili Xuanqing activated the Seven Question Array.
Activating the array this time would consume ten thousand top-grade spirit stones.
If it weren’t for the fact that this selection was crucial to Qingzhou, they wouldn’t have wasted ten thousand spirit stones on it.
Every activation of the Seven Question Array not only consumed immense financial resources but also demanded a great deal of mental energy.
Every step of setting up the array required extreme caution. One misstep, and all the previous effort would be wasted.
That’s why he had personally arranged the array and dared not entrust it to anyone else.
After six whole months and the use of a hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones, the Seven Question Array was finally complete.
When the array activated, a pillar of light soared into the sky from the center of the square, catching everyone’s eyes.
Before the people in the square could react, their figures vanished.
Then, Baili Xuanqing swept his sleeve, and countless mirrored surfaces appeared above the square, each displaying scenes from the experiences of the various disciples.
This round of trials would last twenty-one days.
On the mirrored surfaces.
Every disciple stood opposite a person—an exact replica of themselves.
The powerful figures all first looked toward Feng Qingran.
They saw her casually swing her sword and cut down the person before her.
The powerful figures: !!!
This young lady really doesn’t waste a single move!
