Chapter Eighty-One: The Trial

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“Master Uncle, I have no desire for fame, fortune, or power. As long as Immortal Island of Square Inch can remain prosperous and carefree for generations, I will be content and happy.”

Inside the Buddha Hall…

The Heavenly Fury Sword shimmered with a cold aura, evidently sensing the demon lurking within the Buddha statue. Fearing that Ye Sansi might stir up trouble, Liu Lingshuang quickly pulled him back and said, “Hey, foolish boy, don’t do anything reckless. If you refuse to bow, just leave with me.”

“Lingshuang, I can’t. You once said this Buddha was a merciful and compassionate deity, but this statue feels demonic. I have pledged myself to the Square Inch Sect; it is my duty to ease my master’s worries. How can I let this demon run rampant?”

Lin Nian’er was anxious too and tried to dissuade Sansi, but he was resolute in his intent to fight. Knowing they could not change his mind, the two could only watch.

Ye Sansi intended to cut down the Buddha statue with his sword, but just as he was about to act, darkness fell over his eyes…

Panic seized him. Before him was a darkness he had never known, an utter stillness where only the rhythm of his heartbeat and the flow of his blood could be heard.

He called out for Liu Lingshuang and Lin Nian’er, but there was no answer. The Heavenly Fury was gone from his grip as well.

Ye Sansi realized he had fallen under some demonic spell. Fearing that breaking free by force might harm Lingshuang and Nian’er, he shut his eyes tightly and sat cross-legged in meditation.

The method worked. In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he vaguely heard sounds again. Thinking he had broken free of the illusion and returned to the Buddha Hall, he opened his eyes—only to find himself atop the cloud-covered peak he had longed for. The beasts, birds, flowers, and trees looked just as they had when he left, and in the distance stood the immortal form of Uncle Tree.

Ye Sansi knew this must be an illusion, yet seeing the familiar sights of Nameless Peak, his suspicions faded. He wanted to visit his wooden hut, to see Uncle Tree—real or not.

He ran toward his hut, feeling the earth and grass beneath his feet as real as ever.

He paused at a spot he had spent much time in, aside from his hut. It was spacious and flat, not far from home. Whenever he came back from hunting, he would set up a wooden rack here, sharpen stones for knives, cut the meat into pieces, skewer it with branches, and light a fire for roasting. These feasts would last for hours.

Though hunting and roasting was hard work, every mouthful brought Sansi deep satisfaction and happiness.

Moving on, he reached his wooden hut. Having seen countless grand temples and mansions at the foot of the mountain, his hut seemed all the more humble.

He did not enter, wanting to greet Uncle Tree first. After a few dozen steps he stood at the foot of the immortal tree and called out, “Uncle Tree! Uncle Tree! I’m back!”

“Sansi, you’ve finally returned,” came an old man’s voice from behind.

Turning, Sansi saw the Tree Immortal—Uncle Tree looked as kindly as ever, his smile creasing his face as he opened his arms in welcome.

Ye Sansi laughed. “You monster, you may mimic Uncle Tree’s form and manner, but you have not a trace of immortal bearing, nor any kindness or compassion between your brows. Do you think such tricks could fool me?”

“Well now, clever boy, you saw through my illusion. Not bad, not bad—you’re sharper than your two companions.”

Ye Sansi grew anxious. “What have you done to my friends?”

The demon beast turned into a swirl of black smoke and hastily replied, “Nothing, nothing—they’re quite safe, just failed the test.”

“The test?”

“You are new disciples of Immortal Island of Square Inch, are you not?”

“We are. But what test do you mean—?”

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“For new initiates, if the Island Lord deems one highly gifted, he’ll use illusion to bring them here and let me test them. If you can endure an hour of torment, you pass. Your two friends couldn’t even withstand the endless darkness—what a pity.”

“So what other trials are there? Bring them on.”

“You brat, you’ve already seen through all my tricks—how am I to continue?”

Ye Sansi scratched his head. “With such power, you must be highly cultivated. Why are you imprisoned here?”

…

“Master Uncle, the three of them are facing a demon of ten thousand years—will they be alright?” someone asked.

Fang Jian replied, “They will. In all these years, thousands upon thousands of disciples have been sent here, and none have come to harm. Our forebear must have sealed that demon so it cannot injure anyone.”

…

The demon beast replied urgently, “Imprisoned? That’s a harsh word. I made a pact with the previous Island Lord—I test the disciples of Square Inch, and he protects me with a spell so I cannot be destroyed.”

“You seek immortality? But with your cultivation, why fear death?”

“Ah, you don’t understand. I am a demon and have lived ten thousand years. I've committed countless sins and killings. At my age, if I do not become immortal, how could I not perish?”

“Oh, I see now. The array beneath this Buddha statue grants you eternal life, but you must serve the island, bound within the statue, never leaving.”

“That’s about right. Enough talk—your time is up. I’ll send you back.”

The demon beast prepared to lift the illusion from Sansi, but Ye Sansi said with a smile, “Then you have accompanied the Square Inch Island for centuries, a senior in your own right. You’ve done evil, but also good deeds.”

The demon beast laughed. “What, boy, do you want to thank me?”

“Senior, I have learned an advanced technique called ‘Essence Devouring Art,’ though I know only its rudiments. I have modified it with my own insights and created a new move, but have nowhere to test it. Would you be willing to instruct me?”

“Very well. In hundreds of years, you are the only one to pass without enduring torment. We are fated to meet—I shall instruct you.”

With that, Ye Sansi closed his eyes, focused his breath, and performed the Essence Devouring technique.

Seeing Sansi’s display, the demon beast was surprised. “Interesting,” it thought. “This technique can absorb and condense demonic energy. I have more cultivation than I need—might as well share some with him.”

The demon beast cast a spell, exhaling black smoke that circled Sansi. After a moment, the demon beast pulled back, muttering, “That should be enough. Any more and the boy couldn’t bear it.”

Ye Sansi was unaware of all this, eyes still shut. The demon beast said, “Alright, that’s enough. Now show me how you condense demonic energy. Be careful—not a move out of place.”

Ye Sansi spread his hands before his chest, moving them in a circle, slowly bringing them together as the black smoke gathered between his palms…

Meanwhile, Fang Yuan grew anxious as the three had not yet emerged. “Master Uncle, are they alright? It’s been more than an hour. Should I go check?”

Fang Jian shook his head. “No. It is the ancestral rule—once the trial begins, no outsider may intervene. We must wait for them to come out on their own.”

Inside the Buddha Hall, Lin Nian’er was the first to awaken, head spinning and unsure what had happened—she only remembered blackness, endless and oppressive.

She rose and saw Lingshuang and Sansi collapsed on the ground. She rushed over; thankfully, Lingshuang awoke as well, opening her eyes a crack. Still dizzy, she let Nian’er help her and asked, “Nian’er, what happened to me?”

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“It must have been the Buddha statue clouding our minds, creating illusions. All I remember is endless darkness—I was so afraid and helpless, then fainted again.”

Lingshuang staggered over to Ye Sansi and, losing her balance, fell into his arms.

“Cough, cough—Lingshuang, you’re really heavy…” Ye Sansi said with a laugh.

Seeing Ye Sansi unharmed, Liu Lingshuang broke into tears and laughter. “You’re the heavy one, hmph.”

Lin Nian’er quickly helped them up. “This Buddha Hall is truly dangerous—we nearly lost our lives. Lingshuang, Master Ye, we should leave at once.”

“Agreed.” The three left the Buddha Hall. Ye Sansi glanced back and suddenly stopped. “Look!”

“Sansi, stop looking—let’s hurry to the Island Lord and report what happened. If bigger trouble comes, we’ll be in real danger.” “That’s right, Master Ye, let’s not delay. We must leave at once.”

Ye Sansi held Lingshuang back. “Look—it used to be the ‘East Buddha Hall,’ but the middle character has changed!”

Liu Lingshuang looked carefully. Sure enough, “East Buddha Hall” had become “East Dining Hall.” Everything that had happened felt like a dream. Ye Sansi scratched his head. “This must have been a trial set by Master. Otherwise, how could it feel so real?”

Speak of the devil—Fang Jian and Fang Yuan arrived. Ye Sansi and the others saluted. Fang Jian patted Sansi’s shoulder and said with a smile, “Disciple, you did well—passing this trial. Your future is boundless.”

“Thank you for your praise, Master. Passing the trial was pure luck.”

Fang Yuan laughed. “Master Ye, you’re too modest. Only once in decades does someone pass the trial of the Buddha Hall—this is fate, not luck.”

Fang Jian took a book from his robe, opened it, and let it float in the air before Ye Sansi. “Disciple, this scroll bears the names of those favored by our ancestors. See—your name is below mine. This is also the clan record of Square Inch. If you ever face danger outside, the entire sect will come to your aid.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.” Seeing Liu Lingshuang’s expression, she truly admired Ye Sansi. She herself had only lasted a short while in that sea of darkness, unable to endure; it showed how strong Sansi’s spirit was.

Fang Jian smiled. “Now that we’re at the dining hall, let’s go in and eat. Don’t go hungry.” After seeing Fang Jian off, Ye Sansi and his friends entered the dining hall.

Upon entering, they found Li Taiyi, Xiong Gang, and Jin Sun already there. Taiyi walked up. “Where have you all been? You were gone so long—I worried you wouldn’t come.”

The six sat down together; by now, they were the only ones in the dining hall. Ye Sansi asked, “Taiyi, you haven’t eaten yet?”

“Of course not. I couldn’t eat without you all. I told Xiong Gang and Sun to eat first, but they insisted on waiting for you too…”

Ye Sansi laughed. “Well then, let’s eat quickly—we’re starving.” As they spoke, the disciples brought out the food; it seemed Senior Wang Qi had told them to save some for the group, and it was still hot.

After a few bites, Sansi smiled. “One taste and I know Senior Wang made this—delicious as ever. But where is he?”

Taiyi replied, “Senior Wang? He’s off practicing swordsmanship. This meal is actually a banquet he prepared for our success. I really have nothing else to do today—how boring.”

Liu Lingshuang suggested, “Why don’t we go find Senior Wang after eating? Maybe we can get a head start learning sword techniques—it’ll make future practice easier and more fun.”

The others nodded in agreement and hastened their meal…