Pale-green light swallowed the Alliance group, and for a brief moment, Fang Lin felt as if he had stepped through a sheet of warm water.
The pressure of Blackstone Trial Peak did not disappear. It changed. The crushing weight on flesh and bone became softer, but it slipped deeper into the meridians, carrying a heat that tested the stability of spiritual Qi. Around him, the Green Bamboo Sect disciples appeared one after another inside a long stone hall, its walls covered with carvings of bamboo forests burning beneath a crimson sky.
Fang Lin stood near the rear and looked back quietly. The door they had entered through had already vanished, leaving only a smooth wall behind them. The thin crack beneath the altar outside could no longer be seen, yet the grey seed inside his spiritual sea still pulsed faintly, as if it could sense the hidden warmth through layers of stone.
He lowered his eyes and hid the change in his expression. The true secret of Blackstone Trial Peak was not inside this hall, but the ordinary trial still had to be passed first. More importantly, he was traveling with Feng Jiu'er's group now. Leaving suddenly would only draw suspicion. Even if they could be trusted, he had to maintain the secret for now atleast.
Feng Jiu'er stood at the front of the hall, her white-red robes bright beneath the dim crimson lamps. Her gaze swept across the surroundings, calm but not careless. The pale-green bamboo-leaf emblem on her sleeve glowed faintly as her Spirit Foundation aura spread out, steadying the disciples behind her.
Su Wanqing walked to her side and said softly, "The Qi here carries both fire and wood. It suits Senior Sister Feng, but it may be difficult for the others if the trial pressure increases."
Feng Jiu'er nodded. "Everyone, keep your Qi restrained. Do not resist the heat with force unless I give the order."
The disciples answered quietly.
Murong Yue glanced around the hall and then looked at Fang Lin. "Fellow Daoist Shen, you have been very quiet. Are you regretting traveling with us already?"
Fang Lin looked at the burning bamboo carvings on the wall and replied, "I regret many things. This has not entered the top of the list."
Bai Qing blinked, then lowered her head to hide a smile.
Zhao Feng stared at Fang Lin for a moment before muttering, "That answer was strangely depressing."
Li Shan said in a serious tone, "At least it was honest."
Murong Yue's smile brightened. "No wonder Senior Sister Feng let him follow us. He fits our group too well."
Feng Jiu'er glanced back at them. Her expression remained composed, but her eyes carried a faint warning. Murong Yue immediately straightened, though the smile at the corner of her lips did not vanish completely.
Fang Lin noticed Feng Jiu'er's glance and looked away.
The hall trembled before anyone could speak again.
At the center of the stone hall, three lamps slowly rose from the ground. Each lamp was shaped like a bamboo shoot, but crimson flame burned within its hollow body. The flames did not release ordinary heat. Instead, they gave off a strange pressure that made the spiritual Qi inside everyone's bodies stir restlessly.
Ancient words appeared above the lamps.
Wood feeds flame. Flame refines wood. Guard the three lamps until the incense burns out. If one lamp dies, the trial weakens. If two lamps die, the trial fails. If all three lamps die, those without steady hearts shall be buried in ash.
As the final character faded, a black incense stick appeared in midair above the hall. Its tip ignited without warning, releasing a thin line of grey smoke.
Feng Jiu'er's eyes sharpened. "Three teams. Su Wanqing, take the left lamp. Li Shan, take the right lamp. I will guard the center."
Su Wanqing nodded and moved at once. Li Shan did not hesitate either, quickly bringing Luo Chen, Zhao Feng, Han Zhi, and several other disciples toward the right lamp. Murong Yue and Bai Qing stayed closer to the center, ready to support whichever side weakened.
Fang Lin remained near the middle-right position, where he could protect the weaker disciples without standing too close to Feng Jiu'er.
Feng Jiu'er looked toward him. "Fellow Daoist Shen, your suppression skill is useful. Help stabilize the right side if the pressure turns chaotic."
Fang Lin cupped his hands slightly. "Understood."
He did not say more. The lesser Shen Mo explained, the safer Fang Lin remained.
The incense smoke thickened.
A low crackling sound came from the walls. The carved bamboo forests began to move, and black ash poured out from the stone like dirty snow. The ash gathered on the ground, twisting into thin vine-like shapes. Soon, dozens of ash vines crawled toward the three lamps.
The first wave was not fast, but it carried a corrosive heat. When one vine touched the edge of the center lamp's flame, the crimson light dimmed slightly.
Feng Jiu'er moved.
"Crimson Leaf Sword."
A red sword light swept out like a burning leaf. It cut through seven ash vines in one motion, and the broken pieces scattered into sparks before they could reform. Her attack was clean and controlled, burning only what needed to be burned without wasting Qi.
On the left side, Su Wanqing formed a seal with both hands. Green-white Qi flowed outward like spring wind, pushing the ash vines back without scattering the formation of the disciples behind her.
"Willow Wind Binding Seal."
Several vines were caught in the wind-wood Qi and crushed into powder.
On the right side, Li Shan drew his sword and shouted, "Splitting Wind."
His sword Qi cut forward, breaking the first row of ash vines. Luo Chen followed with his spear, while Zhao Feng guarded the flank with his blade. Han Zhi stood close to Bai Qing, his expression stern as he watched for gaps in the defense.
The trial seemed simple at first.
Guard the lamps.
Cut the vines.
Endure the heat.
But Fang Lin did not relax. The easier a trial appeared, the more likely it was only waiting for someone to grow careless.
The ash vines continued to crawl from the walls, growing thicker with every breath. Some vines began to avoid the strongest disciples and slip toward the weaker ones instead. A vine moved low along the ground, hidden beneath smoke, and curled toward the ankle of an Early Spirit Foundation disciple beside Zhao Feng.
Fang Lin's fingers moved slightly.
"Black Mountain Lock."
Invisible pressure descended and pinned the vine to the ground. Zhao Feng noticed the movement a breath later and slashed down, cutting it apart.
He turned his head and nodded toward Fang Lin. "Thanks."
Fang Lin replied calmly, "Watch the floor."
Zhao Feng looked down immediately, his face becoming more serious.
The heat inside the hall rose.
The crimson flames inside the three bamboo lamps became brighter, but the disciples' faces grew paler. The trial was not only attacking from outside. The lamps themselves were drawing on their Qi. If the cultivators resisted too strongly, the lamps weakened. If they relaxed too much, the ash vines advanced.
Feng Jiu'er understood this quickly.
"Do not pour Qi into the lamps directly," she said. Her voice was steady and carried through the hall. "Keep your breathing rhythm even. Let the lamps borrow the surface layer of your aura."
The Alliance disciples adjusted at once.
Fang Lin's eyes moved faintly. Feng Jiu'er's judgment was sharp. She had not only grown stronger in realm; she had become much better at leading others under pressure.
Murong Yue appeared near the right side and used her hidden blade to cut apart a vine that had slipped behind Luo Chen. She spun lightly, her smile sharp as she said, "These vines have no manners. They keep attacking from behind."
Luo Chen glanced at her. "You also attack from behind."
"That is why I know it is rude."
Bai Qing nearly laughed, but a wave of heat struck her spiritual foundation and forced her expression to tighten. Her aura flickered, and the pale-green light around the right lamp dimmed for an instant.
Three ash vines immediately lunged toward that weakness.
Fang Lin stepped forward.
"Stone Vein Crushing Step."
His foot landed against the stone floor, and a dull force spread outward. The three ash vines shuddered as their movement rhythm collapsed. Fang Lin raised his palm immediately after.
"Black Mountain Breaking Palm."
The palm force sank through the air and crushed the vines before they reached Bai Qing.
Bai Qing let out a breath, her face pale but grateful. "Fellow Daoist Shen, thank you again."
Fang Lin withdrew his hand and said, "Stabilize your breathing first. Gratitude can wait."
Murong Yue looked at Bai Qing and sighed lightly. "He saves people like a physician scolding a patient."
Bai Qing's ears reddened slightly, but she still followed Fang Lin's instruction and steadied her breath.
At the center, Feng Jiu'er glanced over. Her eyes rested on Fang Lin for a moment longer than before. Stone Vein Crushing Step was clearly a trial reward he had just obtained, yet he had already used it smoothly enough to support combat. Even if it was only the basic application, his speed of understanding was unusual.
Fang Lin sensed her gaze but did not look back. He deliberately let his breathing grow a little heavier and allowed his next movement to appear less polished. It was not enough to seem weak, only enough to look believable.
The incense burned past one-third.
The walls suddenly cracked louder.
From the burning bamboo carvings, black figures stepped out one after another. They looked like cultivators made of ash, each holding a charred bamboo sword. Their eyes burned with dim red light, and their bodies released a bitter smell of smoke and old blood.
Su Wanqing's expression became solemn. "Ash sword spirits."
The first ash sword spirit appeared before Feng Jiu'er and slashed downward.
Feng Jiu'er raised her sword.
"Crimson Bamboo Sword Pressure."
Crimson and pale-green aura surged from her blade. The ash sword spirit's attack slowed as if it had entered a forest of burning bamboo, and Feng Jiu'er stepped through the pressure with calm eyes.
"Bamboo Heart Severing Palm."
Her palm struck the ash sword spirit's chest. Pale-green force entered first, followed by a line of crimson fire. The ash sword spirit collapsed inward and burst apart.
She did not smile after killing it. Her face remained cold and focused, because another three had already appeared.
The right side became dangerous almost immediately. Li Shan could hold one ash sword spirit, but the second forced Luo Chen to retreat three steps. Zhao Feng blocked a sword strike with his blade, and his arms trembled from the impact.
Han Zhi moved to support him, but an ash vine curled from beneath the floor toward his leg.
Fang Lin's eyes cooled.
"Black Mountain Guard."
A heavy defensive pressure spread around Han Zhi's lower body and blocked the ash vine just before it touched him. Han Zhi reacted quickly and crushed the vine with a palm strike. He did not waste time thanking Fang Lin. He only adjusted his position and returned to the formation.
The ash sword spirit facing Zhao Feng raised its sword again. Zhao Feng's footing was unstable, and if he blocked directly, his blade might be knocked aside.
Fang Lin did not use too much force. He only stepped into the corner of the ash sword spirit's movement line.
"Black Mountain Lock."
The invisible suppression slowed its sword by a fraction.
That fraction was enough.
Zhao Feng's eyes brightened, and his blade swept upward.
"Wind-Cutting Blade."
His attack struck the ash sword spirit's wrist and severed its charred sword hand. Li Shan followed immediately with a clean sword strike, splitting the spirit from shoulder to waist.
Zhao Feng exhaled and grinned. "That felt much better."
Li Shan said calmly, "Because you did not rush."
Murong Yue appeared behind them and said, "He is learning. Slowly, but the heavens are patient."
Zhao Feng's grin vanished.
Fang Lin's mouth moved slightly, but he held back the smile.
The incense burned halfway.
At that moment, the three lamps flared at once.
The flames inside them rose higher, and a deep roar came from the far end of the hall. Ash gathered into a larger form, nearly ten feet tall, shaped like a warrior wearing broken bamboo armor. It held a long charred spear in its hand, and the pressure it released was close to Late Spirit Foundation Realm.
The moment it appeared, the three lamps dimmed.
The ash warrior did not attack the disciples.
It rushed straight toward the center lamp.
Feng Jiu'er stepped in front of it.
Her crimson aura rose sharply, and the temperature around her changed. It was not wild fire. It was controlled flame, compressed beneath her sword edge. The pale-green bamboo Qi around her body rooted her in place, making her look like a single bamboo stalk standing in the middle of a burning storm.
"Verdant Flame Shield."
A green barrier edged with crimson fire appeared before her.
The ash warrior's spear struck the shield heavily. The impact forced Feng Jiu'er back half a step, and the stone beneath her feet cracked. Her expression did not change much, but Fang Lin saw her fingers tighten around her sword hilt.
The ash warrior struck again.
The shield trembled.
Several Alliance disciples wanted to help, but the ash vines and sword spirits around them suddenly attacked more fiercely, trapping them near their own lamps.
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed.
He could break the ash warrior if he used more strength, but that would be too much for Shen Mo. More importantly, this trial clearly suited Feng Jiu'er. If he interfered too heavily, he might steal the very opportunity the ruins had prepared for her.
So he chose another way.
"Guard Dragon Breath."
His Qi spread quietly through the defensive rhythm of the nearby disciples. He did not push it strongly. Instead, he guided the unstable breaths around the right lamp and helped them flow toward the center formation. The support was subtle, like adding a hidden beam beneath a shaking roof.
The right lamp steadied first.
Then the center lamp stopped dimming.
Feng Jiu'er sensed the change.
Her eyes flickered, but she did not turn around. She used the moment perfectly. Her sword rose, and crimson fire gathered along the blade while pale-green bamboo Qi wrapped around her arm.
"Burning Bamboo Line."
The sword cut forward.
A thin crimson-green line passed through the ash warrior's spear, then through its chest. For a breath, nothing happened. Then the spear split apart, and a burning line opened across the ash warrior's body.
Feng Jiu'er stepped forward.
"Crimson Leaf Sword."
Her second strike followed without hesitation. Crimson sword light bloomed like a burning leaf, cutting through the wound left by the first attack. The ash warrior collapsed into a storm of sparks and black dust.
The center lamp flared.
The left and right lamps answered.
A warm light spread through the hall, burning away the remaining ash vines and sword spirits. The disciples finally had a moment to breathe. Several of them were drenched in sweat, while others had pale faces from the strain on their spiritual foundations.
The black incense above the hall burned to its end.
When the final ash fell, the three bamboo lamps lowered into the ground, and the ancient words appeared again.
Those who guard flame with scattered hearts shall fail. Those who guard flame with joined breath shall pass. Those who lead without abandoning others may receive the flame-veiled mark.
The words faded into three streams of light.
One stream entered Feng Jiu'er's palm.
Another split into small jade bottles that appeared before the group.
The final stream turned into a jade slip and floated toward the center of the hall.
No one reached for it immediately.
Feng Jiu'er looked at the jade slip, then turned toward the group. "This trial was passed by everyone. The pills will be divided. As for the jade slip, we will inspect it first before deciding."
No one objected.
Even the disciples who were tired looked convinced. Feng Jiu'er had carried the heaviest pressure in the trial. If she wanted the jade slip, no one would feel it was unfair.
Su Wanqing picked up the jade slip and examined it briefly. Her eyes moved slightly before she handed it to Feng Jiu'er.
"It is called Verdant Flame Lotus Guard. A defensive technique. It suits you best, Senior Sister Feng."
Feng Jiu'er did not accept immediately. She looked at the others. "Does anyone disagree?"
Murong Yue waved her hand. "If I learn it, I will probably burn my sleeves first."
Zhao Feng said honestly, "I cannot use it."
Li Shan nodded. "Senior Sister Feng should take it."
Bai Qing added softly, "You protected the center lamp. It belongs to you."
Only after hearing them did Feng Jiu'er take the jade slip. Her expression remained calm, but her voice softened slightly. "Then I will remember this."
Fang Lin watched quietly.
This was why the Alliance followed her. Feng Jiu'er was proud, but she did not take things as if they were owed to her. She carried responsibility first, reward second. That kind of pride did not make people resentful. It made them willing to stand behind her.
Feng Jiu'er's gaze suddenly moved toward him.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, you used Guard Dragon Breath just now."
Fang Lin's expression did not change. "Barely."
Murong Yue looked at him with disbelief. "Barely? The right side stopped shaking the moment you used it."
Fang Lin said calmly, "Then perhaps the right side was waiting for encouragement."
Zhao Feng frowned. "Was that encouragement?"
Li Shan looked at him. "Do not think too deeply."
Feng Jiu'er's eyes remained on Fang Lin. She did not expose him, but the doubt in her gaze deepened. Shen Mo had accepted Guard Dragon Breath not long ago, yet he had already applied it well enough to affect a group formation. Even if he had previous knowledge of similar methods, his comprehension was still too fast.
Fang Lin lowered his gaze slightly and gave her no more openings.
The hall slowly quieted.
A new passage opened at the far end, but Fang Lin did not immediately look toward it. The grey seed inside his spiritual sea had pulsed again. This time, the feeling was clearer.
Beneath the place where the three lamps had sunk into the ground, there was a trace of hidden heat.
It was extremely faint, like a coal buried beneath a mountain of ash. It did not carry the clean sharpness of ordinary fire, nor the life-filled warmth of Feng Jiu'er's flame. It was darker, deeper, and strangely hungry, as if it had once burned something that should not have been burnable.
Fang Lin's heartbeat slowed.
Dark Flame.
He did not know the name yet, but his instincts told him this was not an ordinary treasure. The grey seed wanted it. The Nine Abyss Shadow Scripture stirred because of it. Even the death-dark Qi inside his body became quieter, as if waiting.
Fang Lin's fingers moved once beneath his sleeve.
Then he stilled them.
Not now.
The ordinary trial had only shown him a trace. If he acted rashly, he might alert the ruin formation, Feng Jiu'er, or something hidden deeper beneath Blackstone Trial Peak. He had waited through danger before. He could wait again.
Feng Jiu'er walked toward the opened passage and said, "Rest for half an incense stick. After that, we continue."
The Alliance disciples nodded and began adjusting their breathing.
Fang Lin stood near the edge of the hall, his face calm and his aura steady. To everyone else, Shen Mo looked like a quiet rogue cultivator who had helped them pass another trial.
Only Fang Lin knew that beneath his calm expression, his thoughts had already turned toward the hidden crack outside the two doors.
The Verdant Flame Trial had ended.
But the true fire beneath Blackstone Trial Peak had only breathed once.
-