Chapter 338: So You're a Fellow Native

Chapter 338: So You're a Fellow Native

“That’s a sharp question!”

“The sword spirit must be testing our honesty!”

“But that spiritual weapon flying sword looks amazing. Anyone know if it’ll actually give it to you if you say it’s yours?”

Chen Huaian stood on the sidelines, listening to the chatter of these cultivators, utterly speechless.

That sword spirit was obviously pulling out props—how could it possibly give the real thing? What, was the sword spirit loaded or something?

Out in the center of the Clearwater Pool, Mu Congyu thought it over. He’d already failed the first question. Even if he passed the next ones, he might still miss out on the sword spirit’s favor—never mind comprehending the sword intent or entering the pool. So instead of ending up with nothing, why not be greedy and try to grab something nice?

He could tell this was a test of integrity.

But that spiritual flying sword in the sword spirit’s hand was just too tempting. He couldn’t stop imagining how confident he’d feel if he had a spiritual weapon. With that, wouldn’t passing the Sword Pavilion’s entrance trials be a piece of cake?

With that thought, he blurted out:

“Esteemed Sword Spirit, I dropped this spiritual flying sword!”

A chorus of groans echoed from the crowd.

Chen Huaian shook his head. Hopeless.

He couldn’t even answer such a simple question correctly. Truly, human hearts are greedy.

If the sword spirit actually gave that spiritual weapon to Mu Congyu, he’d eat…

“Alright then~ Here you go!”

The sword spirit grinned and tossed the spiritual weapon to Mu Congyu, then evaporated into mist.

A booming voice echoed from the pool:

【Barely qualified】

Chen Huaian: “……”

He took a sip of his tea.

If the sword spirit really did that, he’d eat his tea.

“D**n it! That brat actually got lucky. Why didn’t the sword spirit ask me that question?”

“That’s a spiritual longsword! I’m a Nascent Soul cultivator and I’m still using a magic weapon…”

The surrounding cultivators were full of envy and resentment.

One older cultivator, his hand trembling, grabbed a brush and started recording that round’s sword spirit question, marking the time in red ink alongside hundreds of previous records. He was trying to find a pattern.

Chen Huaian stared at the thousands of entries and the man’s serious expression—it was surreal.

How was this any different from an obsessed lottery player?

The sword spirit’s “barely qualified” verdict also made no sense to him.

This sword spirit a sugar mommy or what?

【Third question. Please listen!】

Mu Congyu, now holding a spiritual flying sword, was grinning from ear to ear. His heart was already soaring. He was no longer as cautious and serious as before.

Even so, he resisted the urge to leave the Clearwater Pool right away.

【Confucius said: “Since you are here, make yourself comfortable.” What does this mean?】

“It’s here! The sword spirit’s soul-crushing question!”

“When the sword spirit quotes classics like this, it’s bound to hold profound meaning. Take notes, quick!”

Around the pool, many cultivators pulled out notebooks or jade slips to jot things down.

Chen Huaian, meanwhile, felt a loud buzz in his head.

Wait a sec… isn’t that from the Analects? Is this sword spirit… from my hometown?!

Sure, he was a science major and never memorized the classics.

But even if you haven’t eaten pork, you’ve seen pigs run. The moment it started with “Confucius said,” if it wasn’t from the Analects, he’d eat… eat his tea.

Out on the boat, Mu Congyu thought hard for a while before answering:

“Esteemed Sword Spirit, I think this means: Since I’m already here, I should settle in peacefully. Or, perhaps, that since something has already happened, I should accept it calmly?”

The Clearwater Pool was silent for a few seconds. Then a booming voice rang out:

【Unqualified!】

【Trial candidate has passed only one question. Not eligible for martial trial. Trial is over—please leave!】

As the words faded, a column of water shot into the sky, hurling Mu Congyu and his little boat all the way back to shore.

And the moment Mu Congyu landed on the riverbank—

Chen Huaian noticed a group of cultivators leaving the teahouse with hostile expressions.

Here it comes: a classic Cangyun Realm special—killing for treasure.

Holding something far beyond your own strength was already a crime in itself. Any passing senior cultivator could force you to cough it up.

Having figured out the sword spirit’s game plan, Chen Huaian was ready to step in himself.

He pressed his feet to the ground and launched into the air, flying toward the center of the Clearwater Pool.

At the same time, two other figures also rose from the crowd.

As Chen Huaian touched down lightly on the water’s surface and hovered above the pool—

Two others landed on either side of him.

To his left stood a monk, palms together, wearing a compassionate expression. He floated on a single bodhi leaf drifting on the water’s surface.

To his right was another sword cultivator, bearing a sword box on his back and a cold, stern face. He hovered half an inch above the water, sword intent surging all around him.

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes as information about the two flashed in his vision:

【Fen Kong – Void Fusion Eighth Realm – Elder of Burning Purity Holy Land (Concealing cultivation)】

【Li Ziping – Peak of Void Fusion Seventh Realm – Elder of Zhenwu Holy Land (Concealing cultivation)】

So, old acquaintances.

Chen Huaian could clearly feel the barely restrained killing intent flickering between Fen Kong and Li Ziping.

It was obvious—they recognized each other and were both here for the sword spirit.

They just hadn’t made a move yet, since no one had figured out the sword spirit’s judging criteria.

But the moment one of them gained the sword spirit’s favor, the other would explode in violence. At that point, every bystander here would be collateral damage—nobody would survive the shockwaves of a battle between Void Fusion cultivators.

The Yin-Yang sword spirits appeared again.

This time, Chen Huaian stood in the very center. Fen Kong was near the Yang Sword, while Li Ziping stood closer to the Yin Sword.

【Three trial candidates—please listen to the question!】

Li Ziping and Fen Kong’s eyes sharpened. Sandwiched between them, Chen Huaian felt a chilling breeze brush his face—

Icy. Cold enough to freeze his bones.

【Suppose all three of you are using the toilet. Suddenly, three assailants appear and each stabs one of you. Do you: finish your poop first, kill the attacker first, or take some other course of action?】

Fen Kong and Li Ziping’s faces changed instantly.

Still this damn question?!

But as cultivators of the Void Fusion Realm, they found it almost impossible to answer.

They couldn’t even imagine such a scene. Not to mention—what kind of person could even stab them in the first place?

And besides, cultivators at their level had long stopped eating solid food. They’d been fasting for centuries. Why would they even need to use a toilet?

Fen Kong struggled for a long time, face turning red, veins bulging on his forehead. He clearly didn’t want to say it.

But his problem wasn’t just the embarrassment.

It was that the best answer had already been taken—by that younger cultivator earlier.

And the sword spirit had declared it “Unqualified.”

So finally, he forced out an answer:

“Amitabha… this poor monk would handle the attacker first, then return to finish the restroom business.”

【Unqualified!】

“What?! That’s wrong too?!” Fen Kong’s face instantly darkened. His hand, clutching a string of prayer beads, began to tremble.

Dozens of eyes stared at him. Whispering voices buzzed all around like insects, each one cutting deeper than a blade.

A chill rose on his face as he began to seriously consider silencing every witness.

What happened today—must never get out.

Otherwise, where would he put his face?

Now it was Li Ziping’s turn.

All eyes turned to this dignified sword cultivator.

Chen Huaian, too, was curious—what kind of answer would the Elder of Zhenwu Holy Land give?

…

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