Chapter 1 The Trial of the Mind-Cleansing Pool

"How is the trial at the Mind-Cleansing Pool going?"

"Just as you predicted...those transcendent individuals without power or background are unable to seize this opportunity, even when given it. Less than one-tenth of them can pass the Mind-Cleansing Pool's test."

The Grand Elder walked toward the temple, listening to the report from the Sacred Arbiter.

"The 'rogue cultivators' selected during the initial screening have essentially completed their trials. Many couldn't even withstand the mental pressure inherent in the Mind-Cleansing Pool's water and had to forfeit."

The Sacred Arbiter smiled. "Now that those rogue cultivators have returned, it's time for the trials of the various envoys."

"Good."

The Grand Elder nodded.

With his status and the preciousness of the "blood," how could he waste time monitoring the trials of ordinary transcendent individuals?

If one in ten thousand geniuses truly emerged from among those rogue cultivators, he would pay attention then.

The Grand Elder asked, "Have the members of the envoys all arrived?"

The Sacred Arbiter respectfully replied, "They have all arrived. They are waiting for you."

"Hmm... has Song Ci arrived?"

The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, then suddenly mentioned a name.

The Sacred Arbiter's tone was somewhat complex as he said, "Yes, he arrived the earliest. Is he the legendary Apostle?"

The Grand Elder raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"That Song fellow... is rather strange."

The Sacred Arbiter thought and thought, but couldn't quite describe it, and finally said helplessly, "Grand Elder, you'll understand when you see him."

The so-called Mind-Cleansing Pool trial wasn't as complicated as it sounded.

Back then, Guang Ming City was built around Sunset Mountain and Red Lake. On the shady side of the mountain, there was a sunken pit. Later, the Guang Ming Throne used the "power of the Fire Seed" to fill this pit and diverted water from Red Lake to irrigate it.

To set foot on Red Lake, one must have permission from the temple.

The Mind-Cleansing Pool was a "simplified version" of Red Lake. Cultivating in this place could quickly calm one's mind.

Meditative cultivation also has different levels.

Although the "focusing" effect provided by the Mind-Cleansing Pool was not as good as that of Red Lake, it was more than enough for most transcendent individuals.

Before long, the Grand Elder led his people to the Mind-Cleansing Pool.

This vast "spring pool" covered several acres, resembling a small lake.

At this moment, the "trainees" sent by the various envoys were waiting beside the Mind-Cleansing Pool. These people sat on the ground, tacitly dividing up the territory.

Everyone came from all over and were basically familiar with each other, relying on each other and staying close.

But... there was one exception.

A maverick freak who was completely out of sync with the surrounding environment actually took off his thin floral shirt in public, and his flip-flops were placed beside the Mind-Cleansing Pool...

Everyone else was patiently waiting beside the pool.

But he alone was soaking in the pool water, naked from the waist up.

His voice echoed constantly in the silent Mind-Cleansing Pool.

"Is that Young Master Yi from the Red Grape Group of Shang City? I met you when my wife and I went to Zhong Zhou to discuss business. Don't you remember? I'm Crow!"

"Remember now? Come take a bath together!"

The name Crow used to be very well-known.

Everyone knew that he was Lu Nan Zhi's first bodyguard, extremely capable in a fight, and represented the Flower Banner Group's combat power!

But in recent years, this name had disappeared, and many people had no impression of it.

But no impression was no impression.

The transcendent individuals from the various envoys who came to this Mind-Cleansing Pool were all shrewd people with "eyesight." They could see that this freak who treated the Mind-Cleansing Pool as a bathhouse was exceptionally powerful.

Countless mental probes reached out to him.

Without exception, they all failed to sense anything.

Young Master Yi from the Red Grape Group heard this and awkwardly waved his hand, retreating repeatedly.

Song Ci's surroundings quickly became clear, turning into a large open space.

The others would rather squeeze together than be with this guy... not just because he was strong enough, but also because once he started talking, he never stopped!

"Grand Elder, you've finally arrived!"

A heavily armored guard hurried forward.

He had been annoyed by Song Ci's behavior for a long time, but the upper echelons of the temple had long instructed that those important figures crossing the Western Continent this time must be treated well and absolutely not offended.

At first, the Sacred Arbiter had also reminded Song Ci that this was not a place for bathing.

But Song Ci just waved his hand, completely ignoring it.

"This Song Ci... actually treats the Mind-Cleansing Pool as a bathtub!"

The heavily armored guard gnashed his teeth and said, "Grand Elder, this kind of scum is clearly disrespectful to the Light. How can he be allowed to participate in the Fire Seed Trial? I implore you to revoke his trial qualification!"

Several other trainees echoed his words.

The Grand Elder fell silent.

He gently patted the heavily armored guard's shoulder and said, "I will handle it myself... you may withdraw."

The mist dissipated, and the Grand Elder stepped into the Mind-Cleansing Pool's barrier. His figure immediately attracted everyone's attention.

The transcendent individuals sent by these envoys all saluted.

"Everyone, you've waited long enough."

The Grand Elder glanced over, not lingering on Song Ci for even a second. He returned the salute to everyone and said indifferently, "Today is the 'Refining of the Mind-Cleansing Pool.' The rules are simple. By extending your mind beside this Mind-Cleansing Pool and touching the surface of the water, you can sense the 'Dream of Light.' As long as you can enter a state of meditation and maintain it for twenty minutes, you will have passed this trial."

The Mind-Cleansing Pool trial was not difficult in the first place.

The temple set up this test to screen out those who were disrespectful to "Light."

Next was the distribution of the "Dream of Fire Seed."

This was an extremely precious resource, and the Church of Light would not hand over the "Dream of Fire Seed" to those with ulterior motives.

"What's the deal? Don't you have to get in the pool?"

Song Ci muttered after hearing this.

He felt many strange gazes cast toward him.

"Grand Elder, this pool water..."

Young Master Yi from the Red Grape Group looked embarrassed. He looked at Song Ci soaking in the pool water, then at the Grand Elder.

The implication was already very clear.

Many people showed the same expression.

"Mr. Song Ci indeed has unique insight. This Mind-Cleansing Trial is not difficult, but it's not easy either... If you cannot resonate with the 'Dream of Light,' you can also try to touch the pool water. This will increase the efficiency of entering the dream."

The Grand Elder said indifferently, "However, it is recommended not to take actions such as bathing in the pool. It is said that before the Divine Seat filled this Mind-Cleansing Pool, this pit was filled with countless disasters and ominousness, which were later suppressed by the water of Red Lake. Only those who believe they have tough lives would do something like soaking in the pool water."

As soon as these words came out, the crowd suddenly laughed.

"Damn! Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

Song Ci glared angrily upon hearing this.

He immediately climbed out, his whole body steaming with bursts of golden divine radiance, evaporating all the water vapor.

The laughter of the crowd gradually subsided, because many of them recognized this golden divine radiance...

This divine radiance was very familiar.

It was said that the Divine Domain of the God of Battle was shrouded in thousands of golden rays.

The Grand Elder took another meaningful look.

This divine radiance meant the protection of the God of Battle.

In recent years, Song Ci had hidden in the Qing Zhong Cemetery to avoid the dream guidance of Guang Ming City... The people in the temple did not dare to set foot in Chang Ye, so they could only watch helplessly.

But now, things were different.

No matter how much the God of Battle protected him, this was still the Western Continent!

The Grand Elder withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Everyone, there are some taboos in the Mind-Cleansing Pool trial that need to be remembered... If you successfully enter the 'Dream of Light,' the appearance will be peaceful. But if you harbor resistance to 'Light' or harbor filthy thoughts, after entering the dream, you may be infected with the disasters and ominousness of the 'Mind-Cleansing Pool.'"

"If you feel guilty or feel something is wrong, please stop dreaming immediately and announce your withdrawal."

"Of course... everything has risks. If you are really infected with ominousness, the temple will not be responsible for it."

After saying this, he scanned the surroundings.

After everyone expressed that they had no objections, the Mind-Cleansing Pool trial officially began.

The Grand Elder silently retreated backward, disappearing into the mist.

……

……

Outside the Mind-Cleansing Pool's barrier.

The Grand Elder stood alone in the area shrouded in fog, having replaced his blood with the fresh blood of the Undead. At this moment, he was in his peak state.

However.

All of this was false.

He knew very well that his state would decline rapidly as time passed.

The blood of those Undead would be tainted by disaster, and his "already rotten" body could only maintain a trace of vitality through constant blood transfusions.

The rumors he had just mentioned.

Were actually false.

The deep pit was just a deep pit... before becoming the Mind-Cleansing Pool, there was never any so-called ominousness or disaster.

It was only after he "changed blood" that it appeared.

His old blood was contaminated with a strong "disaster." Even if it was sent into the bodies of those Undead, it still could not be processed and could only be suppressed in this Mind-Cleansing Pool. The so-called "disaster and ominousness" emanated from it. Every once in a while, the temple would organize some believers to come to the Mind-Cleansing Pool to meditate.

Through this barrier.

The Grand Elder could see the mental images of every "meditator."

In the past, he would find those church members whose "dreams were not pure enough" and send the part of the disaster and ominousness that could not be suppressed into their hearts...

Although there was a lot of disaster, if it was divided among others, the amount he needed to bear would be less.

This was a very selfish practice.

But the Grand Elder had no choice. If he wanted to live, he had to exhaust all means.

Being heavily eroded by the ominousness of the Underworld King was a fatal injury...

Every second he lived in this world could be said to be a miracle.

But were the miracles in this world so simple?

He was mortal, and if he wanted to create a miracle, he could only rely on this method. The Undead he had found in the past were all too weak.

In the past twenty years, the only Undead he had taken a fancy to was Meng Xiao.

But Meng Xiao was insisted on protected by his stubborn and dull junior brother, and became a Saint of the Temple.

He wanted to lure Fischer into Guang Ming City, but he was blocked by Bei Zhou.

Fortunately now...

He had finally waited for the powerful Undead he had been dreaming of.

Although he had only seen it for two glances, the Grand Elder was certain that Song Ci's strength, physique, and the vigor of his essence and blood were all absolutely top-notch!

This was the most powerful Undead he had ever seen in his life!

This time at the Mind-Cleansing Pool, he planned to transfer a part of the disaster to Song Ci first to test the depth of this Undead.

He would slowly find opportunities for the subsequent trials...

If he could send Song Ci's "blood" into his body, he would definitely be able to live for a long time!