According to the rules of the Five Great Immortal Mountains, any disciple who wins first place in a stage will have priority in making choices in the next stage.
The second stage of the trial was jointly established by the Five Great Immortal Mountains, and the stages often incorporated the unique characteristics of each mountain. Therefore, many people sought to team up with elite disciples from the Five Great Immortal Mountains to pass this stage.
Although Su Xi was the first in the first stage, her cultivation was too low, and she was rejected by several people she approached.
Everyone knew that the second stage was the true trial, and no one could predict the dangers within. Only by teaming up with stronger individuals did the chances of survival increase.
Su Xi observed the demeanor of the surrounding disciples and understood their reluctance to form a team with her.
If others didn't need her, Su Xi certainly wouldn't force her company upon them.
Although the possibility of passing the second stage was greater with a team, there was no rule mandating it. In her past life among the stars, Su Xi often acted alone. As long as she was careful, there was still a chance to succeed.
Seeing Su Xi being shunned, Liu Piaopiao was delighted. To showcase herself, she magnanimously approached Su Xi and extended an invitation, "Junior Sister Su Xi, our team is short one person, and you can join us."
Upon hearing Liu Piaopiao's invitation, Su Xi's response was immediate and unwavering: "Thank you, but I'd prefer to live a little longer."
Given her relationship with Liu Piaopiao, Su Xi found the invitation suspicious. She knew without a doubt that Liu Piaopiao's gesture was disingenuous, like a weasel offering greetings to a chicken.
Liu Piaopiao, publicly rejected by Su Xi, put on a wronged expression. "I sincerely invited Junior Sister to team up, and even if you are unwilling, you shouldn't slander me like this."
Under Liu Piaopiao's instigation, Su Xi's actions immediately drew condemnation from the surrounding crowd.
After all, in their eyes, Liu Piaopiao was a goddess. Their goddess had kindly invited someone, only to be insulted. Su Xi, this ungrateful wretch, was surely deserving of death.
Although they couldn't directly resort to violence due to the ongoing competition, a barrage of verbal attacks was unavoidable.
Su Xi paid no mind to their words. A group of mere buffoons couldn't possibly affect her mood.
Just as Su Xi was preparing to venture through the stage alone, she noticed Wu Yufeng approaching.
Wu Yufeng, much like the sword he carried on his back, exuded an icy aura. He walked up to Su Xi and, without any preamble, directly asked, "Will you team up with me?"
Su Xi harbored no particular animosity towards the disciples of Shu Mountain, but Wu Yufeng's invitation confused her. "Why are you inviting me?"
Clearly, Liu Piaopiao had invited many skilled individuals to increase her chances of success. Wu Yufeng, as a renowned expert, should have been among those invited by Liu Piaopiao.
Wu Yufeng glanced at Liu Piaopiao and coldly replied, "I dislike her. Too hypocritical."
"Hahaha." Hearing Wu Yufeng's words, Su Xi suddenly found the cold individual quite amusing. Based on that statement alone, Su Xi felt this person was worth knowing. Being able to discern superficiality indicated he was at least a rational person.
Liu Piaopiao, seeing Wu Yufeng reject her and instead align with Su Xi, clenched her fists in secret.
She had once again been outdone by that conniving woman, Su Xi. She absolutely could not let her live.
With Wu Yufeng's inclusion, others were immediately drawn to join their nascent team. Wu Yufeng expressed no objections to their additions, leaving all the arrangements to Su Xi.
Su Xi made her selections quickly. Besides Wu Yufeng, who was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, their team included Xu Jiu from the Luo Yi Sect, at the early Foundation Establishment stage. The other two were the Tang siblings from the Luo Sheng Sect.
Although this team composition was somewhat unbalanced, it was the best Su Xi could achieve.
The allotted time for team selection had passed. Those who had formed teams stepped forward to receive matching jade talismans. Immediately, a massive black hole appeared in the plaza, and several powerful forces of attraction emanated from it.
Knowing the competition had begun, Su Xi entered the black hole with her teammates.
Once teams were formed, the jade talismans they wore quickly turned into the same color. Different teams were teleported to different locations, but members of the same team were guaranteed to be transported together.
After a bout of dizziness, Su Xi and her companions found themselves in a desert.
Yellow sand filled the air, and dust storms raged. Skeletal remains were scattered everywhere.
On the horizon, a dim, yellow sun cast a scorching light.
The disciple from the Luo Yi Sect's expression turned grim upon witnessing this scene. As someone trained in alchemy, he instantly understood what this was.
The scene before them was none other than the "Blazing Sky Array" of the Luo Yi Sect.
Xu Jiu hadn't expected such difficulty in the second stage of the trial.
The Blazing Sky Array was specifically designed to refine intractable materials. Any material placed within the array would be completely melted down within forty-nine cycles of the sun.
If they couldn't find a way out, they would undoubtedly be refined.
Su Xi and the others' faces also turned grim upon hearing Xu Jiu's explanation.
None of them were proficient in array formations. Finding an exit in such a short time was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Su Xi surveyed their surroundings and asked Xu Jiu, "Is there any possibility of forcibly breaking this array?"
Xu Jiu glanced at Su Xi and shook his head. "This array is the Luo Yi Sect's ultimate formation. Even this simplified version would require a Golden Core stage cultivation to forcefully break."
Su Xi fell silent upon hearing Xu Jiu's words, lost in thought.
Just then, the weak sun in the sky suddenly emitted a powerful radiance. Waves of heat cascaded down. The yellow sand on the ground began to radiate heat under the sun's glare.
"Not good, who triggered the array?" Xu Jiu's voice became tense.
When the Blazing Sky Array was not activated, it provided them with forty-nine cycles of the sun. However, if someone activated it prematurely, the array would unleash its full power.
At the current strength of the array, they could only endure for three hours. If they couldn't find an exit within that time, they would either be consumed or forced to surrender.
Su Xi cursed the situation internally. She had no choice but to search for an exit with the others.
Her cultivation was too low. Although she possessed ample Level 3 talismans, they were insufficient to break the array. Their only recourse was to find a way out.
As Su Xi was searching for an exit, Wu Yufeng, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke, "Wait, we've been to this place before."