C37 Surround and Attack!
After half an hour had passed, all the scholars had gathered at the base of Skydome Mountain.
The rules of the War God's trial were straightforward yet fraught with peril.
Participants were to enter the mountain and survive for seven days; leaving prematurely would mean disqualification.
Unique to Skydome Mountain was a spiritual flower essential for crafting elixirs, unavailable for purchase elsewhere.
Rankings would be determined by the quantity and quality of spiritual flowers collected by those who emerged at the end.
In the War God's trial, life and death were of no consequence!
All scholars participating in the trial were required to sign a life-and-death contract, agreeing that if slain, their families would not seek retribution.
Despite the dangers, over the years, many families had reached an unspoken agreement. Unless there was a deep-seated vendetta, they refrained from ruthless slaughter within Skydome Mountain.
"The mist is dense in Skydome Mountain, and it's encircled by a vast river. This is the sole path out of the mountain."
"In seven days, when you exit Skydome Mountain, the spiritual flowers you've harvested will fetch a premium from the master alchemists at the Hall of Consecration. As per the longstanding rule, the one who submits the most spiritual flowers will receive an elixir that boosts cultivation level!"
A buzz of excitement spread among the crowd, especially among those attempting the War God's trial for the first time.
An elixir that could enhance one's cultivation level was a prize worth striving for.
In that moment, a fervent glow filled everyone's eyes.
"The hour has come—enter!" bellowed a general.
The scholars filed in, and as Lu Yu joined the procession, a sly smirk crept onto the general's face.
"Inform the Crown Prince, the fish has taken the bait!" he commanded his aide.
...
Within Skydome Mountain.
As soon as Lu Yu stepped inside, he was enveloped by a chilling presence.
While the others simply noted a significant drop in temperature compared to the outside, Lu Yu was acutely aware that the Feng Shui Grand Formation was at play.
"Could a Demonic Cultivator be practicing their arts here?" Lu Yu traced a line through the Yin Qi and murmured to himself.
"You lowlife! You still have the nerve to stand here?"
A spiteful voice erupted behind Lu Yu as Princess An Le, flanked by her entourage, encircled him.
Her face now hidden behind a veil, only her eyes were visible, swollen and seething with hatred as they bore into Lu Yu.
"Attack him! Kill him! No, beat him to within an inch of his life first, then drag him out. I want to slaughter his entire family before his very eyes!" Princess An Le shrieked.
Lu Yu's brow furrowed; he was not one to shy away from conflict.
To him, these scholars were merely overgrown children, or rather, insignificant ants.
He had shown mercy to Princess An Le once, and yet she had the audacity to be insolent before him.
"Lu Yu, you're asking for it. Don't blame us for what comes next!" The scholars released bursts of true qi and rushed towards Lu Yu.
Many were at the sixth or seventh level of the Houtian realm, considered the cream of the crop among the young elite.
As for Lu Yu, at seventeen and only at the first level of the Houtian realm, he was the butt of every joke in Longjing, a fact known to all.
It looked as though Lu Yu was about to be overwhelmed and killed by the crowd!
"Ha!"
With a thunderous shout, Lu Yu sent a shockwave that made almost everyone tremble; those with lesser cultivation levels even coughed up blood.
He stomped down hard, and the earth cracked open. Stones hurtled through the air, striking the charging warriors.
Boom!
From Lu Yu's foot, a web of fissures spread, and the ground sunk into a deep crater.
Some scholars were flung aside by the flying debris, others toppled over as the ground shook beneath them.
With a single stomp, no one remained standing before Lu Yu.
