Lin Qingyue processed the mind-blowing information, yet her face displayed a perfectly timed expression of surprise and sympathy.
"So that's how it is," she said softly, as if truly grieving over the Celestial God's plight.
"It seems Senior Azure Dragon has truly encountered a problem of monumental proportions."
Daoist Xuanming nodded in profound agreement, the worry between his brows almost tangible.
"That is precisely what we suspected. The Exalted Celestial Azure Dragon governs Vitality and Order, and is the most composed of all. Unless a world-shaking crisis has occurred, he would never refuse visitors in such a manner."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Lin Qingyue as if casually considering his words.
"Moreover... this entire continent has been completely sealed off by a strange power. We have exhausted all our means, yet we cannot establish contact with the outside world."
"The only way out, I fear, lies with the Exalted Celestial Azure Dragon."
These words laid their "despair" and "hope" bare on the table.
Lin Qingyue's eyes curved into a smile, as innocent as a little white... er, little pink rabbit.
"Daoist, perhaps you could try again? We juniors will observe and learn by your side; maybe we can glean some insight."
"Very well."
Xuanming seemed to be waiting for her to say these words. He immediately nodded to a Daoist behind him who had a thin face and a sharp aura.
"Junior Brother Xuanzhen, you go try that 'Game' Trial again."
The Daoist named Xuanzhen complied, walking toward the massive chessboard with a solemn expression.
He did not rush to make a move. Instead, he circled the board three full times, his eyes half-closed, his lips moving silently.
Lin Qingyue noticed that his stride, his breath, and even his resonance with the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth were all like something straight out of a textbook.
It was so perfect that it seemed less like real combat and more like a formal ritual.
After a moment, Xuanzhen took a deep breath and stepped onto the edge of the chessboard.
Buzz!
The runes on the chessboard's surface suddenly lit up, and a mountain-like pressure exploded outward.
Xuanzhen's aura shifted abruptly, transforming from an immortal-like Daoist into a drawn sword, its lethal edge fully revealed.
He raised his hand and grasped the air; a black game piece the size of a millstone soared into the air, landing steadily in his palm.
The chessboard displayed a strange, incomplete game, its black and white pieces locked in a fierce, jagged stalemate, teeming with hidden killing intent.
Daoist Xuanzhen stared at the board, standing motionless for a full fifteen minutes.
Finally, his eyes erupted with a fierce light, and he slammed the black piece in his hand down onto a seemingly insignificant spot in the center of the board!
Crack!
A thunderous roar exploded.
The runes across the entire chessboard flared with blinding light, and an invisible shockwave erupted from the point where the piece landed!
A cold, arrogant voice echoed in everyone's minds:
[ Short-sighted and blind to the Great Dao, you fool! ]
Daoist Xuanzhen let out a muffled grunt as he was violently thrown back by the shockwave. He tumbled through the air several times before Daoist Xuanming, who had been ready, caught him.
"Pffft..."
Xuanzhen coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining the front of his robes crimson, his face turning deathly pale in an instant.
"It is impossible... The board seems to offer a path to survival, but in truth, every step is a deadly trap, leading deeper into an inescapable death trap! This game has no way out!"
Xuanming sighed, took out a medicinal pill, and fed it to him, comforting him, "You did your best, Junior Brother. Go and recover your energy first."
Afterward, two other Daoists challenged "Calligraphy" and "Painting," respectively.
The Daoist who challenged "Calligraphy" summoned all his spiritual power, guiding the black-hole-like brush tip as he attempted to write the character "Suppress."
The brush moved like a soaring dragon and a slithering snake, its Daoist Rhyme majestic and boundless, on the verge of completion.
However, at the very last moment of lifting the brush, the viscous energy "ink" slightly faltered, leaving an almost imperceptible flaw at the tip of the stroke.
[ Lacking in strength, both form and intent are scattered. Rejected. ]
The giant brush suddenly whipped out, swatting the Daoist away like a fly.
The Daoist who challenged "Painting" sat cross-legged before the blank scroll.
Lin Qingyue could clearly sense his surging Mental Energy pouring into the scroll like a tide.
The next second, the blank scroll actually responded!
Ink and wash painting materialized out of thin air, spreading in a misty haze.
Majestic mountains broke through the paper, a rushing river spanned the scroll, a sea of clouds churned, and immortal cranes soared in the sky.
A grand and profound immortal landscape painting was about to be completed.
The Daoist's expression was filled with excitement as he used his finger as a brush, preparing to paint the eyes of an immortal crane in the center of the painting.
At that final moment, just as he was about to add the finishing touch that would bring the painting to life, the cold voice sounded again.
[ The painting is plagued by artifice and lacks spiritual vitality. Rejected. ]
Lin Qingyue and her three companions stood aside, watching quietly from beginning to end.
Lin Xiyue's heart pounded as she whispered to her sister, "Sis, this thing is too sinister. How is this a trial? This is practically risking one's life!"
Xia Lian nodded in agreement. "Their methods of challenging require them to mobilize all their strength. Once they fail, the backlash is extremely powerful."
Su Wan frowned slightly, analyzing in a low voice: "The four trials correspond to 'Path', 'Momentum', 'Strength', and 'Spirit', respectively. Go is Path, Calligraphy is Strength, Painting is Spirit... then the Zither is..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Daoist Xuanming personally walking toward the giant ancient zither.
The grand finale had arrived.
He meticulously straightened his Daoist robes and bowed respectfully to the ancient zither.
Afterward, he sat down cross-legged, his hands suspended above the zither strings.
His eyes were tightly shut, his expression solemn, and his entire aura gradually merged with the surrounding Heaven and Earth.
Twang
A soft sound echoed.
The zither string, thick as a child's arm, actually emitted a clear and melodious note on its own, without anyone plucking it.
The zither's music was ethereal and far-reaching, as if immortal cranes were soaring in the sky and clear springs were flowing, even causing the surrounding bamboo grove to sway with it.
Did he succeed?
Lin Xiyue and her companions' eyes lit up.
However, Xuanming's expression turned incomparably grave at this moment.
Twang! Twang! Twang!
The zither's music grew more urgent and more high-pitched, as the sound of golden spears and iron cavalry surged out of the zither.
A murderous, tyrannical aura instantly enveloped the entire scene!
Beads of sweat the size of soybeans seeped from Xuanming's forehead, and his body began to tremble slightly.
Just as the music was about to reach its climax, the thick zither string suddenly shuddered!
Snap!
A piercing noise tore through all the beauty.
[ The music contains stray thoughts, and the heart is impure. Rejected. ]
A visible sound wave violently exploded from the ancient zither.
Daoist Xuanming was struck as if by a heavy hammer, his entire body flying backward, and he spat out a stream of blood while still in midair.
"Senior Brother!"
The remaining Daoists cried out in alarm and rushed forward to help him up.
Xuanming waved his hand, indicating he was fine, but his aura was completely withered.
He gazed at the ancient zither, his eyes filled with a complex mix of awe and unwillingness, which ultimately turned into a long sigh.
"The Exalted Celestial Azure Dragon's Path of 'Rhythm' has reached the pinnacle of perfection. Only a kindred spirit can resonate with it. Our... cultivation is insufficient."
After several attempts, the entire group had been defeated.
The atmosphere in the courtyard grew utterly heavy.
Lin Qingyue watched the entire process from beginning to end, her expression remaining completely calm, but the sense of dissonance in her heart grew stronger and stronger.
A fatal logical problem circled in her mind.
The Ena Immortal Alliance came from another world of cultivation.
Their power system and cultural background should be completely different from this world.
But why did they show such astonishing familiarity with the "zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting" trials set by the Azure Dragon?
They showed no confusion at all, and each person accurately found the "correct way to approach" the corresponding trial.
In the end, they all suffered "narrow defeats" in an extremely plausible manner.
This was unreasonable.
It was like an ancient person who had never seen a computer sitting in front of one without any instruction manual.
Although their operations were clumsy, they accurately knew to use the keyboard to type and the mouse to double-click software icons.
Unless...
At this moment, Daoist Xuanming, who had been adjusting his breath for a moment, slowly walked over supported by his companions.
A kind smile was squeezed onto his pale face, and his gaze fell on Lin Qingyue.
His gaze was gentle, but a trace of imperceptible scrutiny was hidden deep within it.
"Forgive our poor display, young friend. Our skills are lacking, and it seems we are not destined to meet the Exalted Celestial."
He shifted his tone, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"However, since you and your companions have reached this place, you must be individuals blessed with great fortune. Perhaps you might create a miracle."
He stroked his long beard, his tone sincere.
"Why not give it a try? We old bones may not be able to solve it ourselves, but we can offer a few pointers from the side to help you avoid taking the long way around."
This tone, this expression, were filled with the care and encouragement of elders for their juniors.
Here it comes, Lin Qingyue sneered inwardly.
This old fox, after all that buildup, this is what he was waiting for.
Does he think we're young and easy to fool, so he wants to use us as cannon fodder to scout the way?
Or does he think we're hiding some secret that allowed us to enter, and wants to use this chance to pry into it?
Lin Qingyue saw right through him, yet she wore a smile brighter than the sun, her eyes curving into two adorable crescents.
She returned the same gentle smile and readily agreed, her voice as clear as a mountain spring.
"Alright."
"We will trouble you then, Daoist."
I'll play along with you.
Let's see who the true Best Actor is.