Zhang Fei - The Abandoned Son

Chapter 542: The Ten Challanges

”Are you okay, Brother?” Yuan Luo asked as she helped Ximen Chuixie up.

”Yeah.” Ximen Chuixie nodded and held his stomach. ”Although the attack was harrowing, I didnʼt suffer any injuries, so you donʼt have to worry about me.”

With a sense of relief, Yuan Luo led Ximen Chuixie back to their seat, but Bai Tianʼer unexpectedly approached Zhang Fei. She propped her chin on her hand and looked him up and down, causing him to frown after sensing her using her soul technique on him.

*Roar*

Bai Tianʼer staggered back after she heard the roar from within Zhang Feiʼs soul. She looked at him with a questioning look about the source of the roar, confusing the other disciples.

Chao Yuanfeng had already surmised the existence of something within Zhang Feiʼs soul, leading him to realize that Bai Tianʼer had glimpsed something from within. However, he wasnʼt as ignorant as her to check his soul because he didnʼt know Qiao Liangren and Shang Yingyue, and he guessed that they were superior to him, or else they wouldnʼt be able to help him develop his soul power so quickly.

Zhang Fei smiled faintly and asked. ”Why do you keep looking at me like that, Senior Sister?”

”Nothing.” Bai Tianʼer shook her head and returned to face Zhang Fei. She then pointed her index finger at his chest, but her eyes glanced at Xian Xianqin for a moment before speaking to him. ”You are really interesting, little boy. Since Princess Xianqin isnʼt interested in you, itʼs fine if I get close to you, right? Unlike her, I donʼt care if you are a dual cultivator, nor do I care if you have many women by your side.”

Xian Xianqin clenched her fists tightly as she glared at her senior sister, but Bai Tianʼer wore an indifferent expression. Xian Xianwu and the other disciples shook their heads at her attitude, but none of them said anything; even Chao Yuanfeng chose to remain silent.

”Haha.” Zhang Fei laughed and pulled Bai Tianʼerʼs hand down. ”Please forgive me, Senior Sister. You are indeed beautiful, but you will only bring endless trouble to me because there are so many men crazy about you, and I donʼt want my peaceful life to be disturbed by them.”

Bai Tianʼer raised her eyebrows. ”How do you know about that? You donʼt even know my name, let alone my life.”

”Senior sister, I may be much younger than you, but I am much more experienced than you in terms of feelings. Indeed, I donʼt know anything about you, but I can guess your situation from your attitude.” Bai Tianʼer didnʼt say anything to answer him, but Zhang Fei could see the curiosity in her eyes. ”You can guess as you like, but I will never change my opinion about you.”

Yuan Luo glanced at Xian Xianqin, who looked relieved after Zhang Fei rejected Bai Tianʼer. ʼHehehe! My guess was right on target! Our princess is interested in this young leaf.ʼ

”Thatʼs enough, Tianʼer.” Bai Tianʼer nodded to her master and returned to her seat while Chao Yuanfeng gestured for Zhang Fei to sit down again. ”Has Xianxin told you about the other challenges?”

Zhang Fei nodded in response. ”The tenth challenge includes the demon heart challenge, battle challenge, nature challenge, sin challenge, survival challenge, willpower challenge, soul challenge, beast challenge, maze challenge, and enlightenment challenge.”

”Thatʼs correct.” Chao Yuanfeng then explained each challenge to Zhang Fei. ”You can only pass the demon heart challenge if you manage to lift the burden in your heart, but itʼs not an easy task, and all of them have failed repeatedly. In fact, only Chui Xue and Bai Tianʼer have successfully passed the demon heart challenge, but they failed the enlightenment challenge.”

”Oh?” Zhang Fei turned to Ximen Chuixue for a moment, as he did not expect that a demon like him had successfully passed his demon heart challenge.

Unlike Ximen Chuixue, who smiled faintly after their master mentioned it, Bai Tianʼer wore a proud look.

Zhang Fei could not care about her and asked Chao Yuanfeng again. ”What are the requirements for passing the other eight challenges, Senior?”

”To pass the natural challenge, you need an understanding of the laws of elements. However, it is often troublesome, especially since the elements that appear are often not our elements. Additionally, we will be faced with extreme climate, such as thunderstorms, snowstorms, and various others.” Zhang Fei himself had heard about it from Xian Xianqin, so he was not too surprised by it. ”The willpower challenge is actually quite difficult, but we can complete it easily as long as we have made sufficient preparations before facing it. They will send us to a special place where time stops, leaving us unsure of how long we will be there. Many cultivators failed because they had to face this challenge alone.”

”A place where time stops, huh?” Zhang Fei muttered to himself. ”Loneliness is one of the most frightening experiences for living beings, and not everyone can withstand such extreme loneliness. Since we donʼt know the time in there, we will experience extreme boredom and loneliness, and both will drive our minds crazy.”

”Thatʼs right.” Chao Yuanfeng nodded to Zhang Fei. ”Iʼm not sure how strong your mental strength is, but I doubt you can overcome that challenge, especially with so many people around you.”

Zhang Fei did not deny it, but he already had a solution to overcome the challenge. ”Donʼt worry, Senior. I can definitely pass the challenge.”

Chao Yuanfeng and all his disciples, including Xian Xianqin and Xian Xianwu, looked confused by Zhang Feiʼs confidence.

”Haha.” Zhang Fei laughed while rubbing his nose. ”Even though I have many people by my side, I am also used to facing such a situation, so I am confident that I can pass the challenge. Then, what about the survival challenge, Senior?”

”The survival challenge requires teamwork, so all of you must help each other pass it. If one of you fails to meet a requirement, then the entire team will fail. The test will reveal itself randomly once we reach the challenge location.” Zhang Fei nodded in understanding to Chao Yuanfeng. ”The worst they have ever faced was that they had to face several levels of beast hordes in an extreme place, and the strength of the beasts at each turn would continue to increase, but their strength would not exceed the cultivation of the highest member.”

Zhang Fei once again looked at Ximen Chuixue and Bai Tianʼer, especially since they were the strongest among Chao Yuanfengʼs disciples. ”So the strength of those beasts is at most 1-Moon Divine Transcend, right?”

Chao Yuanfeng nodded to Zhang Fei before explaining the other challenge. ”The maze challenge is also a team challenge, and you have to find some keys to get out of it. However, the maze area is vast, and it will change every five hours. Due to flying restrictions, you must walk through the maze.”

”Thatʼs really troublesome.” Chao Yuanfengʼs disciples nodded their heads in agreement with Zhang Fei. ”The beast challenge should only require us to clean up the beasts that appear in front of us, right?”

”Youʼre right.” Chao Yuanfeng then told him something else. ”The soul challenge is the easiest test for you and Tianʼer, especially since you two are soul cultivators. However, Xianqin and the others will struggle since their soul power is weaker than yours.”

Zhang Fei had already predicted the challenges he would face in the soul challenge. ”Then, what about the sin and enlightenment challenge?”

”The test of the sin challenge is determined by your actions prior to taking it.” Zhang Fei immediately turned to a male disciple. Mei informed him that his name was Ying Shanhu, and his cultivation was in the quasi-divine realm. ”The seven deadly sins.”

Zhang Fei raised his eyebrows. ”Pride, greed, wrath, lust, envy, gluttony, and sloth.”

”Yes.” Yang Shanhu nodded to Zhang Fei. ”From the names of the seven, you should be able to guess the tests. In addition to the seven, we will face our karma, and it will be cumbersome if our hands are stained with the blood of many living beings. Thatʼs why the tests can be either easy or difficult, depending on our karma.”

Zhang Fei immediately looked at his hands in silence, puzzling Chao Yuanfeng and his other disciples. Meanwhile, Xian Xianqin and Xian Xianwu had already heard that he faced lightning tribulation twice in one breakthrough, which meant his bad karma was too great. ”Apparently, the sin challenge will be the most troublesome for me, but I still have confidence in overcoming it.”

Chao Yuanfeng stared at Zhang Fei for a while before telling him the last challenge. ”The enlightenment challenge can be a blessing or a disaster for us. You can choose one of the thousands of techniques in that place, but you only have one day to learn it. The higher the grade you choose, the higher the difficulty. If you succeed in learning it, then the technique will be yours. If you fail to learn it, the technique will disappear from your memories, and you will suffer a backlash.”

”What grade is the highest, Senior?”

”A divine-grade technique.” Zhang Feiʼs eyelids lit up after hearing that. ”There are four types of techniques in it: attack, defense, support, and boost. You have the option to select only one technique, so you must carefully consider which one best suits your needs. If you force yourself to choose two or more techniques, the restrictions there will attack you, and you will be sent out immediately, which means you will also fail to pass the first floor.”

Zhang Fei nodded in understanding. ”So when are we going to the Star Tower?”

”Itʼs a week away, so you better start preparing yourself for all those tests.” Chao Yuanfeng wanted to say something else to Zhang Fei, but Xian Xianqin and Xian Xianwu immediately stopped him because he would never agree. ”If you want, you can stay in the sect for a week so you can get to know Chui Xue and the others better, which will be beneficial for your teamwork.”

”All right, Iʼll stay here for a week.” Zhang Fei immediately agreed to Chao Yuanfengʼs request because he still didnʼt know them. ”However, I still have some business right now, so Iʼll finish it first, and Iʼll come back here right after.”

Chao Yuanfeng immediately turned to Xian Xianqin. ”You can escort him out of our sect, or those old folks will stop him.”

”Yes, Master.” Xian Xianqin immediately led Zhang Fei away, but Xian Xianwu hurriedly followed them.

After their departure, Bai Tianʼer immediately questioned their master. ”Do you think he will be able to pass the first floor, Master?”

”I canʼt say for sure.” Chao Yuanfeng answered with a shake of his head. ”Although his attack power is exceptional for his current level, the battle challenge will be troublesome for him. He will meet stronger enemies, and they will not let him attack them like before, so he will probably fail to pass it. Even if he manages to pass it because of luck, Iʼm sure heʼll stop at the sin challenge.”

”The sin challenge?” All of them turned to their master in confusion.

Chao Yuanfeng immediately explained to them. ”Judging from his previous reaction, coupled with the blood stench on his body, Iʼm sure he had killed too many living creatures.”

”Does that mean heʼs a cold-blooded killer, Master?” A female disciple frowned as she posed this question.

”Do you think a cold-blooded killer would be able to act like him, Bing Yue?” The female disciple shook her head at Chao Yuanfeng. ”I donʼt know how a young man of his age could have such a strong blood stench in his body, but I am certain that he was not a cold-blooded killer, and he probably killed them because they were a threat to him or the people around him. Otherwise, Emperor Xian wouldnʼt let him get close to his two children, especially Princess Xianqin.”

Hearing that, Bai Tianʼer smiled faintly and turned her head outside. ʼHaha! Since he is going to join us, I have plenty of time to change his mind, and I will make him kneel to me.ʼ

Chao Yuanfeng immediately spoke again. ”You guys can go now and prepare everything you need to challenge the tower. Regarding the other groups from our sect, you donʼt need to worry about them; instead, you should concentrate solely on your group. Do you all understand?”

”Yes, Master.”

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”So, are you really going to face Huan Ya now?”

Her sisterʼs question to Zhang Fei caused Xian Xianwu to raise his eyebrows. ”Do you have a problem with Huan Ya? Huan Yaʼs cultivation has reached the quasi-divine realm, and her unique ability is truly frightening. Furthermore, she is supported by the alchemy union, so I strongly advise you to avoid her.”

”Prince, I understand your concerns, and I also understand the difference in strength between us.” Zhang Fei then turned to Xian Xianwu. ”However, I canʼt possibly run away from those who are after me and my family, right? Lian Jinshu had ordered Situ Yi to capture Lingxue with the intention of taking her to his higher-ups in the alchemy union, but I managed to thwart his plan. He then ordered Huan Ya to capture me, and he even ordered her to use the scarlet blossom pill on me, so I decided to confront him now.”

Xian Xianwu massaged his forehead because Zhang Fei was too stubborn. ”I know you are confident in your abilities, but Xianqin and I cannot possibly let you face Huan Ya alone, so we will follow behind you. If she overwhelms you and corners you, we will come to your aid immediately.”

Since they had good intentions to help and protect him, Zhang Fei naturally wonʼt reject their wishes. ”All right, you two can follow me, but you will only move if I am really in danger.”

After that, they hurriedly left the sect, but Xian Xianwu and Xian Xianqin waited for Zhang Fei to walk a little further before following him. They used their concealing artifacts to hide their aura from Huan Ya.

Upon arriving outside the sect, Zhang Fei immediately searched for Huan Yaʼs location on his map, and he leisurely walked toward another area to lure the woman.

Huan Ya, who had been waiting for him, immediately ambushed Zhang Fei as soon as he arrived at an empty field. However, he immediately teleported away, foiling her sudden ambush and leaving her shocked.

”Haha.” Zhang Fei laughed as he stood in mid-air. ”I didnʼt expect Lian Jinshu to send his chief guard to capture me, but you underestimated me, Huan Ya. How do you feel now? Do you enjoy the influence of my charm?”

Huan Ya frowned because the effect of Zhang Feiʼs enhanced demon charm had not yet worn off, and the effect became even stronger once he used it once again. She said nothing and pulled out two daggers, using her full speed to fly towards him. However, her attack was unsuccessful, as he instantly vanished from her sight. ʼWhat the hell with this brat? How can his speed surpass mine?ʼ

”Your cultivation is indeed far above mine, but your speed is nothing in my eyes.” Huan Ya immediately spun around and stabbed her dagger toward Zhang Fei, but he punched her stomach as fast as lightning, sending her flying quite far back.

Huan Ya immediately stabilized herself, held her stomach with one hand, and wiped the blood from her mouth with the other. ”Cough... Cough...”

Zhang Fei then pulled out the Hongxi dagger, released his hormone manipulation toward Huan Ya, and teleported behind her to attack her. She immediately activated her protective artifact, causing his attack to hit her protection. He immediately teleported again after his failure, but that was enough for his demon pheromone to affect her.

Huan Yaʼs body quickly heated up as Zhang Feiʼs hormone manipulation aroused her lust, and her breathing swiftly became irregular, making it difficult for her to concentrate. ʼWhat the hell happened to me?ʼ

Huan Ya tried hard to suppress her lust and took out a returning jade to escape, but Zhang Fei instantly teleported in front of her and snatched it before moving elsewhere. ”Do you think I will let my prey escape?”

- To Be Continued -