Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

Alex stood on a ship, overlooking the massive continent that was the Fighting Island. Despite being called an island, the location was large enough to be half the size of the 3rd Major Spirit Realm.

They were at the center of the island, where a massive river cut the continent in half. The southern region of the continent was filled with beasts and a civilization no different from the other continents.

But the north was a wild zone, free of almost all law or rule, where the trial took place.

Alex was on Bai Jingshen’s ship, watching below. On the ground were many scattered beasts, with Pearl standing among a group of young White Tigers who had come to take the test.

They had already been filled in on what was going to happen within the trial, but just for the sake of it, a Divine Realm White Tiger was going through it all over again.

“The trial has a simple objective,” the White Tiger said. “Survive. Survive for a hundred years, and you will pass. But of course, the trial itself isn’t so simple. You will be provided with an artifact before you leave this place. The artifact will keep a record of your battles.”

“When you return-should you return-we will go through your records and see whether you have passed your trial or not.”

Alex listened to the beast from the sky. “I heard victory doesn’t matter as much. Is that true?”

“A little bit. The trial is mostly to test a young White Tiger’s courage as well as their skill to survive independently. Victory itself doesn’t matter, but if you lose too many battles, you are deemed incapable of being independent and are thus demoted to a lower White Tiger in the family. There’s no official notation that your rank has dropped in the family, but it becomes very clear when your access to various facilities is taken away. Sometimes, you’re even kicked out of the main palace.”

Alex couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t thought things would be that bad, but it made sense.

“I should enter too,” Alex said. “You really won’t be joining us, right?”

“I can’t. They have various artifacts around the place that are constantly checking for any Divine Realm cultivators that may sneak in. They won’t stop me, but they will fail Pearl,” Bai Jingshen said.

“Can’t the Patriarch help you there?” Alex asked.

“No. The Patriarch has his own issues. If he shows any leeway to someone else, it gives opportunities for other White Tigers in the shadows to take over his spot. If that happens, he won’t be the only one with issues.”

Alex narrowed his eyes. The White Tiger Patriarch had been more or less kind to him after realizing who he was. There was no telling the others would be the same. And there was no telling that the Sun God’s presence would help him like it had before.

“Besides,” Bai Jingshen said, “I have come to the thought that it might be better to allow this to happen. How much longer can we coddle Pearl, really? He’s already become an Immortal. If we keep him protected from every problem, his growth will just dwarf instead.”

Alex hated what Bai Jingshen was saying because he knew that was the truth. These next ten years, Pearl would have to fight independently.

That didn’t mean he wouldn’t be by his side at all times. Pearl’s fights would be his, but that was only when the fight was fair. There were chances that there were White Tigers in the group below who had only joined to kill Pearl and steal his bloodline.

The so-called Purists wouldn’t stay back doing nothing. In this trial, where all matters leading to life and death were allowed, Pearl would be allowed to fight as well.

“I’ll go down,” Alex said. “I’ll try to stay close by while letting Pearl deal with his own issues.”

“Thank you,” Bai Jingshen said. “And here.” He handed something over to Alex-a small earring in a different shape than his own. “I had this made after some consideration. Try and see if it works. I haven’t tried it just yet.”

Alex gave a confused stare and looked at the earring. He slowly placed it on his ear, and it snapped shut around his earlobe. It pricked his blood and was suddenly refined.

Alex blinked twice before he suddenly realized that something had happened. Pearl, who was standing right there on the ground below, was now lost to his senses.

“It masks out bonds?” Alex asked.

“Yes. It’s supposed to work both ways, so Pearl should have stopped sensing you as well,” Bai Jingshen said. “You can take it off anytime.” Alex considered the usage of the earring and found it quite helpful.

“Thank you.”

Down below, the White Tiger reached the end of his explanation after going through various minor objectives in the test, such as filling one’s Qi in various artifacts scattered around the continent and such.

After that, each one of them was given an artifact to place on their chest-a flower-like metal badge with a red crystal at the center. Once placed, they were sent through a teleportation formation where they were randomly scattered around the continent.

Pearl was the last one left alone, which confused him. The White Tiger brought out a badge as well, but it was different from the ones

the others were wearing.

“Senior?” Pearl asked with a quizzical look. “What is this?”

“The Patriarch told me that you have to wear this artifact. It’s a special one created for certain individuals who are a step beyond what the

trial accepts,” the White Tiger said. “Wear it and see if you have any issues.”

Pearl paused for a moment, hesitated, but then resolved himself and took the artifact. He looked at the golden metal in the artifact with intricate designs on the backside and a large white crystal on the front.

He placed it on his chest, and the artifact took effect instantly.