Ye Danyu was dead.
But the matter wasn’t entirely over.
Everyone turned their gaze back to Jian Songyuan.
Jian Songyuan felt his legs go weak. He hastily said, “I didn’t participate in the murder of Sect Master Jin. I only learned of it afterward while observing the Heaven Mirror Array. I wanted to inform everyone immediately, but Ye Danyu arrived and threatened me, forbidding me from revealing it, or he would kill me. I had no choice but to feign cooperation, all to find a suitable opportunity to expose him. You see, wasn’t this the perfect moment?”
The many disciples of the Profound Array Sect remained silent.
Jian Songyuan indeed wasn’t a direct murderer, but he had ultimately helped Ye Danyu conceal his sin. It left a somewhat sour taste in their mouths.
But what was the proper way to handle Jian Songyuan?
This matter wasn’t something ordinary Profound Array Sect disciples could decide. The many Nascent Soul True Monarchs needed to speak.
Golden Dragon considered it for a moment and said, “Elder Jian will be kept for now. We’ll see if the Heavenly Maiden has any disposition for him.”
Hearing Golden Dragon’s words, no one raised an objection.
And, thinking more carefully, it wasn’t just Jian Songyuan. All of them, the many disciples of the Profound Array Sect, were still awaiting the Heavenly Maiden’s judgment.
With that thought, the many Profound Array Sect disciples looked towards Golden Dragon again.
Golden Dragon understood their meaning. Without hesitation, she knelt towards the sky. “Heavenly Maiden, what should be done with the people of the Profound Array Sect? We await your divine instruction.”
Seeing Golden Dragon do this, the people of the Profound Array Sect all knelt down as well.
There wasn’t a single person in the Profound Array Sect who didn’t hold awe and reverence for that unfathomable, mysterious Heavenly Maiden. The mere tip of the iceberg she had revealed not long ago was enough to shake them to their core. If she hadn’t held back, they would have long since returned to dust and earth.
…
Su Xiaoyu was deep in thought.
She had felt her Faith Value was a bit insufficient earlier and wanted to do something to increase it, much like setting up the ruins last time. Now, seeing the group from the Profound Array Sect, an idea formed in her mind.
This time, she wasn’t planning to create ruins. It would be too strange if ruins kept appearing frequently. This time, she planned to arrange a trial, called the Trial of the Heavenly Maiden.
The so-called Trial of the Heavenly Maiden would be a series of obstacles she actively set up within the diorama box, for the people inside to challenge. Those who passed a stage would receive a reward. As for the rewards, she would simply place some things from the real world into the box.
Rewards weren’t the problem; figuring out how to design the obstacles was.
Earlier, Su Xiaoyu had been pondering the best way to set up these obstacles. Using real-world items to create mechanisms and traps might be too terrifying in the diorama box. A simple mousetrap could likely kill even a Nascent Soul True Monarch outright, let alone other Cultivators.
But now, the arrival of the Profound Array Sect people gave her a solution.
Using formations as the obstacles seemed quite fitting, didn’t it?
Even the Cultivators themselves could serve as mini-bosses or final bosses within the stages for challengers to overcome.
The more Su Xiaoyu thought about it, the more suitable it felt.
Although these people from the Profound Array Sect had attacked the Golden Dragon Market due to a misunderstanding, they had still attacked, placing themselves in opposition to her. So, wasn’t it perfectly reasonable for her to have them atone for their crimes by setting up the stages according to her requirements?
“Then it’s decided! You’re the ones for the job!”
A smile bloomed on Su Xiaoyu’s face.
…
On the seaside beach, over a thousand Profound Array Sect disciples knelt.
Not long after Golden Dragon had petitioned the Heavenly Maiden, they heard the Heavenly Maiden’s reply.
“All disciples of the Profound Array Sect, although your attack on the Golden Dragon Market stemmed from a misunderstanding, you still committed the act. Therefore, you must atone for your deeds. I have a matter here perfectly suited for you. All of you, come.”
As Su Xiaoyu’s voice faded, she cast a spell that stirred a mighty wind. The Profound Array Sect disciples were instantly swept up into the gale and carried away.
On the vast beach, only Golden Dragon was left, standing alone in a daze.
Just as Golden Dragon was stunned, Su Xiaoyu’s private transmission reached her alone: “And Golden Dragon, you should return to the market. Considering there were extenuating circumstances this time, I will not hold you accountable for leaving the market without permission. But there must not be a next time.”
Hearing Su Xiaoyu’s words, Golden Dragon shuddered with fright.
She only then truly realized she had left the Golden Dragon Market, an act Su Xiaoyu had previously forbidden. In her earlier emotional turmoil, she had completely forgotten.
“Heavenly Maiden is merciful. Thank you for your leniency, Heavenly Maiden.”
Golden Dragon hastily gave thanks to Su Xiaoyu, then hurried back to the market.
After returning, Golden Dragon couldn’t help but look around blankly.
What exactly had the Heavenly Maiden taken those Profound Array Sect disciples to do?
They should be alright, right?
…
Within Magpie Mountain, in a valley not too far from the Golden Dragon Market, Jian Songyuan, Ji Yun, and the rest of the Profound Array Sect disciples were deposited by the wind.
Landing there, they looked around, hearts filled with both confusion and fear. They had no idea what the Heavenly Maiden had brought them here to do.
Fortunately, Su Xiaoyu didn’t keep them waiting long and gave her instructions.
“All disciples of the Profound Array Sect, listen. I need you to excavate a tunnel starting from here. Inside, you will make certain arrangements. Different formations must be placed at different locations, creating a series of distinct areas…”
Su Xiaoyu explained at a measured pace.
Hearing her words, the many Profound Array Sect disciples looked at each other in bewilderment.
They didn’t know what Su Xiaoyu was planning. It seemed she just wanted them to dig a passage and lay out various formations within it. Could this really be their punishment?
As Array Cultivators, setting up formations was a daily task for them. How could this be considered a punishment?
And digging a tunnel wasn’t difficult for them either. After all, they weren’t ordinary mortals; they were Cultivators. With over twenty Nascent Soul True Monarchs among them, digging a tunnel was, quite frankly, simple.
After Su Xiaoyu finished her instructions, the leader Ji Yun promptly declared, “Please rest assured, Heavenly Maiden. We will complete your requirements as quickly as possible.”
Su Xiaoyu: “No need to rush excessively. Ensure quality. Also, during this process, I may ask you to modify certain areas from time to time.”
At that moment, Su Xiaoyu felt as if she had contracted a crew for a civil engineering project.
“Whatever the Heavenly Maiden commands, we will give our all and will not disappoint you,” Ji Yun solemnly pledged, not daring to make the slightest mistake. After all, this was the Heavenly Maiden.
The might of the Heavenly Maiden was enough to be etched into the memories of the Profound Array Sect for a lifetime.
Seeing the obedient demeanor of the Profound Array Sect, Su Xiaoyu was very satisfied. “Then go and begin your work. Additionally, Jian Songyuan, is it? I require your services for some experiments. You will not be joining the others.”
Jian Songyuan froze. Not knowing what kind of experiments lay ahead, his heart instantly filled with intense anxiety.
