Chapter 98: The Seventh Trial Unfolds (Extra Chapter for Subscribers)

Casting all trivial matters far away, Wei Cheng sat cross-legged on his bed, gazing at the vermilion bead in his hand—one that appeared ordinary but was in truth entirely different.

This item had been left to him by that otherworldly fiend. They had merely exchanged a glance amidst the crowd before bestowing such a precious gift, leaving Wei Cheng feeling somewhat embarrassed.

It reminded him of an old song from decades ago—well, that was beside the point.

By his estimation, this bead was at least three to five times more valuable than the previous one. Although the fiends could sever themselves like a gecko’s tail, this time it must have been at least a severed hind claw plus a demonic whip and an infernal egg.

There was also the inheritance from the previous fiend.

Wei Cheng had already tested it. This object could be fused into the Small Wine Cup, but to what extent remained uncertain.

After much contemplation, he ultimately decided against it.

The reason was simple: a magical tool isn’t necessarily better for being stronger.

It was like handing an ordinary person an F-22 fighter jet—utterly useless.

The current Small Wine Cup required him to expend all his Mountain-Moving inner power just to sustain it for four or five seconds. If he fused this evidently valuable bead into it, it would become uncontrollable.

As his strongest trump card, Wei Cheng refused to let himself fall into a state of insecurity.

So, bringing this item to Cangwu City and handing it over—even if he were to be cheated by unscrupulous merchants or subjected to discounts—would at least grant him immediate benefits to enhance himself.

After all, they were still innate-level warriors. When they might become cultivators was uncertain; this was something he had to strive for himself, not something the trial would simply grant.

What if there was a cultivation sect in Cangwu City? Even a tiny sect no bigger than a flea would benefit him immensely.

Having made up his mind, Wei Cheng ceased his hesitation, carefully wrapping the item and placing it in his miner’s basket.

His current assets were fairly ample: twenty-nine pieces of black iron ore and one bead. Even if he went to Cangwu City—

“Wait, why go to Cangwu City? Jade stones can enhance lightning rings; this shouldn’t be a secret. Trial participants can trade among themselves.”

Wei Cheng’s spirits lifted as he opened the trial participants’ official website. The forum at the bottom had amassed over a million topics in just a few days.

It was unclear which major domestic company had taken on the project, but the entire site was clean, straightforward, and crucially, stable.

Wei Cheng casually entered the trading section. Good heavens, what a jungle it was!

Offering a tip or two earned a refreshing selfie.

Offer three or four tips, and who knew what else?

There were high-priced buy requests for osmanthus wine—ten million American coins per jar?

Naturally, there were also requests for flaming stones, jade stones, and black ice, the latter reportedly used to enhance ice rings.

But posts selling these items were scarce.

And it was impossible to know who had the supply; no one was foolish enough to openly display their stock, waiting for a suspected protagonist to swoop in for a bargain.

After a brief scan, Wei Cheng knew what to do.

He opened the leaderboard and randomly selected a Mountain-Mover ranked ninety-second overall—a ninth-cycle Mountain-Mover who possessed a +8 lightning ring.

He sent a direct message: two jade stones in exchange for twenty jars of osmanthus wine.

This price was not high, roughly equal to the prices set by merchants in Floating Cloud City, and in the toxic zones, a single demon stronghold would yield five hundred jars of osmanthus wine.

But after all, this was Earth.

If Wei Cheng did not want his Mountain-Moving inner power to be utterly depleted upon entering the seventh level, this was the only way.

Besides, he couldn’t ask Xu Shan or Liu Sui to trade; they needed jade stones, but did they have any wine?

Wei Cheng waited a few minutes before receiving a reply.

“Deal. Where?”

“North Mountain Boutique Hotel, Room 318. Delivery recommended at the window.”

“Got it!”

The other party was succinct as well.

Logging out of the official site, Wei Cheng opened the window. Within ten minutes, a taxi pulled up. A burly man wearing sunglasses, a tank top, and flip-flops stepped out, each hand gripping a huge suitcase—exactly the kind of figure one might imagine for a grim deed.

Raising his head, he saw Wei Cheng holding the two jade stones, confirming the transaction with a glance.

No needless words.

Wei Cheng tossed down the jade stones; the man heaved up a suitcase.

No farewells exchanged; one closed the window, the other the door.

The cab driver ignored the entire exchange, evidently just an ordinary person discarded by fate.

Opening both suitcases revealed exactly twenty unopened jars of osmanthus wine, each carefully reinforced and cushioned.

Wei Cheng smiled, unbothered by any fear of counterfeit goods. Admittedly, he had scanned them with his spiritual power, but a little trust was better, wasn’t it?

This world needed people like him—kind, noble, and sincere.

Downing twenty jars of osmanthus wine in one go, Wei Cheng smiled contentedly. He was ready to enter the seventh level.

He did not leave the room again during the remaining time.

Instead, he used his powerful spiritual force to observe and memorize the deeper details of the Mountain-Moving visualization diagram, striving for further progress.

Truly, there was no better environment than Earth.

Safe, quiet, and with ample time.

In the trial, one never knew what would happen next.

However, after reaching 85% in deducing and observing the diagram’s deeper details, the difficulty suddenly soared. Wei Cheng spent nine whole days comprehending it before advancing to 86%.

An hour before the seventh level began, Wei Cheng stepped out of his room, where Liu Sui, Xu Shan, and Cheng An were already waiting.

“Everyone, summon an immovable golden bell each, just in case,” Wei Cheng said calmly.

The authorities had issued various safety recommendations on the trial website, urging everyone to prepare protective measures.

Those who could enter military bases should do so; those with access to underground air-raid shelters should take refuge there. But nothing was better than binding an immovable golden bell around oneself.

Though the last fiend’s plan to cause trouble in P City had been thwarted, no one knew if other fiends and their minions might infiltrate.

For the Mountain-Moving profession, this was the first time it had ever been so popular.

“Boss, I have several relatives and very good friends who have also become trial participants. I was thinking—” Cheng An hesitated. Wei Cheng’s immovable golden bell was the strongest, an absolute guarantee of life.

“No,” Wei Cheng decisively refused. His Mountain-Moving inner power was limited; providing five bells was already the maximum.

“Old Wei, one golden bell can hold two people. Can Liu Sui and I bring two more?” Xu Shan was trying to find a loophole. Fiends would not attack ordinary people without purpose; it was meaningless.

Similarly, powerful or promising trial participants were the prime targets.

“Fine,” Wei Cheng nodded. He wanted to invite his parents, but they didn’t care, chasing him away with a scolding.

“Everyone, see you at the seventh level.”

Throwing out five immovable golden bells, Wei Cheng returned to his room. There was no need to fuss over the original bed now. Many had confirmed in the last level that any bed, regardless of ownership, could enter the real trial.

Lying in bed, Wei Cheng watched the golden sunlight warmly shine on the curtains, matching the glow of the golden bell binding him—a magical feeling.

His heart was calm; sleep came upon him uncontrollably.

Within seconds, he fell into a deep slumber.

Meanwhile, in many corners of the city, groups of elderly men and women stood guard outside their children’s rooms, clutching kitchen knives and rolling pins—though it was futile.

For now, P City was as quiet as last time.

(The End of this Chapter)