The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 565 - 247: Night Trial·End_3

He looked up at the sky, but what caught his eye was swathes of pristine forest.

Because the branches were too dense, the thick leaves almost completely blocked the sunlight, with only traces of golden light sprinkling down through the gaps and onto the ground.

"They’re here."

"I’ve been waiting for this day... for five years."

Ye Hanjun stood up, waking up Yu Ruoxin, who had been snoozing under a tree.

"What? Did they bring new seeds?"

"Leave it to me, I love planting trees, I will make them grow strong and healthy!"

Yu Ruoxin rubbed her eyes, slapped her cheeks, and suddenly became full of energy.

Then... she turned around, only to see three figures materialize out of thin air in front of her.

"Ah!!!"

Yu Ruoxin screamed, fell back onto the ground, covering her chest, quite frightened.

She had been keeping the ’Endless Grace’ activated all the time, experimenting continuously for two years, practically mastering it.

Maybe some peripheral zones would cause perception blurriness.

But the closer the distance, the sharper the perception. She could detect any wild Fond Spirit approaching her in real-time.

How did these three people... get here!

And that golden creature, as terrifying as a metal lump, and fifty metres tall. How could it be so frightening!

"Your Highness, I’m on duty, so the usual formalities don’t apply."

Ye Ji laughed, his smile barely reaching his flesh through his lips.

Ye Hanjun glanced at him, expressionless.

The Ye Clan had lasted for twelve eras, with numerous branches, side lines, and vassals... not something that can be easily summarized with numbers.

Even among the younger generation of his own age, there were more than half that he didn’t recognize.

If he met older generations, he was usually in the dark, a common occurrence.

"I’m Ye Ji, these two are Xu Yan and Shi Shou, B-level pupil practitioners, and A-level dream walkers respectively."

Ye Hanjun raised his eyebrows slightly, responding with a faint nod.

The Night’s Trial typically employs three people as examiners.

At least one of them needs to be from the main family acting as the head examiner, while the other two can be chosen from side lines, branches, or vassals.

Of course, whether from the main family or a vassal, there is a very strict set of rules to follow.

There’s always the opportunity to sabotage, always a chance to lay out traps.

But in these Night’s Trials, if there’s any act of lawbreaking for self-interest or unjustified disqualification of a distinguished participant - there would inevitably be a review of examiners, where their skin and soul would be peeled off, and sent to hell with extreme punishment.

"Ah..."

Yu Ruoxin forced herself to calm down, but her heart was still pounding.

Master Han had warned her early on that the deadline was near and clan members might arrive at any moment.

Yet, their aura was way too horrifying. Just a trace of it felt like it could break trees and crush rocks.

If they released their full power unrestrained, who knows how terrifying it would be!

"Xu Yan, are you thinking of starting over?"

Ye Hanjun looked at the man in the robe wearing sunglasses.

Whether it was Ye Ji, Xu Yan, or Shi Shou, he didn’t recognize any of them.

The examiners wouldn’t choose anyone too weak nor would they deploy someone too strong, thus it was easy to confirm the level of these three—they were all 7th Order.

And that Ancient Gold Ghost, it must be the corresponding ’Unlimited Foetus’.

Such level of power could annihilate the entire GuaGua Dynasty single-handedly.

But Ye Hanjun was not afraid, his chilly eyes focused on Xu Yan.

Ye Ji and Shi Shou—concealed all their aura.

Only Xu Yan deliberately revealed a trace, to test his strength, not caring whether Yu Ruoxin could bear it or not.

"Ah, I’ve been overworked recently, a bit weary mentally, I’ve let my guard down, please forgive me, Your Highness."

The disturbing aura, completely disappeared.

Xu Yan grinned, looking innocent.

Ye Ji stared at the back of his head for a while, then quietly withdrew the Ancient Gold Ghost.

Thus, the three seemed just like ordinary people, with not a trace of a transcendent aura.

"There’s no need for small talk, announce the result directly."

Ye Hanjun stood still with his hands behind his back, not moving a step.

Ye Ji slowly nodded, and once again took out a sealed scroll and handed it forward.

Ye Hanjun scanned it, bit his finger, and let his own blood drop onto it.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz-"

An endless darkness surged out of the scroll, then engulfed everything in sight.

Even Ye Ji, Xu Yan, and Shi Shou felt their bodies tense and their backs chilled.

The Soul Blood Shadow Flowers on their shoulders bloomed brightly, vibrating at a high frequency that squeezed their vitality.

"Trial participant... the Crownless Shura King’s 1114th direct child, Ye Hanjun."

"The selected trial location... the Giant Frog Marsh."

"Five-year term has passed, three examiners, please announce your verdicts."

The majestic voice, like the tolling of a bell, resounded in everyone’s heart.

Ye Ji, Xu Yan, Shi Shou, their bodies tensed, standing straight up.

They exchanged glances and answered in unison:

"Exceeds the standards!"

The majestic voice didn’t pause, and asked again:

"The three of you have agreed on an excellence evaluation, thus, the trial is passed."

"If you were to give a rating between Pass, Good, Excellent, and Perfect— what would it be?"

Ye Ji inhaled slightly and answered firmly:

"Becoming a ruler single-handedly, not only is his power extraordinary, but his people also respect him. I would give a ’Perfect’ rating, marking it with full marks."

"Perfect!"

Shi Shou nodded seriously, and only uttered the two words.

Xu Yan glanced at the blood flower on his shoulder, hung his head, and hesitated a bit before saying:

"Perfect."

The majestic voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuations, read like a machine:

"The three examiners have all given the highest evaluation. This trial is tentatively considered a perfect score trial."

"Upon confirmation from the family review, the trial participant may perform the ancestor-worship ceremony and officially take control of the Ye Clan."

"Yes."

Ye Ji, Shi Shou, Xu Yan, and Ye Hanjun all answered in unison.

Yu Ruoxin was terrified to the core, her skin tightened as she shivered uncontrollably.

Finally, the darkness retreated back into the scroll like a receding tide, and the world expanded again.

Ye Hanjun took the ring handed over by Ye Ji, donned it on the index finger of his left hand, and dripped blood on it for recognition once again.

Next, he allowed his spirit to dive into the ring, finding a set of pitch-black battle armor.

That armor seemed like the curtain of the night. With just a touch of a bloodstained finger, it seemed to come to life, lightly dressing on his body.

Ye Hanjun’s temperament — drastically changed.

He seemed to blend even better with the darkness, his black hair, and black pupils so profound that it instilled awe.

"There are some minor matters I need to handle. Wait here for three days, and don’t disturb the beings in the city."

"Alright." Ye Ji bowed slightly in response.

Despite him already having the surname of Ye, despite him being a member of the main family.

Yet facing Ye Hanjun, who had just passed the trial, not yet reviewed or accepted into the ancestor-worship ceremony, his posture was extraordinarily humble.

Xu Yan and Shi Shou, one furrowed at the towering trees all around, the other kept glancing at Yu Ruoxin.

Yu Ruoxin shrank her neck and quickly picked up the shovel, following Ye Hanjun to leave the forest.

"I order Emperor Han to abdicate immediately."

"The new emperor will be Tang Qingling."

"Tang Gu and Tang Zheng do not acknowledge each other, only Tang Qingling, who received Emperor Tang’s heritage, is recognized."

"In order to fulfill their wish, the Giant Frog Marsh should be returned to the hands of the descendants of the Tang Family."

Ye Hanjun’s orders, proclamation after proclamation spreading from the Old Imperial City, just as they had been prepared beforehand.

"Ye Ji, I know you can hear me."

"When we return to the clan, assign an elite force to defend the borders of the Giant Frog Marsh."

"I want to maintain peace in the GuaGua Dynasty for at least three hundred years, let them present their heads if they fail to do so."

"Besides, this place is still my territory. Mark it with my emblem."

"I need to establish a long-distance teleportation array, the smallest size will do. It needs to last at least three hundred years, for my confidants to come home to visit."

"Young King, those are simple requests."

Ye Ji’s voice entered his ears, "Even if you didn’t instruct them, someone would help you handle the subsequent affairs meticulously."

"But you, are you really mentally prepared to face the oncoming storm?"

——————

Volume One: Giant Frog Marsh, ends.

Volume Two: Abyssal Lord, a new journey begins.