Behind the paper screen door were six pit holes, so dark and steep one couldn’t even see to the bottom of the darkness. Shooting out from each pit, was a big mass of black geyser reaching all the way to ceiling.

Guardian Yin Mei sat behind a low tea-table, containing some joss sticks, an antique incense burner, and a cup of hot brewing tea. Her expression, albeit ugly toward Yu Liang, contained shades of anxiety and concern when those violet-purple irises landed on Huo Wei Hu.

This time, Guardian Yin Mei didn’t jab rude remarks or hurl insults toward her, but her attitude made Yu Liang edgy because it indicated the difficulty of this trial. For long moments, no one said anything as she only continued to bore a complicated look as she gazed silently at Huo Wei Hu.

Finally, she lowered her lashes and released a long sigh, “I really wish you hadn’t teamed up with Lord Huo, but it’s futile to lament over what has been done. As such, I can only sincerely wish you guys pass this trial.”

After her outburst of sentimental thoughts, she quickly regained her composure as one of the guardians. “There are six pit holes, choose one and jump down together. If you choose correctly, the black geyser will instantly activate the transportation seal, and if not…”

She paused slightly before continuing in a monotone voice, “If not, then the black geyser will shatter your soul and essence to oblivion. You have exactly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.”

Once she finished with those words of instructions, she lit the incense. Her nonchalant actions, albeit indifferent, couldn’t hide the waves of turbulence behind those purple eyes.

Yu Liang frowned. Her mind quickly flipped through the data she collected from the previous contestants. Every one of them had howled in misery, but they all had one thing in common — the short period of time from when they entered behind the paper screen door was always silent.

Only after a period of time had passed, did screams of despair spiked with torture broke out. All contestants were given a time limit of one incense stick to burn. She scrunched her delicate brows in concentration as her slender figures rubbed over the jaded Guanyin pendant.

Suddenly, a strange light flashed across her clear eyes. She lifted her head and glanced at her companions. Wordlessly, they each held one of her hand as she resolutely walked toward a random pit hole and jumped down.

Clang!

The tea-cup on the table got accidentally knocked over in Guardian Yin Mei’s moment of amazement. The spilled liquid leaked through her robe, staining her pristine attire, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her gaze was fixated on the pit hole the group chose. She remained rooted to the spot, unmoving as if spell-bound.

Those purple hues of pupils reflected great shock and a streak of admiration. The sixth trial was difficult because of the criteria. Even though they were given the time it took an incense stick to burn, they had to choose a pit hole within the first 30 seconds to successfully pass. Any random pit hole will do, but it was hard for one to select so carelessly without using all the allocated time; after all, she did said they would be obliterated beyond repair without the chance to reincarnate again if you chose incorrectly.

However, the truth was, only within the first 30 seconds were any of geysers safe; afterward, no matter which one they chose, or how long they would think until their hairs turned white, the choice would always be wrong.

None of the contestants this made it this year so far, besides Yu Liang and her group. Her heart was unstable with a mix of irritation toward the human girl and relief for Lord Huo Wei Hu’s safety.

An evil smile slowly crept over her face. Looks like I’ve underestimated the mortal, well at least this way it’ll be more fun to destroy her as a rival…

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even bothered to explain the full instruction to the last contestant who came in. “Just choose one of the pit hole and jump down.”

The big ox guy shrugged his shoulders, before choosing a random pit and hopped down. Only after he disappeared through a bright beam of light did Guardian Yin Mei snapped out of her daze. One of her palm smacked her forehead. Shit, I just gave away a free pass! If the higher-ups find out… She shuddered.

Meanwhile, the group had arrived in a room padded completely with mirrors.

The three of them looked at one another in relief, glad all of them were intact. Yu Tian big watery eyes looked at his sister in reverence, as if she was a great fortune-teller. Being stared at by her brother with such admiration made her a bit self-conscious. Yu Liang wasn’t sure she could live up to his expectations and was afraid to disappoint the young boy.

Even Huo Wei Hu was staring at her proudly, as if she had the power of clairvoyance. The tips of her ears turned bright red and before she say anything, a loud thump landed near them.

“Hoy! We meet again little girl! Looks like only the four of us made it through to the seventh trial” Da Niu said flamboyantly.

Yu Liang’s face twitched. Five Hundred of them were selected to participate in the divine chaos pagoda and yet, only four of them were left. This wasn’t a trivial matter! There are still two trials to complete and not enough cannon fodders left! How the stupid ox could said it so casually like he was discussing what he had eaten for dinner.

“The last trial was so easy, how did those fools all end up dying?” Da Niu gloated.

Yu Liang resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Sixth trial was a leap of faith. They died because they took too long to decide, instead of taking a leap of faith.”

Da Niu opened his eyes wide as if he had been enlighten. He pounded one of his fist on top of his other open palm and exclaimed, “Oh, so that’s what it was about! Here I thought we only had to jump randomly into any one of them because the lady said so.”

She felt the muscles on her face twitched once more. This guy was simply too laid-back regarding his life! And that cheap Yin Mei actually gave him a free pass. This must be what people meant when they said even foolish people could have good fortune!

She couldn’t help, but cry over the injustice silently in her heart. She had fried her brain raw in her process of deduction with all the data she gathered, before the Guanyin pendant inspired her to take a leap of faith because it was the only way the puzzle pieces all fit.

But, Guardian Yin Mei hated her so much that she rather cut her lost with Huo Wei Hu, than give her group a free pass, even for the man she coveted. She must had imagined those specks of concern she saw in Yin Mei’s eyes.

Tempering down the annoyance in her heart, she concentrated on the walls of mirrors surrounding them instead. From top to bottom, corner to side, were all mirrors — it wouldn’t be farfetched to say it was a room made entirely of mirrors.

The multiple carbon copies of the group reflecting back were starting to creep Yu Liang out. Not to mention how there was no sign of any guardian around, all of them were wary as they advanced forward.

Suddenly, the mirror beneath their feet began to crack. All of their expressions turned ugly. You got to be kidding me! How could divine mirrors break so easily?

No more than a second later, the fragile glass beneath them fractured into millions of shards and the group plunged deep down into the unknown.