Chapter 1271: A Wily Old Fox

Lu Li was struggling inside as he found himself on the horns of a dilemma.

If he could not join the Chamber of Relics, then he had no idea where he should go. Given Cabinet of Cloud’s powers, it would only be a matter of time before he was discovered. By then, he would be faced with dozens of mighty warriors and hundreds of immortals on the list. Anyone would be doomed, even Emperor of Heaven Reverse.

On the other hand, Lu Li could imagine what kind of miserable days he would be faced with after joining Chamber of Relics. He might be bullied by that unruly lady.

Since Lady Dan dared to say those words in such an outrageous way in front of a group of patriarchs, then her status in Chamber of Relics might be high. She might have already had the intention to kill Lu Li since Patriarch Tian scolded her on account of Lu Li…

“Never mind. Suck it up!”

After much thought, Lu Li made up his mind. He would stay here. There was a chance of living here whereas he would not survive if he did not join the Chamber of Relics.

He could not sacrifice his life for no reason or act on impulse. On his death, Jiang Qiling, Bai Qiuxue, and Bai Xiashuang could no longer live on.

Time moved on. More and more people came out of the mist. Two hours later, five to six hundred made it out.

“Okay. Deactivate the formation!”

Patriarch Tian gave the order in time. The formation was turned off by 10 disciples. All those inside the mist were down in the dumps and disappointed.

“Okay. You have failed this test. Please see yourselves out.”

Patriarch Tian waved his hand. Others began to clear up the area. Those that failed the tests did not want to leave but they had to.

The area was once crowded. Since many people had to leave, the area became quite empty. Patriarch Tian looked at the hundreds including Lu Li and said, “Okay, now, it is time for the second round of test. It is also about Inhibition Formations. But this time, you will have to work alone. It is an entrapment formation. Each of you will have the time for one incense stick to burn. Anyone that can step out from the entrapment after the time for one incense stick to burn will be considered qualified. Let us begin!”

“Set up the formation!”

Patriarch Tian waved his hand. One hundred disciples sprang to work. In total, they built one hundred small formations.

Lu Li stared at the disciples to observe every step. To solve the formation would be simpler when he knew how the formation was built.

Lu Li frowned as he watched carefully to commit every step to his memory. The formation was not entirely complicated but… the materials the disciples used seemed to be special and able to enhance the effect.

While the formation appeared to be simple, the actual strength would be great. Once activated, to break down the formation via violence would be difficult. Besides, they were expected to finish the task within the time for one incense stick to burn.

“If I can use the warlord skeleton, I will be done within one move!”

Lu Li felt sorry that he could not use the warlord skeleton, or the immortal’s body or the Deaf Taoist. To use his own strength to cripple the formation would turn out to be almost impossible.

“Okay. The first group of one hundred people, get inside!”

Patriarch Tian waved his hand as the formations were readied. Lu Li and many others stepped into the area of the formations. The disciples outside poured out divine energy. A black halo appeared and it enveloped Lu Li.

Lu Li felt his world turn pitch dark. He was stuck inside a black halo. To break free from the halo, he had to cripple the formation.

“Blood Fairy, get to work!”

The black halo did not cause worry. Instead, Lu Li was delighted because the ones outside could not see into the halo. Blood Fairy would not be exposed.

Blood Fairy reached out her tentacle. A moment later, she said, “Master, this isn’t right. The formation is much simpler than the first one. Anyone with a general understanding of Inhibition Formations can solve the problem. I think there is more to it than meets the eye.”

“Easier than the first one?”

Lu Li frowned. This was not logically. The second test must be harder than the first one. Otherwise, what would be the point? The hundreds of them could just pass the second test.

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“There must be something special. Do not move!”

Lu Li said after some contemplation. He used psychic power to check the small formation while wondering what could be the key.

Time moved on. Lu Li was still patient. The formation could be solved at any time. However, if he could not figure out what the key point was, he would not pass the test even after he stepped out from the formation.

“Fail the test?”

Lu Li suddenly achieved an epiphany. He remembered what Patriarch Tian said—everyone had the time for one incense stick to burn. Anyone that could step out from the entrapment after the time for one incense stick to burn would be considered quite qualified!

For the first test, Patriarch Tian specifically said that the ones that could leave the formation of illusion within two hours would pass the test. But for the second test, he said anyone that could step out from the entrapment would be considered quite qualified!

Therefore, stepping out from the formation within the time for one incense stick to burn was not equal to passing the second test. The entrapment was not only about physical traps but also… psychological!

“He is a sly fox!”

Lu Li exclaimed. People would have some familiar mode of thinking. The first test was about formations and so was the second test. For the second test, time was more pressing. People would try their best to solve the formation and step out as soon as possible but they would have failed the trap buried in Patriarch Tian’s words.

To pass the second test, the correct way was not to solve the formation, or to solve the formation after the time for one incense stick to burn.

Lu Li made up his mind. He waited quietly. After the time for one incense stick to burn, he threw out some formations stones and poured out divine energy while Blood Fairy secretly solved the formation.

“Buzzing~”

The black halo disappeared. Almost at the same time, a score of others solved the formation. They stepped out almost simultaneously with Lu Li.

As for the others… they had crippled the small formations a while ago.

“Okay!”

Patriarch Tian looked at the score of people, including Lu Li, with a smile and said, “You have successfully passed the second test. As for the ones that cracked the formation too early, you have failed.”

“What?”

The over 70 warriors that cracked the formations ahead of schedule were stunned. Just now, they actually were looking at the score of people with contempt. However, it turned out that they were the ones eliminated.

“Why?”

“Right. Didn’t we crack the formations? I finished within the time for half an incense stick to burn. Why have we failed?”

“Well, Chamber of Relics is unreasonable!”

Many people were shouting loudly. Some people were vexed while others regretted what they had done after a second thought.

“Did I say that you can pass the test if you can crack the formation within the time for one incense stick to burn? Think about what I have said carefully!”

Patriarch Tian said with a straight face, “How can you become craftsmen if you cannot detect such a simple trap? Inhibition Formations are, essentially, about traps. If you cannot find out the loopholes in my words, I don’t think you can become accomplished as craftsmen.”

“Eh…”

Many people soon realized what the point was. They stopped making noises. Thought they still seemed annoyed, nobody talked back.

“Let’s go!”

Patriarch Tian waved his hand and the disciples began to drive away from the over 70 people. Turning to the hundreds that had not taken the test yet, Patriarch Tian said, “It is your turn out. We need one hundred to take the test!”

The score of people, including Lu Li, looked at each other in relief. They had found out the key point and they remembered Patriarch Tian’s words. That being said, to solve the formation after the time for one incense stick to burn was in itself a risky choice.

Fortunately, they won. They could enter the Valley of Relics after passing the second test. When all three rounds of tests were passed, they could join the Chamber of Relics.