Ancient Dragon Elephant Technique
Chapter 496 - 19 Conspiracy

In the evening, Tao Xiyi did not come, and even in the days that followed, Lin Feng did not see Tao Xiyi.

After waiting a few days, the first phase of the test finally began.

The cultivators who came for the test were divided into batches to enter the testing hall; inside the hall was a stone platform, on which array patterns were engraved.

The cultivators being tested would come before the stone platform and place their hands upon it, which would then reveal a Star Observation Map.

Next, the disciples being tested had to replicate the Star Observation Map they saw.

And the Star Cloud Pavilion was not worried about cheating from the disciples because the testing elders of the Star Cloud Pavilion all possessed a very special Martial Soul, which allowed them to sense whether others were lying.

If one were to speak of a Star Observation Map shared amongst others, it would inevitably cause minute changes in the body due to lying, such as rapid heartbeats, pupil constriction, and emotional fluctuations; these signs were methods used by the experienced elders of the Star Cloud Pavilion to judge if a cultivator was lying, and the accuracy of these elders was nearly one hundred percent.

One by one, the cultivators went to be tested, and the elimination rate of this first phase was extremely high; it reached fifty percent, and the majority of those who passed could only see a dozen or so Star Observation Maps.

Then came a youth of about twenty years old, named Liu Ming, who remarkably saw seventy-two Star Observation Maps, causing a sensation. He was immediately listed as a key observation subject by the testing elders, arousing the envy of many.

There was a girl named Ning Shuang'er who astonishingly observed one hundred and forty-nine Star Observation Maps, filling the responsible testing elder with immense joy.

"This Ning Shuang'er's talent is indeed astonishing," Lin Feng thought to himself in secret.

Yu Fan managed to observe fifty-two Star Observation Maps, ranking third.

Han Shuo observed nine Star Observation Maps, just barely passing, but after all, he passed the first phase of the test.

Lin Feng did not show off; if he were to say that he had seen over seven hundred Star Observation Maps, he guessed he would be immediately detained by the Star Cloud Pavilion for research, and might not even know how he would die. When joining a Great Sect, one must be extremely careful and definitely keep one's true strength hidden. Secrecy and quietly making a fortune are the true paths to success.

Lin Feng drew fifty Star Observation Maps, which was not showy, but even fifty Star Observation Maps ranked him in the top ten.

After the test, Lin Feng, Yu Fan, and Han Shuo left the testing hall. Young Master Mo Shaoye and others completed the test in another hall, and seeing their cheerful appearances, it seemed they must have passed the first phase. When they saw Lin Feng and the others, Young Master Mo and his group quickly came over to greet them.

Lin Feng exchanged a few brief words with them before leaving with Yu Fan and Han Shuo.

Young Master Mo let out a sigh. He could feel the distance that Lin Feng maintained from them, and he couldn't help but feel a deep dislike for Wuu Yang and others in his heart.

If it hadn't been for the cold mockery from Wuu Yang, Xue Xun, and others at first, their relationship wouldn't have become so rigid. Now, seeing that Lin Feng might become a powerful figure in the future, and yet they had drifted apart, he was filled with regret.

...

"Young Master, look quickly, isn't that Lin Feng? Right now, the Ao Tian Ancient City in East County Divine Land is issuing a warrant for this kid. No wonder we couldn't find him; he ran off to the Desert Domain."

A distant cultivator pointed toward Lin Feng, who was walking off into the distance.

"It really is this kid!"

Shen Yu Yang looked toward Lin Feng with a sullen expression.

This Shen Yu Yang was the Young Master of the Sky Dragon Commerce Association. He once harbored evil thoughts towards Shangguan Fei'er and had a conflict with Lin Feng, after which he spent a vast sum of money hiring people from the Assassin Dynasty to assassinate Lin Feng. However, the assassins of the Assassin Dynasty were instead killed by Lin Feng.

Likewise, this Shen Yu Yang had disappeared without a trace from the Imperial City of True Martial Country and had not appeared since, probably knowing his plot was exposed, so he left True Martial Country.

This guy, he actually appeared in the Desert Domain.

Shen Yu Yang said with a cold smile, "Indeed, it's a small world. Running into me here, this kid is really unlucky!"

He waved his hand and left with several followers, entering the depths of the Star Cloud Pavilion into a separate courtyard, which was the resting place for Elder Xingxuan.

Elder Xingxuan was very pleased to see Shen Yu Yang. Elder Xingxuan's cousin was Shen Yu Yang's mother. In fact, even Shen Yu Yang didn't know that his real father was Elder Xingxuan. At that time, Elder Xingxuan's status was only that of an ordinary steward in Star Cloud Pavilion, and Shen Yu Yang's mother was a disciple of the pavilion; the cousins had an affair and Shen Yu Yang was conceived.

At that time, Shen Yu Yang's mother had already been engaged to the founder of the Sky Dragon Commerce Association, who was Shen Yu Yang's father in name, Shen Tianlong.

After becoming pregnant, Shen Yu Yang's mother left the Star Cloud Pavilion and married Shen Tianlong, and then Shen Yu Yang was born.

This matter was known only to Elder Xingxuan and Shen Yu Yang's mother, and no one else knew, which was why Elder Xingxuan was exceptionally good to Shen Yu Yang.

"How is your mother?" Elder Xingxuan asked.

"Mother is well," Shen Yu Yang replied.

He paused, seeming like he had more to say but hesitated.

"You seem to have something to say. Why the hesitation?"

Shen Yu Yang said, "Uncle, when I was in East County Divine Land, I was almost killed by a kid. I just saw that kid in Star Cloud Pavilion."

Hearing that Shen Yu Yang had almost been killed, Elder Xingxuan's face suddenly darkened, and he asked, "Who was it?"

"It was a kid named Lin Feng. That kid is a spy from the Demon Dao, utterly wicked. He's currently wanted by Ao Tian Ancient City, and I don't know how he got to the Desert Domain. Moreover, it seems he's participating in the Star Cloud Pavilion's test."

Shen Yu Yang said so, naturally smearing Lin Feng thoroughly.

"Is it him?" Elder Xingxuan frowned slightly.

"Do you know him, uncle?" Shen Yu Yang inquired.

"This kid once contributed a treasure to a Great Ability of Star Cloud Pavilion. That Great Ability asked Star Cloud Pavilion to take care of him," Elder Xingxuan said with a frown. As for what Shen Yu Yang said about Lin Feng being a Demon Dao spy, Elder Xingxuan didn't believe it. How could Great Ability Zong Yun not tell whether Lin Feng was a spy or not?

"Uncle! I almost died at the hands of that kid. If I hadn't escaped quickly, we would be parted by life and death," Shen Yu Yang continued to exaggerate, knowing that this uncle seemed to have an affection for him beyond the ordinary. The more pathetic he made himself out to be, the greater his uncle's anger would be.

Shen Yu Yang sneakily glanced at his uncle and, seeing his uncle's grim expression, felt a surge of joy. He continued, "Uncle, think about it, how could a Great Ability be concerned about a small cultivator? Even if he died, it could be said that he perished during his training. Those Great Abilities wouldn't investigate the truth for a small cultivator, right? And besides, Great Abilities often go into seclusion, and once they do, it could be for several years or even decades. Once out of seclusion, they would have long forgotten a kid they met only once."

Elder Xingxuan nodded, "Even if you really want to get rid of this kid, it needs to be done cleanly. So, I will send someone to help you deal with him."

Elder Xingxuan called for a servant, who released Lv Shihai from custody. Upon seeing Elder Xingxuan, Lv Shihai knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

Elder Xingxuan said, "Lv Shihai, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. You'll help my nephew kill someone, and after you succeed, I will restore your position."

"I am willing to serve, I would like to know who the master wants me to kill?"

"Lin Feng." Elder Xingxuan's expression showed a cold smile.

Upon hearing that the person to be killed was Lin Feng, Lv Shihai trembled with excitement, saying, "No need for the master's command, I would love nothing more than to flay that kid a thousand times."

"Mm, I am still confident in your abilities. However, that kid seems to also understand Soul Skills. Don't compete with him in soul arts; use your Soul Defense Skill to protect your own soul. Then use your realm to crush him, and you can easily take that kid's life," Elder Xingxuan instructed.

"Lv Shihai understands. I will surely execute that kid," Lv Shihai said fiercely.

"Good, you may leave," Elder Xingxuan waved his hand.

Lv Shihai then withdrew.

Shen Yu Yang said, "Uncle, this Lv Shihai..."

"After the deed is done, he cannot be spared either," Elder Xingxuan's eyes flashed with a chilling killing intent.