"Zhouku Academy has four major examinations. The initial entrance exam is the Land Trial. The physical martial test is the Field Trial. The knowledge-based written test is the Academy Trial. The final graduation test is the Court Trial. Each exam is more difficult than the last. The Land Trial is just the first one; it should be simple.""But if it were simple, it wouldn't have been discontinued for over twenty years.""I heard the reason it's being held this time is because of a beast child from Chaoyun Country. Ugh, one in this batch isn't enough, now another! So annoying. These beast clans, won't they corrupt my child?""Exactly, can a beast clan member even become an Enlightened One? I really don't know why the Academy is willing to accept beast children as disciples."Even as they said this, the two gossiping women kept walking. Life in the capital was too peaceful. The sudden announcement of the Land Trial after twenty years drew all the idle onlookers for some excitement. Even if the main character was the beast clan they despised the most, it didn't matter.The forest stretched endlessly, lush and verdant. Water droplets adorned the tips of every branch from the misty rain, and the very air seemed to carry the fragrance of leaves, intensified by the moisture. This was Zhouku Forest—the place with the strongest spiritual energy on the continent. Its entrance, located in the eastern suburbs of the capital, served as the starting point for the Land Trial.Northern Gate, riding clouds and mist, quickly arrived. Looking around, two Academy personnel were already there. They wore
patched cloaks like his. One was broad-shouldered and sturdy with a long beard. The other was petite with delicate features and a long sword at her waist—clearly a female Court Supervisor."My respects, Court Supervisor Chilo, Court Supervisor Huang. My apologies for the delay; I have kept you both waiting." Northern Gate saluted with one hand.Chiluo, the female Court Supervisor, turned and acknowledged Beimen's greeting. But her gaze was sharp and without courtesy. "Court Supervisor Beimen, I hear this Land Trial was your arrangement?"Northern Gate smiled. "Indeed. I am responsible for disciple enrollment matters and naturally dare not neglect them. Currently, the Land Supervisor in charge of assessing new disciples has not yet returned from the four countries. The Field, Academy, and other supervisors have gone to assist the Royal Enforcement Department in clearing the capital of demonic creatures. Thus, this humble Land Trial had to trouble you to accompany me. I am truly ashamed.""It's no trouble..." Court Supervisor Huang was about to brush it off when Chilo snorted coldly."Hmph, you don't actually believe a beast child from Chaoyun Country can pass the Land Trial, do you?""Court Supervisor Chilo, that is not the right way to think. All things depend on fate and conditions. How can we judge such matters?" Northern Gate's smile remained unchanged.Chilo was momentarily speechless. Nowadays, it was fashionable to talk about "fate and conditions." Once those words were spoken, anything could be justified. After all, who could argue with heaven? In terms of verbal sparring, she was no match for this noble young man, so she turned her gaze elsewhere.Among the commoners who had come to watch the excitement were a few wealthy-looking individuals with a boy and a girl, both around five or six years old.Court Supervisor Huang said with a bitter smile, "With all the distractions, I forgot to tell you. There's a child who is already on the enrollment list but insists on taking the Land Trial."Court Supervisor Chilo frowned slightly, looking at the little girl in the crowd.The little girl stared with wide, tear-glazed eyes at the boundless forest ahead. Though fear was evident in her gaze, her expression remained stern and unyielding.Chilo walked up to her. "Your name is Yeluo, right?"The little girl stared back, giving a stiff nod.
"You are already on the enrollment list for this term. There is no need to undertake the Land Trial. Understood?"The little girl nodded, then flustered, shook her head. She looked back at a woman behind her, who bore a strong resemblance to her. The woman was wearing an eager smile and gave her a push forward. A trace of panic finally surfaced on Yeluo's face.She stiffly bowed to Chilo. "Blessings. Supervisor, disciple Yeluo wishes to prove to the world that I earned my enrollment through my own ability, not family influence. Please allow me to take the Land Trial!"Chilo sighed inwardly, glancing at the woman.This child is already so scared, yet her family is forcing her to take the Land Trial. It's really...At that moment, the little boy beside her drew himself up to his full height and stepped out from his family's protective circle.Dressed in a magnificent moon-white robe that floated elegantly as he moved, he looked quite impressive."In that case, I, Lucang, will also take the Land Trial." He held his head high, his face unable to hide his pride. After speaking, he glanced at Yeluo. "It's fine, I'll accompany you."The surrounding commoners were about to cheer when they were interrupted by the sound of messy footsteps. Everyone couldn't help but look towards the source.It was a young child with a mess of curly white hair, his sideburns jutting out like two small horns. His forehead was full and prominent, and his large, round, sapphire-blue eyes looked lost and... somewhat disheveled.Because as he walked, plop, he fell. He barely got up, plop, he fell again." Stand up straight! Walk properly!... Go on, go on! Don't use your hooves—bah! I mean, don't use your hands, use your feet. This old one has never seen someone as clumsy as you. Is walking on two feet instead of four that difficult? Don't touch your head, straighten your back! You, girl, there are no antlers on top of your head, stop feeling around!"Plop. After falling face-first into the dirt yet again, the crow who had been admonishing him from mid-air snapped its beak shut in frustration."Ananda, it's not my fault!" Bensheng emerged from the dirt, sitting up angrily. "When I was a deer, my white fur was smooth and sleek, so beautiful. But after this 'shedding the mortal body and exchanging the bones' transformation into human form, I ended up
with this curly white hair. It's too ugly, wuwuwu..."Yesterday, after accepting Court Supervisor Northern Gate's challenge for the "Land Trial," Northern Gate used the "Shedding the Mortal Body and Exchanging the Bones" spell to transform Bensheng into human form. Once he cultivated successfully in the future, he could rely on his own power to maintain this appearance. But after the transformation, a big problem arose..."Don't think discussing your hairstyle can cover up the fact that you can't walk properly." Ananda retorted righteously.Bensheng: "..."The rain above Kunlun stopped, the Kunlun Divine Scroll opened once more, and the bell of Zhouku Academy sounded. The time for the Land Trial had arrived.Court Supervisor Chiluo glanced at the three children preparing to enter the grounds. Drawing a sealed scroll from her sleeve, she proclaimed in a clear voice: "The Records of the Vajra Adept state: 'The forest is a metaphor for all plants and trees. It is where the Way of the Dharma resides, and from whence true talent and vessels emerge.' Thus, in accordance with this path, this forest has been chosen as the site for the Land Trial. You must, within the span of one and three-quarter hours, conquer the natural woods, achieve clarity of body and mind, and apprehend the divine principle of Kunlun."Yeluo and Lucang bowed in unison. "Yes!"Bensheng fumbled to imitate their actions. Seeing their response, Chilo stepped aside and made an "inviting" gesture to the three. Bensheng hurriedly asked, "Is it starting now?"Chilo said, "Do you have an objection?""Objection?... No objection," Bensheng scratched his head, "but, is this human language? I didn't understand a single word..."Court Supervisor Chilo's ever-present cold expression wavered slightly. Court Supervisor Huang barely held back a chuckle.But the commoners watching nearby weren't so reserved. They laughed heartily. Bensheng, seeing them laugh, started laughing too. They looked at each other, laughing even more joyfully.Northern Gate said calmly, "Actually, the test content is simply to walk west from here, through the entire forest, within one hour and three quarters."Bensheng breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's so simple!"Simple?The three Court Supervisors smiled without speaking. Indeed, to
an ordinary person, this forest didn't seem that big, only a hundredli. But the terrain inside was complex and rugged, hiding who knew how many beasts nourished by spiritual energy. Even demon-subduing, world-saving practitioners wouldn't dare underestimate this place.Where did "simple" come from?But Chilo didn't plan to explain. She gave the order: "Land Trial begins!"A sudden wind rose from the flat ground, and in an instant, only Bensheng remained in the clearing.Chilo looked at him coolly. "Did you understandthat'human language'?"Bensheng grinned, turned around, and waved. "Everyone, I'm off now!"The commoners, after all, could only witness the start of the Land Trial. Now, with Bensheng as the only one left—and having shared a laugh with him just moments before—they were happy to offer a few kind words."Don't fall again!""Come back if you can't hold on!""Keeping your life is more important!"...They really didn't sound like kind words. Ananda sighed helplessly. But then he saw Bensheng bend down and place both hands on the ground.It was the posture of his "deer" form.Could it be...The next second, he shot out like an arrow from a bow.He's really going on all fours... Ananda thought with disdain as he flew after him. Their figures soon vanished into the forest."Court Supervisor Northern Gate, it seems you arranged all this deliberately," Court Supervisor Chilo said coldly. "Choosing the forest as the Land Trial venue specifically to make it easier for the beast child familiar with forest environments to pass, right?""On the contrary."Northern Gate took a mirror from his sleeve, tossed it casually. The mirror floated in mid-air, reflecting the sunlight, gradually showing a picture: Lucang flying through the air, and Yeluo leaping among the treetops.The commoners exclaimed in amazement. "As expected of the young master from a great family, using magic at six years old!""The little girl's physical skills are also quite impressive!"The adults of the two praised children straightened their backs,
their faces unable to conceal their pride.Northern Gate continued, "These two children are very sharp. They'd rather expend their supernatural power and physical strength than enter the forest because of the mysteries hidden within."The scene switched to the shaded areas under the forest canopy. Surrounded by towering trees, it was so dark you could barely see. When people adjusted to the dimness of the picture, they quickly saw the changes within.Plants grew wildly, the land shifted shape. In the blink of an eye, the scenery inside had transformed into something else."Is this... the Shape-Shifting and Shadow-Swapping Array?" Court Supervisor Huang asked.Chilo frowned. "Not just that. There's also the Soul-Snatching and Heart-Devouring Array.""Correct. So those two children chose to pass over from above, avoiding being trapped by the arrays. As for Bensheng..." Northern Gate looked up at the mirror's image of Bensheng running in his "deer" posture."Left, right. Left again! Ah, wait..." Ananda, who had been flying high up giving Bensheng directions, now also stopped, delusively looking around. "Strange, I think I've seen this tree before. We passed here.""That's impossible. There are no hoofprints on the ground I'm stepping on." Bensheng looked up and asked, "Ananda, are you mistaken?"Ananda hesitated no longer, using his Clairvoyance. He was greatly alarmed."Not good, we're caught in an array! The scenery outside is completely different from here!"Bensheng's expression also became tense. But after a moment, he asked mistily, "By the way, what's an array?"Ananda staggered and fell from the branch."An array is... something that makes everything you see not real. For example, you said there are no hoofprints on the ground, but the trees around us are ones we've seen. That means these trees are all illusions.""Illusions?" Bensheng looked up, carefully observing his surroundings. Soon, he felt dizzy, the scenery before his eyes gradually blurring.Not good... As soon as Ananda saw Bensheng's legs go weak, he knew he was under an illusion. He was about to peck him awake
when he felt a strange scene enveloping him.Bensheng, hearing no sounds around him, knew something was wrong but didn't know how to resist the "illusions" Ananda mentioned. The scenery changed again: the blaze, human voices, and deer cries grew clearer and clearer.This was... the raging fire of Lumbini."I remember this 'Soul-Snatching and Heart-Devouring Array' shows people their greatest fear or their happiest memory. Truly scared." Court Supervisor Huang sighed.Chilo said, "Although Court Supervisor Northern Gate is skilled in arrays, what if this child's fate is astonishing and he accidentally breaks the array? What then?" She couldn't resist using the word "fate" to retort.Northern Gate smiled. "Court Supervisor Chilo has forgotten where I usually set up arrays."The mirror image suddenly zoomed out. Only then did everyone see that around the array, three sides were blocked by a row of towering trees, each thirty feet high, dense and solid. Without supernatural powers, a mortal body wouldn't even be able to climb over them.The only open direction happened to be the opposite of the finish line. Even if Bensheng luckily walked out of the array, he still wouldn't be able to complete the Land Trial.Court Supervisor Huang couldn't help but think: Do you want him to pass the Land Trial or not?Chilo's expression improved somewhat. It seemed Northern Gate was like everyone else, not wanting to teach beast clan disciples anymore. Her gaze fell once more on Yeluo, leaping through the forest in the mirror image.Bensheng stood motionless for a long time. For a moment, he almost believed he had just had a long dream. He had never left Lumbini, never met Gautama or Northern Gate, encountered no one, and had just been standing there helplessly waiting to die.The human soldier Wuni gave a sinister grin as he chased after him. Bensheng forgot to dodge, his eyes wide as he watched the spear draw nearer. Suddenly, Lugen shoved him aside. "My child, run!" Amo wept, draping the gray robe over him. Bensheng suddenly snapped awake, frantically hugging Amo and shaking his head as he cried. "Mom, I won't go! I want to stay with everyone!" Amo was stunned, her beautiful sapphire-blue eyes widening for a moment. Then, amid the surrounding sounds of slaughter and shouting, she
scolded him sternly, "Then do you plan to stay here forever?"Familiar demeanor, familiar tone... Bensheng's tears streamed down."Mom, I missed you so much..."Amo gently lifted his hand with her front hoof. It was a hand with five fingers, already in human form. "But you have already chosen to run. No matter how hard the road ahead, you must not stop."Bensheng clenched his five fingers into a fist. Yes, he had already "shed his mortal body and exchanged his bones" to become human, had already decided to become strong, to find a way to change the world.He would not stop.But now, how could he leave this place?Amo seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled slightly. "Do you believe Mother?""Of course! I believe everything Mom says!""Then listen to Mother. Close your eyes and run at your fastest speed. You will definitely be able to leave here!"Bensheng obediently stood up, completely abandoning the "deer" posture.Walk west, the west... this way!He closed his eyes, brought his hands together.A beam of white light shot straight up from the vast and dense forest, piercing the heavens.Northern Gate made a hand seal. The mirror image quickly showed the previous array. The array was empty, no signs of damage, but the person trapped inside had disappeared.