The Trap Before the Trial

"Is there anything else you need to pack?" asked Madam Chen Wu, suppressing her worry as she looked at her daughter.

Only two days remained until the Xuanming Sect's disciple selection. Though the journey was only two hundred li, any unexpected mishap could jeopardize everything—they needed to leave as soon as possible.

"No, everything's ready," Chen Jinshu shook her head.

This acre of spirit herbs on Vulture Mountain was the last thing she needed to tend to. Everything else had already been secured in the bamboo hut within her spiritual plant space. She never stored anything valuable in Plum Blossom Courtyard.

"This isn't the time for lingering goodbyes. We must make haste," said her second uncle, Chen Wentan. "The family has already started sending disciples to Vermilion Market for the testing."

"Understood." Jinshu nodded firmly.

"We truly appreciate your escort, Brother Huaiyang. If the three of us were to run into Chen Wenshan, there'd be no avoiding conflict," Chen Wentan added gratefully, casting a glance at the man beside them.

"She's saved Vulture Mountain from Wenshan's plots more than once. I'll see her safely there—no question," said Chen Huaiyang, his tone resolute.

"The hour grows late. Let's move."

With those words, Chen Huaiyang led the three of them to the front of Vulture Mountain. He retrieved a spirit vessel and set course for Vermilion Market.

Half an hour passed swiftly as the group traveled by spirit vessel.

The day was unnaturally cold, the sky overcast. Though no rain fell, the dense forest was shrouded in a white mist, exuding an eerie chill. The gloomy weather deepened their unease—they knew Chen Wenshan would try to stop them.

Once Chen Jinshu joined the Xuanming Sect, he would lose all chance to strike.

"We'll arrive in another half-hour. Stay vigilant!" Chen Huaiyang's sharp gaze remained fixed ahead.

Chen Wentan and Madam Chen Wu also scanned their surroundings warily.

"BOOM!"

A deafening roar, like the tremors of an earthquake, suddenly erupted around them.

"Trouble!" Chen Huaiyang immediately halted the spirit vessel and activated its defensive formation.

"BOOM!" 

Another explosion followed. The space around them seemed to warp as the forest's mist slowly dissipated, revealing a confined area encircled by an invisible barrier.

"Mother! Second Uncle—it's a formation!"

Chen Jinshu's sharp eyes quickly spotted a faint golden dome above them, its shimmering light nearly imperceptible. A radius of several dozen zhang around them had been sealed off.

"A first-grade high-tier formation?! Chen Wenshan has planned this for a long time!" Chen Huaiyang's expression darkened as he assessed the formation's power.

A first-grade high-tier formation was incredibly resilient—even a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator would need four or five days of relentless assault to break it.

"Chen Wenshan was cut off from the family's resources after his exile. How did he afford such a formation?" Chen Wentan's face twisted in frustration, his mind racing like an ant on a hot pan.

"Brother Huaiyang, how long will it take to break?"

"At least two or three days."

"CHEN WENSHAN! Why must you torment our family?!" Madam Chen Wu furious roar echoed as she spotted two shadowy figures ahead—one of them unmistakably Chen Wenshan.

"Hmph! You think your daughter can join the Xuanming Sect? Dream on! If my daughter is ruined, yours won't escape!" Chen Wenshan's venomous gaze locked onto Chen Jinshu, as if he wished to slice her to pieces.

"Arguing is pointless. Focus on breaking the formation, or Jinshu will miss her chance!" Chen Huaiyang suppressed his anger and spoke grimly.

"Agreed! Attack together!" Chen Wentan nodded and unleashed a strike at the barrier.

"BOOM! BOOM!" 

The barrier trembled under repeated assaults but remained intact.

"Hah! This formation was made for you. Did you think you could shatter it so easily?" Chen Wenshan laughed triumphantly, already envisioning Chen Jinshu's defeat.

He had spent considerable effort acquiring this formation and had lain in ambush here for half a month. The group's expressions darkened, but they continued their relentless assault. The barrier shuddered under the barrage of attacks, yet showed no signs of weakening.

"At this rate, it'll take three days to deplete the formation's energy. We need another plan," Chen Huaiyang muttered hoarsely.

"Do you have any ideas, Third Uncle?"

"Find the formation's core node. Every formation has a weak point—its core is easier to break than the rest."

"But core nodes are well-hidden. Usually, only formation masters can detect them. I only know of their existence."

Chen Huaiyang's tone held little hope—none of them had studied formation arts.

"Don't blame yourself, Third Uncle. If I miss the Xuanming Sect's trial, I can still try the Beast Taming Sect. I've heard their requirements are lower," Chen Jinshu reassured him gently.

"But Jinshu, the Beast Taming Sect is tens of thousands of li farther, deep in the mountains. Their recruitment period is unpredictable. The Xuanming Sect is the most accessible for us," Chen Wentan sighed, never ceasing his fireball spells.

"Then let's find this formation core. We have to." Jinshu clenched her fists. She had worked too hard—trained to the fourth layer of Qi Refining on Vulture Mountain—just to be stopped by a formation. She refused to give up.

She glanced down at her spirit beast bag.

"Little Shadow, can you help us?"

The little bird stirred, responding to her anxiety. It chirped urgently, sending out the clear message that it wanted out. Jinshu's eyes lit up—perhaps its auspicious aura could help locate the formation's weak spot.

Once released, the Shadowpeak Flinch circled her once, then its eyes flashed with soft golden light. It scanned the perimeter of the barrier closely.

"Chirp chirp!"

Moments later, it chirped excitedly.

"You found it?" Jinshu's eyes sparkled with hope for the first time since they'd been trapped.

"Chirp !"

"Where?"

The little bird pointed its red beak to a slanted position off to the side.

"Uncle, Uncle! Xiao Yin found the formation core!"

Sure enough, Jinshu saw a faint inconsistency in the barrier where the spiritual energy swirled more sluggishly.

"Jinshu, where did you get this bird?" Chen Wentan stared at it, stunned.

Few spirit birds had this level of perception and intelligence.

"I picked it up in a marketplace."

"This was the same one that helped us get rid of those spirit bugs last time too," Chen Huaiyang added, visibly impressed.

With Xiao Yin's guidance, all three cultivators spotted the formation's weak point immediately.

"Please, don't tell anyone about this," Jinshu said softly, glancing at the bird with newfound gratitude.

"Of course. We're not the type to gossip," her mother said with a warm smile.

"Then let's strike—together—at the node!"