Chapter 4654 — The Trial of West Island

"The Trial of West Island? What on earth is that?" Wei Zhao was taken aback, utterly baffled. Everyone else at the table seemed to know something about West Island affairs; he alone had never even heard of it. True, he had been with Ning Xuefei and the others these past days, but the whole group had been circling around the automatic forging mechanism the entire time—the subject had simply never come up.

Looking back now, Ning Xuefei had probably withheld it on purpose, always putting on a carefree front before Wei Zhao and the others. And her acting had been convincing enough—she had managed to keep them from sensing the weight she carried in her heart.

Seeing the expectant looks on everyone's faces, Wei Zhao shrugged in bewilderment. Was this West Island Trial really so famous, then, that even outsiders not native to West Island were this excited?

Back in the mortal world, Wei Zhao had been no stranger to trials; he was forever entering one trial or another. But ever since arriving on Cloud Terrace Island, they had grown rare. Apart from the newcomers' trial at the very beginning, he had not taken part in any for over a year—and now one had suddenly appeared, and in such an unexpected, utterly unprepared fashion.

"Brother Wei Zhao, the West Island Trial is held once every three years, and it's famous across all five great islands of the Heaven Terrace," Han Jingyi said, leaning close to whisper in his ear when she saw him looking utterly lost.

"Is there anything special about it?" Wei Zhao asked curiously. A trial was nothing strange—but a trial renowned across the five Cloud Terrace islands, that was rather interesting. Especially since this time it involved Ning Xuefei's lifelong happiness.

"What exactly makes it special, I'm not really sure either..." Han Jingyi stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

In her two years on West Island she had scarcely left the Island Master's palace—more precisely, she had rarely left the research room. She knew little of the outside world and had never taken part in any trial at all.

What was more, this triennial trial had never once fallen within her time there; it would be her first as well. She had only caught an occasional mention of it from Ning Xuefei's lips.

"I know about this one!" Shangguan Lan'er was far better informed than Han Jingyi. She leaned in and explained, "Grandfather has spoken of the West Island Trial specifically. He calls it one of the most valuable trials among the five Cloud Terrace islands—a rare opportunity indeed."

"Oh?" Wei Zhao was startled. Shangguan Tianxia's knowledge and vision were surely among the finest on Cloud Terrace Island; if even he held the West Island Trial in such regard, it must have something truly extraordinary about it.

"The rules themselves aren't particularly special—what makes the West Island Trial so precious is its location." Shangguan Lan'er tilted her head, recalling, then went on for the two of them: "Legend has it that near West Island lies a sea of adventure, a battlefield relic left over from ancient times. It's surrounded by sea mist, restrictive formations, and layer upon layer of wards, so ordinarily no one can enter at all—you can't even find it. Only once every three years, at a specific moment, does it open."

"An ancient battlefield?" Wei Zhao's heart stirred. Somewhere in the depths of his being he felt an ancient, savage aura rushing at him, enough to make one's blood run cold—and yet he could not help itching to try his luck. They said the ancient age had teemed with geniuses and thronged with mighty experts; a battlefield relic that had buried countless ancient heroes must surely be no simple place.

"Mm-hm. Grandfather says it's a very, very dangerous place, but that it truly holds countless rare treasures! With luck, one might even obtain the legacy of an ancient expert—it's not impossible! Basically, any disciple who survives the trial to the end comes out transformed, which is why the West Island Trial has such a name. Actually, North Island has a similar trial too, only the rank requirements are higher!" Shangguan Lan'er said.

"I see. So there's a chance to inherit an ancient expert's legacy? It does sound like a remarkable trial." Wei Zhao nodded thoughtfully.

"This ancient battlefield relic is a strategic-level asset for all of West Island. In the past, each time it opened, it was basically only open to West Island's own core disciples—outsiders rarely got a chance to take part. But from what Auntie Ning just said, this time things will likely be different..." Shangguan Lan'er said.

"Mm, no wonder everyone's so excited." Wei Zhao swept his gaze across the hall, taking in the thrilled, eager expressions on every face. Such a critical resource as the ancient battlefield relic—and now, for Ning Xuefei's sake, Ning Shanghe was prepared to open it to outsiders for the first time in history.

She was worthy of being an island master. When others held a martial contest to choose a son-in-law, the best they could manage was a dueling platform; when it came to Ning Shanghe, she opened with an ancient battlefield relic. Such boldness and such scale were truly extraordinary.

Still, if she meant to select the younger generation with the greatest potential and strength, as she had said, then such an incomparable battleground was exactly what was needed. A mere dueling platform at best revealed present strength, never future potential—and whoever was chosen that way would hardly be worthy of a princess of West Island.

Wei Zhao's gaze finally came to rest on Ning Xuefei. This girl, always so innocent and optimistic, now wore a strange pallor on her face.

Ever since he had first met Ning Xuefei on the Far North Island, this was the first time Wei Zhao had seen such an expression on her face—helpless, lost, pitiful beyond words, enough to break one's heart.

The so-called West Island Trial was, for Ning Xuefei, unquestionably a martial contest to choose a husband. Most any girl would be unwilling to accept such a thing. Ning Xuefei wanted to resist, but she had no say in the matter.

She was the princess of West Island, born to supreme status and power—and at the same time, she had to pay the corresponding price. Marriage was merely the least conspicuous item among them, and even on West Island, where women's rights prevailed, this was no exception.

Wei Zhao suddenly recalled the welcome banquet a few days ago, when that woman had burst in to frame him—and Ning Xuefei had, without avoiding the topic at all, said those words before everyone. At the time he had only found them puzzling, but thinking back now, it must have been a hint—no, it had been practically a declaration: Why don't you choose me, Wei Zhao?

And just now, when Ning Shanghe had brought her over to offer a toast, Ning Xuefei's eyes had clearly conveyed the very same meaning. At that thought Wei Zhao's heart stirred, and he felt a certain chord within him plucked ever so gently. R1152