Chapter 1489 — Rules of the Trial, Part Two
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Those of high strength had nothing to worry about, of course, but a great many early-stage Profound Rank trialists were here as well, and they had been none too easy in their minds. This rule put them instantly at ease.
Still, many eyes turned back to Wei Zhao, suspicion stirring within them: how was it that this rule seemed tailor-made for him? Stripped of his strength — weaker, even, than an ordinary man — he could enter the trial and no one would truly dare lay a hand on him. The slightest excess of force in a scuffle could beat him to death; the man was simply untouchable.
Should one slip up, one would not only forfeit one's place in the trial but would also have violated the Ice Palace's rules and brought trouble down on one's own head. So one and all arrived at the same thought: if Wei Zhao meant to take part, keep well clear of him, and on no account let him latch onto you.
"Furthermore, the entire course of the trial will be recorded on the electronic cards I hand out to you in a moment — your points included; they will show up on the card as well," the innkeeper said. "Should the herbs in your possession be robbed from you during the trial, the points will transfer accordingly. But mind one thing: under no circumstances may you damage the herbs while fighting over them. That will earn you no points, and the party at fault will be docked instead!"
"A card? Not a piece of jade?" A young master of one of the clans below had clearly heard beforehand that the recording device used in the trial was a jade tablet rather than an electronic card, and so asked the question before he could stop himself.
"Jade was what the old trials used," the innkeeper explained. "Technology advances; naturally our Ice Palace's recording devices have moved on to modern equipment. Jade capable of storing information costs far too much." He paused. "Very well — is there anyone who still does not understand? No objections? Then I shall begin registering you all and collecting the deposits!"
"None..." Heads shook all around. What a joke — everyone had come here for the trial; who would abandon it over a small change in the rules? Would that not make the whole journey worthless?
"Good. We will start with this row here. Come up one at a time to register and swipe your card for the deposit," the innkeeper told the trialists nearest to him.
"Yes!" The trialist at the front rose and walked over. He filled in his particulars in the registration book the innkeeper offered, and was just about to swipe his card and pay the deposit when the innkeeper waved him off.
"Hold out your hand. I want to test your strength," the innkeeper said blandly.
"Couldn't I simply circulate my cultivation technique? Do I really need to hold out my hand?" The trialist started, then asked.
At that moment Wei Zhao narrowed his eyes as well. He had never seen this trialist before — clearly one of those who, upon arriving, had shut himself in his room and never come out again, emerging only now that the innkeeper had called everyone together.
But that was not what drew Wei Zhao's attention. What did was the fact that this man was actually an early-stage Earth Rank inner-school expert — beyond the eligibility conditions for the trial altogether. No wonder he had been so nervous when the innkeeper spoke of testing their strength.
"No need. Hold out your hand," the innkeeper repeated mildly.
"This..." The trialist hesitated for a moment, then held out his hand all the same. Secretly, however, he ran his internal cultivation method and pressed his strength down to the peak of the late Profound Rank, never revealing his early-stage Earth Rank power.