Chapter 3708 — The Newcomer Rankings Trial
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Though the destination was, like the Welcome Pavilion and the Spirit Jade Hall, a grand and imposing tower complex, the newcomers had not even drawn near before a killing intent and oppressive might such as they had never known struck them full in the face. The weaker ones among them actually staggered outright, nearly making public fools of themselves.
This show of force was exactly the same as their last visit to the Rear Mountain Hall, save that back then they had been cowed by the auras of three elders. This time there was no one at all in front of them—only an empty, magnificent tower.
Compared with the heavily guarded Spirit Jade Hall and Rear Mountain Hall, here one could not catch even the shadow of a single guard. Only the enormous plaque overhead proclaimed the supreme authority of this place: the Law Enforcement Hall.
The newcomers had naturally imagined the Law Enforcement Hall to be a place swarming with experts, its guards surely more numerous than those of the Spirit Jade Hall and the Rear Mountain Hall. Yet the scene before their eyes could hardly have differed more from their imaginings.
Not a single guard. Apart from the occasional expert with restrained aura hurrying through the corridors of the tower, one saw practically no one else at all.
Even so, the place made every newcomer tremble in their hearts for no discernible reason. It was as though, upon arriving here, every disguise and every mental defense had been stripped away in an instant, leaving no secret able to hide.
The legendary Law Enforcement Hall was indeed a place of unfathomable depths!
Wei Zhao could not help praising it inwardly. Even if they simply dumped the newcomers here and did nothing else, that in itself would already constitute a test of resistance to oppressive might.
And compared with the way true qi had been used to exert pressure back in the mortal realm, this kind of might was clearly more refined and more powerful. It had transcended the physical plane; it inflicted an irresistible torment even upon the mind. It was not something that could be offset by the true qi within one's body alone. Wei Zhao was certain that the vast majority of those present would not hold out for long before their minds collapsed.
"The Law Enforcement Hall, including the layout of all the towers around it, was from the very beginning of its construction naturally formed into an exceedingly powerful oppression array. Do you see that round raised platform in the middle of the plaza?"
Hu Yunfeng pointed at a spot not far ahead. "That is where criminals are executed, and also where this array's power is at its greatest. And you—you will undergo the first stage of your trial upon that platform."
Everyone looked where he pointed. Apart from being situated at the very center of the open plaza, the platform looked wholly ordinary, with nothing remarkable about it. Yet when they fixed their eyes upon it, a strange shudder ran through every heart at once, as though the very next moment they would be swallowed whole.
This place was dangerous indeed! To put so many newcomers who had not even succeeded in Foundation Establishment up there for a trial—could that really be safe? Anyone with even slightly weak resolve would probably be driven to mental collapse in short order, or even go mad on the spot!
As Wei Zhao was puzzling over this, Hu Yunfeng spoke: "In a moment I will specially invite several experts of the Law Enforcement Hall to operate the array from atop the platform. But do not misunderstand—I am not bringing them here to increase the difficulty of the trial. Quite the contrary: their task is to relieve the array's pressure on your behalf. Otherwise, not a single one of you present would be able to last the time of one stick of incense up there without coming to harm!"