Falling Bull Mountain

This was the main path, and by blocking it, the people behind them were already starting to clog up the path. If it weren't for the Pill Fairy, they would already be cursing him for this.

As they advanced, they saw high mountains and flowing rivers. Ahead of them was a flat meadow, with the grass in full bloom. A relaxing scent filled the air.

On one side was a meadow, while the other side was a cliff. The path led to a gate that was guarded by the disciples of the Skywood Divine Palace.

This place is Falling Bull Mountain. This is the first barrier for attending the Jade Lake Pageant.

## Botany test: pick a flower

Each time the Jade Lake Pageant occurs, the rules are different. This is to prevent other people from cheating and preparing ahead of time. This time, the test isn't very difficult. Within this flourishing field, simply collect one flower that you recognize. As long as you can say its name and origin, you'll pass. Each person has only one chance per flower. Once one person picks a flower, no one else will be able to use that flower to pass.

The Jade Lake Pageant is not a competition of martial power. In all previous openings of it, the trials and barriers have all been like this.

As an alchemist, Long Chen was naturally skilled in recognizing plants and flowers. That was why this trial could not be more simple to him.

He was in no rush. He looked at the others rushing around like a swarm of bees. Some were lucky and instantly passed.
However, some were unlucky. The common plants that they recognized had already been used by others to pass. They could only search for rare plants.

Some tried to muddle their way in, but they ran into a thick wall. The Skywood Divine Palace's disciples were wood cultivators, and it wasn't so easy for others to fool them about what a plant was.

After two hours, only a few thousand disciples had passed. Of course, this kind of trial couldn't stop the likes of Di Xin, Shen Bijun, and Wang Shan. Even if they didn't recognize any flowers, they had people courting favor with them who would search for them. They passed easily.

After passing, they didn't immediately leave. Instead, they stood at the gate, calmly looking at the surrounding scenery. Of course, it was possible that they were appreciating the sight of others panicking.

At the start, it was easy as there were many common flowers. However, after thousands of disciples had passed, thousands of flowers had become useless, and the remaining ones were unrecognizable. They were martial cultivators. Just being able to recognize a few trees was not bad for them.

## Blasphemy

Somebody criticizes the skywood palace for creating such a trial, but that person gets killed by a wooden stake.

One of the Skywood Divine Palace's disciples coldly shouted, "To dare to insult the palace master, he was clearly courting death. My Skywood Divine Palace is the protector of the Jade Lake Pageant. Each time it opens, the trial's standards are decided in accordance with a calendar calculation. The palace master personally does the calculations and gives out the orders. If you are a cultivator, you should know that the Heavenly Daos have a cycle, and luck won't always be on your side. Some things are fated to not be yours, and complaining doesn't have any use. Insulting people only shows your own foolishness and lowliness. If you want to participate in the Jade Lake Pageant, then participate obediently. If you don't want to participate, then leave. But anyone who dares to blaspheme my Skywood Divine Palace better not blame the Skywood Divine Palace for being pitiless."

Clearly, the orders for this test had been passed down by the palace master. For someone to curse the sect leader in front of the sect leader's disciple was truly courting death.

Although others had complained as well, they hadn't used such intense words. So he ended up being the unlucky fellow warning others not to go too far and lose their lives.

Everyone's hearts shook after that expert was slain. This place was the Skywood Divine Palace's territory. They had to abide by the Skywood Divine Palace's rules unless they didn't want to participate in the Jade Lake Pageant.

After that expert was slain, the others were all warned. Although there were still complaints, they were much more limited in number and scale.

In truth, this trial was near its end. The flowers that they could possibly recognize had been recognized by others. Those rare and unused flowers were very difficult to recognize.

## Paying others to pass the test

People continued testing their luck after the waves caused by the Jewel Blood Jade Orchid passed. Sometimes, opportunities simply came like that. It was only possible to make more opportunities for oneself by working harder than others.

After six hours, another twenty thousand people managed to pass, but in the next hour, there was not one other person who managed to do so.

Another thing that happened during the trial that was worth noting was that some people were truly brilliant.

They knew the names of many flowers, and as a result, they helped hundreds of others pass. Each person paid one thousand spirit crystals, so not only did those people pass, but they also made hundreds of thousands of spirit crystals.

The Southern Xuan Region's people clearly had money.

After another two hours, the bell sounding the end of the trial rang. There were forty-five thousand people who passed. However, the number that had failed made people sigh.

"Congratulations on everyone who passed. As for those who didn't pass, there's no need to be discouraged. Cultivation is just like this. Sometimes, luck is also another form of power. However, you can't force it. Some things are fated to be yours, and some are not. Forcibly trying to take those things can make you lose your life. The opportunity this time isn't yours, but there is definitely another opportunity waiting for you. A person can't possibly only have one chance in their life, so maintaining a proper attitude is very important. Furthermore, even though you couldn't reach the end of the Jade Lake Pageant, anyone who attends will still get corresponding benefits. Everyone, come with me."

They quickly reached a fork in the road. Those who passed went right, while those who didn't pass were led to the left. At the end of the path was an endless green field. Sunlight was shining brightly. There was a large group of cows eating in the field.

They were the Skywood Divine Palace's unique White Snow Spirit Cows.

## Trivia

* Funiushan is also the name of a mountain in southwest Henan, part of the Qinling range (秦岭山脉)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 1635 (Wuxiaworld)
2. ↑ Chapter 1633 (Wuxiaworld)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chapter 1634 (Wuxiaworld)