Chapter 168 - Angel Trial

Around Giant Sword Mountain, stood more than a thousand Spirit Hall's soldiers. Leading them, there were two people, Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu. Behind them, there were a group of 5 titled douluos, led by a hooded man. Then, followed by all the normal soldiers.

They stood here for Renxue's trial. After Heaven Dou Palace battle, she had returned to Spirit Hall. Following the guidance of her grandfather, she was tested at the Angel Goddess Shrine and was chosen worthy to inherit the Angel Goddess's position. To achieve godhood, she should pass the goddess nine trials, absorbing the holy 6 spirit bones. She had already absorbed 2 of them before, and in this time she already absorbed another two while passing 6 trials. Now she would be tested for her 7th trial. The army was necessary because due to the low number of Angel Clan's members and hiding for ages, the faith on the Angel Goddess lowered, making new faith absolutely necessary to start the trials, forcing to move a great number of believers every time they undertook a trial. Not a problem with Spirit Hall's strength to congregate thousand of spirit masters, and even some titled douluos.

Renxue suddenly turned to one side "Something had happened, Xue'Er?" at her side stood Qian Daoliu. He didn't recuperate his youthful appearance, instead, he looked even older than two years before. However, a strong aura was emitted around him showing his incredible power that he was now unable to completely control.

Renxue turned to his grandfather "No, nothing, grandfather." She turned again towards distance "I thought that someone was observing me."

"Xue'Er" Daoliu said "You are the greatest genius. All eyes are fixated in you." Daoliu extended his arms showing the thousands of people around them.

Renxue nodded "I know, grandfather." She lifted her head looking at the mountain with sword form.

"Let's start" Daoliu stated to the crowd of soldiers. Daoliu started chanting in some unknown language. Around him, two golden spears appeared shining, as the chant continued the glow became brighter.

Renxue lifted her right arm "Glorious, merciful, and wise god. Allow your devoted people to accept your trial." The spears form changed becoming swords that started vibrating.

"Crumble!" All the place started trembling, an earthquake happening. The Giant Sword Mountain started shining with a golden and gray light. Behind Renxue, her 10-winged Seraphim appeared. 9 rings appeared under Renxue, 2 purples, 4 blacks, and 3 reds. The Arch-Seraphim hugged her, fusing with her body, 10 wings appearing at her back. She started floating over the mountain.

"Crumble!" Rocks started falling from the mountain, each rock taking the form of a sword and shooting forwards. The rock swords seemed to evade Renxue, shooting towards Spirit Hall's army.

A hooded person from the army stepped forward. 9 spirit rings appeared under him, 1 yellow, 3 purples, 4 blacks, and a red. His seventh and eighth ring shined and he disappeared from the view. Just as the rock swords were to fall over the army, from each people's shadow a sword was shot towards the rocks. The swords were pitch black and seemed to be made by the very shadow. Most rock swords were destroyed by the attack, having diminished the number, the soldiers reacted unleashing their spirit and fighting to stop the rain of rocks.

Renxue ignored what happened at her back as she was floating towards the mountain that showed his true form. Under the rock exterior, laid a metal interior. It was a gray blade made of a beautiful unknown metal that was glowing golden. It seemed like a beautiful 2 kilometers meters long sword piercing the ground.

"Crumble!" Liberating from most of the rocks around it, the entire mountain started floating, like if some enormous force was unsheathing it. Finally, it stopped floating 100 meters over the ground, letting a profound hole on the ground where it couldn't be seen the bottom.

Renxue increased her speed arriving at the top of the Giant Sword, landing on one of the two cross-guards. Looking closer now, Renxue could see that were she stood was formed by countless jade-like swords, all joined forming the cross-guard of the Giant Sword.

Renxue bent over, her hand touching the crystal-like material of her grounds. The area around her started shining "Clink!" the swords under her hand started flinching, they slowly fell back, revealing under them an entrance with stairs going down.

Renxue looked at the profundity of the stair before stepping. She stepped 4 steps down before stopping. She lifted her face, looking at what it would be the other side of the Giant Sword's grip. She couldn't sense anything with her energy, but somehow her instincts told her that there was someone familiar there.

The stairs ended in a long corridor. It was 4 meters of side square corridor, with smooth gray walls, dimly illuminated by different colored swords embedded in the walls.

Renxue started walking the corridor, suddenly stopping still. She could feel multiple killing intents towards her! She quickly prepared for the imminent attack. From the walls, sword's tips started surging, all of them pointing at her.

All the swords were differents and Renxue could feel different faint intents from them. The strangest was that each of them seemed to have its own soul, like if each one was a living being. All the swords shot towards her.

Renxue seeing them wasn't worried at all. Her red 8th ring shined "<Purification Aura>!" a golden aura extended from her. The aura was completely under her control and was an extension of her Truth, improving its power and controlling the form of it. The swords that came in contact with it, lost all their strength before falling to the ground, now as mere rocks.

Renxue's skill could purify from spirit energy to souls. Not only that, but Renxue could also make the purified energy her own, replenishing her own energy and creating a never-ending technique. With each sword being alive, it was simply to easy to keep her perfect defense forever, making the possible exhausting trial like a walk around the garden.

Renxue continued walked while all the swords were purified before reaching her. <2 people have entered the trial. Increasing the difficulty> Renxue grimaced as a suppression crossed over her body. Her spirit rings stopped shining and disappeared. She was unable to use any of her spirit skills!

Renxue had enormous strength and talent, a fact that usually made her relay too much in the strength of her spirit and spirit skills rather than techniques. Being suppressed the use of them greatly affected her overall strength. She would be able to use her Truth and domain, but she knew that she couldn't depend on them for it. They consumed too much spirit and mental power, making them impossible to keep for a long time, and unsuitable for this trial.

Renxue activated her own storage, a ring gifted by her grandfather. On her right hand a saber appeared, it was a completely normal-looking saber, if it wasn't for its golden blade. This wasn't any spirit bone, it was a simple saber, the only special was that after having it all this time, the metal of it mutated with her holy energy, becoming able to conduct her spirit energy. It was sharp and strong, but it lacked when compared with her 4th skill Holy Sword. She had it more like an ornament and keepsake.

Renxue clenched the saber. At that moment, in her mind appeared the image of a handsome white-haired man "Bai" it escaped from her mouth. This sword was the one used when they started sparring. She didn't have her 4th skill, so Bai gifted her sword to spar between both. Renxue had kept it all these years, not wanting to get rid of it. Her reminder of that time with her sword arts' improvement.

If it weren't for Bai, her sword technique would be null, only rely on her great strength and speed. It was thanks to him that she had trained greatly improving her foundation and control. If it wasn't for him, she was sure that she would be much weaker.

Renxue shooked her head, putting aside her nostalgic memories. She clenched her saber and prepared. Golden Aura surged from her saber, it was Sword Intent! Due to her overpowered spirit, she never had the need to practice the arts of the sword, as her own Truth could rival the strongest All Sword. Nevertheless, all the training with Bai made what she thought were unnecessary improvements, achieving even a Holy Sword Domain.

Renxue jumped forward, she ran across the corridor, her sword flowed exquisitely, each swung was perfected followed by another, reflecting all the swords that shoot towards her. With the sheer number of swords at all directions, it was impossible to evade them all with her technique, but she chose the best path, crossing by the rain swords, only letting them slice weak cuts that were instantly healed by her Holy Intent.

As she continued running, she was getting used to them. The swords followed an orderly pattern, they had cooperated to make not openings for their attacks, making it difficult for Renxue, but once she detected it, it became their weakness. She continued advancing, it would have been great that it had been easier but as she was getting used, more swords were accumulating and chasing against her creating an unstable equilibrium. She also discovered that unless she cut them, killing them, they would chase after her.

"Shing!" As she continued running, she could listen swords clashing beyond her position, the sound coming closer. This caused her to be worried, she must continue forwards, stopping would be the same as giving up, but at the same time, if in front of her there more swords that attacked her, she would be in trouble.

Finally, she saw a difference in the corridor, the corridor continued but there was some kind of door on one side. At the same time, from the other side of the corridor, she could see someone approaching her, for what it seemed he was also being chased by swords and was the cause of the clashing sounds. For what it seemed, they would arrive at the door at the same time.

Renxue continued running, finally recognizing the other person. "Bai!" shouted Renxue surprised, she had a difficult face, not knowing if she should show anger or joy, both emotions mixing in her mind.

For his part, Bai also had a difficult face, some conflicts in him, but he wasn't surprised by Renxue's presence. He already knew of her, seeing her surrounded by Spirit Hall's forces

Knowing that they were in a difficult situation, both decided to put their feeling aside. They looked at each other with determined eyes and nodded.

They continued running forward, Renxue focused her intent over her sword, a great golden aura surging from her as she thrust her sword forward. From Bai's swords Retaliation and Slaughter furiously surged. He crossed his swords and openly swung them.

Bai and Renxue crossed each other. Renxue's sword exploded in a golden aura, killing and reflecting the swords that were chasing Bai. Bai crossed his sword, a white and black tornado swallowing the swords chasing Renxue.

They looked at the door and instantly knew that before opening they should deal with the other swords. At this time all the years training together showed their rapport, they stepped back at the same time, back with back.

After both attacks, it didn't pass much time before the swords resumed their attack.

""Truce"" They said at the same time, a light smile escaping from their lips as both prepared to fight, their swords shining brightly.