"Then you will not continue."

  "..."

  I see now. You’re just an artificial idiot, aren’t you?

  "And if I continue? What do I gain for winning? And what happens if I lose?"

  "If you win, you continue the challenge," the black-and-white-eyed youth replied coldly.

  Han was speechless. Yep, definitely an artificial idiot.

  "If you lose, you will receive a reward and be sent out of the Ascension Hall."

  Oh? That wasn’t bad.

  "However, you will never be allowed to step into the Heavenly Fate Sect again—unless granted special permission by an elder."

  "..." Yeah, that part was not good.

  Artificial idiot, wake up! The Heavenly Fate Sect has been gone for thousands of years!

  There are no elders left!

  "I decline to continue the challenge," Han stated firmly.

  He wasn’t stupid—his opponent was now at the Great Organ Tempering Realm, and he couldn’t use his most destructive techniques here.

  One wrong move, and he would permanently lose access to the Heavenly Fate Sect.

  The Boundless Sky Ruins held too many secrets. Han was deeply intrigued and might return one day.

  Getting himself permanently barred today? That would be a massive loss.

  Black-and-White Brother, you may be an idiot, but I am not.

  One should always leave a path for the future.

  Black-and-White Brother, I’ve already killed you countless times today—I’ll let you off this once. No need to thank me.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  —

  The gatekeeper nodded and announced:

  "The seeker of the Dao has passed the Eighth Trial of Martial Arts and forfeited the Ninth Trial."

  "Would you like to begin the Trial of the Soul?"

  For those who practiced both martial arts and soul cultivation, the Ascension Hall would test both aspects accordingly.

  This was information Yun Yun had already shared beforehand.

  Just like before, soul-related techniques would be the only ones allowed in this trial.

  —

  "Before the trial begins, may I ask two questions?" Han inquired.

  "How many trials are there in the Martial Arts Test?"

  If he ever returned, he might as well try to clear the entire challenge.

  "If you are capable, you may fight all the way to the Ascension Gate."

  Han fell silent.

  Alright, never mind.

  Still, he was tempted to ask—could they just summon the opponent from the Ascension Gate right now?

  Even if he lost by a single move, it would be worth it.

  Then, when he left this place, he could proudly proclaim:

  "Even against an immortal, he could only beat me by a single strike!"

  Not a move more!

  But Han ultimately refrained—he wasn’t trying to get himself obliterated.

  —

  "Are there stronger opponents within the same realm?" Han asked.

  Were the gatekeepers strong?

  Certainly.

  But to Han, their strength was simply a product of their cultivation realm.

  If they were on equal footing—no, if he merely broke through to the Organ Tempering Realm—he wouldn’t hesitate to challenge the Ninth Trial and beat this artificial idiot into scrap metal.

  These gatekeepers were no different from the martial artists outside—utterly unremarkable in his eyes.

  A sect once renowned for being invincible, and this was all their trial could offer? Han found that hard to believe.

  Surely, the Ascension Hall had more to it than this.

  —

  "Do you wish to attempt the Martial Prodigy Trial or the Martial Immortal Seed Trial?"

  "Failing these trials carries no penalty."

  Han was surprised. So there was more?

  Then what he had just gone through was merely the standard test?

  Yun Yun never mentioned this!

  Heavenly Fate Sect, you sneaky bastards.

  "I accept!"

  Han didn’t hesitate. With no risks involved, he was eager to see what a true genius or immortal seed of a grand sect was capable of.

  —

  "Contacting the Ascension Hall’s artifact spirit to initiate the Martial Prodigy Trial..."

  "Connection failed."

  Han suddenly had a bad feeling.

  "Contacting the elders of the Ascension Hall..."

  "Connection failed."

  "Contacting the sect’s prodigies..."

  "Connection failed."

  The black-and-white-eyed guardian tried reaching numerous entities, yet none responded.

  Han went from frowning to sighing.

  As expected—an artificial idiot.

  The Heavenly Fate Sect was in ruins. Who did you think you were going to contact?

  —

  "Unable to initiate the Martial Prodigy Trial or the Martial Immortal Seed Trial."

  Han was unsurprised.

  "My bad, Black-and-White Brother. I asked for too much."

  With that, he turned his attention to the next trial.

  "Let's begin the Trial of the Soul."