I Can See Through Everything

I Can See Through Everything

Lu Qing had unexpectedly received a sum of spirit stones, and his mood was naturally good.

Twenty thousand lower-grade spirit stones was no small amount. Since those two Trial Jade Tokens were of no use to him, being able to exchange them for spirit stones was pure profit.

On top of that, the storage artifacts of the three Golden Core Realm cultivators also each contained a supply of spirit stones. This replenished the funds Lu Qing had been lacking for some time.

Just as he finished putting them away, the valley ahead—shrouded in invisible spatial fluctuations—finally stirred.

The space twisted, and a figure emerged from within.

It was a man wearing a small ghost mask. His entire being radiated a chilling aura that made everyone present wary.

“Those wishing to participate in the trial, hold your Trial Jade Tokens and follow me inside. You have ten breaths of time. Anyone who fails to enter by then will lose their qualification and can roll back home.”

With that cold declaration, the ghost-masked man turned and disappeared into the valley.

The hidden experts in the forest were briefly stunned, then quickly rushed toward the valley, fearing that even a moment’s delay would disqualify them.

The Netherworld Palace’s trial was not held every year. Sometimes a decade might pass without one. Missing this chance meant waiting indefinitely.

Lu Qing also held his Trial Jade Token and followed the crowd toward the valley.

As he neared the entrance, the token in his hand lit up, enveloping him in light. The space ahead rippled like water.

Passing through the spatial fluctuation, a familiar sensation surged through Lu Qing’s heart. He immediately realized this was teleportation.

Sure enough, when his vision cleared, he found himself not in a valley but upon a desolate wasteland.

“So it was a ruse. That valley was merely a facade. The true trial grounds lie within this strange space, accessed through a teleportation array.”

Lu Qing silently observed his surroundings. He quickly determined that they were no longer within the Tianyuan Great World, but in a secret-space-like dimension.

Here, spiritual energy was thinner than in the Tianyuan Great World, the land barren and deathly silent. A heavy death energy lingered, attempting to invade their bodies.

The cultivators all turned pale, hastily circulating their Golden Cores to resist the death energy.

“This trial is simple.”

The ghost-masked man’s voice echoed once more. He now stood atop a steep peak, overlooking them all.

“Look at the Trial Jade Tokens in your hands. From this moment on, no matter the method—trickery, coercion, robbery, or outright slaughter—use every means at your disposal to seize the tokens of others.

You will remain in this space for three days.

When those three days end, the ten who have gathered the most tokens and survived until the last moment will pass the trial and become outer members of my Netherworld Palace.

The one who gathers the most tokens will receive a special reward from us.

Soon, your tokens will be activated, allowing them to sense one another.”

“Only ten can pass the trial?”

“Doesn’t this mean we’ll have to fight each other?”

“As expected, the Netherworld Palace’s trial was never meant to be easy!”

“If all the tokens can sense each other, then hiding is impossible!”

…

The crowd was shocked, then their gazes toward one another grew tense.

They knew this rule meant inevitable bloodshed among them.

Those with weaker cultivation in particular wore bitter expressions.

One unwilling Golden Core Realm cultivator shouted, “This is unfair! With such rules, aren’t we weaker cultivators destined to fail?”

“If you lack strength, you deserve elimination. Isn’t that only natural?” the ghost-masked man replied coldly. “Did you think our Netherworld Palace’s trial was child’s play?

If you know your limits, toss away your token and hide somewhere. Perhaps then you’ll survive until the trial ends.

Ah, one more thing. This time’s trial does not involve only you humans.

Cultivators from other continents, demons from the Demon Domain, and beasts from the Monster Domain are also within this space.

So, if you wish to pass, kill to your heart’s content! Hahaha…”

With his wild laughter, the man’s figure faded away.

His final words left everyone aghast.

“What? The demon beasts of the Monster Domain and the demons of the Demon Domain are also taking part?”

“Is the Netherworld Palace insane? Aren’t they afraid of angering all three races?”

“For mere outer member recruitment, to pit us against demons and monsters alike… utterly insane!”

…

The Golden Core cultivators erupted in alarm, some faces pale with fear.

Not only were they now forced to fight one another, but also the natural enemies of humanity—the demons.

The Monster Domain’s beast clans were one matter; they usually remained neutral toward humans.

But the Demon Domain was different. Demons and humans were blood-enemies, with millennia of hatred and no chance of coexistence.

Thrown together here, battle to the death was inevitable.

“Demons and monsters in the same trial?”

Lu Qing was equally surprised.

He had heard Daoist Wubao say before that the Netherworld Palace did not restrict its recruitment by race. Humans, monsters, demons, or other beings could all become outer members—so long as they passed the trial.

But to directly throw multiple races into the same secret space? That was rare.

Otherwise, the Golden Core cultivators around him would not be so shocked.

Buzz!

As the crowd stirred, the Trial Jade Tokens in their hands glowed, releasing invisible waves that spread outward.

“Hm?”

Lu Qing focused his divine soul into his token and was immediately stunned.

Within it, a virtual map appeared, dotted with countless white points—each one moving.

He quickly realized this map represented their current trial space, with each white point marking a token holder.

“So this is what the ghost-masked man meant by sensing one another.” Lu Qing’s eyes flickered with thought.

He also received a warning through the token:

The trialer must not block the token’s signal, must not let it stray more than three feet away, and must not store it within any spatial artifact.

Breaking these rules meant immediate disqualification.

“They’re forcing us to fight.”

Lu Qing understood the Netherworld Palace’s true intention. No tricks, no hiding until the end. Only slaughter and plunder.

The other Golden Core cultivators quickly grasped the same, their expressions darkening.

“This damned trial! I’m quitting. Do as you like!”

One cultivator suddenly hurled his token high, then transformed into a stream of light, fleeing far away.

He was only mid-stage Golden Core. With these rules, he had no chance. Survival was more important.

Before the stronger demons arrived, he intended to find a hidden place to endure the three days.

The others were first stunned, then realized his plan. Some even admired his decisiveness.

But others fixed their eyes on the discarded token.

Before it hit the ground, a giant Spiritual Power Hand shot out to seize it.

“Not so fast!”

A slash of blade energy cut it off.

Then several spells streaked forth—four or five people fighting for it at once.

These were the strongest Golden Core cultivators present, late-stage powerhouses whose techniques left the others no choice but to retreat.

As Lu Qing’s group fought, similar clashes broke out all across the trial space.

…

“Interesting. Humans and monsters all thrown into one trial?”

Far from Lu Qing, a handsome man with black horns, pale skin, and an elegant figure examined his token with a look of delight.

Around him, strange demons cowered in fear.

“That’s Cang Jue, the ninth son of the Demon Lord of Annihilation! Why is he here?”

“A Demon Lord’s son, joining a mere Netherworld Palace trial? Has he gone mad?”

“Cang Jue’s cultivation has already reached perfection of the Demon Core Realm. He could become a Demon General at any moment. Why appear here?”

“It’s over. Rumor says Cang Jue is crueler and more bloodthirsty than his father, the Demon Lord of Annihilation. He might kill us all!”

…

Boom!

Cang Jue suddenly extended a hand. An invisible force snatched up a pig-headed demon, suspending it before him.

“I think I heard you curse me in your heart?”

His narrow purple eyes gleamed coldly as he spoke.

“No! No, I would never dare! Spare me, Lord Cang Jue!”

The pig-headed demon trembled, sobbing, its saliva spraying.

Cang Jue’s gaze hardened. His grip tightened.

Cracks echoed. The demon’s massive body twisted like a rope, bones snapping.

Its screams faded into silence.

“Whether you cursed me or not, your ugly face alone is reason enough to die.”

He flung the corpse aside, plucking its token with a flick of his finger.

The surrounding demons watched in terror. That pig-headed demon had been strong—seventh-turn Demon Core Realm at least. Yet before Cang Jue, it was nothing more than a helpless chick.

As expected of a Demon Lord’s son. Even among Demon Core cultivators, his power was overwhelming.

When he turned his gaze upon the rest, their bodies shook. They knew escape meant certain death.

“You know what to do, don’t you?”

Cang Jue toyed with his token casually.

“Yes, Lord Cang Jue! This is my Trial Jade Token, please accept it.”

A horned demon knelt and offered its token.

“Good. You know your place.”

Cang Jue flicked it into his hand.

The others rushed to kneel, surrendering theirs as well.

Collecting them all, Cang Jue gazed into the distance, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

“Now… it’s your turn.”