Chapter Twenty-Four: The Test of the Heavenly Garment King

Lu Han didn’t have time to resist before Li Hu threw him into the white curtain of light—though resistance would have been futile anyway.

"Iron Madman, Li Hu, you two had better pray I don’t make it out alive," Lu Han muttered, his expression dark. It was obvious this was just like entering the cave earlier: if there was trouble, Lu Han would walk ahead, becoming the pathfinder for Iron Madman and Li Hu.

"Where is this?" There was no stone chamber behind the curtain—what unfolded before him looked more like a village.

A narrow path led through the village; Lu Han stood at its entrance, surveying the scene. The village wasn’t large, perhaps a dozen households.

"How is this possible! There’s another world behind the curtain of light!" Lu Han stared, shocked by what he saw.

Just moments ago, he had been inside the cave, but stepping through the curtain, he found himself in a village. Everything around him felt utterly real.

Unable to make sense of it, Lu Han had no choice but to enter the village and ask around.

As he was about to step into the village, an old man appeared.

The elder, hair white as snow, dressed in a pale blue robe and leaning on a staff, came before Lu Han.

"You’ve arrived. Come with me," the old man said, his clouded eyes fixed on Lu Han.

"Um... Elder, do you know me?" Lu Han asked, puzzled. He didn’t know this man, but the elder didn’t respond—he simply turned and slowly walked into the village.

"Hey..." Lu Han hesitated, but then hurried after the old man. Since he was here, it was best to follow and figure things out.

As Lu Han followed the white-haired elder through the village, he noticed that every doorway had a woman and a child. The children played alone, while the women either hung laundry or sat quietly, watching the children.

Normally, when a stranger comes to a village, people would be curious—if not to ask, at least to look. But the women and children seemed oblivious to Lu Han’s arrival, continuing as if nothing had happened.

A cold sweat formed on Lu Han’s back. What was this place? Everyone seemed off, and there was an unsettling, eerie feeling in the air.

He quickened his pace, following the elder, intending to ask questions, but thought better of it and shook his head.

Soon they came to a small stone hut. Inside was a table, upon which rested a longsword and a scroll.

The white-haired elder sat beside the table.

"Since you’ve made it here, it means you’re qualified to receive this scroll," the elder said, his gaze settling quietly on Lu Han.

Lu Han’s heart raced with excitement. This was left behind by a King of the Earth—obtaining this scroll could guarantee him the status of a Lord at the very least, perhaps even a future King of the Earth.

"But before that, you must do one thing. Only then will I give you the scroll," the elder interrupted just as Lu Han was about to speak.

"Uh... Elder, what is it? If it’s within my power, I will do it," Lu Han replied. For a scroll left by a King of the Earth, he’d do anything—even ten tasks.

"The King of Heavenly Garments left this scroll, saying the world of warriors is cruel. To become stronger, you must first—survive! So you must be ruthless!" The elder’s expression shifted, his aged face now contorted with a hint of savagery.

He paused, then continued, "So, take this sword and kill all the women and children in the village. The scroll will be yours, and I’ll send you back to the cave."

Lu Han stared at the elder in disbelief. A strange village, a strange old man, and now such a bizarre demand.

Whoosh...

The sword on the table suddenly flew toward Lu Han.

"I wonder how that rascal will choose." In the cave, a translucent figure floated above a sapphire ring, stroking his beard as he spoke.

Looking in his direction, one could see Lu Han standing there, eyes shut, unmoving. There was no village, no elder.

Beside Lu Han, Li Hu and Iron Madman were in the same state.

"This King of Heavenly Garments somehow inherited an array master’s legacy—nearly extinct since antiquity. Only in that place can you still find array masters, even entire families." The old man sighed, thinking of that distant place. He wondered if he could ever return, shaking his head with a bitter smile. In his current state, he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on—why think so far ahead?

"The strength of a King of the Earth, a level three array master, and a few illusion stones make up this illusion array—even Lords wouldn’t know truth from falsehood, and Kings would need a while to discern it. Let’s see how those three choose."

Lu Han looked at the sword in his hand. For an instant, he nearly wavered—after all, the scroll was left by a King of the Earth, and gaining it could make him the next King of Heavenly Garments.

A King of the Earth was the pinnacle of even the Great Xia Empire.

"Han, the ancients said: ‘A true man knows what to do, and what not to do.’ Throughout life, we face many choices. In this cruel world of warriors, we cannot demand how others act, but we must hold ourselves to our own principles, judge matters for ourselves, and have discipline in our hearts."

The confusion in Lu Han’s eyes gradually cleared, as he recalled his father’s words.

"Yes, a true man knows what to do, and what not to do. Even if I slaughter those innocent women and children for the scroll, I’d never find peace."

Lu Han handed the sword back to the elder.

"Elder, I suppose I am not fated for this scroll. That King of the Earth speaks of seeking a pure heart. I don’t know exactly what that means, but if your test is as you say, then I have no respect for him. Farewell!"

Lu Han bowed and turned to leave the stone hut.

"Wait, without my guidance you cannot leave," the elder called as Lu Han turned to go.

"Though I am but a humble post-heaven warrior, I have my own principles. I cannot accept the favor of the esteemed King of the Earth!" Lu Han snorted and left without looking back.

As soon as he walked away, the scenery shifted. Lu Han’s eyes snapped open to see someone already watching him.

"Whoa! Old man, you nearly scared me to death!" Lu Han jumped, startled.

"I am no longer human," the old man replied seriously.

Lu Han was speechless.

He looked around—the stone chamber’s wall held a pillar, atop which sat a scroll. Iron Madman and Li Hu stood beside him, eyes closed, their expressions wild.

"Old man, what’s going on?" Lu Han grumbled. The old man had hidden in the ring when Lu Han was seized, acting as if nothing had happened. Now everyone was trapped here, and he sneaked out.

"Rascal, you’re lucky. You barely passed the King of the Earth’s test. The scroll on the pillar is your reward. As for them... whatever you encountered, they will encounter. This..."

"Boom boom boom..."

The old man was about to say more, but the chamber suddenly shook.

"Kid, this is bad! The stone room is collapsing. Grab the scroll and run!" The elder shrank back into the ring, which promptly fell into Lu Han’s arms.

Clutching the scroll, Lu Han felt the chamber quaking even harder.

Without hesitation, he dashed for the exit.

Iron Madman and Li Hu remained motionless, eyes shut, faces twisted in frenzy.

As soon as Lu Han stepped out through the curtain of light, the ring in his arms leapt forth, and in a flash, all the gold coins and herbs in the stone chamber vanished. The ring then chased after him.

Lu Han glanced back at the empty stone chamber, and his lips twitched. "That old man is a real miser!"

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