Su Xing turned her head and found that beside her was someone she didn’t recognize.
She could tell by the voice that this was Apollo, but Apollo didn’t look anything like the person she knew.
He wasn’t in his usual Nu Zha disguise, nor did he look like he did in the art gallery.
Apollo was wearing a loose-fitting robe of gold and white, embroidered with intricate patterns.
A golden mask covered his face, revealing only his golden eyes.
His hair was a cascade of golden curls, reaching just to his shoulders.
Noticing Su Xing’s gaze, Apollo generously spread his arms, showing off his appearance without reservation.
But Su Xing only glanced at him for a couple of seconds before withdrawing her gaze, scooping the tense little wild wolf into her arms, and quickly crouching down to check on her companions.
All three of them were still unconscious, but otherwise unharmed.
Su Xing gently nudged them, and one by one, they woke up groggily.
“Ugh… Where are we?”
Su Xing helped each of them up and said, “We should be in the place where the Inspiration Brush’s trial takes place. I don’t know if the four of us count as one person, or four separate people.”
Kaka was the most energetic.
With a vigorous blink, Kaka was already back to being lively and bouncy: “It doesn’t matter! Whether we count as one or four, we definitely have the advantage in numbers!”
Apollo chuckled, as if mocking his naivety.
“Such an adorable child. But you should know, having more people isn’t really an advantage here with me.”
He was undoubtedly telling the truth.
Although Su Xing didn’t know his identity or his true strength, she sensed an overwhelming aura of danger radiating from Apollo.
Years of wandering the jianghu had made Su Xing extremely sensitive to danger.
In fact, as an assassin, Evangel felt the same way.
From Apollo, he sensed a suffocating killing intent—the kind that only someone who had slaughtered tens of thousands and walked a road of blood could accumulate.
Up to this moment, Apollo hadn’t even revealed what his phantom spirit was.
Just by his presence alone, Su Xing and Evangel already felt extreme peril.
Facing such a Grand Phantom Spirit Master, could they really win?
Even the usually bold Kaka was starting to doubt.
As a natural type, he had animal-like instincts.
The man before him made him instinctively want to shrink back, like a cub meeting its natural predator.
***
“Welcome to my world, candidates,” suddenly, an old man appeared before them.
His hairstyle was very peculiar—one side black, the other white, and his beard the same, half black and half white.
He wore clothes that were also half black and half white, making it seem as though his entire being was composed of these two colors.
Apollo casually revealed the truth: “You are the Inspiration Brush.”
Although it sounded like a question, his tone was one of certainty.
The old man smiled.
“Yes, I am the Inspiration Brush.”
“What… How is that possible?”
Quinn exclaimed, pushing up his glasses.
“The books say that non-human phantom spirits can’t take human form. Isn’t your original form a calligraphy brush?”
“Hah!”
Apollo wasn’t the least bit surprised by the Inspiration Brush’s anomaly, and sneered, “Newbies, as expected. Didn’t you know? What’s written in the textbooks is always for the uninitiated. The knowledge about phantom spirits you’ve learned will all be overturned as you grow stronger.”
Su Xing was also shocked.
Her understanding was the same as Quinn’s—phantom spirits shouldn’t be able to take human form.
But the Inspiration Brush had clearly surpassed her expectations.
How could a non-human phantom spirit really cultivate a human form!
Kaka suddenly thought of something and looked at his own little dolphin with hopeful eyes: “Xiao Lan! Does this mean you could also cultivate a human form? Ooh, I’m really looking forward to it!”
Evangel gave him a speechless look.
“Don’t get your hopes up. There must be some special method to take human form.”
Watching their antics, Apollo burst out laughing, as if he was truly amused.
“Kaka, was it? You really are interesting. Since you’re so amusing and have a powerful background, I can make an exception and invite you to join the Elite Program. What do you say? Tempted?”
If Kaka agreed, he wouldn’t be Kaka.
“I’m not even the least bit tempted!” he said seriously.
“I’m not joining you guys.”
Apollo shrugged.
“Tsk, what a shame. You just missed out on a chance to become truly powerful.”
After watching the commotion, the Inspiration Brush took the initiative to explain, “This body is one I painted for myself, so it’s in human form.”
So that’s how it is!
Su Xing suddenly understood.
Some things drawn by the Inspiration Brush could become real, so it was only natural for it to draw itself a body.
As expected, not all phantom spirits could cultivate human forms, but it seemed that as long as one became strong enough, there would always be a way.
Apollo grew impatient.
“Get on with the trial already. I don’t want to waste time here.”
Even when interrupted like this, the Inspiration Brush wasn’t angry at all.
He clearly knew why everyone was here.
With a wave of his hand, a road appeared behind him, leading to a bustling small town in the distance.
“This is the Hundred Arts Town. You will need to learn a craft from a person I designate, for a period of one month. Of course, the flow of time in the town is different from outside. While you spend a month here, only three days will pass outside.”
Once you have mastered your craft and gained approval, you may come find me and tell me what you think the real test is.
The first person to answer correctly will become my next host.”
“Wait, I have a question!”
Su Xing raised her hand.
“Did the mayor also complete this trial?”
Although the trial hadn’t started yet, from what she’d seen so far, she absolutely didn’t think it would be easy.
Did the mayor really pass the trial?
She was doubtful.
The Inspiration Brush was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting Su Xing to ask this.
He pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
“Ah, he didn’t. But since he has West Sero’s blood, he could become my host directly.”
So he took a shortcut.
Su Xing felt something was off, but didn’t dwell on it.
She nodded and asked, “After one of us becomes your host, what rights and limitations will we have?”
The old man answered carelessly, “All my abilities can be used by my host. And since you’re becoming my host by passing the trial, unless the host dies, I won’t open another trial.”
At these words, Su Xing and the others’ expressions changed.
This rule was great for the strong, but for those of them who were weak, it was practically a death sentence.
Even if they managed to outsmart Apollo and become the new host of the Inspiration Brush, they’d always have to be on guard against Apollo’s assassination attempts.
None of them believed that after failing this time, Apollo would give up on the Inspiration Brush.
Turning to look, Apollo was as carefree as ever, watching them with a faint, mocking smile.
“So? Are you going to give up?”
Evangel’s face darkened.
“At this rate, even if we pass the trial, it’ll all be for nothing!”
Hearing his concern, the Inspiration Brush comforted them, “Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be afraid of. If my host is killed, I’ll seal myself away and go into exile.”
At these words, Su Xing and the others breathed a sigh of relief, while Apollo snorted in displeasure.
“How pointless. But it doesn’t matter, victory will always belong to the gods.”
Quinn asked respectfully, “May I ask if you could give us a hint about the content of the trial?”
The Inspiration Brush stroked his beard.
“It’s just learning a craft in town, there’s no danger. What I can tell you is, as long as you complete the course, you’ll definitely gain something. West Sero is just that kind-hearted.”
The Inspiration Brush smiled warmly and waved his sleeve.
Arrows appeared in front of each person.
“These will guide you to your respective trial locations. Just follow them. Remember, you cannot accept help from other candidates during the trial. Anyone who breaks the rule will be immediately eliminated.”
The Inspiration Brush had clearly noticed that Su Xing’s group of four were working together, so he added this rule for fairness.
Once he finished speaking, he vanished from sight.
Apollo was the first to stride away, quickly outpacing everyone else.
The remaining four exchanged glances.
Kaka extended a hand, palm up.
Su Xing immediately caught on and placed her hand on top of his.
Quinn followed suit.
Evangel looked very reluctant, but still, his actions betrayed him; he put his hand on top, turning his head away as if refusing to look.
Just as Kaka was about to raise his hand, the little Wind Lord being held by Su Xing also put a paw on top of Evangel’s, as if to say, “Let’s all cheer up together.”
Seeing Wind Lord’s action, Su Xing smiled and said, “Summon your phantom spirits too. We’re all companions, so of course we have to cheer together.”
Kaka, excited, released Xiao Lan.
Xiao Lan hesitated, flapping her fins, but finally chose to place a fin on the wild fox’s paw.
Quinn summoned Mei Qin, who had no vines, so she lightly floated over a petal.
Finally, Evangel, whose phantom spirit had no hands, simply put his own body on the pile.
Evangel looked like he couldn’t bear to watch, but didn’t stop it.
Kaka laughed and raised his hand, and the four people and four phantom spirits all lifted their hands together: “Let’s do our best!”
Following the arrows, they quickly reached the small town.
The arrows above each of their heads began to point in different directions.
Without much fuss, the four went their separate ways.
Following the arrow, Su Xing arrived at a stone yard.
The stone yard was in a valley, surrounded by rubble and giant stones several people tall.
Perhaps because it was in a valley, the wind was strong.
Su Xing raised a hand to shield her face from the wind and trudged forward with difficulty.
Finally, at the end of the valley, she saw a stone house nestled against the mountain.
As soon as the stone house appeared, the arrow disappeared.
Su Xing immediately understood that this was where her trial would take place.
She wondered what kind of test it would be, hoping it wouldn’t be too difficult.
First impressions are important.
Su Xing tidied her windblown hair and clothes, took a deep breath, and walked up to knock on the stone door.