The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

"What the hell is that?!"

Hong Yuan reacted faster than she thought, letting out a sharp shout.

The giant axe cleaved through the wind and snow, bringing immense force as it cleaved down towards the tortoise head.

The giant axe was still several meters away from the tortoise shell when the runes on the shell lit up on their own.

An invisible force surged upwards, and Hong Yuan felt a tremendous force crash into the axe. She was shaken back several steps, and her arm went numb.

The tiger's mouth holding the axe almost split open.

"stop!"

Yin Chen took a step forward and placed his arm across Hong Yuan's front.

His face was ashen as he stared intently at the giant tortoise.

The opponent remained completely still, rendering Hong Yuan's all-out attack futile. This was something they, at least he and Hong Yuan, could not handle.

It's up to you now, Boss Chen!

A magnetic voice rang out across the ice field.

The volume wasn't loud, but it drowned out the wind and clearly reached the ears of the three people.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The giant tortoise's gaze swept over the faces of the still-shaken Hong Yuan and the wary Yin Chen.

The final image focuses on the ever-silent Chen Guan.

"The one who bears the mark of Xuanwu, you have finally arrived."

Xuanwu Mark?

These four words made Yin Chen's breath catch in his throat, and he abruptly turned to Chen Guan.

It turns out that there was a secret hidden on Chen Guan's body that he had never seen.

He forcefully suppressed his turbulent thoughts and asked in a steady voice, "Who are you, sir? Why are you waiting here?"

The giant tortoise ignored Yin Chen's question.

Those ancient eyes were fixed solely on the coffin, awaiting its response.

Its voice rang out again, its tone carrying a timeless serenity.

"My name is Wu Xuan, and I am the guardian of this place. This place is the Xuanwu Trial Ground. Only those who pass the trial can glimpse the secrets of Xuanwu."

It slowly said, "I can lead you to the Xuanwu Pagoda, but the pagoda is dangerous, and you are responsible for your own life and death."

"The Xuanwu Tower..."

Yin Chen pondered the name.

My heart was pounding like a drum in my chest.

Xuanwu, that's a sacred beast that only exists in mythological scrolls.

For some reason, he felt a strange tremor over the name, as if the tower had some connection to him.

Chen Guan finally shifted his gaze from the back armor covered with ancient runes and met Wu Xuan's eyes.

Although he didn't know what the Xuanwu Mark mentioned by Wu Xuan was, the mention of the Four Divine Beasts always made people think of something else.

Therefore, he was determined to undergo this trial.

He looked back at Wu Xuan: "Please lead the way, senior."

A faint glimmer appeared in Wu Xuan's usually calm and unwavering eyes.

Its massive body began to turn, eventually turning its back to the three people.

As it moved, a deafening roar, like an earthquake, echoed from the distant snow-capped mountains.

A rift valley appeared out of nowhere in the center of the mountain and continued to expand to both sides.

Deep within the rift valley, a colossal, jet-black tower bursts through the earth's crust, rising steadily upwards.

The spire disappeared into the leaden-gray clouds.

That is the Xuanwu Pagoda.

Chen Guan looked up at the giant tower.

A sense of awe arose spontaneously, and even my fingertips felt a little hot.

Yin Chen and Hong Yuan behind him stood frozen in place.

Faced with this miraculous sight, I even forgot to breathe.

"You will remain here." Wu Xuan's voice was deep and resonant as he pointed at Yin Chen.

Yin Chen swayed slightly, his silver hair fluttering in the biting wind. He wanted to follow Chen Guan, but felt an invisible force binding him tightly.

He looked up and met Wu Xuan's gaze. His eyes, weathered by time, were calm and unwavering, revealing not a trace of emotion.

"You are the same." Wu Xuan's gaze turned to Hong Yuan.

Hongyuan gripped the giant axe tightly, her brows furrowed with resentment. She hesitated, as an immense force pressed down on her, binding her tightly, making it difficult for her to even move her fingertips.

"I will grant you your own opportunities." Wu Xuan's voice reverberated across the icy plains, its power leaving no room for argument.

"This is part of the Xuanwu Trial; only those who pass it can glimpse a glimpse of heavenly secrets."

[Here it comes! Xiao An isn't in this episode?]

[It feels like ages since we last saw Chen Guan.]

What is the Xuanwu Trial? And is the working tiger back at work again?

[Definitely. Tiger just got back from Long Ao's place and is here to mess with Chen Guan again.]

Chen Guan did not look back. Seeing the familiar barrage of comments, he turned and stepped into the tower gate. Wu Xuan did not follow, and the tower gate closed.

Inside the tower gate, the light instantly turned dim, a stark contrast to the leaden-gray sky over the ice field.

Beneath my feet was no longer hard ice, but cold, smooth stone slabs. The whispers of an epic tale echoed through the air, and the stone walls were covered with obscure runes, each stroke containing unfathomable power.

Chen Guan did not act rashly; he stopped and looked around. The space inside the tower far exceeded his expectations.

The towering dome disappeared into the darkness, stretching as far as the eye could see. He took out the fragment that the white tiger had given him from his storage ring.

The scalding heat from the fragment's touch made Chen Guan realize that the warmth he had felt on his fingertips earlier was not an illusion, but rather the fault of this fragment.

It began to tremble slightly, emitting a faint hum, a sound that resonated strangely with the tower.

On the fragment, the originally dim patterns have now come back to life, emitting a faint glow that points forward.

Chen Guan's gaze followed the direction of the fragment to a deep corridor, where the runes on the stone walls on both sides became increasingly dense.

Without hesitation, he collected the fragments and walked along the corridor. He pondered to himself, "These fragments are the White Tiger's communication device, and they really are related to the Xuanwu Tower."

It can't be like what the comments said, that he's going to work... or is the White Tiger coming?

At the end of the corridor, a huge circular stone chamber came into view. In the center of the chamber, the light was dim, and the runes on the surrounding stone walls flickered, emitting a dazzling light.

Chen Guan stopped in his tracks, and a sudden realization dawned on him: this was the initial hurdle of the trial.

The light distorted more and more violently, eventually coalescing into a vast, boundless wilderness.

In the wilderness, the wind howled and yellow sand filled the sky.

In the distance, the ruins of ancient cities stretch out in the distance. Here, the extreme cold is completely different from that of the icy plains. The scorching air seems to be able to scorch away all life.

[Illusions? Isn't that my forte, Brother Coffin?]

[Who are you looking down on upstairs? When has Senju Kaname ever had a weakness?]

This illusion is so realistic! Someone turned on my sensory sharing feature. It's not only hot, but I also feel suffocated. Sorry, I wore my sweater inside out.

Chen Guan didn't move for the time being. He observed his surroundings as the strong wind whipped up sand and dust, obscuring his vision.

His senses gradually expanded, and he realized that no matter how fierce the wind and sand were, the sand remained unchanged, just like a texture.

Although the ancient city in the distance is in ruins, the architectural style and degree of damage of each building are surprisingly consistent, which cannot be the work of nature.

He walked toward the nearest ruined ancient city. On the city wall, ancient runes appeared and disappeared. He couldn't understand them; his understanding of the world was still not deep enough.

At this point, Chen Guan couldn't help but miss Su Yuehe. If she were here, she probably could understand these strange scribblings.

Unfortunately, he's not a summoner, so he can't summon allies with a single click.

As he approached, Chen Guan reached out and gently touched it. The touch was cool, but not solid rock. He closed his eyes and slowly let his spiritual energy seep in.

He could sense the flow deep within the illusion.

The illusions attempted to erode his mind, constructing images in his head, including his original body, the Guiyuan Group, An Changqing, and even his ordinary life on Earth.

The illusion attempts to amplify his fear, his resentment, and his desires.

Chen Guan's expression remained unchanged.

Deep in his heart, he did indeed harbor anxieties about his true form and a thirst for power.

But he will not be enslaved by emotions; what the illusion presents is merely his past, his concerns, and his present.

It could not shake its own heart.