Chapter 2041 The dragon’s assessment

　　This time, the branch thrown by Senior White smoothly landed on the ground and pointed toward their five o’clock.

　　Song Shuhang said, “Nice. Nobody messed with us this time.”

　　Although he said that, he was slightly disappointed. If the branch were blown up again, he would have proposed to Senior White to throw his real body instead to determine where to go, thinking that the effect might be better.

　　However, that did not happen, and the branch method worked, which was quite a disappointment.

　　Wait… I shouldn’t even have considered that as an option! Song Shuhang immediately dispelled the thought, sending the bold thought into the deepest depths of his mind, sealing it up with layers upon layers of seals so that it would never see the light of day again.

　　Staying alive was the most important thing! “Alright, let’s head in that direction.” Pavilion Master Chu’s strand of hair ran back to the top of Song Shuhang’s head, swaying with the wind.

　　Senior White picked up the branch and headed towards their five o’clock together with Song Shuhang and Sister White Dragon.

　　Song Shuhang dragged the toothless dog-like monster along with them.

　　The monster was still struggling, but it could not resist Song Shuhang with its strength. And after being sealed, its struggle was even more pointless.

　　Its claws left four deep marks on the ground while it was forcibly dragged away.

　　The monsters in the surroundings looked at Song Shuhang, Senior White, and Sister White Dragon, silently turning their heads and targeting other cultivators.

　　All of them were aware that these three were not to be messed with.

　　The combined strength of Sage White, White Dragon, and Tyrannical Song probably made up 90% of the total strength of the participants of the trial this time.

　　To be more precise, it was Sage White and White Dragon, both of whom had the word “White” in their names, that belonged to the ranks of those who must not be provoked. As for Tyrannical Song, he just happened to be together with the other two.

　　And so, Song Shuhang and his group got to leave behind the monster horde and move around without any obstructions.

　　Along the way, Song Shuhang tried to look for Sixteen and Daoist Turntable, but even after searching for so long, he could not find Sixteen.

　　As before, Sister White Dragon could lock onto Sixteen’s aura, but the trial ground was interfering with her senses, making it impossible for her to find her exact position.

　　Because of that, Song Shuhang had to temporarily give up on the idea. He could only hope to run into Sixteen in the next part of the trial.

　　After advancing about 10,000 meters, Senior White once again picked off a branch and threw it into the air.

　　The branch spun in the air before plunging straight into the ground.

　　Sister White Dragon asked curiously, “What does that mean?”

　　Song Shuhang pinched his chin and said, “Is it pointing down or up?”

　　“The branch’s youngest end should be the tip, so it’s pointing toward the sky, I guess,” Pavilion Master Chu’s strand of hair said

　　After a moment of thought, Senior White pulled out the branch and threw it in the air again.

　　The result was the same as before. The branch plunged into the ground, its tip pointing toward the sky.

　　Senior White looked up at the sky, but there was nothing there.

　　Sister White Dragon said, “Could it be that because the monster horde has not been dealt with, the passage that should be in the sky has not opened yet?”

　　Senior White smiled slightly and said, “Regardless, we can just head up there.”

　　He then stepped up into the air and flew upward.

　　Sister White Dragon followed right after him.

　　Song Shuhang tied down the dog-like monster before following them.

　　But after taking three steps into the air, Song Shuhang felt as if there was a large invisible hand pressing down on his head, trying to force him down.

　　With every step he took, the pressure grew stronger.

　　The black lotus beneath his feet cracked under the great force weighing down on his body.

　　The 66 steel holy apes were summoned again. They hovered above Song Shuhang’s head and raised their heads, looking upward.

　　Is this road to the sky also part of the trial?

　　But Senior White and Sister White Dragon don’t seem to be feeling the slightest bit of pressure as they fly upward…

　　Is this trial only for those who have practiced the (Holy Ape Dragon Power Technique)? Song Shuhang gritted his teeth and continued to move upward.

　　About a hundred steps ahead of him, Sister White Dragon and Senior White stopped.

　　The two turned their heads and looked at Song Shuhang

　　After Song Shuhang reached the 50th step, the pressure weighing down on him was much stronger than before. It was so strong that his head was almost sunk into his wooden body.

　　He could only make use of both of his arms and feet to push through. He even used the (Hair Growing Technique) to grow long hair and form some extra hands that could help support his head.

　　With great difficulty, he managed to reach Senior White and Sister White Dragon. “Have we arrived?”

　　“Yup.” Senior White reached out and pulled Song Shuhang up.

　　Sister White Dragon stretched out her small claw and swiped it in front of her.

　　Afterward, a “divine dragon” appeared out of nowhere in front of them.

　　The divine dragon seemed to be slumbering. Its body was coiled on itself, and there were faint traces of saliva at the corner of its mouth.

　　“Sure enough, after the ape kings, it’s the dragon’s turn to conduct an assessment.” Song Shuhang adjusted his breathing.

　　Now, how was this dragon going to assess him?

　　After some thought, Song Shuhang sent forward two of his hair-palms and pressed them on the dragon. The left hand used the (Secret Appraisal Technique) to check on the identity of the dragon, while the right hand used the (Saber-Nurturing Technique) to measure its limits.

　　Senior White: “…”

　　Sister White Dragon: “…”

　　As Song Shuhang’s hair-palms touched the dragon, its eyes opened wide.

　　The divine dragon opened its mouth and said, “Huh? You got here so soon? Is the level of the trial takers that high this time around?”

　　The divine dragon spoke in the language of dragons.

　　Fortunately, Sister White Dragon was with them and could help with the translation. Therefore, they had no need to worry about not understanding each other.

　　At this time, the two magical techniques that Song Shuhang had used took effect.

　　The (Secret Appraisal Technique) activated, and his left hair-hand shone brightly.

　　A faint, painful sensation emerged in Song Shuhang’s mind-the appraisal had failed.

　　It had been quite a long time since he last failed in using the secret appraisal technique.

　　Moreover, the price of the failure was very low. He did not even suffer a wound from using the technique.

　　This was the first time that Song Shuhang encountered such a situation.

　　Generally speaking, if the appraisal failed, it was due to him having no way to appraise the other party because of how powerful they were. If not that, it was because the price of the appraisal exceeded the limit that Song Shuhang could bear, resulting in the forced interruption of the technique.

　　We

　　In these two cases, even if the appraisal failed, the price that he would pay for using the technique was very high.

　　But this time, the cost was nil.

　　In the meantime, the (Saber-Nurturing Technique) also caused Song Shuhang’s right hand to shine brightly.

　　The huge divine dragon raised its head and let out a majestic roar.

　　Right after waking up, it had received a refreshing and rejuvenating massage. The divine dragon lowered its head and looked at Song Shuhang. Its eyes, which had been rather drowsy earlier, were now wide awake and filled with appreciation.

　　The divine dragon said, “Young trial taker, you aren’t bad.”

　　Sister White Dragon translated its words.

　　It seems that the divine dragon was very fond of the (Saber-Nurturing Technique).

　　Since you like it, it makes things a lot easier.

　　Song Shuhang’s long hair spread out and turned into twenty hands, which then went toward the divine dragon.

　　At the same time, the hands of his wooden body also pressed on the body of the divine dragon.

　　(Saber-Nurturing Technique) 22!

　　The divine dragon raised its head high up, and its body shone so brightly that it reminded one of a small sun.

　　After a while, the light subsided.

　　The divine dragon lowered its head to Song Shuhang and said, “Very good! Young trial taker, I’m very fond of you.”