Chapter 3708 — The Newcomer Rankings Trial

Though the destination was, like the Welcome Pavilion and the Spirit Jade Hall, a grand and imposing tower complex, the newcomers had not even drawn near before a killing intent and oppressive might such as they had never known struck them full in the face. The weaker ones among them actually staggered outright, nearly making public fools of themselves.

This show of force was exactly the same as their last visit to the Rear Mountain Hall, save that back then they had been cowed by the auras of three elders. This time there was no one at all in front of them—only an empty, magnificent tower.

Compared with the heavily guarded Spirit Jade Hall and Rear Mountain Hall, here one could not catch even the shadow of a single guard. Only the enormous plaque overhead proclaimed the supreme authority of this place: the Law Enforcement Hall.

The newcomers had naturally imagined the Law Enforcement Hall to be a place swarming with experts, its guards surely more numerous than those of the Spirit Jade Hall and the Rear Mountain Hall. Yet the scene before their eyes could hardly have differed more from their imaginings.

Not a single guard. Apart from the occasional expert with restrained aura hurrying through the corridors of the tower, one saw practically no one else at all.

Even so, the place made every newcomer tremble in their hearts for no discernible reason. It was as though, upon arriving here, every disguise and every mental defense had been stripped away in an instant, leaving no secret able to hide.

The legendary Law Enforcement Hall was indeed a place of unfathomable depths!

Wei Zhao could not help praising it inwardly. Even if they simply dumped the newcomers here and did nothing else, that in itself would already constitute a test of resistance to oppressive might.

And compared with the way true qi had been used to exert pressure back in the mortal realm, this kind of might was clearly more refined and more powerful. It had transcended the physical plane; it inflicted an irresistible torment even upon the mind. It was not something that could be offset by the true qi within one's body alone. Wei Zhao was certain that the vast majority of those present would not hold out for long before their minds collapsed.

"The Law Enforcement Hall, including the layout of all the towers around it, was from the very beginning of its construction naturally formed into an exceedingly powerful oppression array. Do you see that round raised platform in the middle of the plaza?"

Hu Yunfeng pointed at a spot not far ahead. "That is where criminals are executed, and also where this array's power is at its greatest. And you—you will undergo the first stage of your trial upon that platform."

Everyone looked where he pointed. Apart from being situated at the very center of the open plaza, the platform looked wholly ordinary, with nothing remarkable about it. Yet when they fixed their eyes upon it, a strange shudder ran through every heart at once, as though the very next moment they would be swallowed whole.

This place was dangerous indeed! To put so many newcomers who had not even succeeded in Foundation Establishment up there for a trial—could that really be safe? Anyone with even slightly weak resolve would probably be driven to mental collapse in short order, or even go mad on the spot!

As Wei Zhao was puzzling over this, Hu Yunfeng spoke: "In a moment I will specially invite several experts of the Law Enforcement Hall to operate the array from atop the platform. But do not misunderstand—I am not bringing them here to increase the difficulty of the trial. Quite the contrary: their task is to relieve the array's pressure on your behalf. Otherwise, not a single one of you present would be able to last the time of one stick of incense up there without coming to harm!"

Hu Yunfeng's words were no idle threat. If the oppression array of the Law Enforcement Hall were truly unleashed at full power, never mind a mere crowd of Heaven-rank, Great Perfection experts—even cultivators at the pinnacle of late Foundation Establishment, a full major realm above them, would be crushed until blood streamed from every orifice and they perished, with no chance of escape.

As matters stood, though the oppression array had not yet been fully activated, the pressure atop that round platform was still absolutely beyond what these newcomers could bear. Someone would have to operate the array to reduce the burden for them.

A short while later, Hu Yunfeng led the newcomers to the side of the round platform. Even before stepping onto it, everyone already felt the strain increase markedly. This was truly no place for ordinary people to linger.

No wonder people often said that once anyone entered the Law Enforcement Hall, no secret about them remained. The saying was somewhat exaggerated, but it was not far from the truth.

Think about it: however powerful an expert might be, under such oppression their mind was bound to grow weary. And the Law Enforcement Hall never lacked experts skilled in mental martial techniques. The slightest lapse would let them slip in through the gap, and so-called secrets would naturally cease to exist.

What Wei Zhao counted himself fortunate for was that today he had come merely to undergo the newcomer trial, not to appear as a prisoner. Otherwise, the secrets he carried really might have been exposed.

By now, the Law Enforcement Hall experts Hu Yunfeng had mentioned had arrived. To Wei Zhao's considerable surprise, he spotted two familiar faces among them.

One was Xu Lingchong. This fellow was no member of the Law Enforcement Hall at all; two days ago in the Rear Mountain Hall he had already schemed against Wei Zhao, and now here he was again, hovering about like a persistent ghost. No doubt he was cooking up some fresh villainy!

The other was Shangguan Lan'er, whom he had just met yesterday in the little grove—and, of course, her inseparable little Curly Bear.

Spotting Wei Zhao in the crowd, Curly Bear immediately gave a whining cry and tried to pounce on him, but Shangguan Lan'er held it back with all her might. Today was different from other days; the trial was about to begin, and she could not let Curly Bear disrupt Wei Zhao's state of mind.

What was more, she had only yesterday promised Wei Zhao that she would play along with his act. With so many people watching now, she naturally had to feign loathing for him—and certainly could not let Curly Bear go over and make nice with him.

Still, though Shangguan Lan'er's face showed utter disgust the moment her gaze fell on Wei Zhao, deep in her eyes lurked a clear warning and concern.

The reason she had come today was that Xu Lingchong had invited her.

After their earlier performance, Xu Lingchong was convinced she had completely fallen out with Wei Zhao. He had therefore made a point of inviting her to the Law Enforcement Hall to observe the newcomer trial, saying he would use the occasion to deal with Wei Zhao and win the fair lady's favor.

And with Young Master Xu's influence, even though he was no member of the Law Enforcement Hall, targeting Wei Zhao was a trifling matter. As it happened, among the Law Enforcement Hall experts Hu Yunfeng had summoned were acquaintances of his; a word to them to seize the chance and give Wei Zhao a thorough working-over was the work of a moment.

Shangguan Lan'er had originally had no interest whatsoever in a place as uncomfortable as the Law Enforcement Hall, but the moment she heard Xu Lingchong say he meant to deal with Wei Zhao, she could not help worrying, and so she had come along.