After thirty minutes of deep pondering, Aoyama was abruptly jolted awake by a loud clang, like steel striking metal.
"God… who did that?!" Aoyama clutched his cheek. (Feels like a bag of rice just hit me… how did a steel bar even fly this high? Some weird aura residue on it too… better not jump to conclusions.)
"Hahaha! It's me, silly!" Elena called out.
"Why did you do that?" Aoyama groaned.
Elena's cheeks flushed red as she stammered: "Well… elder sibling Aoyama, a little while ago, a metal bar flew past us. I had no clue who threw it. At first, it fell to one side, so I got up to check on the others—especially Eleanor, who was crying to see you. Too risky to let her approach you directly… and then, the metal bar flew straight up, paused midair like time froze, and descended slowly. I grabbed it and… well… nothing seemed to wake you. So I… hehe… tried tapping you with the bar… I even—no, no, I can't say it! Elder sibling is too attractive… maybe he likes someone… perhaps me… hihihi!"
Daydreaming stops
"And then… you finally woke up and completely stunned me!"
"Ahhh, my apologies," Aoyama said, rubbing his head. "I was so absorbed in thought that I couldn't hear anything else. Except actual contact. I detected some energy, but that metal bar… not it. Where was it even thrown from?"
Previously, at the trial location…
Announcer: "Here we go with the final stage of the event! The mightiest disciple has been placed at the very end to conclude the annual Sect celebration, held by the Patriarch herself. Let us welcome the first disciple of the 4th Elder, to attempt the trial crafted by Elder Daiyu herself! Will he shine like gold, or falter like a drunken duck? The winner earns incredible rewards, plus a chance to be promoted to Elite Disciple!"
Crowds erupted in cheers
"Li Jiao Fan!! Li Jiao Fan!! So handsome! So strong! Go!!"
Li Jiao Fan bowed elegantly, a confident sneer on his face. "Thank you, everyone! Greetings, Master! I am honored to participate in this trial!"
Crowds continued cheering
Announcer: "Next, the so-called trash disciple of LieShen Sect: Li Xiao Wang!"
Crowd boos, laughter, and thrown trash
"Look, the number one trash! Hahaha!"
Li Xiao Wang's eyes narrowed. (Someday… I'll crush them all. First, I pass this trial. Mid-Level Foundation Building… check. Herbs, martial skills, alchemy books… thanks to the Elder's kindness. Past grudges aside, focus first! Divine-Soul Extension Pill, here I come!)
Li Jiao Fan sneered, "What's trash doing here? Step aside!"
Li Xiao Wang ignored him and calmly stepped onto the platform.
"Out of the way, trash!" Li Jiao Fan shoved him toward the lava pit.
(Stay focused… grudge later. Time is ticking…) Li Xiao Wang thought.
Li Xiao Wang passed the first three tests with ease, reaching the fourth: throwing metal rods using spiritual energy.
"This trash can lift 10,000 kg combined?!" a disciple whispered.
"Cheating, obviously! Pills or talismans… he can't have reached Mid-Level Foundation without stealing resources!" another exclaimed.
Li Xiao Wang focused, infused his dantian with energy, and hurled the metal rod. 5,000 kg soared 22 miles (40,787 meters) in ten minutes.
"Holy crap! Even a pill couldn't do that!"
"This is nothing compared to Li Jiao Fan!"
(These fools think I cheated… the cultivation technique I trained in is just that overpowered! Hahaha… thank whoever left it in the library… now, let's finish this trial.)
The Patriarch's aura then silenced the crowd: "Enough! Continue the trial. Stop your bickering or face a thousand lashes!"
Back to Aoyama:
"Use [Nexus of The First God of Mind] to detect the aura of this location," he muttered.
Ding
[System Alert] Skill [Nexus of The First God of Mind] [Astral Clairvoyance] activated.
(Oh gods… nausea… breathe in, breathe out… okay, first-time jitters. Please don't let me accidentally float into a tree or someone's forehead… that would be awkward…)
Aoyama hovered invisibly above the crowd, scanning. He spotted Li Xiao Wang moving through the trial course. A mischievous grin spread across his face. Time for a little experiment.
He poked Li Xiao Wang lightly on the forehead.
"Ouch! Who did that?!" Li Xiao Wang exclaimed, rubbing his head.
Immediately, his vision wobbled, outlines of the world shimmering like reality itself hiccupped. Colors danced, doubled, and blinked, spiritual form? "What… is happening to me?!"
Aoyama hovered casually, trying not to laugh. (Oh, this is priceless… he looks like he's trying to read a book through a kaleidoscope. Honestly, if he tries to punch me right now, he'll just punch air. Cosmic justice!)
"Relax. Just a little skill called Nexus" Aoyama said. "Think of it as… cosmic poke meets astral projection. Congratulations, you just got a sneak peek into the Astral Realm. Nice to meet you, I'm Aoyama."
Li Xiao Wang blinked, wide-eyed but surprisingly composed.
"And you are?" Aoyama asked, still smirking.
"Li Xiao Wang… or Xiao Xiao, Xiao, Wang… Wang Wang," he muttered shyly, like he had rehearsed this for every awkward family reunion.
"Like an ambulance? Wang Wang Wang Wang! Just kidding," Aoyama said aloud, barely holding back laughter.
"What's an ambulance?" Li Xiao Wang asked innocently.
(Oh gods… he actually doesn't know what an ambulance is… should I explain? Nah, let him live a little. Ignorance is hilarious sometimes.)
"You'll find out someday… maybe. Anyway, nice meeting you! I'll be going now. If fate allows, we might meet again. And who knows, I might even help your family."
With a flick of his hand, Aoyama vanished entirely.
(Hah… gone before he even realizes the multiverse just gave him a friendly nudge. I should do this more often… or maybe not, his brain might explode if I poke him again.)
Back in his body, Li Xiao Wang's mind raced, a mix of awe and caution. "So that senior can move through the air and senses like a wandering spirit… If he's the type to act like this, then any word from him isn't ordinary. I better not treat this lightly… or I might end up crushed before even knowing it."
Meanwhile, somewhere across the arena:
"Li Xiao Wang!!! Dieee!" Li Jiao Fan bellowed, fists clenching, utterly unaware that his would-be target had just been given a front-row seat to astral chaos.
(Aoyama internally: Oh, this is going to be fun… Li Jiao Fan is about to meet someone he literally cannot touch. Cosmic irony at its finest.)