"The trials you both received are actually tests bestowed by a god," Zhu Ziyang said seriously, his tone deep and solemn.
"A trial from... a god?!" Jiang Nannan and Zhang Lexuan exchanged looks, shock and confusion written all over their faces.
"Ziyang, the god you're talking about — is it the kind of god we know of?" Zhang Lexuan's voice trembled slightly.
"Yes, just like the Sea God we know," Zhu Ziyang nodded. "The one who gave you the trials should be called the Goddess of Moonlight."
"Goddess of Moonlight?" Zhang Lexuan murmured. Though still unsure, a look of realization dawned on her face. "A god connected to the moon?"
"Exactly," Zhu Ziyang confirmed. "While she isn't literally the Goddess of the Moon, she can channel the moon's power. The so-called Silver Moon Goddess worshipped in the Sun-Moon Empire is, in fact, this Goddess of Moonlight."
"Oh please, let's talk about that Goddess of Moonlight stuff later," Jiang Nannan interrupted his build-up. "Brother, can you just explain what this god trial is actually for?"
"Fair enough," Zhu Ziyang thought for a moment and said, "God trials have two main purposes. One is to bestow blessings upon believers. The other, and more important one, is to select a successor.
"Blessings are common, but choosing an heir is the true intent of these trials. As Elder Xu said before, god trials are ranked from White, Yellow, Purple, Black, and Red. Sister Lexuan received a Red-level Eight Trial — that's the highest among all standard trials and usually reserved for high priests or priestesses."
"But Nannan's golden trial is different. That's what we call a Divine-Level Nine Trial, or more precisely, the Moonlight Nine Trials. If Nannan completes all nine, she will inherit the divine mantle of the Goddess of Moonlight, transcend mortality, ascend to the divine realm, and become an eternal god!"
"So, future Goddess of Moonlight Jiang Nannan — and her High Priestess Zhang Lexuan — are you both ready?"
"Wait, what?!" Both Jiang Nannan and Zhang Lexuan stared at him, jaws dropped, their expressions filled with disbelief and shock.
"Now you understand what it means to undertake a divine trial," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"You mean... I could become a god? Like one of the original Seven Shrek Monsters from ten thousand years ago?" Jiang Nannan's voice was dazed and hesitant — clearly overwhelmed by the revelation.
"Yes," Zhu Ziyang replied with certainty.
But Jiang Nannan didn't seem as happy as one might expect. A trace of concern appeared on her delicate face. She looked like she wanted to say something, but held back.
"Ziyang, do you know all of this because you also received a divine inheritance like Nannan?" Zhang Lexuan caught the hesitation in Jiang Nannan's heart. Being more mature, she was initially shocked for only a moment before accepting what Zhu Ziyang had said. Beyond a trace of envy, she was simply overjoyed. To ease Nannan's worries and ask her own question, she turned to Zhu Ziyang.
"Sister Lexuan is as sharp as ever," Zhu Ziyang replied with a grin. "Yes, I too received a god's inheritance. In fact, I've already completed three trials and am currently working on the fourth."
"I see," Zhang Lexuan nodded thoughtfully. Then, a flash of realization crossed her face and she said with surprise, "So... Elder Mu's words back then were about you!"
"Well, not entirely," Zhu Ziyang laughed but didn't deny it.
"Brother, when you brought Sister Xiaotao and me to the Soul Arena, was that for your divine trial too?" Jiang Nannan asked, piecing things together.
"Hehe, just something I did on the side," Zhu Ziyang said with a chuckle. "Nannan, Sister Lexuan — from now on, you should focus more on your trials. The rewards from divine assessments are extraordinary. What Elder Xu mentioned about soul power increases is the most basic benefit. There are even greater ones like soul ring upgrades, god-bestowed rings, soul bones, and even martial soul evolution."
"Got it!" Zhang Lexuan and Jiang Nannan immediately nodded in agreement.
"Oh, right — Nannan," Zhu Ziyang warned, "don't tell anyone else about the Moonlight Nine Trials. It's important we keep our divine inheritances hidden until we're strong enough to protect ourselves."
"Mm! I understand," Jiang Nannan nodded firmly. She had already decided not to tell anyone about her divine trials.
"Ziyang, Nannan, I'll keep it a secret," Zhang Lexuan added seriously. "If I ever reveal either of your secrets, may I be struck down by heavenly thunder..."
"Sister Lexuan, we believe you," Zhu Ziyang quickly cut her off. "Both of your divine trials come from the same god — the Goddess of Moonlight. That means the contents will be very similar. And since you'll be staying together for years to come, it's best if you work through the trials together. That way, you can support each other."
"Even if you didn't say it, that's what we planned to do," Jiang Nannan said with a grin.
"Ziyang, when do you plan to return to the academy?" Zhang Lexuan asked, catching the implied meaning behind his words.
"I was planning to go back in the next few days," Zhu Ziyang replied, "but now I'll stay a little longer. At least until I see the start of your first trials."
"So soon?" Jiang Nannan said with reluctance, hugging him tightly.
"I still have my own trials to complete," Zhu Ziyang said, rubbing her head gently. "I'll be wandering the continent for the next few years, but I'll definitely come see you whenever I get the chance."
While they talked, Xu Jianwei returned from her search. Judging by her expression, it was clear she'd found nothing. There were no records of gold-level trials in the Yin clan's archives.
Zhu Ziyang had expected as much. After all, the Yin clan were only half-competent when it came to divine rites. Their ancestors had stumbled upon the trial of the Goddess of Moonlight by accident, and everything they knew was either their own speculation or guesswork. How much of it could be accurate?
"Sigh... It's unfortunate," Xu Jianwei said with clear frustration. "There's no record of gold-level trials in our clan's texts. What Miss Nannan has encountered is truly unprecedented."
"Great-Aunt, don't trouble yourself," Zhang Lexuan consoled her. "It's just another level above the red trial. There's no need to stress over it."
"True... I suppose you're right," Xu Jianwei said with a sigh. "Miss Nannan, may I request that you share the details of your gold trial with me later? I'd like to document it for future reference."
"No problem!" Jiang Nannan agreed without hesitation.
With that matter settled, the four of them left Moon's Shrine.
"Elder Xu, is there anything like the Moonlight Trial in the Sun branch or among the Yang clan?" Zhu Ziyang asked thoughtfully. He was referring to the Yang clan — rivals of the Yin clan — known as the Golden Sun Priests. If they were on equal footing with the Yin clan in worship and recognition, perhaps they too possessed divine trials?
"As for the Sun branch, I can say for sure they don't have anything like the Moonlight Trial," Xu Jianwei said after some thought. "But the Yang clan... I'm not certain. Unlike us, who fully merged into the imperial moon bloodline, only the line of the Golden Sun Empress joined the imperial sun branch. The Yang clan's main bloodline vanished shortly after the empire's unification."
"The solar rites once held by the Yang clan were transferred to the sun branch in name only. Everything else remained with the Yang clan."
"I see," Zhu Ziyang nodded, then asked again, "Do you know any details about the Yang clan's disappearance? Did they leave the Sun-Moon Empire or go into hiding?"
"I'm sorry. I don't know," Xu Jianwei replied, shaking her head. "The Yang clan never had deep ties to our moon bloodline, so no one really paid attention to their fate. The sun branch, however, has spent thousands of years trying to find them — without success. I suspect they left the Sun-Moon Continent altogether."
"I understand," Zhu Ziyang nodded. A hint of disappointment lingered in his heart.
(End of Chapter)
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