The air over the square was heavy and tight. Every flicker of light from the black stele pulled at the nerves of everyone watching.Whenever someone's bloodline rank was revealed, a Basilica disciple would step forward and lead that person toward a different side hall.Those who produced green light were led toward the most remote lesser halls. Their faces fell, and their steps dragged, as if every bit of hope had just been stripped away.Those who produced purple light were taken toward the medium-sized side halls. Relief showed on their faces, like they had just caught hold of the one thing that might save them.And every so often, when a gold light appeared, a stir would ripple through the square.Even a Basilica Elder would come out in person, treat that person like an honored guest, and lead them into the inner precincts under the weight of everyone else's envy and jealousy.Jared's gaze sharpened, and his pupils drew tight.Another bloodline test?This Celestial Basilica was doing the exact same thing as the Hallowmere Order before it?The scene pulled up what he had already seen in the Hallowmere Order.Over there, bloodline had ruled over everything too. Anyone with a special bloodline was treated like a genius and handed endless resources.Anyone without one, no matter how gifted they were, could only sink to the bottom. At best, they became a stepping stone under someone else's feet. At worst, they were left for others to carve up however they pleased."Young Lord, the Celestial Basilica is testing bloodlines too? What... what are they trying to do?"Evelyn had seen the scene on the square as well. She kept her voice low, the question pressing out of her. "Word is the Celestial Basilica is a holy land of the righteous path. They talk about equality for all living beings, about offering salvation to everyone.But the way they're doing this, no matter how you look at it... it's more like they're selecting some kind of special material than recruiting disciples."Jared said nothing. He only kept watching.His gaze passed over the cultivators who had failed the test and caught the refusalin their faces even as everything seemed to cave in around them.Then his gaze moved to the ones who had passed, and in their eyes he saw the same fever and the same lost look."Equality for all living beings?"A mocking curve touched Jared's mouth. "Nothing but a lie to fool people. In a world where the strong devour the weak, where does real equality come from?This so-called holy land of the righteous path, when you strip it down, only cares about bloodline.With bloodline, you're a genius, you're the future. Without bloodline, you're an insect, a blade of grass to be trampled. Is this what they call their 'way'?"A moment later, he suddenly spoke. His voice came low and firm, cutting straight through Evelyn's train of thought. "Evelyn, wait here for me."Evelyn froze, then hurriedly caught his sleeve. "Young Lord, what are you going to do? This is the core of the Celestial Basilica. The place is packed with experts.Jared lightly patted the back of her hand. The touch was gentle, but it cut off the rest of what she was about to say."Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Since they like testing bloodlines so much, then I'll let them test to their hearts' content."I want to see what kind of bloodline the Celestial Basilica is really after, and what they plan to do with the people who have it.
Whatever truth is hiding behind this, I'll tear it open myself."Something burned in his eyes. It looked like the sharp lift in a hunter the instant he found fresh tracks, and the steady cold of someone standing one step away from ripping the mask off a conspiracy.Evelyn looked at him and saw how set his gaze was. The words she still wanted to say never made it out.Once Jared decided on something, no one had ever been able to turn him around. She clenched her teeth, then let go of him at last."Then be careful, Young Lord. If anything feels wrong, pull back right away. I'll stay outside and cover your retreat. I won't delay for a second."The corner of Jared's mouth lifted into a faint, sure smile."Okay."As soon as the word fell, he rose from where he had been crouched behind the huge boulder. He stepped Out, Straightened robe andhisstarted toward the square with calm,steady strides. Every step landed solid and heavy, as if he weren't walking into a killing ground atall, but heading into his own front hall.Evelyn moved as if to stop him, butshe was already too late. She could only watch him go straight toward those Basilica disciples and hold on to the hope that nothing went Wrong. Jared's appearance drew the attention of everyone in the square the moment he showed himself.The square had been noisy a second earlier, but because of that unusual air around him, silence actually fell for an instant.The cultivators waiting in line all turned one after another, their eyes settling on him.Some looked him over with plain curiosity, trying to figure out where this young man had come from and how he dared cut in at a time like this.Others narrowed their eyes and weighed him again, guessing he might be the son of some powerful clan, someone with a background strong enough to ignore the rules.noveldramaAnd some only sneered. He was young, his realm was only High Immortal Realm Level Three, and that was enough for them to decide he was just a wandering cultivator trying his luck-someone doomed to fail, maybe even die without leaving a whole corpse behind. A Basilica disciple in a white robe hurried over to meet him.The man looked a little over twenty. His features were handsome, but there was a trace of lofty arrogance sitting in his eyes.He wore a smile, and his tone sounded polite while keeping him at arm's length, like a man tossing alms at a beggar."Fellow adept, are you here for the bloodline test? Please go line up in back. Those are the Celestial Basilica's rules. Everyone is equal here. No cutting in line."Jared gave him one look and said nothing. He simply kept walking straight toward the Bloodrite Stone.His pace never quickened and never slowed. Each step seemed to land on some fixed rhythm, and the pressure rolling off him turned the air around them thick and heavy.The Basilica disciple's brows drew together. A sour look crept across his face.He had spent years in the Celestial Basilica, and people had always treated himwith respect. No one had ever ignored him like this."Hey! I'm talking to you!"He raised his voice and reached out to stop Jared."Don't you know the rules? Stop right there!"But his arm froze halfway through the motion.Jared had already reached the black stele. Without the slightest hesitation, he lifteda hand and pressed it against the surface.In that instant, time itself seemed to lock up. Every person there held their breath fora beat, waiting for judgment to fall.