The group heard Ziran's words and paid attention.

"What is it?

" Lin Mu asked.

"The theme should probably be resourcefulness or at the very least versatility.

" Ziran replied.

"Considering how the different obstacles need us to use varying methods, it does seem like it.

"

"Hmm… Now that I think of that,

" Lin Mu stroked his chin.

"Our grouping seems to be complimentary too. I reckon the same is for Crown Prince and the others.

" He guessed.

"It might really be so. The Trial grounds are testing us in a relatively 'balanced' manner. And seeing as it wanted us all to trust each other and succeed in the second trial, it definitely wants us to rely on each other to progress through them.

" Ziran agreed.

"It wouldn't be the first time something like this has been seen.

" Lady Kang chimed in.

"Though it is indeed a property one usually sees in the inheritance grounds of orthodox experts. Those of the unorthodox path are a lot more sly and the trials are often unfair.

" She elaborated.

"If this holds up, it is a good thing for us.

" Ziran replied.

"At the very least we know that the creator does not wish to doom us right form the start.

"

"It also gives us hope in terms of failure.

" Elder Hu spoke up.

"We might not necessarily be trapped if we fail a trial.

" Since his duty was to ensure the safety of Lady Kang, all that mattered to him was that they got out alive, and unharmed.

Thus he didn't care whether they failed or not.

"That does feel reassuring.

" Lin Mu could agree with the armored man.

"Though I do wonder how Crown Prince Feng Shun and the others are faring.

" He expressed his thoughts.

"I'm sure they'll be fine.

" Ziran stated.

"Other than Qiao De, all of them have been trained in the Immortal Court and are strong experts. Qiao De himself is resourceful and wouldn't fail easily either.

" Lin Mu nodded before they moved forward.

The corridor seemingly extended into an infinite expanse of darkness, hidden within it tens of obstacles.

About eight hours had passed by and the group had crossed more than thirty obstacles by now. Each of them was different from each other and needed varying methods to cross. But none of the obstacles were something that the group had trouble for longer than a few minutes.

"Oh? Another gate.

" Ziran saw through the glass eye.

"It looks the same as before.

" Lady Kang spoke, but Lin Mu shook his head.

"No, this one is different.

" Lin Mu replied.

"The flow of Immortal Qi in this is rather strange… I can also feel something behind it.

" He narrowed his eyes.

"You can see the Qi?

" Ziran raised his brows.

"The glass eye can't see it through the gate.

"

"Yeah, I can see it faintly. But there is certainly something behind that gate.

" Lin Mu confirmed.

"We should be extra careful here.

" He said before approaching the gate.

Elder Hu wanted to take the lead again, but Lady Kang gestured him to wait. He obeyed her and stayed back, letting Lin Mu open the gate.

'It's better for Daoist Mu Lin to open it as his Spatial Skills allow him a greater margin of safety.' She thought.

~RUMBLE~

And sure enough, once Lin Mu pushed the door open a loud rumbling sound was heard.

It pushed on their hearts, and a sense of anxiety welled up.

"GET BACK!

" Lin Mu immediately shouted as he disappeared.

Blink!

Lin Mu teleported next to Ziran, the Longgui Bulwark Armor already active.

~BANG~

Just a second after he had retreated, a giant object struck where he had stood earlier.

"That was close.

" Lin Mu took a breath.

"What was that?

" Min Ju asked, having not seen it clearly.

"A brass knocker… The ones that are used to ring temple bells.

" Ziran answered.

"Not just any brass knocked though, it's made with Thrice Alloyed Immortal Brass and has a hammering array carved on it.

" Lin Mu identified.

"Its enough to break the bones of a Fourth or even a Fifth Tribulation Stage Immortal.

" He added.

This made them quite vary, as the difficulty had clearly risen.

~Tremble~

The Brass knocker had retreated back into its original position and couldn't be seen anymore.

"If not for this darkness, it would have been easier to project its trajectory.

" Lin Mu said.

"But we still need to get past it, to progress.

"

"From what I can tell, we have three solutions here. Either we block it head on, avoid it somehow, or disable it.

" Ziran stipulated.

"Avoiding it doesn't seem possible for us,

" Lady Kang stated.

"Daoist Mu Lin can, but we cannot.

"

"I can try to block it.

" Elder Hu volunteered.

"As much as I commend that, I wouldn't trust for this to be the only trap,

" Ziran replied.

"Don't you think so too Daoist Mu Lin?

" he questioned.

"Indeed… it's definitely not the only trap waiting for us.

" Lin Mu gazed past the brass knocker and saw the other traps.

"Even if we block this and rush past it, we'll step onto the next trap. One that I cannot judge from here.

" He explained.

"What do we do then?

" Min Ju wondered.

"Hmm… I'll get past it and take a look at what lays for us in wait.

" Lin Mu offered.

"If there is trouble, I'll be able to retreat anyway. It is better than you all risking it.

"

"If you wish to, Daoist Mu Lin.

" Ziran could also see that this was the superior option.

"We'll be ready to support you from the back.

" Lady Kang chimed in.

Elder Hu simply nodded in approval and Lin Mu was ready to move.

~huu~

Taking a deep breath, he got closer to the gate and kept his senses alert for the knocked.

~WHOOSH~

As soon as the knocker moved, Lin Mu's Spatial Sense saw it and he quickly Blinked past it!

Upon arriving on the other side, Lin Mu found that there were several spike traps on the ground, ready to kill the unsuspecting immortal.