CHAPTER 76: NINTH...SPIRIT ROOTS.

The frog’s grin widened as he leaned on his gnarled cane. "Hohoho... such fine talent, frozen by two little boxes. You hold fates in your hands every day, disciples live or die at your orders. Why hesitate now?"

Zhao Fan said nothing at the frog’s words... It seems they knows what’s going on.

To his left, Pan Wei expressed his frustration quietly, stating, "This is highly imbalanced. This situation does not resemble a trial; it feels more like a gamble,"

And he certainly wasn’t wrong. In fact, when you take a closer look at the situation and consider all the factors involved, it becomes increasingly clear that his perspective was not only valid but also insightful.

It’s either you win big or you go home, no in-betweens.

"No," Ling’er murmured.

"It’s worse. It’s a belief. The trial isn’t about picking the right box; it’s about whether we think we picked it."

Zhao Fan glanced at her, a look of surprise crossing his face but it was quickly composed into a cold face.

He hadn’t been expecting such an astute observation from her. The weight of her words hung in the air, compelling him to reconsider his previous stance.

Could there really be a way to distinguish the box that grants the rewards and that doesn’t?

She wasn’t wrong; in fact, her analysis was spot on, shedding light on nuances he had overlooked.

It wasn’t the choice itself that mattered... it was the state of mind in which it was made.

Jia Mei frowned, her brow furrowing as she struggled to grasp the profound wisdom. It felt as if the words were shrouded in mystery, swirling around in her mind without taking form. "What does that even mean?"

She wasn’t alone, others were confused too.

Yi Xinxue stepped forward, her voice steady as always. "If the boxes are truly random, then this is not a test of knowledge, but of intuition. However... intuition, too, is flawed. Our minds are not free here."

Zhao Fan thought for a moment and concluded that this was a waste of time.

Both box looks identical so, it’s possible that if there is an answer, then it’s based on our belief.

So, does that mean if you believe your answer is correct, you are correct However, that’s very unlikely, for a moment it made sense but it quickly became an unviable option.

Swoosh~

Zhao Fan threw both boxes to the ground using his energy to make the impact more powerful.

One of the boxes remained unharmed while another was slightly damaged.

"I choose this one..." Zhao Fan said choosing the damaged ones.

The box opened and inside was a jade token with the symbol of roots.

"Quite lucky... You possess an immortal grade spiritual root and with that token, your spiritual root will evolve into an Eternal Grade spirit root, keep in mind this can’t be given to others or stolen..."

"Pass!" As Forg’s words fell, Young Master Zhao vanished.

( Grade: 1-9, supreme grade, earth grade, heaven grade, divine spirit roots, chose grade spirit roots, immortal roots, eternal grade spirit roots, and more )

* *

Pan Wei observed as Zhao Fan disappeared into thin light, with the subtle resonance of his energy still perceptible within the surrounding.

The jade token... the Eternal Grade spirit root... left behind more than awe, it left hope and fear, he himself possessed grade 7 spirit root.

Pan Wei licked his lips. His fingers trembled slightly, though he tried to disguise it by folding his arms. His heart was hammering harder than he cared to admit.

"Just luck," he muttered under his breath. "He’s not smarter. He just got lucky."

But his eyes were fixed on the shattered remnants of the second box, the one Zhao Fan had not chosen.

He hadn’t missed the detail. The box Zhao Fan chose had a crack, it wasn’t heavy but just slightly.

Which meant... There was a difference.

Not everyone will have kind of pattern, will they? Maybe not in sight, but in response.

And Pan Wei had always trusted one thing more than talent, more than fate, reverse psychology.

"Alright," he said, stepping forward.

The frog tilted his head. "Ah... the impatient one."

Pan Wei ignored him.

"If Zhao Fan smashed both boxes, and one resisted while one cracked..."

"Then this time the resistant one must be the reward," he whispered to himself.

But wait.

What if that’s exactly what they want him to think?

No, Zhao Fan chose the broken one, so, it’s very much the strong one will be the correct answer now.

He smirked, thinking he had played the game correctly but failed to see, he was only playing himself. Most time people saying reverse psychology plays with themselves unaware of the vastness of Mount. Tai.

Pan Wei also smashed both boxes, seeing the unbroken one, Pan Wei said, "I pick that one."

"GOOD JOB. YOU DIE," The senior Frog said with grace and aura instantly turning him into blood mist.

Afterward, each of the four women finished the trail, just like Zhao Fan choosing the jade box that was damaged thus, they all received a jade token to enhance the quality of their spirit roots.

The tenth floor however was different.

It was an open world, with a vast forest and powerful beasts of grade 4.

That’s like the middle stage of the great foundation realm, the realm above the foundation realm while they are at the fifth stage of the Qi Saint realm, the realm below the foundation realm.

Yet, the vastness of the open world within the tenth trial’s chamber was a sight to behold, the air was cool and gentle to skin.

Endless green stretched across the horizon, punctuated by the occasional glistening lake, all under the watchful gaze of the crimson moon.

The place was thick with the scent of damp soil and decaying leaves, carried a weight that was both familiar and unsettling, like an old friend wearing a mask, the true nature of the mortal world.

Zhao Fan stood at the edge looking at the fruits growing on trees and tall mountains, and lakes.

There was no one greeting them this time, but Zhao Fan understood it was a place to hunt for treasure.

"This place is dangerous... Let’s visit that lake over there," He said, however, even a tier 4 beast wasn’t much to him.

Vsst strength, profound means.

Young Master has mastery over arrays, runes, music dao, blood dao... Despite being 2 major realm weaker, Young Master Zhao can still win.