959 Celestial Trials and Exchange Hall



"Can you give me an explanation of the Celestial Trials?" Feeling that he might as well try to see if he could get any more information from the preservation golem, Xuan Hao decided to ask something simple to start off with. 

"The Celestial Trials is the official name of the trials managed by the Mirage Sect." 

"What about the Exchange Hall?" Hearing the answer from the golem, Xuan Hao could only roll his eyes as the golem didn't really get any new information before trying to see if he would have any more luck asking about the Exchange Hall.

"The Exchange Hall is the place where Trial Participants can exchange for secret techniques."

"…"

From the looks of things, it would not be answering his question in a detailed manner that would allow him to understand the Celestial Trails or the Exchange Hall in greater detail, but instead just a simple explanation that shed no light on just what the Celestial Trials and Exchange Hall was nor why the Mirage Sect had decided to construct them in the first place.

Hm… If it doesn't have any more information about the Exchange Hall and the Celestial Trials. Maybe it can help me understand when I have the qualifications to enter the Exchange Hall…

"Is there any way I can find out when I have met the requirements to enter the Exchange Hall?" 

"Yes, would you like to view your current progress trial participant?"

"Yes?" Not expecting a positive answer, Xuan Hao agreed without thinking-

Swish-!

And before he had any time to react, the half-broken golem that could barely move had appeared directly in front of him. Passing through his dao domain like it wasn't there in the first place. Even if the golem did not show any signs of attacking him, it still caused a shiver to run down his spine, as he felt thankful for not accidentally attacking the golem earlier on.

"Initial examination will begin now, please do stand still during this process as movement might cause inaccuracies in the examination." 

Hearing the instructions of the golem that seemed far scarier than before at the moment, Xuan Hao decided to do as it said and remained completely still without moving a single muscle. 

Rustle~

Having woken up due to the sudden commotion happening outside, the rabbit demon beast that had somehow managed to sleep through the sandworm encounter slowly poked its tired head out of the small hidden pocket in Xuan Hao's robe.

Squeak?

Coming face to face with the half-broken golem that was standing directly in front of Xuan Hao at this point in time as it was in the process of examining him, the rabbit demon beast could not help tilting its head in confusion. Not understanding what was going on or why Xuan Hao was standing completely motionless without moving a single muscle.

SQUEAK!?

As it turned its attention towards the half-broken golem, the rabbit demon beast suddenly seemed to have noticed something as it jumped up in fear before escaping back into the pocket.

Confusing Xuan Hao as to just what had happened to the fearless little rabbit that didn't even fear a demon beast in the Earth Immortal Realm to cause it to become so fearful all of a sudden.

"Examination has been completed; would you like me to list your current progress?"

"Yes."

However, before he had a chance to investigate this any further, the golem finished the examination and not wanting to do anything wrong, Xuan Hao decided to respond as fast as possible. Throwing the matter of the rabbit demon beast's fearful behavior to the back of his mind for now.

After all, even if he wanted to figure out what had caused the rabbit demon beast to become so fearful all of sudden, there was not really much he could do given that it couldn't talk. Even then, he already had a guess, as it had been rather obvious that it was something about the half-broken golem that had caused it to become so fearful all of a sudden…

"Confirmation of trial participant granted; I will now list your current progress in the Celestial Trials…" Not wasting a single second after hearing Xuan Hao's response, the golem began speaking again.

"… Cultivation realm of trial participant, Intermediate Stage Dao Domain Lord, number of trials completed, 2, requirement to enter Exchange Hall at the Intermediate Stage of the Dao Domain Lord Realm, 3, faction, no information available, unable to gather more information. No more information can be gathered on trial participant, it is recommended that trial participant leave the Exchange Hall and only return after completing at least three trials.

Trial participant has not completed the Trial of the Great Sandworm yet and is recommended to complete it, the guardian of the desert can be found living between the two large cliffs sticking up from the ground south of the Exchange Hall."

Listening to the golem, Xuan Hao could not help feeling a hint of excitement as he realized that the golem not only gave him the answer as to what he needed to enter the Exchange Hall, but also gave him the location of the guardian of the desert that he had been looking for.

"It's recommended that trial participant leave the Exchange Hall immediately, or the protective formation will automatically kick the trial participant out. The Mirage Sect is not responsible for any trial participants who die after violating the rules. Be warned, this request has already been given twice and there is no third warning."

Lost in his own thoughts for a short moment as he felt excited learning about the location of the guardian of the desert that he had been looking for, Xuan Hao could not help feeling a shiver run down his spine upon hearing what the golem in front of him said.

"No worries, I will be leaving immediately!"

Swish-!

Not wanting to stay around inside the so-called Exchange Hall for even a second longer after knowing that it might possibly end up costing him his life, Xuan Hao didn't waste a single second as he left back through the large sandstone doors and made his way back up to the surface again.

Even if he had no clue if the golem had any strength left to fight him nor if the protective formation was still in place, he saw no reason to risk his life testing out these things, it would be far safer to first deal with the guardian of the desert before returning later after having defeated it when he had reached the minimum requirements for entering the Exchange Hall…