Chapter Seven: The Hall of Trials, The City of Chaos

In the deserted alley, Wang Fan lifted his head, revealing a face that carried a hint of delicate beauty, his sharp brows exuding a unique aura. He looked down, took off his worn shoes and tossed them aside, then walked barefoot for a few steps. After stepping forward, he realized that since entering the Sea of Bitterness realm and circulating his vital energy through his body, his physique was now vastly superior to that of an ordinary person; the gravel beneath his feet posed no threat whatsoever.

With effortless grace, Wang Fan left the alley and strode onto the bustling main street, merging seamlessly into the crowd. No one knew that the superhuman they had just seen, whose running speed rivaled a sports car, had already blended into the masses.

Among the people, Wang Fan opened Meituan, clicked on the food category, and searched for delicacies. After browsing several restaurants, he finally settled on a barbecue place a few hundred meters away.

A few minutes later, Wang Fan strolled into the barbecue shop—this one was located in the city center, clean and tidy, and left him with a good first impression.

Lamb skewers, beef skewers, a grass carp, peanuts... Beer!

After ordering a set, Wang Fan waited as the middle-aged owner prepared the food. While waiting, Wang Fan took out his phone and opened the browser, intending to search for the best place to cultivate in Z City. But before he could type, a trending topic ranking in the lower left corner of the search page caught his attention.

Headline: Where does the Temple of Inheritance come from?

Yet it wasn’t the headline that intrigued him, but the eighth item on the list. It stated that the Temple of Inheritance was not only for passing on techniques, but also contained a Trial Hall and some mysterious halls yet unexplored. One confirmed type was the Trial Hall—and so far, no one had succeeded in passing its trials!

Trial Hall—was it a place to test strength, or another kind of inheritance hall?

Seeing mention of this hall, Wang Fan’s eyes flashed with determination. He thought that once he found a suitable place to cultivate, he could visit the Trial Hall and discover its true nature.

He pondered quietly, and soon the chubby barbecue owner brought out the food, smiling as he greeted Wang Fan, “Everything’s ready, please enjoy!”

“Thank you!” Wang Fan began to eat, savoring the skewers slowly, relishing the rich roasted flavors mingled with cumin and chili powder—a tangy and delightful taste. The skewers were a revelation after three days of instant noodles, and he silently praised the owner’s skill. He continued eating, feeling buoyant and content.

Yet just as he finished every morsel, a towering man—nearly two meters tall, his face covered with black stockings and wielding a knife—burst into the barbecue shop.

In that instant, Wang Fan’s eyes sharpened; with his Sea of Bitterness realm sensitivity, he could easily sense that the masked newcomer was a cultivator—one who had just entered the Sea of Bitterness.

This getup—was he here to rob the place?

As Wang Fan pondered, the robber glanced at him through the stockings, a hint of hesitation flickering in his eyes. Ultimately, he didn’t target Wang Fan, but rushed into the kitchen, intent on robbing the chubby owner.

Noise erupted from the kitchen: the owner’s cries, sounds of resistance, and the clash between him and the masked robber.

Wang Fan frowned at the commotion, glanced at his empty plate, and thought to himself, The owner’s food was excellent—this meal lifted my spirits. I can’t just ignore what’s happening!

With that, Wang Fan stood up, his eyes gleaming as his vital energy surged through his body, harmonizing with the Sea of Bitterness. He strode towards the kitchen, his movements like those of a stalking leopard on the Amazon plains—swift and explosive, the air almost whistling around him.

Wang Fan was the leopard; the robber, the prey.

He launched himself with superhuman speed, pouncing like a leopard, leaving the masked robber no time to react.

In a flash, Wang Fan seized the robber by the throat, snatching the knife from his grip with a deft reversal.

“Someone like you, just barely starting your cultivation journey, dares to rob people? Ever since the Temple of Inheritance appeared, the world really has turned upside down!” Wang Fan sneered, chopping down on the robber’s neck and instantly rendering him unconscious.

This was something Wang Fan couldn’t have managed before, but now, having opened the Sea of Bitterness and reached its peak, he could do it effortlessly.

After incapacitating the robber, Wang Fan glanced at the owner, who now cowered in the corner, trembling, his eyes filled with terror—as if Wang Fan might rob him next.

Wang Fan shook his head and pointed at the owner, “Relax. I won’t harm you. The robber’s yours to deal with—call the police or toss him outside, it’s up to you. I only intervened because your cooking made my meal so enjoyable. Oh, and cancel my bill for that last order.”

With that, the owner nodded fearfully, and Wang Fan acknowledged him with a nod before striding out, his internal energy calming as he swaggered away.

Watching Wang Fan leave, the owner felt a surge of relief—grateful that this young man was present. Without Wang Fan, his shop would have been completely looted by the robber lying unconscious before him.

The owner glared fiercely at the fainted robber, kicked him twice, and then, his face paling as if afraid the robber might awaken, quickly called the police.

...

On the street, Wang Fan fell into deep thought. He realized he’d been too optimistic; it seemed the security in Z City wasn’t just temporarily chaotic, but utterly out of control.

To think, even a simple meal could end in a robbery! This was chaos, pure and simple!