Chapter 771 - Terrifying Trial
The ten thousand disciples were all in an exuberant mood as they checked out the sect which lay before them.
“So magnificent! So this is an immortal sect? Its scenery and environment are on par with that of imperial palaces!”
“Not only that, each breath that I take is also extremely comforting and refreshing! The vital energy here is especially rich!”
“I agree. I worked as a captain of the guard at the Thousand Sword Imperial Family before. The density of the vital energy here is even greater than that of the imperial city!”
The other disciples were all astonished upon hearing this. The vital energy here was even richer than the imperial cities of the Nine Imperials… This was definitely a top-notch cultivation location!
With this in mind, the disciples became even more excited. Their yearning to become core disciples grew stronger and more resolute.
“That male is the legendary An Lin, right?”
“M-hm, it’s definitely him. Such elegance and grace. His jet-black eyes look as if they contain countless galaxies. Stunning!”
The female cultivator’s eyes were sparkling as she spoke.
“Ah… he’s walking over! Oh my God!”
The white-robed male walked before the trial-takers.
“Sect Leader!”
“Good morning, Sect Leader!”
…
Countless cultivators tried to make a good first impression.
An awkward expression surfaced on the white-robed male’s face. “Uh… I’m not the sect leader. I’m the pavilion lord of the Spirit Pavilion. Your sect leader is over there.”
The male pointed toward some location. There was a handsome white-robed male standing there.
Everyone: “…”
An uncanny silence fell over them.
Many cultivators who had shouted in greeting looked as if they had been struck by lightning. They were dazed to the spot.
So awkward…
There were also some other cultivators who took great pleasure in their misfortune. You guys didn’t look at the portrait of the Four Nine Immortal Sect’s sect leader before coming here? Are you guys f*cking stupid or what?! I didn’t tell you guys on purpose; you guys can all make a bad first impression! That way, I’ll have an advantage. Hehehe…
Xuanyuan Cheng smiled calmly when the atmosphere suddenly became quiet. “Don’t worry, I won’t mention this to the sect leader,” he comforted. “Just be more careful next time. Also, try your best in the upcoming trial. You’ll all be treated equally in this trial. Good luck!”
The male’s smile was as heart-warming as the spring sunshine.
The cultivators were all mesmerized by his dazzling smile. How can there be such a handsome male in this world?!
“We’ll definitely be more careful next time!”
“Pavilion Lord Xuanyuan, I’ll definitely give this trial my all!”
The cultivators spoke excitedly, and the female cultivators all looked to be in a daze. Even the male cultivators had fervent looks in their eyes. Such a gentle and good person…
At this moment, Xuanyuan Cheng’s standing in their minds skyrocketed to unimaginable heights! Even if it was just for Xuanyuan Cheng, they still had to try their best to stay at Four Nine Immortal Sect!
Under Bai Ling’s guidance, the trial-takers arrived before a gigantic light door.
This was a door that led to the Phoenix Research Institute. Now, this realm had already been renamed as the Small Phoenix World!
“No matter what happens inside, there’s one thing that you should all remember,” Bai Ling said. “That is, persistence and perseverance! Understand?”
“May I ask… what kind of trial is this?” a female cultivator asked feebly.
Bai Ling smiled faintly. “Not telling! It’s a surprise!”
Everyone: “…”
Since she said this, it definitely wasn’t a surprise… It was more likely a fright, right?!
An Lin had a first-hand experience of these “surprises”, and he suddenly felt a sense of schadenfreude upon seeing these adorable little disciples walking toward an unforgettable experience…
Come… Come experience the terror of being dominated by the most heartless trial designer!
…
My name is Li Tong, and I’m from the Heavenly Battle Sect. I’m the most talented core disciple of the Heavenly Battle Sect.
The Heavenly Battle Sect is well known, but it’s only a medium-sized sect in the Kingdom of the Nine States. The strongest cultivator is only a Soul Formation Stage ancestor.
At only one-hundred years young, I successfully became a powerful cultivator of the Spirit Nurturing Stage.
It can be said that I’m a supreme prodigy with an exceptional natural talent!
However, I also understand that regardless of how strong one is, there is always someone stronger.
Take this legendary Four Nine Immortal Sect for example. This sect is destined to become a sect that stands head and shoulders above the continent.
People should always fight to move upward, so I came here to challenge myself!
After leaving my old sect and walking into the embrace of the Four Nine Immortal Sect, I’m definitely going to start a new chapter of my life and reach the pinnacle of the continent!
A boundless battle intent burst forth from Li Tong’s eyes, and he was brimming with confidence as he stepped into the light door.
A light flashed past, and the space distorted and transformed.
He arrived in a vast white space. Before him, there was a set of steps that stretched into the heavens.
“One will pass this trial if they reach the end of these stairs. If you say ‘I give up’, then you will be able to leave this trial,” Bai Ling’s voice sounded from above.
Li Tong smiled leisurely. “A test of perseverance and resolve? Heh, I’m not bragging or anything, but I can persevere until I die!”
Rumble!
A mysterious power descended and stripped him of all his immortal powers.
“I’ve become a mortal?” Li Tong blinked, yet he wasn’t all that surprised.
This was nothing unusual. In fact, this was quite a standard way of holding trials.
Li Tong started walking up the flight of steps that had no end in sight. Each of his steps left its print.
He steadily walked up. The end was nowhere to be seen, but he knew that the finish line was before him. Thus, he was extremely relaxed as he walked.
An eternity seemed to pass, and beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. His legs also started to tremble in exhaustion.
“Phew… I’m so tired. It’s been ages since I’ve experienced the feeling of exercising as a mortal.” Li Tong chuckled quietly, yet he wasn’t discouraged in the least.
If the trial wasn’t difficult, then how could the others be eliminated?
The more difficult it was, the better; the more challenging it was, the better.
In any case, the person who was going to become one of the core disciples was him, Li Tong!
“One, two, one two…”
“One, two, one two…”
Before he knew it, he had taken another ten thousand steps.
Li Tong wiped his sweat and sat down in exhaustion.
When he looked down, he already couldn’t see the bottom of the steps.
When he looked up, there was still no end in sight.
“F*ck me… How far away is the finish line?” Li Tong couldn’t help but grumble in frustration.
However, he wouldn’t give up. He still hadn’t reached the finish line yet; how could he give up?
After resting for a while, he continued climbing the steps.
He walked and stopped, walked and stopped… When he was exhausted, he would sit down on the steps to take a breather.
He walked another ten thousand steps…
He had already walked up to almost a hundred thousand steps…
Li Tong was completely worn out, and he was also starving.
He was in extreme admiration of himself. “Holy sh*t, how long is this set of steps. If it wasn’t for my amazing perseverance, there’s no way I could’ve made it here. I’m sure the finish line is not far away!”
He walked for another ten thousand steps…
Li Tong couldn’t walk anymore, so he started crawling, slowly yet steadily…
Before he knew it, he had climbed millions of steps.
Blood was seeping from his hands, and his feet were full of blisters.
He looked down the steps, and there was no end in sight. He looked up the steps, and there was also no end in sight…
“How f*cking long is this set of steps?!” he wailed in anguish.
Li Tong was about to have a mental breakdown. His body was trembling, and he sobbed quietly as he continued to climb upward.
As a prodigy of the Heavenly Battle Sect, he had managed to endure for so long. Li Tong was moved by his own greatness.
He climbed and he climbed, and he climbed and he climbed…
He climbed until hunger swept through his entire body; he climbed until thirst made him think of nothing but water; he climbed until he had no energy to speak anymore; he climbed until his body was aching with unbearable pain…
Li Tong didn’t give up. He knew that when heaven was about to place a great responsibility on a great man, it always first frustrated his spirit and will, exhausted his muscles and bones, and exposed him to starvation and poverty1.
…
Finally!
He finally saw the finish line!
He saw a stone tablet at the end of the steps.
Tears were streaming down Li Tong’s face as he climbed over.
Oh, he didn’t have any more tears to cry…
His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he wanted to cry as he climbed toward the stone tablet.
Eventually, he reached the stone tablet.
He finally passed this terrifying trial of perseverance; Li Tong’s persistence had paid off!
Li Tong clutched the stone tablet as he read the words engraved on it.
“Congratulations, you’ve already completed one ten-thousandth of this trial!”
Li Tong rubbed his eyes after reading this. Then, he looked up toward the endless flight of steps…
One ten-thousandth, and he was already on the brink of death.
He still had to persevere through another nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine times of what he had just experienced?
“F-f*ck your mother!”
Li Tong’s voice was extremely hoarse. After whispering this curse, blood rushed into his head, and he drifted into unconsciousness.