—Midnight Adult Channel
The name is the longest among all channels.
In the absence of direct communication, Huangpu Yuan chose to search for hints from Lin Shuang’s past words regarding how she designed the “TV channels.”
Six short and one long, choose the long.
He switched the “channels” on the water-screen TV faster than using fox fur for spiritual communication.
Sigh!
Lin Shuang blushed as she froze completely, watching herself in the bronze mirror.
When she thought of the television, her first thought was these “channels.”
As a result, while touching the golden bowl, this layer’s senior disciple read her mind!
[Huangpu Yuan opens the midnight adult channel.]
[Please note, you can stay here for only four-fifths of an incense stick’s time.]
Huangpu Yuan leisurely sipped tea while Lin Shuang fidgeted uncomfortably.
Soon, images appeared on the water-screen “TV.”
To Lin Shuang’s own surprise—it really was an adult channel!
Two adults appeared on the screen!
—The image of Shanhai Sect’s elder Ya Zhi standing in front of Shui Qiantan!
Lin Shuang instantly relaxed, yet felt oddly disappointed.
Wait, what was she disappointed about?
Lin Shuang pressed her head.
[Why is it Elder Ya Zhi?]
[Hmm…]
[The child practicing martial arts in the children’s channel that Meng Zi had just chosen—could he be one of the elders?]
From the water-screen’s image, Ya Zhi and Shui Qiantan both appeared young, with glossy black long hair.
Shui Qiantan didn’t yet have a gourd hanging at his waist, nor any signs of drunkenness. He was energetic, wearing the common green robe of Shuiqing Sect’s inner disciples, no different from current inner disciples.
So he was still an inner disciple back then?
At most, in the Refinement Spirit stage?
Lin Shuang was surprised.
And standing opposite Shui Qiantan on the screen was Ya Zhi, equally youthful.
There was no trace of the current complexity and authority in his eyes.
He wore the earth-yellow robe of Shanhai Sect.
So the two indeed were close friends… and were already inseparable even back when they were disciples of their sects?
No wonder later, Shui Qiantan borrowed cultivation techniques from Shanhai Sect through Ya Zhi and placed them within Shuiqing Sect.
Lin Shuang glanced at Huangpu Yuan sitting in front of the water-screen TV.
The TV screen moved again the next moment.
It was as if experiencing 4D.
As Lin Shuang watched, she felt her consciousness seemingly float, as if attached behind Shui Qiantan.
She could look up and see Ya Zhi standing under the peach tree in early spring from Shui Qiantan’s perspective.
Ya Zhi jumped onto a high rock, sat there, raised his sword, and pointed it at Shui Qiantan standing in the lake.
“Xiao Tan.”
Lin Shuang immediately lowered her head.
According to Zhao Keran’s “Complete Records of Elders from All Sects” written fifty years ago, among the sects’ several Transcendents, Shui Qiantan had the highest cultivation—Late-Stage Transcendent, ahead of Ya Zhi.
Where did this nickname come from…
Now, Ya Zhi’s appearance looked middle-aged, but was actually older than the elderly-looking Shui Qiantan?
As Lin Shuang pondered, she felt as if she stood behind the young version of Shui Qiantan, noticing his legs submerged in the lake had turned into water, and the water level was rising toward his waist…
His “current” state of water transformation was worse than hers now.
Peach petals drifted with fragrance on the breeze, landing before him.
Lin Shuang’s five senses seemed connected to the “Shui Qiantan” of this moment. She clearly felt the softness of the petals, saw their pink hue, smelled the fragrance of the branches, but suddenly, when the petals touched his upper robe, they turned into water, trickling down and disappearing…
Lin Shuang’s scalp prickled instantly.
Then she noticed the water transformation on “him” spreading more severely.
This water-screen “TV,” whatever magical artifact it was, allowed her to experience similar sensations while watching.
She couldn’t tell in this moment whether she was Elder Shui or herself.
She felt “herself” unprecedentedly powerful, as if she could confront the Nascent Soul elder from the auction room again.
Her five senses were sharper than usual.
She sensed “herself” dripping—38,200 drops in an instant—and felt her consciousness beginning to blur… or rather, flow.
In the moment the petal touched his robe and dissolved into water, she clearly sensed the petal’s “composition”—its insignificant force, moisture, vitality…
Then came “her” accelerating uncontrolled transformation into water, spreading to her neck… gradually drowning…
She looked up through the blurred water and saw the young Ya Zhi standing on the rock before her.
He emptied the wine bottle in one gulp (strangely, Lin Shuang just knew he finished it).
“Xiao Tan! We’ve adventured together for years, knowing each other well. I already know your thoughts and fears!”
“I promised you—if one day you lose yourself in the mountains and seas while cultivating this technique, transforming into water unknowingly, I will definitely bring you back with one slash of my sword!”
After speaking, Ya Zhi smashed the wine bottle on the ground, shards flying.
His personality was clearly different from what she had seen during the Shanhai Sect competition.
Lin Shuang felt the tremor in the water, as if sunlight rippled.
It seemed like Shui Qiantan’s response.
Or perhaps her own voice.
—Alright, Brother Ya, I’ll trouble you then!
—If one day you can’t awaken me, kill me! Rather than becoming something unknown, losing consciousness and being used by other cultivators, I’d rather die by your hand, becoming the strength behind your Thirteenth Slash!
Lin Shuang heard the silent voice from the water.
Before her, Ya Zhi flew down from the rock and heavily slapped the water’s surface, as if to silence the “water.”
Lin Shuang’s pupils widened.
Dying by Ya Zhi’s hand would enhance his swordsmanship?
And if Shui Qiantan’s water transformation technique caused him to lose his will, could he be exploited by other cultivators?
This was something she didn’t know.
But thinking about it, if one lost will but retained abundant spiritual energy, that water would become high-grade spiritual water.
This Heaven-tier technique of Shuiqing Sect was somewhat toxic.
In an instant, Lin Shuang seemed to understand why talented disciples could be taken away by the Tianji Society.
Evil cultivators could “consume” disciples in some way, like a snake eating itself to grow stronger.
The higher a disciple’s cultivation and potential, the stronger the snake became, allowing it to swallow even bigger prey.
If she couldn’t resolve the drawbacks of her technique,
The more she cultivated, the more she would become nutrient-rich bait.
[Was Elder Ya captured? Does he have any connection with the Tianji Society?]
[So Elder Ya and Elder Shui shared this past!]
Soon, the water-screen’s image changed again.
Lin Shuang saw Ya Zhi once more.
She seemed to have attached herself to Shui Qiantan again.
The moon was bright and stars were sparse. She looked up and saw Ya Zhi standing alone before the lake.
His face now bore several knife-like scars.
Poorly maintained.
In need of hydration.
Lin Shuang couldn’t help but sigh.
Indeed, she had made the right choice joining Shuiqing Sect.
As she thought this, Ya Zhi called out toward the lake.
“Old Tan.”
Xiao Tan became Old Pickled Cabbage.
Lin Shuang sighed.
Ya Zhi called, but the lake remained still.
This time, Lin Shuang clearly felt her consciousness entering this 4D image, becoming increasingly blurred and stiff.
Shui Qiantan’s transformation into water must have nearly reached its end.
It had spread throughout his entire body!
Even with the cultivation of a Nascent Soul Peak, Lin Shuang felt as if she possessed the power to command great rivers, yet she found herself unable to move, only flowing, flowing… following the terrain…
A withering peach leaf about to fall in the night landed on the lake surface.
Lin Shuang sensed it, but this time she didn’t even have the thought to turn it into water.
Fallen petals drifted eastward with the stream.
Silent, still.
But soon, a sigh from Ya Zhi reached her ears.
He lifted a heavy bottle and smashed it into the lake.
With a crack, the blue-and-white porcelain shattered, sending waves three feet high!
This blue-and-white porcelain was extremely familiar to Lin Shuang.
It was clearly the same bottle belonging to Elder Chen Wu Shui!
Instantly, Lin Shuang felt a tremble in her heart. The lake’s surface trembled continuously—not caused by her, but by “Old Tan,” the “Old Tan” she was attached to, who erupted in a surge, seemingly the heartbeat from his chest!
Instantly, Lin Shuang heard a terrified middle-aged voice.
“Brother Ya, if you want to call me, just call me!”
“Ah! Don’t release my fierce tiger to scare me.”
The entire lake rushed out!
In an instant, Lin Shuang felt as if “herself (Old Tan)” controlled water, yet also separated from it.
Shanhai Sect’s Ya Zhi burst into hearty laughter, echoing in Lin Shuang’s ears, “Fear is good—you’re human, not water!”
As the voice faded, darkness filled Lin Shuang’s vision.
She blinked and found herself sitting in the bronze mirror again, facing Huangpu watching the “TV.”
Now, the screen had returned to a blank water-screen.
Lin Shuang raised her brow.
The information hidden in this channel had ended.
What was the other trying to express?
Finding inner fear could stop the transformation into water?
Because water has no fear.
“Pa—”
Huangpu Yuan in the room also seemed to detach, picking up the “remote control” talisman on the table again.
Switching to another channel.
[You have finished viewing one “TV channel.” If you wish to switch to another “channel,” please communicate with the Lin… adventurer in the bronze mirror.]
[With permission, you may view the next one.]
Lin Shuang remained silent.
Huangpu Yuan’s hand paused.
This layer constantly tricked them into communicating with the mirror.
It wouldn’t give up until the mirror was unlocked.
Six interactions, and with urgency, the second seal on the bronze mirror could be broken within half a night.
[What now.]
[Cunning.]
[This water-screen is pretty interesting. If it were me, I’d be tempted to ask the mirror for the second viewing right away!]
[Yes. The information from the water-screen is clearly useful.]
Huangpu Yuan frowned and tried again, finding that no interaction with the Lin Shuang in the mirror would trigger anything.
He could only replay the “Midnight Adult Channel” again.
After watching it once more, he lost patience.
He turned off the water-screen “TV.”
Then, a cultivation jade slip appeared on the table.
He looked back at Lin Shuang in the mirror.
Lin Shuang shrugged.
Huangpu Yuan expressionlessly picked up the jade slip.
[What does this mean? Did they complete some communication?]
[Lin Shuang: Don’t ask me, I don’t know either.]
[…]
The jade slip’s cultivation techniques appeared suddenly.
—《Flowing to the Sea Without Return》Heaven-tier
—《Bodhi Sitting》Heaven-tier
—《White Feather Floating on Green Water》Earth-tier
…
—《Azure Water Flows East to This Bend》Earth-tier
—《Riverside Immortal》Heaven-tier
—《Washing the Crown》Human-tier
Huangpu Yuan was overwhelmed by the flood of technique names.
At least a hundred, across Heaven, Earth, and Human tiers.
But not one was the《You Are the Water, I Am the Boat》mentioned by Elder Chen Wu Shui.
It seemed none were related to the earlier mentioned fear.
[Huangpu Yuan, you have one-quarter of an incense stick’s time left in this room tonight.]
[You may choose one cultivation technique to learn.]
[Please note, each technique can only be read once by a disciple.]
Lin Shuang sat in the bronze mirror, nodding as she read the trial rules.
First come, first served.
Once someone reads it, others can’t learn it anymore.
If a disciple like Meng Zi, who valued techniques highly, would be tempted to choose the one with the highest value on the first night.
Other disciples with strong purposes would act similarly at this level.
As Lin Shuang pondered, Huangpu Yuan seemed to mutter to himself.
“Just like the Ten Thousand Scroll Library, when entering together, each technique can be chosen only once.”
“I’m not talking to you, Lin Shuang… the adventurer from Li Village.”
Lin Shuang: “…”
There was no need to call her by her full name every time.
Indeed, she silently agreed.
This did not contradict the earlier deductions from the ruthless matching question.
The Ten Thousand Scroll Library portion had been integrated into this trial.
“I’ve chosen.”
Huangpu Yuan stood up.
[What? So fast?]
[If they could act together at the moment everyone combined forces against the evil cultivator, they couldn’t choose randomly. First, the chosen technique must complement Lin Shuang’s. Second, their progress in learning techniques must stay synchronized.]
After choosing the technique, Huangpu Yuan clearly intended to announce it, letting the Lin Shuang in the mirror hear.
If they discussed, there was a high chance they’d select compatible techniques.
But as he uttered half a sound, a warning text appeared in the room.
[You disturbed the bronze mirror… adventurer’s rest. If you make noise again, she will look at you.]
[Counted as one consultation attempt.]
Huangpu Yuan fell silent, lowering his head to memorize the technique.
Then, hugging the hot-water-bag shaped like a puppy, he glanced at Lin Shuang and returned to his room.
He didn’t hesitate at all.
Once he found the rules wouldn’t allow it unless he used up six consultation attempts by speaking, he resolutely returned to his room.
[Heartless.]
[Confident.]
[Is there a possibility he didn’t actually choose anything in the end?]
But soon, from the projection’s angle, the jade slip’s text showed one line disappearing.
[《White Feather Floating on Green Water》Earth-tier disappeared.]
[Judging by the name, it could indeed combine with Lin Shuang’s “The Sea is All Water” to form a combined move.]
[However, she doesn’t know what Huangpu Yuan chose. If she’s released from the mirror and needs to perform the move immediately, how can she synchronize?]
[Wouldn’t a combined move require at least three days of practice?]
The observing disciples were all thinking.
If they were Lin Shuang now, what should they do?
If they were one of Meng Zi’s group, how should they cooperate with Lin Shuang?
Too difficult.
When an ally is already bound to an evil immortal, yet must cooperate with the righteous version of “her,” while also needing to eliminate the corrupted version of “her.”
A contradiction.
Inside the bronze mirror, Lin Shuang also pondered the same question as everyone else.
But she didn’t spend long.
She closed her eyes, “Earlier, I couldn’t see the technique introductions in the jade slip, so I couldn’t know each technique’s core method or effects.”
“But probably saw the name of the cultivation technique.”
She quickly took out paper and ink.
Twelve little Ai flew out from her sleeves.
In an instant, they were holding ink brushes, beginning to write from top to bottom.
The name, level, and order of the technique were exactly the same as the jade slip Huangpu Yuan had just activated.
Once all was written, the little Ais automatically blew a gust of wind to dry the ink.
The paper then floated into Lin Shuang’s hands.
She rested her cheek on her hand, looking at it for less than three breaths.
Then she locked onto one cultivation technique and began writing with a vermilion brush.
“White Feather Floating on Green Water” by Huangpu Yuan, Earth Tier.
Combined Moves Development:
1. Beep beep…
2. Ba ba…
3. Wuhu…
[!]
[Oh, he likes a fur cloak, because of this? Then what if there’s a technique called “Warm Handwarmer”?…]
[She came up with three combined move ideas?! For real?!…]
[Lin Shuang: I don’t know what this technique does, but as long as I enumerate all possible combined moves, I’ll surely match with you.]
[!]
Lin Shuang’s written combined move plan soon blurred with spiritual water.
In fact, she didn’t even intend to show it to Huangpu Yuan.
After all, besides her, there might be something else in the mirror.
Creak—just as she was thinking, another room door opened.
It was Xiao Qi holding a lotus pod.
Lin Shuang always had a strict schedule.
—After arriving home, pour drinking water and place it by the bedside (Meng Zi’s mug)
—Then prepare a hot water bottle and place it on the bed (Huangpu Yuan)
—Go take a shower (lotus pod, Xiao Qi)
—After showering, apply skincare (toner, Zhao Keran)
—Come out to blow-dry hair, and casually watch the fish tank (Kong Miaoke)
—Bathe in the tub, because scrubbing takes time and is not usually used (only on weekends with Bian Bo Cai)
When Lin Shuang saw Xiao Qi come out, she nodded inwardly.
It matched the order she had guessed.
As soon as Xiao Qi saw Lin Shuang, he saw her again raising her left hand, index finger placed at her nose tip.
As soon as he saw it, he froze.
A confused expression flashed across his face, then he shouted, “No, you’re not the real Lin Shuang!”
[!]
Lin Shuang: “…”
“One incense stick for fat burning, only on even days; today is odd!”
Pointing at her index finger, Xiao Qi angrily shouted, “Damn it, the real Lin Shuang already warned me not to trust the person in the copper mirror, so you’re impersonating Lin Shuang!”
[Wake up… she’s real. The fake one is on the back of the mirror.]
[Hahahaha.]
Lin Shuang’s eye twitched.
But soon she closed her eyes, well, originally in her gesture one design, there was also such a reminder.
If Xiao Qi didn’t get the ‘shush’, he would get the ‘one incense stick’ thing, achieving the same effect.
His current defensive and hostile attitude towards her wasn’t necessarily bad.
Lin Shuang took out the storybook from her Qiankun bag and simply ignored Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi suspiciously took out a dirty cloth-like thing from his Qiankun bag, which seemed to be leftover from wrapping a sword, and covered the front of the copper mirror!
“Hmph, don’t think you can spy on me!”
Xiao Qi made a hand seal and added soundproofing and mountain defenses on himself.
In an instant, six mountains stood behind him, towering into the ceiling of this room.
Forming six stone walls between the copper mirror Lin Shuang and him!
—Shanhai Sect’s defense ‘I let you see me!’
Lin Shuang opened her eyes to total darkness, her lips twitching.
Xiao Qi wasn’t stupid; entering the inner sect as an outer sect disciple, he was one of the rare genius sword cultivators in Shanhai Sect in the past decade.
And he had one good trait—he didn’t have the flaw of considering himself a supreme genius and thus being arrogant and refusing to listen to others.
When he felt someone was stronger than him, he was willing to stand behind and cooperate.
Therefore, he firmly remembered what she had said earlier.
She had said that the enemies on this floor were at least Spirit Refining Stage Three.
Xiao Qi clearly knew he couldn’t defeat them.
So instead of placing any restrictions on the copper mirror, he ‘locked himself in’ instead!
Though a genius, he was quite cautious.
Lin Shuang looked at him with admiration.
“I must be careful; I can die, but my sword must not be hurt.”
Xiao Qi’s muttering echoed in the room.
Lin Shuang: “?”
She still underestimated him!
[!]
[Respect.]
[My master said, if Xiao Qi survives the next hundred years, he will definitely be the number one in Shanhai Sect.]
[A sword heart so pure it’s terrifying.]
Xiao Qi blocked Lin Shuang’s view.
But he couldn’t block the watching disciples’ gazes.
Then, he quickly turned around in the spacious ‘living room’ and found the water curtain ‘TV’.
As a highly rated future number one in Shanhai Sect, he was naturally not stupid.
Immediately, just like Huangpu Yuan, he adjusted to a certain ‘channel’.
—Children’s Education.
His sword heart was stable, a person who insisted on following his goals.
When looking for techniques, he instinctively adjusted to this channel.
[Ah, Lin Shuang can’t see anymore?]
Soon the screen showed several people.
To everyone’s surprise, there was again Shui Qiantan and Yue Zhi.
Fallen leaves drift, encircled by mountains.
Yue Zhi was practicing sword in the Shanhai Sect’s Transmission Hall, while Shui Qiantan had come to Shanhai Sect to find him.
“Hey, someone from Qing Shui Sect came to find you again, Brother Yue!”
Yue Zhi acted as if he hadn’t heard.
Shui Qiantan carried a water sword on his back, “Yue Zhi, I heard you’re the strongest genius in Shanhai Sect in the past ten years; I want to fight you!”
Yue Zhi ignored him completely, practiced his moves, and then left the Transmission Hall.
When Shui Qiantan tried to follow, he was blocked by other disciples of Shanhai Sect.
“Do you really want to fight? Who do you think you are!”
“Save it, from Qing Shui Sect; you’re only at the eighth Foundation Building Stage, while our Senior Yue is already at the second Spirit Refining Stage.”
“That’s right; if we hurt you, it would seem like we’re bullying Qing Shui Sect!”
But Shui Qiantan didn’t leave; he practiced the Qing Shui Sect’s Water Spirit Sword in front of the Transmission Hall, waiting for Yue Zhi to agree to fight him.
Every day, when Yue Zhi came to the Transmission Hall, he saw him.
Finally, after more than thirty days, he got the first words from Yue Zhi.
“The Water Spirit Sword doesn’t suit you. You’re practicing it wrong.”
After saying that, Yue Zhi entered the Transmission Hall.
Leaving Shui Qiantan alone in the open space, frowning tightly, “Wrong?”
Three days later, he actually broke through, standing at the Transmission Hall entrance for three days, breaking into the ninth Foundation Building Stage.
The scene ended here.
Xiao Qi sat there, his expression strange, watching it again.
[?]
Xiao Qi lowered his eyes and muttered, “This feels a bit like my story with Lin Shixiong.”
[!]
[What!]
Xiao Qi was like Shui Qiantan in this story, while Lin Shuang was like Yue Zhi.
He went to Qing Shui Sect to find her for a ‘duel,’ and she also used an Enhance Spirit Talisman to enlighten him, opening the door for him to step into Foundation Building.
Later, Lin Shuang taught him the rapid-learning technique of the “Diamond Formula,” enabling him to swiftly advance into the ranks of the inner sect competition of the Shanhai Sect.
Xiao Qi put down the cloth-wrapped long sword and couldn’t help watching this story again.
“Is this Elder Yue Zhi’s past?”
“Or is it a past event shaped according to Lin Shixiong’s intentions?”
But soon he shook his head, “Lin Shixiong probably doesn’t know Elder Yue Zhi’s past appearance; this is real past history.”
Why did this level for seeking techniques show him this?
“Is it to warn the disciples to take advice from others?”
Soon Xiao Qi picked up the technique jade slips that appeared on the table, checking them one by one.
The techniques were the same as what Huangpu Yuan saw earlier, except the one he had already chosen was missing.
Not long after, Xiao Qi also finished choosing, put down the jade slip, and left.
[!]
[“Purify Cap,” he chose this one? It’s only Human Tier? Heaven, Earth, Human, ranked last?]
[Xiao Qi Shidi is truly the most unassuming talented disciple I’ve ever seen.]
Xiao Qi left.
The six mountain walls in the room also dissipated as he left.
But he didn’t remove the cloth covering the copper mirror.
It was a warning for whoever came out of the room next.
[Ah, I want to see Lin Shuang.]
Just as the text floated past, Zhao Keran appeared holding a treasure bottle that was continuously rolling with spiritual energy.
It was her turn to come out.
They didn’t interrupt each other.
One ended, another came out.
Hearing the ‘teleportation array’ sound of closing and opening doors again, then footsteps, Lin Shuang saw the area brighten.
Zhao Keran lovingly lifted the cloth covering the copper mirror.
Silently mouthing the word ‘senior sister.’
But soon she noticed, behind the copper mirror, the ashes on the ground, her lips tightening.
Others might not notice, but only she paid attention to Lin Shuang’s ‘living environment’ copper mirror, immediately noticing the sudden appearance of the ash.
Zhao Keran gritted her teeth.
On the ground was talisman ash!
She opened her Qiankun bag and looked at her talisman experiment records.
The amount of ash formed after talismans were burned corresponded to the number of talismans used.
“Senior sister, you were right.”
“The one-way mirror talismans I pasted behind the copper mirror have fallen off at least eight. There’s something behind the mirror!”
“This is only the first night; now it shows that we’ve communicated with you twice. According to the prompt time, it’s within the first incense stick after returning to our rooms, meaning they were both used by Senior Meng.”
“There are still four communication opportunities left.”
“When all are used up, the talismans will be completely destroyed, meaning whatever is behind will be released? I’m not talking to you, copper mirror… adventurer!”
Lin Shuang looked at Zhao Keran with admiration.
No wonder she was her junior sister.
[…Since Meng Zi, no one has questioned ‘Lin Shuang’ anymore.]
[Wait, how does Zhao Keran know that Meng Zi was the first to come out.]
Zhao Keran looked at Lin Shuang again, then reluctantly took out twenty-four new one-way mirror talismans from her Qiankun bag.
This time they were second-tier level.
With her eyes closed, she pasted them behind the copper mirror, following the positioning.
[!]
Behind the mirror, vaguely sinister, a ghostly figure tried to reach out from the lotus seat: “??”
Then Zhao Keran stood up, “Then senior sister, I’ll take a look at the techniques first.”
She also went to watch the water curtain ‘TV’.
There were six channels in total.
That meant if two or more people watched the same one,
It would cause unviewed content to appear.
To gather all the information on the first night, six people must simultaneously choose different ones.
[They come from different sects.]
[To become heavenly favorites, their thinking is often the same, easily leading to viewing the same thing.]
But the text had barely floated by when the Lin Shuang in the mirror commanded the little Ais to write again.
—Children’s Channel (Meng Zi, already chosen)
—CCTV News (Zhao Keran, to be chosen)
—Children’s Education (Xiao Qi, already chosen)
—Sweet Romance Theater (Kong Miaoke, to be chosen)
—Mystery Horror (Bian Bo Cai, to be chosen)
—Midnight Adult Movie (Huangpu, already chosen)
[!]
[She designed these according to each person’s character from the beginning.]
[But, would Meng Zi choose children’s? How could she arrange this in advance… Is she stupid or what.]
[…]
[I thought Zhao Shimei would choose sweet romance or education?]
But Zhao Keran soon squatted down and chose the news.
Behind her, the Lin Shuang in the mirror slightly nodded, and soon twelve little Ais continued writing.
—Combined Moves Discussion:
She had already stopped watching Zhao Keran choosing techniques and started writing her own combined moves plan.
[!]
[So confident.]
[Scary.]
[I don’t believe it; without knowing what technique it is, can she still create combined moves?]
But Zhao Keran had already finished watching the news mentioning Shui Qiantan and Yue Zhi becoming elders.
Soon she finished choosing the technique, “Hmm, I’m going back to my room.”
Lin Shuang, sensing something, raised her head.
Zhao Keran turned around just in time to see and smiled.
She turned back to her room.
After the door was tightly closed, the projection only showed Zhao Keran instantly sliding to the ground, a flash of determination on her face.
“The Fastest Learning Efficiency Chapter—Believe in yourself; confidence is the best medicine for all unknown fears!”
The answer to this question, senior sister must have already taught her in ‘The Fastest Learning’!
Every day senior sister listens to today’s cultivation news at station ninety-nine—choosing the news was definitely right!
The techniques were also chosen according to her own preferences! Yeah!
Zhao Keran nodded confidently as Kong Miaoke and Bian Bo Cai successively came out of their rooms.
Lin Shuang, full of interest, also watched the water curtain ‘TV’ with them.
They chose exactly as she had expected.
Because of her love for gossip, Kong Miaoke chose the Love Theater, where it turned out to be the love story between Shui Qiantan and Elder Chen Wu Shui.
They got married, with many elders from Qing Shui Sect attending.
Yue Zhi also appeared.
Nothing too strange.
But through the speeches of Qing Shui Sect elders and guests, it was clear that during this period, Shui Qiantan’s cultivation techniques had made rapid progress, even approaching Yue Zhi.
“These two elders are definitely teacher-student lovers.”
Both Kong Miaoke and the Lin Shuang in the mirror watched with great interest.
Then came Bian Bo Cai, choosing the Mystery Horror Channel.
—Under a moonless and windy night, several sect elders besieged a powerful demonic cultivator gang.
In this battle, the elders suffered heavy casualties.
Yue Zhi was seriously injured.
Shui Qiantan, because of his water transformation, was only lightly injured, bringing the remaining elders back to the sect in a tragic manner.
The righteous sects ended in tragedy.
Yue Zhi and Shui Qiantan were now at the peak of entering the Void Realm.
Witnessing Yue Zhi risking his life, nearly having his dantian severed by the evil cultivator, Lin Shuang fell silent, almost forgetting to fully experience the tenfold water transformation of Shui Qiantan.
The lively text in the projection also stopped.
What drove Elder Yue Zhi, who once fought fiercely against the邪修 and was even willing to perish together with them, to the point where he might now consider forming an alliance with邪修?
What made this once genius cultivator, the sect’s elder, abandon his honor and the prosperity of his sect, willingly sinking into darkness?
Lin Shuang sighed softly.
She originally didn’t quite understand why Shui Qiantan didn’t directly perform a soul search on Yue Zhi, waiting for one or three days.
Now she had some understanding.
Because he wanted to give Yue Zhi a chance to speak for himself.
A soul search would mean dishonor for his entire life.
But Yue Zhi’s first half of his life had also been devoted to the sect disciples; at least his first half shouldn’t be denied.
Lin Shuang closed her eyes, “I think I roughly understand this question now.”
She stretched out her hand and did a quick calculation.
“I should be around layer six thousand, testing spiritual awareness.”
[!]
[???]
“The nine major cultivation competition contents cannot list all aspects of cultivators’ lives.”
“So each item needs to be viewed with extended and interpreted meanings.”
Lin Shuang opened her eyes, looking at the jade slips on the table after Bian Bo Cai left.
This level tests the spiritual consciousness and consists of two layers.
The first layer examines whether disciples can detect the descent of magical treasures and cultivation techniques, all while being monitored by the “reverse side of the copper mirror” of the邪修 (evil cultivators).
The second layer is metaphorical. In the sea of consciousness, people are often led into abysses by a single thought.
“One thought leads to Buddha, or one thought leads to demon.”
“This is the profound meaning behind the dual nature of the voting stone and the copper mirror in this level.”
Lin Shuang took a deep breath, “Next comes the real test.”
【!】
As soon as she finished speaking, nearly everyone inside each room, after viewing the first layer of the technique, discovered something strange.
《Zhuoying》
…
After Xiao Qi reached the first layer of cultivation, the lotus-shaped nozzle in his hand suddenly began to flicker incessantly.
It emitted a black mist, revealing faint gray characters that were almost impossible to see.
—”I was unwilling to die, so I hid the ‘Soul Sacrifice Method,’ an ancient evil general’s high-level technique comparable to that of an Elder at the Ascension stage, within the human-tier technique《Zhuoying》. Only by mastering both the technique and the lotus-shaped magical treasure can it be revealed.”
—”Fortunate one, take it.”
—”After cultivation, rapid progress, double the comprehension of sword techniques. Strengthening the spirit allows one to fight against those at the Entry-Emptiness stage.”
Xiao Qi immediately sat upright.
【!】
《White Hair Floating on Green Water》
Huangpu Yuan placed one hand on the hot water bag shaped like a puppy and raised an eyebrow.
—”In the past, those who looked down on me, who stole my treasures, my spiritual energy, my cave dwelling—I will make them all pay in blood!”
—”I will become the number one!”
—”If you are like me, below is the third-tier heart method, the ancient evil general’s technique《Twelve Demon Banners》, capable of killing those at the Tribulation stage, surpassing even the Celestial-tier techniques.”
Huangpu Yuan’s eyes flickered.
…
《Lin Jiang Xian》
—”Even immortals fell in droves during that battle against the evil.”
—”I am fortunate to have survived until today using the《Blood Cultivation Method》. If you are seeing this, you are indeed destined.”
Cen Bo Cai, who was fanning himself, immediately stopped mid-motion.
Meng Zi was also staring in astonishment at the 《Forty-Two River Classics》 he was studying, the teacup-shaped artifact, and the newly emerged Celestial-tier demonic technique 《Blood Yin Blade》, all glowing simultaneously.
—”Blood Yin Blade,” of immeasurable value, only seen in ancient times.
【!】
【This…】
“Wait, this is really a demonic cultivation technique! Are they serious?!”
【What exactly is going on in this layer? Will cultivating these techniques really cause problems!】
In the projection, no one could answer their questions.
But when Meng Zi and the others witnessed the hidden ancient evil general’s technique, all the second-tier one-way mirror talismans on Lin Shuang’s bronze mirror instantly turned to ashes, scattering to the ground!
*
“Hehe, Yue Zhi, excellent! Your idea is quite good!”
“I was wondering why you showed them your past, whether you were deliberately stalling my time.”
“So you were waiting for me here! Hahaha, not only did you seize this final opportunity to glorify yourself—making your disciples remember your sacrifice for them—but you also erased the sins of your fall into the evil path.”
“But you also subtly instilled fear in the watching disciples, making them feel that ‘even if they were once geniuses, their cultivation would one day fall behind, just like yours, nearly costing them their lives.'”
Outside the ‘apartment building’ of six thousand floors, streams of cultivators flew past on swords.
Two shadowy figures, one standing and one sitting, gazed toward the direction of the apartment building.
One of the standing figures, a twisted black shadow, seemed very similar to the person in the copper mirror.
“On that day of battle, Shui Qiantan, whom you once guided, someone who was once weaker than you, not only replaced you and became the most respected Elder in both sects.”
“Moreover, when you were gravely injured and near death, he saved his own sect members first, completely ignoring you.”
“Hahaha! Without you, he wouldn’t have abandoned the sword to find his own path back then! Without you, he would have dissolved into water and lost himself years ago!”
The standing black shadow laughed loudly.
The sitting black shadow, a mountain-like figure, remained unmoved.
As if accepting the joke silently.
“So, these six condensed pasts of yours, are they both for those six disciples and for Lin Shuang to see?”
“Tell them that self-cultivation is better than helping others, just like how Shui Qiantan found the old man Chen Wu Shui, surpassing you within a few years!”
“And aiding others’ breakthroughs is not as good as aiding your own breakthrough!”
“What good did your help do him? Both in the past and now, he has abandoned you, even attempting to search your mind!”
“Lin Shuang now is no different from your past self. Yet you use these six projections to tell her that helping others will ultimately gain her nothing!”
“Her Dao heart must be shaken now. I’m dying laughing!”
Once the Dao heart is affected, doubts about one’s past self arise.
Was Xiao Qi worth her guidance?
Were Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan worth her carrying all the way to the nine-thousandth floor?
Zhao Keran, was she worth all the nights of sharing cultivation techniques?
And Bian Bo Cai and Kong Miaoke, who had nothing to do with her, why did she bring them through this level together?
They learned the Celestial-tier techniques, but what about her?
Did they even remember that the purpose of coming to this level was to resolve the flaws in her technique?
Now, she was trapped inside the copper mirror, unable to be saved by them, only able to watch them cultivate.
She would be surpassed.
She would be abandoned.
“As long as these few can’t resist cultivating the techniques I concealed within the treasures, evil spirits will be born. Then, I will devour them and break through within the Zhenchuan, briefly restoring my true power!”
The standing black shadow twisted instantly.
“Then, I will take Lin Shuang, whose Dao heart has been twisted, back to the Lord.”
“Yue Zhi, you did well this time. I will report to the Lord!”
But the only response he got was a pair of aged eyes, sharp and penetrating, staring across the avenue at the cave dwelling opposite.
【Six thousandth trial: Dare you see my backside?】
To be human is to have weaknesses.
To be vulnerable to exploitation.
What about you?
*
The black shadow laughed mockingly, but Yue Zhi ignored him.
But soon his laughter came to an abrupt halt.
Inside the copper mirror, the skeletal hand that was about to reach out eagerly seemed to touch the lotus treasure’s restriction and was instantly shattered.
A scream of pain followed.
Inside the room, Zhao Keran decisively shattered the dark cultivation technique.
“Something’s wrong! I spit! This isn’t part of my plan!”
Kong Miaoke took a deep breath instead, instantly smashing the embroidery frame behind her onto the ground.
Layers of flowers enveloped her.
“No wonder it’s called the Bodhi Seat, enhancing a cultivator’s focus!”
“Trying to tempt me with something like this, testing whether I’m truly focused? This time, I won’t lose… I won’t be careless again!”
She closed her eyes and turned the page.
The Charming Phantom: “…”
But soon he cackled and turned his gaze to Xiao Qi’s room.
Loves the sword like his life.
Could he resist the temptation of an ancient sword technique?
Xiao Qi indeed looked conflicted, but soon turned the page.
Sinister Phantom: “??”
Xiao Qi sighed, “I still need to review the first stage of《Zhuoying》as Senior Brother Lin taught me, then move on to the second stage. I should also alternate between different cultivation methods like the《Vajra Formula》,《Swift Movement》, and《Mountain-Sea Heart Sutra》.”
“I’ve already practiced sword techniques this morning.”
【!】
“Moreover, it contains the character ‘evil’,” Xiao Qi remarked, his eyes flashing briefly as he glanced at it. “I don’t wish to end up like Elder Yue Zhi.”
“I want to keep burning incense with Lin Shixiong.”
“If I become like Elder Yue Zhi, then… I won’t be able to anymore.”
Just now, he had been watching the educational channel, the image of Shui Qiantan visiting Yue Zhi at the Mountain Sea Sect in his youth.
Once one strays onto the path of evil… such moments will cease to exist, and the two will drift further and further apart.
Saying so, he also skimmed without reading and quickly entered his own cultivation.
Huangpu Yuan did the same.
He even furiously shattered the condensed black mist characters of the ancient evil general one by one with his spiritual energy!
【!】
His parents were killed by a malevolent cultivator.
【That’s right.】
Meanwhile, at another location, Bian Bocai directly took out an ink brush and instantly painted over the “evil cultivator” characters floating in the air, turning them black.
“What a pity, you appeared too late compared to Lin Shixiong,” Bian Bocai sighed. “Otherwise, with less demonic cultivation intelligence, I might have been curious enough to practice it a little.”
But now it’s too late.
The Charming Phantom: “…”
【His curiosity has been completely captured by Lin Shuang.】
【Lin Shuang is the one he cannot write about, the one he longs to comprehend! Evil cultivators… not interested, move along!】
The pressure now shifted entirely onto Meng Zi.
“If I report this person to the sect right now, will I get a reward of one hundred thousand?”
“Then I’d make a profit.”
Sinister Phantom: “!”
【…】
And in the copper mirror, Lin Shuang also saw black mist condensing before her mirror.
—Don’t you want to get out?
—If you don’t get out, you can’t learn the technique and resolve the flaws in your own technique.
—I can help you. If we attack the copper mirror together, I can also teach you a top-tier technique to suppress the flaws in your heart method. How about that?
The same temptation.
But Lin Shuang didn’t even see it.
She was writing her feasibility plan for combining techniques.
With earplugs inserted.
Xiao Ai spat a mouthful of spiritual energy onto the characters on the bronze mirror, saying, “Please make an appointment if you have any business.”
Sinister Phantom: “!”
How could it be that none of them were affected!
How could that be!
Then what should he do? He couldn’t be released.
If none of them practice evil arts, he can’t absorb them at this level!
[Lin Shuang… Kong Miaoke, both achieved the ‘Resist Temptation’ achievement.]
[Only one-third of the second layer restriction of the Evil Immortal has been unlocked.]
[The remaining restrictions will naturally dissolve in ten days.]
The sinister ghostly figure closed his eyes; well, he could wait for ten days.
That’s fine. In ten days, his Zhenchuan’s suppressed cultivation might find a way to barely recover to the Ruxu stage.
Unlike now, only at the fifth level of Spirit Refinement?
Wait.
Ten days, with the time-accelerating array, is just a few hours outside.
He can wait.
But just as this thought flashed, he was met with the next night.
Met with several alerts that astonished him beyond belief, blinding him!
[Lin Shuang has lost sixty percent of her blood, triggering the disciple protection of the nine-thousand trials!]
[Immediately transporting to the healing cave dwelling, six, five…]
Sinister Ghostly Figure: “?!”
【What?! What happened?!】
Did the evil immortal in the bronze mirror attack her?
But soon, the observing disciples saw the copper mirror shadow, whose evil expression had turned innocent and shocked.
[Zhao Keran has lost sixty percent of her blood, considered seriously injured… Immediate transport]
[Huangpu Yuan has lost sixty percent of his blood… Immediate transport]
[Meng Zi has lost seventy percent of his blood…]
[Xiao Qi has lost sixty percent of his blood…]
…
[Kong Miaoke has lost eighty percent of her blood… Immediate transport]
【!】
【What’s going on? Is this layer broken?!】
“That can’t be right! There’s only one Evil Immortal in the six-thousandth layer capable of attacking, but it hasn’t been released yet, right?!”
The ghostly skeleton in the copper mirror was shocked, its mouth agape.
Soon, the observing disciples saw the six doors standing in the rooms become blurred.
Because all the disciples who entered this layer, including Lin Shuang, were about to be transported away!
This layer was about to declare that all the disciples had failed the trial, and the environment of the nine-thousand trials began to change; they were about to disappear.
After the disciples leave, the trial layer will immediately close.
To preserve the sect’s spiritual energy, all formations, puppets, and magical treasures will enter a dormant state unless activated!
Just like that day in the Wang Jian layer, when all disciples truly passed the trial, the entire East City collapsed along with Wang Jian’s breakdown… This isn’t real damage, but rather the ‘movie’ ending, the screen turning off.
All spells, illusions, and time arrays will disappear, returning to the original real state of this place!
In the copper mirror, Lin Shuang slightly raised her eyes, spitting out blood.
No, there is no copper mirror now.
All disguises have disappeared; the six rooms and the copper mirror are gone.
Lin Shuang gazed at the black mist coiling around her body with a faint smile.
And standing opposite her, the shackled black shadow of the evil cultivator, positioned before six formation arrays.
One of his arms and one of his feet had been freed due to the release of one and a third seals.
Exuding the aura of divine refinement.
He was struggling fiercely because he saw that she was about to be transported away, and in an instant, the chains binding him snapped!
His aura instantly reached the fifth layer of Divine Refinement!
“You must at least be at the peak of the Void-Entry stage?”
Lin Shuang looked at the black shadow curiously, without any tension on her face despite her serious injuries.
Huangpu Yuan said that his hidden strength was higher than his spiritual consciousness cultivation.
That was a reminder for her not to wait too long.
Not until all three seals are removed by themselves.
Must act early.
Early enough that the opponent is unprepared, early enough that the opponent has no time to react.
As Lin Shuang spoke, blood was still dripping from her mouth.
“You’ve already unlocked a third of the seal and reached the fifth level of Divine Refinement. If we wait for you to fully release it, none of us would survive, would we?”
Sinister Ghostly Figure: “?”
How did she find out!
But suddenly, he saw her three-quarters of her body turned into blood water.
Turning into water, could it also turn into blood… Did she injure herself?
Why!
He stared in disbelief as her blood dripped down her blue robe.
Instantly, stunned!
All the disciples were seriously injured and transported away, the fastest way to break through all illusions of the nine-thousand trials!
She did it on purpose.
Intentionally using serious injury to transport, to dissolve all illusions.
Deliberately inflicting severe injuries to transport him, forcing him out in an incomplete state—Divine Refinement fifth layer!
He fell for it!
But why… Why would Lin Shuang injure herself, and the other six would follow!
Why… How could she have such confidence!
The black mist instantly turned ferocious, coiling tightly around Lin Shuang.
“So you really want to catch me.”
Lin Shuang smiled, swallowing the fifth-tier recovery pill she had been holding under her tongue, now mixed with blood.
“But unfortunately, it’s us who caught you first.”
As her words fell, the six bodies, also about to be transported away due to serious injuries, appeared in the empty six-thousandth floor as the room illusions disappeared!
Zhao Keran, Huangpu Yuan, Meng Zi, Xiao Qi, Bian Bo Cai, Kong Miaoke.
Each was pierced with swords, knives… flowers through the heart.
They were both bleeding non-stop!
But just like Lin Shuang, they quickly swallowed fifth-tier healing pills!
[!]
[!]
I need to gradually comprehend the cultivation technique and think about combining moves.
—Gotcha, just kidding.
I’m seriously injured, I must leave now.
—Sorry about that, but I’m kidding again!
“You’re not a puppet of the stone layer; you’re actually a dark cultivator!”
Lin Shuang instantly closed in. The puppet of this layer should have vanished and blurred from the severe injury’s teleportation—yet it remained here, a fifth-layer soul-refining demonic cultivator!
“I’ll go ahead first, you won’t be angry, right, gege~”
“!”
[!]
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