【Mu He… passed the 1,222nd layer of the Zhenchuan Trial!】
【Read 100,000 Books: Took 289 days.】
【Liu Chan, Xu Shanyun… passed the 307th layer of the trial!】
【Zodiac Trial: Took 93 days.】
At the Zhenchuan Trial, the fastest group of disciples continuously broke records.
The red list hovered repeatedly in the midair above the Zhenchuan River.
All of these seemed like the final straw that broke Meng Zi’s already strained nerves.
Everyone else had advanced many layers!
More and more new layer masters were emerging.
The spiritual stones left for him were decreasing rapidly!
He broke through the illusion formation, angrily striking down disciples blocking his path.
“Lin Shuang, Senior Huangpu—”
“I’m coming!”
Meng Zi, anxious and frantic, knew that Lin Shuang in her Qi Condensation stage and the frail Senior Huangpu wouldn’t last long.
But as he rushed to the cliffside stone bridge leading to the 841st layer, he abruptly halted.
He saw Lin Shuang in her green robe, unscathed and full of vigor.
As for the frail Senior Huangpu, his face was slightly pale but otherwise normal.
“???”
“Where are Chen Sheng and the others?”
Lin Shuang lowered her eyelashes slightly.
Before she could speak, suddenly a sharp crimson blood sword shot out from the thin lips of Senior Huangpu Yuan beside them.
“Cough—” Huangpu Yuan swayed dangerously.
Meng Zi instantly forgot to ask, his eyes bloodshot, “Senior Huangpu!”
Lin Shuang staggered back three steps in shock.
She barely dodged the sudden blood sword.
He spat blood even faster than the time she faked a faint in front of Senior Xu Rui.
She lifted her gaze toward Huangpu Yuan, whose long lashes cast shadows over his translucently handsome face, looking as if a breeze might topple him.
“Was it Chen Sheng and the others who injured you?!” Meng Zi roared furiously, “Those two villains…”
He wanted to say more, but Huangpu Yuan’s body swayed violently, and he closed his eyes, causing Meng Zi to panic immediately.
“Senior Huangpu, where are your pills?”
Lin Shuang opened her mouth.
First blood, then dizziness, collapse.
These waves of drama even had layers—she… learned something.
Meng Zi took the jade vial tremblingly handed over by Huangpu Yuan from his sleeve, seeing him weakly make a gesture indicating the number three.
He hurriedly poured out three pill-sized green beans, helping him swallow them.
“Damn it! That Chen Sheng guy caused this disaster and then vanished without a trace!”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Poor scapegoat Chen Sheng.
She looked at Huangpu Yuan, who sat cross-legged with his phoenix eyes tightly shut, his face pale, long lashes faintly quivering.
His previously neat robes were now stained with large patches of blood.
And the Dan Tian at the early stage of Condensation within his body had forcefully regressed to the initial stage of Condensation.
So realistic.
It was enough to make anyone pity him.
Huangpu Yuan’s lashes fluttered slightly, struggling to open his eyes, offering her a weak, powerless smile.
Lin Shuang: “…”
She also lowered her head, returning a frail smile typical of a Qi Condensation outer disciple.
Huangpu Yuan’s blood-stained index finger twitched.
*
“Master’s acting skills have truly become increasingly refined.”
Xiuqi Jingting, a disciple with fish scales on his forehead, shook his head while watching the projection stone.
Sitting beside Baiyu, he lowered his voice.
“If only his pill-making skills matched this level—he might already have grown nine tails.”
Baiyu: “…”
“It’s not entirely acting. Master can only exert one strike’s worth of strength per day.”
“You mean that one-strike power that could kill both of us in one punch?”
“…”
Baiyu’s pure, water-like eyes silently gazed into the distance.
Master… Lin Shuang…
Poor Senior Meng Zi, sigh.
*
Layer 841.
Thanks to Rongbao Studio’s high-quality pills, Huangpu Yuan had recovered from his bleeding state.
His combat power had returned to its original mode—unable to defeat Qi Condensation opponents, but at least wouldn’t die.
After repeatedly assuring them, Meng Zi agreed to enter this trial layer.
At over 800 layers high, the mountains and rivers below had become extremely tiny.
The mountain wind was fierce, the sunlight dazzling.
“It’s almost noon.”
Lin Shuang stretched her hand, watching the shadow fall straight onto her green silk shoes.
It was about to be her daily mealtime and moment of friendly communication.
She looked completely relaxed, radiating the joy and comfort of an impending lunch break.
“Watch your step. The cave dwelling is about to open.”
Unlike the 300th layer’s static cave dwelling, this one had a spiral stone bridge outside.
Each stone step bore a fierce beast carving, with the ancient characters “841” engraved on their foreheads.
Each stroke seemed carved by a sharp blade, deep and sharp.
Lin Shuang glanced a few times, then closed her eyes immediately, her eyes watering slightly.
With her Fire-Eyed King Technique activated, multiple slashes of sword intent seemed to revive from the beast carvings, striking down fiercely toward her.
Meng Zi strode ahead swiftly.
Beside her, Huangpu Yuan’s long eyelids fluttered slightly, his shadowed gaze brushing imperceptibly over her delicate lashes.
“The Zhenchuan Mountain Hall was jointly built by the Sect Leader, who was about to ascend, and the twelve Elders who had crossed the Tribulation when the Clearwater Sect was founded.”
“It has been maintained by several generations of Elders since, opened once every ten years, with each layer having different landscapes and trial contents.”
Lin Shuang raised her eyebrows, shifting her gaze from the beast carvings. So this layer was built by a sword master?
“A sword cultivator’s trial?”
Huangpu Yuan chuckled softly, clasping his hands behind his back while stepping onto the stone steps.
Meng Zi, already at Condensation Layer 4, used both arms to forcefully push open the tall, dark iron gate at the end of the stone bridge.
The gate also bore beast carvings, exuding steady spiritual energy.
But this beast carving was smooth and clean, as if constantly rubbed over the years.
This gate’s beast carving had no list of disciples who had passed?
Lin Shuang couldn’t help frowning.
Had no one passed this layer yet this year?
Creak, the massive gate fully opened inward.
Lin Shuang’s Fire-Eyed King Technique, running at full speed, instantly revealed the cave dwelling’s full appearance.
Rough stone walls surrounded tiger-patterned beast hide flooring, with empty wooden sword racks all around.
In the center stood a simple pearwood table, upon which rested a large jade bowl, about three fingers deep and one elbow wide.
Lin Shuang’s tense expression immediately relaxed.
Not only was there no place for sword techniques, but the setup was perfect for her lunch!
She was eager to act.
Meng Zi stared, somewhat disappointed.
But then he sighed in relief, “Well, the luck isn’t the worst. At least no fighting is needed.”
In the Zhenchuan Trial, disciples didn’t know the trial content of each layer before entering.
They couldn’t predict the questions, relying purely on luck.
[This layer’s trial: Ah, I’m dead.]
Lin Shuang was startled.
In an instant, a pale, blood-spitting illusion of a disciple appeared before the stone table!
Looking closely, this illusion was none other than Huangpu Yuan’s pale appearance.
Lin Shuang and Meng Zi froze, quickly turning to look at the real Huangpu Yuan behind them.
Finding him still there, they relaxed, realizing it was just an illusion.
But suddenly, two thick iron chains shot out from the stone walls.
Wrapping around Huangpu Yuan’s hands and feet, they lifted him into the air!
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
His eyelids lowered, he gave a soft laugh.
[The path of sword cultivation is fraught with dangers. A moment’s carelessness can lead to grave injuries and death.]
[Hence, I devised this trial: Your companion is in peril. Please sequentially place the corresponding pills into the stone bowl to heal him!]
[Total of 10 rounds.]
[In each round, if the medicinal effect is insufficient, the wrong remedy is used, or more than twelve heartbeats pass, the disciple will be deemed deceased and fail immediately.]
Lin Shuang and Meng Zi turned their heads simultaneously, looking at the frail Huangpu Yuan bound by chains.
[If the ‘companion’ dies, the trial fails.]
[Activation method—activate the jade bowl with spiritual energy.]
Meng Zi took a deep breath, turned around, clenched his fist, and bowed to the air.
“Senior Huangpu, my highest pill-making score—was C-Low.”
“…”
Huangpu Yuan remained expressionless, glancing at the projection of himself, his thin lips twitching slightly.
Lin Shuang scratched her nose.
*
“Does the trial have such questions?”
A few outer disciples already inside the Zhenchuan Mountain Hall watched the projection stone absentmindedly while asking passing disciples for directions to the resting area.
“The inner sect elders are quite interesting.”
Zhao Keran was nearing Condensation and about to enter the inner sect.
Watching Lin Shuang’s challenges was endlessly fascinating.
Senior Xu Rui shook his head, “Understanding basic medicinal knowledge is essential for self-defense when wandering the world as a cultivator.”
“But this round is somewhat difficult.”
He looked at the bound Huangpu Yuan in the projection stone, his face lacking the ease of the younger juniors and instead showing tension.
“With Huangpu Yuan, the Rongbao Studio manager familiar with numerous pills, bound, this likely isn’t coincidental.”
“This question isn’t that simple.”
Though Xu Rui was usually among the outer sect, his extensive experience struck the mark.
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shuang and Meng Zi in the projection stone both opened their storage bags, holding them in their hands, exchanging glances.
Meng Zi sent a stream of spiritual energy to activate the jade bowl—
[Ah, I’m dead. Challenge begins!]
[Round One—]
Instantly, the fallen ‘Huangpu Yuan’ illusion before them multiplied into three!
In a flash, there were three injured companions!
One ‘Huangpu Yuan’ had purple spots on his face;
Another ‘Huangpu Yuan’ clutched his left eye;
Another ‘Huangpu Yuan’ hissed, hugging his head!
Zhao Keran and the others widened their eyes.
Senior Xu Rui’s face was full of worry.
In the projection stone, even Meng Zi, who had initially been confident, was stunned.
“Damn it, his ancestor’s!”
“Lin Shuang, you take the left, I’ll handle the two on the right!”
He frantically pulled out several jade vials, sniffed them, then hastily switched to another bottle.
Watching the live broadcast, Zhao Keran couldn’t help covering his eyes.
“No, too slow!”
Twelve heartbeats!
Three heartbeats had already passed!
This was only Round One of the ‘Ah, I’m dead’ trial!
*
“Damn it, I finally managed to save three people, and now it’s turned into four again!”
At layer 841, several cave dwellings simultaneously initiated the “Ah, I’m dead” trial.
“Music cultivator collapsed from overexertion? Damn, last round he was still a sword cultivator with external injuries!”
“What pill treats Qi deviation?”
“What pill treats love enchantment?!”
“Did they mess up? We were in a fight, how did we end up with love enchantment?!”
Curses, groans, and despair echoed from the cave dwellings initiating this trial.
“Such bad luck, I thought this layer would be simple—”
“Give up, give up, go to another layer!”
“Back at the Clearwater Ritual Altar, I heard senior brothers say that in Zhenchuan, whenever you encounter a trial where someone’s about to die, if you’re not a pill cultivator, you should retreat immediately. You won’t pass, no use struggling!”
“I just want to know how previous layer masters managed to pass!”
Several groups of three entered the cave dwelling, then cursed their way out.
Because of their previous fast completion of 300 layers, some disciples watching Lin Shuang and Meng Zi’s live challenge projections had also noticed them entering this deadly trial, and directly turned off the projections.
“They won’t make it.”
“Better to watch later, no use wasting spiritual stones buying projections.”
Most felt sympathy for Meng Zi and his team, but some still followed closely.
For example, the slightly overweight Chen Sheng’s team, who fatefully also chose this layer.
Chen Sheng kept receiving messages from his senior brother.
“Junior brother, I’m watching your trial projection for this layer. Meng Zi and that outer sect girl also chose this layer like you!”
“This time, you mustn’t lose to that outer sect girl.”
Chen Sheng shivered with alertness.
He shifted his gaze back, staring intently at the four severely injured illusions before him!
“Quick, Wu Xing!”
This layer’s master must be theirs!
Among their three, fortunately, was a pill cultivator, Wu Xing.
Moreover, he, Chen Sheng, lived in the same cave dwelling with Wu Xing, going in and out together, sleeping together.
When Wu Xing recited medicinal formulas and theories, he had heard quite a lot!
Right now, the bound pill cultivator Wu Xing, like Huangpu Yuan, couldn’t move.
But he looked at the illusion question before him, thought for a moment, then spoke, “Three Regrowth Pills! One Clear Spirit Pill and one Blood Pill each! One Icy Pill! One Lotus Powder!”
Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng quickly searched through Wu Xing’s medicine pouch!
After living together for six years, he was very familiar!
“They’re in the Cicada Jade box.”
“The Blood Pill, the one sealed with red clay!”
“The Lotus has a tea fragrance—”
Wu Xing gave instructions, and familiar Chen Sheng searched with ease, well within twelve heartbeats.
Chen Sheng’s confidence surged.
Losing at layer 349 didn’t matter; obtaining the 841 layer master would elevate them further!
As an outer sect disciple, even if Lin Shuang concealed her strength, she wouldn’t be useful in this pill-based trial.
Meng Zi was a true sword cultivator.
By the fourth round of ‘Ah, I’m dead,’ Chen Sheng even had the leisure to confidently ask his messaging senior brother, “What round is Lin Shuang on!”
While asking, Chen Sheng wore a victorious smile, his heart demons defeated by Lin Shuang’s ‘massage’ gradually dissipating.
But suddenly, his eye twitched.
“Junior brother, hurry!”
“?”
“In the third round, she was only on the first round; now in the fourth round, she’s already on the third! Hurry!”
“??”
Chen Sheng’s eye stiffened, looking at the four ‘Wu Xing’ illusions before him.
“Ah junior brother, they’re also on the fourth round!”
What?
Lin Shuang was only two rounds behind them, now they were tied?
Impossible…
Chen Sheng widened his eyes.
“Junior brother, they’re on the fifth, no, sixth round!”
Chen Sheng: “!”
His hands froze mid-search.
“Eleventh heartbeat, twelfth heartbeat… this disciple has perished.”
“Chen Sheng, Wu Xing, Qian Wanjun, failed Round Five. Please restart from Round One.”
The merciless judgment from the trial cave dwelling caused Chen Sheng to stagger backward.
Similarly retreating, nearly backing into the stone wall, Meng Zi stared wide-eyed at his two teammates.
Four ‘Huangpu Yuans’… six ‘Huangpu Yuans’, seven ‘Huangpu Yuans’, appeared in sequence.
He needed at least three or four heartbeats just to identify their different injuries.
Then he had to think about which pill to use, then search his storage bag.
But—
From the first round, Lin Shuang had already taken out her strange square ‘medicine box’ from her storage bag.
Transparent, layered.
Each compartment labeled with tags and purposes.
First layer: Emergency, Poison antidote
Second layer: Chronic symptoms
Third layer: Spiritual energy, Mind restoration
Fourth layer: satiate hunger, accelerate speed, maintain beauty.
Her hands danced swiftly, hardly glancing down at the medicine chest.
It seemed she had memorized the exact location of every pill.
Without hesitation, without errors.
[Medicinal effect achieved.]
[Disciple healed.]
[Disciple temporarily survives.]
…
[Disciple out of danger.]
[Seventh trial passed!]
Meng Zi could hardly breathe.
When the seventh trial ended and ten Huangpu Yuans collapsed simultaneously, Lin Shuang hesitated slightly.
“Not enough time. Seventh round, ten injured. The eighth round will be even harder…”
Her expression darkened.
“Not enough time…”
Meng Zi opened his mouth, knowing she had done exceptionally well—far better than him. “If it’s really impossible, we can switch trials.”
“No.”
Lin Shuang took a deep breath.
“We cannot lose here.”
It’s already the seventh trial! If we fail now, all the time spent on the previous seven trials will be wasted!
“Senior Brother Huangpu!”
Huangpu Yuan also frowned as he looked at the ten “versions of himself” before him. “Junior Sister, I will do my best.”
With that, he fixed his gaze forward.
But just as he was about to announce the pills as before, he watched in shock as Lin Shuang, taking advantage of the brief pause after completing the seventh trial, slapped a thick stack of talismans from her storage pouch and hurled them toward him—right at his lips!
Huangpu Yuan: “!?!”
Meng Zi: “??!”
In an instant, Huangpu Yuan’s thin lips were covered with twelve Grade One speed talismans on both the upper and lower lips.
His pill-calling speed immediately tripled!
“Stopping bleeding, rejuvenating, fire lotus pill for pure yin… Ling Jue Qing Jue Bazizi powder!”
In one breath, he rattled them off rapidly, his lips flapping so fast they seemed to spark!
Meng Zi: “…!”
He turned his head stiffly, only to see Lin Shuang had, at some point, also plastered countless speed talismans onto her hands and arms.
Her hands moved like flowing water.
Pills flew out at high speed.
The air cracked with explosive friction—there were even afterimages of Lin Shuang’s arms, up to twelve at once!
Meng Zi, standing close by, could see clearly at first, but soon couldn’t keep up anymore.
“Seventh trial, passed in nine breaths.”
“Eighth trial, passed in six breaths.”
“Ninth trial, passed in six breaths.”
“Tenth trial—”
Ten ‘Huangpu Yuans’ appeared in an instant, and collapsed just as quickly.
In the blink of an eye.
Before Meng Zi could even see the last one, he heard the solemn voice from the cave dwelling.
“Tenth trial, passed in six breaths.”
[Congratulations, Huangpu Yuan, Meng Zi, and Lin Shuang! You have set a new record for the fastest completion of layer 841, ‘Ah, I’m Dead!’]
[Time taken: fifty-two breaths.]
“…”
Meng Zi took a step back.
Huangpu Yuan remained silent, closing his mouth still covered in talismans.
Lin Shuang let out a deep sigh, “I thought the number of participants might increase in later trials, but it was always just ten Senior Brother Huangpu.”
She looked as if her effort had been wasted.
Meng Zi fell silent, and after seeing the ugly Grade One speed talismans drifting to the ground, he became lost in complicated thoughts.
Huangpu Yuan stood still, looking dazed, as if he had been tainted, his hand touching the talismans on his lips.
[Huangpu Yuan, Meng Zi, and Lin Shuang may now proceed to the Rest Pavilion to claim the rewards for clearing this layer!]
How did she do it?
The leaderboard floated again.
Everyone who saw it—Chen Sheng, Bai Yu, countless inner sect disciples, and even Xu Rui from the outer sect—fell silent.
“Junior Sister Lin, I never imagined your talismans would be so… masterful.”
The chains binding Huangpu Yuan instantly vanished.
Looking toward Lin Shuang, the twenty yellow paper talismans stuck to his lips rustled eerily.
He chuckled.
His phoenix eyes seemed to flush red for a moment, but it quickly faded. Expressionless, he peeled off the twenty talismans with his index finger.
His eyelids lowered, and a wrinkle at the corner of his eyes seemed to tremble.
Lin Shuang turned her head away, coughed lightly, and the talismans in her hands trembled. Her arms, still under the effects of the speed boost, ached painfully.
“Senior worked hard.”
“I didn’t expect your eyesight to improve so much either.”
She looked back at Huangpu Yuan, her moist eyes narrowing meaningfully.
She had just pushed her fire-seeing technique to its absolute limit, trying to keep up with his pace, and now her eyes were slightly red.
But within a few breaths, Huangpu Yuan, observing dozens of people, still had clear, unweary eyes.
“Hehe, mutual admiration.”
Their eyes met briefly.
“Just natural eyesight.”
“Nothing much, Senior Brother. Just some low-level, Grade C talismans.”
“…”
“…”
Both paused simultaneously, then exited the cave dwelling of layer 841 at the same time.
Meng Zi lagged behind, his temple twitching.
He tightly pressed his temple, then suddenly drew the bright large sword behind him.
“You two—stand still!!”
“Huangpu Yuan! Lin Shuang!!”
His roar shook the cave entrance so violently that dust rained down, blocking Lin Shuang and Huangpu Yuan’s path.
“What the hell is going on! Explain yourselves!!”
“!”
“…”
At Meng Zi’s shout, Huangpu Yuan and Lin Shuang both took a step back.
“Aiyah.”
As they backed against the cliff wall, a sudden, eerie sigh echoed in their ears.
It sounded like an old man, yet also like a middle-aged man.
One sound, and their scalps tingled.
An overwhelming pressure swept over their entire bodies!
“Who’s there!?”
Meng Zi gripped his sword tightly.
Lin Shuang held onto her storage pouch.
Huangpu Yuan lifted his gaze.
The dust shaken loose by Meng Zi’s roar settled to the ground.
Inside the cave dwelling, the scene gradually became clear.
No one was there.
But a curtain of light, like cascading water, suddenly appeared beside the tea table at the cave entrance.
Lin Shuang and the others froze.
They watched as in the light curtain’s projection, several disciples in Qing Shui Sect robes were sliced into pieces in an instant by more than a dozen black threads in midair!
They didn’t even have time to scream. Blood sprayed, and their dantians were destroyed.
The only surviving Qing Shui Sect disciple had lost half an arm. He roared in grief and fury, but before he could even glance at the bloodied remains beside him, he fled at full speed!
Let alone saving anyone, he couldn’t even retrieve the corpses!
“If the final question had been like that just now, how would you have handled it?”
The elder’s voice from within the cave, accompanied by the sight of blood flowing like water in the curtain, exploded in their ears.
Lin Shuang and the others exchanged glances.
“You have passed today’s trial and become the fastest.”
“But beyond Condensing Essence, there are Refining Spirit and Entering Emptiness…”
“An ordinary cultivator’s life or death lies in the whim of a powerful being.”
“Today, in fifty-two breaths, you saved seventy-five people.”
“Tomorrow, in a single thought, how many could you save?”
The scar on Lin Shuang’s wrist hidden in her sleeve suddenly burned painfully.
She clenched her fist instantly.
Before a strong cultivator, the weak have no path to survival!
Huangpu Yuan gazed at the phantom in the cave, where the body fragments dissolved into blood. His phoenix eyes gradually reflected a vivid crimson.
Meng Zi gripped his pitch-black sword handle tightly, his brows sharp as blades, glaring beyond the water curtain.
“So you’re saying we should run away and give up like that!?” Meng Zi couldn’t help but shout angrily.
The solemn voice transformed into a light laugh.
“I await you beyond the Divine Refinement, at the nine thousand levels of Zhen Chuan. Return and answer me once more!”
All three were shaken.
Even though it was nearly noon, Lin Shuang’s entire body was already entering a state of rest.
But at this moment, she couldn’t help reaching out to press her hand against her dantian.
Surging blood and energy boiled hotly.
It was as if a voice within her body was screaming uncontrollably—Condensing Essence, Refining Spirit, Entering Emptiness…
She wanted to climb higher, level by level, all the way to the peak of the nine thousand Zhen Chuan levels, to become the strongest!
“Nine thousand levels…”
Meng Zi murmured.
“Who knows which level you’ll be on when Zhen Chuan changes every ten years?”
But the water curtain’s vision dimmed, and no one answered.
Inside the cave dwelling, the pressure that had made their blood churn vanished in an instant.
As if nothing had ever happened.
Yet within this study cave, a jade box on a hundred-treasure shelf opened.
Three half-circular dried leaves, sliced by sharp sword qi, appeared before the three.
The sword qi still steamed from the leaves, leaving only a line of powerful small characters.
—Nine Thousand Levels of Divine Refinement: Life or Death.
Each word was clear, and the blade had not pierced through the thin dried leaves.
It showed the cultivator level of the question setter.
“The spiritual sense on this matches the beast carvings on the stone bridge we passed earlier—it’s the same source.”
Huangpu Yuan picked up one of the dried leaves and examined it closely.
“This should be a Grade Three spirit treasure. It’s said that if a disciple performs exceptionally well, the elder who set the trial will leave behind a ‘Zhen Chuan Guide’.”
Meng Zi, still furious at seeing his fellow disciples die tragically, suddenly had his peach-blossom eyes light up.
“Grade Three spirit treasure? Senior Brother Huangpu, how much could this fetch at Rong Bao Zhai?”
Lin Shuang’s eye twitched.
Even Huangpu Yuan seemed to have momentarily forgotten what he was about to say.
He turned his head and smiled at Lin Shuang instead.
“Junior sister, the Zhen Chuan cave dwelling undergoes cyclical changes every year.”
“It’s rare for disciples to enter the same trial within a hundred years.”
“This guiding leaf will activate with spiritual energy once we reach the Refining Spirit stage and possess the strength to ascend beyond nine thousand levels. It can directly lead us to the trial set by this elder—’Death or Not Death.'”
Lin Shuang understood instantly. “A guiding talisman, exclusive to Zhen Chuan. Is it also bound to our player IDs?”
Huangpu Yuan was taken aback.
But soon he chuckled and nodded. “Junior sister means it’s linked to the breath of the disciples who passed the trial? Precisely.”
“Junior sister is indeed exceptionally bright,” Huangpu Yuan nodded gracefully.
Lin Shuang modestly smiled.
“Hey hey hey, are you two ignoring me completely?”
Meng Zi, holding his large sword, paced between the two.
“Got it, it can’t be sold! Only the three of us can use it! How stingy can this old elder get?”
“Hey! Can you two at least look at me when I’m talking? Where to next!”
“Wait… you two haven’t explained everything to me yet—”
Huangpu Yuan and Lin Shuang, in perfect sync, stepped toward the cave exit.
“Junior sister, how about taking a break?”
“Sure.”
“A rest? Are you two ordinary mortals?” Meng Zi shouted.
As the three talked, they entered the teleportation formation outside the cave and arrived at the central level—the Zhen Chuan Rest Pavilion.
“Little miss, young sir, interested in cave dwellings… Oh, it’s you.”
A pink-robed woman approached with a smile, but when she recognized Lin Shuang and the others, she froze.
“You three are quite lucky.”
One in green robes, an outer sect disciple.
One a sickly, coughing-blood disciple.
Only one was a normal Ning Yuan sword cultivator.
And they had reached the 800th level of Zhen Chuan.
The pink-robed woman especially glanced at Lin Shuang, then reached down to unfasten the seventh and eighth jade tablets strung together from her waist.
“Little miss, want to look at cave dwelling number 800?”
“Once you enter the inner sect, you can’t sleep on the mountains anymore. Cave dwelling prices have only risen for a hundred years straight!”
“Sister isn’t lying. Buy early while you still can.”
Lin Shuang stopped, clearly interested. “How far is number 800 from the Transmission Hall?”
The pink-robed woman fell silent instantly.
Meng Zi chuckled. “An hour by sword flight.”
“!”
Lin Shuang looked hurt as she stared at the pink-robed woman.
It was only a little closer than the 300-number cave dwelling they had seen earlier.
Five rings.
Indeed, don’t laugh at six rings when you’re on the fifth. All are round-trip journeys of over two hours.
Lin Shuang wore a pained expression, shaking her head.
Huangpu Yuan also looked displeased. “Let’s go. No immortal cranes dwell in such places… not even fire spirit chickens would land.”
The pink-robed woman’s temple twitched, but she forced a smile.
“If you go up further, you’ll reach a thousand layers.”
“Ordinary disciples with weak combat power are not advised to continue upward. Now is the time to buy cave dwelling number 800—”
But before she could finish, Lin Shuang and the others had already walked past her.
“Thanks, I’ll come back to take a look another time,” Lin Shuang politely waved.
The pink-robed woman took a deep breath.
Just as she was about to angrily turn away, she looked up and saw two beast head water patterns faintly emerging on Lin Shuang’s chest. She froze.
One embroidered with ‘349’, the other with ‘841’.
They were the Zhen Chuan emblems of fastest completion for layers 349 and 841!
The pink-robed woman’s expression changed instantly.
[Layer 841 Reward Settlement:]
Lin Shuang and the others had already arrived at the stone tablet to check their rewards.
[841 contribution points have been distributed.]
[Additionally, the fastest-clearing layer owners receive rewards—]
With a series of ‘papapa’ sounds, the stone tablet spat out a long string of reward coupons, flying rapidly toward Lin Shuang and the others.
Lin Shuang reached out and found that this time, there was an extra dried leaf.
—9999 spirit stones, usable for cave dwellings numbered 1–800…
—2000 spirit stones, usable for inner sect spiritual energy fees… and other daily expenses;
—1000 spirit stones, usable for Grade Two heavenly treasures or other purchases;
—500 spirit stones, usable throughout the entire sect.
Their eyes all flickered simultaneously.
This layer introduced rewards usable throughout the entire sect.
The rewards upgraded as the layers increased.
Lin Shuang silently adjusted the water pattern on the stone tablet, checking other redeemable items.
[Volume Two of the 132nd Generation Qing Shui Sect Leader Lu’s Notes (with autograph)] 200 spirit stones
[Short Version of Leader Lu’s Sayings] 500 spirit stones
[How to Dual Cultivate (Fragment)] 1000 spirit stones
…
[Shao Ke Accompanies You in Talisman Crafting, Volume Two] 1000 spirit stones
Lin Shuang’s eyes sparkled. Indeed, the ‘chicken soup’ literature had upgraded.
Shao Ke’s talisman crafting series—every five hundred layers, there was a new volume?
Following this logic, Volume Twelve of ‘Accompanies You in Talisman Crafting’ could be redeemed at the six thousandth layer?
As she pondered, Huangpu Yuan had already shown interest and exchanged 500 spirit stones for a copy of [Short Version of Leader Lu’s Sayings]. It wasn’t expensive.
Such senior sayings were usually only accessible to disciples who had contributed to the sect.
They couldn’t be bought at Rong Bao Zhai.
Huangpu Yuan flipped open the first page as soon as he got the book.
Curious, Lin Shuang and Meng Zi leaned over to take a look.
[Chapter One: How to Kowtow to Elders]
“!”
All three froze at the sight.
They hadn’t expected the current Qing Shui Sect leader, Leader Lu, to be like this.
Huangpu Yuan’s eyes flickered, and he quickly turned to the next page.
“Fool! You want to take a shortcut? Kowtow? I’ll twist your legs off and let you sleep hugging them!”
A puff of sound, the curse transformed into a water sword and surged out of the book.
Huangpu Yuan’s hand trembled.
The water sword pierced with a “puchi” sound, like a rushing stream, splashing onto Meng Zi’s face beside him.
Meng Zi: “…!”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Huangpu Yuan quickly shut the book, “Hmm, good, this collection of quotes.”
Meng Zi gritted his teeth.
He endured.
Master Lu, he would remember this!
Never again would he buy books written by Master Lu—they were all rip-offs!
Buy them for washing his face?
And as for Senior Huangpu…
“Let’s go, let’s climb a few more floors!” Meng Zi inhaled deeply, suppressing his irritation.
But Huangpu Yuan gave an apologetic look, “Sorry, junior brother, I’m a bit tired.”
His phoenix eyes lowered.
Five hundred floors—was Huangpu Yuan’s record for the years at Zhenchuan.
“Then let’s rest for a while.”
Lin Shuang pressed her rapidly beating chest, she needed to adjust herself too.
“Besides, it’s already time for my lunch.” Saying so, she took out her wooden lunchbox.
Meng Zi: “!”
Huangpu Yuan: “…?”
Lin Shuang calmly returned to the tea table where they had rested earlier. From her spatial pouch, she took out a red-and-white checkered square cloth.
With great ceremony, she spread it on the table.
Then she placed three bowls and dishes, and three pairs of chopsticks on it.
With equal ceremony, she opened the lunchbox containing her meal for today.
Inside were five pill-like grains arranged into a smiling face.
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
Meng Zi: “…?”
“Oh, right, lunchtime is also a time for bonding.”
“??”
“So, Senior Brother Meng, now I can answer your previous question.”
Lin Shuang glanced at the hourglass timer on the cloth, then carefully divided a thumb-sized pill into four pieces with her chopsticks.
She happily ate one-fourth with some spirit tea.
“I don’t have any secrets.
Entering Zhenchuan was simply to qualify for the elite inner sect disciple position.”
Huangpu Yuan held his teacup to his lips; the lid clinked discordantly.
“What?! Elite inner disciple? You?”
Meng Zi clutched his throat; the pill he had just swallowed slid straight down.
A passing pink-robed woman jingled with several cave dwelling jade slips at her waist.
Her cat-like eyes were full of absurdity.
Meng Zi laughed, “You don’t mean the elite who will represent Clearwater Sect in the Donghua Inner Sect Grand Competition, right?”
Lin Shuang flipped a page of the “Taotie Hua Ben” novel, and with her chopsticks, picked up half a pill, chewing slowly while sipping spirit tea.
“Yeah, more or less.”
Huangpu Yuan’s temple twitched.
The pink-robed woman pressed her forehead.
Meng Zi lowered his head.
He had misjudged her.
Previously, he thought she was lazy and had low cultivation.
Now he realized, she was just ill.
Right there, he picked up the bamboo chopsticks in front of him and solemnly drew a triangular mountain on the red-and-white checkered cloth.
“One-third, two-thirds,” he slashed his chopsticks across the mountain’s waist.
“This is Zhenchuan.
We are here now.”
His chopsticks circled the area from the foot of the mountain up to one-third of its height.
“Layers 1 to 3000 represent the lower and middle stages of Yuan Condensation, corresponding to cultivation levels below Yuan Condensation levels 4 and 5.”
Meng Zi’s eyebrows twitched.
“Going higher, layers 3000 to 6000, only those at the high Yuan Condensation stage can enter.”
“Beyond 6,000 layers, it is designated for disciples who have reached the Yuan Condensation peak and are advancing towards Lianshen…”
Having said that, Meng Zi listlessly threw down his chopsticks.
Then he grabbed another pill and bit into it with a crunch.
“Elite inner disciples aren’t something you can just become. Do you think no one has reached above layer 3000 in Zhenchuan?”
Lin Shuang listened, slowing her page-turning.
She was listening with great interest.
“Senior Brother, your words are really appetite-stimulating, but from earlier, I realized my mistake and adjusted my original goal.”
You’re the one with the appetite!
Meng Zi chewed the pill loudly, “Knowing when to back off, you’re wise indeed.”
“Don’t forget to mention, even inner disciples who reached layer 9000 are nearly a hundred years old.”
“Ah.”
Lin Shuang’s eyes sparkled.
She gathered the last few crumbs of the pill with her chopsticks, scooped them into a spoon, and swallowed them.
After wiping her mouth clean, she took out paper and ink, and wrote swiftly.
Long-term plan: Reach layer 9000 of Zhenchuan—live or die
Medium-term plan: Reach layer 6000 of Zhenchuan
Short-term plan: Reach layer 3000 of Zhenchuan
She pointed at the list, “Long-term: over ten years; medium-term: five to ten years; short-term: one year.”
As Meng Zi was about to mock her, she continued writing.
Plan for this entry into Zhenchuan:
1. Become an elite outer disciple
2. Become an inner sect disciple
3. Become an elite inner disciple (?? Need new information, pending correction)
Meng Zi stared, “What does this mean?”
Huangpu Yuan, hands behind his back, came over to look, soon his thin lips twitched, “Killing three birds with one arrow… Sister Lin came to Zhenchuan for this reason.”
Lin Shuang gave Huangpu Yuan a knowing look, as if to say, “You understand me.”
Meng Zi: “??? Wait, what exactly does this mean?”
The pink-robed woman silently approached, hand resting on the key to her cave dwelling.
Lin Shuang continued writing.
[Plan Adjustment]
This trip was also highlighted.
“After passing two layers of trials and based on the information provided by Senior Brother and the hints from the elders, I’ve added and adjusted my plans.”
Lin Shuang said, and rows of neat small characters appeared on the paper.
“Previously, I was wrong, short-sighted, only focused on the short-term goal of becoming an elite inner disciple.
Eager to save a year or two recently, but forgetting the long-term goal of five to ten years—cultivating to above Lianshen, completing all 9999 layers of Zhenchuan. If I don’t reach the summit, inner disciples must take the exam every ten years.”
Hearing the mention of completing all 9999 layers, the pink-robed woman looked at her as if she were mad.
Lin Shuang continued, “Thanks to the elder’s hint at layer 841… Now I will consider the long-term goal and adjust my plan accordingly.”
[Add new Zhenchuan plan:
Goal 4: Obtain more Zhenchuan Ferry Leaves (possibly gaining favor from inner sect elders)—maintaining long-term important connections, increasing chances of obtaining rare cultivation techniques and spirit treasures.]
The eavesdropping pink-robed woman couldn’t help exclaiming, “Ferry Leaves? Do you think they’re something you can just take?”
But Lin Shuang didn’t respond, nor did Meng Zi or Huangpu Yuan.
All three stared at the words ‘favor from inner sect elders’, ‘rare cultivation techniques and spirit treasures’, eyes gleaming.
Meng Zi raised an eyebrow, “Not impossible, first time meeting, second time familiar.”
Huangpu Yuan also pursed his lips slightly, “We obtained the Ferry Leaf at layer 841, so we can infer the way to get them is by passing with excellent historical results.”
The Ferry Leaf at layer 841…!?
The pink-robed woman’s eyes widened instantly, looking at the three of them, “You got one of the Ferry Leaves?”
But no one answered.
Lin Shuang continued writing.
[Goal 5: Complete the layers as quickly as possible (more rewards, more spirit stones, more resources), which can save time for future cultivation.]
Meng Zi looked wistful.
Huangpu Yuan didn’t seem particularly interested.
“Do you really think completing the layers quickly is that easy? You’ve only passed two layers!”
The pink-robed woman was angry.
But no one replied.
Lin Shuang had already reached the end.
[Goal 6: Use the trials for cultivation—effectively choosing the trial layers, combining my cultivation plan with the trial content. Not only progressing on two fronts, but also maximizing the chances of gaining opportunities, thus shortening the long-term goal (completing all 9999 layers of Zhenchuan).]
The pink-robed woman’s face was filled with absurdity, “Do you know how many people in history have completed Zhenchuan? Not a single one!”
Still, no one paid her any attention.
After finishing her writing, Lin Shuang silently recited her plan once, feeling very satisfied with herself today.
No plan is perfect, adapting to changes is the best way.
“By the way, Senior Brothers, do you have any additions?”
The pink-robed woman’s temple throbbed, again and again.
Meng Zi’s peach blossom eyes were full of oddity, “Lin Shuang… you spend so much time thinking about these things instead of cultivating faster than others?”
Xiao Bai, you really misunderstood her.
Have you ever truly seen her?
He frowned; every short-term and long-term plan she wrote made him feel tempted.
Spirit stones, spirit stones, all spirit stones!
“Lin Shuang, to be honest, I’m really tempted too.”
“But the sixth point, every time Zhenchuan opens, the layers’ positions change.”
“No disciple knows which trial corresponds to which layer this year. Disciples can’t take advantage by choosing trials they are good at. So, you want to choose the trial content, integrating your cultivation with the trials. That’s impossible.”
The pink-robed woman nodded repeatedly, “Exactly! Don’t try to get away with it—”
Huangpu Yuan held his teacup, his phoenix eyes flickering.
But Lin Shuang placed her hand on the paper on the tea table.
“No, it’s not random. We have a way to choose.”
“???”
“Xiao Ai, play the trial recordings since entering Zhenchuan.”
“!”
[Huangpu Yuan… passed the trial of Zhenchuan River Layer 841!]
[Ah, I’m dead: took 52 breaths.]
[Mu He… passed the trial of Zhenchuan River Layer 1222!]
[Reading 100,000 Books: took 189 days.]
[Liu Chan, Xu Shanyun… passed the trial of Layer 307!]
[Sheng Xiao: took 93 days.]
…
[Baga Killing Formation: took 13 days.]
One red list message after another replayed.
…
The pink-robed woman was stunned.
Huangpu Yuan’s lips curled upward.
Meng Zi’s large sword trembled slightly in his hand.
“See? Don’t we already know?”
Lin Shuang lowered her head and quickly drew an Excel summary table.
“Reading 100,000 Books… Baga Killing Formation… you circle the ones you’re confident in, and the ones you want to try!”
Exams have some small techniques too; start with what you’re good at to build confidence.
Once the brain is activated, it’s unstoppable.
“…”
“If you have no ideas, how about we go to ‘Reading 100,000 Books’?”
[Mu He… passed the trial of Zhenchuan River Layer 1222!]
[Reading 100,000 Books: took 189 days.]
Lin Shuang pointed at this item.
“Judging from the completion time, it probably has a time-accelerating formation, maybe 100:1. Judging from the title, it seems to involve disciples comprehending and receiving cultivation techniques.”
Lin Shuang’s face was glowing.
“Training, earning time, breaking records, obtaining cultivation techniques, gaining the elders’ favor—this is not just one arrow five targets… no, this is a bumper harvest!”
“!!”
The pink-robed woman was stunned.
When the three left, Xu Rui, the outer sect supervisor, arrived with Zhao Keran, Zhou Xuanwu, and Chen Sixin to report in, but the pink-robed woman still hadn’t fully recovered.
“Master Min, we are here under Master Li Dao’s orders to assist in Zhenchuan.”
Pink-robed woman: “…”
Hearing the voice, her eyes gradually regained their luster, her expression strange, “You… are you the outer sect that was with Lin Shuang?”
She could hardly recognize the outer sect anymore!
Are outer sect disciples so arrogant now?
The pink-robed woman looked at Zhao Keran and the others, her gaze sharp, “Layers below 3000 in Zhenchuan are all under my control.”
“You few, clean up the cave dwelling after trials, manage the disciples’ inappropriate comments in the trial projections, and bring the passed disciples here to me for accommodation, understood?”
If Meng Zi were here, he would probably be greatly surprised.
This pink-robed aunt was not the retired elder he thought.
She was one of the chief supervisors of the first 3000 layers of Zhenchuan!
“Oh, and during your free time, you can do as you please. If no one is going to the layers below a thousand, you can try to challenge them.”
“But as working Dao apprentices, there are no rewards, understand?”
She finished in one breath, leaving no room for objection, completely different from her previous friendly demeanor during ‘accommodation.’
Zhao Keran quickly took notes and bravely raised her hand first, “What does ‘managing inappropriate comments in the projections’ mean?”
“Just like this—”
The pink-robed woman casually switched to trial layer 600, then stood up in sudden alarm.
“Oh no, I forgot to lift the disciples’ muting!”
“…”
She hurriedly tapped a talisman behind the jade table, performing a series of operations.
Instantly, several projections floated up from behind the jade table.
The appearances of disciples who had passed various layers simultaneously appeared.
Even more text floated through these layered projections.
[Ah, I can leave messages in the projection now?]
[Finally! The moderator remembered us! I’ve been muted for so long…]
[Damn it, I’ve been holding back for ages, has anyone seen an outer sect female disciple! I’m so curious, where is she now?]
[Finally able to chat with fellow juniors and seniors here in Zhenchuan, separated by hundreds of layers. Farewell, I’m going to layer 4000 first, feel free to come watch and cheer for me.]
[Who wants to watch you? Look at layer 1222’s projection! The outer sect disciple Lin Shuang and the sickly Senior Huangpu have taken over two layers! They’re going there!]
Zhao Keran and the outer sect crowd opened their mouths in shock.
The pink-robed woman’s eyes widened.
*
Inside the projection stone, the three of them had already been teleported to a sea of books.
[Layer 1222: Read Ten Thousand Books]
[I read ten thousand books in the mist, still a nobody when I rise.]
This extended subtitle was quite ominous.
Lin Shuang was stunned.
Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan were also helpless and amused.
She probably overestimated the reward of getting a technique.
[This trial: Any disciple who memorizes any cultivation technique word for word and cultivates it to the second level will pass.]
“!!!”
It’s real!
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