Chapter 380: How Many Brain Cells Died Before Coming Back?

Six months later.

At the martial arts training ground of Wuming Peak, two figures were practicing. A series of dull sounds echoed throughout the entire peak.

“You can all take a break now. There’s no need to rush,” Gong Bingye softly called out to the two figures on the field.

“Okay, Gong Sister,” Zhiliao set aside her long sword, grabbed some pastries from the table, and began eating contentedly.

“I’ll be over in a minute,” You Jiuling didn’t stop. Her small body leaned against the wooden post mechanism, striking it repeatedly with a staff.

With every strike, You Jiuling tightly bit her lips to prevent herself from crying out. Sweat poured down her delicate face, but not a single complaint escaped her lips.

With every blow, a stream of energy coursed through her limbs and meridians.

Zhiliao was cultivating the “Sword Canon.” However, You Jiuling did not cultivate the “Sword Canon.” Instead, she practiced the “Titanium Grade Demon Body.”

This cultivation method originally had only three layers, but when someone received a spiritual transmission, it could be cultivated up to the sixth layer. Therefore, during his spare time, Lin Fan had carefully written down all six layers and placed them on Wuming Peak.

Wanting to follow in her master’s footsteps, You Jiuling chose to cultivate the “Titanium Grade Demon Body.”

This technique was extremely arduous, nearly unbearable for a child.

After becoming Lin Fan’s disciple, You Jiuling did not keep secrets. Instead, she wrote down the high-tier martial arts technique, “Heaven and Earth Five Thunder Palm,” and placed it in the martial arts pavilion on Wuming Peak.

When the final strike landed on You Jiuling’s body, a warm current broke through a bottleneck.

The first layer of the “Titanium Grade Demon Body” was successfully completed.

You Jiuling wiped the sweat from her forehead, then walked to Gong Bingye with a sweet smile, grabbing a pastry. “Thank you, Gong Sister.”

During this time, Gong Bingye had resigned as the head of her clan and stayed on Wuming Peak to take care of these two children.

“Junior apprentice sister, Master said cultivation should be moderate. We can take it slow,” Zhiliao, though young in age, had entered earlier and was no longer the youngest apprentice. She had successfully become the senior apprentice sister.

“Senior apprentice sister, you’re wrong. Cultivation must be persistent. Once in the zone, one must push forward relentlessly until completion,” You Jiuling said while eating a pastry and shaking her head.

“Junior apprentice sister, I’m the senior one now, so you must listen to me,” Zhiliao pouted.

“No, when the senior apprentice sister is wrong, the junior apprentice sister should correct her,” You Jiuling shook her head again.

“Junior apprentice sister, if you don’t listen to me, I won’t play with you anymore,” Zhiliao, having finally become a senior apprentice sister, wanted to enjoy the charm of her new status.

“No, one must not blindly obey but have independent thoughts,” You Jiuling said while grabbing another pastry.

“Junior apprentice sister, you must listen to me,” Zhiliao stood with one hand on her hip, mimicking an adult.

“I won’t listen,” You Jiuling shook her head.

…

Gong Bingye watched this scene with a slight smile, “Alright… alright, no more arguing. Don’t talk while eating.”

“Gong Sister is right. Don’t talk while eating,” You Jiuling said.

Zhiliao pouted, feeling defeated. She had hoped that becoming a senior apprentice sister would mean gaining a follower, but this junior sister didn’t listen to her at all.

Xiaobai, resting lazily nearby, let out a lazy growl, seemingly agreeing with the sentiment.

“Gong Sister, I’m done eating. I’m going to cultivate now,” You Jiuling wiped her mouth. “Senior apprentice sister, don’t be lazy, or you’ll be overtaken and lose face.”

“I won’t lose to you,” upon hearing this, Zhiliao quickly swallowed her pastry and resumed her cultivation.

Zhang Erdou, who had been busy watching the two junior apprentices, looked toward the distant hall’s spirit statue and smiled slightly.

“Master, rest assured, we are all working hard.”

During this time, Xuan Yunxian visited once a month, staying for three days and nights before quietly leaving.

The Fourteenth Bandit of the Desert had also visited several times, each time reporting on the progress and insights of the group on their path of plunder.

…

In that mysterious space,

Lin Fan could not move a single step. Eventually, he sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state, sensing everything around him.

In his meditation, Lin Fan gradually entered a very strange state.

It was an indescribable situation. Those nearby yet distant specks of light seemed to float around him.

He had no idea how much time had passed or what had happened in the outside world.

Lin Fan wanted to awaken as soon as possible and not become a living corpse.

As for whether his physical body would be damaged, he had never worried about that.

With his current physical strength, no one could destroy even a bit of it. The Body Immortality Stage was no joke.

At this moment, Lin Fan seemed to have found a way back. In his meditation, those specks of light appeared controllable.

Or perhaps the pattern formed by these specks of light was like a maze. If he could find the exit, he could walk out and his consciousness would return to his body.

Seven months passed…

Eight months passed…

…

One year later.

Today was a lively day at the Holy Sect. Many people gathered at the mountain gate.

These people were all ordinary mortals. They had gathered at the mountain gate because it was time for the Holy Sect’s recruitment.

For these ordinary mortals, they all wanted to join a great sect, become disciples, learn supreme martial arts techniques, and achieve the pinnacle of life.

Some of these mortals already had considerable cultivation but still needed to enter a sect to pursue higher realms.

For them, treasures and rare medicinal plants were all things they longed for.

High-grade martial arts techniques were also what they needed.

Some of these mortals came from noble backgrounds, being royal descendants of a nation, while others were poor and belonged to the lowest class of commoners.

At this moment, those coming for the test were whispering among themselves, discussing quietly.

“Silence!” Suddenly, a figure appeared at the mountain gate, looking sternly at everyone.

Those who had come for the test immediately closed their mouths, their eyes burning with anticipation as they looked at the figure who had appeared.

This figure was Zong Hentian.

“Those who are participating in the test, the first trial is to climb the Heaven Ladder,” Zong Hentian said. Then with a wave of his hand, those cultivators who had come for the test suddenly found their cultivation sealed.

There were more than 300 steps leading up to the Holy Sect.

“Climb to the top, and you will pass the first trial.”

After saying this, Zong Hentian walked upward.

The participants followed closely behind, scrambling to climb.

…

Time passed quickly. In the end, only half of them managed to make it.

Those who failed were deeply disappointed, while those who succeeded were overjoyed and began chatting with each other.

At this moment, Zong Hentian stood before a spirit statue, lifting his head with a look of longing.

“Silence!” Hearing the participants loudly talking, Zong Hentian’s face darkened as he scolded them.

“Everyone, look at this statue for a full day and night,” Zong Hentian said gently as he looked at the statue.

At this moment, someone in the crowd timidly asked, “Excuse me, is this the second trial?”

“No,” Zong Hentian replied.

Upon hearing that it wasn’t a trial, everyone involuntarily relaxed.

However, some arrogant individuals couldn’t help but complain.

“What’s the point of looking at this broken statue?”

“Smiling like a fool.”

“Could it be a chicken? It’s so ugly.”

“The sect is so strange. Looking at this statue for a whole day and night might blind our eyes.”

Of course, these were just their thoughts. They dared not speak them aloud. But now, wanting to enter the sect, they had no choice but to look at it.

Zong Hentian looked at the group of participants and then spoke, “This person in the statue was a great hero. If anyone doesn’t want to look, they can continue to the second trial.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s hearts leaped with joy. Since they could avoid looking, why bother? Naturally, they would continue to the trial. What was the point of looking at a broken statue?

One after another, people followed behind Zong Hentian. However, there were still three people beneath the statue.

These three were not standing but kneeling and kowtowing.

Those who had followed Zong Hentian couldn’t help but laugh in their hearts. These three must be fools. Why kneel when standing would suffice?

“Will you not take the test?” Zong Hentian asked the three.

“Master, our country once suffered a beast invasion. This person saved our country. We know he is a disciple of the Holy Sect, so we traveled thousands of miles to come here and wish to join the Holy Sect,” the three replied.

“Junior uncle, I didn’t expect you to have so many things we didn’t know about,” Zong Hentian looked at the statue again and then at the people following him. “You have all failed. Leave now.”

“What?” At this moment, everyone was stunned, completely unsure of what was happening. The second test hadn’t even started, so how could it be over so quickly?

“You three have passed the test. You are now disciples of the Holy Sect. Follow me,” Zong Hentian pointed at the three and, without caring about the stunned expressions of the others, prepared to leave.

The three also looked stunned. They hadn’t expected to become disciples of the Holy Sect so easily. This… this was too simple.

“Boom…”

Just at this moment, a loud explosion echoed from the statue.

Zong Hentian, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped in his tracks, his expression changing dramatically as he stared at the statue in disbelief.

“Could it be…?”

At this moment, a voice reverberated through the heavens.

“Damn it, how many hardships have I endured, how many brain cells have I wasted, finally I’ve exited the maze and returned…”