Painting of the Nine Immortals - Chapter 619
Chapter 619: The Bridge of Self-Reflection
Translator: _Tat_ Editor: Rundi
Amidst the golden sand, Ling Xian was acting like a one-man army who caused a turmoil against the enemies with every move of his arm.
This scene made everyone surprised as they watched wide-eyed and in shock.
Though they all knew very well that Ling Xian’s capabilities far surpassed those beasts, the scene before them wasn’t just one man challenging someone, it was one man fighting against thousands. Despite the situation, he remained unstoppable. How could everyone not be shocked?
The elders watching from the outside remained very surprised. They originally thought that the fourth round of the test required the cooperation of everyone for anyone to pass.
They didn’t think Ling Xian was as aggressive as he was – to be able to challenge and slaughter the thousands of beasts. Just how overpowering was this?
What happened next surprised everyone to a state of no return.
“DIE!”
Ling Xian’s expression was emotionless. Protecting himself with the Winged Blitz and the Sword of Execution, every single time a beast dashed towards him, his two transformative qualities would turn defensive and kill them.
His offense was even more overpowering. He continuously performed the three great spells, causing terrifying power to sweep out in all four directions and making the space tremble.
Though the beasts here weren’t ordinary, he was even less so. Whether it was his offensive capabilities or his experience, he surpassed these beasts.
This was why he was able to form a one-man army and be so fearless!
Whooooosh!
The God Inhibition Spell worked its wonders, freezing everything in space, including the hundreds of beasts before him.
Grasping onto this opportunity, Ling Xian cast the Heaven Swallowing White Tiger. Immediately, a white tiger’s silhouette materialized and approached Ling Xian.
After a loud “bang”, the hundreds of beasts frozen in the air were crushed into pieces. Flesh and fresh blood were smoldered everywhere.
But in reality, these beasts weren’t actually live ones. They were objects made to appear like they were alive through techniques used by the elders. Though they had flesh and they had blood, they don’t exactly die after they are slain. As soon as the elders outside summon another technique, they reappear.
Of course, the elders on the outside wouldn’t do that. Or else nobody can pass this test.
Ling Xian had discovered this a while ago, which was why he decided to act so ruthlessly and without second thoughts. They weren’t real lives after all, what’s there to worry about?
“Die!”
After a loud shout, Ling Xian’s black hair tussled in the wind, making him look like the reincarnation of a god.
Immediately, hundreds of beasts collapsed, turned into a dot of light, and then disappeared.
After this, the group of beasts shrunk in size. From the few thousands originally, there were now around 500.
This astounded everyone even more as they stared deadly at Ling Xian with respect. It was like they were staring at a real God. One that was heroic and almighty.
“Around 500 are left. Let me gather my energy and kill them all at once.”
Ling Xian mumbled and terrifying energy exploded out of him in the face of the approaching beasts.
HOMMMM!
After a moment, the three different spells were called out and smashed the beasts into pieces. Countless died.
Ling Xian moved aggressively as if he was all alone here without having to take anything into consideration. No matter how much the beasts struggled against him, they wouldn’t stop him.
HOMMM, HOMMM, HOMMM!
The gold sand filled the air and all the land was quaking.
Ling Xian continued making his moves. Every single attack ended in the death of a few beasts, making them seem like they were as soft as tofu.
In such a short period of time, he had slayed over 300 beasts. This number was also increasing. After a while, the size of the group continued to shrink until only a few beasts were left.
This surprised everyone even more. It was as if they had seen a ghost.
The situation was very clear. A battle that started off with an imbalance in power ended up with a result that made everyone fall down from shock.
“Only some more left. This one left strike will end you all.” Ling Xian’s expression was calm. He finally decided to use the move he hasn’t used in a very long time.
In an instant, the entire sky darkened. A giant hand materialized in midair and covered up the entire Sun and Moon. Looking like a buddha’s hand, it had the strength of a thousand men and quickly surrounded the remaining beasts.
The Heaven Shadowing Technique!
Ever since the Eyes of Execution unlocked more transformative qualities, Ling Xian stopped using this strongest guiding law. It wasn’t that he didn’t want it, it was that this move was weak!
In the next second, the giant palm slammed down from miles high. It was incomparably terrifying!
HOMMMM!
After an earth-shattering rumble, the beasts lost their ability to defend and were smashed into pieces by this palm.
At that, the battle had ended. Ling Xian was the last one standing.
He was expressionless and his white robe was dyed with blood. Though his appearance was ordinary, he remained anything but that. Like a descended God, he made everyone quiver.
The way everyone looked at Ling Xian was like they were looking at a monster.
Even Xia Ling Er and Wang Feng, the two with an extraordinary background, were white in the face and fearful in the heart.
As for Qin Lie, he was so shocked he was almost pissing himself. Other than the hatred he felt towards Ling Xian, there was only fear. He could not believe that someone could be this powerful! He was undefeatable in the meditational level!
The elders on the outside thought so as well. Or in other words, everyone thought so.
Because of Ling Xian’s glorious track record, he deserved the title, undefeatable meditational.
“We have found a treasure. An undefeatable Heaven’s Favorite of the meditational level. How lucky is our Shang Qing Sect!” An elder was all smiling.
“Haha, you’re right.”
Another elder laughed out loud and agreed, “These dominating battling capabilities really are rare. Though his cultivation level is lower, his potential is endless.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Get him out of there and I will take him to the Sect.” The Elder smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction.
Nodding, the first elder flapped his sleeve and a mysterious form of energy was released.
Then, Ling Xian, inside the small world, began to frown. He felt an irresistible strength pulling onto him.
“Is it time to leave?”
Smiling, he didn’t resist and allowed the wave of strength to pull him out of the small world.
Seeing that he had left, everyone was confused, unsure why only Ling Xian was pulled out.
After hearing what the elder said after, they understood and bitterness flooded their faces.
“The battle just now was finished by Xian Ling alone. Don’t think that just because he killed the beasts, you pass the test as well. Stay put and fight. Anyone who can’t last half an hour will be eliminated.”
“What a pity.”
Ling Xian sympathetically glanced at everyone. Originally, he thought he was helping them out. He didn’t think the Shang Qing Sect’s elders were this strict. What could he do? He had to leave by himself first.
Whoooosh!
With a flash of light, his body reappeared in the external world before the four elders.
“Xian Ling, you have done very well. To have killed thousands of beasts by yourself means your battling abilities are not ordinary.” An elder complimented and exclaimed, “this is very rare to see in this test setting.”
“You have flattered me.”
Ling Xian smiled humbly, feeling too lazy to waste words with them, “Since I have passed the test, can you please take me to the next steps.”
“Alright, follow me.” An elder smiled. He flapped his sleeve and carried Ling Xian across the cloud.
After a while, the two of them arrived before the Shang Qing Sect’s door.
There were two thousands of meters tall mountain peaks. They appeared grand and shot through the cloud.
Between the two mountains was a cable bridge. Amongst the hazy white fogs, it gave everyone the vibe of they were in heaven.
“The Bridge of Self-Reflection.”
Seeing this cable bridge, Ling Xian’s expression froze and he couldn’t help but sigh.
“The bridge’s name is the Bridge of Self-Reflection, it was made by an almighty ancestor of my Sect. Its ability is to ask your heart questions. Even those of the original level cannot escape its tests.”
The elder faintly smiled, “If you have no ill intent that can be used against the Shang Qing Sect, you will be able to walk across the bridge in peace. If you have any evil thoughts, you will fall down from the bridge.”
“Elder, do not worry, I truly desire to be accepted into the Shang Qing Sect, why would I think of doing anything bad?” Ling Xian had a faint smile. He stayed inside the Shang Qing Sect for years, of course, he knew of this bridge’s abilities.
Since he knew what this bridge was capable of and he still dared to come, it meant he knew how to deal with it. Or rather, he had nothing to deal with.
His intention is to acquire the giant fortune. This fortune once appeared on the land belonged to the Shang Qing Sect, but had nothing to do with the Sect itself.
In other words, he had no bad thoughts against the Shang Qing Sect. Why would he be afraid of this bridge?
“Alright, follow me.” The elder rolled up his sleeve and carried Ling Xian to the bridge.
Immediately, Ling Xian felt a wave of mysterious energy falling onto him as if spying on his heart. However, since he had nothing against the Shang Qing Sect, the bridge couldn’t conclude on anything.
“Elder, please.”
Smiling, Ling Xian rose his chest up high and marched forward.
Every single step he took, the mysterious energy enhanced in attempt to inspect him inside and out. Pity, though the Bridge of Self-Reflection was powerful, it could not create something that’s not there.
Ling Xian had no evil thoughts in his brain nor did he have ill intent in his heart, why would he be afraid of this?
Just like that, he walked across in giant steps. He arrived at the other end in minutes time.
At that, the elder’s smile intensified and the way he looked at Ling Xian softened.
“Congratulations. You have passed the Bridge of Self-Reflection’s test. From today onward, you are officially a pupil of the Shang Qing Sect.” The elder smiled kindly, “let’s go, I will take you to the Pavilion of Choosing.”
“The Pavilion of Choosing?”
Ling Xian murmured to himself. As he followed the elder, he pondered over which path he should choose.
The Pavilion of Choosing asks newly admitted pupils to choose their path. This path isn’t the three thousand paths in Taoism, it’s the path that only belongs to the Shang Qing Sect.
Cultivation, alchemy, crafts, or arrays.
The Shang Qing Sect is a superpower on Yuezhou and was unbelievably capable in all four paths. Therefore, every time a new pupil is acquired, the new pupil is required to pick out of the four.
Originally, Ling Xian was planning on choosing the cultivation path. But at this very moment, he changed his mind.
“I should probably choose that. So I can learn from the start.”
After making up his mind, Ling Xian didn’t hesitate any longer and followed the elder.
After some time, the two of them finally arrived before a very grandeur pavilion.
The moment he stepped into the great hall of the pavilion, he felt four different gazes landing on him.