Chapter 66 Conquering the Trials
"You really beat him down. Was the Blue Flame technique so powerful that you made a bet with it?" Shen Yulan suddenly emerged from the jade and asked.
"Yeah, it was worth it," Long Tian nodded. "Anyway, don't you want to congratulate me on my achievement?" Long Tian inquired, a confident smile etched on his face.
Shen Yulan smiled, "Of course, a dual martial spirit. One S-Class and the other not even recognized by the inscription. I have to admit, Long Tian, you are the most talented person I've ever met, at least in this world," she said.
"What about Qin Chen's martial spirit?" Long Tian queried.
"That's... I can't say much," Shen Yulan sighed.
During the awakening of the students' martial spirits, she saw everything. With her spectral form, she couldn't be seen by everyone, but she had the ability to reveal herself to those she wanted to.
And this afternoon, seeing Qin Chen's martial spirit... D-Class... made her doubt her instincts. He couldn't be that weak, right?
*************
Long Tian and Shen Yulan chatted about a few things. But now, Shen Yulan returned to the jade because Long Tian had found the location of the fourth strength-testing trial.
From the beginning, Long Tian ignored his surroundings. On the fourth floor, there was no entertainment and hustle and bustle, just tranquility with a classic style.
This place wasn't designed for entertainment, but for business discussions or simply for those who wanted to enjoy some peace.
Usually, conglomerates and powerful cultivators gathered here.
Long Tian noticed someone familiar; it was the mysterious monk standing in front of the black door. He approached him.
Realizing someone was approaching, the monk turned. He was surprised to see that it was Long Tian. "Oh, you're that young man; I didn't expect you to make it to the fourth floor," he said.
"Well, just a stroke of luck. Anyway, why don't you go inside?" Long Tian inquired.
The monk smiled, "I know my place. Entering that door isn't my fate, nor is it yours," he said.
"Are you a fortune-teller?" Long Tian asked, crossing his arms.
The monk simply smiled, his face a picture of serenity. "I'm not a fortune-teller, but my master once shared a glimpse of my journey to this very place. 'No matter how talented you are, how mighty your power becomes, or how lofty your status may be, you cannot defy destiny,'" he replied, his voice as tranquil as a still pond on a windless day.
"So, you are a fortune-teller, aren't you?" Hu Tao asked, his smile mirroring Long Tian's.
Long Tian smiled; now he felt like he was in the middle of Hu Tao's game.
"I'm not a fortune-teller, but I believe in myself. No matter the chains, obstacles, and fate that bind you, you must fight against them, believe in yourself, and your initial goals," he replied, his tone brimming with confidence.
Hu Tao was surprised; he didn't expect to hear such an answer from a young man.
But he regained his composure and smiled, "So, are you going inside anyway? I must warn you that defying fate is like approaching death. You may not know what lies behind that door, what if death awaits you?" she asked, her tone calm yet firm.
Long Tian grinned, "If death awaits me, I will devour it," he said fearlessly.
"Is that so? Then I have no reason to hold you back," the monk said.
Long Tian didn't reply; he chose to open the door directly. Only darkness could be seen, but he still entered.
The door closed, and he was completely inside.
No one can open the door unless they have three gold bracelets.
The monk sighed, in fact, he didn't tell Long Tian the whole truth. His master had once said that the path to the fifth step was death, except for someone who was mocked and struggled at every step, but with all that, it made them deserving.
He clearly wasn't the one his master meant, and he had no doubt about his master's words.
As for Long Tian... he could only sigh; perhaps he would never return from that door.
**************
Meanwhile, beyond that black door, Long Tian found himself in an endless void, as if he had been transported to another realm.
Before long, a soft white light began to permeate the darkness, accompanied by billowing white clouds that gradually filled the space.
The boundless darkness transformed into a breathtaking scene above a sea of endless clouds. Long Tian gazed downward, and it appeared as if he were standing upon these ethereal clouds.
However, the tranquility didn't last. Soon, the clouds started to churn and take on a humanoid form.
In the next instant, a dense mist rolled in, shrouding everything from view. It became so thick that even Long Tian had to shield his eyes.
After some time, the mist began to dissipate, revealing the white clouds had coalesced into the figure of an elderly man with flowing hair and a long beard.
Long Tian observed the old man with an impassive expression, devoid of any fear. This elderly figure was none other than the angel of death mentioned by the monk.
"I'm here, you old jerk," he exclaimed.
Hearing this, the old man stroked his chin, staring at Long Tian, his expression turning sour when he saw the dark aura around him.
"Who are you? You're not the one destined," he asked, his tone rising.
"Who are you? You're not the one destined. Heh, I still remember that line," Long Tian sneered, perfectly mimicking the old man's words.
"Hmm?" The old man became displeased with Long Tian's retort.
"Do you know who you're talking to, boy?" The old man asked, his tone rising in annoyance.
"Of course. Ou Yang Wentian, a cultivator from the upper world, a coward who fled to the lower world. Acting like a god among ordinary humans. Establishing the Tianjia Pavilion, dying from an incurable disease, but his soul still lingers and resides on the fifth floor, where you manipulate space, creating this imaginary world, waiting for the right person to come here. Am I right?" Long Tian replied, a confident grin etching his features.
The old man was utterly shocked, rendered speechless by the accuracy of Long Tian's words."How do you know?" he inquired genuinely.
"It's not of great importance, is it? Now, the chosen one stands before you," Long Tian retorted, his grin widening.
"I don't see the criteria in you. You're just one of many who made it here, and do you know what will happen to them? They become my meal," the old man said coldly.
"Then try to devour me if you can," Long Tian said with a mocking tone.
"You brat..." the old man's anger flared, his tone filled with fury.
His spectral form expanded, and his rage was unmistakably etched upon his visage. "I will consume your soul, brat!" he said cruelly.
With that, in his spectral form, he floated and entered Long Tian's gaping mouth.
Long Tian, on the other hand, opened his mouth wide, allowing the old man to enter his body.
Not long after, Shen Yulan appeared, her expression marked with concern. "Long Tian, you were too reckless; that old man could devour your soul!" she exclaimed.
"Relax, Shen Yulan, that's what I wanted from the beginning," he replied calmly.
"What?" Shen Yulan was surprised.
"Just watch what happens next," Long Tian said confidently.
Without waiting for Shen Yulan's response, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
************
Meanwhile, deep within Long Tian's body, Ou Yang Wentian, in his spectral form, arrived in the endless darkness.
He furrowed his brow, "This should be the sea of his consciousness, but why is there only darkness here?" he mused aloud.
He looked around, and only darkness was visible. This shouldn't have happened; he remembered being on the right path. His goal here was, of course, to kill Long Tian by devouring his soul.
It was what he had done as soon as anyone entered this room, a part of him forever waiting for the chosen one in his restless dreams.
However, at this very moment, he sensed vibrations emanating from this void. Shortly thereafter, four colossal eyes materialized.
Two of them possessed keen, blood-red pupils akin to untamed beasts, while the other pair bore intense blue irises.
In swift succession, red and blue auras burst forth, unveiling a colossal dragon and a man enveloped in crackling lightning.
"What is this? This... this can't be happening!" Ou Yang Wentian exclaimed, his disbelief palpable.
Under the oppressive force of these two entities, he found himself utterly immobile. Then, abruptly, his very soul began to be drawn towards them!
His expression shifted from disbelief to shock, and he cried out, "No! No! This can't be happening!" Yet, his pleas only quickened the fading of his essence.
"Noooooo!" With his last cry, his very soul was ultimately absorbed entirely by Shen Long and Zeus.
In the following instant, two potent auras surged forth, signifying that Long Tian's twin martial spirits, Shen Long and Zeus, had ascended to newfound heights of power!
Meanwhile, Long Tian opened his eyes, and they radiated with a brilliant, pure white light. He floated in the air, enveloped by a luminous white aura.
The aura erupted, filling the entire space and obscuring everything in its radiant brilliance.
In the subsequent moment, the luminance dissipated entirely, and the ethereal realm above the clouds vanished, giving way to a colossal chamber teeming with treasures - gold, gemstones, spiritual stones, and ancient weaponry!
Long Tian couldn't help but grin triumphantly. "At long last, I have conquered the Strength-testing Trials!"
The final boss, Ou Yang Wentian, the cultivator from the upper world, had his soul devoured!
He immediately rushed towards the treasures, storing everything in his spatial ring. But one thing he was looking for, the Dreaming Lotus, he finally found it.
"With this, its side effects will vanish. I have a brilliant plan for Li Yue'er," he mused aloud, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips.
With that, he took all the treasures. From weapons to gold, and spiritual stones, he would keep them all for himself.
Meanwhile, Shen Yulan stood there, her gaze locked on Long Tian, rendered speechless.
Ou Yang Wentian's soul, although weaker than hers, was still a top-tier soul, she could feel it. Yet, Long Tian could absorb it as if it were nothing.
***************
After some time, Long Tian looked around the room with satisfaction. He had taken all the treasures; not a single gold coin was left behind.
Of course, his 50-meter spatial ring was now full and couldn't hold any more.
"What a beautiful night. I should return and see if Liu Qian won the arena fight," he mused aloud, starting to exit the room.
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