Novel Full Chapter 114: True Test!
Chapter 114: True Test!
“Good heavens. Two top grade cultivation arts at the ninth layer?”
Ling Chong blurted out in disbelief as he sensed the aura surging from Li Yun’s body. His eyes widened, and for a moment he completely forgot himself. The shock did not stop with him. Zhang Lang and the other senior brothers and sisters were equally stunned, their expressions betraying genuine astonishment.
They had never seen a newcomer display such an absurd level of mastery over cultivation arts.
“I was certain Ye Beichen had the highest mastery in this batch,” Zhang Lang muttered with a wry smile, shaking his head slowly. “If I remember correctly, he has only reached the seventh layer of his top grade cultivation art. I truly believed that was already the limit for this generation. It seems I was completely mistaken.”
Ling Chong snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with malice as he looked at Li Yun. “Even so, he is still only at half step Xiantian Realm. No matter how impressive his comprehension is, he is destined to lose to us.”
“Give it up, Li Yun,” Zhang Lang said calmly. “Your comprehension is extraordinary, and your potential may even surpass Ye Beichen’s, but your cultivation base is simply too shallow. You cannot contend with us.”
Li Yun smiled, his expression resolute and unyielding. “Senior Brother, I have already made my decision. I intend to fight and defeat at least one of you. Nothing you say will change my mind.”
Seeing Li Yun’s firm resolve, Zhang Lang took a deep breath. His expression grew serious, and he spoke slowly and clearly. “Since you insist on being so stubborn, then I can only tell you the truth.”
“The truth?”
Li Yun, who had been brimming with battle intent and preparing himself for a fierce confrontation, froze for a moment. A puzzled look appeared on his face.
“Yes, the truth about the second round of the trial,” Zhang Lang said. He scratched the back of his head and gave Li Yun an apologetic smile, his expression tinged with embarrassment. “To be honest, I was not entirely truthful earlier. This One Qi Ascension Transformation Array can only be used to intimidate you. We are not allowed to use it to actually attack you. That restriction is part of the trial’s rules, and it was not my idea.”
“So this is what you call the truth?”
The moment he heard this, Li Yun was completely stunned.
It turned out that the pure white Ascension formation radiating such a terrifying aura was nothing more than an empty display, something that could intimidate but could never actually be used to attack.
Yet so many people had been frightened by that illusion and had surrendered without hesitation. If he had not stubbornly held his ground because of the mission his system gave him, he would likely have done the same.
The thought made Li Yun feel so frustrated that he nearly wanted to spit blood.
Damn it. Who on earth devised such a treacherous and deceptive tactic?
Li Yun was a genius with sharp wits. After cursing inwardly for a moment, he calmed down and quickly understood the deeper intention behind Martial Ascension Gate’s design.
This method was meant to temper the heart and will of the disciples.
The path of Martial Dao is brutally difficult. Talent and opportunity alone are never enough. Without an indomitable heart and unyielding resolve, one can never walk far on that path.
Those who possess talent and opportunity but retreat at the first sign of pressure are doomed to mediocrity in Martial Dao.
That was why Martial Ascension Gate arranged such a test in the second round, using fear and intimidation to temper the disciples’ heart nature.
Unfortunately, aside from Li Yun, even Ye Beichen, the number one genius on the New Disciples Ranking, had failed this trial of will.
Hopefully, none of them would ever learn the truth. Otherwise, given their pride, discovering that they, dignified super geniuses, had surrendered without a fight to a mere paper tiger that looked fierce but was utterly harmless might drive them to madness from shame.
“Yes, that is the truth, but only part of it,” Zhang Lang said with a nod.
Then he continued calmly, “The complete truth is this. The second round of the trial is not what you imagined, where we disciples from the previous batch simply hunt you down. First, we use the One Qi Ascension Formation to intimidate you. If you surrender, the second round is deemed a failure. If you refuse to surrender, then you earn the right to face the real second round of the trial.”
“The real second round of the trial?” Li Yun narrowed his eyes slightly, a sharp glint flashing through them.
Zhang Lang explained calmly, “The true second round begins after a new participant withstands the intimidation of the One Qi Ascension Formation. After that, they must endure three moves from me without being defeated. If they succeed, the second round is considered passed. At that point, not only are we forbidden from taking your contribution points, but each of us must also give you fifty thousand contribution points.”
“As long as I can withstand three moves from Senior Brother Zhang Lang, the second round will be cleared?”
The moment Li Yun heard this, a look of uncontrollable delight appeared on his face.
He had originally been prepared to clash head-on with the One Qi Ascension Formation using his own strength. He never expected the trial to take such a turn.
Now, all he needed to do was survive three attacks from Zhang Lang. Not only would he pass the trial, but he would also receive an extremely generous reward. How could he not feel excited?
At the same time, another thought surfaced in his mind. The system’s mission required him to defeat a senior disciple. If this trial ended after he endured three moves, he could only hope that the mission would be considered complete by then.
“Do not celebrate too early,” Zhang Lang said, rolling his eyes slightly when he saw Li Yun’s excitement. “My cultivation is at the sixth level of the Xiantian Realm. If it were Ye Beichen, he might have a chance to survive three moves from me. As for you, the odds are not in your favor.”
“Then I can only ask Senior Brother Zhang Lang to show a little mercy,” Li Yun replied with a grin.
“Keep dreaming,” Zhang Lang retorted coldly. “If I hold back and let you pass, each of us will lose fifty thousand contribution points. That is a tremendous loss, so I will not go easy on you in the slightest.”
His expression turned solemn as he continued, “Li Yun, for these three moves, I will fight at full strength. You could be placed in serious danger. Are you certain you still want to accept this trial?”
“I did not choose to retreat before, and now it is even more impossible to do so.”
A faint smile appeared on Li Yun’s lips as a firm and unwavering light flowed through his deep eyes. On the surface, he looked relaxed and composed, yet his mind remained fully alert, without the slightest trace of carelessness.
Through Zhang Lang’s aura alone, Li Yun could clearly sense that this man possessed terrifying strength far beyond ordinary cultivators. Enduring three moves from him would never be easy, which meant there was no room for hesitation. He would have to fight with everything he had.