Chapter 68: The Brutal Test
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Chapter 68: The Brutal Test
At the brink of life and death, Ning Xiaochuan pushed the Blood Qi within him to its limits. Martial Arts Profound Qi surged from his body, condensing into a Profound Qi Battle Sword.
Swinging the sword with both arms, he struck the Vinewood Snake’s head, producing a sharp crack!
A shower of sparks erupted!
Ning Xiaochuan felt his arms go numb from the recoil. The defense of a third-grade mystic beast was simply too strong—even his full-force strike failed to pierce through its Snake Scales.
His feet kicked hard against the tree trunk, propelling him upward as he landed on a branch over 10 meters high, agile as a nimble monkey.
Boom!
The Vinewood Snake flicked its Crimson Snake Tongue, slithering up the trunk with a vicious glint in its eyes. Its tail lashed out, snapping the branch beneath Ning Xiaochuan.
He leaped again, landing on an even higher branch.
Hiss!
The Vinewood Snake opened its maw and spewed a cloud of Poison Mist at Ning Xiaochuan.
The venom’s corrosive power was terrifying—a nearby branch instantly crumbled into dust, falling to the ground.
Mystic beasts possessed intelligence no weaker than humans, and this one was relentless in its pursuit.
"Damn it!"
"Lightning Divine Beast!"
Electricity crackled between Ning Xiaochuan’s palms, coalescing into a massive orb of lightning that took the form of a half-formed Lightning Giant Beast. With a swipe of its claw, it slammed down onto the Vinewood Snake’s head.
The electric current sent the snake writhing in agony as it crashed to the ground, leaving a deep crater.
Ning Xiaochuan swiftly descended from the tree. Mid-air, he summoned a Profound Qi Sword and, using the momentum of his fall, drove it straight through the Vinewood Snake’s skull—thud!—pinning its head firmly to the earth.
The Vinewood Snake thrashed violently, its body—as thick as a bowl—coiling around Ning Xiaochuan, crushing his legs, waist, and neck as if trying to snap him in half.
Ning Xiaochuan felt his bones creak under the pressure, joints popping audibly.
His neck was on the verge of breaking, his eyes bloodshot, face flushed crimson, breath cut off.
Yet, his hands remained locked on the sword hilt, keeping the snake’s head pinned. Forcing his Profound Qi to circulate, he unleashed over a dozen powerful currents from his body, relentlessly striking the Vinewood Snake.
After what felt like an eternity, the Vinewood Snake finally went limp, its lifeless body collapsing to the ground.
Cough!
Ning Xiaochuan slumped onto the ground, hacking violently before gasping for air.
"This Vinewood Snake must have only recently advanced to the third-grade mystic beast tier. Among third-grade beasts, it’s relatively weak—its combat power isn’t too formidable yet. If I’d encountered a stronger one, I’d probably be dead today."
Once he caught his breath, Ning Xiaochuan began dissecting the Vinewood Snake, carefully peeling off its hide to retrieve a fist-sized Low-Grade Profound Stone.
This single Low-Grade Profound Stone was worth roughly 100,000 Small Coins.
Though Profound Stones were most commonly found in ore veins, powerful mystic beasts could also nurture them within their bodies.
At their core, Profound Stones were crystallized Profound Qi, existing widely in nature—embedded in ores, housed within mystic beasts, or even found in certain special plants like Mystic Wood.
In rare cases, even powerful martial artists could cultivate tiny Profound Stones within their bodies. Such individuals were known as "Profound Stone Spirit Bodies."
Within the body of a Third-grade Mystic Beast, Low-Grade Profound Stones can be nurtured.
"The scales of the Vinewood Snake can be used to make armor, its skin for battle garments, its gallbladder to refine Intermediate Elixirs, and its blood to refine Mystic Beast Spirit Liquid. Truly, every part of it is valuable. A rough estimate suggests this Vinewood Snake is worth over 300,000 Small Coins."
"Boom—!"
The ground trembled as the roar of a massive beast erupted.
"Roar!"
Ning Xiaochuan's eardrums ached from the sound, forcing him back three steps. A Rhinoceros Horn Beast, standing about 12 meters tall, emerged from the forest, its body wreathed in flames. Its eyes were as large as basins, and with a single roar, it sent sand and stones flying.
This was a Fifth-grade Mystic Beast that had cultivated for over 500 years. The aura it unleashed was overwhelmingly powerful, like a king of the forest!
The Rhinoceros Horn Beast fixed its gaze on Ning Xiaochuan and let out an enraged roar, the force of its voice nearly blasting him away.
Run!
After stuffing the Vinewood Snake into the Heaven and Earth Bag, Ning Xiaochuan turned and fled, channeling Profound Qi into his legs. Lightning wrapped around them as he sprinted at full speed.
There was no need to hesitate—when facing a Fifth-grade Mystic Beast, escape was the only option.
A beast of this level was the undisputed ruler of the surrounding mountains for dozens of kilometers.
"Boom! Boom!"
The Rhinoceros Horn Beast gave chase, but its massive size hindered its speed, allowing Ning Xiaochuan to escape.
After running 20 kilometers, Ning Xiaochuan finally stopped when he confirmed the beast wasn’t pursuing him. He gasped for breath, his heart still pounding.
"That was too close! Thank goodness I ran fast enough!"
Even now, he could hear the Rhinoceros Horn Beast’s furious roars echoing from the distant forest, shaking ancient trees across the mountains.
Still feeling unsafe, Ning Xiaochuan suppressed his aura and took out a cloth from the Heaven and Earth Bag to sketch a map of the Fire Demon Mountain Range, marking the area as a danger zone before swiftly leaving.
He remained cautious, carefully concealing his presence.
With his heightened perception, he could roughly sense danger in advance. Whenever he detected a threat ahead, he immediately halted and marked the area with a circle on his map, labeling it as hazardous.
Over the next two days, Ning Xiaochuan encountered six more Mystic Beasts, but they were only First-grade and Second-grade, which he easily dispatched without much trouble.
During this time, he also came across three other examinees—though all he found were their corpses. One had been devoured by a Mystic Beast, leaving only a skeleton behind.
The Emperor's Martial Palace’s examination was brutal!
Yet, he still hadn’t found a single Black Firewood. Ning Xiaochuan continued his careful search through the mountains. To pass the Emperor's Martial Palace’s test, he needed to obtain at least one Black Firewood Pearl.
Suddenly, he heard the sounds of battle and voices from the forest. He hurried toward the commotion, hiding behind a large tree, and saw two groups engaged in a fierce struggle.
"Qi Chan'er, hand over the Black Firewood Pearl, or today will be your last!" Lin Hen brandished a dark cyan blade, its surface swirling with Profound Qi, forming a protective sphere around him.
With a single swing, thirty-six blade auras surged forth.
Lin Hen's cultivation had reached the First Level of Divine Body Realm, and this was the Martial Arts Divine Ability he had cultivated—Gang Domain Mad Blade!
Two young martial artists at the Ninth Level of Profound Qi stood guard nearby, wearing the same attire as Lin Hen. Clearly, the three of them belonged to the same sect.
The one fighting Lin Hen was a young girl.
Dressed in white robes with flowing sleeves and a long skirt, she had jet-black hair cascading down to her calves. Her slender body moved swiftly, shifting positions rapidly, her hair fluttering like a waterfall.
"Lin Hen, are all members of the Lingxi Sect bandits? If you have the skill, go dig up Black Firewood Pearls yourselves! How dare you snatch them from me—is that supposed to be impressive?"
Qi Chan'er was also at the First Level of Divine Body Realm, but she was clearly at a disadvantage because Lin Hen wielded a Mystic Artifact-level battle blade, while she had no such weapon.
Within the same cultivation realm, those with Mystic Artifacts were far stronger than those without.
"Pfft!"
The blade aura tore through Qi Chan'er's Protective Profound Qi Armor, slashing across her back and leaving a bloody wound.
Lin Hen struck out with a palm, landing a blow on Qi Chan'er's left shoulder with a sharp crack.
Qi Chan'er retaliated with a finger sword technique, a Sword Wave shooting from her slender fingertip and striking Lin Hen's chest, sending him flying backward.
She staggered back as well, letting out a muffled groan.
"Second Senior Brother!" The two young martial artists from the Lingxi Sect rushed to support Lin Hen.
Lin Hen pressed a hand to his chest, his palm covered in blood, his face twisted in fury. "Bitch! Attack together! Capture her first, take her Black Firewood Pearl, then take turns breaking her!"
The other two young disciples' eyes burned with fervor. Qi Chan'er was the first beauty of the Six Profound Martial House—today, they were in for a treat.
The three Lingxi Sect members channeled their Profound Qi and launched a frenzied assault.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Two sword beams shot out from the forest, fast as Lightning, instantly killing the two Lingxi Sect disciples at the Ninth Level of Profound Qi.
This sudden turn of events took everyone by surprise.
Qi Chan'er, Lin Hen, and even Ning Xiaochuan, hidden in the shadows, were momentarily stunned.
Was there another expert lurking in the darkness?
Lin Hen roared, "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Xiao Li descended from the top of a tree trunk, landing firmly on the ground. With refined features and a coldly handsome demeanor, he glanced at the two corpses on the ground and said, "Three grown men ganging up on a woman—what a disgrace to the Lingxi Sect."
Qi Chan'er's beautiful eyes shimmered as she looked at Xiao Li. This young man was an exceptionally handsome figure.
Hidden in the shadows, Ning Xiaochuan was also slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Xiao Li to be here. Immediately, he held his breath, concealing his presence even more carefully.
Everyone present was a top-tier expert of the younger generation.
Lin Hen raised his blade with a sneer. "Kid, who the hell do you think you are, daring to lecture me? If you want to play the hero, I'll send you to your grave!"
"Boom!"
Lin Hen swung his battle blade wildly, creating a whirlwind as he charged toward Xiao Li.
"Too ignorant to know your own limits!"
Xiao Li stood motionless on the ground, extending a single arm. His palm transformed into a 9-meter-long Taotie giant claw, crushing the blade aura and lifting Lin Hen off the ground.
Boom!
Lin Hen's head exploded like a watermelon, scattering crimson blood in all directions.
"What a monster—he’s actually reached the Second Level of Divine Body Realm!" Ning Xiaochuan observed from afar, his gaze icy. This guy's physique and talent were truly terrifying. To kill Lin Hen, a First Level Divine Body Realm cultivator, in a single move—most warriors at the Second Level couldn’t achieve such overwhelming combat prowess.
A warrior with a powerful physique could dominate others of the same cultivation realm, sweeping through them with unmatched superiority.
And Xiao Li possessed precisely such a physique.
At the brink of life and death, Ning Xiaochuan pushed the Blood Qi within him to its limits. Martial Arts Profound Qi surged from his body, condensing into a Profound Qi Battle Sword.
Swinging the sword with both arms, he struck the Vinewood Snake’s head, producing a sharp crack!
A shower of sparks erupted!
Ning Xiaochuan felt his arms go numb from the recoil. The defense of a third-grade mystic beast was simply too strong—even his full-force strike failed to pierce through its Snake Scales.
His feet kicked hard against the tree trunk, propelling him upward as he landed on a branch over 10 meters high, agile as a nimble monkey.
Boom!
The Vinewood Snake flicked its Crimson Snake Tongue, slithering up the trunk with a vicious glint in its eyes. Its tail lashed out, snapping the branch beneath Ning Xiaochuan.
He leaped again, landing on an even higher branch.
Hiss!
The Vinewood Snake opened its maw and spewed a cloud of Poison Mist at Ning Xiaochuan.
The venom’s corrosive power was terrifying—a nearby branch instantly crumbled into dust, falling to the ground.
Mystic beasts possessed intelligence no weaker than humans, and this one was relentless in its pursuit.
"Damn it!"
"Lightning Divine Beast!"
Electricity crackled between Ning Xiaochuan’s palms, coalescing into a massive orb of lightning that took the form of a half-formed Lightning Giant Beast. With a swipe of its claw, it slammed down onto the Vinewood Snake’s head.
The electric current sent the snake writhing in agony as it crashed to the ground, leaving a deep crater.
Ning Xiaochuan swiftly descended from the tree. Mid-air, he summoned a Profound Qi Sword and, using the momentum of his fall, drove it straight through the Vinewood Snake’s skull—thud!—pinning its head firmly to the earth.
The Vinewood Snake thrashed violently, its body—as thick as a bowl—coiling around Ning Xiaochuan, crushing his legs, waist, and neck as if trying to snap him in half.
Ning Xiaochuan felt his bones creak under the pressure, joints popping audibly.
His neck was on the verge of breaking, his eyes bloodshot, face flushed crimson, breath cut off.
Yet, his hands remained locked on the sword hilt, keeping the snake’s head pinned. Forcing his Profound Qi to circulate, he unleashed over a dozen powerful currents from his body, relentlessly striking the Vinewood Snake.
After what felt like an eternity, the Vinewood Snake finally went limp, its lifeless body collapsing to the ground.
Cough!
Ning Xiaochuan slumped onto the ground, hacking violently before gasping for air.
"This Vinewood Snake must have only recently advanced to the third-grade mystic beast tier. Among third-grade beasts, it’s relatively weak—its combat power isn’t too formidable yet. If I’d encountered a stronger one, I’d probably be dead today."
Once he caught his breath, Ning Xiaochuan began dissecting the Vinewood Snake, carefully peeling off its hide to retrieve a fist-sized Low-Grade Profound Stone.
This single Low-Grade Profound Stone was worth roughly 100,000 Small Coins.
Though Profound Stones were most commonly found in ore veins, powerful mystic beasts could also nurture them within their bodies.
At their core, Profound Stones were crystallized Profound Qi, existing widely in nature—embedded in ores, housed within mystic beasts, or even found in certain special plants like Mystic Wood.
In rare cases, even powerful martial artists could cultivate tiny Profound Stones within their bodies. Such individuals were known as "Profound Stone Spirit Bodies."
Within the body of a Third-grade Mystic Beast, Low-Grade Profound Stones can be nurtured.
"The scales of the Vinewood Snake can be used to make armor, its skin for battle garments, its gallbladder to refine Intermediate Elixirs, and its blood to refine Mystic Beast Spirit Liquid. Truly, every part of it is valuable. A rough estimate suggests this Vinewood Snake is worth over 300,000 Small Coins."
"Boom—!"
The ground trembled as the roar of a massive beast erupted.
"Roar!"
Ning Xiaochuan's eardrums ached from the sound, forcing him back three steps. A Rhinoceros Horn Beast, standing about 12 meters tall, emerged from the forest, its body wreathed in flames. Its eyes were as large as basins, and with a single roar, it sent sand and stones flying.
This was a Fifth-grade Mystic Beast that had cultivated for over 500 years. The aura it unleashed was overwhelmingly powerful, like a king of the forest!
The Rhinoceros Horn Beast fixed its gaze on Ning Xiaochuan and let out an enraged roar, the force of its voice nearly blasting him away.
Run!
After stuffing the Vinewood Snake into the Heaven and Earth Bag, Ning Xiaochuan turned and fled, channeling Profound Qi into his legs. Lightning wrapped around them as he sprinted at full speed.
There was no need to hesitate—when facing a Fifth-grade Mystic Beast, escape was the only option.
A beast of this level was the undisputed ruler of the surrounding mountains for dozens of kilometers.
"Boom! Boom!"
The Rhinoceros Horn Beast gave chase, but its massive size hindered its speed, allowing Ning Xiaochuan to escape.
After running 20 kilometers, Ning Xiaochuan finally stopped when he confirmed the beast wasn’t pursuing him. He gasped for breath, his heart still pounding.
"That was too close! Thank goodness I ran fast enough!"
Even now, he could hear the Rhinoceros Horn Beast’s furious roars echoing from the distant forest, shaking ancient trees across the mountains.
Still feeling unsafe, Ning Xiaochuan suppressed his aura and took out a cloth from the Heaven and Earth Bag to sketch a map of the Fire Demon Mountain Range, marking the area as a danger zone before swiftly leaving.
He remained cautious, carefully concealing his presence.
With his heightened perception, he could roughly sense danger in advance. Whenever he detected a threat ahead, he immediately halted and marked the area with a circle on his map, labeling it as hazardous.
Over the next two days, Ning Xiaochuan encountered six more Mystic Beasts, but they were only First-grade and Second-grade, which he easily dispatched without much trouble.
During this time, he also came across three other examinees—though all he found were their corpses. One had been devoured by a Mystic Beast, leaving only a skeleton behind.
The Emperor's Martial Palace’s examination was brutal!
Yet, he still hadn’t found a single Black Firewood. Ning Xiaochuan continued his careful search through the mountains. To pass the Emperor's Martial Palace’s test, he needed to obtain at least one Black Firewood Pearl.
Suddenly, he heard the sounds of battle and voices from the forest. He hurried toward the commotion, hiding behind a large tree, and saw two groups engaged in a fierce struggle.
"Qi Chan'er, hand over the Black Firewood Pearl, or today will be your last!" Lin Hen brandished a dark cyan blade, its surface swirling with Profound Qi, forming a protective sphere around him.
With a single swing, thirty-six blade auras surged forth.
Lin Hen's cultivation had reached the First Level of Divine Body Realm, and this was the Martial Arts Divine Ability he had cultivated—Gang Domain Mad Blade!
Two young martial artists at the Ninth Level of Profound Qi stood guard nearby, wearing the same attire as Lin Hen. Clearly, the three of them belonged to the same sect.
The one fighting Lin Hen was a young girl.
Dressed in white robes with flowing sleeves and a long skirt, she had jet-black hair cascading down to her calves. Her slender body moved swiftly, shifting positions rapidly, her hair fluttering like a waterfall.
"Lin Hen, are all members of the Lingxi Sect bandits? If you have the skill, go dig up Black Firewood Pearls yourselves! How dare you snatch them from me—is that supposed to be impressive?"
Qi Chan'er was also at the First Level of Divine Body Realm, but she was clearly at a disadvantage because Lin Hen wielded a Mystic Artifact-level battle blade, while she had no such weapon.
Within the same cultivation realm, those with Mystic Artifacts were far stronger than those without.
"Pfft!"
The blade aura tore through Qi Chan'er's Protective Profound Qi Armor, slashing across her back and leaving a bloody wound.
Lin Hen struck out with a palm, landing a blow on Qi Chan'er's left shoulder with a sharp crack.
Qi Chan'er retaliated with a finger sword technique, a Sword Wave shooting from her slender fingertip and striking Lin Hen's chest, sending him flying backward.
She staggered back as well, letting out a muffled groan.
"Second Senior Brother!" The two young martial artists from the Lingxi Sect rushed to support Lin Hen.
Lin Hen pressed a hand to his chest, his palm covered in blood, his face twisted in fury. "Bitch! Attack together! Capture her first, take her Black Firewood Pearl, then take turns breaking her!"
The other two young disciples' eyes burned with fervor. Qi Chan'er was the first beauty of the Six Profound Martial House—today, they were in for a treat.
The three Lingxi Sect members channeled their Profound Qi and launched a frenzied assault.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Two sword beams shot out from the forest, fast as Lightning, instantly killing the two Lingxi Sect disciples at the Ninth Level of Profound Qi.
This sudden turn of events took everyone by surprise.
Qi Chan'er, Lin Hen, and even Ning Xiaochuan, hidden in the shadows, were momentarily stunned.
Was there another expert lurking in the darkness?
Lin Hen roared, "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Xiao Li descended from the top of a tree trunk, landing firmly on the ground. With refined features and a coldly handsome demeanor, he glanced at the two corpses on the ground and said, "Three grown men ganging up on a woman—what a disgrace to the Lingxi Sect."
Qi Chan'er's beautiful eyes shimmered as she looked at Xiao Li. This young man was an exceptionally handsome figure.
Hidden in the shadows, Ning Xiaochuan was also slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Xiao Li to be here. Immediately, he held his breath, concealing his presence even more carefully.
Everyone present was a top-tier expert of the younger generation.
Lin Hen raised his blade with a sneer. "Kid, who the hell do you think you are, daring to lecture me? If you want to play the hero, I'll send you to your grave!"
"Boom!"
Lin Hen swung his battle blade wildly, creating a whirlwind as he charged toward Xiao Li.
"Too ignorant to know your own limits!"
Xiao Li stood motionless on the ground, extending a single arm. His palm transformed into a 9-meter-long Taotie giant claw, crushing the blade aura and lifting Lin Hen off the ground.
Boom!
Lin Hen's head exploded like a watermelon, scattering crimson blood in all directions.
"What a monster—he’s actually reached the Second Level of Divine Body Realm!" Ning Xiaochuan observed from afar, his gaze icy. This guy's physique and talent were truly terrifying. To kill Lin Hen, a First Level Divine Body Realm cultivator, in a single move—most warriors at the Second Level couldn’t achieve such overwhelming combat prowess.
A warrior with a powerful physique could dominate others of the same cultivation realm, sweeping through them with unmatched superiority.
And Xiao Li possessed precisely such a physique.
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