Sword Dust's performance left everyone at the testing site, including Ye Hao, somewhat stunned!
Unexpectedly, Sword Dust had such endurance!
In the checkpoint of Walking on Thin Ice, even disciples in the later stages of the Blood Refining Realm could not endure and were eliminated.
However, Sword Dust persisted with only his initial cultivation in the Blood Refining Realm.
"Even if he wants to show off for Elder Lin, this kid is too crazy!"
They couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Following that, what they called Sword Dust's "madness" continued. With his cultivation, he continued to create miracles in the subsequent checkpoints.
Thousands of Arrows Released!
This checkpoint, similar to the arrow forest tested by new disciples, was extremely challenging. Unlike the arrow forest, which posed no life-threatening danger, a wrong move in Thousands of Arrows Released could lead to fatalities.
"It's getting more difficult! Can Sword Dust still create miracles?"
All eyes turned to Sword Dust's face. Even though he had persevered through each checkpoint, his face had turned extremely pale. There was no trace of color in his face; he relied on his body to forcefully endure.
Many disciples, even if they thought Sword Dust's cultivation was not high, did not dare to underestimate him. At least, they couldn't achieve what Sword Dust had done!
People looked at Lin Xuan's expression, and seeing Lin Xuan still showing no reaction, the testing continued.
Unexpected situations with disciples during the test had occurred in previous years, but seeing someone like Sword Dust, relying on such a cultivation level to persist, was unprecedented.
Little did they know, in Sword Dust's eyes, at this point, the number of remaining disciples had decreased significantly. Probably only disciples like Lin Tang, who were at the peak of the Blood Refining Realm, could pass Thousands of Arrows Released.
For someone at the initial stage of the Blood Refining Realm to reach this point, they couldn't even imagine!
Swish, swish, swish!
Swish, swish, swish!
Entering Thousands of Arrows Released, this checkpoint primarily tested the speed of these disciples. Additionally, it required the use of spiritual power for self-protection. The most crucial aspect was speed. If the speed was too slow, they would likely turn into a sieve on the way out.
Even disciples like Lin Tang, in the later stage of the Blood Refining Realm, were hit by many arrows in Thousands of Arrows Released, gasping for breath, their faces pale. They hurriedly sat down to recover.
People stared tightly at the exit of Thousands of Arrows Released. Due to the design of the checkpoint, except for Lin Xuan and the elder responsible for the testing, other disciples, including outer sect elders, couldn't see what was happening inside.
Their emotions were tense. They didn't know the situation inside.
Lin Tang and the others had come out with injuries for quite some time, but Sword Dust had not yet emerged. People couldn't help but speculate whether Sword Dust was so stubborn that he insisted on going through, and in the end, didn't even shout for the elders to save him.
For the first time, they were actually anxious for a disciple with only the initial cultivation of the Blood Refining Realm. Perhaps Sword Dust's spirit had infected them.
At this moment, every tick of the clock seemed to make their emotions fluctuate. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the exit of Thousands of Arrows Released.
Dang!
Dang!
Dang!
They seemed to hear the sound of their hearts beating, gradually sighing in their hearts. Sword Dust might not be able to make it!
It's understandable; in the God Tian Sect's test, unless there is "systematic" risk, if you insist beyond your capabilities, the sect elders won't intervene. There are no exceptions. This is also part of the sect's test of mental fortitude in cultivation.
"Too bad! Too bad!"
Someone sighed twice. These two sighs were a pity for Sword Dust's remarkable tenacity, rare and deliberate. Perhaps this disciple might have lost his life on this checkpoint.
People looked at Lin Xuan's expression, only to see that Lin Xuan still showed no change.
However, Lin Xuan's heart had already been deeply moved as he watched the situation inside the checkpoint.
Dang!
Dang!
Dang!
This time, it wasn't the sound of their hearts beating, but footsteps coming from the exit of Thousands of Arrows Released!
It was the sound of footsteps, and soon, everyone saw a young man covered in blood slowly walking out of the exit.
This scene left everyone slightly stunned. He had actually held on! Moreover, he had passed this checkpoint and come out!
They couldn't help but ask again, what was supporting him to move forward? To apprentice under Lin Xuan? Almost sacrificing his life, was it worth it?
They themselves admitted that if it were them, they probably would have given up halfway.
Beside Lin Xuan, Ye Hao looked at the figure covered in blood and couldn't help but show a touch of emotion in his eyes. Among the peers in the God Tian Sect, this was the first person who made him feel moved!
"Sword Dust..."
Ye Hao whispered his name.
However, looking at the figure bathed in blood, people thought he couldn't go further!
Because, at this point, his body was already weak to the extreme.
"Sword Dust, do you still want to continue? Everything should be done within your limits..."
The testing elder, who had just recovered, couldn't bear to watch any longer. After testing for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered such a young man. So, he couldn't help but remind him.
However, Sword Dust did not answer his question but continued forward, walking towards the next checkpoint.
Hoo!
Next to him, Lin Tang and others, who had just recovered, looked at this young man with a cultivation only in the initial stage of the Blood Refining Realm.
"He's insane! This is definitely a madman!"
They were shocked inwardly.
It even gave them a feeling that if they were at the same cultivation level, they wouldn't be able to surpass Sword Dust in the inner sect's eighteen checkpoints!
As for Sword Dust, he didn't answer the elder's question not because he didn't want to but because, at this point, he simply didn't have the strength to respond. His consciousness was becoming somewhat blurry. Apart from the current checkpoint, there was nothing else in his mind.
Win!
He must win!
Under the gaze of everyone, Sword Dust slowly entered the next checkpoint. This was the penultimate checkpoint of the Inner Sect's Eighteen Checkpoints!
Inferno Sky Blaze!
In this checkpoint, practitioners needed extremely strong overall qualities. In front of them stood a towering mountain engulfed in raging flames. Only those with powerful overall strength and will could climb to the peak of this mountain.
Reaching this checkpoint meant that one could basically become a candidate for an Inner Sect disciple. Those who could pass were mostly disciples at the peak of the Blood Refining Realm, just a step away from breaking through to the Void Opening Realm. Once they reached the summit of this mountain and received the sect's rewards for passing this checkpoint, breaking through to the Void Opening Realm wouldn't be difficult.
As for the last checkpoint, people had basically stopped paying attention to it now. It had been so long that no one had been able to pass that final checkpoint.
Therefore, for outer sect disciples, Inferno Sky Blaze was the last checkpoint!
"Even so, does he still want to persist?"
People looked at Sword Dust's figure and couldn't help but sigh.
In the current state of Sword Dust, how could he pass Inferno Sky Blaze? Regardless of the outcome, it was Sword Dust's choice, and they could only watch.
"Ah..."
At the moment of stepping onto the mountain, Sword Dust's face couldn't help but tremble. With his cultivation at the initial stage of the Blood Refining Realm, it was extremely difficult to climb!
In the brief contact, he felt a sensation as if he had entered hell.
"Sister! I will definitely save you! As long as I pass Inferno Sky Blaze and become Elder Lin's disciple, I can save you!"
Sword Dust whispered with a voice only he could hear. Then, he clenched his teeth, his face tense, and he began to ascend the peak step by step, struggling.
"I will save you!"
With each step, Sword Dust repeated this determination, using his powerful will to support his advance. If it were any other disciple, even one in the later stage of the Blood Refining Realm, they would probably have fainted directly at this point.
But Sword Dust? Whenever he felt the bone-piercing pain that almost made him unable to persevere, he would fiercely scratch his skin with his nails. The additional pain kept him awake.
"What is supporting him to continue forward?"
Lin Tang and the others, standing behind, watched the figure that had become "blurry." Their steps seemed to hesitate slightly.
Even Sword Dust's persistence made them reluctant to continue, but they also knew that only by exerting their full strength could they show the greatest respect for Sword Dust.
Sword Dust, with only the initial stage of the Blood Refining Realm, could achieve this. As for them, if they couldn't, wouldn't it be embarrassing!
Gulp!
Watching this test, someone swallowed a mouthful of saliva. At this moment, the whole scene was silent. Only a few young people, everyone's eyes, were fixed on the young man climbing Inferno Sky Blaze!
Even if he fell at this checkpoint, it was enough for them to respect him!
However.
Human strength has limits. Having experienced sixteen checkpoints was already a considerable miracle. Now, after climbing for a while, Sword Dust finally couldn't support it any longer. Even though he repeatedly shouted in his heart, "I can't fall!"
His body still swayed, and he fell on the mountainside!
People's eyes turned slightly to Lin Xuan. At this moment, they truly hoped that Lin Xuan could save this child. Lin Xuan had not spoken yet, and they dared not say much.
At this moment.
Lin Xuan finally stood up. Instead of saving Sword Dust directly, a spiritual power appeared in the palm of his hand. It was a magical technique!
A stream of spiritual light flew out from his hand and landed on Sword Dust's body.
"Why do you persist like this?"
Lin Xuan asked faintly.
Although Sword Dust's consciousness was nearing unconsciousness, he still heard Lin Xuan's question. Why did he persist like this?
"Because... my sister!"
"Because, I refuse to accept!!"
Swoosh!
The scene in front of Sword Dust suddenly changed. The originally boundless sea of fire disappeared, replaced by another scene.
"Sword Dust, do you think you can be Miss Nangong's husband with just your abilities?! Back then, those were just the elders' jokes. Miss Nangong will marry whoever she wants! But it will never be you!!"
It was a quite beautiful young girl, but her eyes, looking at the young man in front of her, were full of disdain and arrogance, as if the relationship with this young man was her shame.
"Sword Dust, Miss Nangong is right! You should quickly dissolve the engagement! Miss Nangong compensating our family with two Void Opening Pills is already benevolent enough!"
"Yeah! Sword Dust, you are already a useless person now. Regardless of how, this engagement is a burden to Miss Nangong. It's better to agree to dissolve it; it's also a good thing!"
Watching this scene, Sword Dust hated it! He hated this girl. Dissolving the engagement was fine; he didn't care about it. But why did she have to humiliate him publicly!
Back then, when he was five years old, he reached the mid-stage of the Blood Refining Realm!
Seven years old, he reached the late stage of the Blood Refining Realm!
Nine years old, he reached the peak of the Blood Refining Realm!
Just at the age of eleven, he almost broke through to the Void Opening Realm and became an Inner Sect disciple. Why didn't they say that?
Now his cultivation had fallen directly! Not only was she eagerly coming to annul the engagement, but she also wanted to humiliate him publicly! How could a twelve-year-old bear such a thing?
He hated it even more since his father disappeared from the family. Facing such a situation, the elders of the family, in front of outsiders, showed a fawning appearance. In their eyes, those two Void Opening Pills were worth much more than him!
Looking at the scenes passing by, Sword Dust's eyes gradually filled with blood.
It was precisely because of this that he set a three-year agreement at that time. But now, three years had passed, and his cultivation had not progressed. He hated his own incompetence!
Lin Xuan looked at the scenes passing by in the illusion and understood. So, this was the reason why Sword Dust had been influenced.
And then.
The scene changed again, revealing another scene with a cute girl appearing in Sword Dust's eyes.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I am going to go much further ahead with the story on my patreon, so if you could support me there please go to https://patreon.com/MangaTacos
I also have plans to turn this into a manhua which I will be funding with the monthly donations I get from Patreon. My goal is to reach about 100 patrons to get the artist started. The more patrons I get, the more artists I will be able to hire and get the story into a manhua much quicker.
I am also writing a light novel series which is more of a Shounen style story. I hope to see you all there!