Chapter 54: How Shameless!
The Immortal Ascension Gate trials were held over three days because each trial was extremely mentally and physically demanding.
The remaining time after the trials was for recuperation and rest.
After a night passed, the aspiring cultivators arrived at Underworld Water Ravine for the second trial of the Immortal Ascension Gate: the character assessment.
Opposite to Cold Edge Cliff, Underworld Water Ravine was located in an abyss at the edge of the Peerless Summit Sect’s peaks.
Similar to its name, the sect’s residence was located beside an underground river.
The disciples of Underworld Water Ravine were mostly silent and aloof, so when Luo Xue, as usual, arrived early to scout the location, there were few people around.
Fortunately, the surrounding environment was also quite dim, making it difficult for the Falling Flower Peak sisterhood to find her.
Luo Xue found a secluded spot again, but just as she was about to sit down and cultivate, a voice suddenly came from beside her.
“Someone’s here.”
Luo Xue was startled and quickly lowered her head, apologizing.
“Sorry, sorry, I’ll leave…”
“…It’s you?”
A darker figure slowly emerged from the shadows. Although Luo Xue couldn’t see anything, she felt a sharp gaze fixed on her.
This feeling was somewhat familiar.
“Senior Brother Li?”
Luo Xue tried calling out.
Among the people she had met, the only one who was always shrouded in shadows like this seemed to be Li Guixing, one of the Peerless Four.
Hearing this address, the shadowy figure trembled slightly, but didn’t say anything more.
“Ahem, sorry for disturbing you, I’ll find another place…”
Luo Xue quickly pulled her hood lower and was about to leave.
She didn’t want to have anything to do with the Peerless Four.
“You… should be careful.”
Just then, the shadowy figure spoke again, his tone still indifferent.
“Huh?”
Luo Xue was slightly taken aback.
“Especially in your situation…” The shadowy figure paused, seeming hesitant. “Standing out isn’t always a good thing.”
Senior Brother Li… was he concerned about her?
But what was her situation? Why did she need to be extra careful?
“The threat of the Demon Abyss is always present.”
The shadowy figure said one more sentence, then fell silent.
Li Guixing’s cryptic words confused Luo Xue, and he didn’t seem to intend to elaborate.
However, the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss had indeed been at odds for many years, and there had been numerous clashes between them in secret.
Especially Underworld Water Ravine, which had the most interactions with the Demon Abyss, so Senior Brother Li specifically mentioning this should be considered a sign of concern.
After all, according to rumors, Luo Xue had been in seclusion for over a decade before coming out.
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother.”
Luo Xue bowed.
The shadowy figure trembled again, as if wanting to say something.
But no sound came.
However, due to Senior Brother Li’s interruption, the surrounding aspiring cultivators gradually increased.
Luo Xue couldn’t find another opportunity to meditate, so she simply waited.
The shadowy figure beside her seemed to want to talk to her again, but after several moments of silence, he still didn’t speak.
Just like yesterday, the Falling Flower Peak sisterhood started their search for Little Junior Sister, but to no avail.
Soon, as a dark mist enveloped the area and numerous figures in black robes appeared, the noisy scene instantly quieted down.
The Peak Master of Underworld Water Ravine, also dressed in a black robe, didn’t specifically single out the Peerless Four like Xi Xiaofeng had done yesterday.
Moreover, the black-robed figure didn’t seem to like talking much. He simply waved his hand, and formation runes appeared around them. Then, stairs materialized on the steep cliff face.
They seemed to lead to the top of the cliff, or perhaps straight to the sky.
“Climb the stairs,” the black-robed figure said concisely, “The higher, the better.”
It was still the same scoring system.
After climbing these stairs, one would face the pressure of a high-level cultivator’s aura.
The higher the number of steps, the stronger the pressure.
One’s performance when facing a high-level cultivator’s aura best revealed their true character.
This required not only cultivation but also the heart to face a strong enemy.
Those with cultivation but without the heart were only worthy of being someone else’s stepping stone.
As the black-robed figure’s voice fell, the test began. The crowd surged towards the stairs, and Luo Xue quickly followed.
She also wanted to see Li Guixing’s movements, but he had already disappeared.
While the aspiring cultivators and the second-generation immortals were still hesitating, Ye Liufeng of Dawn Light Peak stepped onto the stairs, taking several steps at once.
Not only that, but he also turned around, looked at the crowd, and sneered.
“Luo Xue of Falling Flower Peak, if you still have any tricks to compete with me today, I, Ye, will acknowledge you!”
Luo Xue, in the crowd, heard this and couldn’t help but feel helpless.
She didn’t even know why she had offended this Senior Brother Ye. If he wanted to compete, he should at least find a proper opponent…
Not to mention that Luo Xue was much younger than him at twelve years old, and her cultivation wasn’t even at the Innate Realm yet.
Even Ye Ningshuang, the weakest of the Peerless Four, was at the late stage of the Innate Realm. A peak Innate Realm cultivator picking a fight with someone who wasn’t even at the Innate Realm… how shameless.
However, with everyone together this time, they couldn’t cheat, right?
Thinking this, Luo Xue stepped onto the stairs.
After his provocation, Ye Liufeng didn’t wait either.
The other members of the Peerless Four had already caught up, and he didn’t want to fall behind.
Within a few steps, he had entered the area facing the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s aura.
From here on, it was the true challenge, each step extremely difficult.
However, Ye Liufeng was full of confidence. This time, he would definitely win first place.
The problem was…
After Luo Xue stepped onto the stairs, she found that there was no pressure at all!
“What the…”
Luo Xue thought it was an illusion and took a few more steps.
The aspiring cultivator beside her was already sweating profusely, the pressure of the Innate Realm making him unable to even stand steady.
But Luo Xue still didn’t feel anything.
“Damn it, can they even cheat like this?”
Luo Xue looked up directly at the black-robed figure.
Sure enough, the black-robed figure was also looking at her, a hint of amusement seemingly hidden within his unseen face.
“Damn it, I really want to join the immortal sect with my own strength!”
Luo Xue wanted to cry. She didn’t want to cheat! She just wanted to take the test fairly with her own efforts!
The peak of the Post-Heaven Realm wasn’t impossible to reach. Who was the mastermind behind this cheating!
“Forget it, I’ll just stand here and not move. I should still be within the top hundred.”
Luo Xue made up her mind and stood still, no longer moving forward.
She had already entered the area with the pressure of a Spirit Condensation cultivator. Being able to move freely under the pressure of a Spirit Condensation cultivator at the Innate Realm was already considered the level of a promising disciple.
However, if Luo Xue used her true strength, she should be able to reach the level of a Foundation Establishment cultivator or above.
Because the pressure from the stairs was fake, and she had truly faced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, in a life-or-death situation.
Seeing Luo Xue stop, the black-robed figure frowned slightly.
He knew about yesterday’s situation. If Luo Xue’s performance today was average, wouldn’t others realize that she was cheating?
Although it didn’t matter much, but for the sake of the sect’s reputation, the black-robed figure still considered it.
“…Fine, if you won’t move, I’ll move you.”
A thought flashed through his mind.
Luo Xue suddenly felt a spiritual power lifting her body.
Then, at an astonishing speed, she rushed up the stairs.
“Damn, are cheaters so shameless now!”
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