Xun Huaiying and the third generation disciple, Qing Chenzi, had both attended the Sword Competition Gathering before and had a reputation in the sect. Chen Yuanning and the other two did not dare to disobey his words. They bowed and left to take care of Miao Kun and the others.
Zhang Yan cast his gaze over and sized him up. It had been more than a hundred years since they last met, and Xun Xun's cultivation had improved rather quickly. The High Cloud above his head had already formed three clouds, but he had yet to show the signs of Huo Xuan's unity. Zhang Yan smiled as he cupped his fist and bowed, saying, "Ever since we parted in a hurry during the last sword battle, it has already been more than a hundred years. How is Fellow Daoist Xun?"
Xun Huaiying returned the greeting and said, "Thanks to your help, I managed to escape. Since then, I've been practicing my sword skills in the sect. It's a pity that Feng Haiyang has already been killed by you. Otherwise, I'd definitely go and learn from him again."
Towards the end, there was a hint of regret in his tone.
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Before I killed Feng Haiyang, he said something. Would you like to know, Fellow Daoist Xun?"
Xun Huaiying had personally experienced Zhang Yan's skills. One could imagine how frightening it was when Zhang Yan fought with him alone in the Star Stone. When she heard the words spoken before his death, she unconsciously revealed an attentive expression and said, "What did he say?"
Zhang Yan said, "He said that there will be three Heavy Tribulations within a thousand years and asked if I could avoid them."
Xun Huaiying's eyes narrowed and asked, "How did you answer?"
Zhang Yan laughed and said, "I said that the Heavy Tribulations are our opportunities."
Xun Huaiying was moved and cheered, "Fellow Daoist, you have guts!"
Zhang Yan said, "Since there are Heavy Tribulations in the world, the nine continents will have their own heroes. Why do you have to worry about not being able to find an opponent? "
Xun Huaiying nodded seriously and said, "Fellow Daoist, you're right." Then, he looked at Zhang Yan and sighed. "It's a pity that you're not a disciple of Shaoqing. I can only discuss techniques with you and not swords. It's a pity."
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "There might be a chance."
However, Xun Huaiying did not think much about it. He knew that Zhang Yan was skilled in flying swords, but he had not learned the proper technique after all. He only talked about the Sword Dao. They might not even be as good as the junior disciples in the sect.
He didn't mean to belittle them. He admired Zhang Yan for being able to reach where he was today without the guidance of a master.
However, the Shaoqing Ten Thousand Year Sword Legacy contained the blood, sweat, and sweat of countless predecessors, as well as the wisdom of sages. This kind of inheritance. It wasn't something that could be easily overcome with talent alone.
He stepped sideways. He said, "Originally I wanted to invite Fellow Daoist to my Immortal's Cave, but this time Fellow Daoist is the Qincang Envoy, so you have to go to the East Dynasty Funeral Parlor. I'll send someone to inform Uncle Ying first. If there are no accidents, we should be able to see him tomorrow. "
The Shaoqing Sect's Sect Master Yue usually didn't do anything. His eldest disciple, Ying Chunqiu, was in charge of the internal and external affairs. In terms of the latter's position in the sect, it was roughly similar to that of Meng Zhen.
Zhang Yan was also very clear about this situation, so he nodded and cupped his hands, "Then I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist."
Xun Huaiying led the way in front and led the group to the pavilion.
To show his respect, Zhang Yan got off the carriage and flew in the air. Along the way, he actually saw the sound of sword lights flying and fighting on four or five floating platforms. There were also faint shouts and whistles. It was obvious that someone was fighting there. However, Xun Huaiying, who was beside him, looked like he was already used to it. He couldn't help but think, "I heard that there are fights in the Shaoqing Sect every day. It seems that it's true."
Xun Huaiying saw that he was paying attention to the floating islands around, so she pointed and said, "This is called the Sword Platform. Every disciple in our sect who has sword consciousness in their sword pellet can build one here. After ten thousand years, there are already more than three thousand of them."
There were over a thousand disciples in the Shaoqing Sect, yet there were only over 200 people that could truly be called sword cultivators. But in the entire world, not a single person dared to underestimate the Shaoqing Sect, and the sword platform that floated in midair was the proof of its 10,000 years of inheritance.
Zhang Yan looked around and saw that many Sword Platforms had a Sword Pill placed at the highest point of the platform. It was like a pearl flying star, shining brilliantly. He was a little surprised, so he asked, "Fellow Daoist Xun, what's the reason for this?"
Xun Huaiying was silent for a moment, then she said, "These Sword Pills are all left by the deceased disciples in the past. They are placed here to wait for their master."
The Sword Pill was the most chaste and pure item. If every disciple obtained a sword and nurtured a True Consciousness and True Spirit, they would enter Dao in the next life. If the Sword Pill and their Divine Heart were in agreement, it would still chase after them to recognize their master.
However, those who could become sword cultivators were one in ten thousand. After reincarnating, even if they could enter Dao again, they might not have this kind of talent. Therefore, more than ninety percent of these Sword Pills were still ownerless.
At this time, Xun Huaiying pointed at an empty Sword Platform and said, "Back then, senior apprentice-brother Ban cultivated here. However, since his whereabouts were unknown, even the Sword Pill was nowhere to be found."
Zhang Yan's heart moved slightly, and he asked, "Fellow Daoist Xun, are you talking about the once famous Daoist Ban Shaoming?"
Xun Huaiying sighed and said, "Yes, senior apprentice-brother Ban's talent is above mine. If not for an accident, he should have been the one to fight."
When Zhang Yan heard this, he seemed to be in deep thought.
Xun Huaiying pointed to the distance again, and he raised his voice and said, "Fellow Daoist, please look over there. Those are the Cangxu, Zichen, and Qinglai platforms. They were left behind by our Shaoqing Sect's three ascended Spiritual Masters."
Zhang Yan looked in the direction he pointed and saw that there were three mountain-like platforms that hung high in the sky. They were majestic and towering, standing proudly in the void. There were also three beams of light that shot into the sky, shining brightly like the bright moon in the sky. Compared to them, the thousands of floating platforms below looked like tiles and dust.
The East Dynasty Platform was the Shaoqing Funeral Parlor. It was on the east side of the Guanyang Big Peak. However, only the Qincang and Yuxiao Sects could be invited to this place.
When Zhang Yan and the others arrived and settled down, Xun Huaiying said, "Fellow Daoist, you came at the right time. These few days, my sect is recruiting disciples. It's still early, why don't I bring fellow Daoist there to take a look?"
"Oh?"
Zhang Yan was instantly interested. Other than Qincang, Huanzhen, Shaoqing, and Lishan Sects, most of the ten sects were controlled by aristocratic families. The rules for selecting disciples were similar.
Due to the Shaoqing Sect's cultivation of sword cultivators, they especially valued natural endowments. As a result, no clan would be able to survive for long. Their method of selecting disciples was also different from the other sects. Since he was here now, he might as well take a look. He said joyfully, "Then I'll have to trouble you."
After talking to Miao Kun and the others, he went with Xun Huaiying. After flying for a while, he followed and landed in front of a temple.
Xun Huaiying said, "Selecting disciples is a matter of the Lower Peak. We don't have to go back and forth. There's a Xuanji Spring here, and we can observe everything in the sect."
At this moment, a Daoist steward ran out of the hall and bowed, "Why are you here, Spiritual Master?"
Xun Huaiying said, "I brought the Qincang Spiritual Master here to see the scenery of the sect. Open the prohibition. Let me take a look. "
The Daoist quickly agreed. He waved the horsetail whisk in his hand, and the door of the hall opened. He then bowed and said, "Please go ahead, Spiritual Master."
The two of them entered the hall. Zhang Yan looked up. A thousand feet away, there was a mountain wall covered in moss. There was a clear spring that flowed down from above, forming a stream. However, what was strange was that after the water flowed down, it formed dozens of whirlpools. In each whirlpool, a scenery appeared, and a few of them seemed to be the places that they were passing by Just Now.
Xun Huaiying raised her sleeve and waved it to completely disperse the vortex. After that, a brilliant sword light flew out from within the cloud and descended into the water. Instantly, it erupted with light, and it actually stirred up the river and created another vortex.
After a few breaths of time, a scene appeared within it.
Zhang Yan walked to the side of the stream in two steps and looked down. He saw that there was a huge valley with a steep cliff on the side, and it was like a line from the north to the south. At this moment, there were thousands of people slowly climbing up there, and when he looked carefully, he saw that most of them were teenagers of fifteen or sixteen years old, and there were even children of seven or eight years old.
Xun Huaiying said, "Every tenth month, the sect opens its doors. Anyone who is interested in joining my Shaoqing Daoist only needs to climb over this dragon fins back alone, and they will be able to join my sect."
Zhang Yan knew that the Shaoqing Daoist disciple selection would not be so simple. This was the first test, but it was possible for someone of such a young age to pass this test alone.
Xun Huaiying waved her sleeves, and the scenery in the water changed. They arrived in front of a cliff. The surrounding clouds surged like ice, and the grass and trees were covered with a layer of frost. It was obvious that the mountain was much higher.
Compared to Just Now, there were only a few tens of people in front of the cliff.
Xun Huaiying said, "If you pass Just Now, you will be able to learn a set of breathing techniques. If you succeed in it, you will be able to come to this mountain in the second year and try the Heart Refining Chain."
Zhang Yan asked, "What is the 'Heart Refining Chain'?"
Xun Huaiying pointed to the front of the cliff and said, "Fellow Daoist, please take a look."
Zhang Yan focused his gaze and saw that there were only misty clouds. Apart from that, there was nothing else. At this moment, a young man carefully took a step towards the space in front of the cliff. His body paused and he actually stood still. Then, he took another step forward and swayed a little, but he still managed to stand firm. At this moment, there was nothing under his feet to support him and he looked like he was standing in the air.
Xun Huaiying said lightly, "The Founding Master once used his mana here. Only those with a strong heart and perseverance would be able to solidify the Qi under their feet. Those who walk on it, if their determination wavers, the Qi will disperse, and they will fall into the abyss."
Zhang Yan looked at it. If one wanted to reach the opposite cliff, they would have to walk about ten thousand steps. If one of them stepped on empty air, in other words, if there was even the slightest bit of doubt and confusion, they would immediately be doomed.
It must be known that even if these people practiced breathing techniques, they were only mortals. The cold air and strong winds of the mountain could affect them. Those who could pass this test must be rare and persevering warriors.
Just as he looked, the teenager who took a step forward Just Now was suddenly sweating profusely. He stood there motionless, and then his body started to shake violently.
Xun Huaiying said indifferently, "He lost."
Just as she finished speaking, the teenager stepped on empty air. His mouth was wide open, and his arms and legs were shaking wildly, as if he was trying to grab something. His expression was one of confusion and fear. His body fell, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the endless clouds.
Zhang Yan asked, "Is there anyone down there to save him?"
Xun Huaiying shook her head and said, "If the person who fell was saved, he would definitely think that he was lucky. Then, setting up this Heart Refining Chain would be useless."
Zhang Yan sighed softly. It was not easy for mortals to seek Dao. Shaoqing was a first-rate Xuanmen sect, and it specialized in the Sword Path. It was especially demanding on one's temperament. If his previous self had not gone to Qincang, but to Shaoqing, he would probably have died here.
Xun Huaiying said lightly, "If you pass this test, you can go to the opposite cliff to search for opportunities. We have buried ten sword pellets in the mountain. As long as you can find them within thirty days, you can enter the mountain and join our sect."
"Thirty days?"
Zhang Yan raised his eyebrows. This mountain was so vast that it stretched for ten thousand miles. With a mortal's body and two legs, how far could they walk in thirty days? If they wanted to find ten sword pellets, it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Xun Huaiying said, "At most thirty days. The opposite cliff will have no clothes and no food. Every month, there will definitely be a cold wave. If you're still inside, you'll definitely die. If you haven't found the sword pellets by then, there's only one way to save yourself."
He paused and said in a deep voice, "Go back the way you came from on the Heart Refining Chain. After the cold wind passes, you can go to the opposite cliff to search for opportunities."
…
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