Chapter 72: Passing Through The First Layer

  Thirteen peaks, a hidden cave mansion, thin mist swirling around, strange rocks towering above, Dan Sheng's upper body was as white as jade, every wave of his sleeves was hidden between heaven and earth, if not seen with the naked eye, it would be impossible to detect that there was a life sitting there.

  Xiao Bai Yi smiled faintly: "Zi Yan, what do you think of this new batch of disciples who just entered the mountain?"

  Fang Ziyuan was not too restrained in front of his own master, smiling and saying: "This generation of disciples, Li Ruo is the first, Qin Fengchuan and Gu Lieyang are tied for second."

  Xiao Baiyi shook his head in dissatisfaction: "Zi Yan, I don't want to hear these superficial things. Tell me your own views."

  Fang Ziyuan smiled again: "Master, my views and the results on the surface are quite different. When I was discussing Tao in the Performing Immortal Hall, I used my divine sense to lay out a vast scene, and in that scene, I discovered something very strange..."

  Xiao Baiyi showed an interested expression, and Fang Ziyuan continued: "I watched Qin Gu and the two of them are truly talented, with unobstructed spiritual energy in the field, flowing freely through their bodies. When they get excited, the speed at which the spiritual energy enters their bodies is more than ten times faster. Such a seedling is far superior to other fellow disciples, and it's hard to come by."

  "What about Li Ran's knife..."

  Xiao Bai Yi slightly furrowed his brow and asked: "How is it?"

  Fang Ziyuan shook his head with a wry smile: "The spiritual energy around Li Ran's body seems extremely dull, as if there is no deeper communication between his body and mind. Qin Gu and the others absorbed the hundred-breath spiritual energy, but his body couldn't even absorb one breath. Obviously, his innate talent is really mediocre, but with such mediocre talent, how could he achieve such astonishing results in the arena?"

  Xiao Baiyi nodded slightly: "At that time, 2,000 people gathered together. I had checked the talent of each disciple with my divine consciousness. That Li Ran's knife indeed has mediocre qualifications and was at the bottom among the 2,000 people. However, the talent for cultivation is not all about sensing spiritual energy. His shocking strength may have come from some kind of extraordinary encounter. I didn't see him compete in person, so it's hard to make a judgment."

  Fang Ziyuan let out a sigh and continued, "So I think that among these disciples, Qin Gu are the top two, worth putting in great effort to cultivate. That Wind Array is barely passable, but his sword-obsessed personality resonates deeply with me. The others are all mediocre, and even if they have some accomplishments, it's nothing more than that."

  Xiao Bai Yi nodded thoughtfully: "Qin Gu's two people are intentionally cultivating, it is possible to let our thirteen peaks produce two more golden swords. At that time, I will have a good face in front of your other masters, Zi Yan, you should correct and help these two people on their future path of cultivation, and help them grow up quickly."

  "Yes, Master."

  Xiao Bai's eyes and eyebrows slightly condensed, silently pondering: "That child Li Ran, can't rush to a conclusion too early, don't know what secrets he has on him, must observe more..."

  Lightly waving his hand downwards: "Zi Yan, if there's nothing else, you can withdraw first."

  "Yes, Master."

  Fang Ziyuan suddenly retreated, his expression stunned and bewildered. He looked up with a surprised face: "Master, Li Ran's knife has gone to the Huanling Cave, he actually wants to challenge the Golden Sword List now!"

  "Huh?"

  Xiao Baiyi was taken aback for a moment, revealing an interested expression. He slightly bent his index finger forward and lightly flicked it, shooting a faint blue light onto the opposite white jade wall. The blue light rippled outward like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples on the surface. As the light passed, the jade wall clearly displayed the entrance of an ancient cave. The two saw a figure in gray robes walking proudly forward, stopping at the entrance of the cave and carefully examining the three characters "Huanling Cave" before nodding and quickly entering.

  Xiao Bai Yi smiled in surprise: "This Li Ran, really went to venture into the Huanling Cave? What a reckless child, is he confident or just acting on impulse?"

  Qin Fengchuan was listening to other senior brothers explaining their duties and procedures in the Xian Tang, when a grey-robed disciple rushed in, shouting loudly: "Have you guys heard? This year's top-ranked disciple Li Rendao has entered the Huanling Cave! Li Rendao is going to challenge the Golden Sword List!"

  "What?"

  Qin Fengchuan was shocked and quickly stood up, apologizing to his senior brother beside him: "Senior brother, please don't blame me, I'll listen again another day."

  That senior brother also quickly jumped up, pulled Qin Fengchuan and ran outside: "At this time, what's the point of explaining, let's go, I'll take you to the transmission array, there is a heart-to-heart reflection stone, we can see how many layers Li Ruo Dao has entered the Phantom Cave."

  Qin Fengchuan followed with great joy, and along the way, he saw many people hurrying in the same direction. They arrived at a stone cave under a mountain peak, where Qin Fengchuan saw Gu Lieyang and many others had already arrived. They turned their heads to face each other, looking puzzled.

  The two did not expect that Li Ran would be so impatient, and just a few days after entering the mountain gate, he ran to the Phantom Cave to challenge the Golden Sword List. Was it that bet that stimulated him?

  A thin and withered person stood beside him, staring at him with wide eyes.

  Before long, Huī Yī also hurried over, his eyes wide with surprise as he asked Tú Shùn, "Tú Shùn, was it you who brought Lǐ Rán's dagger here?"

  Tú shùn fēi kuài diǎn tóu.

  English Translation: Tu Shun nodded quickly.

  "How long has it been?"

  "Just sent it over."

  "Which of you Taoist priests will help open the Heart-to-Heart Reflection Stone so we can see Li Fenger's situation in the trials?" shouted Shan Zhi suddenly, turning his head and speaking loudly.

  A young man in a green robe nodded and walked into the cave first, sat down cross-legged in front of a jade wall, with his hands lightly pressed against the jade wall, his consciousness rapidly invading the jade wall. The jade wall gradually rippled with a faint white mist, and a picture gradually became clear.

  It is the entrance of the Fantom Ancient Cave.

  The crowd waited for a moment, and in the jade wall, they saw Li Ran's knife move steadily, pause slightly in front of the Illusory Spirit Cave, and step into the scene.

  A murmur of voices rose again: "Indeed, he went to venture into the Phantom Spirit Cave, Li Ruo indeed went there."

  Li Ran walked with a long sword on his back, the ancient cave was cold and dry, the sound of the mountain rocks cracking beneath his feet echoed out, making the ancient cave even more desolate. He walked along the winding path for over a hundred yards, turned around a corner, and was met with a thick purple light that made it hard to open one's eyes.

  Li Rengdao used his hand to block the light, slowly adapting to it. When he opened his eyes, he saw that at the end of the cave, a purple glow was like a heavy curtain hanging there. An old man in green clothes with a withered face slowly stood up from the ground, facing Li Rengdao and nodding slightly.

  It seems to be the disciple in charge of guarding the Phantom Cave.

  Li Ruo Knife hastily stepped forward and saluted: "This senior brother, Li Ruo Knife wants to charge into the Huanling Cave, please let him pass."

  The old man in green nodded, took the identity token from Li Ran's hand, and slightly revealed a look of surprise: "Eh? You're a new disciple of the Thirteen Peaks? Not small courage, huh. The Ling Beast in the Huanling Cave is indeed all spiritual power illusions, but when it's dangerous, there will still be life-threatening danger, are you prepared?"

  Li Ran nodded vigorously with his knife.

  The old man in green clothes stopped talking and solemnly handed over a palm-sized jade token. The token had dense ancient patterns on it, and he instructed: "Take good care of this transmission spirit token. In times of danger, crush it, and it will transmit you back here. Be careful with everything inside."

  Li Ran took the jade symbol and strode forward, squeezing through the purple light barrier as if he had passed through a cluster of mercury with an astonishing density. With a "plop" sound, he appeared on the other side of the light curtain. Before his eyes, the scene suddenly became magnificent: the sky was high and cloudless, the grass was lush, the mountains were faintly visible, and a majestic iron beast was leisurely roaming about.

  Li Ran's knife was clearly aware that this was all a spiritual illusion, but he still felt shocked and nodded secretly. If this layer was all at the level of the Iron Beast, then there would be no worries at all.

  Looking at the distant mountain peak, Li Ran's knife stepped on his waist, and he leaped up, almost stepping on the grass to rush forward. A furious iron beast roared and came over, a flash of light, a burst of blood spurted out, and the iron beast's huge body rushed forward for several meters before crashing to the ground.

  All the way to the top of the mountain, Li Ranno encountered no beasts, and with one breath, he arrived at the entrance of an ancient cave on the waist of the mountain. Without hesitation, he rushed in, and deep within the cave, there was indeed another purple light barrier. He squeezed through it, and with a "poof" sound, Li Ranno entered the second layer of the Huanling Cave.

  In the thirteen peaks, in the heart of the stone, everyone saw a dazzling light flashing on the second green stone at the base of the Lingdong Cave, which was the sign that Li Ran's knife had passed through the ban and entered the second layer. Unconsciously, they all let out an "oh" at the same time.

  Shan Zhi's expression turned solemn, he knew that with Li Ran's knife skills, passing the first layer should not be a problem, but he did not expect it to be this fast.

  Even if he ran in a straight line without any obstructions, Li Rou's speed was still too fast.