Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 992 Without a solid foundation, it's difficult to cross the weak waters.
Fu Danian's blood boiled with excitement, his breathing quickened, and he couldn't help but whisper to Chen Mu:
"Brother Chen, that waterway doesn't seem to be entirely without pattern. If others can cross it, we might be able to too. Why don't I go up and give it a try?"

Chen Mu already had some guesses in his mind, but to avoid making a mistake, he said, "No rush, let's take another look."

He Zhiyun's thoughts were exactly the same as his. He reached out and pressed down, and an invisible, calming aura enveloped the people of the Floating Cloud Realm, suppressing their restless emotions caused by Li Mang's success.

However, they were able to remain still, while most people in the room did not have that patience.

Among the thousand or so Daoist True Monarchs, many were arrogant and proud. Seeing Li Mang's easy success, dozens of streaks of light eagerly took flight as soon as they spoke, like moths drawn to a flame. Each chose a seemingly ordinary black waterway, raised its multicolored protective aura, and carefully landed inside.

But this "caution" seems so fragile in the face of absolute rules.

"not good!"

In an instant, shrill screams and muffled groans rang out one after another.

Of the dozens of figures, a third of them had just stepped into the waterway when their bodies suddenly sank, as if being dragged by an invisible giant hand. Their protective spiritual light flickered violently a few times before shattering, and they fell straight into the all-consuming Weak Water.

This sudden turn of events terrified the cultivator who was about to follow suit, causing him to hurriedly stop.

However, some of them were already thinking of "getting a head start," so they inevitably rushed too hard and couldn't stop in time. It looked like they were about to repeat the same mistake!

In a flash, their minds raced, and they decided to make the best of a bad situation. They suddenly channeled their magic power and instead of continuing along the waterway, they soared into the sky, intending to fly directly across this seemingly narrow body of water!

"idiot!"

On the reef, many seasoned and prudent cultivators cursed inwardly.

In the outside world, with the abilities of the Daoist True Lord, it would be commonplace for him to fly short distances across waterways.

But this place is the remnant realm of the Golden Immortals, and it is also a trial ground carefully arranged by the Nine Peaks Immortal Sect. How can such trickery be allowed?
Sure enough, the figures that had just risen into the air were thrown halfway up as if they had crashed into an invisible wall of steel, their bodies shaking violently.
Immediately afterwards, a terrifying pressure far beyond their ability to resist descended!
"puff--!"

"Ugh!"

Several muffled groans rang out simultaneously. The protective aura of those cultivators who had tried to "find another way" instantly dissipated, their faces turned ashen, and like birds struck by a heavy hammer, their bodies fell uncontrollably straight down into the desolate Weak Water below.

“Plop, plop, plop…”

For a moment, the sounds of people falling into the water rose and fell.

Above the water's surface, the light flashed wildly, like dying fireflies.

The person who fell into the water was terrified and frantically used his magic to try to break free from the water's restraints and escape this doomed place.

However, to their despair, the immense magical power that was once capable of moving mountains and filling seas was now like a clay ox entering the sea, striking the viscous and heavy weak water, only stirring up a few weak ripples before disappearing without a trace.

The Weak Water seemed to possess a strange property of devouring everything; no matter how much they struggled and screamed, their bodies continued to sink uncontrollably...

"Huh? What's going on?"

Not only were the people who fell into the water terrified, but at least 80% of the cultivators who had not yet moved from the reef were also filled with doubt and confusion.

"Could it be... that the difference in waterways is the cause?"

Some speculate that his gaze wandered among the thousands of crisscrossing waterways.

This seems to be the most intuitive explanation.

After all, the Daoist energy surging from the depths of each waterway is indeed different.

But is it really that simple?

"wrong."

Chen Mu muttered to himself, his gaze sharp as a knife.

No matter how different the waterways are, or how strange the impact of the Daoist principles is, it is impossible for them to create such a huge, almost insurmountable gap.

Watch as Li Mang strolled leisurely, while many veteran True Monarchs, whose auras were not weak and whose cultivation was even quite profound, instantly succumbed.

This disparity cannot be explained by "luck" or "waterway selection".

The reason is most likely still the fault of the person crossing the water.

In just a few breaths, Chen Mu compared the auras of the successful and unsuccessful people and saw the difference.

At the same time, He Zhiyun, who had been observing intently, suddenly laughed loudly. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone in the Floating Cloud Realm: "So that's how it is! That's the reason!"

Upon hearing He Zhiyun's words, the two True Lords of the Chongxiao Sect couldn't help but come over to look. However, after observing for a long time, they couldn't find anything. So they cupped their hands and asked, "True Lord He, have you figured something out?"

He Zhiyun smiled and raised his hand to point at the losers struggling in the water, then pointed to Li Mang standing proudly on the Wugou Platform, as well as a few other successful people who had also easily passed through and were now the focus of everyone's attention.

"There's nothing particularly strange about it, everyone, please take a closer look,"

He Zhiyun's voice was calm and steady: "What do those who drowned have in common? How are they fundamentally different from successful people like Fellow Daoist Li Mang?"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt as if they had been enlightened. They immediately held their breath and focused their minds, pushing their spiritual perception to the limit to compare repeatedly.

The hint is so obvious; if you still can't see it, then you're truly dull-witted.

A moment later, a glint flashed in the eyes of the Broken Gold True Monarch, and he said in a deep voice, "Vitality! It is the degree of harmony between the source of vitality within the body and the foundation of the Dao!"

Dong Yi coldly replied, "That's right. Those who fall instantly are either nearing the end of their lifespan, their vitality withered like rotten wood, or their Dao foundation is flawed and their origin unstable, or they forcibly broke through to a higher realm, leaving behind a weak foundation and irreparable hidden dangers... Their aura may seem powerful, but in reality they are outwardly strong but inwardly weak, and their inner state has already shown signs of decline and decay."

Murong Xi nodded, her clear voice carrying a hint of understanding: "On the other hand, Fellow Daoist Li Mang, and the others who just passed by so easily, all have blood and qi as strong as a furnace, vitality as vibrant as the rising sun, and their Dao foundations are polished to perfection. They are on the path to the Great Dao. With this difference in strength, the difference in their abilities is immediately apparent!"

Upon closer inspection, everyone confirmed it was indeed the case.

Those cultivators who fell into the water, no matter how strong they appeared, all exuded a sense of decay, ruin, or sluggishness from the depths of their consciousness.

Li Mang and the others, on the other hand, were like newly forged swords, with inner sharpness and an extremely solid foundation. Their aura was perfectly integrated, and their resonance with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was even smoother.

Master Sun suddenly realized, snapped his folding fan shut, and said, “The saying ‘Of the three thousand rivers, I only take a sip’ refers not to the waterway, but to the person crossing the water.”

"This test is not a test of supernatural powers, but a selection of those who are worthy of inheriting the Dao. Only those with vigorous vitality, flawless Dao foundation, and profound potential are qualified to step onto the Immaculate Immortal Platform and touch the Golden Immortal inheritance."

"The Weak Water senses the origin of those who cross it. If their vitality is withered and their foundation is flawed, they will sink like rotten wood encountering the Weak Water, never to recover!"

He Zhi nodded, affirming everyone's judgment: "That's exactly right. This is the water of annihilation, and also the water of 'testing the Dao'!"

However, the smile on his face vanished in an instant, his brows furrowed again, and his gaze, filled with a sense of heaviness and regret, slowly swept over the elderly people in the Floating Cloud Realm group, finally landing on Granny Liu, who had recognized Lan Fu before.

This old woman possessed profound cultivation and extensive experience, making her a rare person in the group who had reached the later stages of the Dao Inquiry realm. However, the years had inevitably left their mark on her. Although her vitality had not withered, she also showed signs of decline, and her Dao foundation had inevitably suffered some slight wear and tear over the long years.

"What a pity..." He Zhiyun sighed softly.

This hurdle, though requiring caution for him and for those like Sui Jin who are at the peak of their power and whose foundations have been perfected, is not difficult to overcome.

But for a cultivator like Granny Liu, whose original cultivation was already declining, the Weak Water was like an insurmountable chasm.

He went to great lengths, crossing the divide between the two realms, and made a solemn promise to invite Granny Liu, a top-tier figure from the lower realm with extensive experience, to lend her assistance. However, he never expected that the trial would begin so soon, and before she could even truly make a difference, she would suffer heavy losses in this very first hurdle...

This loss is considerable.

And He Zhiyun was not the only one who was disappointed.
Grandma Liu herself looked ashen-faced, and the wrinkles on her already withered face seemed to have deepened even more.

She came with the idea of ​​creating an opportunity for the younger generation, but now, without having made any contribution, she is about to be eliminated. Her face is burning with shame, and her heart is filled with unspeakable bitterness. How can she possibly ask for compensation?
“Grandma Liu, don’t be discouraged,” a True Lord who knew her well couldn’t help but comfort her. “Your foundation is solid and your magical power is pure. You may still be able to…”

However, as soon as these words were spoken, as if to prove the cruelty of this challenge, the waters ahead underwent another change.

Those cultivators who struggled in the water eventually had their magical power eroded and worn away by the weak water.

Just as their protective aura was completely extinguished and they were about to be swallowed up by the black dead water, a series of gentle yet irresistible white lights appeared out of thin air, precisely enveloping them. In a flash, they and the light disappeared without a trace!

Clearly, this was the power of the trial's rules at work, forcibly teleporting the losers out of the competition, saving their lives but also completely severing their chance.

Seeing this, the True Lord swallowed back the rest of his words, turning them into a heavy sigh.

The eyes of Granny Liu and the others dimmed completely, and their last glimmer of hope vanished.

She waved her hand, her voice a little hoarse: "So be it, it's fate, there's no point in forcing it..."

The atmosphere became somewhat oppressive for a moment.

Losing such an experienced veteran True Lord is undoubtedly a blow to the team's overall strength and ability to handle complex situations. He Zhiyun sensed the change in atmosphere, and after a moment's thought, said in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoist Liu, please rest assured. Although we were unable to travel together to the end, I am by no means the kind of person who would abandon someone after they have served their purpose."

His gaze swept over Granny Liu and several other elderly people whose auras were clearly weak, and his tone was resolute, "Fellow Daoists, you have come from afar at my invitation. I will remember this kindness and trust."

"Therefore, the promised reward will be presented to you with both hands upon my departure from this realm, without any shortfall. There is absolutely no reason for me to withhold or renege on the promise because you were unable to participate in the entire process! I hereby swear this oath!"

These words were forceful and sounded incredibly sincere.

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted in different ways.

Those who understand will naturally know that He Zhiyun's actions were more out of consideration for maintaining popular support.

How much binding force can a so-called "oath as proof" have in the face of absolute interests and life and death? No one can say for sure.

If he ultimately gains a huge benefit, he might keep his promise; but if he himself is in dire straits, or his gains are limited, then he can only listen to these words without really believing them.

If you take it seriously, then it becomes a joke.

However, the fact that the other party was able to make this promise in public at this moment at least made a good show of it, giving Granny Liu and the others a great way out and dignity.

Grandma Liu and the others were not unreasonable people. Although they were still disappointed, they understood that this was the best outcome.

At that moment, the group forced a look of gratitude onto their faces and bowed deeply to He Zhiyun: "True Lord He, you are so righteous! In that case, this old woman will humbly accept your kindness..."

Leaving aside how the Floating Cloud Realm appeases and bids farewell, on the vast ocean of Weak Water, as time goes by, more and more cultivators are coming to understand the mysteries of this pass.

"So that's it! It's the origin of life force and the foundation of the Dao!"

"The weak waters test the way; only the finest materials and the most beautiful jade can cross them!"

"Hmph! Although my lifespan is nearing its end, my foundation in Dao is solid, so I might as well give it a try!"

"Be careful, the impact of the Daoist aura should not be underestimated..."

Discussions arose; some suddenly realized the truth, some were unwilling to accept it, and others were full of confidence.

Led by disciples of the Immortal Sect such as Gan Qingni and Xu Xuanling, who were extremely confident in their own foundation, more than a thousand True Lords finally began a large-scale journey of crossing the water and ascending the platform.

The scene suddenly became spectacular, with hundreds of streams of light falling into different waterways, and various protective auras rising and falling, intertwining the joy of success with the exclamations of failure.

Those whose vitality is exhausted and whose foundation is flawed, no matter how high their cultivation or how experienced they are, will find that once they step into the waterway, the weak water will erode them like a malignant tumor, and eight or nine out of ten will be unable to escape the fate of sinking or being forced out of the game.

Those with a solid foundation and vigorous vitality, though they also need to be careful to deal with the various Daoist influences surging from the depths of the waterway, can mostly move forward steadily as long as they keep their minds steady and use their magical power to resist them.

However, there are also some who are careless or overconfident.

Their origins were unimpeded, but either because they underestimated the intensity of the Daoist energy's impact, or because they were distracted, they were carelessly overturned by the surging power of the Daoist energy and fell into the water.

These kinds of people are truly a pity and a lament!
But the rules are merciless, and I can only blame myself for not having a strong enough resolve; I can't blame anyone else...

Before long, the once crowded area of ​​black reefs became much sparser, while on the sacred Immaculate Platform on the opposite shore, the figures gradually became denser.

At a glance, nearly half of the thousand-plus True Lords have successfully crossed the Weak Water and set foot on it.

They either adjusted their breathing to recover or observed their surroundings, and then turned around without hesitation and headed towards the chaotic light and shadow in the center of the platform, which was clearly the entrance to the next level.

As he watched the cultivators disappear into the light and shadow at the entrance, He Zhiyun took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening, and turned to look at the cultivators from the Floating Cloud Realm behind him. He said in a deep voice, "The time has come. Everyone, follow me across the water!"

Just then, on a distant reef, Shen Liangcai's team, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, also stood up.

The two groups, one consisting of nearly twenty people from the Floating Cloud Realm and the other of nearly twenty people from Shen Liangcai's side, almost simultaneously turned their attention to each other.

Invisible sparks collided in the void, filled with scrutiny and vigilance.

Clearly, both sides had received clear warnings from their respective "employers" that the other side might take action at any time.

"how?"

Shen Liangcai stepped forward from the crowd, his smile unchanged: "Brother He, are you unable to contain yourself and wish to 'get to know' us first in front of the Immaculate Platform?"

He Zhiyun's face was ashen, his eyes revealing no coldness. He sneered and replied, "If True Lord Shen is willing to teach me, I will gladly oblige. But I fear you, Shen Liangcai, may not have the courage to waste your energy at this moment."

The silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop; however, this tense standoff lasted only a few breaths.

Shen Liangcai's smile widened, and he chuckled twice, but his laughter was devoid of warmth: "Brother He, you are still so impatient. With the great opportunity before you, how foolish it is to fight with your temper?"

He changed the subject abruptly, his tone laced with obvious contempt, "Very well, I'll take my leave now and wait for Brother He in the depths of the corridor. I hope... you can go far enough."

After saying that, he really ignored He Zhiyun, flicked his sleeves with a flourish, and turned to step into the nearest waterway.

He Zhiyun stared at Shen Liangcai's retreating figure, a flash of cold light in his eyes that he quickly suppressed.

"Let's go too."

The group transformed into streaks of light and each chose a waterway to descend into.

Since it serves as a filter, the easier it is to walk, the more harmonious its humanity is, just like Li Mang in the beginning, who avoided the Weak Water and made way for it.

When Chen Mu stepped onto the deep, still water, he did not unleash raging flames like Li Mang, forcing back the Weak Water, nor did he need to use his magic power to withstand the impact of the Daoist aura, proceeding cautiously step by step, like an ordinary cultivator.

He simply took a step forward calmly.

Lightly touch the water's surface with your toes.

hum-

The seemingly all-consuming Weak Water, beneath his feet, merely rippled gently, like the most docile subjects welcoming their king's footsteps.

The water surface rippled slightly, but there was no sign of it sinking, nor any corrosive force acting upon it.

He strode leisurely across the gently rippling water, as if strolling on his own clear pond, without any sense of hindrance.

There are two appearances. Li Mang is domineering and outwardly arrogant. He forcibly drives away the Weak Water with the Fire Dao Fruit, as if the God of Fire is opening a path.

Chen Mu possessed an inner harmony and a flawless, vital foundation that was so profound that even the waters of annihilation could not erode him, thus naturally "supporting" him.

It's not a matter of who won or lost between the two; it's simply a reflection of their own cultivation and foundation.

But if we're talking about effortless mastery and returning to simplicity, Chen Mu, who silently commands the Weak Waters to submit, is undoubtedly even more unfathomable.

This scene was not only witnessed by his companions in the Floating Cloud Realm, but also clearly reflected in the eyes of Shen Liangcai, who was looking back.

He gave Chen Mu a deep look, as if trying to remember this calm and collected cultivator from the lower realm...

Before long, everyone from the Floating Cloud Realm ascended the Immaculate Platform.

The results were as expected.

Granny Liu, along with four other True Lords whose vitality was relatively weak and whose Dao foundations were slightly flawed, ultimately failed to cross the Weak Water. After struggling for a while, they were teleported out of the game by the white light of the rules.

Although he was mentally prepared, when he stepped onto the sacred platform and looked back at the spot where his companions had disappeared, a trace of regret still flashed across He Zhiyun's eyes.

The assistance of five True Monarchs at the Dao Inquiry level, including veteran powerhouses like Granny Liu, who were all killed in the first round, significantly impacted his plans.

However, as the core of this trip, he knew that any hesitation or frustration at this moment would be poison.

He quickly composed himself, his gaze sharp as lightning, and fixed on the very center of the Immaculate Platform.

There, space was even more distorted, and a vortex with a hazy halo inside floated quietly, emitting spatial fluctuations that led to an unknown land.

"This first test filters out the foundation of one's cultivation, removing the rotten wood. I wonder about the second test..."

He Zhiyun muttered to himself, "What kind of test will this be?"

He took a deep breath, suppressing all distracting thoughts, and channeled his magical power around him: "Let's go!"

With a low shout, He Zhiyun no longer hesitated, taking the first step forward, his figure instantly disappearing into the chaotic vortex of light and shadow...

……

(End of this chapter)