Chapter 16 (1/2)
Eternal Life (永生) Ch. 16
Who is at G.o.dly Strength?
“You are the one called Fang Han, not bad, you have a spot. Enter the building and take a left and you will reach the testing area. Everyone will gather there.”
Since Fang Han had waited outside the door, he had no clue what the “Ta Xian Yuan” administrators had discussed.
However, he had still stood patiently and waited.
After a little more than half a s.h.i.+’chen, a young person came out and let him enter. Letting out a breath, Fang Han entered the “Ta Xian Yuan” through the large doors, and felt in his heart that his status was no longer the same as before.
Indeed, even if one were only an outer court disciple, upon returning to the Da’li Empire, one would become a prince.
After entering the “Ta Xian Yuan,” Fang Han followed the given instructions and turned left, walking through a 7-8 li long curved walkway, pa.s.sing by a fake mountain and a lake before finally reaching a grand, vast hall.
The princes, princesses, and empire disciples who had left earlier were also all corralled in this hall.
The hall was about three thousand steps wide, and could easily accommodate ten thousand people. Standing in the hall made one feel small, especially those in the farthest area, where there was a dark black door. From within these doors, a pair of scarlet eyes peeked out, looking at each and every person. These eyes were very fierce, overbearing, and cruel, and gave off a bloodthirsty aura.
It seemed as if this temple had sealed a Devil.
What is behind that door? Fang Han thought distractedly. Whatever it was, he felt that it was definitely not friendly. Perhaps it was the G.o.dly Strength level puppet?
Just as confused as him, the princes, princesses, and empire disciples also curiously stared at that pair of scarlet eyes that came out of the black door.
“Deng deng deng.”
A couple test administrators walked in, and immediately, the hall’s atmosphere felt oppressive.
Good fellows! They are all hand picked experts, not to mention that they might have blood-binded fa’qi on them, perhaps even ling’qi. Watching these older men enter, Fang Han could immediately discern that they were all on the same level as Bai Hai Chen, at the peak of the Mortal Realm.
The faces of all of the aristocrats immediately became more dignified.
In any country, those at the ninth level, Spiritual Expert, and tenth level, G.o.dly Transformation, could become foreign amba.s.sadors, country officials, and high-ranking generals.
“Yes, today you have all come here to take part in the Yu’hua School entrance exam. Right now, I will clarify the content of today’s exam. It is simply a G.o.dly Strength level puppet. As long as you manage to defeat this puppet, then you will have pa.s.sed the test and become an outer court disciple. However, I suppose you kids have only heard of this G.o.dly Strength level puppet, and are dying to know what our grand elder used to make it. At this point, I will explain the puppet to you, otherwise you may not even know how you died,” stated an administrator coldly.
“The origin of this puppet comes from an underground Devil! Bloodthirsty and extremely strong, after being captured by our Yu’hua School, we drove it crazy, and trained it. It has infinite G.o.dly Strength and a brutal, bloodthirsty nature. It is a killing machine.”
“What?”
“The G.o.dly Strength puppet was refined from an underground Devil?”
“No wonder all the princes who failed came home trembling, and only saying that the puppet was too strong.”
The aristocrats all abruptly began discussing this matter.
Fang Han had no clue what an underground Devil was. However, he could intuitively feel that the puppet was no good thing, afraid that it would be even fiercer than tigers and other beasts.
“Did you kids think that the Immortal Path was all about riding cranes? Flying freely and appreciating the views from the sky?” Seeing these aristocrats discussing amongst themselves, one of the administrators became even colder. “The Immortal Path is a path of no return. Training ones flesh to the point where the mind develops requires immensely strong will. Only then can you possibly enter the Divine Realm, and truly enter the Immortal Path. I will tell you right now, the Immortal Path is not looking down from above, and flying on cranes! The Immortal Path requires a fearless heart, as one will have to kill thousands of devils to the point where their heart becomes like a devil’s. Each and every Devil must die! The Immortal Path is a difficult path where you must cut open your own path, staining yourself, and your blade with blood. This path is not one that is simple and dull, but one that you will fight for your entire life, one where you will fight for your truth(s). Right now, based on your strength, killing the Devil will be the start of your own path. Liu Kang, you are the first son of the Marquis of Zhen Yuan of the Da’li Empire. Go to the center and begin your test.”
[TL: These big block paragraphs suck…]
“Yes!” The guy holding the purple-jade colored fan from earlier who had complained about not being able to bring servants into the school, upon hearing his name, immediately went to the center, facing the black door with the red eyes staring out of it.
The Immortal Path is not about riding cranes and looking down from above, it is a path of no return. Very well said! A blade stained red after killing thousands of Devils and pursuing the truth, that is the Immortal Path. The Immortal Path is not free and unrestrained. Living happily while still able to become Immortal and train to the Divine Realm, was there any reality where such good things would happen? Only though thousands of hards.h.i.+ps, undergoing a lot of pain, can one reach such a level.The words said by the administrator excited Fang Han’s heart, and caused his blood to boil.
“That guy, to think that he was the Marquis’ first son! Marquis of Zhen Yuan is one of the most powerful people in my empire. He is in control of upwards of 800,000 soldiers, and in control of guarding the border. They are even more powerful than the Fang Clan.”
About this Marquis of Zhen Yuan, even Fang Han had heard of, a general in charge of 800,000 soldiers.
As a servant of the Fang Clan, these kinds of people were extremely far above him, and thus he would have never come in contact with them. However, now, because of his partic.i.p.ation in this exam, his dreams had become reality.
“Open the door!”
Seeing the Duke of Zhen Yuan, Liu Kang, standing in the center, the administrators eyed each other, and at the same time raised their hands. Each of their hands emitted a clear light that shot into the dark door.
“Hua’la!”
The black fog that was originally behind the door immediately dispersed.
A Devil’s shadow about half the size of a human jumped out, and fiercely and violently landed on the ground, the shock intimidating the entire hall.
It was the puppet.
Its entire body was pitch black, its skin like a black sh.e.l.l, and full of scales. On its head, two horns stuck out of its flesh. Its mouth was filled with fangs, its hands like ma.s.sive hooks, its eyes blood red. The muscles under the scales were hard as plates, each part grand. Even the slightest use of power and the sound of bones cracking could be heard.
Its legs were especially long, and gave it ma.s.sive jumping power.
“O, O, O, O, O, O, O!”
The puppet, being released, came out fiercely, fast as a cheetah, its muscles exuding a feeling of power. One could only see its shadow, its five fingers flas.h.i.+ng towards Liu Kang, trying to grab his head.
“Pu’chi!”
Liu Kang seemed to have been shocked still by the puppet’s show of force causing his movements to be slightly slow. Thus, when he dodged, the clothes over his shoulder were ripped by the five fingers, leaving behind five long lacerations freely flowing with blood. If he hadn’t managed to dodge, his head would have been torn off, and he would have immediately died.
“AH!” Seeing the danger, many of the disciples in the hall all let out a sigh of awe. Even Fang Han felt the scene stirring his heart. The G.o.dly Strength puppet was basically a zombie Devil. Perhaps even those who had broken through the fifth level would be killed by it.
In a moment, the puppet chased Liu Kang, full of killing intent. It wanted to dig out his heart and break his skull.
The circle arena formed by the drawn white lines in the center of the hall seemed to have restrictive properties, thus keeping the puppet from coming out. However, the disciples taking the exam weren’t able to come out, otherwise they would forfeit.
“Third b.l.o.o.d.y War Style!”
Liu Kang hurriedly dodged, and finally took a long breath. Amidst the running away, his chance had finally come. Opening the purple-jade colored fan in his hand, a soft, purple colored sword sprang out, and a b.l.o.o.d.y aura surrounded his body.
This sword was a high grade weapon, sharp enough to cut gold and break jade, radiating a mysterious purple color, and covered in bloodstains. “Pu’chi Pu’chi,” the puppet’s hand had been sliced off.
“Long River Sword Qi!”
[These abilities have really stupid English names…]
Liu Kang let out another shout, his sword like a long river, billowing out, and cutting towards the puppet’s head. His potential strengths had been unleashed to the limit.
“Pu’chi!” One sound. The soft sword had pierced in between the puppet’s eyebrows, but the puppet had also let off a fierce punch, and hit Liu Kang’s body, sending the duke flying out of the circle.
Afterwards, this puppet fell onto the ground.
“He killed the puppet while in the circle, pa.s.s! Congrats Liu Kang, you have become a Yu’hua School outer court disciple.” The main administrator stood up, his hand holding a white seal. In a flash, this seal, which let off a medicinal smell, landed on Liu Kang’s body. Liu Kang stood up, wiped the sweat on his forehead, and seeing the blood on his body, felt lingering fear in his heart.
Seeing Liu Kang’s condition, all the disciples seemed to take a step back.
This Liu Kang is stronger than me, but is not at the level of Ju’ling Hand Fang Tong. He should be at the seventh level, Inner Strength. That soft sword is truly powerful. Unfortunately I don’t have a weapon like it.