Chapter 4 - Dao Seeking Canal (1/2)
Dao Seeking Canal
“All right. The Test of Tread Divine Gate is now at its end. Those who have failed please wait here for a moment. You will be allowed to stay in Luoyue Valley for 15 days before going home.” The old man turned away. Ji Yuewu and the three candidates who passed the Test followed him toward the outside of the valley.
“So it is true that Ji Yuewu is born with a spiritual root of good quality. I’am afraid it is of good quality according to Elder Wu’s reaction. She is sure to be a big shot in the future.”
“You are right. And the boy surnamed Sun, who expected such an ordinary boy could be born with a spiritual root? When he returns to his clan, maybe his family line will thrive and even replace the direct line. Who knows?”
“And Shiao Lin, he doesn’t have the spiritual root either, but he has good luck and a treasure to offer to Elder Wu.”
The boys and girls talked about the Test in words full of admiration and jealousy.
“This is no ordinary place for you. No one shall make any noise, or you shall be expelled at once.” A sudden shout frightened them and they all shut their mouths. The cultivator who gave the shout was quite satisfied and revealed a complacent smile. “Line up and follow me to the Fairy Yard. Though you don’t have the spiritual roots to take on the journey of cultivation, the abundant nimbus in the valley could still benefit you.”
Shiao Chen’s mind had been in turmoil since the Test, so he heard nothing along the way to his room. When he finally came to his senses, it was already midnight.
He lay on the narrow stone bed, exhausted yet not able to fall asleep. In one moment he would see the extremely disappointed eyes of his father after he returned to Shiao’s mansion, in another he would see himself become an almighty Immortal who could travel from the heaven to the hell on a flying sword……
The next day at daybreak, Shiao Chen was awakened by noises from outside of the door. He seemed confounded for a moment, and then he quickly cleaned his face with cold water and went out to the yard. All candidates who had failed yesterday’s Test had gathered there, and in front of them was Elder Wu.
For some unknown reason, Shiao Chen’s heart beat fastened. Was there a favorable turn?
“Elder Wu, the teenagers who came to the Yard are all here now, waiting for your command.” A middle-aged man in a common black robe tried to please the old man.
“Em.” Elder Wu slightly nodded his head and swept the teenagers with half-open eyes. “Luoyun Valley is in need of some lay disciples, so we assemble you here to offer you a second chance: if you are willing to stay as lay disciples, follow me to attend one more test. And if you are lucky enough to pass it, you can stay.
“Lay disciples are not equal to direct disciples, still we will teach you some cultivation methods. After you finish your assigned work every day, the time is all yours. You can use it to learn and practice. Diligence and a bit of luck may pave your way to be an Immortal!”
The announcement stirred up huge excitement from the teenagers. Even a lay disciple of Luoyun Valley could bring honor to the whole clan, let alone a slim chance to become a respectable Immortal.
Shiao Chen was more anxious than others. This was his last chance. He would never miss it no matter what.
“All right. Follow me.”
The Dao Seeking Canal was a famous place in Luoyun Valley, which was said to be a masterpiece of Luoyun Immortal, the founder of Luoyun Valley and an extremely powerful cultivator in the Initiate Realm. In order to test the disciples’ determination in pursuing Dao, he had set up a formation through his magic power to forcibly channel the icy water from the top of the mountain down to the valley. Since then, Luoyun Valley had declined and none of his disciples had ever broken through the Initiate Realm. Things had gotten even worse for this generation, and only the Chief Master had reached the Medium Phase of the Azoth Realm. Nonetheless, the Dao Seeking Canal had been reserved intact.
And it would be the very place to carry out the test for lay disciples today.
Elder Wu stopped. More than a hundred meters away, a steep slope came into sight. On it was a water channel of about one meter deep and dozens of meters wide abruptly inserted inside. Icy water ran from the top to the bottom, and the chill made the teenagers shiver even at such a distance.
Elder Wu seemed not notice it. He pointed to the channel and said, “Anyone who can climb to the top within 4 hours will be accepted as a lay disciple in Luoyun Valley.”
The slope was built in the air with no support from the ground, and the water came from nowhere, which did not surprise the teenagers much, considering they were at a fairyland. They gained some confidence when they found the steep channel was no longer than 200 meters.
They waited for Elder Wu to announce the start of the test and then dashed to the channel, shouting in madness.
Comparing to others, Shiao Chen was thin and weak, so he lagged behind since the very beginning.
The water did not run fast at the bottom, and its low temperature was still tolerable. Some of the teenagers, who were in excellent physical fitness and had learnt Ku Fu, climbed up nearly 50 meters in a blink of eyes. After that, the current suddenly doubled its speed and its temperature dropped below the freezing point. Small pieces of ice were hidden in the current, sharp as knife when they rushed down with rapid flow. Any carelessness would led to a long cut.