Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Trial of Courage
Translator: 549690339
It was the corpse of Jiao Xiuyuan.
Three months have passed, and it gradually shows an unusual aspect. Unlike normal flesh, it seemed more like dry wood, showing a withered yellow shade.
Li Fan kicked it with his foot, and the sound was like kicking a piece of wood.
Just then, a voice came from behind Li Fan.
“This is just a puppet, not the real body. It’s a common trick of Jiao Xiuyuan.
Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to be surprised.”
Li Fan turned his head and saw that the speaker was also an Energy Refining Cultivator.
He immediately cupped his hand in respect, “Thank you for your guidance. Are you a member of the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals?”
The man nodded, “Yes, I am Chen An, and I have been a member of the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals for over thirty years.”
“I am Li Fan. It seems from your speech that you are quite familiar with this Jiao Xiuyuan?”
Chen An laughed, “Familiar is an overstatement. However, having lived on the island for so long, I know some things that I ought to know.”
“Take Jiao Xiuyuan for example. He runs a general store on the island called the ‘Thousand Miles Hall’, selling a variety of things. It is said to have connections with the Officials of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and sometimes even sells valuable items.”
“Apart from that, he often deals in information. But this guy never puts himself in danger and always uses puppets to pave the way.”
On hearing this, Li Fan nodded slowly: “A covetous coward, I see.”
Chen An laughed heartily: “Fellow Daoist, your summary is perfect! The four words ‘covertous coward’ can’t describe Jiao Xiuyuan any better!”
After the laughter, Chen An suddenly said: “When I saw you transcribing techniques in the book pavilion before, everyone else transcribed for a while, then took a rest once tired. You were the only one who didn’t rest for three months. I truly admire you!”
“However, I don’t understand the deeper intention behind your actions. If we only talk about the transcription speed, due to your physical and mental fatigue, you definitely wouldn’t be faster than those who rest often.”
“Could Fellow Daoist dispell my doubts?” Chen An asked respectfully with a bowed body.
Li Fan pondered for a moment before answering: “Deeper intention, I wouldn’t dare to claim. It’s just an instinct.”
“Qin Tang once said the first trial is dedication.”
“Commitment means no distraction, no disturbance from any external factors, then can be called total commitment. Is physical and mental fatigue also considered an external disturbance? If we stop because of it, aren’t we no longer ‘dedicated’?”
“It’s just a mere conjecture, fellow Daoist, just think it over.” Chen An was thoughtful after Li Fan’s humble words.
Li Fan didn’t say anything more and returned to his room to rest.
The next day, Qin Tang didn’t reappear as expected.
Everyone didn’t dare to run around, they just patiently waited inside the building.
Early the third day, Qin Tang appeared in front of everyone, staggering and drinking.
“Good wine, really good wine!”
He belched, squinted his eyes and observed the cultivators.
“Today, we start the second trial!”
“This time, I will test your courage!”
“The Immortal Way is long and filled with countless difficulties, do you have the courage to face them all?”
Qin Tang gave a slight smile.
Everyone’s view blurred for a moment and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the seaside.
Use of their cultivation power was sealed, rendering them similar to mortals.
Qin Tang was nowhere to be found.
Only his voice echoed from afar.
“I’ll wait for you on the opposite shore. Use your courage to cross this ocean!” Hearing this, people looked at each other in dismay.
One courageous individual walked to the shore and stepped onto the sea.
The sea water instantly transformed into ice, comfortably catching the person.
Elated, the person swiftly moved forward until disappearing from everyone’s sight.
Seeing someone already advancing, the rest impatiently entered the sea one after the other.
Li Fan glanced and noticed Baili Chen among those who headed into the sea.
But Sikong Yi still stayed by the sea, hesitating to move.
Li Fan paid no more attention to him, but focused his mind and slowly stepped onto the sea surface.
Under his feet, the water formed into solid ice. In his field of vision, there were no traces of other people.
In the vast sea, he was suddenly the only one left.
Li Fan’s face remained calm as he took one step at a time forward.
Days passed and nights followed. He didn’t know how long time had passed.
Still, his view remained the same.
It seemed like this ocean had no end.
Even though Li Fan knew the answer beforehand, he still felt a sense of helplessness and hesitation.
At this time, he could feel the ice beneath his feet gradually becoming thinner.
Taking a deep breath, Li Fan expelled the fear in his heart.
He continued to walking resolutely forward.
The ice underfoot once again became thick.
This second trial is a test of “Courage”.
Not only does it test the courage in facing external elements, but also the bravery in confronting one’s own heart.
On the vast sea, walking for a long time without catching sight of the opposite shore.
Would you have doubts about whether you’ve lost your way?
Would you become anxious, wondering if this ocean ever ends?
Would you be frightened and lose your courage to move forward?
Or would you despair and stop moving altogether?
As Li Fan walked step by step, he also continued to question his own heart.
Even after reincarnating for hundreds of years, he’d never experienced anything quite like this.
Temporarily putting aside all external matters, he just kept walking and reflecting on his thoughts.
This journey across the ice-filled sea is exactly like the immortal path.
The road ahead is endless, and the end can’t be seen.
Halfway through, one looks around and can’t determine whether they have lost their way.
From start to finish, they’re always alone with no one to rely on.
Time keeps passing, and it seems like they will keep walking forever.
On and on, endlessly.
Despite this, would you still keep your faith firm and never lose your courage to move forward?
Even though you know, this trial will eventually end.
But Li Fan had his moments of hesitation.
Because, this journey across the sea, lasted excessively long.
One year, two years…
Decades passed.
Li Fan’s hair turned white, his body became hunched, but he still never stopped moving forward.
Only when his body became too old to walk, did he fall heavily onto the sea surface.
His vision blurred, just before losing consciousness, he seemed to see.
On the shore not far away, Qin Tang in a white robe, was standing there in solitude.
Qin Tang raised his Liquor Gourd and took a gulp with a smile, while gesturing to Li Fan.
Opening his eyes, Li Fan found himself and the others were still in that building.
It seemed that it had been a long time since the memories, many people were in a daze.
It took a long time for everyone to regain clarity.
“It is easy to traverse the River of Hades, but it is difficult to cross the sea of the heart.”
“The second trial, the trial of courage, is over.”
“The day after tomorrow, we will conduct the final trial.”
Afterwards, Qin Tang, with his inseparable Liquor Gourd in hand, staggered
away..
