It's already midnight, please collect!
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The stone steps were steep and uneven, and there were many dangers on both sides. If one wasn't careful, they would fall.
After walking for less than half a day, Wang Lin felt like his legs were filled with lead. He was sweating profusely and out of breath, finding it difficult to move forward. When he was at the foot of the mountain, this stone path wasn't long, but now that he was walking on it, he found that this path seemed to have no end. It made him feel despair from the bottom of his heart.
In front of him, there were a dozen or so strong youths. They were all panting as they slowly climbed up.
Up until now, none of them had given up.
Wang Lin clenched his teeth and persevered. He knew this was his last chance. His parents' hopeful eyes lingered in his heart. At this moment, a youth behind him suddenly stepped on empty air. His body quickly fell from the side and screamed in fear.
"I give up! Help!"
Everyone stopped and looked down at the same time. They saw a flash of black light and a Heng Yue Sect disciple appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed the youth in midair and gently landed at the foot of the mountain.
Wang Lin's face was pale. He remained silent and carefully continued to climb up. Time quickly passed. Two days later, he could no longer see the figures of the youths in front of him.
Wang Lin didn't know how many of his companions had given up. He only knew that he absolutely couldn't give up. Even though his legs and feet were covered in blisters and the piercing pain was coming from the blisters, he still persisted in using his hands to climb up.
"The hearts of the young are firm, but the great Dao is merciless. It's all in vain, it's all in vain …" A drawn-out sigh drifted down from the peak of the mountain in the distance. A middle-aged man with a sallow complexion gently floated down from the stone steps and swiftly walked past the young men. His face was filled with emotion.
When he passed by Wang Lin, the middle-aged man paused for a moment. This was the sixth youth he had seen, but he was definitely the most miserable one. His body was covered in blood and his clothes were soaked in blood. His knees and toes were badly mangled. He had to use his hands to climb up bit by bit. The middle-aged man sighed and asked, "Child, what is your name?"
Wang Lin's expression was hazy. There was only one thought in his mind, and that was to climb to the top of the mountain even if he died. He didn't hear the middle-aged man's question. In his eyes, besides the stone steps, there was nothing else.
The middle-aged man stared at Wang Lin's eyes and was quite moved by his determination. He pressed his hand on Wang Lin's head and shook his head. He said to himself, "Excellent willpower, but unfortunately, your talent is too ordinary. Not fated, not fated …" He looked deeply at Wang Lin and continued to walk down the stone steps.
On the second night, Wang Lin's hands were badly mangled. There was a deep bloodstain on the stone steps he climbed. Wang Lin didn't know any of this. Right now, he was relying on his will to move his body, and his breathing was reaching its limit.
When the sun rose on the third day, he vaguely saw the end of the stone steps. Unfortunately, at this moment, a merciless voice came like thunder, shaking his heart.
"Time is up. Only three people passed. The rest … failed!"
Wang Lin smiled bitterly. His body tilted and he fell on the stone steps, unconscious.
The black-clothed middle-aged man, who had tested his talent three days ago, stood at the top of the mountain and looked at Wang Lin, who was less than ten feet away. His eyes revealed a merciless expression.
At this time, a few Heng Yue Sect disciples quickly walked down from the top of the mountain. Along the way, they brought all the youths who were still persisting to the top of the mountain and fed them medicine.
A female Heng Yue Sect disciple coldly reported, "Senior Brother, out of the 39 testers, 25 people have given up.
Other than the three who passed, there are still 11 people left, "a female Heng Yue Sect disciple coldly reported. She had experienced such a cruel test before. In the end, she relied on her foundation of martial arts since she was a child and barely passed in terms of willpower to become an honorary disciple. After nearly ten years of hard work, she still hadn't become a true disciple.
The black-clothed middle-aged man's expression was cold. He nodded slightly and looked at the 11 unconscious youths. He lightly said, "The three who passed, take them to the chore office and arrange their work for the rest of the day.
The 25 who gave up, send them back to their respective families.
As for the last 11 people, after they wake up, send them to the Sword Spirit Pavilion to see if there is anyone who is fated with the sword spirit. If there isn't, send them back to their respective families. "
After he finished speaking, the middle-aged man didn't even look at the youths and walked away.
Three days later, inside the Sword Spirit Pavilion, the 11 youths, including Wang Lin, all stood to the side with pale faces. Wang Lin's injuries had already healed, but the wound in his heart was even bigger. Bursts of heart-wrenching pain couldn't stop devouring his body and mind.
This sword spirit test wasn't conducted by the black-clothed middle-aged man, but by an unfamiliar youth in white. However, without exception, his face was cold. He looked at the youths as if they were ants, ruthless and indifferent.
"This is the final test. Those who can walk into this room pass." The youth's words were short and simple, and his face was filled with impatience.
Wang Lin's gaze landed on an extremely ordinary house. The door in the middle of the house was open. Looking inside, he saw many ancient swords of different lengths placed inside.
The youths walked into the room one by one in order. The first youth had just walked five feet into the room when he showed a struggling expression and was pushed back a few feet by an invisible force.
"Unqualified. Next!" The youth said lightly.
Wang Lin was the seventh. The previous six were all unable to move forward after five feet. He smiled bitterly and walked forward with what little hope he had left in his heart.
He walked past five feet easily. Wang Lin was stunned. The hope in his heart rose rapidly. His mouth was dry and his heart was beating wildly. He continued to walk another ten feet, but he still didn't feel any discomfort.
The youth's eyes flashed and revealed a look of interest. His expression softened and he said, "Don't hesitate. Continue walking. If you can walk into the room and get the sword spirit's approval, even if you didn't pass the previous two tests, you will still be accepted as a true disciple!"
The other ten youths all looked envious. In this envy, there was also a deep sense of jealousy.
Wang Lin was nervous. His parents' expectant gazes appeared in his mind again. He took another ten feet forward and was only ten feet away from the door.
Wang Lin nervously took another step forward.
At this moment, a huge force suddenly appeared and crazily rushed towards Wang Lin. His body flew back uncontrollably and only stopped when he was more than ten feet away.
The other youths standing to the side all looked at Wang Lin with disdain. In their opinion, Wang Lin should be the same as them. There was no chance for him to pass.
Wang Lin bitterly smiled. The wound in his heart became even bigger. The expectant gazes of his parents gradually disappeared from his mind.
The youth's expression was as cold as before. He said lightly, "Unqualified. Next."