Chapter 68: Nanhua Daxian

Ten days passed.

Twenty days passed.

Thirty days passed.

The two people waiting at the foot of Dengxian Feng were already in despair.

"Dafu, let's go. Xingyu is most likely not coming back." Hu Siping looked at the cloud-shrouded Dengxian Feng, his eyes filled with despair.

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it. How could Brother Xingyu be dead? Death Valley was so dangerous, and he still made it through. This time, he definitely won't die either," Zhu Dafu said with tears in his eyes.

"But, it's already been thirty days. He has no food, no water to drink, even if..." Hu Siping couldn't continue.

At this moment, he also preferred to believe that Zhang Xingyu wasn't dead.

But could he believe it?

As the sun set, Hu Siping and Zhu Dafu left in despair.

The blood-red setting sun shone on them, leaving only two long shadows behind.

Inside the academy, students were discussing it heatedly.

"Did you know? Those two idiots are still waiting at the entrance of Dengxian Lu," one student said.

"Waiting is a waste of time. It's been thirty days; that Waste Spiritual Root should have died long ago," another student said.

Inside Long Xiaotian's courtyard, Long Xiaotian and his lackeys were clapping and celebrating.

"Young Master Long, that piece of trash Zhang Xingyu still hasn't come down from Dengxian Feng; he must be dead for sure," Bai Ping said loudly.

"Friends and relatives may grieve, others will sing. What is there to say about death, entrusting the body to the mountain," Shao Ke said, stroking his chin and shaking his head.

Hearing what the two said, Long Xiaotian laughed loudly: "Good, good, dying is just right. Tonight, we'll go to the Spirit Taste Pavilion outside the academy to drink and celebrate."

In Tang Yunxi's courtyard, Fairy Yunxi looked at the clouds filling the sky and muttered to herself: "Dengxian Lu is open, but you didn't come. Yet a lecherous scoundrel went off to die."

In the Dean's office, three high-level academy leaders were talking.

"Dean, the son of the Prince of Pingshan and someone named Hu Siping are still waiting for Zhang Xingyu at the foot of Dengxian Feng," Proctor Liu Cheng said.

"They're dead, yet they're still waiting like fools. Can waiting bring that piece of trash down?" Vice Dean Long Gang mocked.

"Forget it, these two can be considered loyal and righteous. Send someone to call them back, and then seal off the Dengxian Lu," Xu Yun Lao Dao said.

At the same time, on the Dengxian Lu.

Zhang Xingyu arrived once again before a golden, glittering gate.

"Behind this gate, I wonder what kind of challenge is waiting for me?" Zhang Xingyu muttered to himself.

Before this, he had already experienced forty-eight trials and pushed open forty-eight gates.

Picking up the golden brush, he lightly wrote in a flamboyant style on the gate: "Although the Great Dao is far, my heart is very close."

The gate creaked open again.

Stepping through the gate and onto the path, the thick fog rolled in again.

Zhang Xingyu closed his eyes, waiting for a new scene to appear.

A moment later, he opened his eyes.

Before him were black stone steps.

At the end of the steps stood a golden statue.

The peak.

The peak of Dengxian Feng.

That was his destination.

Once he reached there, he wouldn't be kicked out of the academy.

Zhang Xingyu ran excitedly toward the steps.

Stepping onto the first step, his legs felt as if they had been nailed to it.

His body felt so heavy, his legs weak.

What the hell is this again?

Zhang Xingyu looked down at the steps.

On the surface of the steps, the image of him trapped on the reef flashed continuously.

Finally, the image transformed into eight golden, shimmering characters: "Loneliness as a companion, the road lies ahead."

Weren't these the exact words he wrote when he broke through the first trial?

These eight characters were also his little realization about life while passing the trials.

"Loneliness as a companion, the road lies in the distance."

Thinking of these eight characters, reciting these eight characters, Zhang Xingyu had a flash of understanding in his heart.

He lifted his left foot and gently stepped onto the second step.

"The Dao is overhead, I dare not stop for a moment."

His body felt lighter, and he stepped onto the third step again.

"The road ahead is difficult and dangerous, walk with caution."

"Love, hate, and grudges are all passing clouds."

"Fame, wealth, and power are all floating clouds."

Stepping over forty-nine steps, brushing away forty-nine kinds of worldly dust.

In his Divine Court, black smoke rose from Zhang Xingyu's soul threads.

As the black smoke dissipated, the soul threads became crystal clear, and mysterious runes flickered continuously on their surface.

The pitch-black system diamond appeared above the soul threads and praised in surprise: "This kid must have obtained some incredible fortune. This soul not only eliminated distracting thoughts but also integrated part of the Great Dao rules."

At the same time, Zhang Xingyu stepped onto the peak of Dengxian Feng.

The peak of Dengxian Feng was not large; it was bare all around, with the statue of Nanhua Daxian standing tall.

This statue had a round face, vivid eyebrows and eyes, and the texture of the clothes was clearly visible.

Tsk tsk, this statue was carved even more realistically and vividly than the wax figures on Earth.

Nanhua Daxian was a legend in the Cultivation Realm and an idol in the hearts of countless Nanhua students.

It is said that he was once a student of Nanhua Immortal Academy, and he also once sat here to cultivate and talk about love.

"Junior student Zhang Xingyu pays respects to Senior Nanhua."

Zhang Xingyu came before the statue and bowed respectfully.

Just as his words fell, a vicissitudinous and hoarse voice sounded in his ears: "Thousands of years, finally someone has come."

"Who? Who is speaking?" Zhang Xingyu lifted his head and looked around.

"Kid, don't look around. I am right in front of you," the voice said again.

"Senior Nanhua? Are you talking to me?" Zhang Xingyu looked at the tall and upright figure in front of him and asked weakly.

"My name is Liu Changsheng, not Nanhua. Nanhua Daxian is just a title given to me by later generations," Nanhua Daxian's voice sounded again.

"Senior Liu Changsheng, haven't you already ascended to the Immortal Realm? Why are you still here?" Zhang Xingyu asked in surprise.

"My true self has indeed ascended to the Immortal Realm; I am just a remnant soul left behind by my true self. When my true self ascended, I left behind my physical body to protect this Nanyue Academy," Nanhua Daxian replied.

Zhang Xingyu nodded: "Senior, I suppose this Nanyue Academy is the current Nanhua Immortal Academy, right?"

"Exactly. Later generations took pride in my true self, so they renamed Nanyue Academy to Nanhua Immortal Academy," Nanhua Daxian said.

"Senior, I would like to ask you a question," Zhang Xingyu looked at Nanhua Daxian's physical body, his eyes filled with expectation.

"Speak. Having arrived here, you may ask me three questions," Nanhua Daxian said.

Hearing Nanhua Daxian say this, Zhang Xingyu's spirit lifted: "Senior, can a Hidden Spiritual Root really not cultivate?"

The statue slowly opened its eyes: "Wrong. My true self was also once just a Hidden Spiritual Root."

"You were also a Hidden Spiritual Root?" Zhang Xingyu was surprised.

The statue blinked: "Exactly. You have one last chance to ask a question."

"Ah." Zhang Xingyu was shocked.

He regretted it deeply, having wasted a chance to ask a question just now.

This last one must be asked with the most value.

He thought carefully for a moment, then opened his mouth to ask: "Senior, how should a Hidden Spiritual Root cultivate?"

"Constantly integrate high-level spiritual objects to cultivate the spiritual root," Nanhua Daxian said.

"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance," Zhang Xingyu bowed and thanked him.

Nanhua Daxian blinked again: "Being able to come here means you are a person of great fortune. Besides three questions, I will also grant you a cultivation technique."

A golden light flew out from Nanhua Daxian's forehead and instantly sank into Zhang Xingyu's brow.

The golden light turned into characters, flickering and circling continuously in Zhang Xingyu's Divine Court.

Zhang Xingyu only felt a splitting headache.

However, he knew that at this time, he must persist.

Finally, the flickering characters combined into a mysterious scripture.

Zhang Xingyu wanted to see the characters clearly, but in the end, he only saw three golden characters: "Zaohua Jue" (Creation Technique).

So, this scripture was called "Zaohua Jue."

After Nanhua Daxian finished teaching the scripture, he seemed to have aged a bit.

"Thank you, Senior, for the technique," Zhang Xingyu bowed and thanked him.

Nanhua Daxian nodded and smiled slightly at Zhang Xingyu: "On the road of cultivation, besides fortune, one also needs effort. Young man, cherish your own fortune and work hard."

"Thank you, Senior, for your teachings," Zhang Xingyu bowed and thanked him again.

"Go," Nanhua Daxian's voice sounded again.

The world spun, and he felt dizzy.

When he opened his eyes again, Zhang Xingyu discovered he was already at the foot of Dengxian Feng.

Looking back, Dengxian Feng was filled with fog, and only Nanhua Daxian's physical body was shining at the peak.

Zhang Xingyu stood in place, looking at that spot without moving.

After a long time, he whispered to himself: "I reached the peak. I met Senior Liu Changsheng. I received the technique granted by Senior. Senior was also a Hidden Spiritual Root; if he could ascend to the Immortal Realm, I definitely can too."