"Little ones, this third trial is called luck. Luck, also known as destiny. If a person’s destiny is strong, their luck naturally won't be bad. Moreover, those with strong destiny can be said to be chosen by heaven, blessed with inherent advantages. This third trial is to see whose destiny is stronger and whose is weaker."
"If the inheritance of our Sacred Sect falls into the hands of ordinary people, how can it be propagated and flourish? On this point, I admit I was somewhat selfish back then. However, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. If it cannot be propagated and flourish, I would rather it remain hidden and forgotten."
Qi Baiyan sighed slightly and then continued, "The fact that you ten have made it this far indicates that you all possess some destiny. But ultimately, whose is stronger and whose is weaker, depends on yourselves."
"You will soon enter a starry sky. Amidst the vast expanse of stars, you may choose one. The ruins of our Sacred Sect lie within one of them. A reminder, these stars are in motion. So, once you have chosen, do not hesitate. Even if you do not obtain the inheritance in the end, there are still cultivation techniques and divine abilities within. As for their quality, it depends entirely on your fortune."
After speaking, Qi Baiyan formed a hand seal, and a beam of spiritual light shot down from the heavens, instantly enveloping Li Xuan and the others.
"The time limit is one day. After one day, whether you succeed or not, you will be teleported out."
The moment Qi Baiyan finished speaking, the ten individuals vanished.
*Buzz!*
Accompanied by a buzzing sound, Li Xuan and the other nine opened their eyes. They immediately looked around, and a look of surprise dawned on their faces.
The surroundings were indeed a starry sky. But the stars were too numerous, countless like grains of sand. Moreover, these luminous stellar masses were rapidly traversing, making it impossible for them to examine them closely.
"Everyone, let fate decide," Jun Bielu said, cupping his fists towards the others. Then, he moved swiftly towards the southeast.
Seeing this, Mu Dan and the others pondered for a moment before also moving off in different directions.
"Aren't you going to start?" Soon, as everyone else had departed, Liu Jiaqi looked at Li Xuan, who was still standing in place, and asked curiously.
Li Xuan shook his head, then looked at the streaks of starlight rapidly passing by around them and chuckled wryly, "So many star clusters, and I can't even use my divine sense to perceive them. Who knows which one contains the Sacred Sect's inheritance. With this time, I might as well cultivate."
"Well... never mind. Although I think what you're saying isn't unreasonable, if you don't try, who knows if the outcome will change. I still decide to give it a shot. If I really can't find it, then I'll just pick one randomly." Liu Jiaqi was somewhat speechless at his words but didn't argue. As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Jiaqi also darted off in a direction.
As the other nine began their search, Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, actually beginning to circulate the sword energy in his dantian to temper his body.
A moment later, Li Xuan discovered with some surprise. After comprehending the sword intent, the sword energy had become even more powerful. And as the sword intent and sword energy fused, stimulating his meridians, the effect was significantly more pronounced than before. Although the pain had increased, Li Xuan could still bear it.
After the sword energy circulated through his meridians, Li Xuan willed it to move towards his spleen.
"Ah..."
In the next instant, Li Xuan cried out in agony. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Compared to his meridians, Li Xuan found that his spleen's tolerance was far, far less.
"You've already comprehended sword intent, so your sword energy has naturally undergone a qualitative leap. If your physical body hadn't been constantly cultivated, your meridians wouldn't have been able to withstand the previous tempering. Yet, you use sword energy of the same intensity to temper your internal organs. You're truly courting death."
Yi Qin's voice sounded, with a clear hint of reproach in her tone.
"However, your meridians have indeed reached the strength required for your current realm, and your steps are correct. It's just that when controlling your sword energy, you must be extremely careful and cautious. If your internal organs are destroyed, you'll be waiting for someone to collect your corpse."
"Thank you for your guidance, senior." Li Xuan gave a wry smile, now understanding that he had been careless.
"Weaken the previous sword energy by another half," Yi Qin said, her voice gradually fading.
Li Xuan adjusted his breathing and recovered for a moment. Then, with a thought, he circulated his sword energy towards his spleen again. This time, Li Xuan cautiously suppressed the power of his sword energy by two-thirds before directing it at his spleen. There was no other reason; Li Xuan was truly scared. The pain from that initial stab was still vivid in his memory.
As his spleen was tempered by the sword energy, five minutes passed. Li Xuan found that his spleen seemed to have not changed much. Moreover, he had gradually adapted to it during this time, and he increased the power of his sword energy by one-third.
*Hiss!*
Waves of stinging pain washed over him. Li Xuan gritted his teeth and silently endured.
"This little fellow, others are struggling to search, and he's cultivating." At this moment, on the stone steps, Qi Baiyan shook his head with a wry smile, clearly astonished by Li Xuan's unconventional approach. However, Qi Baiyan did not intervene. While he favored Li Xuan, everything had its destiny, and Qi Baiyan understood these causalities.
In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed. Li Xuan was still in a state of closed-eyed cultivation, tempering his body with sword energy. Li Xuan himself had not noticed that a layer of silver light was shimmering on his body. And on the outside, on the stone steps, Qi Baiyan's expression turned to one of shocked sigh.
The Silver Bone Realm of the physical body. This little fellow was a prodigy even in my era.
Perhaps due to the passage of time, the vast expanse of stars had begun to dim. Mu Dan and the others also noticed this development and immediately quickened their pace, frantically scrutinizing each passing stellar cluster.
"Only one hour remains. Have none of these little ones been chosen?" Qi Baiyan sighed with a hint of melancholy. In truth, Qi Baiyan had withheld some information.
The inheritance of the Sacred Sect was not inert.
Only those chosen would receive the inheritance. Even without searching, it would eventually appear before the chosen one. But with only an hour left, none of the ten had been selected.
Would they have to wait until next time? Qi Baiyan shook his head in helplessness. This wisp of his clone's spiritual body could not last much longer. Would the Sacred Sect's inheritance truly be lost in his hands?
Qi Baiyan was unwilling, but even as the last Sect Master of the Sacred Sect, he could not influence the decision of the Sacred Sect's inheritance. Everything was the will of heaven.
Time flowed by quietly. Only ten minutes remained until the end of the day. At this point, Qi Baiyan had resigned himself to failure, his expression returning to its usual placid state.
Just then, Li Xuan's eyes suddenly opened.
"Judging by the time, it seems to be almost over," Li Xuan murmured to himself. Then he looked up at a dimly lit star cluster and smiled slightly, "Although the chances are nine out of ten that I won't get it, I can't go back empty-handed. So, it will be you then."
Li Xuan waved his left hand, and a stream of spiritual light shot towards the star cluster. Li Xuan didn't notice that the Prison Suppressing Ring on his thumb had suddenly flashed as he made his move.
In the next instant, Li Xuan was enveloped by a star cluster. A brilliant light flashed, instantly turning the surroundings as bright as day.
On the stone steps, Qi Baiyan suddenly turned to look at the void, his eyes filled with ecstatic joy.
"Hahahaha... My Sacred Sect finally has an heir!"
Qi Baiyan's voice rang out. The crowd below, who had been waiting for a day, were all energized. Someone had obtained the Sacred Sect's inheritance, but who could it be?
"Which of these heavenly prodigies will it be? Do any of you have a candidate in mind?" someone asked.
"Everyone inside now is a prodigy among prodigies. In terms of strength, they are all quite similar. But the senior just said that this third trial depends on individual destiny, so it's hard to say. After all, I have no idea what destiny is."
"..."
The crowd engaged in lively discussion. Feng Hao, who was also waiting for the result, suddenly had Li Xuan's image appear in his mind.
Why do I feel like it will be him?