DiploNovel #378 - A test from the gods?
#378 - A test from the gods?
Chapter 375: Immortal Trial?
With Xiu Liu's presence, Zhang Chen had countless fewer troubles, as all the bandits blocking the road were eliminated by Xiu Liu.
As for whether there were any mysterious beings blocking the way? Experts from the mystic realm? How could someone who has mastered mystic powers become a bandit?
The journey to Qingcheng Mountain was three thousand miles, and Zhang Chen traveled for three months, with countless bandits dying at Xiu Liu's hands. By the time they reached the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, Xiu Liu had already stepped into the seventh rank.
According to the Yin God method, the seventh rank corresponds to experts in the Body Seizing realm.
"Young Master, we've arrived at Qingcheng Mountain." Xiu Liu stopped the carriage, looking at the distant, majestic mountain stronghold with a hint of caution in his eyes. He could sense faint traces of terrifying energy flowing deep within Qingcheng Mountain.
"Qingcheng Mountain has arrived?" Zhang Chen lifted the carriage curtain, his eyes looking into the distance. Before him were majestic, undulating, and boundless mountains, stretching as far as the eye could see.
"Is this Qingcheng Mountain?" Xu Fu also emerged from the carriage, looking at the distant mountains with joy.
"There is a Taoist temple on Qingcheng Mountain called the Five庄 Temple. It is said that immortals reside within. Climbing along this mountain path will lead to the Five庄 Temple. However, the Five庄 Temple is divided into two temples, front and back. The front temple receives pilgrims, while the back temple is deep in the mountains, relying on natural barriers. Those without deep blessings are unlikely to reach it." Xu Fu pointed to a Taoist temple gatehouse in the distance, introducing it to Zhang Chen.
The gatehouse was built at the foot of the mountain, looking somewhat similar to the Spirit Platform Mountain where Sun Wukong apprenticed in Journey to the West. However, the name Five庄 Temple stirred Zhang Chen's heart: "Five庄 Temple? Really? Perhaps it's just the same name. It shouldn't be real, right?"
Countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Chen's mind, then he said to Xiu Liu, "After I go up the mountain, you should go down the mountain to develop. With your current cultivation, you have already refined the ability to regrow from a drop of blood and achieve immortality. As long as you lie low, there is almost no one in this world who can kill you. Whether you go to the mountains to cultivate or enjoy worldly riches, it's all up to you."
Speaking of this, Zhang Chen paused, "But you are not allowed to kill good people! You are not allowed to kill innocent people!"
Xiu Liu was overjoyed and quickly said, "This humble one has long had plans in mind. The Blood God Scripture requires a lot of blood to cultivate. After thinking it over, this disciple believes that the battlefield of the human world is most suitable for this disciple. This disciple wishes to go to the human world to find a kingdom to settle down in, and then secretly cultivate at the border. If Young Master has any orders in the future, just summon me."
Speaking of this, Xiu Liu seemed to remember something again and quickly said to Zhang Chen, "But I don't know how Young Master will contact this humble one in the future, and what will be the proof for summoning this humble one."
Zhang Chen patted Xiu Liu on the shoulder, "You have cultivated the Blood God Skill, so no matter where you go, you are within my perception. If I want to find you, it's just a thought away. You may leave!"
Xiu Liu was stunned, then bowed respectfully to Zhang Chen before respectfully taking his leave.
Xiu Liu drove the carriage away, leaving Zhang Chen and Xu Fu standing in front of the Taoist temple. Xu Fu's eyes were fixed on the gate of the Taoist temple, his eyes filled with excitement: "Zhang Chen, let's go."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded and walked towards the mountain with Xu Fu.
The gate of the Taoist temple was wide open, with pilgrims constantly entering and exiting, indicating that the Five庄 Temple was very popular.
"Let's go."
Zhang Chen took Xu Erniu's hand and followed the crowd up the mountain steps. After passing through the gatehouse, there was a long corridor. The two followed the crowd to the main hall, where they saw a mysterious spirit tablet enshrined, covered with red silk, looking very strange.
In the Taoist temple, there were more than a dozen young Taoists in black robes receiving passing pilgrims. The young Taoists were not very old, about fourteen or fifteen years old, their faces full of childishness.
The two offered incense, and then Zhang Chen followed the steps and walked all the way to the back mountain.
There were no Taoists blocking the way on the steps to the back mountain, but the steps to the back mountain were steep and narrow, looking very terrifying.
Zhang Chen was not a mortal. Although his body was thin, he was not afraid of the steep cliffs. Xu Erniu followed closely behind Zhang Chen, her body trembling in fear.
Zhang Chen looked at the endless mountain road, unable to see the end at a glance. The mountain road under his feet was only a meter wide. At the cliffs, the mountain wind was fierce, and a slight carelessness would cause one to be blown off the cliff and fall to pieces. The most important thing was that there were no guardrails on the steps.
Xu Erniu's face was fearful, her thin body swaying, as if she could be blown down by the mountain wind at any time, but she tightened her small face and followed Zhang Chen with a firm expression, without making any sound, just quietly following behind Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen turned his head to look at Xu Erniu, whose body was trembling and whose face was full of fear but who was still climbing the mountain, and asked, "Aren't you afraid? If you are blown off the cliff by the mountain wind, you will be killed."
"I want to see my father, I want to become an immortal!" Xu Erniu trembled, her voice changed, but her face was still firm.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen untied his belt, wrapped it around Xu Erniu's body, and then took out the Wind-Fixing Pearl.
The Yin and Yang energies repelled Zhang Chen's supernatural powers, but they could not repel the Wind-Fixing Pearl that had already formed into a magic weapon.
As the Wind-Fixing Pearl appeared, all the mountain winds within three meters of Zhang Chen disappeared. Zhang Chen turned around and continued to climb in the mountains, only his voice echoing in Xu Erniu's ears: "Don't be afraid, with me here, you will never fall."
Hearing this, Xu Erniu's heart was greatly settled. She also knew Xiu Liu's methods along the way. Even Xiu Liu was respectful to Zhang Chen, so what kind of ability did Zhang Chen have?
Xu Erniu regained her confidence and followed Zhang Chen into the mountains. After walking for a while, Xu Erniu looked at the gust of wind blowing in the distance and felt the calm within three meters of her body, and couldn't help but be stunned.
Zhang Chen walked silently in front, Xu Erniu followed behind Zhang Chen, with a belt connecting the two.
Zhang Chen finally knew why the Five庄 Temple did not have any disciples guarding the road to the back mountain, because this road was extremely dangerous. Climbing it not only tested one's heart and physical strength, but also one's luck. Those who could climb up were all lucky people, and of course they would be taken into the sect to increase the sect's fortune.
When the two were tired, they sat on the steps to rest for a while, eating some jerky they had prepared earlier and drinking some clear water.
From time to time, Taoists passed by in the back mountain. Although they looked at the two with curiosity, they did not ask.
The two climbed from morning to dark, until the sky was dim, but they still did not see the Five庄 Temple in the back mountain, so they had to stop to rest on the cliff. Fortunately, Zhang Chen had the Wind-Fixing Pearl, so the hurricane could not blow over.
The only thing they hadn't considered was that it was already late autumn, and their clothes were a little thin for the mountains. The temperature would drop at night, making it very cold.
Xu Erniu huddled in Zhang Chen's arms, and they chose a gentle section of stairs, then sat down and hugged each other for warmth.
Late at night, Xu Erniu, nestled in Zhang Chen's embrace, suddenly giggled. The sound was particularly eerie in the darkness, sending a shiver down Zhang Chen's spine, who almost kicked her off the stairs, thinking she was possessed.
"Immortal! I, Xu Erniu, am an immortal from today onwards!" Xu Erniu laughed wildly in her sleep, drooling and smacking her lips, as if she were eating something delicious. After a moment, she stopped smacking her lips and mumbled, "Zhang Chen, why aren't you eating? Have this pork knuckle."
Listening to the mumbling beside him, Zhang Chen couldn't help but smile and held Xu Erniu even closer.
The next morning, as soon as it was light, they got up and ate some dried meat and preserved fruit. Xu Erniu looked at Zhang Chen, her voice full of anticipation, "Zhang Chen, I dreamed last night that I seemed to become an immortal."
"And had lots of pork knuckles to eat?" Zhang Chen asked with a smile.
Xu Erniu's face flushed red. "How did you know?"
Zhang Chen tugged at his clothes. "Your drool soaked half of my clothes last night."
Xu Erniu was embarrassed when she saw it, and then stubbornly argued, "That's not true! It was clearly dew."
Zhang Chen wanted to say something, but seeing the look in Xu Erniu's eyes, he quickly shut his mouth.
The two of them climbed in the mountains for another day. A thick fog covered the mountains, making it impossible to see anything beyond ten meters. A strong wind howled through the mountains, swaying the trees.
Watching the remaining rays of sunlight disappear behind the mountains, and looking at the fog in the valleys, Zhang Chen decisively chose to rest where they were.
Then it was back to dried meat and preserved fruit. Zhang Chen had to admit that Xiu Liu was clever, bringing enough dried meat for the two of them. The only pity was that there wasn't much clean water left, but there were clear springs flowing down the mountains, so water wasn't a problem.
After they ate the dried meat, Xu Erniu burrowed directly into Zhang Chen's arms and fell asleep, looking exhausted.
In the middle of the night, Xu Erniu hummed and grunted in his arms. Zhang Chen knew that the girl was exhausted, so she was making noises unconsciously at night.
But just before dawn, suddenly a warm stream soaked Zhang Chen's body, startling him awake. Zhang Chen froze, looking at the water dripping from his body, and couldn't help but be stunned: "Did this girl wet the bed? And she even peed on me?"
Zhang Chen's eyes were full of astonishment, but he wasn't too surprised. It was normal for children to wet the bed at night if they were too tired during the day.
But it was cold in the mountains, and if their clothes got wet, they might get sick.
Just as Zhang Chen was thinking about how to dry the water on his body, Xu Erniu's snoring suddenly stopped. A pair of bright eyes met Zhang Chen's, and then Xu Erniu seemed to realize her predicament. The next moment, she closed her eyes and resumed her fake snoring.
Zhang Chen smiled secretly when he saw this, but he didn't expose her. Instead, he thought of a solution. The golden scissors in his mental world vibrated slightly, and the next moment all the yin and yang energy was drawn away, and then the water control technique was used.
Even if Zhang Chen's water control technique could only be used for a moment, it was enough for him. The water stains on their bodies were instantly sucked away.
Xu Erniu, who was huddled in Zhang Chen's arms, was stunned. She subconsciously reached out her small hand and carefully touched her pants, then her big eyes opened instantly: "Hallucination? Did I wet the bed in my dream?"
Their eyes met, and Xu Erniu looked at Zhang Chen: "Tell me, did you notice anything just now?"
Zhang Chen knew that Xu Erniu was shy, so he said with a smile: "You're awake? What just happened? Nothing happened at all, why are you asking?"
Xu Erniu scratched her head. After confirming that she was dreaming, she said confidently: "I was dreaming. Go to sleep quickly, little kids shouldn't pry."
Zhang Chen smiled secretly in his heart, touched Xu Erniu's head, and closed his eyes to rest.
But it was already close to dawn, and neither of them slept soundly. When it was still dark, they got up to eat dried meat. After eating and drinking their fill, they continued to climb into the mountains.
But after climbing for a short while, suddenly a cry rang out in the mountains. The cry was faint in the mountain wind, and it would be hard to notice if you didn't listen carefully. But at this time, the mountains were empty and silent, and Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu both heard the cry. Then Xu Erniu said, "Did you hear that? It sounds like someone is crying?"
Zhang Chen nodded: "The crying is ahead."
The two of them climbed up the mountain, and the crying became closer and closer. Finally, after climbing for dozens of meters, they saw a chubby little boy hanging under a cliff, swaying in the wind on a tree branch as thick as an arm.
The little chubby boy wasn't old, probably only five or six years old, but he was round and heavy. His clothes were tattered, blood dripped from his knees, palms, and feet, and he was crying bitterly.
The small tree was about ten meters away from the mountain path, and below it was a bottomless abyss, which looked very terrifying.
"Save me! Save me!" The little chubby boy's voice was full of sobs. When he saw Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu looking over, he was overjoyed and quickly begged for help.
Looking at the crying little chubby boy, a flash of inspiration suddenly appeared in Zhang Chen's mind: "I remember that immortal families in my previous life had to undergo many tests to accept disciples. How could this little chubby boy suddenly appear under the tree branch? Even if he fell from the mountain path, it's too much of a coincidence, isn't it? Could it be a test for me from the Wuzhuang Temple?"
Zhang Chen was a suspicious person by nature, and now looking at the crying little chubby boy on the tree, it was hard not to overthink things.
"I say, brother, how did you run to the tree branch to rest? That branch is too thin, and you'll fall down if you're not careful. You can't be so reckless. Come up quickly, lest you fall down," Zhang Chen said with a smile.
The little chubby boy under the tree was stunned when he heard this. He stared blankly at Zhang Chen, his eyes full of disbelief: "How can there be such a person in the world? I'm resting on the tree branch? If I could climb up, would I need to cry here?"
"Brother, save me! I was in a hurry to get on the road this morning, and I accidentally stepped into the air and fell down. Please save me, brother, I don't want to die! If you can save me today, I will definitely be your ox or horse in the future and let you drive me," the little chubby boy pleaded, his voice full of sobs.