To the veteran Inner Sect disciples who were pessimistically muttering about Gongyi Tianheng, this performance caused their complexions to flush red and pale white. They felt that they were the ones who’d really lost! But how could they have anticipated that a mere young disciple, who came to try for the first time, would’ve been so keen and agile? Most of all were the few who’d started to ridicule him. Their faces were deep shades of red and they mumbled unintelligibly. After opening their mouths several times, they were closed in the end.
Yet, there was still the person who was the most unreconciled. He continued harping on: “What does the first checkpoint amount to? That youngster is a Xiantian stage three, so it also isn’t strange. Wait until the second checkpoint, and let him see the ferocity of the light puppet!”
The person beside him gave him a helpless glance: “I hope it can be as you wish this time.”
When Gu Zuo heard these two voices again, he couldn’t help facing that side to take a look.
Of the two, the one on the left was a round-faced teenager, whose creased face was still very indignant. The other one’s looks were very simple and honest. Merely, his eyes occasionally flashed with hints of radiance, letting one know that his temperament and his outward appearance weren’t that similar. Among them, the round-faced teenager’s strength was around Xiantian stage six and the one with the simple and honest face was Xiantian stage seven. Neither were weak.
Gu Zuo didn’t recognize them, but he could also see that the reason why the round-faced teenager was in such a bad mood was probably because he previously didn’t do well on the first and second checkpoints. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have remembered it until now to take his anger out on Gu Zuo’s dear big brother.
Since there still weren’t any malicious intentions, if that round-faced teenager wanted to act childish, then it was better to just let him act as such. At any rate, they didn’t harm a single hair on their heads.
In addition, Gu Zuo was a bit expectant — If his big brother still had a smooth and effortless breakthrough during the second checkpoint, what would that round-faced teenager mumble to himself then? Gu Zuo felt that he would be happy if that round-faced teenager wasn’t happy. Who made the round-faced teenager curse out his big brother so much? It’d serve him right to continue getting his face slapped! Humph, it’d be best if he got slapped swollen. In any case, his face was already round, so it didn’t matter if it was bit rounder!
Hence, Gu Zuo, whose heart was similarly indignant, turned his head and started cheering on his dear big brother.
[Big brother, I heard this is a light puppet. Be careful!]
Soon, the sound of Tianheng’s laughter could be heard in his Tianfu Acupoint.
[Rest assured, Ah Zuo. I certainly won’t leave you disappointed.]
Gu Zuo felt at ease.
In passing, he still gave that round-faced teenager a covert glance.
Off to that side, because the round-faced teenager had his full attention on Tianheng’s performance, he didn’t discover Gu Zuo’s furtive look. However, that simple and honest-looking one looked back at Gu Zuo. That guy paused and shook his head again, before looking somewhat helplessly at the round-faced teenager’s expression.
Little Junior Sect Brother, was it okay to compare strengths with a new disciple who was less advanced? A private reproach was fine, but wasn’t letting the person beside the new disciple find out just asking for a grievance? Luckily, it appeared that that person was also a young teenager who just glared at them in unhappiness. Otherwise, his Junior Sect Brother would’ve really offended somebody.
Back to Gongyi Tianheng — At this moment, he entered the interior of the large building.
The light that filled the main hall was abnormally bright, and emanated from all directions. It was harsh on the eyes like the radiance of a bright sun. With a sweep of one’s vision, there were strong, white lights everywhere, which appeared to stimulate one’s tears to fall.
In this kind of light, there was also a taciturn, killing intent.
Tianheng was hardly panicked. Somehow, he turned his body sideways and his scimitars were already slicing up and down, which obstructed two vital parts on his body.
At the same time, what was heard were two crisp and resonant sounds. Those were the sounds of the scimitars blocking the weapons of the puppet!
This noise was far louder and clearer than during the first checkpoint!
A human head without a face emerged from the light. At first glance, it seemed like a phantom, but this was no more than a puppet that was manufactured to hide its figure within the light rays. Its outer shell was peculiar. It could reflect the rays of light, so it was hard for someone to detect it. In addition, the radiance stung the eyes. If it wasn’t a disciple with good enough psychological qualities, it was very likely to have their fighting power weakened somewhat. And the puppet’s strength was at Xiantian stage two. Thus, it was only natural that the second checkpoint’s level of difficulty was several times higher than the first checkpoint’s.
Yet, the second checkpoint also posed no problems for Tianheng.
Immediately following this, the light puppet made several consecutive moves. All of them were attacks, and the spots being attacked were all Tianheng’s vital parts. However, all of the attacks were blocked by Tianheng.
After that, Tianheng found an opportunity. His body turned at a strange angle and a scimitar abruptly jolted, which then jolted the puppet out of the light! Meanwhile, he flipped his other hand and skirted the scimitar around to slice down upon the puppet’s head.
At this point, Gu Zuo also saw that these puppets were made for the Sect’s disciples to hone the ways they confronted enemies. So, the puppets were modeled after the human body when they were manufactured. Of course, those vital parts were selected based on the locations of the human body that caused the greatest harm. The neck, the spinal column, the chest, and so on. If a disciple undergoing a challenge struck these places and their power reached a degree that could kill a real martial artist, then the puppet would also be destroyed.
After listening to the conversations of many people, Gu Zuo gradually realized that one didn’t need to destroy the puppets to pass these checkpoints. If one’s realm was greater than the puppet’s realm, it was admittedly true that one needed to “kill” the puppet, but if one’s realm was equal to or lower than the puppet’s realm, they only needed to persist against the puppet for an hour to pass.
At this moment, Tianheng had passed the second checkpoint. When facing the third checkpoint’s opponent, it would undoubtedly be one with a realm equivalent to his own. A puppet comparable to a Xiantian stage three.
By the third checkpoint, what appeared was no longer a sneak attack. Rather, it was an upright and open confrontation.
After all, the Inner Sect disciples who were Xiantian stage one and two still held the majority, but the puppet gates’ passages were limited. If the low-leveled Xiantian disciples were allowed to continuously challenge the gates, it would be an excessive waste of resources. Moreover, the puppet gates were a place to hone disciples. At the beginning, ambushes were used to train the vigilance of low-leveled disciples — If a disciple wanted to leave the Sect to adventure, their realms were suitably high. Meanwhile, the mortality rate of disciples with low realms wasn’t low. A reason for a large portion of these deaths was because their abilities to react and their vigilance against danger was lacking.
Soon, the light dissipated. What emerged was a two-meter tall, black puppet. It still didn’t have a face. Its outer shell was hard, its movements were agile, and its strength was enormous. Overall, not only was this puppet comparable to Xiantian stage three, it was also classified as the type whose comprehensive qualities were very high. It basically didn’t have any shortcomings; it was balanced in all aspects.
Gongyi Tianheng saw this puppet and, little by little, his eyes flashed with flecks of bright light. Shortly after, the scimitars in his hands suddenly disappeared. His hair and robes billowed without any wind. The qi energy that surrounded his body had also come to a standstill.
At the same time, he faintly lifted a hand.
Tianheng’s figure flashed out the instant that the puppet transformed into a streak of black shadow and bounded over. He started fighting with that puppet! The fists of man and puppet were already heavily smashing together!
The round-faced teenager talked, but that sentence wasn’t enough. His mouth opened like he wanted to continue taunting.
The simple and honest-faced young man had been paying attention to Gu Zuo. He discovered that Gu Zuo’s face was turning red with anger. Unexpectedly, his little Junior Sect Brother didn’t even know that the matter of him talking behind that guy’s back had been heard by the involved party’s friend. He felt very embarrassed. He hastily pulled the round-faced teenager’s arm: “Quick, look at that.”
The round-faced teenager gave him an unhappy side-eye, but continued to watch. However, just as he looked over, his eyes widened again and his face was full of astonishment.
In the venue.
Boom!
There was a fierce noise!
Many Inner Sect disciples thought that Tianheng had overestimated his own capabilities, but they never expected that Tianheng hadn’t retreated after this confrontation between man and puppet. On the contrary, that puppet had taken half a step back!
One shouldn’t see this as merely half a step. Everyone who challenged this checkpoint knew how frightening the power of this black puppet was. It was basically impossible for an ordinary Xiantian stage three to compete with it!
However, that handsome young man, who didn’t seem particularly sturdy, had done it!
Gu Zuo let out a satisfied hum.
Although that round-faced teenager didn’t pay attention to his existence, this didn’t mean that he couldn’t look down upon that guy who was blind as a bat!
The simple and honest young man, who was watching this scene: “...”
This type of feeling where two unacquainted children still held grudges against each other...
But whatever the case, it was better to not allow his little Junior Sect Brother to get acquainted with that young teenager.
At this moment, Tianheng seemed very excited. As he collided with that puppet, his fists were like the wind and his moves were like lightning. But he didn’t dodge at all. Rather, there wasn’t the slightest hint of pretense. He used his own physical body to tank the puppet’s continuous bombardment!
Under such a flurry of attacks, all of the martial artists outside were shocked — How was this an insignificant Xiantian stage three? They’d never seen a Xiantian stage three with such strength!
Gu Zuo also watched Tianheng with rapt attention.
But he already discovered that his dear big brother’s fists still seeped with some blood trails. This immediately proved that his big brother was injured. But why did his big brother seem even more brave and fierce after being injured? His psychic power had no blindspots; he could even see his big brother’s expression...which was also becoming more and more excited.
After rubbing his face, Gu Zuo focused.
He decided to no longer pay attention to that round-faced guy. During this time, he was better off looking after his big brother’s health more. In any case, he was also his big brother’s “personal household doctor”!
The more Tianheng fought, the braver he became. After ruthlessly fighting that black puppet for a incense stick’s worth of time, he punched the puppet’s head, causing it to explode. The puppet immediately lost the ability to move and fell to the ground, turning into a corpse.
At this time, he had challenged three checkpoints in a row. Tianheng was already considered to have achieved the clearance of this realm of theirs.
Hence, because of Tianheng’s performance and the spectating Inner Sect disciples, there were conjectures one after another:
“Will this person continue to challenge the gates?”
“I see that he still has energy left over, so he shouldn’t miss this chance.”
“Don’t say that. He’s merely an arrow at the end of its flight. Right now, he’s just pretending to be fine, right?”
“I see that he’s arrogant and overbearing. It should be more than just this!”
As for Gu Zuo, he felt that this was without any doubts.
The true fighting power of his big brother wasn’t this puny! He’d certainly continue fighting!
Most of all, after his big brother scored with the aptitudes of a monstrous talent, he certainly couldn’t act like how he did previously, by concealing his cutting edge everywhere he went... In terms of contacts, he was running pretty well. He didn’t need to be cautious and solemn like in the beginning.
Sure enough, Tianheng stood motionless and uttered: “Requesting the fourth checkpoint.”
Following that, a puppet appeared before him once more.
This puppet was also black colored, and there didn’t seem to be too big of a difference between it and the previous puppet. However, its body erupted with a fiendish qi. In now way could it be compared to the previous puppet.
Gongyi Tianheng was unafraid. His eyes flashed with traces of excitement, and his gaze turned dark and profound.
The next moment, the man and puppet seemed to duplicate that previous checkpoint. Once again, they smashed each other in mutual bombardment! And this time, those who were optimistic and those who weren’t both remained silent.
Even that round-faced teenager finally bit his lower lip.
His face really hurt after being slapped... He would endure it! A Xiantian stage three was challenging the fourth checkpoint. As soon as that guy failed, he’d go over to mock him again for overestimating himself! Now... Right now, he’d say nothing!
The simple and honest-faced young man restrained his laughter. However, for the sake of this little Junior Sect Brother’s face, he wouldn’t comment about it.
Following which, he changed the topic of the conversation: “Junior Sect Brother, you probably don’t know, but I recently received a medicinal pill from the league. Once I take it...”
The round-faced teenager’s attention was drawn over at once: “What happens when it’s taken?”
The simple and honest-faced young man moved closer to his ear, and his voice was extremely low: “I’ll have the strength of a pseudo-Immortal Realm. Our Hundred Rivers League won’t be lambs for the slaughter. So, you also mustn’t vent your anger everywhere.”
The round-faced teenager: “...I don’t vent my anger.”
The simple and honest-faced young man straightened up: “If Junior Sect Brother says he doesn’t, then he doesn’t.”
The round-faced teenager: “Humph.”
At this time, his pursed expression finally loosened.
It was also fortunate that the round-faced teenager didn’t start taunting again. Because after Tianheng fought with that Xiantian stage four puppet for a while, he blew up its head before a joss of incense would’ve finished burning.
Following that, he still wanted to fight a Xiantian stage five puppet.
The martial artists outside were dead silent. If it was said that Tianheng’s performance was only excellent at the beginning, what followed could’ve been said to be breathtaking. Going further, if a Xiantian stage five also couldn’t deal with him, then not only was it breathtaking, it was horrifying!
Currently, they wanted to see what would happen when all was said and done.
The only one who felt it was a certainty was Gu Zuo.
The others were making guesses one after another, but Gu Zuo understood that his dear big brother would definitely pass this checkpoint.
Tianheng’s performance was indeed like that. He still relied on a pair of fists to settle the Xiantian stage five puppet. Afterwards, within the horrified views of the numerous disciples, he really contended with a Xiantian stage six puppet for a full hour.
After that, the puppet came to a halt, and a voice asked: “Will you continue challenging the gates?”
Tianheng’s gaze faintly moved. He replied: “No need.”
Once he finished speaking this sentence, the disciples outside all unknowingly released sighs of relief. A Xiantian stage three had the strength to face a Xiantian stage six. Wasn’t this too inconceivable? Fortunately, it didn’t continue, and he only contended with the Xiantian stage six puppet. Otherwise, how could they, these veteran disciples, still muddle along?!
Tianheng had challenged six checkpoints in a row, attracting the stares of many people. Most of all, during his departure, which was neither too fast nor too slow, nothing could be gleaned from his outward appearance — In the end, was this calm real or fake? In the end, did he suffer any internal injuries?
The gazes that many people watched him with had all become somewhat complicated.
There were also some disciples within the crowd who similarly used complicated gazes to glance at him. Then, they turned around and left. What they needed to do right now was to report everything they knew about to their bloodline’s superiors.
— The emergence of such an individual shouldn’t have been an unknown quantity.
Gu Zuo showed a great, big smile. He went up to welcome Tianheng: “Big brother is awesome!”
Tianheng smiled: “I’ve troubled Ah Zuo to wait for a long time.”
Gu Zuo said: “Waiting for a little bit longer doesn’t make a difference. Big brother worked hard challenging the gates.”
The two were harmonious, and affectionately expressed their care for one another. Soon after, they departed from this place. The gravity rooms, testing rooms, and puppet gates were all challenged. The other places also weren’t too special, and were basically some small hurdles. After they looked around, Tianheng didn’t keep going — Today’s limelight was already enough.
In the meantime, Gu Zuo also asked if there were any facilities here that were related to pharmacists. Nevertheless, he was told that there were none. Gu Zuo saw that the majority here were all martial artists roaming about. There was an extremely small number of pharmacists who were mostly the same as him, accompanying the martial artists. Hence, he let out a sigh and accepted the facts.
Gu Zuo didn’t think that such a huge Qingyun Sect really didn’t have similar things related to pharmacists. It just probably wasn’t located here. If one wanted to know, then perhaps they could only join the Pharmacist Hall.
And with regards to him, who didn’t want to become a member, he would find Xu Lingxiu to ask about it.
As they were leaving this place, someone suddenly called out to the two of them from behind: “Junior Sect Brothers, please hold on!”
Gongyi Tianheng and Gu Zuo turned their heads. The one they saw was that simple and honest-faced young man.
Gu Zuo was a little surprised.
His impression of this person was neither good nor bad, and only knew that his companion was quite childish. However, his companion wasn’t there right now, which also wasn’t bad.
That simple and honest-faced young man walked over, and first cupped his fist: “Pardon my boldness. Just now, I witnessed this Junior Sect Brother’s brilliant and brave feat, and I found it very admirable.”
Tianheng returned the greeting: “I don’t deserve this Senior Sect Brother’s praise.”
The simple and honest-faced young man continued to speak: “However, I saw that Junior Sect Brother only used his fists and seldom used weapons. The material of those scimitars also wasn’t really... Honestly, it’s a pity. For people like us who practice martial arts, the fighting power we can bring out should be even greater if we have a convenient weapon. Thus, I’ve come to bother Junior Sect Brother.” He paused, and said: “In the Inner Sect, the core region has a Spirit Weapons Pavilion, which is a place where Inner Sect disciples forge weapons. If Junior Sect Brother has some free time, you can visit that place.”
Tianheng showed a sliver of a smiling expression: “I’ll keep this in mind. Many thanks for the suggestion, Senior Sect Brother.”
That simple and honest-faced young man cupped his fist again, and turned around to leave in large strides.
He seriously only came over just to mention this.
After waiting for the person to walk away, Tianheng and Gu Zuo were on their way again. Then, Tianheng asked: “Ah Zuo, do you know this person?”
Bringing this up, Gu Zuo’s mouth twitched: “He’s actually not that bad. The one with a problem is that companion of his...” As he spoke, he told Tianheng about the series of displays from that round-faced teenager.
Tianheng broke into laughter.
His thoughts were the same as that simple and honest-faced young man. This was classified as the grudges between two young teenagers. They didn’t know each other. It was just that one vented his own dissatisfaction, and the other heard this dissatisfaction and silently made trouble. It was very amusing.
But the reason why that simple and honest-faced young man had come over — He also clearly understood.
Tianheng said: “It may be assumed that this person had already realized that the words of that round-faced teenager were heard by Ah Zuo. Consequently, it was that round-faced teenager who was wrong, and he didn’t want to incur our ire. Even though it was merely this small disagreement, he wanted to promptly defuse it. Therefore, he came over to find you and I, and pointed out that place where we can forge weapons.”
Gu Zuo suddenly understood: “Then, his character is pretty good.”
Tianheng raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything else.
Hundred Rivers League.
A round-faced teenager rushed straight in while dragging a simple and honest-faced young man. He blurted out to the disciples inside: “I heard our league is different from before? It has something to do with a medicinal pill? What’s going on?”
He himself wasn’t a disciple who was Xiantian stage seven or above, so he hadn’t received the medicinal pill. Not knowing the situation, his heart was gloomy from beginning to end.
Although Tianqi Peak’s Saber Cave wasn’t here, it was considered the main building where work was handled all year round. There were also very many important personnel inside.
At this moment, the faces of the league’s disciples were all wearing smiling expressions, not like before with that heavy, melancholic air. Instead, there was a newer atmosphere that was full of vitality.
The round-faced teenager promptly discovered this difference, but he still waited for these peoples’ answers.
Beforehand, the simple and honest-faced young man had received a medicinal pill. However, he also didn’t know the specific circumstances of what was happening. Now that he saw someone he was relatively familiar with and the round-faced teenager had asked, he just sat on a nearby chair and listened with respectful attention.
The one who sat in the foremost position was Hai Tian.
He also had some familiarity with these two people. They were similarly classified as people of the core circle around him, so there was nothing to hide. He explained the entire matter that happened previously.
When the simple and honest-faced young man finished listening, and his eyes flashed in rumination: “You’re saying our Hundred Rivers League has the power to strike back this time largely due to that Medicine of Life?”
Hai Tian nodded his head: “Just so. Thus, we need to make friends with that owner of Medicine of Life as much as possible. I’ve seen that he really isn’t a fish in a small pond. If we wait for him to rapidly develop and try to make friends with him afterwards, I’m afraid it’ll be too late.”
The simple and honest-faced young man suddenly asked: “Then, what does that Medicine of Life’s owner, Gongyi Tianheng, look like?”
Hai Tian said: “His figure is slender, his temperament is calm, his appearance is extremely handsome, and there’s always a teenaged pharmacist around sixteen or seventeen years old following him around.”
The simple and honest-faced young man’s heart suddenly lurched.
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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