Chapter 170: Third Trial (16)

Chapter 170: Third Trial (16)

Outside the Secret Sword Realm Nexus, Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan stand before the formation entrance, wearing blank expressions.

Their hearts are in complete chaos. They have never suffered a defeat like this; not even Lan Xiaohuis experiences in the Inner World are comparable to this. Lan Xiaohui had faced oppression before like when Wukongs incredible strength forced Lan Xiaohui into trying her best to merely survive one punch from him. In fact, if anything, Lan Xiaohui had developed an extreme resistance toward the mental load of going through a death process on an hourly basis. Death, it could be said, was as part of Lan Xiaohuis new life as breathing.

However, this was something different. Her opponent was only in the early stage of Core Formation like herself, yet reduced her to nothing with her own techniques.

With a flicker of light, the door that leads to the Secret Sword Realm Nexus flashes once, then disappears.

Wu Yulan, who is pressing her right hand against her chest in the same spot where she was stabbed, quietly whispers, Xuelian, did you also feel it?

The way she speaks these words makes me suspect that she is not talking about the haptic feedback.

My owner nods at her companions words, remains silent for a few seconds and then replies, Yes. I felt everything, she says. Every move that shadow made, every shred of sword intent and energy it created it was as if I was doing it myself.

With those words, Lan Xiaohui repeats the two slashing motions of the black silhouette, recreating them exactly. So it can be used like this, too Lan Xiaohui whispers.

Wu Yulan nods, and her eyes shine with a strange light. And Empty Moon Prana did you learn it, too?

Lan Xiaohui smiles and nods. I did, she says.

The chaos in their hearts, I realize, is not because of the crushing defeat that theyve just suffered, but the extreme terror and disbelief they feel toward the formation that had, in twelve hours no, a few minutes taught them what they could not accomplish in almost three months.

What an amazing formation, Wu Yulan says, still staring in disbelief at the vacant plain wall where the entrance to the Secret Sword Realm Nexus was until a moment ago.

If they could truly experience the actions of their opponents, then it is no wonder that they would learn quickly. This also explains how Sun Zhen always returned with vast improvements every cycle when he entered this Secret Sword Realm Nexus.

[Empty Moon Prana] certainly has advanced laws and formulas, but they are nothing compared to [Fractured Sword]. From my observation, even though the encounter was brief, I did not detect traces of a [Fractured Sword] cultivation in the black silhouette an improved and more advanced version of Lan Xiaohui herself.

After climbing the stairs to the next floor, Lan Xiaohui looks at her companion again. So, should we tell Elder Qin?

Wu Yulan purses her lips and then nods. Yeah, I think so, she says.

You also think that Elder Qin didnt give us an impossible task? Lan Xiaohui asks.

Wu Yulan nods again. That is exactly what I was thinking, she says. I feel like she has extremely high expectations of us. But I dont know why. Ive never met or heard of Elder Qin before. What about you?

Lan Xiaohui shakes her head. Ive also never met or heard of her before.

That is strange, Wu Yulan says. Even though she did not make it obvious, or try to hide it, Ive always thought that she was familiar with us.

You did pass all the floors of the Pagoda of Introspection, and they know that I have comprehended Sword Law, so maybe it is not that strange that they all have high expectations of us, Lan Xiaohui offers her theory.

Wu Yulan nods in agreement with my owners words. Elder Qin knows how important the promotion tournament is to you. I think it is safe to admit that we have comprehended the first layer of Empty Moon Prana, but anything more than that, they might consider us too valuable to risk. What do you think?

Lan Xiaohui smiles. Lets do that, then. If we show that we are promising candidates for the legacy arts of the sect, they might even help us with the medicine for Yun Fei.

With that, they enter the large chamber and enter one of the cultivation formation worlds, where they can meditate in peace and quiet and recreate their impressions of the [Empty Moon Prana].

As for their plan, I have my own suspicions about why Elder Qin has such high expectations of them, and whether or not she believes that Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan could truly comprehend the method in only one short year.

I am certain that they do not realize, yet, what kind of impact their actions will have when they tell Elder Qin that they have already accomplished their impossible task.