Translated and Edited by: La0o9
As the big black fish heard that, it stopped making anymore sounds.
But its body still occasionally shivers, making Gu Qing Shan and Leng Tian Xing understood how much pain it was suffering right now.
This is basically the flesh-rending punishment, even demon beasts canât handle this type of torture.
As the ferryman saw their faces became tense, he said: âYou two donât have to feel any pity for itâ
âWhy?â Leng Tian Xing asked.
âHah hah, you canât tell, can you? This demon fish is already an Ascended realm last stage, just a few steps away from Saintingâ the ferryman laughed.
The two of them were even more surprised.
A demon beast thatâs close to Sainting was being subjected to this type of cruel punishment, how is it possible?
âBut why does it âââ Leng Tian Xing couldnât help but ask.
âBecause it couldnât control its urge to eat, it swallowed 5 whole islands in one night. Every single living being on the islands were killed, humanityâs Guang clan alone lost over 100,000 members to itâ, the ferryman interrupted his words, coldly laughed and answered.
The ferryman was still cutting off bit by bit of the fishâs flesh, and continued: âHer Eminence got angry and caught it, sealed its power and sentenced it to suffering the pain of its flesh being flayed 100,000 times before allowing it to pass on to the next lifeâ
As the final piece of fish meat was cut away, aside from the head, all thatâs left of the fish was a transparent, shining fish skeleton.
The ferryman wiped his hand and said: âToday was the 7,351st time, still a while away from reaching 100,000â
As he said that, he threw the fish bone back into the river.
The fish skeleton swam around under the water for a bit, before sinking to the bottom.
Leng Tian Xing listened to it with enthusiasm, then excitedly praised: âAs expected of Her Eminence Bai Huaâ
The ferryman smirked, then said: âNo need to butter up Her Eminence too much, the two of you, which list do you want to attempt, you can tell me nowâ
Leng Tian Xing thought for a bit then answered: âI want to attempt the antique treasure hunt listâ
The ferryman clapped his hands, then said: âVery nice, itâs fate indeed, you can go off the boat right hereâ
âOff the boat?â
Leng Tian Xing looked around left and right, aside from the boat itself, he could only see the intense water current.
The ferryman sat down, picked up a willow branch that was floating around and gave it to Leng Tian Xing.
âUnder here, is an underwater ruin left over time ancient timesâ
âOver a hundred thousand years ago in the age of old, a mountain god and water god fought each other here, resulting in both their demisesâ
âThis willow branch can provide you protection, go down and fish up a few ancient true relicsâ
When he heard the ferryman say that, Leng Tian Xing took the willow branch and infused it with spirit energy
The willow branch then relaxes, emitting a gentle light that covered Leng Tian Xing.
Suddenly a maelstrom appeared on the calm water, as a giant hand appeared from inside, taking Leng Tian Xing without and slowly went back down underwater.
âNow youâ the ferryman looked at Gu Qing Shan âWhat list do you want to attempt?â
Gu Qing Shan clasped his fist and bowed, saying: âI want to attempt the Sword listâ
The ferryman looked at Gu Qing Shan from head to toe: âYou donât even have a sword...â
Gu Qing Shan wryly smiled: âIt was broken in battleâ
âAh? Broken? How broken was it?â the ferryman asked further
âAside from the handle it all broke into piecesâ Gu Qing Shan described in details.
âHoh, doesnât seem like youâre just saying thatâ the ferrymanâs eyes visibly glowed.
He turned around, quickly controlled the boat to move forward.
âThe Sword list is a bit further away, I can see your whole body is covered in wounds, rest up for a bitâ said the ferryman.
âThank youâ
Gu Qing Shan sat down on the spot, silently meditated as he waits.
He relaxes and starts nurturing his body, circulating the replenishing spirit energy around to slowly expel the fatigue he felt.
Whether or not he could save Ning Yue Xi and Gong Sun Zhi, will have to see how well he does in this attempt.
As Gu Qing Shan recalled the legends of Bai Hua Fairy, and what she had done, he was still a bit speechless.
A while later, the river started to be covered in fog.
Something flew at him from afar.
It impaled the deck right in front of Gu Qing Shan.
Gu Qing Shan opened his eyes.
A sword was stabbed in front of him.
In the thick mist, the ferrymanâs figure slowly disappeared.
âTake up the sword, your test starts nowâ the ferrymanâs voice was heard from afar
âYesâ Gu Qing Shan took the sword and stood up straight.
âIâll lower my strength to be at Foundation Establishment mid stageâ the ferryman continued: âFind my location in the mist, only then will you have the right to attempt the Sword listâ
âThe test from before didnât count?â Gu Qing Shan asked.
âIt does, but the Sword list requires a bit more âââafter all, the test is about sword skills, not just anyone can go attempt itâ
âFine thenâ Gu Qing Shan sighed.
âBegin!â the ferryman said.
As soon as the said that, his whole bodyâs aura disappeared.
What excellent aura concealment!
Gu Qing Shan silently praised, as he lifted his hand and looked at the sword he was holding.
A very normal Longsword, its core was forged from steel and fits the hand quite well.
Weapons, counting from how intricate it is, are divided into different grades: Sharp, Treasure, Spirit, Law, and Dao weapons.
Of course there are higher rankings, but they are things that a normal person wonât likely ever meet in their whole life.
And the weapon in Gu Qing Shanâs hand right now is only a Sharp weapon.
This type of sword is mostly only used for training, if you meet a real enemy, youâll have to always be careful not to give the opponent a chance to break it.
âSenior, youâve made one mistakeâ Gu Qing Shan lightly smiled and said.
No one replied.
Gu Qing Shan still slowly continued: âYou shouldnât have given me a swordâ
The sword in his hand moved.
One swing created over a hundred sword phantoms.
Gu Qing Shanâs sword stance was like a breeze.
Soft, gentle, and unblockable.
âWind Slash!â
He muttered.
All the images scattered, hitting the wooden boat.
In a single moment the boat was already broken into pieces, as the spirit energy inside each slash turned into a strong wind that carried the broken pieces away.
After a single slash, the whole boat was already no more.
Only where Gu Qing Shan stood was there a floating wooden plank, still keeping him afloat on the river.
From a distance, the sound of something hitting the water.
Foundation Establishment realm mid stage, as long as they havenât awakened Wind-element roots, still canât fly.
Gu Qing Shan held the sword and pointed straight at that direction.
âSenior, Iâve found youâ
The sword shifted, suddenly created another strong breeze.
Consecutive metal blocking sounds can be heard.
The one characteristic of Wind Slash Style is its speed, Gu Qing Shan only moved his sword for a little bit before sword phantoms had already completely filled that area, not giving the opponent any place left to dodge.
A silence.
Then a joyful voice could be heard from inside the thick fog.
âClever brat, you fit my style wellâ
Together with that voice, intense spirit energy could be felt from where the voice was.
An immense spirit pressure could be felt.
Foundation Establishment peak, Golden Core, Golden Core peak âââ the spirit pressure kept increasing all the way until it reached Rejuvenation realm that it slowly stopped.
The ferryman slowly flew at him, tapping Gu Qing Shanâs shoulder: âYouâve passed the test, come with me to Bai Hua Palaceâ
He extended his other hand and quickly made a hand sign.
âHundred flowers in bloomâ the ferryman shouted silently.
A few moments after, numerous runes appeared in the air.
Gu Qing Shan took a glance and was immediately shocked.
Without any formation plate to help, only needing hand signs to create a transportation formation in the air, not even Gong Sun Zhi can do that.
Gu Qing Shan of course knows very well just who the person in front of him is, but heâs keeping his mouth shut, not wanting to say even a word.