Longevity starts with inheriting a friend's legacy

Chapter 133: Refining Heart Cave, the Heart of Martial Arts
As a powerful force that can surpass the royal family of the Yu Kingdom, the annual entrance examination of the Shengxian Association should have been an event that countless warriors flocked to.

Initially, many warriors had dreamed of joining the Ascension Society, making the leap to the Dragon Gate, and becoming a respected being.

However, the horrific death rate for those who fail the assessment has become a daunting prospect!

In the villa at the foot of the mountain, Huang Qingzhou was explaining to Fang Xu and Lu Qingluo some things to note about the entrance examination of the Ascension Society.

"The assessment rules are on the stone tablet in front of the mountain gate, so I won't go into details. Now I'll mainly tell you two about the things you need to pay attention to during the assessment."

These details are mainly aimed at Fang Xu and Lu Qingluo. Chu Mu is considered a specially recruited disciple by Xu Changqing and does not need to participate in the assessment at all.

"Strictly speaking, the entrance examination consists of four stages, but the first stage is often referred to as a warm-up trial and is not included."

"The real test is from the second to the fourth level, referred to as the Battle Enlightenment Method."

"The so-called battle, as the name suggests, is a battle level."

"It is said that there are more than ten types of battle levels. Every year before the trial begins, Elder Jiang Feng and several elders who teach the skills vote to decide. No one knows which type it is until the trial begins."

"There is one thing you two need to pay attention to in this level!" Huang Qingzhou said solemnly, "You can kill people in all the battle levels!"

Can kill people! ?

Fang Xu frowned slightly, this is interesting!

If killing is allowed during the assessment, it means that all test takers must not only be careful of the dangers within the assessment, but also be wary of other trial disciples, because no one knows whether these people will suddenly attack them.

"Have you remembered all this?" Huang Qingzhou said.

Fang Xu and Lu Qingluo both nodded.

"The next step is enlightenment." Huang Qingzhou said, with a hint of envy on his face, "This stage is a great opportunity for all the disciples who can pass the test."

"Because, every disciple who can pass this test will have a chance to comprehend the Cliff Heavenly Scripture."

"Fang Xu has been to the Tilanshan ruins and seen the bone tablet, but what I want to tell you is that the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture is even more magical than that bone tablet."

"It is said that Elder Jiang's Tongtian Sword Bamboo magical power was gained from his understanding of the Cliff Heavenly Scripture."

"The reason why I say this level is a great opportunity is because apart from this assessment, if you want to get such an opportunity again after becoming a disciple of the Ascension Association, you must spend 100,000 contribution points."

"Is it difficult to obtain 100,000 contribution points?" Lu Qingluo asked curiously.

Huang Qingzhou nodded with a bitter face: "I have been a beginner for so many years, and I have never obtained a total of 100,000 contribution points. Excluding the daily cultivation consumption, I only have more than 10,000 now. Do you think it is difficult?"

Hearing him say this, Lu Qingluo couldn't help but curl his lips.

Fang Xu also realized it.

This may be the reason why the Ascension Association's assessment is so strict and does not allow giving up midway.

"The Cliff Heavenly Scripture" can help one comprehend the legendary magical powers. If the assessment allows one to withdraw during the process, then the disciples of the major families will definitely take advantage of this loophole and send a large number of family disciples to sign up, then get a free chance to comprehend the skills, and then withdraw.

In this case, wouldn’t the Ascension Association become the scapegoat?

"The third one is Dharma, which is the most difficult of the three levels."

Huang Qingzhou said with a serious expression: "I heard that there are more than 70,000 disciples who signed up for the entrance examination this year, but I estimate that only less than 1% will be able to pass the examination in the end."

"Excluding those who dropped out after the warm-up trial, at least 70% of the remaining test disciples will fail at this stage."

“The so-called law is to create the law.”

"The general meaning is that during the assessment, each disciple will get some references and hints, and then based on these references and hints, combined with their own experience, they will create a martial art within a certain period of time, and finally use the martial art they created to defeat the mechanical puppet used in the trial."

Hearing this, Fang Xu frowned slightly and said, "Brother Huang, this level is not as difficult as you said, right?"

Huang Qingzhou looked at him and smiled faintly: "I know what you want to say."

"The martial arts you create will be tested by a special elder. When you fight against the mechanical puppet, there will also be an elder who will observe the whole process. If you use a martial art that you did not create, you will be killed on the spot."

"In short, don't try to take shortcuts during the assessment. With your ability, it won't be a problem for you to pass the assessment successfully."

"Miss Lu, there shouldn't be any problem here either."

Knowing that Lu Qingluo had a trump card, Huang Qingzhou was not too worried.

"Finally, this is the most important thing! We must find a way to get more points. After each year's assessment, the new disciples with the highest points will receive a generous gift. As for those whose total points cannot exceed a certain percentage, they will still be eliminated even if they pass three levels."

After giving some instructions, Huang Qingzhou stood up slowly and said, looking at the slowly rising sun, "Okay, the test is about to begin, let's go."

Fang Xu and Lu Qingluo also stood up, said goodbye to Chu Mu and the old ape, and followed Huang Qingzhou out of the villa.

In front of the mountain gate of the Ascension Meeting, the huge square was already filled with warriors waiting for the test, and other warriors were rushing in from all directions.

At this time, all the warriors were looking quietly at the majestic mountain gate not far away without saying a word.

Looking around, Fang Xu saw all kinds of expressions on people's faces: calm, excited, expectant...

But more of it is anxiety and fear.

It is normal to have such an expression. After all, over the years, I have never heard of anyone walking out alive after failing an assessment.

At the end of Chenshi, under the watchful eyes of everyone, a fairy-like figure in white slowly appeared at the end of the stone steps behind the mountain gate. The next moment, everyone only felt a flash before their eyes, and the figure instantly appeared in front of the deacons of the Ascension Association and the elders who were passing on their skills.

"It's Elder Jiang!"

"Oh my god, Elder Jiang Suwen is like a banished immortal. Seeing him today, it is indeed true!"

"I heard that Elder Jiang has broken through to a realm above Martial Honor, but I wonder if it's true or not!?"

"What realm is above Martial Honor? Isn't Martial Honor the pinnacle of martial arts?"

"Wow! I thought Elder Jiang would be an old man, but I never thought he would be so young!"

"Oh my god! I am so lucky to have a glimpse of Elder Jiang. Even if I fail the test this time, I will accept it!"

……

Jiang Feng's appearance instantly attracted the attention of all the disciples taking the test.

As the number one martial artist in the entire Dayu martial arts world, coupled with his ethereal temperament, all the examination disciples below were looking up at him excitedly, and many infatuated female martial artists had already started to have wild thoughts.

"let's start."

Ignoring the commotion of the crowd, Jiang Feng glanced down and turned to speak calmly to a deacon of the Ascension Society beside him.

The Ascension Association deacon bowed respectfully, stepped out, and came to the high platform in front of everyone, and said in a deep voice: "I am Kuang Qing, the deacon of the Ascension Association, and the person in charge of this assessment."

"The specific rules of the assessment are on this stone tablet. I believe everyone has already read it, so I will not elaborate on it."

"Now, I declare that the assessment begins!"

"All warriors holding the Immortal Gate Pass, enter the mountain gate in an orderly manner!"

Following his command, tens of thousands of warriors in the square in front of the mountain gate walked slowly along the stone steps on both sides of the platform towards the mountain gate of the Ascension Association.

Fang Xu, who was walking slowly with the crowd, suddenly noticed a familiar figure flashing in front of the crowd.

"Is that... Yun Wan?" Fang Xu asked doubtfully.

Beside him, Lu Qingluo nodded: "Senior Brother Huang said the day before yesterday that Miss Yun also signed up for the entrance examination of the Ascension Association."

Staring at Yun Wan's back, Fang Xu instantly understood her plan.

Her attempt to fake her death with the help of the Tilan Mountain ruins had failed. Now, if she wanted to escape Li Xingchao's goal of political marriage, she had no choice but to join the Ascension Society.

Without chasing after her to say hello, Fang Xu followed the crowd along the long stone steps and soon arrived at a huge cave.

The Ascension Association deacon named Kuang Qing who led them here stood in front of the cave and said in a deep voice: "The cave in front of us is called the Refining Heart Cave, which is not considered as part of the formal assessment."

"Whether you have passed the test of the Heart Refining Cave or not, you still have the opportunity to withdraw."

"But if you enter the formal assessment, you will have no way out. You will either pass the assessment and become a disciple of my Ascension Society, or perish in the assessment. I hope you will do your best and don't lose your life in vain."

Hearing his words, many warriors in the field were startled and looked solemn. Some warriors with weak minds even had the idea of ​​retreating.

"Okay, let's go in."

Following Kuang Qing's order, the disciples of the Ascension Society guarding the Lianxin Cave directly activated the mechanism.

The heavy stone door slowly rose up. The warriors walking in the front looked at the dark cave in front of them, hesitated for a moment, and then walked straight in.

The warriors behind also filed in. Fang Xu followed the crowd and soon entered this so-called Heart Refining Cave.

After everyone went in, the stone door at the entrance of the cave slowly fell down again, and the entire Lianxin Cave became pitch black.

The rule of this level is to stay in the cave for half an hour, after which the exit will be opened. Those who can walk out of the Refining Heart Cave before sunset will pass.

Fang Xu looked around, curious about how the assessment would be presented, when he suddenly felt that the scene in front of him had changed slightly.

The darkness gradually dissipated, and the next moment, he found himself in a small courtyard in Fenglin Town.

"Xu'er, why are you in a daze? Hurry up and bring a stool over for Master Lu."

Grandpa's voice rang in his ears. Hearing the long-lost voice, Fang Xu suddenly turned his head and looked at his grandfather, who was a little hunched and thin, smiling at him. He was a little excited, but then he calmed down.

Illusion?
Fang Xu smiled faintly, feeling that this illusion was rather crude.

This is such an obvious illusion, could there really be a fool who takes it as the real world?

"Fang Xu?"

As I was complaining in my heart, Lu Zhiyuan's voice slowly sounded.

Fang Xu turned around and looked at his master whom he had not seen for a long time. He cupped his hands with some emotion:
"Master."

"Haha... you kid, I didn't agree to take you as my apprentice." Hearing him call him master, Lu Zhiyuan laughed, then looked at Old Man Fang and said, "This kid is smart and has a pretty good physique."

Hearing him say this, Old Man Fang got a little excited and asked, "So, Master Lu is planning to take Xu'er as his disciple?"

Lu Zhiyuan nodded slightly.

Afterwards, time began to pass in the illusion. Fang Xu was like a bystander, watching himself worship Lu Zhiyuan as his master, practicing with him in Zhiyuan Hall during the day, and going home to do chores for his grandfather at night, making tables, chairs and benches.

Time flies, and it has been three years since the self in the illusion became a disciple. His cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds. After three years of getting along, he and Lu Qingluo have developed feelings for each other. With the support of Lu Zhiyuan, they actually got married.

On the wedding night, Fang Xu was stunned as he watched himself in the illusion slowly taking off Lu Qingluo's clothes!

Can you see this?

Although he felt that this was somewhat offensive to Lu Qingluo, he still watched himself and Lu Qingluo making love on the bed with relish.

After that, the two of them loved each other more and spent every day together. Not long after, Lu Qingluo's belly slowly bulged. Ten months later, she gave birth to a baby boy and named him Fang Yuan.

Seeing this scene, Fang Xu suddenly felt something strange in his heart.

Although he knew that everything in front of him was an illusion, Fang Xu couldn't help but smile as he watched his and Lu Qingluo's "son" grow from babbling to toddling, and later calling him "Dad" in a baby voice.

The days passed day by day.

Little Fang Yuan gradually grew up. With the help of Lu Zhiyuan, Fang Yuan started to take blood food to train his body since he was a child. At the age of ten, he had already started to refine his internal organs. At the age of eleven, he broke through to the level of a martial artist, and since then he has been making rapid progress.

Watching him grow up slowly, and then watching himself and Lu Qingluo grow old slowly, Fang Xu didn't realize that he had gone from being a calm bystander to slowly entering into a fantasy world.

Time flies, and grandpa has passed away. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the whole courtyard golden. On the old recliner, Fang Xu looked at Lu Qingluo beside him and said with a smile: "Look, you have a few more white hairs."

Lu Qingluo, who was nearly sixty but still charming, glared at him and said, "You're old now, isn't it normal to have white hair?"

"Normal, normal..."

Patting Lu Qingluo's hand gently, Fang Xu looked at the sky above and said, "Is this the day I want?"

"I have to go now."

After saying that, he stood up suddenly.

The aging body regained its youth at a speed visible to the naked eye, and everything in front of him was restored to normal.

He was still standing in the dark cave.

Looking around, Fang Xu discovered that the exit of the Refining Heart Cave had been opened, and many of the trial disciples around him were still standing there. Some had smiles on their faces, some had hideous faces, and some had tears all over their faces...

Obviously, they have been deeply trapped in it and cannot extricate themselves.

Without disturbing them, Fang Xu walked around the dense crowd and went straight towards the cave entrance in front.

When he came out of the cave, the sun was already setting.

Looking at the sky dyed red by the setting sun, Fang Xu shook his head.

The illusion of the Refining Heart Cave may seem crude, but it cleverly awakens everyone's deepest inner pursuits.

Let them immerse themselves in the life they pursue and gradually fall into it, until they can no longer extricate themselves.

This thing is like some kind of drug.

At the beginning, every warrior would feel that this environment was really poor.

But as you watch it, you will find it quite interesting, and then... you will slowly get into it and become addicted to it.

The sun gradually set until it disappeared completely, and the stone gate at the exit of the Lianxin Cave also slowly fell.

This situation proves that anyone who has not walked out of the Heart Refining Cave at this time has undoubtedly failed.

Kuang Qing's figure appeared in the huge square.

"Okay, the warm-up is over, and the next step is the formal assessment."

"Again, if you want to exit now, please leave from the left exit."

"Once you enter the next level, you will never have the chance to quit."

"A quarter of an hour to think about it."

As he finished speaking, many warriors in the field began to look thoughtful.

During the trip to Lianxin Cave, many people saw the life they wanted to pursue deep in their hearts and also saw what they desired most.

This so-called warm-up trial either strengthened the determination of some warriors to join the Ascension Society, or completely eliminated the impulse in their hearts and helped them see clearly their future life path.

After a few breaths, some people began to give up and walked towards the exit on the left.

Someone took the lead, and more people left one after another.

A quarter of an hour later, Kuang Qing stood in front of everyone again, looked at the less than 20,000 people left in the field, and nodded with a smile.

If you want to become stronger, you first need to have a martial arts heart.

There seems to be no threshold for the Shengxian Society to recruit disciples, and anyone can sign up.

But the stage of the Heart Refining Cave actually eliminates many people with weak minds.

"Since none of you have chosen to leave, you are already prepared to move on."

"Then... the formal examination begins!"

"Come with me."

Everyone followed Kuang Qing through the square at the exit of Lianxin Cave, and along a downward stone staircase, they soon arrived at a huge underground square.

"Perhaps some of you have entered the ruins of Tilan Mountain before."

"Now, the first stage of the assessment is somewhat similar to that ruins."

Kuang Qing smiled faintly and said:

"The ban suppresses everyone, and everyone's cultivation level cannot exceed the martial arts perfection."

"After you go in, you will be chased by ferocious beasts."

"In addition to avoiding or resisting the ferocious beasts, you also need to pay attention to the stone doors on both sides of the corridor. The stone balls of different colors on the stone doors represent different mechanical puppets."

"If you want to pass the level, you must hunt down enough mechanical puppets and obtain the puppet cores from them."

"A white mechanical puppet is worth one point, a blue one is worth five points, a green one is worth fifty points, and a purple one hundred points."

"Of course there will be more later, but I advise you not to open that kind of stone door when you encounter it, otherwise..."

Kuang Qing showed a meaningful smile on his face, which made everyone feel numb in their hearts.

"The minimum requirement for passing the level is 200 points."

"It will take two hours to pass through the customs. After two hours, the stone doors at the entrance and exit will be closed immediately. I believe that none of you can last a year in there."

After saying this, Kuang Qing glanced at everyone, then waved to the disciples of the Ascension Society who were following behind him.

Immediately, two disciples of the Ascension Society came to the entrance of the first level and pressed the mechanism to open the stone door.

"Let's all go in."

"Friendly reminder, the core of the organ puppet can be looted. The higher the score you get in the three-level assessment, the more surprises you will get after entering. And those with low total scores may be eliminated even if they barely pass the three levels."

Kuang Qing's words rang in the ears of every disciple taking the test, causing everyone's heart to tremble.

Can it be plundered?

This means that what they will face next is not only the mechanical puppets and ferocious beasts inside, but they also have to be careful of everyone around them!

In an instant, many warriors looked at the people around them vigilantly, and everyone unconsciously kept some distance between them.

Among them, some warriors who were confident in their own strength showed a hint of joy on their faces after hearing the rule that "you can plunder".

All the warriors quickly walked towards the stone gate. After entering the stone gate, these people did not dare to stay and immediately dispersed, trying to stay away from others!

Rumble!
After everyone walked in, the stone door at the entrance slowly fell down.

Because he was at the back of the line, after Fang Xu entered, the warriors who had entered earlier had already gone elsewhere.

"Sister."

Looking at Lu Qingluo, Fang Xu couldn't help but recall the days when the two of them spent every night together after they got married in the illusion of the Lianxin Cave.

"Why are you...looking at me?" Seeing Fang Xu staring at him with a strange expression, Lu Qingluo was a little confused.

"Nothing, let's go." Fang Xu touched his nose awkwardly and immediately walked towards the front.

Looking at Fang Xu's back, Lu Qingluo frowned and thought for a while, then followed him with his spear in hand.

The maze-like intersection in front of him made Fang Xu feel like he was back in the ruins of Tilan Mountain.

Holding the strange wooden stick, looking at the three forks in the road in front of him, Fang Xu hesitated for a moment, then walked directly towards the one in the middle, with Lu Qingluo following closely behind him.

This level of assessment was basically not difficult for him.

After all, there are restrictions in the Tilan Mountain ruins, and he has the strength to kill the Martial Lord.

No matter how cruel the examination of the Ascension Meeting is, they will not let them, whose cultivation has been suppressed to the great perfection of martial arts, fight with the Martial Lord, right?
Walking along the middle corridor, you may occasionally see piles of scattered bones around you.

Obviously, they should be the warriors who unfortunately died here during the last assessment.

Ok?
After walking a few steps forward, Fang Xu suddenly noticed a white stone ball protruding from the stone wall of the corridor next to him.

"White stone ball?"

Lu Qingluo came closer and looked at the white ball curiously.

"Let me do it."

Fang Xu smiled faintly and pressed the white stone ball directly with his palm.

Rumble!
The stone door slowly opened.

next moment!
A figure suddenly jumped out from inside.

Mechanical puppet!
Looking at the mechanical puppet in front of him that looked like a cheetah and was made of copper and iron, Fang Xu felt a little curious.

When his grandfather was still alive, he once told him inadvertently that some skilled carpenters could use wood to make flying wooden birds and walking wooden horses.

Now that he had seen this mechanical puppet with his own eyes, Fang Xu found it very interesting.

Click!

Click!

After the mechanical puppet appeared, it was stunned for a moment, and then directly launched an attack on the two of them!
This mechanical puppet may seem a bit stiff, but once it launches an attack, it is actually very agile!

The moment it pounced, the mouth on its huge head suddenly opened, and several sharp crossbow arrows shot out quickly from its mouth!
"Sister, be careful!"

Fang Xu stood in front of Lu Qingluo and swung the long stick in his hand lightly, knocking away the crossbow arrows. Then he hit the mechanical puppet that was flying towards him with the stick!

Bang!
It was unknown what material the puppet's body was made of, but it didn't seem to have received much damage after being hit by Fang Xu's stick. After being blown away, its body flexibly rolled on the ground for a few times, and it quickly got up and rushed towards the two again!

"Quite an acquaintance..." Fang Xu muttered, and swung the long stick in his hand again.

This time he used 20% of his strength!

boom!
Click!

The long stick hit the mechanical puppet's forehead with great force, instantly smashing its body into pieces.

Gulu!
A white bead the size of a fingernail slowly rolled down to Lu Qingluo's feet.

"It's the core of the mechanical puppet!"

Picking up the white round beads under his feet, Lu Qingluo said happily.

"Senior sister, please put it away first."

As he spoke, Fang Xu looked towards the broken mechanical puppet not far away. Through a simple fight, he had a general understanding of the strength of this kind of mechanical puppet.

The speed and strength of this white mechanical puppet are similar to those of a warrior at the third level of martial arts, but the hardness of its body is estimated to be no weaker than that of a warrior at the fifth level of martial arts.

It seems that, under the suppression of the ban, it is extremely difficult for ordinary warriors to obtain enough points within an hour.

(End of this chapter)