Chapter 81

All the cultivators simultaneously had the same thought in their minds.

This time, we’ve hit the jackpot.

Just looking at the first level, there are more than ten thousand cultivation techniques!

Taking any of them out would be enough to match the hard work of a dozen years.

Avarice rose in the hearts of the cultivators.

Although these cultivators were already very envious of the cultivation techniques on the bookshelves, they did not dare to act rashly due to the imposing presence of Qin Tang.

Qin Tang seemed not to notice the abnormality of the cultivators in the room.

He looked at the rows of bookshelves, his eyes filled with nostalgia, and slowly said, "The way of the heart lies in focus, in courage, and in perseverance."

"The first test is to examine your level of concentration."

"There are thirty-six thousand five hundred and forty-one cultivation techniques here. For the next period, you will stay here and transcribe these techniques. The deadline is three months."

"After three months, I will evaluate you based on the quantity and quality of the techniques you transcribe."

Hearing Qin Tang’s words, the cultivators present all showed looks of wild joy.

So many cultivation techniques, and they were allowed to transcribe them freely?

As long as they could memorize a few techniques, even if they gained nothing else, this adventure would be worth it.

Qin Tang did not pay attention to the reactions of the cultivators.

With a casual wave of his hand, over a hundred sets of desks and chairs rose up inside the pavilion.

The desks were equipped with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

"Begin then. I hope you don’t disappoint me." Qin Tang took out a wine gourd from somewhere and took another sip.

He then leaned against the wall, motionless, as if he had fallen asleep.

Seeing Qin Tang give the order, the cultivators could no longer hold back.

They rushed to the bookshelves, picked up the cultivation techniques, and began to examine them.

After a moment, the pavilion erupted in a cacophony of noise.

"What is this? How is this possible?"

"The 'Golden Flame Fiery Power,' a fire attribute technique. It can be cultivated all the way to the Nascent Soul stage?"

"This one, this one, and this one, all Nascent Soul techniques?"

"Haha, we’ve hit the jackpot, we’ve really hit the jackpot!"

...

Watching the cultivators who seemed to have gone mad, Li Fan couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

He casually picked up a cultivation technique, chose a desk, and began to transcribe it.

He didn’t delve into the content of the techniques, just patiently copied them word by word.

Because he knew that these techniques were all illusions!

In his previous life, cultivators who had explored countless times had already concluded that the techniques in this test were all fake.

No matter what method was used to record the techniques during the trial,

once they left the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace, all records would disappear.

As if they had never existed.

These enticing tens of thousands of cultivation techniques were nothing more than mirages, tools to tempt the mind.

Although some of the cultivators present could vaguely guess the truth,

how many could resist the temptation of Nascent Soul techniques and refrain from reading them in detail?

Some were even completely absorbed in the profound mysteries of the techniques, taking a long time to start transcribing.

Even when reminded by others, they would still pause frequently, unable to resist reading them again.

Like Li Fan, who wrote without hesitation, there were very few.

The paper and ink were inexhaustible, and Li Fan quickly finished transcribing the first technique.

He put it back on the shelf and picked another one.

Li Fan’s lack of attachment caught the attention of some people.

After some thought, they also abandoned their attempts to memorize the techniques and focused on transcribing.

As for those who were still absorbed in the techniques, they had no good intentions to remind them.

...

Time passed day by day.

Continuously transcribing was a tedious and arduous task.

With the lessons learned, no one dared to use their cultivation techniques to cheat.

Soon, some could no longer hold on.

They couldn’t help but stop to rest.

Some, after a brief rest, immediately resumed transcribing.

Others took a thorough break before regrouping.

Li Fan, however, did not rest for a moment.

There were two or three others who, like Li Fan, showed no signs of fatigue.

They seemed to have exceptional endurance and spirit due to their cultivation techniques.

Even after going without sleep for a long time, they showed no signs of abnormality.

Li Fan, on the other hand, was purely pushing himself to the limit.

He knew that Qin Tang’s evaluation of this test was not only based on the number of techniques transcribed and the number of errors,

but also on the duration from the moment the pen was picked up to the moment it was put down.

As Qin Tang had said, the test was about focus.

Once the transcription started, any pause, for any reason, was considered a break in focus.

Li Fan was completely absorbed in the transcription, suppressing his physical and mental fatigue.

After an unknown amount of time,

"Ah, what a good nap!" Qin Tang’s voice suddenly rang in his ears.

He stretched, and the paper and pen in front of Li Fan disappeared.

"Time’s up. Let me see how you’ve performed."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, getting worse every year." His eyes narrowed, as if examining something, and he shook his head repeatedly.

"Hmm, wait a moment..."

"Interesting."

Seeming to have noticed something, he glanced at Li Fan, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

However, Qin Tang didn’t say anything and quickly looked away.

"The first test is now over. Rest for a day tomorrow. The second test will begin the day after."

He clapped his hands, and Li Fan felt the scene change before his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, he was back in the tall building where he had slept.

Qin Tang’s figure did not appear.

The cultivators finally relaxed.

They were excited, exchanging stories with each other.

"This is truly a great opportunity. I transcribed and memorized fifteen cultivation techniques. Most are Golden Core techniques, and a few are Nascent Soul techniques."

"I also memorized quite a few."

"What’s the point of memorizing so many? Let’s see if we can survive to use them."

"That’s not the point. With my abilities, I would likely stop at the Foundation Establishment stage. Now, to have the chance to glimpse the mysteries of the Nascent Soul stage, even if I die tomorrow, I will have no regrets!"

"Brother, you speak to my heart."

"Good advice is hard to take, hmpf!"

...

Besides the arguments, some cultivators had ideas about the belongings of those who had died earlier.

Unfortunately, after a thorough search, they all looked disappointed.

Li Fan even heard someone nearby sneer, "Don’t even think about it. I checked that night. After being killed by Qin Tang, all their storage rings and magical artifacts were gone, not a trace left."

Li Fan shook his head, preparing to go back and rest, but he suddenly saw a corpse and froze.