Chapter 19

The young man in the green robe, Xiao Qingbi, is the fourth disciple of the outer courtyard, besides "Iron Sword" Du Pengfei, "Ice Maiden" Li Youxue, and "Blazing Sun Fist" Yan Shan. It's normal that he can't win.

But now, even a lowly outer courtyard servant doesn't take him seriously, which is a great affront to him, who usually boasts of his high status.

"Let's go see the commotion. A mere servant actually wants to challenge the Snowman Cave. How overconfident!"

"Exactly, is the Snowman Cave so easy to challenge? I can't even last the time of a joss stick inside, and to enter the outer courtyard, one must pass through within half an hour."

"Indeed, the snowmen inside are too treacherous and terrifying. For a servant disciple to have the courage to try is already quite something, but it remains to be seen whether he will come out with a bruised nose and swollen face, carried out by the guards inside."

Wang Zheng looked at Tang Gu's back with a venomous gaze.

"Boy, I hope you can last longer. The longer you last, the stronger the snowmen inside become. By then, it won't be easy to back out. I won't be satisfied until I break a few of your arms and legs!"

Hearing the voices behind him, Tang Gu paid no attention and walked straight into the small courtyard.

No matter what they said, it wouldn't shake his determination to challenge the Snowman Cave.

This time, he returned not to resolve his status as a servant disciple, but to enter the martial academy by challenging the Snowman Cave.

As everyone knows, there are three ways to enter the Qiu Dao Martial Academy.

The first is to take the regular entrance exam during recruitment. If you pass, you become a formal disciple of the martial academy.

The second is to pay a high tuition fee. Even if your talent and strength are lacking, it's fine, as the academy will support you.

The third, the least and most difficult way, is to challenge the Snowman Cave. Once successful, your status is far more respected than other disciples.

This third type of disciple is one who challenges the Snowman Cave.

The Snowman Cave, as it is known, is a highly mysterious cave set up by the first president of the Qiu Dao Martial Academy, "Autumn Snow Immortal," within the academy. It is a world of ice and snow, with three levels leading underground.

The first level is filled with small snowmen at the Qi Dao 1st level, with over fifty of them. Nearly half are Xuan Iron puppets with offensive capabilities, holding weapons, but indistinguishable from the real ones.

The second level has large snowmen at the Qi Dao 2nd level, with over a hundred of them. The puppets are made of silver.

The third level has giant snowmen at the Qi Dao 3rd level, with over five hundred of them. The puppets are made of gold.

These snowmen may look cute and innocent, but once you are deceived by their appearance, you are in trouble. The truly offensive Xuan Iron, silver, and gold puppets are hidden among them, ready to attack you at the most unexpected moments, making them very treacherous and terrifying.

Many people often try to train inside, but they usually come out with bruised noses and swollen faces. Some even lose limbs and have to lie in bed for ten to fifteen days.

Every year, many overconfident disciples think they are geniuses and try to challenge the Snowman Cave, but very few succeed. Once, a Qiu Dao Martial Academy disciple at the peak of Qi Dao 1st level learned a new sword technique and confidently entered, vowing to pass through the Snowman Cave. He came out a cripple and never appeared in the Qiu Dao Martial Academy again.

Therefore, all disciples are well aware of the dangers of the Snowman Cave and fear it like a tiger, with few daring to try.

This is why Tang Gu, a servant disciple of the outer courtyard, who hasn't even reached Qi Dao 1st level, wanting to challenge the Snowman Cave, has drawn so much ridicule and mockery.

However, Tang Gu doesn't care.

There are still more than three months before the Qiu Dao Martial Academy officially recruits new students, and he can't wait.

To enter the academy through the second method requires a large amount of money, which he can't afford.

So, he can only use the third method to catch up with the martial academy's small competition in a month.

Moreover, he is very confident in himself now.

Not to mention his strength has already reached the peak of Qi Dao 1st level, the mysterious sword technique he learned from the green stone tablet has given him enough confidence.

The first level of the Snowman Cave will be a piece of cake!

After all, no matter how strong those snowmen are, they are only at the Qi Dao 1st level, while he now has the strength comparable to a Qi Dao 2nd level expert.

What he truly wants to challenge is the second level of the Snowman Cave, not the first!

...

Stepping into the dark small courtyard, a cold and icy feeling made Tang Gu, with his current strength, shiver involuntarily.

Looking around, there was a huge locust tree in the courtyard. Under the locust tree, there was a cave made of large stones, constantly emitting icy blue gas, which seemed bottomless at a glance.

This must be the Snowman Cave. He had never had the chance to see it before.

Tang Gu walked over without hesitation.

However, as he approached, he was startled to find that an old man in a hemp robe was sitting on the top of the cave.

Tang Gu clearly remembered that when he entered, he had carefully examined the cave and its surroundings, confirming that there was nothing amiss before walking over.

But he didn't remember seeing the old man, which made him realize that the old man was no ordinary person.

The old man in the hemp robe had his eyes closed, with leaves scattered all over his body. It was unclear how long he had been sitting there, facing the eastern sunrise, breathing in and out.

With each breath, two long streams of white gas, resembling dragons and tigers, entered and exited his mouth, repeating the cycle several times.

When he exhaled again, the gas stream had grown larger.

Tang Gu didn't dare to disturb him and stood quietly to the side, hands clasped in respect. It was clear that the old man was very familiar with this breathing technique and had no difficulty with it.

After a full hour, the old man opened his eyes, looked at Tang Gu, and nodded, saying, "Not bad, boy. Few people have the patience to wait for an old man for an hour."

Tang Gu bowed deeply to the old man and said respectfully, "I dare not, I was merely disrespectful to your practice, how could I dare to disturb you. By the way, sir, I am here to challenge the Snowman Cave. Is there any procedure I need to follow?"

"Snowman Cave? Procedure?"

The old man in the hemp robe looked Tang Gu up and down, as if he had discovered something, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Oh, at the peak of Qi Dao 1st level, no wonder you are so confident."

"Entering the Snowman Cave doesn't require any procedure. I am the guardian of the cave. However, passing through is not easy. If you can successfully pass the first level of the Snowman Cave, you will become a disciple of the outer courtyard of the Qiu Dao Martial Academy."

"However, the time limit is half an hour from the moment you enter. If you don't pass within half an hour, it is considered a failure."

"Think it over. If you are ready, you can enter!"

"Yes."

Tang Gu bowed respectfully to the old man again and then, without hesitation, stepped into the cold and icy blue cave.

The old man, seeing this, waved his hand, and a rectangular hourglass appeared on the top of the stone cave, the sand dripping continuously.

Outside the small courtyard.

All the outer courtyard disciples watched Tang Gu's back as he disappeared into the icy blue cave, looking at each other in surprise.

"He actually went in?"

"He really dares? What a fool!"

No one could believe their eyes.

"Hmph, he will definitely come out soon. I bet he won't last the time of a joss stick."

"A joss stick? You're too generous. I bet he can last half an hour... that way, it will be more entertaining."

"Ha ha, exactly, exactly..."

Everyone laughed.

PS: Third update, four updates tomorrow. A new week, I urgently need 1 recommendation to boost the rankings. If you have a recommendation, please give it to Yaoshi to help him. Thank you all!