Chapter 61

And you... will die.

There was no emphasis, no threat, no warning, but it was very real, as real as the rising sun, clearly hanging in the east.

Birds were still chirping in the early morning forest, but this small clearing suddenly became very quiet.

Xifan raised his head and looked up at the sky, which was a clear blue.

Three days, life and death. If he failed, he would never have the chance to see this sky again. Of course, he could choose not to use this method. The urgency to advance his realm was merely for the purpose of participating in the Zhi Ling District’s Soul Dotting Assembly. Compared to life and death, the Soul Dotting Assembly, which was held every year, was not a big deal. There was no need to push himself into such a desperate situation.

Or, he could wait a few more days, until his injuries healed a bit more, and then use this method. This would give him a few more days and a higher chance of success.

Xifan was not without options. He could easily avoid this life-and-death test. There seemed to be no reason for him to take such a huge risk, at least, no external reason.

What about himself?

"I’ll give you the morning to think about it. If you decide, come back here by noon. If you give up, leave on your own," Chu Min said finally.

The few of them were silent, each lost in thought. The decision was not just Xifan’s. Morin and Su Tang were only slightly better off than Xifan. Deprived of so many senses, they would also be in a state of extreme frustration. Whether they could persist and fully integrate in this state was also a huge risk. Unconventional methods naturally came with unconventional dangers.

Morin silently pushed Xifan away, but Su Tang did not move.

"I’ve made my decision," Su Tang said with a smile.

"Because I want to become stronger! Stronger, faster."

"So, I can start now."

"Good," Chu Min nodded, saying no more. She stepped forward, walked in front of Su Tang, and a ball of soul force gradually formed in her right hand. Was it light? Was it air? Before they could discern, Chu Min’s hand had already swung, very fast. The ball of soul force flashed, and Lu Ping couldn’t see which part of Su Tang she had attacked.

But Su Tang’s eyes lost their luster in that moment, empty and directionless.

Her head turned, but it still accurately faced Lu Ping.

"Lu Ping, are you there?" she said.

"I’m here," Lu Ping said.

"I can’t see anymore!" Su Tang laughed. Chu Min’s hand swung again, cutting through something. Su Tang’s world suddenly became quiet.

She listened, but heard nothing. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

The Sound Soul had also been cut off. This time, Chu Min did not hesitate. Her right hand quickly rotated, and in an instant, the Air Soul and Pivot Soul were also completely severed. The Essence Soul was partially retained, leaving only the Force Soul intact.

Su Tang tried to walk, but this time, she could no longer grasp direction. After three steps, she was already off course. She tried to reach out, but immediately grabbed what she wanted to grab.

Lu Ping held her hand, and Su Tang smiled. Even with four senses deprived, she could still smile.

She nodded. Lu Ping also shook her hand, as if nodding.

Su Tang then let go of him, feeling her way, slowly moving to the side. Her movements soon became smooth. She adapted to this state very quickly. She even turned back and smiled again, though she faced a tree. But Chu Min was moved.

She had seen many Force Soul cultivators who used this method to break through and integrate. On their faces, she saw only panic, unease, or determination, but never a smile, especially not a smile from the heart. Even those who eventually succeeded and regained their four senses never showed such a smile. Their joy was still suppressed by the cruel and terrifying state they had endured. Some never overcame this fear. They had broken through and integrated, but this state became a nightmare that destroyed their will, ultimately turning them into cripples.

But this little girl in front of her, not only made the decision immediately after hearing the method, but also smiled in this state. Chu Min could see the sincerity in her smile, not a pretense.

She will definitely succeed!

Chu Min had never been so confident in anyone. This mutual support and trust was so powerful. If Su Tang could do it, what about the other one?

Chu Min looked at Lu Ping, who was still watching Su Tang. Feeling her gaze, he turned back.

"What about you?" Chu Min suddenly said.

"I want to become stronger," Lu Ping said, calmly and seriously.

"Your condition is far more complex than theirs, and mastering it will be even more difficult," Chu Min said bluntly, without any pause or transition, as she began a formal discussion with Lu Ping.

"What should I do?" Lu Ping asked.

Chu Min casually threw something over, and Lu Ping caught it. It was just a strangely shaped fragment, with no apparent use.

"This is the trash you created yesterday," Chu Min said.

Lu Ping was taken aback, then remembered the equipment in the sound transmission room that had been destroyed due to his incorrect use of soul force, which seemed to be made of this material, now reduced to countless fragments.

"Try injecting Sound Soul force," Chu Min said.

Lu Ping tried. He already knew the problem, but when he carefully guided the soul force in:

Snap...

The fragment broke. Since the soul force was not very powerful, the damage was not too severe, but it was still broken.

"Do you know what to do now?" Chu Min said.

Lu Ping nodded and tried to activate the Sound Soul force again.

Snap...

One fragment became two, now three.

"There are many more over there," Chu Min pointed to the side. Lu Ping looked and saw a pile of fragments of various sizes, not knowing when Chu Min had collected them.

"Come back to me when you’re done," Chu Min said. Clearly, she was not the type to teach through words and actions.

"Yes," Lu Ping turned and walked towards the pile of trash, glancing at Su Tang, who was not far away, trying to perform various actions.

Together, let’s start!

Lu Ping picked up a fragment, feeling very excited.

All along, he had been relying on himself. He had looked up some books and materials at Zhaifeng Academy, but found nothing that could help him. His situation was too special.

Wen Gesheng, the first to provide him with valuable guidance, was unfortunately encountered too late. His current stage had already surpassed what Wen Gesheng could help with. Even when Guo Youdao sent them to Tianzhao Academy, his instructions to Lu Ping were still to rely on himself.

This path could only be taken by himself...

Lu Ping had enough determination, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit wistful. He envied the students at the academy, who had clear guidance from mentors and classmates to cross-reference and learn from. Lu Ping had dreamed a few times of meeting someone like him, bound by the Soul Lock, and exchanging insights.

But now, he at least had a direction to follow, which made him feel he was no longer just fumbling in the dark. The lonely path of cultivation suddenly had a powerful figure watching over him.

How exciting!

Lu Ping injected Sound Soul force, and the fragment snapped again. This time, he was a bit too excited, and it broke more severely, even cutting a small wound on his hand.

Lu Ping didn’t care. He picked up another fragment and happily began another attempt.

(Second update! Why so late? Because I wanted to ask for tomorrow’s recommendation votes! Or should I say it’s because I write slowly??)

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