Chapter 26 Mysterious Space, Thunder God (Seeking Follow-Up Read)

Lin Xuankong's thoughts spun as the many Martial Cultivators continued their tests.

"I am Guo Yun, twenty-four years old, Late Stage of the first layer of Transcendence, practicing the family tradition Iron Halberd Technique." A Martial Cultivator stepped out from the crowd and bowed respectfully to Gu Beicheng.

He took a deep breath, walked to the Heaven-Interpreting Stone, his Qi Blood surged, and he raised his hand to press it.

After three breaths, the special lines on the Heaven-Interpreting Stone glimmered slightly. The first mark flashed with a yellow brilliance, swirling like a spiritual snake, looking quite marvelous!

The Martial Cultivators were greatly encouraged to see someone finally light up a mark.

Guo Yun was secretly delighted. He quickened the flow of his Qi Blood, continuously channeling it into his Hand Seal. Unfortunately, even exerting every last bit of his strength, the second mark showed no movement!

After several dozen breaths, he reluctantly stepped back.

Next, three more people failed to light a mark. However, the man named Yang Mountain and three other Martial Cultivators each lit one mark, and the four of them were inwardly pleased.

What made everyone envious was that later in the test, Bald Li Er actually lit up two marks.

The two marks he lit were extremely bright, their dazzling radiance illuminating Lin Xuankong's silver hair from afar.

Steward Ma, who was with Gu Beicheng, couldn't help but show an expression of joy at this sight.

He quickly left to report the situation to Chief Steward Jiang Yuran in the Martial Arts Hall.

Gu Beicheng looked at Bald Li Er and said, "Being able to light up two marks indicates that you are a rare Talent highly compatible with the Yin Talisman Technique. There's a ninety percent chance that you will cultivate the wondrous Yin Talisman Thunder in the future! Junior Brother Li, please wait a moment. When Steward Ma reports this to Chief Steward Jiang, you probably won't need to compete in martial combat and can directly join our sect, with a chance to become the Deputy Steward overseeing disciples!"

As Gu Beicheng spoke with the man surnamed Li, even his form of address had changed. It was evident how difficult and rare it was to light up two marks!

The surrounding Martial Cultivators couldn't help but look at Li Er with envy. They still had to fight fierce battles against formidable opponents to have a chance of becoming a Deputy Steward, but Li Er might directly become one! But Talent is heaven's gift, they thought. They could only envy or harbor secret jealousy, for what else could they do?

「Next, only two people were left untested.」

The long-faced Martial Cultivator, second to last, glanced at Lin Xuankong, who was last in line. Then, with a feigned air of ease and a slight smile, he walked towards the Heaven-Interpreting Stone.

Yet, as he stood near the Heaven-Interpreting Stone, his face grew somewhat tense.

However, when he channeled his Qi Blood into the Hand Seal, the first mark quickly lit up.

The long-faced Martial Cultivator was thrilled. He quickly urged his Qi Blood, and seven to eight breaths later, the second mark showed signs of movement.

The surrounding people couldn't help but exclaim in admiration and envy.

Oddly, the second mark that the long-faced Martial Cultivator lit was extremely dim, like the faint glow of a candle about to extinguish.

He continually urged his Qi Blood, but after a few flickers, the second mark dimmed again, leaving only the first mark bright!

The surrounding Martial Cultivators were confused by this. They had seen people light one mark. They had seen people light two marks. But lighting one and a half, only for the half to extinguish... that, they truly didn't understand!

Gu Beicheng sighed as the long-faced Martial Cultivator stepped back a few paces and said, "Scholar Luu, you're only nineteen, supposedly at the peak age of vigorous Qi Blood, yet this happened... Forgive my directness, but may I ask if Scholar Luu took multiple wives and concubines several years ago, and has been particularly... intimate?"

Luu Guanqi was puzzled. "I took a concubine when I was thirteen, and later a few more, but I haven't married a principal wife yet! What does this have to do with the test marks?"

Gu Beicheng sighed again. "For us Martial Cultivators, while we don't have to avoid marital affection, you took a concubine at the tender age of thirteen. You must have overindulged in your youth, greatly harming the foundation of your Qi Blood. This is why your Qi Blood has declined, preventing you from lighting the second mark! What a pity! Otherwise, if you had also lit the second mark, today would have been a double blessing for our Yin Talisman Sect!"

Hearing this, the long-faced Martial Cultivator, Luu Guanqi, paled. "This... how is this possible? I didn't indulge *that* much!"

Though he said so, his heart was already filled with endless regret and remorse, and he secretly cursed the pharmacy that had sold him aphrodisiacs.

The surrounding Martial Cultivators shook their heads, and some even whispered among themselves.

Everyone sighed. The long-faced Martial Cultivator clearly possessed amazing Talent but had squandered it himself—truly regrettable!

Of course, while many mouthed words of pity, they were secretly thinking he deserved it; after all, most people tend to be envious of those who have and scornful of those who have not.

Listening to the hushed discussions, Luu Guanqi, already filled with boundless regret and remorse, felt his face flush and pale by turns. He was almost too ashamed to remain standing there, wishing he could cover his face and flee the Cultivation Field immediately.

But then, remembering the esteemed position of Deputy Steward, he gritted his teeth. Lowering his head, a hint of malice flickered in his eyes as he retreated back into the group.

「Now, only Lin Xuankong remained untested.」

He stepped out of the crowd and walked towards the Heaven-Interpreting Stone.

The many Martial Cultivators, who had been whispering, now turned their attention to him.

Luu Guanqi, seeing that the discussion about him had ceased, lifted his head. Watching Lin Xuankong's back, he sneered internally. Someone as young as I am couldn't light the second mark because my foundation was damaged. This old fellow must be so decrepit, probably suffering from frequent urination and a split stream—how could he possibly light a mark!

Lin Xuankong stood near the Heaven-Interpreting Stone, naturally a bit tense.

After all, this test depends entirely on fate, not one's own strength. I can only hope for good luck!

He secretly regulated his breathing, then, with a determined gaze, activated the Pine Crane Longevity Technique. He mobilized his abundant Transcendent Qi Blood, pressing his right hand firmly onto the Hand Seal and channeling a large amount of Qi Blood into it!

I must light it up! Lin Xuankong silently urged himself. At least light up one mark!

As he was thinking this, he suddenly felt the Qi Blood he channeled into the Heaven-Interpreting Stone seem to connect with something. It was as if, in the unseen realm, a subtle link had formed with some immensely powerful existence.

The next moment, Lin Xuankong felt a tremor in his Heart Spirit. The scenery before his eyes changed, and he found himself in an infinitely vast space.

In this vast expanse, the sky was blood-red, and below lay an endless ocean. He could see countless massive Demons swimming rapidly in the Boundless Sea, their giant eyes, visible above the water, all fixated in the same direction.

Curious, Lin Xuankong followed their gaze. The sight that met his eyes instantly filled him with boundless terror.

Between the blood-red sky and the infinite sea, he saw a colossal humanoid figure wreathed in lightning. It stood immensely tall, as if propping up the heavens and rooted in the ocean depths, unleashing Divine Thunder against the innumerable Demons swarming towards it!

Strange Thousand-Eyed Giant Apes, tentacled Demons thousands of feet long, bird-headed, snake-tailed giant turtles... all erupted with Demon Qi before being blasted into dust by the relentless Divine Thunder!

Suddenly, the thunder-wreathed humanoid giant turned its head, its gaze falling upon Lin Xuankong's position.

With its stare, an indescribable and terrifying sense of oppression and crisis instantly enveloped Lin Xuankong's Heart Spirit.

At that moment, Lin Xuankong felt a terror that seemed to shred his insides, his Heart Spirit spiraling out of control, his very soul on the verge of scattering!

Immediately after, Lin Xuankong shuddered violently. The scenery before him shifted, and he found himself back in the Cultivation Field, the Heaven-Interpreting Stone before him.

He was breathing rapidly, his face extremely grim. The panic in his eyes only gradually faded after several breaths.

What in the world was that? he wondered. That space, those Demons, that god-like figure wielding Divine Thunder... was it an illusion, or was it real? When others activated the Hand Seal, they were all focused on channeling their Qi Blood; nothing like this happened to them! Why did it happen to me?

Composing himself, he suppressed the myriad doubts in his mind and looked up at the Heaven-Interpreting Stone. Did I light up a mark?