https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-51-Why-Would-Someone-Like-You-Come-to-the-Mock-Heaven-Sect-/12917733/
Chapter 50: "I'll Guide You In, You'll Bury Me."
Chapter 50: "I'll Guide You In, You'll Bury Me."
Chen Qiu, accompanied by Fat Dragon, made their way along the mountain path, approaching the entrance of the Mock Heaven Sect. Along the way, other cultivators entering the secret realm cautiously observed each other. Normally, 'challenge' type secret realms didn't pose significant life-threatening dangers.
Just focus on overcoming your own challenges.
But some people just can't resist temptation.
They just had to stab you in the back.
As they stepped through the mountain gate, a magnificent yet dilapidated structure came into view, covered in moss, and the air was filled with a decaying odor. Behind the gate, there stood a ten-zhang tall brass bell.
Inscribed on the bell were several lines of characters exuding a domineering sword intent.
"First Challenge: Sever Worldly Ties."
"Pass this challenge, and you may become a menial disciple of the Mock Heaven Sect. Only then will you be considered to have entered the path of Sword Cultivation."
There wasn't a speck of dust near the bell, as if an invisible barrier prevented any from settling. It was clear that stepping into this barrier would initiate the first challenge.
At this moment, people gathered in front of the bell, gazing at each other hesitantly, none daring to be the first to step forward.
The first to try something new often reaps great rewards.
But the first to eat a poisoned arrowhead probably won't gain much.
Chen Qiu wasn't in a hurry. He and Fat Dragon stood quietly in place, their gazes sweeping past the bell to observe the ruins behind it. However, he didn't see Zhao Yishi's footprints, indicating that Zhao Yishi hadn't entered this challenge yet but had gone to search for treasures elsewhere.
At that moment—
Many cultivators also realized this and directly ignored the first challenge, heading towards other ruined buildings to see if they could scavenge any treasures. After all, it was unlikely for an ancient sect's ruins to be completely devoid of valuables.
Even a random ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herb would be satisfying.
"Let's go!"
Aside from these explorers, many cultivators still believed that the rewards for completing the challenges would be better. They watched as a middle-aged man with a solemn expression strode towards the bell, his demeanor reminiscent of a hero facing the wind.
As soon as he stepped into the range of the bell's barrier, his entire body seemed to be struck by an invisible force, causing him to freeze in place. But after a moment, he regained consciousness, his eyes red and his body trembling violently. It was clear that he had experienced something unseen by the others.
The man didn't say a word; his eyes remained red as he walked past the bell, heading deeper into the ruins.
"Oh, I see."
Fat Dragon nodded thoughtfully, "So, it creates an illusion, forcing you to kill your loved ones in it. Is it that simple?"
"Mhm."
Chen Qiu whispered, "In the past, it was probably real, but after the sect's decline, it reappeared in the Celestial Path Secret Realm for some reason, and it likely became an illusion."
With someone leading the way, the others didn't hesitate.
One by one, they stepped into the barrier, and after a moment, they all passed through the challenge. However, each person reacted differently; some had red eyes, some trembled, some had twisted expressions, some were emotionless, and some had faces filled with sorrow.
A thousand people, a thousand faces, as they say.
"Let's go too."
Chen Qiu didn't hesitate anymore and stepped into the bell's barrier. He felt a jolt in his heart, and his mind went blank for a moment, and he found himself in a white space surrounded by mist, obscuring the distant view.
Standing before him was none other than Fat Dragon.
"..."
Chen Qiu couldn't help but feel a little speechless. Since they couldn't find his family and wife, they had no choice but to use Fat Dragon, the person closest to him, as his heart demon.
Fat Dragon stood before him, looking innocent and pitiful. He cautiously asked, "Brother Qiu, where are we going next?"
Just then—
A panel, shrouded in clouds, slowly appeared beside Fat Dragon.
"These are your beloved loved ones, your brothers and sisters."
"You once fought demons, cultivated, and fought side by side with them. They accompanied you through many days and nights, and you could trust each other with your lives."
"To become a Sword Cultivator, you must first sever this person."
"Can you do it?"
"..."
Chen Qiu heaved a soft sigh. His admiration for the ancient sect, the Mock Heaven Sect, diminished a little more. No wonder it had declined; there was a reason for it. Shaking his head, he ignored Fat Dragon's innocent expression and casually threw out three Thunder Summoning Arts.
Under the flashing thunder, Fat Dragon turned into a charred skeleton, and the air was filled with the aroma of cooking oil.
The surrounding clouds gradually dispersed, and everything returned to normal. Just as he was about to turn around and give Fat Dragon some instructions, he suddenly saw Fat Dragon standing outside the Brass Bell Barrier, his face filled with disbelief and his body covered in bloody wounds. Fat Dragon's body fell heavily backward.
"Fat Dragon!"
Chen Qiu couldn't help but exclaim and rushed forward. At this moment, the empty and ethereal heavenly voice echoed in his ears again.
"Sever Worldly Ties, enter Sword Cultivation."
"The heart demon you slay in this trial is not a fantasy but a real entity. You have killed your beloved loved ones with your own hands. You have earned the qualifications to become a Sword Cultivator."
Chen Qiu was a little incredulous and, for a moment, lost his composure as he rushed to Fat Dragon's side. Just as he was about to take out some healing pills from his Spirit Ring, which he had previously collected from corpses, and feed them to Fat Dragon, he realized that Fat Dragon had already passed away without a trace of life.
The surrounding crowd merely glanced at him and then entered the Brass Bell Barrier without hesitation.
Finally, he understood why those who passed the trial had such sorrowful expressions. They must have also realized that what they killed was not a fantasy but a real person. Their loved ones were truly killed by their own hands.
What kind of Sword Cultivator nonsense is this?!
Chen Qiu stood there, dazed, holding Fat Dragon's body in his arms. He sat on the ground, looking around with a blank expression, feeling a bit disoriented. There was no sign of sorrow on his face, only a sense of uncertainty about what to do next.
His memories flashed back to a few days ago.
Fat Dragon had stopped him and taken his pork, leading him to the bamboo forest. There, he gave Chen Qiu a potion, awakening his first Entry and making him a Qi Condensation Stage Cultivator. Fat Dragon was his guide, and Chen Qiu had always been grateful to him.
In the first Celestial Path Secret Realm, Fat Dragon had helped him severely injure many demons, allowing Chen Qiu to gain cultivation progress. It could be said that it was because of Fat Dragon that his initial cultivation progress had increased so rapidly.
But now...
After a long while, Chen Qiu, sitting on the ground, sighed softly. His lifeless eyes gradually regained their brightness, and after a long silence, he stood up and used the Thunder Summoning Art to create a large pit in the ground, burying Fat Dragon's body within.
He filled the pit again.
"You led me into the path, and I send you into the earth."
"That's good too."
(End of Chapter)
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