A single thought surfaced in the hearts of all the cultivators present.
This time, they struck it rich.
Just looking at this first level, the cultivation techniques numbered in the tens of thousands!
Simply taking a few of them would be worth more than a decade of hard work.
A wave of greed surged within the cultivators.
Although these cultivators were already eyeing the techniques on the shelves, they refrained from acting recklessly due to the earlier might of Qin Tang.
Yet, Qin Tang seemed unaware of the unusual atmosphere among the cultivators.
He gazed at the rows of bookshelves, a nostalgic look in his eyes, and slowly said, “The path of the heart lies in focus, courage, and perseverance.”
“This first trial is to test 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. You have three months.”
“After three months, I will evaluate you based on the quantity and quality of the techniques you have copied.”
Upon hearing Qin Tang’s words, the cultivators present all displayed expressions of wild joy.
So many techniques, and they were actually allowed to transcribe them?
As long as they could memorize a few techniques, even if they gained nothing else afterward, this adventure would be worth it.
Ignoring the reactions of the cultivators, Qin Tang casually pointed, and over a hundred sets of desks and chairs rose up in the attic.
On the tables were brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
“Now, you may begin. I hope you do not disappoint me.” Qin Tang pulled out a wine gourd from somewhere and took a swig.
Then he leaned against the wall, motionless, as if he had fallen asleep.
Seeing Qin Tang speak, the cultivators could no longer contain themselves.
They rushed to the bookshelves, grabbing the techniques to examine them closely.
Moments later, the attic erupted into chaos.
“What is this? How is this possible?”
“The Golden Flame Fiery Technique, a fire attribute technique. It can be cultivated all the way to the Yuan Ying realm?”
“This one, this one, and this one, are all Yuan Ying techniques?”
“Haha, we’ve struck it rich, this time we’ve truly struck it rich!”
…
Watching the frenzied cultivators, Li Fan couldn’t help but let out a cold smile.
He casually picked a technique, chose a desk, and began transcribing.
He didn’t delve into the content of the technique but patiently copied it word for word.
Because he knew, these techniques were all illusions!
In his previous life, countless cultivators had already reached a conclusion about the techniques that appeared in this trial.
In the trial, no matter what method was used to record the techniques, once they left the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, all records would vanish.
As if they had never existed.
These tempting thousands of techniques were merely flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water, tools to tempt the mind.
Although the cultivators present might have some vague guesses about the truth, how many could resist the allure of the Yuan Ying true techniques before them and refrain from reading them closely?
There were even one or two who became completely entranced by the mysterious profundities of the techniques, unable to transcribe for a long time.
Even when reminded by others, they still paused frequently, unable to resist glancing back to read again.
Few, like Li Fan, who wrote with a swift and steady hand, ignoring everything else and simply continuing to transcribe, were truly rare!
The paper and ink were inexhaustible, and soon Li Fan finished transcribing the technique in his hands.
He returned it to the shelf and picked another one.
Li Fan’s unhesitating approach drew the attention of some.
After pondering, they also abandoned their previous attempts to memorize and focused solely on transcribing.
As for those still lost in the techniques, they received no reminders from others.
…
Time passed day by day.
Transcribing endlessly was indeed a tedious and exhausting task.
Having learned from past lessons, no one dared to use their powers to cheat.
Soon, some could no longer persist.
Unable to resist, they stopped to rest.
Some closed their eyes for a moment and then immediately resumed transcribing.
Others took a good, thorough rest before regaining their energy.
As for Li Fan, he did not rest for even a moment.
There were two or three others like Li Fan who also showed no signs of fatigue.
It seemed that due to their cultivation techniques, their stamina and spirit were particularly strong.
Even after long hours without sleep, they showed no signs of weariness.
Li Fan, however, was purely holding on.
He understood that in this trial, Qin Tang’s evaluation was not only related to the quantity of techniques transcribed and the number of errors made but also to a very important criterion: the duration from when one picked up the pen to when one set it down.
As Qin Tang had previously said, the test in this trial was focus.
Once they began transcribing the techniques, any reason for stopping would count as a break in “focus.”
Li Fan was wholly absorbed, immersed in the transcription of the techniques.
All physical and mental fatigue was suppressed by his strong will.
He did not know how much time had passed.
“Ah, I really had a good sleep!” Qin Tang’s voice suddenly rang in his ears.
He stretched, and the paper and ink before Li Fan vanished without a trace.
“Time is up; let me see how you all performed.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, truly, this year is worse than the last.” With his eyes slightly squinted, as if probing something, Qin Tang shook his head repeatedly.
“Hmm, wait a moment…”
“Interesting.”
As if he had discovered something, he glanced over at Li Fan, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
However, Qin Tang did not say anything further and quickly withdrew his gaze.
“The first trial is now over. Tomorrow everyone will have a day to rest. The day after tomorrow, we will begin the second trial.”
He clapped his hands, and Li Fan felt his surroundings shift.
In the blink of an eye, he returned to the tall building where he had previously slept.
Qin Tang’s figure did not follow.
The cultivators finally relaxed.
Their expressions were excited as they exchanged words.
“This time has truly been a great opportunity. I transcribed while memorizing, recording a total of fifteen techniques. Most of them are Golden Core techniques, with a few Yuan Ying techniques.”
“I also recorded quite a few.”
“What’s the use of recording so many? You need to be alive to use them.”
“That's not quite right. With my abilities, if nothing unexpected happens, I would have been stuck at Foundation Establishment for this lifetime. Now I’ve had the fortune to glimpse the mysteries of the Yuan Ying techniques; even if I die tomorrow, I have no regrets!”
“What you say resonates deeply with me.”
“Good advice is hard to offer to a dead man, hum!”
…
Aside from the bickering, some cultivators also began to eye the belongings of those who had perished before.
Unfortunately, after investigating, they all wore disappointed expressions.
Li Fan even heard someone nearby sneer, “Don’t think about it. I checked that night. After being killed by Qin Tang, all the storage rings and magical artifacts on them disappeared without a trace.”
Li Fan shook his head upon hearing this, preparing to return and rest properly, but inadvertently caught sight of a corpse, causing him to pause.
(The End of This Chapter)