It was indeed the corpse of Jiao Xiuyuan.
Three months had passed, yet it gradually revealed something unusual.
Unlike normal flesh and blood, it appeared more like withered wood, presenting a yellowish hue.
Li Fan kicked it with his foot, and the sound was exactly like kicking wood.
At that moment, a voice came from behind Li Fan.
"This is merely a puppet, not the real body. It’s a common tactic of Jiao Xiuyuan; there’s no need for you to be surprised, fellow Daoist."
Li Fan turned around and saw that the speaker was also a Qi Refining Stage cultivator.
He immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist. Are you also a member of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals?"
The man nodded: "Indeed, I am Chen An. I have been a member of the Alliance for over thirty years."
"I am Li Fan. From your words, it seems you are quite familiar with Jiao Xiuyuan?"
Chen An smiled: "Familiar is not quite the word. However, having lived on this island for so long, I do know some things."
"Take Jiao Xiuyuan for instance; he opened a grocery store called Qianli Hall on the island, selling all sorts of items. It is said that he has connections with the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals behind the scenes, occasionally selling some good items."
"In addition, he often engages in intelligence dealings. But this fellow never takes risks himself; he always uses puppets to pave the way."
Li Fan nodded slowly upon hearing this: "Greedy and afraid of death, I see."
Chen An laughed heartily: "Your summary is spot on! The phrase 'greedy and afraid of death' could not be more appropriate to describe Jiao Xiuyuan!"
After the laughter, Chen An suddenly said: "Earlier, when I was transcribing techniques in that library, I noticed others would write for a while, then take a break. After resting to regain their energy, they would continue copying. Only you, fellow Daoist, have not stopped for three months. I truly admire that!"
"However, I wonder, what is the deeper meaning behind your actions? If we only consider the speed of transcription, you must be at a disadvantage compared to those who take breaks due to mental and physical fatigue."
"Could you enlighten me, fellow Daoist?" Chen An bowed slightly, seeking guidance.
Li Fan pondered for a moment before speaking: "I dare not say there is a deep meaning; it is merely an instinct in my heart."
"The first trial mentioned by Qin Tang is specialization."
"Specialization means to be single-minded. Only by not being disturbed by any external factors can one be considered truly specialized. If one is mentally and physically fatigued, is that not also an external disturbance? If one stops because of it, does that not mean one is no longer 'specialized'?"
"Just a foolish opinion, fellow Daoist, feel free to disregard it."
Li Fan said humbly.
Upon hearing this, Chen An seemed to be in deep thought.
Li Fan said no more and returned to his room to rest.
The next day, Qin Tang indeed did not appear again.
Everyone dared not wander around, patiently waiting within the building.
On the morning of the third day, Qin Tang appeared before everyone, staggering while drinking wine.
"Good wine, good wine!"
After burping, he squinted and surveyed the crowd of cultivators.
"Today, we will begin the second trial!"
"This time, I will test your courage!"
"The path of immortality is long, filled with countless hardships; do you have the courage to face them all?"
Qin Tang smiled slightly.
Everyone felt a flash before their eyes, and in an instant, they had left the attic and appeared by the sea.
Their magical powers had all been sealed, rendering them no different from mortals.
Yet, Qin Tang had vanished without a trace.
Only his voice echoed from afar.
"I will be waiting for you on the other side of the sea. Use your courage to cross this vast ocean!"
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.
Some bold individuals stepped to the shore and took a step forward.
The seawater instantly froze into ice, securely holding that person.
The man was overjoyed and continued walking forward, quickly disappearing from the sight of the others.
Seeing someone take the lead, the remaining crowd eagerly rushed into the sea.
Li Fan noticed that Bai Li Chen also followed suit, stepping into the water.
However, Sikong Yi remained by the shore, hesitating to make a move.
Li Fan paid no further attention and focused his mind, slowly stepping onto the surface of the water.
The water beneath his feet solidified into ice, yet his vision revealed no trace of the others.
On the vast ocean, in an instant, he was left all alone.
Li Fan maintained a calm expression, walking forward step by step.
The sun rose and set above him, but he could not tell how much time had passed.
The scenery before him remained unchanged.
This ocean seemed endless.
Even though Li Fan already knew the answer in advance, he could not help but feel a surge of helplessness and doubt within his heart.
At that moment, he could sense the thickness of the ice beneath his feet gradually diminishing.
Taking a deep breath, Li Fan expelled the fears and doubts within him.
He resolutely continued to walk forward.
The ice beneath his feet thickened once more.
This second trial tested "courage."
It not only assessed the courage to face external challenges but also the courage to confront one's inner self.
On the vast ocean, after walking for a long time, he still saw no sign of the opposite shore.
Would you begin to doubt whether you had lost your way?
Would you feel anxious, wondering if this ocean truly had an end?
Would you feel terrified, losing the courage to move forward?
Or would you give up on yourself and stop progressing?
Li Fan walked step by step, questioning his own heart.
Even after hundreds of reincarnations, he had never experienced anything like this.
Temporarily setting aside all external matters, he was lost in thought as he walked.
Crossing this frozen sea was akin to the path of immortality.
The road ahead was hazy, with no end in sight.
Halfway through, he looked around but could not determine if he had lost his way.
From beginning to end, he was utterly alone, with nothing to rely on.
Time passed, as if he would walk forever in this manner.
Endlessly.
Even so, could he still firmly hold onto his beliefs, never losing the courage to move forward?
Even knowing that this trial would eventually stop.
Yet, Li Fan had also wavered in his heart.
Because this journey across the sea had simply taken too long.
One year, two years…
Decades had passed.
Li Fan's hair turned gray, and his body became stooped, yet he never ceased his steps forward.
Until his body grew too old to walk any longer.
Only then did he collapse weakly onto the surface of the sea.
His vision blurred, and just before his consciousness faded, Li Fan seemed to see.
Not far ahead on the shore, Qin Tang stood alone in white robes, gazing at him.
He raised a wine gourd in greeting, smiling as he took a sip.
…
When Li Fan opened his eyes, he found himself and the other cultivators still in that building.
However, a long time had passed since his last memory, and many looked bewildered.
After a while, they regained their clarity.
"Crossing the River of Nine Nether is easy, but crossing the sea of the heart is difficult."
"This second trial, the trial of courage, is over."
"Tomorrow morning, we will conduct the final trial."
With that, Qin Tang, with his ever-present wine gourd, shook his head and left.
Thanks to book friends 20170818114219336, Qian Qian Qian Wei Wu, and Chi Xian Sheng for their rewards.
Thanks to the brothers for their monthly tickets and recommendation tickets.
(End of Chapter)