Chapter 3: Making a Mark in the Spirit Valley Trial
After the conflict with Zhao Hu, Lin Yu had gained quite a bit of fame among the inner disciples of the Qingxuan Sect. Everyone knew that this newcomer with the Chaos Spirit Root was not someone to be trifled with. Yet, Lin Yu was not satisfied with this. He understood that in the Immortality Cultivation World, where the strong prey upon the weak, he was still far from strong enough.
Before long, the Qingxuan Sect's annual Spirit Valley Trial was about to begin. The Spirit Valley was a mysterious place near the Qingxuan Sect, filled with both opportunities and dangers. Not only did all sorts of rare spirit herbs grow there, but it was also guarded by various demonic beasts of differing strengths. Every Spirit Valley Trial was a prime opportunity for inner disciples to boost their strength and acquire resources.
Naturally, Lin Yu would not miss this rare chance. He made ample preparations in advance. Aside from stabilizing his cultivation at the peak of the third layer of the Azure Wood Longevity Formula, he also used the resources he had previously extracted from Zhao Hu to trade for some practical talismans and pills.
On the day the trial began, the inner disciples gathered in front of the mountain gate. The sect master personally came to explain the rules and precautions of the trial to the disciples.
"This Spirit Valley Trial will last for one month. Once you enter the Spirit Valley, you are free to form groups, but remember: you must not kill your fellow sect members. After the trial ends, your results will be evaluated based on your haul of spirit herbs, demonic beast internal cores, and other gains. Those with outstanding results will receive generous rewards," the sect master's voice echoed in everyone's ears.
At the sect master's command, the disciples activated their movement techniques and sprinted toward the Spirit Valley. Lin Yu did not rush to form a team; he believed that relying on his own strength and knowledge of cultivation, acting alone might yield even greater rewards.
As soon as he stepped into the Spirit Valley, Lin Yu felt a rush of dense spiritual Qi wash over him. The concentration of spiritual Qi here was several times higher than that of the Qingxuan Sect's inner sect, making it exceptionally suited for cultivation. He proceeded cautiously while keeping an eye on his surroundings.
He hadn't gone far before he spotted a third-grade spirit herb: the Purple Heart Orchid. The Purple Heart Orchid was a crucial ingredient for refining pills that boosted cultivation, and it was quite valuable. However, coiled right next to the Purple Heart Orchid was a green-scaled snake over ten feet long. The Green-Scaled Snake was a second-rank demonic beast whose strength could not be underestimated.
Lin Yu did not act rashly. He hid behind a nearby boulder and observed the habits of the Green-Scaled Snake. After some observation, he noticed that every half hour, the Green-Scaled Snake would enter a brief state of dormancy.
Lin Yu waited patiently until, at last, the Green-Scaled Snake slowly closed its eyes. Seizing the moment, he flashed forward like a phantom, his wooden sword thrusting straight toward the snake's vital seven-inch spot. Sensing danger, the Green-Scaled Snake tried to dodge, but it was already too late. Lin Yu's wooden sword accurately pierced its fatal spot, and after struggling a few times, the Green-Scaled Snake went still.
Lin Yu smoothly harvested the Purple Heart Orchid and placed it into his Storage Bag. Continuing deeper into the valley, he encountered a few more demonic beasts and other disciples along the way. But relying on his agile movement technique and exceptional combat skills, he cleverly avoided conflict and focused on searching for spirit herbs and other opportunities.
In a secluded valley within the Spirit Valley, Lin Yu discovered an ancient grotto. The grotto's heavy doors were closed, covered entirely in strange runes. Lin Yu tried touching the runes with his Spiritual Power, and to his surprise, the runes began to glow before the grotto doors slowly creaked open.
With a mixture of apprehension and excitement, he stepped inside the grotto. A stone platform stood in the center, and resting upon it was an ancient manual emitting a faint glow. Stepping closer, Lin Yu saw that it was none other than the long-lost, high-tier sword technique—the Shattered Star Sword Art.
"I never expected such an opportunity!" Overjoyed, Lin Yu quickly tucked the Shattered Star Sword Art away. Just as he was about to leave the grotto, he suddenly heard the sounds of fierce combat coming from outside.
Stepping out cautiously to investigate, he saw that Zhao Hu and several other inner disciples were locked in a confrontation with a third-rank demonic beast, the Fire-Cloud Leopard. The Fire-Cloud Leopard possessed immense strength, and Zhao Hu and his companions were clearly at a disadvantage.
Lin Yu originally had no desire to meddle in other people's business, but realizing they were all fellow disciples of the Qingxuan Sect, standing by and watching them die would likely invite criticism later on. Thus, he decided to intervene.
Channeling his Spiritual Power, Lin Yu unleashed the newly acquired Shattered Star Sword Art. Brilliant flashes of sword light surged from his hands, shooting toward the Fire-Cloud Leopard like falling stars. Sensing a massive threat, the Fire-Cloud Leopard was forced to abandon its attack on Zhao Hu and turn its attention to Lin Yu instead.
Lin Yu engaged the Fire-Cloud Leopard in a fierce battle. Relying on the fierce sword moves of the Shattered Star Sword Art and the advantage of his Chaos Spirit Root, he gradually gained the upper hand. In the end, Lin Yu severed the Fire-Cloud Leopard's head with a single sword strike, successfully slaying the third-rank demonic beast.
Looking at Lin Yu, Zhao Hu and the others wore expressions of mixed gratitude and lingering awe. After this incident, they never dared to look down on Lin Yu again.
When the Spirit Valley Trial concluded, Lin Yu returned to the Qingxuan Sect with a bountiful harvest. The spirit herbs, demonic beast internal cores, and the copy of the Shattered Star Sword Art he had acquired propelled him to the top tier of the trial evaluations. He received generous rewards and thoroughly made his mark among the inner disciples of the Qingxuan Sect.