Li Lin was completely stunned at this moment. He had no words to describe his feelings—it was simply too shocking.
The cave was resplendent and magnificent, glowing with brilliant light as bright as day. The cave walls were inlaid with countless sparkling gems and night-shining pearls, while the floor was paved with a thick layer of golden bricks that gleamed dazzlingly.
Nearby lay a small pond emitting wisps of white mist, featuring a miniature rockery adorned with various flowers and grasses.
Feeling as though he had stepped into a realm of immortals, Li Lin gazed around with eyes full of disbelief and a trace of awe. He walked forward slowly, his eyes darting vigilantly in all directions as he moved with the utmost caution. Ahead of him, he spotted a massive stone platform. Flanked by two trees of unknown species, the platform bore a spirit tablet.
Li Lin could not quite make out the exact inscription because he could not recognize the characters.
Approaching the stone platform, Li Lin saw a leather-bound book resting upon it. When he touched it, the cover felt soft and pliable; it was likely made from animal hide. He flipped through the pages, but he could not read a single character, so he had to give up. Nearby lay a folding fan, a slightly damaged bell, and a purplish-red sandalwood necklace.
Just as he was preparing to examine them more closely, a deep voice suddenly echoed through the cave: "Ah, over a hundred years... someone has finally found this place... This old man thought I would simply vanish into nothingness with all my regrets. I am so glad I finally waited for someone, even though this kid looks like he has rather mediocre aptitude. Still, my time is running out."
Startled, Li Lin hurriedly turned around to look. An elderly man with a head of white hair had appeared behind him out of nowhere, watching him with a smile.
The old man wore a white robe, possessing the ethereal air of an immortal sage, and his eyes revealed the wisdom of someone who had seen the vicissitudes of life. His face was covered in wrinkles.
"Who are you?" Li Lin asked with a guardedly cautious tone.
"I am the master of this immortal abode," the old man replied slowly.
"The fact that you were able to find this place shows you are fated to be here. These items are the gifts I leave for my descendants. However, if you wish to obtain them, you must still pass my test. Are you willing, young man?"
With that, a pair of tiger-like eyes stared straight at Li Lin, waiting for his decision.
The White-robed Elder waved his large sleeve, and a milky-white sphere of light appeared on the stone table before them. Various runes flashed rapidly within the light sphere, and countless flickering visions intertwined inside it. There were even giant beasts soaring through the heavens and plunging into the earth at astonishing speeds. Gazing at the light sphere before him, Li Lin felt his heart fill with doubt.
The old man smiled slightly and explained, "This is a test. You need only place your hand upon the light sphere and feel it with your heart. If you can comprehend the mysteries within, you may obtain my legacy."
Hesitating for a moment, Li Lin asked, "Respected elder, is this test dangerous?"
The White-robed Elder smiled faintly and replied, "There will not be any great danger. You merely need to stay true to your original intent."
Gritting his teeth, Li Lin ultimately decided to give it a try. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and cautiously extended his hand toward the light sphere.
The moment his hand touched the sphere of light, a powerful surge of energy flooded into his body, causing him to tremble involuntarily. He struggled to steady his mind, attempting to resist the erosion of this energy. Suddenly, a series of strange visions floated before his eyes, resembling a dream.
In these visions, he saw himself become an peerless expert, roaming freely across the world and capable of anything—moving mountains and draining seas, turning his hands to summon clouds and rain.
Then he saw countless giant beasts blotting out the sky, soaring through the heavens and galloping across the earth. Some of these monstrous beasts looked like flood dragons, others like lions, and others still like phoenixes, in a myriad of different forms. There were also many other bizarre creatures, their bodies emanating powerful auras that inspired both awe and fear.
As the visions continually shifted, Li Lin's state of mind gradually changed as well. His initial sense of awe was replaced by confidence and yearning; he understood the old man's intention. This was not merely a test, but an opportunity to change his destiny.
He had no idea how much time had passed. Li Lin opened his eyes and could not help taking a few steps back, his forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat, and his back already soaked through with cold sweat.
Filled with doubts, Li Lin looked back toward the White-robed Elder.
The White-robed Elder smiled slightly and explained, "This was merely an illusion. Only those with a steadfast mind can pass the test and receive my legacy. But you need not worry. As long as you contemplate with your heart and stay true to your original intent, you will surely succeed."
Hearing the old man's words, Li Lin took a deep breath and once again reached his hand toward the light sphere. The moment his fingers touched the sphere, a powerful force suddenly struck, bouncing his hand away.
Li Lin could not help frowning. This force was so strong, as if it were actively resisting him.
He tried again, using all his strength to push against the light sphere, but still could not shake it in the slightest. It seemed he would have to think of another way, Li Lin pondered to himself.
Just then, he noticed that the runes on the light sphere appeared to follow a certain pattern. Concentrating his mind, he began to observe them closely...
After a moment of hesitation, he finally took a deep breath and slowly stepped closer into the light sphere. The instant he closed his eyes, a powerful suction force pulled at him, making his heart race and leaving him barely able to breathe.
Yet he clenched his teeth and fought desperately against this force. Within the light sphere, a strange radiance flickered, brilliant as a starry sky.
Li Lin felt his consciousness gradually blur, as if his body were completely out of his control and only his brain could barely manage to think.
It felt like an illusory space.
Everywhere floated various bubbles, and the visions within each bubble were entirely different. He witnessed a wide array of scenes: a war with two opposing armies where generals commanded thousands of troops; disasters of collapsing mountains and towering floods; a kind-hearted person who stopped to help an elderly person who had fallen down, only to be falsely accused and extorted for money; demonic cultivators engaging in murder, arson, and every conceivable atrocity; cunning scoundrels resorting to schemes and deception with ruthless and merciless betrayals.
He saw cultivators fighting endlessly over treasures, perishing in clashes of various Dharma Treasures; factions engaging in fierce battles over territory and resources, resulting in the destruction of sects and clans; and monstrous beasts sweeping across the land, killing everyone in sight, leaving behind a vast expanse of devastation with corpses blanketing the ground and blood flowing like rivers.
Suddenly, Li Lin caught sight of a bubble whose interior vision shocked him so much that he instinctively reached out to grab it.
Instantly, the scene shifted, and Li Lin felt as though he had been cast directly into that space, able to smell the thick stench of blood hanging in the air.
This was a world on the verge of shattering. Even the sun in the sky carried a trace of crimson, and pitch-black monsters were slaughtering everywhere. Some stood ten zhang tall, some possessed three heads and six arms, some spat fire from their mouths, some were as massive as mountains, and others had wings to fly through the sky.
The ground had collapsed in all directions, reduced to scorched earth. The monsters were mercilessly slaughtering humanity, and before them, the human race appeared utterly insignificant, like nothing more than a swarm of humble ants.
Yet the people of the human race showed no fear of death, rushing forward wave after wave to join the resistance. They vowed to defend their homeland to the death.
Some fought on stubbornly, plunging swords and hacking blades into the monsters even in their final moments. Each time a monster fell, the human race would burst into thunderous cheers, despite the fact that every single victory required a thousandfold or tenthousandfold effort.
Even so, they refused to give up, throwing themselves into the fray wave after wave to hold back the monsters amidst countless casualties and deaths.
Li Lin guarded his own conviction, firmly believing that justice would ultimately triumph over evil. No matter how many difficulties and setbacks he encountered, he unwavering believed in justice.
This steadfast faith acted like a beacon of light, illuminating the path ahead of him and filling him with the strength to face all challenges.
Time seemed to stop in that moment, or perhaps a very, very long time had passed.
…………
Finally, the radiance gradually dissipated. Gasping for breath, Li Lin slumped directly onto the ground.
A satisfied smile appeared on the old man's face. "Congratulations, little fellow, you have passed the test. Everything before you is now yours."
Li Lin looked toward the items on the stone table; by now, he already knew those were extraordinary treasures. Yet he did not immediately rush to pick them up. Instead, he stood up from the ground and looked toward the White-robed Elder.
Unable to help himself, Li Lin asked, "Respected elder, why are you here? Are you the only one in this place?"
The White-robed Elder's expression paused, the wrinkles on his face twitching as if he had drifted into memories.
After a full time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the White-robed Elder finally seemed to snap back to reality.
He spoke: "Little fellow, judging from the test just now, you are a kind and resilient child. The experience you just went through also showed you that the items in this immortal abode are all treasures—aren't you tempted at all, kid?"
Startled for a moment, Li Lin replied, "Aren't all the things here yours, respected elder? Although I know they must be wonderful items, my parents taught me that a gentleman loves wealth and acquires it through proper means; without merit, one should not accept rewards, and taking something without asking is stealing. Even gifts given by others should not be taken casually."
Li Lin scratched his head with a rather honest and naive expression that was quite amusing.
The White-robed Elder nodded with satisfaction. "A human life spans a hundred years, fleeting in the blink of an eye. worldly vanity is merely a passing cloud, and fame and fortune will ultimately vanish into smoke. Even painted skins and skeletons are nothing more than a cup of yellow earth."
"However, as long as we can hold fast to our inner principles and beliefs, maintaining upright character and conduct, we can find our true selves in a complex and bustling world. Refusing to violate one's principles for the sake of petty gains is truly rare and precious indeed—it can be called an excellent disposition!"
"So long as one guards their original intent, the heart remains upright and the path remains true."