Chapter 6: Second test - part 2

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

"NOOOOOO!!!!"

...

One horrified shout after another came from the black mountain a few moments later. The young daoists who had begun climbing the stone wall were already reaching the middle point when the one heading the group suddenly shouted in pain, falling from the sky in despair.

He was not the only one, as a bunch of others began to fall one after another. The first ones to suffer such fate were those with the shallowest cultivations. Amidst that strange yellow rain that seemed to erode one's spirit Qi Daoists and Master Daoists were the first to fall, followed by the few Enlighten Daoists, who lasted a bit more.

Just like that, 99 young masters had fallen all the way back to the starting point. Each and every one of them was totally out of spirit Qi as the unstopping yellowish rain continued on corroding their skin. They have hit the ground hard, and without their layer of Qi protection, some even had severe bone fractures and screamed in pain. In a panic, they all crawled around, looking for shelter from the rain.

Yi Jiang just observed the pitiful scene expressionless as he was finishing the refinement of the tiny green pill inside his body. In the end, his assumption turned out to be right. The moment he arrived at the strange environment filled with black peaks and yellow rain, Yi Jiang immediately remembered about that place from his previous life.

That mountain range was a little known danger zone of the Celestial Realm: Yellow Spring Peaks! Even in is previous life, Yi Jiang had only vaguely heard about that place. The reason so few people knew about it was its location. Far beyond the demon beast domain, those deadly peaks covered an unexplored portion of the area known as the Desolate Plains.

From what he had heard, those black mountains were cursed by the Heavens to never withhold life, forever soaked with the waters of hell. Yet, those were just the sayings of the old. It turned out that those mountains were rich in yin-type spirit veins, which transformed the region's climate, making it so to rain that yin-attribute acid.

Still, Yi Jiang was not 100% sure about the authenticity of that rumor until the moment he received that tiny green pill from Elder Bao! Right upon seeing it, he was capable of recognizing its name: it was a Yang Barrier Pill. They were uncommon level 5 pills, which were very useful in counterattacking attacks of extreme-yin or ghost entities! Yet, he was still surprised that the Celestial Royal Clan would take out 100 level 5 pill for a simple test! Want a waste! With so much Yang Barrier Pills, he could cultivate in this yin-Qi rich place for a dozen or so years!

Although everyone got one and consumed it, low-level daoists like them needed some time to refine such pills inside their bodies! That was the reason why those fool's spirit Qi got corroded away so rapidly by the yin acid rain: they did not totally refine the pill to active its effects! And now that they were sucked dry, they did not have sufficient Qi to refine them!

A few breaths later, Yi Jiang left out some greenish smoke from his mouth as a thin green layer of energy covered up his body completely. After getting up, he gave a farewell nod to Elder Bao and swang his hand, summoning his sword. Gasping it in his hands, Yi Jiang began to release some azure Qi from his body, which wrapped around its simple-looking blade.

With a single hand seal, he threw the shiny azure sword in the air before jumping above it. Then, in a flash, Yi Jiang's figure disappeared in an azure-green flash. Elder Bao could only look from afar with an impressed expression as the blur of light effortlessly flew up to the mountain's peak.

"He's a sword daoist! Well, their not that rare, but even so, what a mighty sword Qi for a mere peak Daoist! He must cultivate such an exceptional chant!" Elder Bao considered in a gasp.

*Elder Bao's internal thoughts*

"Also, am I mistaken, or is he so much handsome when he uses his sword Qi... Bao Xiao, focus! He's just a filthy man, and you're on a royal mission! But on the other hand, what witchcraft of a chant is this!? Even my Ice Mind Heart shook a bit! Interesting, very interesting, this young man! Yi Jiang, I shall remember your looks... No! I mean, take a note on you!"

What Elder Bao did not know was that those strange impressions were all side effects of Yi Jiang's Handsome Sword God chant! It focused on cultivating the body and sword with the purest sword Qi! For such, one had to develop numerous insights into the Intent of the Sword. As such, if any other peak Daoist cultivated it, they would not be as half as powerful as Yi Jiang! After all, he had thousands of years of insight on the Dao of the Sword! Back then, he had cultivated his Sword Intent all the way up to the peak Saint-level, on pair with his actual cultivation! Have he succeeded in his Great Saint Tribulation, Yi Jiang had the potential to become a real Sword God in the future!

As for the other "collateral" effect, it was something he had to live with it! He was cursed to become more and more handsome at each breakthrough while cultivating his Handsome Sword God chant! Back then, he was just an average-looking peasant who became one of the Two Handsome Sword Gods! This time, he was already handsome in the Daoist realm, so great despair awaited him in the future! Back then, his life was a living hell because of that, imagine now!

~traumatizing flashback~

*Yi Jiang peacefully eating his favorite spirit lamen*

*BOOM* *restaurant's doors explode*

"Handsome Sword God Yi, you shall marry me right now! You got guts to paint me, and now I shall accompany you for eternity!" *grabs Yi Jiang's arm forcefully* * everyone looks at them*

"Unhold my, strange woman! I don't even know you, much less have I painted you!"

"Hehehe... but you will after our marriage!"

*Yi Jiang explodes in azure smoke* *sword appears in his place*

"Not today!" *summons the sword once more and escapes through the realm for three months*

...

Flying through the yellow rain at ease, Yi Jiang rapidly arrived at the top of the black mountain. After properly refining the Yang Barrier Pill, the previously painful drops of rain became a cool breeze, turning his long black hair moisty as it swung freely in the winds. From down below, even some male daoists who were avidly trying to recuperate their spirit Qi with multiple spirit stones stopped for a moment to observe him flying by with style.

"Yo, that guy can be a cheap bastard, but... he got style!"

"Yeah, he really got some style."

Arriving at the flat top of the black mountain, Yi Jiang just jumped down from his sword and held it in his hands. Although he was the type who carried his sword on his body, he had been a bit cautious in not entering with exposed weapons inside the Celestial Palace domain back then.

Seating cross-legged in meditation, Yi Jiang placed the sword upon his legs and began to use his currently active Yang Barrier to refine the abundant yin-Qi around him into pure spirit Qi. It would take some time until the other 49 guys climbed all their way up there, so he might as well use that opportunity to try and have his sword breakthrough!

After he began recultivating the Handsome Sword God chant two months ago, he had simultaneously cultivated that Common-tier sword with his spirit Qi! And now, it was at the very peak of the Common-tier level! If he could refine a sufficient amount of pure Qi from the yin-Qi surrounding him, there was a chance he could upgrade his sword!

Then, as the stronger daoists down below began to refine the tiny green pill just like Yi Jiang did previously, an immense whirlpool of yellow rain began to form around his body. Rapidly passing through the yang barrier, the then refined pure spirit Qi swiftly entered through Yi Jiang's meridians, before heading straight to the simple-looking sword in his hands as azure sword Qi.

Its seemly mortal-steel blade sucked up that pure flux of sword Qi crazily, as it began to radiate an intense azure luster. That eye-catching phenomenon went on for a long time before a silver vortex began to form within the stormy clouds right above the spot Yi Jiang was seated in meditation with his sword.

From down below, Elder Bao observed that scene with incredulous eyes. That peculiar vortex in the sky, those silver lines flashing around: was that Immortal-level Silver Heavenly Lighting!? But how could that be? Such a thing should only appear in one's breakthrough to the Immortal Daoist Realm! Could it be that Yi Jiang was actually a True Daoist and was hiding his real cultivation realm all along!?

However, as Elder Bao's heart filled with doubts, Yi Jiang found himself in a crucial point of his sword's breakthrough! As leveling up a magical treasure was an act of defiance towards the Heavens, every time it happened, it would attract a Heavenly Tribulation! Still, as it was only the ascension of a Common-tier item to the Advanced-tier, it would only call upon a Silver Lightning Tribulation.

Gazing up to the Heavens in complete concentration, Yi Jiang waited. One breath, two breaths, three breaths. And it was time! With a swift swing of his hand, the steel sword infused with large amounts of azure sword Qi flew up into the sky. Then, Yi Jiang made a rapid hand seal, and something unexpected happened: the sword's blade seemed to crack open, revealing a thin silver line within. That was the sword's very own magical essence!

The azure Qi quickly wrapped around it in seconds, just in time for it to receive a silver zap from the Heavens! An ear-piercing clap sounded throughout the black mountain range, as the silver lightning ran throughout the whole azure line like the very blood of one's veins! Time seemed to stop as the thin silver magical essence fused with the azure sword Qi by the aid of the silver lightning.

Yet, although the event seemed to last quite long, it happened in a matter of seconds. Soon after, the now azure line took its place back in the sword's blade, before it fell down right into Yi Jiang's grip. It appeared just as mediocre as before, but Yi Jiang had a pleasant smile on his face while looking at it: the upgrade was a success!

Just as he finished the whole eye-catching "capture the silver godly-lightning with your sword thing", a pair of burnt hands finally grasped at the border of the mountain peak. Finally, after great hardship, one of the other male daoists managed to climb all his way up the mountain!

Pushing his wrecked body up with his last strengths, the young man collapsed upon the flat area on the peak. Turning his head around in agony, he looked at Yi Jiang, who was playing with his sword as a child would play with its favorite toy.

"Why... why didn't you warn us about this hellish rain!? Many of us almost died, you know!" he said, interrupting Yi Jiang's joyful sword swings.

"Hum, that rough buddy. I would've if you guys were just a bit more patient and less of a showoff! Remember, one must thrive the Dao with a steady heart and an unshakable will! As the Dao is eternal and mortal pleasures ethereal!"

As such, eighteen-year-old delicate-looking Yi Jiang disciplined a twenty-something-year-old man like a thousand-year-old daoist. The corroded young man was at a loss. Was that kid playing him, or was he serious!? Yet, in his current state, he did not dare pick on Yi Jiang, and just sat there, listening to his old-man blather. What an annoying character! So handsome, yet so tedious! Does any fairy even fall for this!? What a trap!

Eventually, the first 50 young men managed to climb their way up the mountain and sat there waiting for Elder Bao's next instructions.