Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 878: Superb Acting

"I am a dual spiritual root cultivator!" Fang Ting raised her hand high. Amid startled and envious gazes, she skipped forward to the front, looking at the Chen-surnamed cultivator with an excited face.

Just then, she heard a voice transmission in her ear and quickly swallowed back the word "Master" that was about to slip out. She straightened her expression and bowed properly. "Reporting to Senior, my name is Fang Ting, a water-and-earth dual spiritual root cultivator. Please examine me."

The crowd could not help but secretly grumble. Her acting was far too poor. It was obvious they knew each other, and she might already have been taken in as a disciple long before.

Still, no one dared to resent her. She was a dual spiritual root cultivator. Even if she had gone to Landou Sect, she could have entered directly without tests. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The Chen-surnamed cultivator smiled and nodded. "Indeed, dual spiritual roots. Come up." Then he turned to the others. "The rest of you may step onto the Cloud Bridge. Remember to perform well."

He beckoned Fang Ting to his side and prepared to leave. Fang Ting’s lips moved as if speaking by transmission.

The Chen-surnamed cultivator paused slightly, turned his gaze toward the incarnation, but his expression remained unchanged. Without a word, he carried Fang Ting back to the island.

Fang Ting pursed her lips, giving the incarnation a helpless glance as she left. The incarnation smiled bitterly in secret. He had guessed Fang Ting’s talent was good, but had not expected her to be connected to a Golden Core cultivator of Yanmiao Pavilion. Had he known, he would never have grown close to her.

Perhaps she had mentioned him out of goodwill, but for him it was a blessing or disaster yet to be seen.

He knew clearly that in such a brief encounter Fang Ting could not have developed any feelings for him.

But if the Chen-surnamed cultivator valued her highly and wished to cut away anything that might hinder her cultivation, he might simply cast him aside. That would be an unbearable injustice. He could do nothing but take one step at a time.

After the Chen-surnamed cultivator left, the three others continued arranging the Cloud Bridge while the azure-robed man began testing everyone’s aptitude and bone age, finally picking out just over thirty people.

"You few, you do not meet Yanmiao Pavilion’s requirements. Please leave."

Those dismissed were four- or five-root cultivators, older in age, stuck at the bottleneck of the sixth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. Their faces grew pale. They had known their chances were slim, but had hoped to try their luck. They had not expected to be rejected before the test even began.

Soon the Cloud Bridge was ready. The only instructions given were to walk across without stopping and not to use any artifacts. Then the disciples urged them to step on.

The crowd exchanged looks. No one knew what the Cloud Bridge test entailed, and none wanted to be the first.

The external incarnation stepped forward, gaze steady upon the Cloud Bridge. With calm composure, he walked to the head of the bridge and stepped on without hesitation.

The four Yanmiao Pavilion disciples exchanged looks. The sword cultivator nodded slightly, a trace of appreciation on his face.

The others realized at once. They cursed themselves inwardly. The sword cultivator had already said the test was not only about passing. Daring to be the first meant courage, and that alone would leave a good impression, gaining an advantage.

The trial was everywhere. No one hesitated further. They surged onto the Cloud Bridge.

The incarnation led. The cloud beneath his feet was soft and springy, yet required spiritual power to stand upon. At first, nothing strange happened, but after a few steps, mysterious winds arose, whistling from both sides of the bridge. The scene around him shifted.

Both ends of the Cloud Bridge vanished. Only the group remained upon an endless white bridge that stretched into infinity, as if leading into the sky. The lake below stretched endlessly, glittering and unfathomably deep.

The Sky-Eyed Butterfly still slept. The incarnation dared not wake it just in case a Core Formation cultivator was watching.

When the Cloud Bridge first formed, the butterfly had already seen it was an extension of the array from the central island.

The incarnation studied the changes calmly, showing no panic.

If the test measured strength, his cultivation of the ninth stage of the Qi Refining Realm was more than enough. If it tested will or temperament, he had no fear. What he had to watch out for was not performing too well.

He continued forward. The wind grew stronger, forcing him to shield himself with spiritual power.

Now he deliberately slowed his pace. Soon, others caught up and passed him without hesitation.

He held up his shield of spiritual power, letting one after another overtake him, while secretly watching the changes ahead.

The illusions on the Cloud Bridge could not be overly powerful. If it tested heart and will, the trace of Jade Buddha’s power within him might make him immune. In that case, it would all depend on his acting.

As he advanced, the wind whipped like lashes upon the body. The crowd slowed their pace.

Meanwhile, beneath the water, something stirred. Voices whispered in their ears again and again. "Jump down! Jump down!"

But ahead, no end could be seen. The Cloud Bridge stretched on without limit, breeding despair. The distance between them widened until each person seemed alone, cut off from the others.

These subtle shifts gnawed at their minds. This Cloud Bridge was a test of both temperament and strength.

Someone muttered, enlightened, "This isn’t a Cloud Bridge at all. It’s modeled after Landou Sect’s Heart-Questioning Path!"

Suddenly, a youth screamed. He clutched his head, his face twisting with fear and madness, then his footing vanished and he fell.

The crowd gasped. He plummeted toward the lake, but before he struck, a spiritual sword appeared beneath him, caught him, and took him away.

On the dock, the four Yanmiao Pavilion disciples observed closely.

"Such poor temperament?" The sword cultivator frowned.

The azure-robed man spoke. "He is a triple-root cultivator, only fifteen years old."

The middle-aged cultivator nodded slightly. "He has potential, but needs tempering. Send him to the Cauldron Hall."

The sword carried the boy back. The sword cultivator gestured left. The boy, limp and terrified, collapsed on the ground to recover, not knowing what fate awaited him.

After him, more and more fell from the bridge. Guided by the four, some were set to the left, some to the right.

The incarnation pressed on, staggering along the Cloud Bridge. No one could be seen before or behind. A heavy loneliness weighed upon him, while the temptations from the depths grew stronger.

The illusions could not touch his heart, but the gales consumed his spiritual power rapidly.

He put on superb acting. His expression twisted, grew dazed, as if struggling against the Cloud Bridge itself. His spiritual power flared and faltered with his acting, rising and falling as though his will wavered.

"The timing is about right..." Sensing his spiritual power nearly spent, he let his face show deep panic. He faltered, failed to sustain his shield, and tumbled from the Cloud Bridge.