Chapter Forty-Two: Encountering You Qing Once More
Throughout this journey, the attitudes of these two girls toward Qinglan shifted repeatedly—ranging from apology to grievance, from gratitude to admiration. At this moment, their admiration had transformed into reverence.
Before them stood an exceptional woman—gentle yet powerful—who had long since forged ahead. She was the true exemplar.
The two girls exchanged a glance, each recognizing the other's resolute pursuit of cultivation.
Qinglan, busy healing the others, did not notice that, unwittingly, she had gained two sincere hearts filled with admiration.
...
As the wounds healed and pain gradually faded, waves of joyous cheers erupted once more among the crowd.
This applause was not only in gratitude to Qinglan but also from the realization that, after enduring numerous trials, they had reaped tremendous rewards—they had all become genuine inner disciples.
Even if they failed the Mirror Mountain trial and had to step back, they were still bona fide inner disciples!
...
“Third Elder, why did someone snatch your task away?” Nan Ming asked with a hint of schadenfreude. After the beast tide, it was supposed to be the Third Elder's moment to work his healing magic, summoning spiritual rain to nourish all the inner disciples’ wounds—how could the Sect allow these outstanding disciples who survived the beast tide to be eliminated so easily?
The Third Elder ignored him. Looking at the scene before him, he exchanged a glance with the Second Elder. The well-experienced Second Elder sighed softly, “This girl actually possesses such potent healing abilities—how have we never heard of her before?”
The Sixth Elder suddenly interjected, “Long ago, the Mu family from the Eastern Domain produced a girl renowned as the Healing Hand. I always thought it was a mere family hype, largely exaggerated. I wonder how Qinglan compares to that girl?”
The Second Elder nodded slowly upon hearing this.
Nearby, Yaoyu had been silent since earlier. Her slender fingers gently caressed a vibrant jade stone.
The Third Elder watched closely; that was the Living Spirit Jade Core, capable of healing spiritual roots.
This precious artifact was rare and precious, nearly impossible to come by, extracted from the heartwood of a thousand-year-old spirit tree. It could extend the life of the elderly and restore vitality to the dying. Across the vast continent, only the Qingmu Valley preserved its legacy fully, with the valley master likely holding a few pieces.
The piece in Yaoyu’s hand was intact, its light restrained yet brimming with life—but it could not save that girl.
The Third Elder sighed softly. Suddenly, he sensed a tremor from beyond the Formation Realm—as if a terrifyingly powerful figure was approaching.
...
His spiritual awareness slowly moved beyond the Formation Realm. Near the Thousand Array Mountain, a woman clad in azure stood quietly, seemingly waiting for the realm’s master to open an entrance for her.
The Third Elder’s expression grew strange. He glanced back at Qinglan; a spark of vitality quietly replaced the ancient depth in his eyes, like a withered tree coming to life in spring.
The lotus stone carving emitted a soft blue-purple glow as mist swirled. The Formation Realm gradually opened. The woman in blue nodded gracefully to the air, stepping onto the surface of the Boundless Lake. Each step stirred endless ripples of pale light. Her figure soon vanished without a trace.
...
Within the Formation Realm, before Mirror Mountain.
This was the final stage of the trial. Since each person had to enter the mountain alone, everyone faced a uniquely personal trial of conscience, making it impossible to proceed together.
The group bid farewell to Qinglan and the other. Both exhaled deeply, exchanging a knowing glance—they understood this was the last crucial step. If they succeeded, everything would be much easier.
Yuedong looked at Qinglan, considering her spiritual root predicament. A faint, barely perceptible concern and urgency flickered on his face. “You have to make it through.”
Qinglan smiled gently and nodded. Her gaze shifted toward the path veiled by dense forest. Reflecting on the road she had traveled, although she was still adjusting to this world’s rhythm and battles, there were some truly lovable and worthy people here.
Her eyes grew calm, her resolve firm—she would survive, at least for these three years.
...
Just as the two were about to set off, not far from them, shadows flickered among the trees. Light and dark intertwined, and amidst countless overlapping leaves, a figure stood silently as if waiting for a long time.
It was You Qing. For some unknown reason, his face was pale, his eyes wild and fierce, radiating an unnatural, sinister aura like a vengeful spirit fixated mercilessly on the girl before him.
No one knew what he had endured.
But judging by his stance, it seemed he had already descended from Mirror Mountain.
Clearly, he had failed the trial of the Mist Mirror Spirit and could only become an inner disciple.
His gaze flickered between the two, lingering especially on Qinglan. She stood bathed in sunlight, warm and vibrant, her future bright and radiant.
Looking at himself, his path as a direct disciple had ended in failure. He would forever be inferior.
The more he thought, the more he unraveled. His eyes turned venomous, filled with bitter hatred as he glared at them.
Just as the two were about to ascend the mountain, he could no longer restrain himself. Veins bulging on his left hand, he formed a formation disc and coldly hurled it forward.
“Swish!”
...
Yuedong had just taken a step when a chilling murderous intent struck him. He immediately stopped. A massive curtain of water shrouded the sunlight above him, and then four more water walls rose around him. They intertwined closely, merging into one—an instant water formation array formed.
Yuedong looked up slightly, puzzled by this.
He could not understand how anyone here would dare attack him. Who would dare?
On the other side, as the water formation activated, You Qing, wielding a spiritual sword, charged at Qinglan with the force of wind and thunder.
He shouted fiercely, “Die!”
“Clang!”
Qinglan reacted swiftly, unswerving as she summoned a massive spiritual light shield to block the strike.
You Qing showed no intention of stopping. Sword after sword rained down, each strike carrying the might of a roaring tempest. He unleashed himself recklessly, as if with nothing to lose.
The relentless sword light battered Qinglan’s shield, which soon fractured into shards.
With the defense gone, You Qing grew more excited and closed in, swinging his sword again. Qinglan responded quickly, drawing a blood-stained thorny vine in her other hand to parry the sword’s edge.
Qinglan looked at him coldly, saying nothing. Yet You Qing felt a deep mockery in her gaze, stirring an indescribable shame and frustration within him, as if everyone was mocking his cowardice.
Though he had not heard the voices earlier, now the accusations rang loudly in his ears.
“What kind of leader are you, abandoning your own comrades!”
“We trusted you, only to be betrayed!”
“You are nowhere near her level!”
“You want to be a direct disciple? Hah! Get out of the Formation Realm!”
“Get out of the Formation Realm!”
...