Chapter 150: Luo Tian's Intentions

"Fellow junior brothers, though I know not the exact reason, the resistance has lessened slightly. I presume this must be the test set for us by Commander Ling!"

Wu Hao, the leading disciple of Wukong Mountain for this trial, said with a confident expression.

This Wu Hao had already attained the realm of the second stratum of Pulse Flow. Cultivating wood-attribute primal energy, he had already comprehended the true meaning of control. At this moment, the wood-attribute primal energy he projected outward was altered in form under his manipulation; its streamlined shape in the water minimized resistance to the absolute lowest.

"A test?"

Watching his senior brother's protective primal energy transform into a spindle shape, which saved an immense amount of effort amidst the surging current, another disciple asked with envy, "How should Senior Brother Wu interpret this?"

"Need you even ask?"

Wu Hao smiled faintly, as though he had long since fathomed Ling Qinghe's intentions. "With so many people in this second trial, Commander Ling could not possibly show deliberate partiality or exert pressure on any single individual. Therefore, within this formation, over the same distance, some places have greater resistance while others have less. Naturally, this is meant for us to find the more effortless paths on our own, thereby going further."

The other Wukong Mountain disciples nodded thoughtfully.

"Look, the first trial tests the foundation of body refining, and the third trial is undoubtedly a direct combat test against official disciples of the Wind and Cloud Guards. Although the second trial has been altered, it is likewise meant for us to display our comprehensive combat capability. And wisdom is undeniably an extremely crucial part of it!"

Wu Hao proudly tapped his own head, shaking it slightly. "How could such a small matter escape my notice? I only wonder which fools are still foolishly treading through the paths of high resistance!"

"Truly worthy of Senior Brother Wu!"

"I said that following our Senior Brother Wu would undoubtedly lead us right! See, everyone made the right choice in following the right person!"

"Needless to say, which of us doesn't trust Senior Brother Wu wholeheartedly?"

The several Wukong Mountain disciples chimed in excitedly, their words full of utmost reverence for Wu Hao.

"Junior brothers, please refrain from such praise! I, Wu Hao, have merely done what I ought to do. How could I possibly deserve such gratitude from all of you?"

Wu Hao smiled modestly before changing the subject. "However, from this point on, I fear everyone must rely on their own strength to press forward! Within fifty meters, I could still lend you a hand, but now we have reached sixty meters. If we were to continue walking together, Commander Ling might well be displeased!"

"I wish Senior Brother Wu complete success!"

"May you secure victory from the very start!"

"May Senior Brother Wu surpass all competitors..."

Listening to the heartfelt flattery of his junior brothers, Wu Hao nodded slightly and strode forward with an air of nonchalance.

As the leading disciple of Wukong Mountain for this trial, if he failed to advance eighty or ninety meters, how could he show his face to others? How could he bring glory to the sect's name?

...

Meanwhile, the disciples of the various sects began to move forward individually, no longer gathering in clusters.

As for the young cultivators from the prominent families of Ten Winds City, they had no intention of advancing shoulder to shoulder; they had parted ways right at the starting line. Having undergone rigorous trials within their respective families before being permitted to venture out, they possessed immense confidence in their own strength and naturally disdained borrowing the assistance of others.

Once past the fifty-meter mark, the distances separating the participating cultivators began to stretch wider and wider.

Those with formidable strength had already crossed seventy meters shortly thereafter, and were even approaching the eighty-meter mark. The weaker ones, however, could only linger around the fifty-meter line, daring neither to advance nor to retreat.

Advancing against the current required a considerable expenditure of effort, but firmly planting oneself in the water saved a great deal of mental exertion. By comparison, it was naturally the indisputable choice.

Ling Qinghe carefully sensed the basic movements of these youths, a cold smile playing in his heart. Jiang Zihe's performance was, as expected, outstanding, and the Hua, Ling, and Han families had indeed not disappointed. Among those hailing from various sects, the Golden Light Pavilion would probably see two individuals pass, while the other sects would manage barely one.

Although quite a few people had already crossed the fifty-meter boundary, Ling Qinghe had no intention of letting them slip by through making up the numbers. Although the third trial was guarded by members of the Wind and Cloud Guards, if too many people passed the second trial under his personal supervision only to crash and burn in the third, then even a fool would know he had up to no good behind the scenes.

Such a thing was naturally out of the question for Ling Qinghe. When the time of one stick of incense was nearly up, he would restore the fluctuations within the formation to normal, directly flushing all these opportunists out.

As for Luo Tian—humph, reaching eighty meters would already be quite impressive. He would use the second trial to blunt Luo Tian's sharpness, and eliminate him outright in the third trial, ruthlessly stamping upon the face of the Divine Sun Sect!

For a sect to finally produce a disciple, only for him to not only fail the Wind and Cloud Guards' examination but also become utterly disheartened thereafter—how amusing a prospect was that?

Sensing Luo Tian's current state, Ling Qinghe felt thoroughly gratified.

Jiang Zihe had already crossed the eighty-five-meter mark and was continuing forward, but this Luo Tian was currently lingering merely at the seventy-meter mark, struggling hard to take another step.

As for the few other youths favored by Ling Qinghe, they were also all past the seventy-meter mark.

Good, very good!

Ling Qinghe nodded slightly. He bore no ill will toward Luo Tian; in fact, he appreciated him somewhat. But this did not mean he would afford Liu Changtian an opportunity to build his reputation.

The saying went that when immortals fight, mortals suffer. The logic was simple: without strength, you possessed no qualification or right to speak; you could only endure, and if you could not endure, you simply died.

...

Luo Tian gritted his teeth. He knew that even if he changed his position, he would still have to bear these pressures, so he entertained no other thoughts. Instead, he recalled the image from the illusion brought by the Great Abyss Sect's Water-Taming Divine Turtle on that day—no matter how monstrous the waves surged, the turtle remained steadfast and immovable.

The *Shape-Will Nine Beasts Fist* was indeed an exceptional body-refining secret technique, tempering the physical body by imitating the movements of fierce beasts. Compared to other body-refining secret techniques such as *Jade Maiden Pouring Vase* or *General Striking the Gong*, although it was much more difficult to cultivate, its effects were unquestionably superior.

It was precisely by relying on this turtle form that Luo Tian was able to conserve more of his strength, accumulating, saving, and waiting for the final outburst.

As for the movement-type primal skill *Phantom Traces*, Luo Tian had naturally considered it. The fluctuations of the true meaning naturally left some loopholes to exploit, and Luo Tian had already sensed them. However, at present, he did not dare to use *Phantom Traces* lightly.

There were still dozens of meters to go. If Ling Qinghe were to truly perceive his intentions, there would be ample time to mobilize even greater force to obstruct him.

He had to wait! Wait until the very last moment!

Sensing the rate at which his primal energy was being consumed, Luo Tian felt slightly reassured; what remained was sufficient to persist for a considerable duration. All he should do now was to advance with all his might during the time that remained, getting as close to Ling Qinghe as possible. Then, moments before the examination ended, he would make one final exertion and unleash his full strength for a sprint!

Moreover, Ling Qinghe's comprehension of the true meaning of control was mediocre. Spanning such a vast expanse of water, his consumption of primal energy was also not low, making it utterly impossible for him to wield it as smoothly as his own fingers. Judging by the current situation, Ling Qinghe must have made him bear a greater portion of the pressure, which meant the burden placed upon others would be correspondingly much lighter.

If these examinees were true elites, so be it; they would eventually pass regardless of whether the resistance was slightly greater or smaller. But if several mediocre individuals were allowed to pass the second trial as well, that would be far too abnormal.

At the very end, the pressure he faced would inevitably decrease. When that time came, it would be the moment to unleash his power!

A sharp glint flashed in Luo Tian's eyes, his gaze resolute and piercing. (To be continued.)