Chapter 82: Trial of Courage
It was exactly the body of Jiao Xiuyuan.
Now, three months have passed, and something unusual has gradually emerged.
Unlike normal flesh and blood, it looks more like a dead tree, with a withered yellow color.
Li Fan kicked it with his foot, and the sound was exactly like kicking wood.
Just then, a voice came from behind Li Fan.
"This is just a puppet, not the real body. This is Jiao Xiuyuan's usual method. Don't be surprised, fellow Taoist."
Li Fan turned his head and saw that the person who spoke was also a cultivator in the Qi Refining Stage.
He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance. Are you also a member of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?"
The man nodded and said, "Yes, I am Chen An, and I have been a member of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance for more than thirty years."
"My name is Li Fan. From what you said, it seems that you are quite familiar with Jiao Xiuyuan?"
Chen An smiled and said, "I can't say I'm familiar with him. But after living on the island for so long, I still know some things I should know."
"Take Jiao Xiuyuan for example. He opened a grocery store called Qianlitang on the island, selling everything. It is said that he has the official connections of the Ten Thousand Immortals League behind him, and he can occasionally sell some good things."
"Besides that, he also often does intelligence business. But this guy never puts himself in danger, he always uses puppets to clear the way."
Hearing this, Li Fan nodded slowly: "Are you greedy for money and afraid of death? I see."
Chen An laughed loudly: "Daoyou's summary is very correct! Greedy and afraid of death are the most appropriate words to describe Jiao Xiuyuan!"
After laughing, Chen An suddenly said, "When I was copying the exercises in the library before, I saw others copying for a while, and then taking a break when they were tired. They would copy again after they had recovered their energy. Only you, Daoist friend, did not stop for three months. I really admire you!"
"But I don't know what the deep meaning of your action is. If we only talk about the speed of copying, you will definitely not be able to catch up with those who take frequent rests because of your physical and mental fatigue."
"I wonder if you can help me solve this puzzle?" Chen An bowed and asked.
Li Fan pondered for a moment before speaking: "I dare not tell you the deep meaning, it's just my intuition."
"The first test that Qin Tang mentioned is concentration."
"To be focused is to be free from distractions. Only when one is not disturbed by any external factors can one be called truly focused. Is physical and mental fatigue also a distraction? If one stops because of it, is that not the case? "
"It's just my humble opinion, just listen to it."
Li Fan said modestly.
Chen An was thoughtful after hearing this.
Li Fan stopped talking and went back to the house to rest.
The next day, Qin Tang did not show up again.
No one dared to run around, but just waited patiently inside the building.
Early on the third day, Qin Tang appeared in front of everyone, drinking and staggering.
"Good wine, good wine!"
After a burp, he squinted his eyes and looked at the monks.
"Today, the second test begins!"
"This time, I'm going to test your courage!"
"The road to immortality is long and filled with countless hardships. Do you have the courage to face them one by one?"
Qin Tang smiled slightly.
Everyone only felt a flash before their eyes, and in a flash they had left the attic and appeared at the seaside.
All his magical powers were blocked, and he became no different from an ordinary person.
Qin Tang disappeared.
Only his voice could be heard from afar.
"I'm waiting for you on the other side of the sea. Use your courage to cross this sea!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
There are brave people who walk to the beach and take one step out.
The sea water suddenly froze into ice and caught the man steadily.
The man was overjoyed and kept walking forward, soon disappearing from everyone's sight.
Seeing that someone had gotten there first, the rest of the people also rushed into the sea impatiently.
Li Fan glanced and saw Baili Chen doing the same, then he walked into the sea.
But Sikong Yi still stayed at the beach, without making any move.
Li Fan no longer paid attention to it. He just calmed his mind and slowly stepped onto the surface of the sea.
The water beneath my feet froze into ice, and there was no sign of the rest of the people in my sight.
In an instant, I was left alone on the vast ocean.
Li Fan looked calm and walked forward step by step.
The sun rose and the moon set above my head, and I didn’t know how much time had passed.
The scenery that Li Fan saw remained unchanged.
This sea seems to have no end.
Even though Li Fan already knew the answer in advance, he still couldn't help feeling powerless and hesitant.
At this time, Li Fan could feel the thickness of the ice under his feet gradually decreasing.
Taking a deep breath, Li Fan drove away the doubts in his heart.
Continue to move forward resolutely.
The ice beneath my feet became thick again.
This second level tests your courage.
It not only tests your courage to face external things, but also tests your courage to face your own heart.
After walking for a long time on the vast ocean, I still couldn't see the opposite coast.
Do you ever wonder if you have lost your way?
Do you feel anxious again, wondering whether this ocean has an end?
Will you become panic again and lose the courage to move forward?
Or give up on yourself and never move forward?
Li Fan walked step by step, also questioning his own heart.
Even after hundreds of years of reincarnation, he has never been like this.
Put aside all external things for a while and just think while walking.
Crossing the sea on ice is just like the path to immortality.
The road ahead is long and the end is invisible.
Halfway through the journey, I looked around and was no longer sure whether I had lost my way.
From beginning to end, I was alone and had no one to rely on.
Time passes, and it seems like it will go on like this forever.
Endless.
…
Even so, can we remain firm in our beliefs and never lose the courage to move forward?
Even though I know that this test will eventually stop.
But Li Fan was also shaken in his heart.
Because this journey across the sea took too long.
One year, two years...
Decades have passed.
Li Fan's hair turned gray and his body became hunched, but he never stopped moving forward.
Until his body was too old to walk anymore.
Then he fell weakly onto the sea.
His vision became blurred, and before his consciousness disappeared, Li Fan seemed to see something.
On the shore not far ahead, Qin Tang, dressed in white, stood there alone.
Qin Tang raised the wine gourd towards Li Fan and took a sip with a smile.
…
After opening his eyes, Li Fan found that he and a group of monks were still in that building.
It’s just that a long time has passed since the memory, and many people look confused.
It was a long time before they regained their consciousness.
"It is easy to cross the river of the underworld, but it is difficult to cross the sea in your heart."
"This second level, the Trial of Courage, is over."
"The day after tomorrow morning, we will have the final test."
After saying that, Qin Tang left, shaking his head, taking with him the wine gourd that he never left behind.
Thanks to book friends 20170818114219336, Qianqianqianweiwu, and Chixiansheng for their rewards.
Thanks to my brothers for the monthly tickets and recommendation tickets.
(End of this chapter)
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