Mysterious Space, Thunder God Incarnate (Request Follow Reading)

As Lin Xuankong's thoughts turned, the other Martial Cultivators continued their tests.

"My name is Guo Yun. I am twenty-four years old, at the Late Mortal Transformation Layer One, and I practice my family's Iron Halberd Art." A Martial Cultivator stepped from the crowd and cupped his hands toward Gu Beicheng in salute.

He drew a deep breath, walked up to the Heavenly Derivation Stone, stirred his vitality and blood, then raised his hand and pressed it against the handprint.

Three breaths later, the special patterns on the Heavenly Derivation Stone flickered faintly. Yellow light lit up at the first mark, flowing and circling without cease like a spiritual serpent coiling about, wondrous beyond compare!

Seeing that someone had finally lit a mark, the Martial Cultivators were greatly encouraged.

Secretly delighted, Guo Yun quickened the circulation of his vitality and blood, continuously pouring it into the handprint. Unfortunately, no matter how desperately he exerted himself with all the strength he had, the second mark remained utterly still!

Dozens of breaths later, he stepped back unwillingly.

Next, another three people failed to light a mark. However, the man surnamed Yang, Yang Shan, along with three other Martial Cultivators, all lit one mark each, and the four of them were each delighted.

What made everyone exceedingly envious was that Bald Li Er, in the later tests, actually lit two marks.

Moreover, those two marks were exceptionally bright. As their radiance flowed, they shone dazzlingly, making even Lin Xuankong's silver hair in the distance gleam.

Steward Ma, who had been standing with Gu Beicheng, could not help showing a face full of delight at the sight.

He quickly departed and went to report the matter to Manager Jiang Yurán inside the Martial Arts Hall.

Gu Beicheng looked at Bald Li Er and said:

"To light two marks proves that you are a genius exceptionally compatible with the Yin Talisman Art. In the future, you have a ninety percent chance of cultivating the wondrous Yin Talisman Lightning!

"Junior Brother Li, wait a moment. Once Steward Ma reports this to Manager Jiang, you will likely be able to join our sect directly without participating in the Combat Tournament. You may even have a chance to become a Deputy Manager overseeing disciples right away!"

As Gu Beicheng spoke with the man surnamed Li, even the way he addressed him had changed.

It was plain to see just how difficult and rare it was to light two marks!

The Martial Cultivators around them who had lit one mark could not help looking at Li Er with faces full of envy.

They would still have to fight and slaughter their way through the competition, defeating formidable opponents before they could have a chance of becoming Deputy Managers. Yet this Li Er might very well become a Deputy Manager directly!

But talent was a meal bestowed by heaven. They could only envy him or secretly resent him; what else could they do?

Only two people remained untested.

The Long-Faced Cultivator, who stood second to last, turned to glance at Lin Xuankong at the very end of the line. After giving a laugh, he put on an unconcerned air and walked toward the Heavenly Derivation Stone.

Yet once he stood near the Heavenly Derivation Stone, his expression grew somewhat tense.

However, after he circulated his vitality and blood and poured it into the handprint, the first mark quickly brightened.

The Long-Faced Cultivator was overjoyed and hurriedly urged his vitality and blood onward. Seven or eight breaths later, the second mark also showed the faintest stir.

The people around him immediately praised him again and again, filled with envy.

Strangely enough, the second mark lit by the Long-Faced Cultivator was extremely dim, like the faint glimmer of a candle on the verge of going out.

The Long-Faced Cultivator repeatedly urged his vitality and blood, but after flickering a few times, that second mark dimmed again, leaving only the first mark illuminated!

The surrounding Martial Cultivators all wore puzzled expressions at this sight.

They had seen people light one mark.

They had seen people light two marks.

But lighting one and a half, only for that half to go out again... they truly could not make heads or tails of it!

After the Long-Faced Cultivator stepped several paces away, Gu Beicheng suddenly sighed and said, "Layman Lu Guanchi, you are only nineteen. By rights, this should be the age when your vitality and blood are at their most vigorous, yet this has happened."

"Forgive my bluntness, but may I ask whether Layman Lu married multiple wives and concubines several years ago, and whether you and your wives were rather affectionate?"

Lu Guanchi asked in confusion, "My family arranged a concubine for me when I was thirteen. Later, I took several more, though I have not married a principal wife yet! But what does that have to do with testing the marks?"

Gu Beicheng sighed again.

"We Martial Cultivators need not avoid affection between husband and wife, but you took a concubine in your early youth.

"I imagine that in your boyhood, you indulged excessively in pleasure and greatly damaged the foundation of your vitality and blood. That is why your vitality and blood have declined, leaving you unable to light the second mark!

"Alas, what a terrible pity! Otherwise, if you too had lit the second mark, our Yin Talisman Sect would have received two joyous blessings today!"

Upon hearing this, the Long-Faced Cultivator Lu Guanchi's expression changed. "H-how is that possible? I did not indulge that excessively!"

Though he said so aloud, boundless vexation and regret had already risen in his heart. Secretly, he began cursing the pharmacy that had sold him virility medicine.

The surrounding Martial Cultivators shook their heads repeatedly, and some even began whispering among themselves.

Everyone lamented that this Long-Faced Cultivator had clearly possessed astonishing talent, only to squander it himself. It was truly regrettable!

Of course, many said it was regrettable, while inwardly cursing that he deserved it. After all, most people hated those who had what they lacked, and laughed at those who had nothing.

Listening to the crowd's quiet discussion,

Lu Guanchi, already filled with endless vexation and regret, saw his expression change again and again. He nearly had no face left to remain where he stood and wished he could cover his face and flee the training grounds at once.

Yet thinking of the lofty position of Deputy Manager, he gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and a flash of viciousness surfaced in his eyes before he withdrew into the line.

At this point, only Lin Xuankong remained untested.

He stepped out from the crowd and walked toward the Heavenly Derivation Stone.

The many Martial Cultivators had been whispering among themselves, but when they saw him leave the crowd, they could not help shifting their attention to him.

Seeing that no one was discussing him any longer, Lu Guanchi also raised his head. Looking at Lin Xuankong's back, he sneered inwardly. Even someone as young as me could not light the second mark after damaging my foundation. This old fellow is probably so depleted he pisses constantly and sprays in two streams. How could he possibly light a mark!

Standing near the Heavenly Derivation Stone, Lin Xuankong naturally felt somewhat nervous as well.

After all, this kind of test depended entirely on heaven's will. His own strength could not determine the outcome; he could only try his luck!

He secretly regulated his breathing for a moment. Then his gaze hardened as he mobilized the abundant Mortal Transformation Vitality of the Pine Crane Longevity Technique, forcefully pressed his right hand against the handprint, and poured a massive amount of vitality and blood into it!

It has to light up!

At the very least, light one mark!

Lin Xuankong silently urged himself.

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly felt that the vitality and blood he had poured into the Heavenly Derivation Stone seemed to connect with something. It was as though, in the unseen depths, some incomparably powerful existence had formed a subtle link with him.

The next moment, Lin Xuankong felt his mind shake. The scene before him changed, and he found himself in an infinitely vast space.

In this boundless expanse, the sky was blood-red, while below stretched an endless ocean. He could see countless enormous Demonic creatures swimming rapidly through the limitless sea, their gigantic eyes above the surface all staring in the same direction.

Lin Xuankong followed their gazes curiously. The sight that met his eyes immediately filled his heart with endless terror.

Between the blood-red sky and the boundless ocean stood a colossal humanoid being covered in lightning, its head propping up the heavens and its feet planted in the sea. It wielded divine thunder, attacking the countless Demonic creatures converging upon it!

A bizarre Thousand-Eyed Giant Ape, a tentacle monster thousands of zhang long, and enormous turtles with bird heads and snake tails all erupted with Demonic Energy beneath the endless barrage of divine lightning, turning to dust!

Suddenly,

The colossal humanoid being wreathed in lightning turned its head and looked toward where Lin Xuankong stood.

With its gaze upon him, an indescribable and terrifying pressure, along with a sense of mortal peril, instantly enveloped Lin Xuankong's mind.

At that moment, Lin Xuankong felt his liver and gallbladder rupture, his mind lose control, and his soul nearly scatter into the winds!

Immediately after,

Lin Xuankong's entire body trembled. The scene before his eyes shifted, and he returned to the training grounds, with the Heavenly Derivation Stone before him once more.

His breathing came in rapid gasps, his face looked awful, and only after several breaths did the terror in his eyes gradually fade.

What the hell was that?

Was that space, those Demonic creatures, and that divine being wielding thunder an illusion, or were they real?

When he had watched the others activate the handprint,

They had all merely worn serious expressions as they circulated their vitality and blood. Nothing like this had happened to them!

Why had this happened to me?

After steadying himself, he suppressed the countless doubts and fears in his heart, then raised his head to look above the Heavenly Derivation Stone. Had I lit a mark?