"You've all waited long enough."
"Oh, not at all, we just got here," Han Lingsha quickly responded.
Roughly an hour later, Huai Shuo and Xuanji arrived from the nearby path. Huai Shuo, noticing they had likely waited for some time, apologized politely. Han Lingsha, eager to show courtesy, assured him they had only just arrived. Understanding her intent, Huai Shuo chose not to dwell on it further.
"Since my junior sister and I are not yet highly skilled, we won't be able to carry all of you through sword flight. I'll need to borrow this young man's sword," Huai Shuo said, gesturing toward Yun Tianhe.
"This?" Yun Tianhe didn't hesitate and handed his Wangshu Sword over.
"This sword…" The moment Huai Shuo held the Wangshu Sword, his expression shifted. As a skilled swordsmith and cultivator of the Qionghua Sect, he instantly recognized the sword's extraordinary nature. He cast a long, curious glance at Yun Tianhe, realizing that someone carrying such a rare weapon could not be ordinary.
"Senior brother, this sword is so strange! I've never seen anything like it before," Xuanji remarked, taking the sword from Huai Shuo with great curiosity. However, she quickly lost interest and handed it back.
Xuanji lacked the level of skill necessary to perceive the sword's uniqueness. Huai Shuo, on the other hand, immediately sensed its extraordinary power. As a dual cultivator skilled in both swordsmanship and forging, he had a profound appreciation for the sword's craftsmanship.
His earlier claim of "not highly skilled" was merely humility. In the Qionghua Sect, all disciples were expected to master sword flight, but being able to carry others while flying required a significantly higher level of skill. Huai Shuo was one of the few who could achieve this, even using someone else's sword.
"When we take to the skies, don't be afraid. Just stand on the sword and maintain your balance. By the way, does anyone here have a fear of heights?" Huai Shuo asked, suddenly remembering an important detail.
Fear of heights was a dealbreaker for sword cultivators. Over the years, Qionghua Sect had encountered many disciples who struggled with this issue. Those who couldn't overcome their fear were ultimately advised to leave the sect. Similarly, poor balance or coordination could also disqualify prospective disciples.
"I'm fine. How about the rest of you?" Han Lingsha asked, turning to her companions.
"Fear of heights? What's that?" Yun Tianhe scratched his head in confusion.
"It's when you're scared of looking down from high places," Han Lingsha explained.
"Oh… I'm not sure," Yun Tianhe said, still puzzled.
"You're such a headache!" Han Lingsha groaned, preparing to explain further when Huai Shuo interrupted.
"There's no need to overthink it. A simple test will do."
Summoning his sword, Huai Shuo took each of them into the air briefly to test their reactions. It was the most straightforward method to determine if they had any issues with heights.
"This is amazing! Can we do it again?" Yun Tianhe exclaimed excitedly after landing, clearly thrilled by the experience.
"Yun Tianhe!" Han Lingsha quickly pulled him aside, worried he might annoy Huai Shuo and jeopardize their chances of joining the sect.
Huai Shuo, however, wasn't bothered by such a trivial matter. His calm demeanor was one of his defining traits, making his eventual demise all the more tragic.
After confirming that none of them had a fear of heights, the group prepared to take to the skies. Huai Shuo carried Daniel on his sword, Yun Tianhe and Han Lingsha stood on the Wangshu Sword, while Liu Mengli shared a sword with Xuanji. Naturally, Huai Shuo controlled the Wangshu Sword, as Xuanji lacked the skill to manage it.
"This is much safer than flying on a broomstick. Looks like my enchanted broom can retire now," Daniel muttered to himself.
Standing behind Huai Shuo, Daniel felt the flow of spiritual energy around him. Sword flight, which initially seemed perilous, turned out to be incredibly stable. In fact, it felt safer than modern air travel—there were no malfunctions or crashes to worry about.
"Woohoo!" Yun Tianhe shouted excitedly from atop the Wangshu Sword. If he had been able to control it himself, he would likely have attempted all sorts of stunts. Even Han Lingsha, standing behind him, couldn't hide her excitement.
Huai Shuo stayed close to the Wangshu Sword, maintaining steady control, while Xuanji and Liu Mengli led the way ahead.
"Sword flight—traveling thousands of miles in an instant. Turns out it's not an exaggeration," Daniel thought, marveling at the breathtaking scenery rapidly passing below. He estimated that sword flight was significantly faster than Iron Man's armor.
"We've arrived."
Despite the vast distance between Chen Prefecture in central China and the Qionghua Sect in the Kunlun Mountains—thousands of miles apart—the journey took less than ten minutes, roughly one-third of the time it would take for a single stick of incense to burn.
In ancient terms, the duration of a stick of incense depended on its length, composition, and environmental factors, but it typically referred to about thirty minutes. The group had traveled thousands of miles in under ten minutes. By comparison, traveling the same distance on horseback would take at least ten to fifteen days under optimal conditions and several months for most travelers.
"This is Buxian Town. We can only take you this far. The Qionghua Sect is in that direction. You'll need to climb the mountain on your own. Hopefully, the next time we meet, it will be as fellow disciples," Huai Shuo explained after they landed.
With that, Huai Shuo and Xuanji bid farewell and flew off. To join the Qionghua Sect, one had to pass the trials set by the sect independently. This was the standard procedure for those seeking to join on their own initiative. However, disciples who were personally selected by the sect's elders, such as Huai Shuo, Xuanji, and even Murong Ziying, did not have to undergo these trials.
"Senior Brother, why are you being so kind to them? You could've just told them how to get here and left it at that," Xuanji asked as they soared through the sky.
"They're different. I have a feeling it won't be long before we call them Junior Brother and Junior Sister," Huai Shuo replied without elaborating further.
Though kind-hearted, Huai Shuo didn't extend such courtesy to just anyone. His decision to assist Yun Tianhe and the others stemmed from their pure and untainted hearts. Even Daniel, despite his calculating mind, bore no malice toward others.
"Let's start climbing right away!" Han Lingsha declared eagerly once Huai Shuo had left.
"No," Yun Tianhe said firmly, stepping in front of her.
"What's wrong with you?" Han Lingsha snapped, irritated by his sudden defiance.
"Lingsha, let's rest for a day and start tomorrow."
"Rest? I'm not even tired! Are you, a wild mountain man, tired already?" Han Lingsha teased, laughing.
"Lingsha, your face…" Liu Mengli interjected gently.
"What about my face? Huh?" Han Lingsha dismissed the concern at first, but as she spoke, she suddenly swayed as if she were about to collapse. Yun Tianhe quickly caught her.
"Is it this serious because of the sword flight?" Daniel mused to himself, observing Han Lingsha's pale complexion. Even Yun Tianhe, typically oblivious, noticed how severe it was.
"Lingsha, are you okay?" Yun Tianhe asked, clearly worried.
"I'm fine, just a little dizzy," Han Lingsha insisted, attempting to push him away. However, as soon as she tried to stand, she wobbled and nearly fell again.
"We should find an inn and let her rest," Daniel suggested. Despite Han Lingsha's reluctance, Yun Tianhe, Liu Mengli, and Daniel all agreed, leaving her with no choice but to follow their plan.
Buxian Town was a relatively small settlement but the only one within a radius of several dozen miles. It thrived as a green oasis amidst the surrounding desert and owed its prosperity to the nearby Qionghua Sect.
The town flourished thanks to the steady stream of aspiring cultivators, martial artists, and noble scions seeking entry to the sect.
"There are only two rooms available, so we'll have to make do."
Due to the town's popularity, its inns were frequently full. Fortunately, Daniel and the others had arrived at a good time, securing two rooms just as some guests were checking out.
"You guys were worried for nothing. I'm fine now—probably just a bit overtired," Han Lingsha said later that evening, after drinking a diluted portion of water from Daniel's Fountain of Youth. Though she had recovered significantly, they decided to wait until the next day to climb the mountain.
The following morning, the group set out early, carrying supplies prepared the night before. Upon entering the mountain path known as the "Path of Supreme Unity," they encountered their first trial—a guardian spirit.
The Path of Supreme Unity was divided into sections: the Ziwei Path, the Baihao Path, and the Jixuan Path. It was littered with traps, mazes, and spell
formations designed to test prospective disciples. Though these trials were not intended to be lethal, they sometimes resulted in injuries or even fatalities due to unexpected encounters with wild beasts or stray demons.
"It looks like Xingtian!" Daniel remarked, studying the headless guardian spirit. Its chest bore a large mouth, and it wielded a shield and a massive axe, resembling the legendary figure Xingtian. Of course, its power was far from comparable to that of the mythical deity.
Before anyone could act, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck Yun Tianhe.
"Tianhe, are you okay?" Han Lingsha and Liu Mengli rushed to his side. Yun Tianhe, leaning on the Wangshu Sword, looked up with his hair standing on end.
"It doesn't hurt, but I can't move," he said, his body temporarily paralyzed by the lightning.
The lightning spell was designed to incapacitate rather than harm, as part of the trial. However, the same spell would have rendered most ordinary martial artists unconscious.
"What an interesting method. If this could be used on a larger scale, it would be like creating an army out of thin air," Daniel thought.
Although the guardian spirit had been designed as a trial, it took the combined efforts of all four to defeat it. In the game's storyline, Murong Ziying would have conveniently shown up to handle it. This time, however, the group had to rely on teamwork, with Daniel even allowing himself to be struck by lightning once to better understand its effects.
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