Chapter 35: Chapter 32 Fire Lotus Law Pattern
Outside the Fire and Water Dao, the Three-Eyed Giant Ape and Jiang Yao watched Ye Chen, whose spirit was stirred by his success in passing the second trial of the "Mirror Light Spirit Wall".
In the "Path of Fire" of the Fire and Water Dao.
Just as Ye Chen had illuminated all nine dim lines on the "Mirror Light Spirit Wall", the giant "Mirror Light Spirit Wall", which was over ten meters tall and wide, saw those nine lines suddenly start moving rapidly. In an instant, bright light covered the entire Mirror Wall.
And in the moment that the light covered the entire Mirror Wall, the Mirror Light Spirit Wall burst with a loud "boom", turning into faint firelight that scattered and disappeared, revealing once more the path forward in the "Path of Fire".
"Finally, it's time to enter the last trial of this Outer Mansion."
Ye Chen gazed ahead, took a deep breath, and strode further into the corridor.
Although the second trial did not yield as direct a reward as the first trial in the "Fire Rune Chart", where his True Qi Realm broke through to the sixth level of True Qi and he obtained two sets of superior mystical-grade techniques, his gains were even more significant and precious than those from the first trial.
The ambience of the Wind-Thunder, the understanding of wind and thunder imparted by the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode within the Mirror Light Spirit Wall, was now deeply engraved in his mind—these were the ambience wielded by the incredibly powerful master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode!
With the insight into these two ambience, given time, Ye Chen was absolutely certain that he would be able to master the two superior mystical-grade techniques, "Wind Thunder Sword Skills" and "Wind-Thunder Movement", to perfection, and from these ambience, he would be able to extract the true "Wind-Thunder Sword Ambience"!
By then, with two sets of superior mystical-grade techniques and a new sword ambience even more fearsome than the "Raging Storm Sword Ambience" at his disposal, Ye Chen's strength would elevate to an inconceivable degree — increasing his current power by more than tenfold was no empty talk!
Ye Chen calmed his mind, pushing all distracting thoughts aside. With significant gains from the first two trials, he was brimming with anticipation for the challenges and rewards that awaited in the final trial of the Outer Mansion.
After another quarter of an hour's journey down the corridor, Ye Chen suddenly noticed a faint figure sitting cross-legged on the ground at the end of the passage.
This faint figure, dressed in a green Daoist robe and appearing thin and hale, was unmistakably the middle-aged scholar who had demonstrated techniques to Ye Chen in the Mirror Light Spirit Wall—it was the silhouette of the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode!
Outside the Fire and Water Dao, when the Three-Eyed Giant Ape saw the faint figure that had suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor, disbelief filled all three of its divine eyes, "How is this possible?
The master's avatar appearing in the Mirror Light Spirit Wall to demonstrate techniques is already extremely rare, but for it to truly emerge within the Fire and Water Dao is completely unprecedented!"
"Now, why would it appear during this third trial, the challenge of willpower?"
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape knew its master had left behind an avatar in the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode to guard two astonishingly precious secret treasures in the Inner Mansion.
Over these past three hundred years, those who undertook the trials of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode could only hear its master's voice. Even within the Mirror Light Spirit Wall, they would see merely a hazy figure practicing techniques, unable to discern the face clearly.
For Ye Chen and Jiang Yao to witness the true appearance of the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode within the Mirror Light Spirit Wall was already extremely rare, let alone directly prompting the master's avatar left in the abode to manifest.
This was an event the Three-Eyed Giant Ape had never encountered before!
"Could it be that the master's avatar has appeared to personally convey something important to this Ye Chen?" the Three-Eyed Giant Ape speculated.
In the Path of Fire, Ye Chen's heart skipped a beat when he suddenly saw the sitting figure at the end of the corridor ahead.
"Elder, are you the master of this abode, the one who just now imparted the techniques' ambience to me?"
Ye Chen looked at the figure before him, which seemed both real and illusory, leaving him unsure whether it was a person or a manifestation of True Qi.
The faint figure sitting on the ground looked at Ye Chen and chuckled lightly, "Indeed, I am the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode, but I am merely an avatar that my true self left in the abode. My real body has long since left this place."
"Ye Chen, that is your name, isn't it? Just call me Qian Jizi."
"Indeed, I am called Ye Chen," Ye Chen replied to the figure claiming to be Qian Jizi with a respectful bow.
Although he did not know what Qian Jizi meant by an avatar, considering the term, it must be a powerful technique available only at a high level of cultivation.
Qian Jizi looked at Ye Chen and nodded slightly, "It has been more than three hundred years since I have truly appeared. At most, I have projected myself onto the Mirror Light Spirit Wall just to observe trial-goers like you."
"However, Ye Chen, it is you who have made me feel compelled to reveal myself!"
As Qian Jizi spoke, a rare smile appeared on his illusory face, "At the first trial, your combat strength far exceeded your current realm, which surprised me.
In the second trial, within a short span of three days, you understood the two ambiances that I demonstrated, which made me extremely delighted. Your aptitude and comprehension are the highest I've seen in over three hundred years! Even higher than that little girl I saw three years ago."
"The little girl you saw three years ago?
Could it be the one the senior Three-Eyed Giant Ape mentioned, the girl who passed the 'Path of Water' three trials and is waiting to enter the Inner Mansion?" Upon hearing Qian Jizi's praise of the girl, Ye Chen also became eager to meet her—the girl who had passed the three trials of the Outer Mansion three years before him!
What Ye Chen didn't realize was that the girl he wanted to meet was Jiang Yao, who was currently watching him take the trials from outside the Fire and Water Dao!
"Originally, your performance in the first two trials was unparalleled, and even without this third trial, I was thinking about letting you enter the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode Inner Mansion.
Unfortunately, the trials of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode are ones I personally set up over three hundred years ago.
Especially this third trial of the Outer Mansion, it's pivotal to whether you can truly receive the final inheritance, so I can't just let you pass directly," Qian Jizi said with a sigh.
"Senior, don't mind it. The rewards you gave me in the first two trials are already plentiful. Let me pass this third trial with my own strength, just like everyone else!" Ye Chen said with a smile.
Qian Jizi nodded, "Not arrogant or impatient, very good, very good! Since it's so, I shall inform you of the method of the third trial."
The method of the third trial?
Hearing Qian Jizi say this, Ye Chen listened attentively.
"This third trial is a test of willpower, aimed at assessing your fortitude!"
"In this 'Path of Fire' third trial, you will undergo the terrifying ordeal of 'Ten Thousand Flames Burning Body'. You must successfully cultivate the 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern' on your forehead amidst the boundless pain to pass the trial!"
"Cultivating the 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern' is extremely difficult! You must have an immensely strong will to withstand the pain of the burning flames, and at the same time, you need to cultivate secret techniques for nurturing the 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern'!"
"If you fail to cultivate the 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern' in this third trial, you will also fail the third trial of the Outer Mansion. At that time, all your memories within the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode will be burned away by the flames!"
At this point, Qian Jizi looked towards Ye Chen, "However, Ye Chen, if other challengers fail this third trial, their memories of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode will be burned, and I will send them away directly. But even if you fail, I will preserve your memories within the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode.
Whether it is the mysterious grade techniques or the Wind-Thunder Ambience, all will be retained! That way, even if you have to leave the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode midway, you will still make significant gains!"
"But, Ye Chen, I hope more that you can pass this third trial of the Outer Mansion and truly cultivate the 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern'. Then, together with the little girl from three years ago, you may enter the Inner Mansion and obtain the real Secret Treasure that I have placed inside!"
Qian Jizi's caring and expectant words warmed Ye Chen's heart.
Even if he didn't pass the third trial, Qian Jizi still chose to preserve the rewards of the first two trials for Ye Chen. Such recognition was extremely precious to him.
"Senior, I will certainly try my best to pass this third trial and not let down your expectations!"
Ye Chen said with the utmost seriousness.
Seeing Ye Chen's earnest demeanor, Qian Jizi was even more gratified, "Good, good! Then I will impart to you the secret technique for cultivating the 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern'.
I hope you can once again rely on your own strength to pass this 'Ten Thousand Flames Burning Body' trial and cultivate the 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern'!"
As Qian Jizi's voice fell, the verses of the secret technique were transmitted directly into Ye Chen's mind.
Ye Chen sat cross-legged on the ground, committing the content of these secret techniques to memory.
Once all verses of the secret techniques were imprinted in his mind and Ye Chen had memorized them completely, Qian Jizi's booming voice came through, "Thousand Lotus Cave Abode Outer Mansion third trial, 'Ten Thousand Flames Burning Body' ordeal, begins!"
"Ye Chen, cultivate your own 'Fire Lotus Law Pattern'!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the midst of that resounding voice, countless flames burst forth from all directions within the Path of Fire corridor. In an instant, the entire corridor turned into a world of fire.