From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 147 Brilliance Blooms at the Limits

Beyond the portal lay a narrow passage, its walls covered in sharp spikes that gleamed with an eerie green light, like lurking venomous snakes flicking their tongues in a chilling manner. I took a deep breath, not daring to be careless, and cautiously moved forward. Fei Yu followed behind me, his steps light, seemingly completely unaffected by the spikes.

I quickened my pace, trying to widen the gap between us. The road ahead was long and uncertain; I had to reach the end as quickly as possible. However, my spiritual energy had been significantly depleted in the previous battles and trials, and I felt increasingly powerless. My legs felt like lead, each step incredibly difficult.

"Give up," Fei Yu's voice came from behind, tinged with mockery. "You've already lost your chance."

I gritted my teeth and ignored him. I couldn't give up; I had to persevere. For myself, and for those who had helped me.

The spikes on both sides of the passage grew denser, forcing me to slow down and carefully avoid them. My clothes were torn by the spikes, and I sustained several small cuts that burned with pain.

I felt a wave of dizziness, my body swayed, and I almost fell. I grabbed the wall, trying to steady myself. No, I can't fall. I took a deep breath and kept walking.

Suddenly, my feet lost their footing, and I plummeted downwards. I screamed and instinctively reached out to grab the walls around me, but only managed to grab a handful of sharp spikes. The spikes pierced my palm, and the intense pain made me cry out involuntarily.

I fell heavily to the ground, feeling as if all the bones in my body were shattered. I struggled to get up, but found that I couldn't move.

Feiyu appeared above me, looking down at me with a hint of indifference in his eyes. "It seems you've reached your limit."

I gritted my teeth and remained silent. I could still feel the spiritual energy flowing within my body, though faint, it hadn't completely disappeared.

I closed my eyes and mobilized the last bit of spiritual energy within my body. I felt a warm current surge from my dantian, flowing throughout my entire body. My body gradually regained sensation, and the pain lessened considerably.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Feiyu. "I haven't lost yet."

I struggled to my feet. Although my body was still in pain, I felt my heart was more determined.

"Is that so?" Fei Yu's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then let me see how long you can hold out."

His figure flashed and disappeared from my sight.

The surrounding environment began to change. The spikes on the walls disappeared, replaced by a hazy white mist. Within the mist, illusory images appeared, all depicting the tragic fates of the previously failed inheritors. Some were pierced by spikes, some were swallowed by the mist, and some died in despair.

These images, like nightmares, constantly assaulted my mind, filling me with waves of fear and despair.

“Give up,” a voice whispered in my ear. “You have no hope.”

I turned around abruptly, but saw nothing.

"Who are you?" I asked warily.

“I am your inner demon,” the voice replied, “I am your deepest fear.”

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Is that so?" the voice sneered. "Then let me see just how strong you really are."

The surrounding images became clearer and more terrifying. I saw a woman being impaled by sharp spikes, bleeding profusely, screaming in agony.

"No..." I covered my ears, trying to stop those sounds from entering my mind.

“You can’t escape,” the voice said. “You are destined to fail.”

A light appeared before my eyes, and in the light, I saw Wen Chen's figure.

“Wen Chen…” I murmured.

"Xiao Yao, don't give up." Wen Chen's voice rang in my ears, gentle yet firm.

I looked up and gazed in the direction of the light.

"I will not give up……"

Wen Chen's voice was like a ray of light, piercing through the thick fog around me and dispelling the fear that was growing in my heart. I took a deep breath, and the terrifying images seemed to fade a little. I couldn't give up, for Wen Chen's sake, and for my own, I had to persevere.

The surrounding mist gradually dissipated, replaced by a desolate desert. The scorching sun baked the earth, and a suffocating heatwave filled the air. I felt my throat parched, and my lips cracked.

I know this is yet another new test.

I dragged my weary body forward, step by step. Each step felt like walking on a knife's edge; the scorching sand burned my feet, and sweat soaked my clothes, clinging tightly to my body and making me feel even worse.

Just then, I sensed a powerful surge of spiritual energy behind me. I turned around abruptly and saw Fei Yu's figure appear behind me, a dazzling light condensing in his hand.

"Looks like you're quite resilient." Fei Yu's tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

I gritted my teeth and remained silent. I knew he was getting impatient and wanted to end this ordeal as soon as possible.

"Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite." Fei Yu snorted coldly, and the light in his hand suddenly shot towards me.

I quickly dodged, but the beam of light was too fast; I couldn't completely evade it. The light grazed my shoulder, and I felt a sharp pain. A large area of ​​my left shoulder was burned, and blood flowed down the wound.

I staggered and almost fell. I clutched my wound, enduring the pain, and looked up at Feiyu.

He was looking at me with a mocking expression, his eyes full of disdain.

"Is that all you've got? You think you can compete with me?" Fei Yu's tone was full of contempt.

I gritted my teeth and ignored him. I took out some healing pills from my storage bag and swallowed them. The pills quickly took effect, easing the pain in my wounds somewhat, but they still burned.

I took a deep breath and steadied myself. I couldn't fall; I had to keep going.

I looked ahead, my eyes filled with determination. I knew the road ahead was long, and many more trials awaited me. But I would not give up; I would persevere to the very end.

Feiyu seemed to sense my resolve, and his expression darkened. He snorted coldly and launched another attack.

This time, his attack was even more ferocious, and I had to defend myself with all my might. My spiritual energy was almost depleted, and I felt my body was nearing its limit.

But I can't give up. I must persevere, for myself and for those who have helped me.

I closed my eyes and summoned the last bit of spiritual energy within me. I felt a powerful force surging from my body, filling me with strength.

I suddenly opened my eyes and looked at Feiyu. My eyes were filled with determination and confidence.

“I won’t lose to you,” I said in a deep voice.

A hint of surprise flashed in Fei Yu's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Is that so? Then let me see what other skills you have." Fei Yu sneered.

He attacked me again, and this time, his attack was even more fierce and ruthless.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for his attack.

Suddenly, I felt a powerful force erupt from within me... My body began to tremble uncontrollably...

"What...what is this feeling..."

This force, violent and scorching, surged through my body, as if trying to tear me apart. My meridians ached intensely, as if pierced by a thousand needles. I gritted my teeth, enduring the unbearable pain, and struggled to control this force.

"What...what is this feeling..." I murmured to myself, my heart filled with doubt and fear.

I looked down at my wound, which had been so deep that the bone was visible, but it was slowly healing. A warm, moist energy flowed through it, bringing a tingling, itchy sensation. A thought flashed through my mind—could it be…a breakthrough?

I tried circulating my spiritual energy, and an unprecedented sense of smoothness spread throughout my body. My previously depleted dantian was now brimming with surging spiritual energy, more abundant than ever before! I was overjoyed; this power was several times stronger than before!

I looked up at Feiyu, my eyes burning with fighting spirit. I won't give up; I must catch up with him!

I dragged my battered body deeper into the desert. The scorching sun and burning sand could not stop my steps.

Suddenly, a chilling aura enveloped me, and I stopped abruptly, looking around warily.

"Hehehe... Another overconfident fool." A sinister voice came from all directions.

Immediately afterwards, a phantom figure appeared before me. It was an old man dressed in a tattered Taoist robe, his face covered with hideous scars, and his eyes flashing with resentment.

"You are... True Lord Nine Yang?" I recognized the old man. He was the previous successor who failed and was ultimately killed by the backlash of the power of the inheritance.

"That's right, it's me!" the remnant soul of True Monarch Nine Suns said through gritted teeth. "You will also fail like me in the end, becoming a wisp of a dead soul in this desert!"

"I won't!" I said firmly. "I will succeed!"

"Hmph, wishful thinking!" The remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Lord roared and pounced on me. Although he was only a remnant soul, he still possessed the powerful strength he had in life.

I quickly dodged and simultaneously mobilized my spiritual energy to prepare for battle.

The remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Lord moved with incredible speed, his attacks raining down like a storm. I dodged and parried constantly, but still found it difficult to defend myself. His attacks contained a powerful resentment and unwillingness, making my heart pound with fear.

I faced perilous situations numerous times, and my wounds multiplied. But I did not give up; I continuously pushed my limits, unleashing spells of unprecedented power.

I incorporated the newly comprehended method of circulating spiritual energy into my swordsmanship. The sword light flashed like a cascading silver river, neutralizing all of Nine Yang True Lord's attacks.

Finally, I seized an opportunity and pierced the remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Lord with a single sword strike. His figure gradually dissipated, turning into specks of starlight and disappearing into the air.

I gasped for breath, watching the vanished Nine Yang True Lord, my heart filled with emotion. I had defeated him, and I had also defeated myself.

I continued forward, getting closer and closer to Feiyu. However, just then, a massive sealed gate appeared before me. This gate soared into the clouds, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

The door was engraved with complex runes, faintly radiating a powerful pressure that made me feel suffocated.

What kind of test will this door bring...? I slowly raised my hand and walked towards that enormous door...

The remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Lord roared, lunging at me with endless resentment. Although he was only a remnant soul, much of his former power remained, and his chilling aura clung to me like a leech. His withered claws, carrying a sharp gust of wind, aimed straight for my throat. I quickly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding being grabbed.

"You overconfident little girl! You want to inherit the legacy? You're not worthy!" The remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Lord roared, his attacks becoming increasingly fierce. His figure flickered erratically, sometimes appearing behind me like a ghost, sometimes transforming into a cloud of black mist that enveloped me.

I dared not be careless, and integrated the newly comprehended method of circulating spiritual energy into my swordsmanship. The sword light poured out like a silver river, colliding with the Nine Yang True Monarch's attack and producing a deafening roar. I felt the spiritual energy within my body surging into the sword like a rushing river, and the power of my sword techniques increased accordingly.

I kept dodging and parrying, but I still couldn't withstand the Nine Yang True Lord's storm of attacks. His resentment and unwillingness transformed into tangible power, repeatedly pushing me to the brink of despair. Several more wounds appeared on my body, blood staining my clothes, and the intense pain made it almost impossible for me to breathe.

"Give up! You can't succeed!" The remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Lord grinned maliciously, his voice like a call from hell, full of seduction and despair.

I gritted my teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, with only one thought in my mind: I cannot give up! I must catch up with Feiyu! To achieve this goal, I must defeat the enemy before me, and defeat myself!

I took a deep breath and concentrated all my spiritual energy into the sword. The blade emitted a dazzling light, illuminating the dark desert. I felt myself become one with the sword, as if I had transformed into a sharp blade pointing straight at the sky.

"Star River Falls!" I shouted, and the sword light transformed into countless stars, pouring down like the Milky Way, completely enveloping the remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Monarch.

After a piercing scream, the remnant soul of the Nine Yang True Lord gradually dissipated, turning into specks of starlight and disappearing into the air. I collapsed to my knees, panting heavily, the wounds on my body throbbing with excruciating pain.

I defeated him, and I also defeated myself.

I slowly stood up and dragged my weary body forward. I felt I was getting closer and closer to Feiyu, and my heart was filled with hope.

However, at that moment, a massive sealed gate appeared before me. This gate soared into the clouds, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura. It was covered with complex runes, faintly radiating a powerful pressure that made me feel suffocated.

I slowly raised my hand and touched the cold stone door, a strange premonition rising in my heart... "What exactly is hidden behind this door..." I murmured to myself, and then pushed it open.