Dong!
As a bell's chime echoed that day, Li Xuan, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes. His figure then moved, swiftly heading towards the location of Saint Yuan Peak.
"Greetings, Elder Shan," Li Xuan bowed to Shan Wushuang in the grand hall of Saint Yuan Sect. After nodding to He Xiuzhu and the other six, he then took his seat.
Shan Wushuang nodded slightly and then spoke, "In the past three years, everyone's progress has been quite good. Besides the physical body and spiritual power, the soul has also strengthened considerably."
"A few days ago, while observing the celestial phenomena at night, I discovered a relic appearing. For all of you, this is an excellent place for cultivation. Therefore, you will all accompany me to this place to train. Whether you can ascend to a higher level depends on your own destiny."
"Yes!" He Xiuzhu, Song Qianyu, and the other six immediately stood up and responded.
However, the gazes of the six then turned collectively towards Li Xuan. The six wanted to speak but hesitated, then turned their gaze back to Shan Wushuang.
Seeing this, Shan Wushuang smiled slightly and continued, "This time, Li Xuan will also go."
"Yes, Elder Shan!" Li Xuan excitedly stood up and responded.
In these three years, Elder Shan Wushuang had previously led Li Xuan's six senior brothers and sisters out for training three times.
And each time, Li Xuan had not been included.
Li Xuan, who had already given up hope, was naturally filled with intense excitement upon hearing that Elder Shan Wushuang would allow him to accompany them this time.
"I must make it clear beforehand, once we reach our destination, everything will depend on yourselves. Even if you face the possibility of falling, I will not intervene. Therefore, doing everything within your capabilities is also a means of self-preservation."
"Moreover, the destination this time will likely not be easy even for your senior brothers and sisters. If you are unwilling to go, I will not force you," Shan Wushuang said, waving his hand.
"Even if it is as dangerous as Elder Shan describes, this disciple will absolutely not flinch!" Li Xuan said earnestly.
In the past three years, Li Xuan's cultivation had not progressed at all. To break through the bottleneck, Li Xuan desperately needed a thorough battle.
Otherwise, if it continued like this, Li Xuan had no confidence in achieving greater breakthroughs within the remaining two years.
"As the saying goes, 'sharpening the axe doesn't delay the woodcutting.' Sometimes, stagnation and refinement can be a good thing," Shan Wushuang said meaningfully, looking at Li Xuan.
With a wave of his hand, a spiritual light instantly enveloped He Xiuzhu, Li Xuan, and the seven of them. As the spiritual light flashed, the eight of them vanished from the great hall.
Buzz.
As a buzzing sound rang out, a flash of spiritual light instantly swept by. Eight figures slowly appeared.
These eight figures were, naturally, Shan Wushuang and the other seven.
As their figures stopped, Li Xuan immediately looked around. Upon seeing the surroundings, Li Xuan's eyes revealed a look of shock and solemnity.
The sky around Li Xuan was dim, as if the heavens were collapsing. The air was filled with the scent of death, and spiritual energy was extremely sparse.
Although no creatures could be seen in this space, it gave Li Xuan a strong sense of crisis. His instinctual defenses were activated immediately.
Even He Xiuzhu and the other six were observing their surroundings with solemn expressions, clearly having sensed the unusual nature of this place.
"I have named this place the Dragon Burial Land. Its danger level is considered eight stars. You must be extra careful during this training. I reiterate, do everything within your capabilities."
"Furthermore, each of you can only train alone. If you can endure for half a year, it will be of immense benefit to you."
"Well, considering you are my outer disciples, if you truly cannot endure any longer, I can intervene once. But after this, our connection will be severed."
Seeing the expressions of He Xiuzhu, Li Xuan, and the other seven, Shan Wushuang spoke slowly.
"Because your junior brother joined later and is weaker, apart from your junior brother who can train in the periphery, all six of you must enter the core area to pass."
"Eight stars?! And only the core area counts? Elder Shan, you're asking us to risk our lives," Wang Kun said with a wry smile.
However, from his eager expression, it was clear that Wang Kun seemed more drawn to this place.
"Sixth Senior Brother, is the eight-star difficulty very high?" Li Xuan asked in a low voice, somewhat puzzled.
"Junior Brother, do you know how many stars the danger levels mentioned by Elder Shan are divided into? The highest is ten stars! Even Elder Shan himself would have to go all out in a ten-star difficulty scenario, so you can imagine how terrifying an eight-star difficulty is."
"Junior Brother, we all have to go all out this time. Anyway, I'm unwilling to leave Saint Yuan Sect, and I suspect my senior brothers and sisters feel the same," Wang Kun said with a helpless shrug.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. According to Wang Kun's explanation, this eight-star level space was indeed a place of extremely high danger.
Moreover, judging by the expressions of He Xiuzhu, Song Qianyu, and the other five, they clearly had a resolute mindset and were prepared to fight to the death.
"Alright, you six go first," Shan Wushuang said, glancing at Li Xuan.
As soon as Shan Wushuang finished speaking, He Xiuzhu shot off towards the northeast.
After another minute, Wen Boya followed suit, heading southwest.
In an instant, the six of them shot off in different directions. Soon, they disappeared from Li Xuan's sight.
"Li Xuan, I haven't sought you out to teach you anything in these past three years. Do you have any thoughts about this?" Shan Wushuang asked Li Xuan with a smile, looking back at him.
"Replying to Elder Shan, I did have some confusion during this period. However, this disciple believes that since you, Elder Shan, have not taken any action, you must have already made arrangements," Li Xuan replied with a bow.
"Hmm, you are quite honest. Your foundation and state of mind are of the highest caliber. Frankly, I don't have much need to plan anything for you. Imposing my ideology on you might instead have some unnecessary negative impact on your growth."
"This is why I haven't made extensive plans for you; it's not that I don't want to guide and teach you," Shan Wushuang nodded and smiled.
"This disciple understands," Li Xuan replied with a bow.
"Some people are born with a meager destiny, while others are born with a strong destiny; these are all determined by heaven. Your possessing such talent is also your fortune. We spiritual masters have always contended with fate. Those with meager destinies fight against heaven, against others, and against themselves."
"Those with strong destinies sail smoothly and have much peace. Li Xuan, your future will surely be extraordinary. I eagerly await that day," Shan Wushuang said, gazing into the distance.
Li Xuan fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Shan Wushuang and asked, "Elder Shan, what is fate?"
"What is fate? Fate is your heaven, and it is also your earth. Your world, your universe, is self-contained. Within your world, you are the sole existence. You are also the unique one. Everyone has their own fate. Whether fate is good or bad is entirely up to heaven."
"Your future fate, I cannot see clearly. At least, not at the moment, I cannot see it clearly," Shan Wushuang said slowly.
Li Xuan remained silent. Scenes from his childhood involuntarily flashed through his mind, and his understanding of fate seemed to deepen.
"Elder Shan, do you know? Actually, I do not believe in fate."
"What I, Li Xuan, believe in is everything I have achieved through my own hard work!"