Beside the underground river, Han Shuangjiang stood up, her eyes firm, revealing the stubbornness in her character.
She had said she would help Chu Huaixu find an opportunity.
You said I am your key. Fine, then I’ll help you open this stone gate!
Chu Huaixu watched her easily break through the Fifth Acupoint, utterly envious.
"System, upgrade me too! Upgrade, dammit!"
Lacking Cultivation Technique Experience, he simply couldn’t do it.
The two exchanged a glance, and he understood her gaze.
Chu Huaixu could only sigh, saying, "Alright then."
This gaming companion, with her professional habits, wouldn’t let the bosses take risks while on the job.
But logically, an ordinary Secret Realm trial shouldn’t stop the world’s protagonists.
And to say, being protected by a woman didn’t feel too bad either.
"Be careful with everything," he reminded.
"Okay."
As soon as the words fell, Han Shuangjiang went straight into the water.
Leaving Chu Huaixu by the river, marveling, as expected of the Female Protagonist dedicated to her "career" in "Borrowed Sword," she was decisive and efficient.
The Water-Repelling Bead given by Liu Tianfeng at this moment, surprisingly displayed its value again.
This Big Ice Cube didn’t get wet, revealing her graceful and stunning curves.
Everything was as Chu Huaixu predicted, once she entered the water, the Array activated immediately.
The two stone walls on either side no longer hung in the air, they truly fell down, blocking the slow-flowing water.
Thus, it was no longer an underground river.
Instead, it turned into a gigantic pool.
Under the water were four fist-sized holes, which Chu Huaixu had been watching, suspecting they were mechanisms or something related to the Array.
Han Shuangjiang also kept an eye out while in the water.
However, the four holes showed no signs of change, temporarily.
In the next moment, the underwater Array got activated!
Some of the water was enveloped by Spiritual Power, resembling Water Blades!
They all of a sudden surged towards Han Shuangjiang.
At the Acupoint Opening Stage cultivation, there was nowhere to hide!
Because there were just too many Water Blades.
Water Blades swept from all directions, Han Shuangjiang simply couldn’t swim to the other side in time.
The Water-Repelling Bead’s barrier could only provide simple water resistance, soon slashed apart by these Water Blades.
Instantly, Han Shuangjiang was submerged and soaked by the water currents, Water Blades directly tore her clothes, scratched her snowy skin, leaving one bloody mark after another in the water.
Recoiling in pain, she almost sank immediately.
Chu Huaixu’s eyes narrowed, intending to do something immediately.
Han Shuangjiang spoke at this time: "It’s fine, I can swim to the other side."
Strangely enough, these Water Blades didn’t seem to strike hard.
All they could do was scratch the skin, leaving shallow blood marks.
But even so, there were still too many Water Blades!
They came from every direction of the water, and their numbers continued increasing!
Han Shuangjiang dodged some while swimming, but still left with seven or eight wounds on her body.
Then, those four holes underwater emitted a booming sound.
Instantly, large quantities of blue-black liquid gushed out from the holes.
Chu Huaixu’s pupils shrank, silently exclaiming "bad".
Such colored liquid suddenly surged, anyone would be shocked.
He was already standing by one of the holes, observing closely.
After the liquid appeared, he quickly caught a strange odor.
"Is this... medicinal smell?"
"Spiritual Medicine?"
"Blue-black, and this familiar aroma... it’s Body Tempering Liquid!" he reacted immediately.
Body Tempering Liquid, used for medicinal baths.
Cultivators walking the Body Refining path mercilessly toughen their flesh daily.
Afterwards, they’d soak in Body Tempering Liquid.
Those lacerated places would heal quickly, providing excellent healing effects and slightly strengthening the physique.
Chu Huaixu thought the aroma quite authentic, determining this quality Body Tempering Liquid even has scar-removing effects...
Don’t forget, this quest is a Pill King Token, this predecessor is a direct disciple of the Pill King! A proper Alchemist!
Soon, the entire pool changed color.
Han Shuangjiang’s wounds soaked in the Body Tempering Liquid began to heal rapidly.
Chu Huaixu glanced up at the stone gate across the pool, feeling an ominous premonition.
He speculated that even if Han Shuangjiang swam to the other side, the transparent barrier there would block her, preventing her from landing!
Because, the person who designed this trial, their intent is for you to keep getting injured in this pool, then heal constantly.
Cutting you open repeatedly and then healing you, then continuing to cut!
"Damn it, such a pervert!" Chu Huaixu cursed inwardly, glancing at the stone gate across the river.
...
...
At a distance of fifty meters, with an Acupoint Opening Stage physique, you could swim to the other side rapidly.
As expected, the transparent barrier across the river remained unchanged.
Han Shuangjiang was trapped in the water, unable to climb ashore, completely blocked by the barrier.
She raised her hand, her fist hitting the barrier, but it only created a translucent ripple in the air, not budging a bit.
Her brows furrowed, a few strands of wet hair sticking to her forehead, and she couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.
Because the number of Water Blades kept increasing.
Some wounds healed quickly, but new ones kept forming.
Han Shuangjiang attempted to climb up, to climb over the barrier and leave the pool. But this barrier seemed to possess a mysterious force, making it utterly impossible for her.
This means her body must remain in the water.
"Probably need to withstand for a time, and once that time ends, the trial finishes." That’s Chu Huaixu’s guess.
Admittedly, this is a pretty perverse design.
Even if you prepared a bamboo raft in your Storage Token beforehand, it would be meaningless.
Because if you don’t enter the water, the Array won’t activate, and the countdown won’t start.
Moreover, Acupoint Opening Stage cultivators, without Spiritual Power inside them, can’t wield Magical Treasures.
"Some robes refined from Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, don’t require Spiritual Power to activate, having defensive attributes, this level of Water Blades won’t work, can’t harm a bit."
"But with this perverse design, I seriously suspect if there’s no blood, the Array won’t continue running!"
"Because after Han Shuangjiang bled, the second Array started, the Body Tempering Liquid began flowing!"
"The key now is whether the person designing this test is truly as perverted as I think, does the countdown only begin when truly injured and moreover... is there even a countdown at all?"
After all, this is just his assumption, maybe the purpose of this stage isn’t this, but to find other solutions in a moment of crisis?
But don’t worry, once I enter the water, I’ll know!
For this newbie-stage quest, the system likely provides hints!
In the pool, Water Blades began increasing.
The next wave of Water Blades will double.
Furthermore, the most suffocating thing is not knowing how many more waves remain, how many more times will it double.
Han Shuangjiang is a person with a very stubborn nature and her own determination.
At this moment, she gritted her silver teeth, enduring the pain on her body.
The wounds indeed aren’t deep, but too many places were injured.
Her arm’s wound healed, yet another wound appeared.
Her thigh was even worse.
Her clothes had already been cut into several tattered pieces by the Water Blades.
A portion of her snow-white skin was exposed.
Even under such circumstances, she still gritted her teeth and shouted: "I’m... I’m fine! Help me find a solution together!"
Still putting up a brave front.
"Stay right there!" Chu Huaixu shouted loudly.
After speaking, he jumped right in!
...
(P.S.: Second update, requesting monthly tickets!)
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