Chapter 59: Black fish

As the big black fish heard that, it stopped making anymore sounds.

But its body still occasionally shivers, making Gu Qing Shan and Leng Tian Xing understood how much pain it was suffering right now.

This is basically the flesh-rending punishment, even demon beasts can’t handle this type of torture.

As the ferryman saw their faces became tense, he said: “You two don’t have to feel any pity for it”

“Why?” Leng Tian Xing asked.

“Hah hah, you can’t tell, can you? This demon fish is already an Ascended realm last stage, just a few steps away from Sainting” the ferryman laughed.

The two of them were even more surprised.

A demon beast that’s close to Sainting was being subjected to this type of cruel punishment, how is it possible?

“But why does it ——“ Leng Tian Xing couldn’t help but ask.

“Because it couldn’t control its urge to eat, it swallowed 5 whole islands in one night. Every single living being on the islands were killed, humanity’s Guang clan alone lost over 100,000 members to it”, the ferryman interrupted his words, coldly laughed and answered.

The ferryman was still cutting off bit by bit of the fish’s flesh, and continued: “Her Eminence got angry and caught it, sealed its power and sentenced it to suffering the pain of its flesh being flayed 100,000 times before allowing it to pass on to the next life”

As the final piece of fish meat was cut away, aside from the head, all that’s left of the fish was a transparent, shining fish skeleton.

The ferryman wiped his hand and said: “Today was the 7,351st time, still a while away from reaching 100,000”

As he said that, he threw the fish bone back into the river.

The fish skeleton swam around under the water for a bit, before sinking to the bottom.

Leng Tian Xing listened to it with enthusiasm, then excitedly praised: “As expected of Her Eminence Bai Hua”

The ferryman smirked, then said: “No need to butter up Her Eminence too much, the two of you, which list do you want to attempt, you can tell me now”

Leng Tian Xing thought for a bit then answered: “I want to attempt the antique treasure hunt list”

The ferryman clapped his hands, then said: “Very nice, it’s fate indeed, you can go off the boat right here”

“Off the boat?”

Leng Tian Xing looked around left and right, aside from the boat itself, he could only see the intense water current.

The ferryman sat down, picked up a willow branch that was floating around and gave it to Leng Tian Xing.

“Under here, is an underwater ruin left over time ancient times”

“Over a hundred thousand years ago in the age of old, a mountain god and water god fought each other here, resulting in both their demises”

“This willow branch can provide you protection, go down and fish up a few ancient true relics”

When he heard the ferryman say that, Leng Tian Xing took the willow branch and infused it with spirit energy

The willow branch then relaxes, emitting a gentle light that covered Leng Tian Xing.

Suddenly a maelstrom appeared on the calm water, as a giant hand appeared from inside, taking Leng Tian Xing without and slowly went back down underwater.

“Now you” the ferryman looked at Gu Qing Shan “What list do you want to attempt?”

Gu Qing Shan clasped his fist and bowed, saying: “I want to attempt the Sword list”

The ferryman looked at Gu Qing Shan from head to toe: “You don’t even have a sword…”

Gu Qing Shan wryly smiled: “It was broken in battle”

“Ah? Broken? How broken was it?” the ferryman asked further

“Aside from the handle it all broke into pieces” Gu Qing Shan described in details.

“Hoh, doesn’t seem like you’re just saying that” the ferryman’s eyes visibly glowed.

He turned around, quickly controlled the boat to move forward.

“The Sword list is a bit further away, I can see your whole body is covered in wounds, rest up for a bit” said the ferryman.

“Thank you”

Gu Qing Shan sat down on the spot, silently meditated as he waits.

He relaxes and starts nurturing his body, circulating the replenishing spirit energy around to slowly expel the fatigue he felt.

Whether or not he could save Ning Yue Xi and Gong Sun Zhi, will have to see how well he does in this attempt.

As Gu Qing Shan recalled the legends of Bai Hua Fairy, and what she had done, he was still a bit speechless.

A while later, the river started to be covered in fog.

Something flew at him from afar.

It impaled the deck right in front of Gu Qing Shan.

Gu Qing Shan opened his eyes.

A sword was stabbed in front of him.

In the thick mist, the ferryman’s figure slowly disappeared.

“Take up the sword, your test starts now” the ferryman’s voice was heard from afar

“Yes” Gu Qing Shan took the sword and stood up straight.

“I’ll lower my strength to be at Foundation Establishment mid stage” the ferryman continued: “Find my location in the mist, only then will you have the right to attempt the Sword list”

“The test from before didn’t count?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

“It does, but the Sword list requires a bit more ——–after all, the test is about sword skills, not just anyone can go attempt it”

“Fine then” Gu Qing Shan sighed.

“Begin!” the ferryman said.

As soon as the said that, his whole body’s aura disappeared.

What excellent aura concealment!

Gu Qing Shan silently praised, as he lifted his hand and looked at the sword he was holding.

A very normal Longsword, its core was forged from steel and fits the hand quite well.

Weapons, counting from how intricate it is, are divided into different grades: Sharp, Treasure, Spirit, Law, and Dao weapons.

Of course there are higher rankings, but they are things that a normal person won’t likely ever meet in their whole life.

And the weapon in Gu Qing Shan’s hand right now is only a Sharp weapon.

This type of sword is mostly only used for training, if you meet a real enemy, you’ll have to always be careful not to give the opponent a chance to break it.

“Senior, you’ve made one mistake” Gu Qing Shan lightly smiled and said.

No one replied.

Gu Qing Shan still slowly continued: “You shouldn’t have given me a sword”

The sword in his hand moved.

One swing created over a hundred sword phantoms.

Gu Qing Shan’s sword stance was like a breeze.

Soft, gentle, and unblockable.

“Wind Slash!”

He muttered.

All the images scattered, hitting the wooden boat.

In a single moment the boat was already broken into pieces, as the spirit energy inside each slash turned into a strong wind that carried the broken pieces away.

After a single slash, the whole boat was already no more.

Only where Gu Qing Shan stood was there a floating wooden plank, still keeping him afloat on the river.

From a distance, the sound of something hitting the water.

Foundation Establishment realm mid stage, as long as they haven’t awakened Wind-element roots, still can’t fly.

Gu Qing Shan held the sword and pointed straight at that direction.

“Senior, I’ve found you”

The sword shifted, suddenly created another strong breeze.

Consecutive metal blocking sounds can be heard.

The one characteristic of Wind Slash Style is its speed, Gu Qing Shan only moved his sword for a little bit before sword phantoms had already completely filled that area, not giving the opponent any place left to dodge.

A silence.

Then a joyful voice could be heard from inside the thick fog.

“Clever brat, you fit my style well”

Together with that voice, intense spirit energy could be felt from where the voice was.

An immense spirit pressure could be felt.

Foundation Establishment peak, Golden Core, Golden Core peak ——– the spirit pressure kept increasing all the way until it reached Rejuvenation realm that it slowly stopped.

The ferryman slowly flew at him, tapping Gu Qing Shan’s shoulder: “You’ve passed the test, come with me to Bai Hua Palace”

He extended his other hand and quickly made a hand sign.

“Hundred flowers in bloom” the ferryman shouted silently.

A few moments after, numerous runes appeared in the air.

Gu Qing Shan took a glance and was immediately shocked.

Without any formation plate to help, only needing hand signs to create a transportation formation in the air, not even Gong Sun Zhi can do that.

Gu Qing Shan of course knows very well just who the person in front of him is, but he’s keeping his mouth shut, not wanting to say even a word.