From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 241 Special Training Begins: The Start of Xiao Yao's Extraordinary Encounter

"Xiao Yao," Elder Yan's voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned around and saw that the rare smile on his face had disappeared, replaced by his usual seriousness. "Although your special training has ended, a new test has just begun."

My heart sank suddenly, and my joy deflated as quickly as a punctured balloon.

A new test?

I've just survived a fierce battle, and before I could even catch my breath, am I already facing new challenges?

"What kind of test?" I suppressed my unease and asked, trying to appear calm.

"You will enter the 'Ancient Ruins of the Netherworld' to search for the 'Heart of the Profound Netherworld'." Elder Yan's voice was deep and powerful, each word striking my heart like a heavy hammer.

"The Netherworld Ruins?" I gasped. I had seen this name in ancient books before. It was said to be an ancient and dangerous ruin, filled with deadly restrictions and ferocious monsters.

The "Heart of the Mysterious Netherworld" is a legendary treasure, possessing incredible power.

My companions around me also showed surprised expressions. Shuangyue's face was full of worry, while Senior Brother Xuanfeng frowned deeply. Even Ziyun, who was always jealous of me, showed an incredulous expression.

A tense atmosphere filled the air, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "I understand, Elder."

The Netherworld Ruins are located deep in the back mountains of the sect. The entrance is shrouded in a thin layer of mist, making it appear mysterious and eerie.

The moment I stepped into the ancient site, a chilling aura rushed towards me, and I couldn't help but shiver.

"Om-"

A deep hum resounded, and a complex rune suddenly lit up on the ground beneath my feet. Immediately afterward, a powerful force surged from the rune, violently impacting my body.

I groaned, feeling as if my internal organs were being churned up. The intense pain made my vision go black, and I fell heavily to the ground.

Fear surged through me like a tide, and I struggled to stand up, only to find that I couldn't move.

I gritted my teeth and tried to circulate the spiritual energy within my body, but found that the flow of spiritual energy was unusually slow, as if it was being suppressed by something.

"What...what kind of restriction is this?" I managed to utter a few words, my voice trembling.

Suddenly, I sensed something approaching. I looked up sharply and saw a blurry figure slowly emerging from the darkness...

"Who...who are you?" The Netherworld Ruins are more dangerous than I imagined.

As you venture deeper inside, the air grows increasingly cold and damp, carrying a pungent, decaying odor, as if it has never seen sunlight in centuries.

With each step I took, I felt a sticky sensation under my feet, like stepping on rotten leaves, which was nauseating.

Worse still, the surrounding spiritual energy became violent and chaotic, pricking my skin like countless tiny needles, making the flow of spiritual energy within my body sluggish and almost impossible to mobilize.

I felt dizzy, my legs felt like they were filled with lead, and every step took all my strength.

Sweat soaked through my clothes, clinging tightly to my body, cold and sticky, making me feel indescribably uncomfortable.

My heart was beating faster and faster, and my breathing became rapid, as if an invisible hand was choking me, making it hard for me to breathe.

A feeling of despair entwined around my heart like vines, spreading and growing relentlessly.

"rustle……"

A faint sound broke the silence of the ancient site, and I jerked my head up, my nerves on edge.

Several dark figures darted out of the darkness at an astonishing speed, and I could barely make out their shapes.

They resembled some kind of strange creature, with slender bodies, long, thin limbs, and a ghostly green glow, emitting a chilling hiss.

Alarm bells rang in my mind, and I hurriedly swung my sword to defend myself, only to find that their attacks were exceptionally sharp, and my sword techniques were completely unable to stop their claws.

Sharp claws tore through my clothes, leaving several deep, bloody gashes on my arm. The burning pain made me gasp.

I kept retreating, dodging their attacks, but they were too fast and their numbers were increasing, and I gradually felt overwhelmed.

Several more wounds appeared on my body, and blood kept gushing out, staining my clothes red.

Fear and anxiety surged into my heart like a tide, and I felt as if I were trapped in a desperate situation with nowhere to escape.

"Am I going to die here?" This thought flashed through my mind, and I felt a wave of despair.

Suddenly, I felt a chilling aura behind me, and a cold voice rang in my ear: "Xiao Yao, you look quite disheveled..."

I turned around abruptly and saw Ziyun standing not far away, a mocking smile on her face.

She crossed her arms, her posture haughty. "I thought you were so capable, but I didn't expect you to give up so quickly." Her voice was sharp and piercing, like needles sticking into my heart.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly, gritting my teeth against the pain in my body.

"Of course I'm here to see you make a fool of yourself." Ziyun covered her mouth and chuckled. "I told you long ago that you were no match for me. Now it seems you can't even get past the first level of the Netherworld Ruins."

A surge of anger welled up inside me, and I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug deep into my flesh.

"you……"

"What? You're not convinced?" Ziyun looked at me provocatively. "I heard you're about to be torn to shreds by those monsters. How pitiful."

My heart sank suddenly. Ziyun's words hit my chest like a heavy hammer, making me feel suffocated.

How did she know what was going on with me in the historical site?

Is it...

Is someone spying on me?

A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head, and I felt the air around me turn icy cold.

I looked around, and it seemed as if countless eyes were hidden in the darkness, watching my every move.

I clenched my teeth and tried to stay calm.

I know I can't let Ziyun's words break me; I have to find a way to leave this place.

“Don’t be so smug,” I said coldly, suppressing my anger. “I won’t give up.”

Ziyun smiled dismissively. "Then we'll wait and see." With that, she turned and disappeared into the darkness.

I leaned helplessly against the cold stone wall, my heart filled with despair.

The pressure around me is increasing, and I feel like I'm about to be crushed.

Just when I was about to give up, I suddenly felt a powerful surge of spiritual energy coming from not far away.

I suddenly looked up.

I staggered toward the direction from which the spiritual energy fluctuations came, and through a mist, I saw a spring shimmering with light.

The spring water is crystal clear, exuding a rich spiritual energy, as if it contains endless vitality.

Without hesitation, I jumped into the spring. A warm current instantly flowed through my body, and I felt my strength rapidly recovering, even stronger than before.

I greedily absorbed the spiritual energy in the spring water, feeling as if I had been reborn.

My body was filled with energy, and my spirits were incredibly invigorated.

"Who is it?" A deep voice suddenly broke the silence.

I looked up abruptly and saw a blurry figure standing by the spring. He was tall and shrouded in shadow, so I couldn't see his face, but he exuded a powerful aura that made me feel a strange sense of oppression.

"Who are you?" I asked warily, my hand already gripping the hilt of my sword tightly, ready to fight at any moment.

“I am the guardian of this place.” His voice was deep and magnetic, as if carrying an ancient echo. “You actually managed to find this place; it seems you are indeed quite capable.”

protector?

My heart skipped a beat, and I dared not be careless anymore. The powerful aura emanating from him made me feel a chill. I had a vague feeling that he was stronger than any enemy I had ever encountered before.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly, my spiritual energy surging within me, ready to erupt at any moment.

The guardian slowly approached, his figure gradually becoming clearer. I saw that he had a pair of deep eyes, as if they contained endless stars, and a faint melancholy between his brows, as if he were carrying a heavy secret.

He didn't answer my question, but simply raised his hand, and a powerful spiritual force instantly enveloped me.

I felt as if my body was enveloped by an invisible force, and I instantly lost control. The spiritual power within me also seemed to be imprisoned, unable to move. This power was even stronger than the previous runes, and I felt a strong sense of suffocation.

“You…” I struggled to speak, but found that my throat was blocked and I couldn’t make a sound.

The guardian's eyes were deep and complex. He didn't speak, but slowly reached out a hand and gently stroked my face. His fingers were as cold as jade. The moment they touched my skin, I felt a tingling sensation, as if an electric current was flowing through my body.

“You are special…” he murmured to himself, his tone carrying an indescribable meaning, “You are actually able to purify the power of this spring water.”

I was startled. Could it be... that he knows about the special features of my body?

Just as I was filled with doubt, the guardian's figure suddenly disappeared, and the powerful spiritual energy dissipated as well, instantly freeing me.

I was panting heavily, trying to calm myself down. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream.

I looked down and saw that the wounds on my body that I had been cut earlier had completely healed, and my spiritual energy was much more abundant. I felt as if I had been reborn.

I took a deep breath and felt the immense power within me. A strong sense of confidence welled up inside me. I was no longer the good-for-nothing that Ziyun mocked!

I looked around and saw that the shadowy creatures from before had disappeared. It seemed they had been intimidated by the power of the guardian.

I gripped my sword tightly, my gaze resolute and filled with fighting spirit. I had to keep moving forward, find the Heart of the Mysterious Netherworld, and prove my strength!

I felt an unprecedented power surging within me, filling me with confidence. All my previous fears and anxieties vanished, replaced by a desire to become stronger and to control everything.

I strode forward, continuing deeper into the ruins, unstoppable in my advance. Those shadowy creatures that once terrified me were now like clay chickens and earthenware dogs before me, utterly vulnerable.

I wielded the sword in my hand, and with each swing, a powerful sword aura erupted, tearing those creatures to shreds.

My movements became more and more fluid, and my strength grew stronger and stronger, as if I had entered a state of selflessness.

After a fierce battle, I finally arrived at the depths of the ruins. A huge open space appeared before me. There were no more annoying shadowy creatures, nor was there any cold and damp feeling. Instead, it was filled with a peaceful atmosphere, which made my tense nerves relax a little, but I still dared not be careless.

Just then, a joyful voice rang out, "Junior Sister Xiao Yao, you're amazing!" I turned around and saw Senior Brother Xuan Feng, Shuang Yue, and Junior Sister Ling Xin running towards me, their faces filled with excitement. Shuang Yue was so happy that she hugged me tightly, "I knew you could do it!"

"Why have you come?" I asked in surprise, feeling deeply moved by their travel-worn appearance.

"We were worried about you, so we followed you," Senior Brother Xuanfeng said with a smile. "We didn't expect you to be so powerful; we saw it all from behind."

"Yes, junior sister, you're amazing!" Junior Sister Lingxin exclaimed excitedly. "You're simply our role model!"

Seeing the admiration and pride in my teammates' eyes, I felt a great sense of accomplishment, and a smile crept onto my face. I had finally proven myself!

Just as I was about to say something, suddenly, a voice rang in my mind, as deafening as an ancient bell, "Trial seeker, welcome to the labyrinth."