The assessment came to an end and the thirty students, who each occupied a stone pillar, felt relieved, like a weight had been lifted off them.
Didn’t they go through a year of extreme brutal training in Blood Kill Camp for this moment?
Now, they had passed the assessment and received the eligibility to enter the Dipper Transformation Lake. Once they broke through to the Spirit Dipper Stage, they would become top Spirit Dipper cultivators in the world!
That was their ultimate goal of coming to Blood Kill Camp.
“Damn, it’s finally over…”
Ning Meng collapsed on his buttocks on the stone pillar, his face glowing with pride.
He had defeated Zhangsun Hen and had finally vented the hatred that he had suppressed in his heart for years!
“When I return home, let’s see who dares stop me from going to find Zhao Zijin!” Shi Yu muttered, as though looking forward to something.
Lin Xun smiled, remembering the words of the old man from the Black Glory Sacred Hall when he was sent to Blood Kill Camp.
The training in Blood Kill Camp is about to end. Will he tell me about Xia Zhi now?Each student had something different on their minds.
The one year of training felt like they were cut off from the world and made them almost forget about their previous lives. Now that the dull and cruel life was about to end, they realized that they needed to leave soon…
It was unknown when Xu Sanqi had arrived. He swept his razor sharp eyes across everyone as he said, “The stone pillar at your feet leads to the Dipper Transformation Lake. In three days, the passages will open. But before that, there is one thing you need to do.”
All the students felt a chill in their hearts. We still need to do one thing?
Xu Sanqi signaled with his hand and a group of instructors came over in single file and awarded each student a blood-colored badge around the size of a copper coin.
A sword was engraved on the front of the badge and below it were a line of words: “Violet Glory Flower is undefeated because of blood kill and the empire exists forever because of continued expeditions!”
The blade of the sword pointed skywards and the writing resembled blood.
On the back of the badge was the identity number code name of the respective student in the camp.
The number nineteen was engraved on Lin Xun’s badge.
“This is the Blood Kill Badge. Only students who have survived till the end of the training are qualified to wear one. After you leave the camp, the power of the badge is your most reliable support!”
Xu Sanqi’s expression was unprecedentedly solemn and dignified. His voice was firm as iron and carried unquestionable strength.
Many students’ hearts trembled as they held the Blood Kill Badge in their hands.
"Please look after it well!” Xu Sanqi said each word loud and clear.
As Lin Xun looked at Xu Sanqi, he suddenly thought about whether the name Xu Sanqi was also a number code name given to Instructor Xu when he was training in Blood Kill Camp.
Perhaps I can call myself Lin Shijiu.
Lin Xun shook his head and carefully put away the Blood Kill Badge. The badge not only symbolized honor, but also represented his one-year training in Blood Kill Camp.
It was an extremely precious item that marked his youthful times.
……
After awarding the Blood Kill Badge, Xu Sanqi didn’t waste any time and arranged for an instructor to introduce the students to the matters that they need to pay attention to when entering the Dipper Transformation Lake.
This instructor was the middle-aged fatty who often appeared beside Xiaoke.
The man had left an impression on Lin Xun, but Lin Xun had rarely seen him since Old Mo left.
It was also then that he learned that the middle-aged fatty was called Cao Shiliu.
Clearly, his name was a number code name like Xu Sanqi’s.
“The Dipper Transformation Lake is a god-given opportunity. Every ten years, it produces abundant pure Origin Dipper Qi.”
Cao Shiliu's voice was warm and calm as he explained, “You all know that there are many kinds of Dipper Qi, but the Origin Dipper Qi is the purest Dipper Qi in the world…”
Everyone was silent. Only Cao Shiliu’s voice resounded throughout the space. All the students listened carefully, lest they miss any little detail.
……
Three days later.
On the stone pillar site, Lin Xun and the other twenty nine students were waiting quietly.
Following a unique hum, the black rocks engraved with countless runes seemed to be awakening as they emitted dazzling shafts of light.
The shafts of light gathered around the thirty stone pillars, shrouding the body of each student. The dream-like scene was mysterious and extraordinary.
Rumble!
Within seconds, an aeth power storm suddenly emerged in the site, tearing and twisting the world in a terrifying manner.
Vortexes suddenly appeared out of thin air and dragged each student in.
The students had disappeared and the storm subsided. The rune light exuding from the black rocks on the ground also dissipated. Calmness was restored.
“It’s finally open again. I wonder how many students can form a first-grade aeth power reservoir when they break through to the Spirit Dipper Stage.”
The group of instructors couldn’t help exclaiming emotionally as they watched.
“There should be quite a few. After all, the number of students who entered the Dipper Transformation Lake this time is the highest in history. Additionally, each student has supreme understanding and aptitude. I have a hunch that their breakthroughs in the Dipper Transformation Lake will break previous records,” someone speculated.
“Certainly. There’s no doubt that students such as Bai Lingxi, Li Duxing and Lin Xun will form a first-grade aeth power reservoir,” said Cao Shiliu with a smile.
“Not necessary. As far as Lin Xun is concerned, it seems his strength isn’t inferior to Bai Lingxi and Li Duxing but his foundation is still lacking.”
Xu Sanqi looked calm as he said, “You all know that most of the students have reached the pinnacle of the ninth layer True Martial Stage a few years ago. They had suppressed their cultivation level for years to enter the Dipper Transformation Lake.”
“But Lin Xun is different. He was only at the sixth layer True Martial Stage when he first joined Blood Kill Camp. He only broke through to the ninth layer True Martial Stage two months ago. Although his cultivation speed is astonishing, his foundation is indeed somewhat inferior.”
The other instructors all nodded their heads in agreement.
Lin Xun’s improvement was incredibly fast and had surprised them but a rapid progress wasn’t necessarily a good thing. If a cultivator’s foundation hadn’t been solidified and stabilized, it could affect their overall strength after breakthrough.
After all, the Spirit Dipper Stage was completely different from the True Martial Stage. It was considered as truly entering the Way. The deeper a person’s foundation, the greater advantage they had when breaking through to the next cultivation level.
Lin Xun had made several breakthroughs within one year, but it made people worry whether or not his foundation was solid enough.
“His foundation is very stable and not comparable to the average person.”
Xiaoke said suddenly, “Don't forget that Lin Xun has already managed to defeat students in the ninth layer True Martial Stage when he was only at the sixth layer True Martial Stage. Also, his strength has undergone transformations every time he broke through to the next cultivation level. Don’t tell me that you really think that Lin Xun killed the level-two brute soldier on Demon Cloud Ridge because of luck?”
“Yes, even if Lin Xun has a poorer foundation, he shouldn’t have a problem forming a first-grade aeth power reservoir when he enters the Dipper Transformation Lake,” Xiaoman agreed.
The other instructors were dumbstruck when the twin sisters known for their bad relationship suddenly expressed the same thought.
“Whether he can or not, we will see it through the Figure Projector Compass,” said Xu Sanqi as he turned around.
The other instructors hurriedly followed him. They knew that Xu Sanqi was about to open the Figure Projector Compass set above the Dipper Transformation Lake.
Through the Figure Projector Compass, they could see the characteristics of each student when they had a breakthrough. That way, they could determine the grade of the aeth power reservoir that they had formed.
……
A wave of dizziness came over Lin Xun. When he woke up, he found himself standing in front of a lake.
The lake wasn’t particularly huge and was only 20 yards in diameter. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that it was like a small pond. However, the lake water was extremely unique. It was crystal clear and reflected the clouds and sunlight. It looked as though it was integrated with the sky.
Mist spiraled up from the lake like dreamy smoke.
Floating in the middle of the lake were exactly thirty stone platforms shaped like lotuses.
It was the Dipper Transformation Lake!
It didn’t look particularly striking but the lake contained liquid formed from the most pure Origin Dipper Qi!
Every drop contained terrifyingly unimaginable power.
However, the lake was also incredibly dangerous. According to Cao Shiliu, the terrifying Dipper Qi would immediately tear apart even a Spirit Sea cultivator if they sank into the lake!
Spirit Dipper cultivators could fly across the sky and summon the wind and rain yet they could easily lose their life in the Dipper Transformation Lake. The danger of the lake was evident.
“Is this the legendary Dipper Transformation Lake?”
“This is a great opportunity. In the entire empire, there are few known places with such an opportunity. But now, it is right in front of us. Hahaha,” someone exclaimed.
The other students also drew closer to the Dipper Transformation Lake. Their eyes were blazing with anticipation.
“I heard that the longer you persevere in cultivating in the Dipper Transformation Lake, the greater the benefits during breakthrough. I don’t know whether it’s true though,” Shi Yu said with undisguisable joy on his face. It was obvious that the Dipper Transformation Lake had a strong attractive force to him.
“Whether it is true or false, we will know after we try.”
Ning Meng suddenly cried out on the other side and he was the first to rush forward and take a lotus stone platform floating on the lake.
The other students did the same. They controlled their excitement and raced to occupy a stone platform.
Just when Lin Xun was about to act, he was suddenly stopped.
It was Bai Lingxi, the beautiful maiden in white. She had approached Lin Xun without him knowing and was looking at him with her tranquil bright eyes. “I said a long time ago that when you reach the ninth layer True Martial Stage, I will challenge you. Do you remember?”
Lin Xun frowned. “Don’t tell me you want to choose to fight here?”