The old man smiled, his face full of warmth. "Why would you think I don't want you to reach the summit?"
Chen Nan couldn't answer this question.
After all, he was an enemy of the Hua Shan Sword Sect.
Once he reached the peak, regardless of success or failure, it would damage the reputation and even the interests of the Hua Shan Sword Sect.
As a guardian elder, the other party shouldn't hold such an idea.
"Go, young man, I hope you can impress me!"
The old man said lightly and vanished from the stone steps almost instantly.
Although Chen Nan was filled with doubt,
He also knew that the answer would surface when he reached Cangyun Peak!
As Chen Nan climbed the stone steps,
The old man who had just left had already arrived at the last checkpoint, not far from the summit.
A child, seemingly seven or eight years old, sat cross-legged, his eyes indifferent. "Old Nine, your acting was too exaggerated, it wasn't convincing!"
This person looked like a seven or eight-year-old child, but in reality, he had lived for over three hundred years and was a powerful expert who had returned to his youthful state.
He was also the chief of the nine guardian elders.
Old Nine looked astonished. "Why do you think I was acting?"
"Why don't you think that guy is very strong?"
"Is it that hard to admit someone else's excellence?"
The First Elder chuckled, "Unless, you think that young man can reach the summit?"
Old Nine asked, "Do you want him to reach the summit?"
The First Elder's gaze immediately became profound. "I don't want him to reach the summit, but I also want him to reach the summit!"
Old Nine smiled and said, "So, you are more inclined for him to reach the summit."
The First Elder sighed, "The Hua Shan Sword Sect today is already rotten through and through. I hope someone can break this current situation."
"However, I will not inform the other seven people to go easy on this young man!"
"If he cannot reach the summit of Cangyun Peak through his own strength, even if he truly arrives here, he will lose his life for nothing!"
Old Nine looked down the mountain and murmured, "Perhaps, this young man can bring us a surprise!"
------
"Second Elder, I told you, this fellow's strength is immense, especially his physical power. He is invincible among those of the same realm!"
What happened at the foot of the mountain had already reached Fan Ce and the Second Elder, Hua Yan.
Hua Yan said dismissively, "The Heavenly Ascent Road is not as easy as he imagines. Even if he defeats the Ninth Master, he cannot reach the summit."
"Even if he really comes, so what?"
"You are a meritorious official of my Hua Shan Sword Sect, and the Hua Shan Sword Sect will naturally not hand you over to him!"
"Nor will we give him that Warm Jade!"
"Let's see how many challenges he can overcome!"
------
"Young man, do you really intend to ascend the Heavenly Ladder and brave the nine trials?"
When Chen Nan reached the two thousandth step, a scholar in his forties, dressed in green, appeared before him. He had one hand behind his back, and his face showed no emotion.
Chen Nan bowed. "Junior doesn't wish for this, but junior has no choice!"
The scholar in green shook his head dismissively, "We cultivators practice the path of immortality, comprehend the heavenly way, and seek eternal life. Women are but rosy skeletons to us. Why are you so obsessed with love and affection?"
Chen Nan asked, "May I ask senior, what is the meaning of eternal life?"
The scholar in green replied, "Naturally, it is to wield a sword in the heavens and transcend the mundane."
Chen Nan then asked, "And after wielding a sword in the heavens and transcending the mundane?"
The scholar in green slightly shook his head. "I have not yet condensed my core, and there is a long distance to immortalization and eternal life. I have not considered what you speak of."
Chen Nan further inquired, "Then what is the significance of you staying at the Hua Shan Sword Sect and guarding here?"
The scholar in green said, "Naturally, it is to fulfill my duty and guard this place!"
Chen Nan: "So, guarding is your responsibility."
The scholar in green murmured, "What you say seems reasonable!"
Chen Nan shrugged, unable to deny it. "Therefore, the rosy skeletons in your eyes are precisely what I wish to protect. Now, my woman is already dead, and only the Warm Jade can bring her back to life."
"This is the reason for my ascent on the Heavenly Ladder and the nine trials!"
The scholar in green: "But you might die doing this!"
Chen Nan asked, "What is there to fear in death?"
The scholar in green then asked, "With your talent, if you dedicate yourself to cultivation, you might become an immortal in the future. Don't you regret dying now and vanishing?"
Chen Nan: "If I cannot even save my woman, what is the meaning of becoming an immortal?"
The scholar in green sighed, "It seems you are determined to ascend the Heavenly Ladder and brave the nine trials!"
Chen Nan: "Yes!"
The scholar in green: "Because of love?"
Chen Nan: "Yes!"
The scholar in green: "But you will die like this!"
"If I feared death, why would I have come here?" Chen Nan's anger flared. "Are you done talking? Are we going to fight or not? Do you know you sound like a nagging woman?"
The scholar in green did not get angry. A complex look appeared on his face. "Speaking of which, I have been cultivating for over three hundred years."
"Although many people have pursued me and wanted to cultivate with me, I have refused them all."
"Because, I heard that love is the most potent poison in the world."
"Until today."
"I finally realized that this kind of poison can also make people fearless of death!"
"In this regard alone, you have surpassed everyone."
"Thank you for making me understand this principle!"
"Ascend the mountain!"
With that, he moved aside, allowing Chen Nan to proceed up the mountain.
Chen Nan frowned.
Is this scholar in green not very bright?
Why is he so inexplicably acting this way?
However, he didn't overthink it and continued to climb the stone steps.
When he reached the three thousandth step,
A middle-aged man in a white robe appeared before him. He sat before a chessboard, holding a chess piece, hesitating to make a move.
Chen Nan walked forward.
He had also learned chess while in prison and immediately recognized that the game before him was an unsolvable endgame.
He knew.
This must be the challenge for the third trial!
He spoke, "This chessboard is unsolvable."
The middle-aged man in white robes looked up. "You understand chess too?"
Chen Nan: "Does it matter?"
The middle-aged man in white robes nodded seriously. "It matters a great deal. If you cannot break this endgame, I will not let you ascend the mountain."
Chen Nan frowned and asked in confusion, "I came here to cause trouble. Why should I follow your rules? Who do you think you are?" Saying this, his internal energy surged, and he destroyed the chessboard with a single punch.
The middle-aged man in white robes looked dumbfounded, never expecting Chen Nan to be so crude. "You... you're not playing by the rules!"
Chen Nan sneered, "If I don't play by the rules, what can you do to me?"
The middle-aged man grinned and said, "Congratulations, you have passed the third trial!"
Chen Nan frowned. He passed another one?
Is this a game?
The middle-aged man's figure slowly vanished, but his voice entered Chen Nan's ears. "However, don't celebrate too soon!"
"The first three trials are merely a small test for you."
"Testing your strength!"
"Your perseverance!"
"And your state of mind!"
"Your performance in these three trials was quite pleasing, but the fourth trial will not be as simple as you imagine!"
"Young man, the path lies at your feet. I hope you will not regret your choice today!"