Chaotic World Book
Chapter 355 - 348 The Path of Thunder

Chapter 355: Chapter 348 The Path of Thunder

Zhao Changhe continued his rapid ascent, shaking his head inwardly.

At present, it seems that certain entities, much like the blind, are in a weakened state resembling "Spiritual Bodies" or "Divine Souls". They couldn’t enter this space on their own and needed someone to bring the Heavenly Book out. Yuxu, in his non-cooperation through violence, did not come forth himself, instead, he coaxed the wicked to come, which was an explanation to them—don’t say I didn’t help you, I’ve organized so many hands, if it doesn’t work out, it’s none of my damn business.

Zhao Changhe truly admired the wicked here.

After so many years, they were still fighting among themselves, sneak attacking, and holding each other back... Not to mention that this state of affairs was far from unified cooperation, but looking at the attribute of this page of the Heavenly Book, it actually extremely repelled these lowlives.

Yet after all this time, they had never reflected on why they couldn’t even make it halfway up the mountain and remained unchanged in their ways.

Yuxu had made an excellent selection of people, which saved him trouble, without needing to care whether these people could get the Heavenly Book or not. He chopped his wood and drank his wine, and incidentally, he could eliminate some evil...

Continuing upward, another strange sight appeared ahead.

Clearly, this inner space did not have the snow and wind of the outside, and what he had experienced so far were green waters and mountains. Yet, in front of him, there was a cliff covered in ice and snow, with a smooth icy surface and perilously steep and sheer rock walls, impossible to climb upwards.

Only several vines swayed in the wind, hanging down from different positions, each one varying in length.

If someone were to climb the vines and leap at the end to grab another and continue upward, judging from the "tests" of the Heavenly Book, there surely was one complete path leading to the top.

Even though there was no one around at the moment, Zhao Changhe didn’t dare to attempt the climb.

The vines were widely spaced, and attempting to leap and grab another was far too dangerous, with a high risk of falling. That would be the end of it, as the skillful and brave could try their luck. However, the wind was the key issue, blowing chaotically—one moment from the east, the next from the west—shaking the vines unpredictably.

Perhaps one thought they could leap and grab hold, only to suddenly be blown far away by the wind—a real fool’s trap.

Assessing the wind direction, summarizing a pattern, and determining the most appropriate vine-changing path?

Are you fucking testing civil service exams?

Zhao Changhe felt the contrivance was becoming a bit too apparent. It seemed to be telling him to utilize nature, to become one with it, but it lacked the previous seamless integration; it felt very "unnatural" and possibly misleading.

After observing carefully for a while, he began to understand.

Suddenly, he leapt up, seizing the most central vine to climb upwards. Reaching the top, he jumped towards the nearest vine on his right, grabbing its end perfectly. Then, he did not climb any further, letting himself drift with the wind.

When he drifted to the far right, he suddenly made a leap, using the wind and the force from the vine’s swing as if soaring like a hawk, stably landing on a protruding platform quite far to the right.

The icy mountain wall looked the same at a glance; without close inspection, the platform was nearly invisible.

The platform faced a cave. Entering, he found ascending stone steps leading straight to the heavens.

Indeed, so many vines were a misdirection. Even if one might indeed reach the top by using the vines, the risk of falling was too high.

In fact, this was not like testing civil service skills, where one observes and summarizes. Observation was merely a foundation, refining the Five Senses, all to facilitate better Perception.

Each challenge here related to Martial Arts; after all, in this world, Heavenly Dao was Martial Arts, and every page of the Heavenly Book concerned matters of Martial Arts. Mimicking nature was also to harness it for the use in Martial Arts.

Sound Attack, Maze, Qinggong... Using the wind and the force from the vine’s swing at this challenge resembled what Huangfu Qing had once said, "If your sword can merge with the wind," sharing the same principle.

Zhao Changhe remembered Yuxu chopping firewood once more, which had begun with integrating with the snow and voluntarily making the snow serve him.

"Whoosh!" Zhao Changhe suddenly drew his sword.

The wind was howling into the cave from outside, and this sword stroke followed the wind, merging with it invisibly to the point that it almost seemed like an illusion caused by the wind, and not a sword strike at all.

Normally expressing Sword Intent with a knife, in this instance, the intent of this sword was that of a knife—Hell is Like This, but an even more advanced Hell is Like This, completely blending with the environment.

"Clang!" The sword thrust broke through hidden reflections off the ice and snow, and a pitiful scream suddenly emanated from the stairs, where someone was trying to flee.

Zhao Changhe flicked his finger.

Icicles in the cave, knocked down by his fingertip shot, aimed at the heart of the fleeing figure and penetrated it.

The person stood rigid, looking down at the icicle protruding through his chest, and spoke in a low voice, "Who might you be?"

Zhao Changhe answered indifferently, "Langya, Wang Daozhong."

"Thud!" The body collapsed onto the stairs, rolling down, falling off the platform, and plummeting over the cliff.

Zhao Changhe sheathed his sword and strode up the steps.

This was the right place; this was the satisfaction one should feel in the Valley of Evil, entering the mountains alone, overcoming challenges, the long-missed sense of pride and passion of a Martial Artist surged in his heart once again. The previous encounters with the Heavenly Spirit of Kunlun City, poisonous spiders, and so forth were somewhat lackluster.

With each step, his Mud Ball Palace slightly pulsed again, as if something was about to burst forth.

Unexpectedly, this journey through the Heavenly Book turned out to be a process of integrating and understanding his Martial Arts. Merging with nature, with the cosmos, also formed his own unique meaning of Martial Arts.

Eyes, ears, body, and mind, perception penetrating the minutest detail; whether swords or sabers, handled as if by reflex; wind, snow, ice frost, all at one’s command.

Could one be called a Grandmaster?

Just a bit short...

Still a bit short.

For the way of nature was not his fundamental cultivation technique; his fundamental technique lay in the Blood Evil Skill.

That was the root cause of his inability to breakthrough; he understood many things that were different from the technique he practiced, all of which were correct, but when it came to breakthroughs, it was just short of that final breath.

According to Yuxu, this situation would indeed be a hindrance, but it was also a good thing; as long as the Blood Evil Skill was in place, the breakthrough would naturally happen without the side effects that typically came with Demon Skills.

Could it be considered that he was turning Demon Skills into something of the Mystic Sect?

It didn’t matter, whether demon or divine, it’s all down to the cultivation technique, what could it possibly determine...

"Step!" Zhao Changhe set foot on the topmost stair, outside there was neither ice nor snow, just more mountains.

However, the peak was now within sight, golden light as if before his very eyes.

The Heavenly Book was within reach.

A man of the Great Han stood with his hands behind his back not far away, his back to Zhao Changhe, gazing up at the sky.

Hearing Zhao Changhe emerge, the man of the Great Han said indifferently, "Is that Brother of the Martial Path?"

Zhao Changhe smiled, "A name is but a code, what it’s called doesn’t seem to matter. As for your name, I’d rather not know."

The man of the Great Han chuckled, "I can tell you, though."

"Oh?"

"I am Yan Que."

Number thirty-three on the Earth List, Blood Demon Hand Yan Que.

Quite higher than Wang Daozhong, no wonder he seemed to have a bit of a condescending attitude.

Zhao Changhe just smiled and didn’t say anything. Had Yuxu sent him back to the Earth List for this man?

But this time I have the blind kid...

Yan Que sighed, "I don’t know why a noble from a prominent family like Brother of the Martial Path would come here; you must have some agreement with the real person Yuxu, which I can’t be bothered to inquire into. But Brother of the Martial Path, being new to Kunlun but reaching this position in less than two hours, that really isn’t easy... You live up to your name."

That was also why he didn’t delve into Wang Daozhong’s true identity; even if he wasn’t Wang Daozhong, this person must be a top-notch expert.

For many years, he had never seen anyone arrive here so quickly. Although these tests didn’t require much absolute strength, it was quite difficult for the wicked - the disparity between their mindsets and nature was too great, not to mention the incessant backstabbing and sabotage.

And everyone had weaknesses, or some aspects where they relied on fate. For example, Yan Que, he had no trouble passing the other barriers but was stuck in that maze for over a year. Going out to learn the Array and coming back didn’t help. It was only later that he learned the secret — it was about fighting to fit the theme of "Master." Who the hell could predict that? If he hadn’t happened to get into a fight one time, he might still be going in circles now. That was fate, that was kismet.

Yan Que believed that "Wang Daozhong" had great fortune: "Brother of the Martial Path, how about we cooperate once?"

Zhao Changhe asked, "Cooperate on what?"

Yan Que said, "You see the situation ahead?"

Zhao Changhe saw it.

It was a path of thunder.

A road with lightning flashing, extending to the mountain peak, it seemed one could directly reach for the Heavenly Book amidst thunderstrikes.

If it was just a very short stretch, maybe one could give it a try, but such a long road of several miles was a dead end; no one could possibly make it across.

Finding some kind of insulator from the outside, as proven previously at the bridge, the Heavenly Book wouldn’t acknowledge; one had to come up with a plan from things in plain sight here, or one’s own Martial Arts should be able to merge into and influence thunder.

Clearly, Yan Que couldn’t do it, nor could Zhao Changhe.

Yan Que said, "I’ve been stuck here for one year and three months, observing every day, and I’ve got some ideas, but I lack a reliable partner."

Zhao Changhe said, "There are plenty of wicked people around here, how can you not find a helper?"

"They lack the ability and the fortune, unlike Brother of the Martial Path." Yan Que turned around, his eyes shining as he looked at Zhao Changhe: "I can feel that these golden book pages reject someone drenched in blood like me, but might not reject a noble and destined person like Brother of the Martial Path. If we cooperate, I’ll share the strategy I’ve developed over the year to help Brother of the Martial Path get this book page. If you succeed, just make a copy for me later. What do you think?"

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PS: Brothers and sisters, I’m a six-year-old elementary student, and today is my special day. Can I get some monthly tickets as a gift?