CHAPTER 542: CHAPTER 108: NI QIANJUN’S TRIAL

Where is the most dangerous place on Canglong Continent?

Different people would have different answers to this question.

Some say it’s the Xuan Beast Ridge, for there dwell Holy Beasts that have long since vanished from the continent.

Others say it’s the Outer Continent Sea, where it’s said that even the most powerful Dark Birds or Beast Tamers would be torn into dust by unknown Dark Powers once they arrive there.

There are also those who consider places like Dan Demon Tomb, God Demon Battlefield, Assassin Trench... to be the most dangerous. However, in Ni Qianjun’s view, the most perilous place is none other than Qianshen Mountain.

The most dangerous things in the world are not Dark Beasts, nor the irresistible forces of nature.

The gravest threat comes from the Heart Demons lurking in the deepest recesses of a person’s heart, and in Qianshen Mountain, even a stone or a falling leaf can trigger these Heart Demons.

After completing the task at the Dan Demon Tomb and accepting the punishment from his Mercenary Group, Ni Qianjun found his older brother Ni Huo.

When he proposed the idea of traveling to Qianshen Mountain, as he had expected, Ni Huo resolutely refused his request.

"I firmly disagree. Do you know there are thousands of illusions on Qianshen Mountain? Although they are just illusions, each one can inflict real harm. If anything were to happen to you, how could I explain it to our deceased parents," looking at his brother’s worried eyes and the instantly changing expression, Ni Qianjun’s heart was filled with mixed emotions, but he still insisted on his request.

"Big brother, you once said, the greater the danger, the greater the opportunity. Despite the countless illusions on Qianshen Mountain, the miracle stone on the summit of Qianshen Mountain..." Ni Qianjun hadn’t finished his words when Ni Huo interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

"The miracle stone is merely a legend, to say nothing of whether you can reach the summit of Qianshen Mountain, even if you did, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will see any Miracle Stone. I know you must have been to Geyue Town and heard the rumors about Mercenary King Bo Sai, but those rumors have always been just that, barely a whisper, and Bo Sai himself has never publicly acknowledged them," Ni Huo shook his head continuously, unable to understand why the previous Ni Qianjun who never believed such rumors, would now be so firmly convinced, willing to risk a journey to Qianshen Mountain to find out.

In the Mercenary World, Dragon Knight Mercenary Corps Group’s Bo Sai, who is both the Mercenary King of the continent and one of the Ten Strongest, is rumored to have sought Heart Demon training in Qianshen Mountain before and after his breakthrough into the Dan Realm.

When he arrived at the summit of Qianshen Mountain, he encountered the rising sun in the east, and the sea of clouds and morning light shone upon a smooth, mirror-like stone on the summit, revealing a divine miracle on that stone.

Inspired by this miracle, Bo Sai, who had been stuck unable to advance into Dan, broke through in one swoop and ascended into the Dan Realm.

"Even without miracles, if I can survive the myriad trials of the Heart Demons, it would surely be a great help in solidifying my Cultivation," Ni Qianjun refused to back down.

"It won’t do. I don’t agree with you. In a few months, it will be the annual review of the Mercenary World, and as the deputy head of the group, your attendance is mandatory," Ni Huo was equally unyielding, attempting to pressure Ni Qianjun with the honor of the Mercenary Group.

"The Mercenary Group can manage with you there, especially since this year’s ’Reversed Fire’ Mercenary Group has such a high completion rate of tasks that we’re sure to be upgraded to a Super Mercenary Group. If you really insist on making me attend the year-end review, I would rather leave ’Reversed Fire’," impulsive as ever, faced with Ni Huo’s use of the Mercenary Group to constrain him, Ni Qianjun simply proposed to leave the group.

To think, Ni Qianjun is still seething from the last time his brother meddled and suppressed Yue Jinghua in Dan Demon Tomb. With his stubborn temper flaring up, he just might storm off for real.

"You!" Ni Huo, furious and neck flushed red, clenched his iron arms, wishing he could strangle Ni Qianjun’s neck, "If you weren’t my own brother, I would slap you dead."

"You full well know I fancy Yue Jinghua, yet you deliberately tripped her up behind the scenes. With such behavior, do you truly care about your brother at all?" Ni Qianjun, equally stubborn, wouldn’t budge an inch.

"Is it worth it for a woman?" In the end, it was Ni Huo who gave in.

"She is not just a woman, she is my woman, the woman of Ni Qianjun," knowing his elder brother had already given way, Ni Qianjun grinned, saying proudly.

"Get lost, and come back unharmed, remember that. If you can’t make it back before the year-end review, your mercenary missions for next year will double," Ni Huo kicked him, making Ni Qianjun howl in pain as he clutched his buttocks and scampered away like a rabbit.

After saying goodbye to his brother and the Rebellion Mercenary Group, Ni Qianjun headed towards the desolate western Big Snow Valley; at the very end of the snow path of Big Snow Valley lies the famously formidable Qianshen Mountain.

Starting from the foot of Qianshen Mountain all the way to its peak, Ni Qianjun encountered far more hardships and obstacles than he’d ever imagined.

First, there was the abominable blizzard, followed by all sorts of illusions conjured up by Dark Beasts and poisonous insects.

Several times, he almost perished beneath the claws and fangs of beasts and venomous insects.

Again and again, from the foot to the peak of the mountain, from the harsh weather with pouring rain and wind to the cliffs and precipices, then to the swirling snowstorms.

Qianshen Mountain truly lived up to its reputation as the trial ground of the Mercenary King Bo Sai.

The illusions here attacked Ni Qianjun from both mental and physical aspects, fainting time after time, awakening over and over again.

As stars shifted and days passed, with the rise and fall of the sun, on the sixth day after entering Qianshen Mountain, Ni Qianjun awoke from another fainting spell to the sight of a lone peak mirroring the sea of clouds.

The torrential rain, the snowstorm, the venomous insects, and fierce beasts had all disappeared.

Before him was an endless sea of clouds, as though to survey all other mountains from the highest point.

The ancient poetry perfectly depicted this scene, and Ni Qianjun couldn’t help but feel moved.

Upon reaching the peak, Ni Qianjun immediately began searching for the legendary stone that aided Bo Sai in comprehending the Dan Realm,

After looking around, Ni Qianjun did indeed find a smooth boulder standing atop Qianshen Mountain.

Carved on the boulder in characters sharp as iron engraving was "Ling Jue Ding," with a signature beside it that read "Bo Sai."

"This is the stone of epiphany of the former Mercenary King Bo Sai," after observing it for a moment, Ni Qianjun found it to be just a common stone, with a shape slightly unique but smoothed as if sculpted by the mountain itself.

There were no inscriptions or images on the surface of the stone.

"Rumors are indeed false, where would the stone have any Secret of Enlightenment. If I were Lord Bo Sai, I certainly wouldn’t reveal my cultivation secrets so easily," Ni Qianjun said with a wry smile as he shook his head.

Feeling slightly disappointed yet realizing that the illusions he faced over the past six months had greatly strengthened his will, he acknowledged that his journey had not been in vain.

With that thought, his spirit suddenly cleared, and just as he was about to sit down for meditation, a gleam of gold shone from the horizon — dawn had arrived.

Ni Qianjun couldn’t help but focus his mind and breath, watching the sunrise amidst the sea of clouds. Suddenly, a beam of golden light shot forth, hitting the smooth boulder directly.