Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

Chapter 244: Chapter 241: An Instantaneous Sword Strike

Those standing in the square were all elite talents, the cream of the crop, who had passed a series of grueling assessments.

In terms of disposition and willpower, they were far superior to ordinary people.

Many among them even possessed strength that greatly surpassed other Cultivators of the same Realm.

Compared to the thousands, even tens of thousands, who had been eliminated,

they were the final, chosen elite!

So,

having endured numerous trials to finally stand here as the ultimate victors,

having trampled over the corpses of countless others to reach this final stage, a sense of pride and self-assurance had naturally bloomed in their hearts.

It was the pride and confidence of a genius!

Thus,

when Wu Tianhao, one of the head examiners, brought Shen Changchuan to cut the line and go straight to the final test—the Heart Inquiry Gate—many of the Cultivators recognized that Shen Changchuan hadn’t participated in any of the earlier assessments.

This immediately left some of the more arrogant individuals feeling deeply displeased.

Their displeasure wasn’t born from a simple sense of injustice.

In the dog-eat-dog Immortal Cultivation Realm, the strong ruled, and with that came privilege.

No one was naive enough to think that passing the assessments was the only way into the Dragon Cloud Sect.

Backdoor deals and exchanges of favors were commonplace among the great powers.

Having come this far on their Path of Immortal Cultivation, most of them were no longer surprised by such things.

At most, they might curse a little under their breath and feel a pang of envy.

Beyond that,

there would be nothing more.

The problem was,

using connections is one thing,

but why do it in such an insulting way?

They had spent the last two days giving their absolute all, fighting through grueling assessments just to reach this final step before the Heart Inquiry Gate.

And then some higher-up just waltzes in with a random person,

who gets to skip all the prior tests and become one of them?

’If you have the connections to use the back door, why not have him skip the Heart Inquiry Gate as well?’

Standing in this square

was the proof of their talent,

and a matter of their pride.

’So now some guy who used the back door just strolls in?

What does that make all our effort and struggle? A joke?!’

It was no surprise that these elite geniuses reacted this way, with one of them blurting out a question on the spot.

”Insolence!”

Wu Tianhao’s expression darkened as he let out a cold snort.

In that instant,

a boundlessly immense pressure swept out, blanketing the entire square.

Everyone present suddenly felt as if a thousand-pound weight had been dropped onto their shoulders, and the air was so thick they could barely breathe.

However,

the one who had spoken first

gritted his teeth and endured the pressure. Neck rigid with defiance, he shouted,

”Do you think this is enough to stop people from talking?”

”If word of this gets out, the Dragon Cloud Sect’s name will become a laughingstock!”

Veins bulged on his forehead;

he was clearly withstanding immense pressure.

Yet even as the spiritual might threatened to snap his spine, his defiant gaze showed not a single trace of submission!

The moment he spoke,

the others were utterly stunned!

’Where did this reckless fool come from?’

’Has he always been this audacious?!’

’Who gave him the guts to confront a Soul Emergence Realm expert? And not just any expert, but a Direct Disciple of Master Wandering Dragon, the founding Sect Leader of the Dragon Cloud Sect!’

’Isn’t he afraid the man will just swat him dead with a single slap?’

Many in the square stared in his direction, their mouths slightly agape.

Yet amidst their shock,

other thoughts began to surface.

’This Direct Disciple of the founding Sect Leader handles things so unfairly, and his only solution to a problem is to silence people by force.’

’With an atmosphere like this... is this Sect really the right place for me?’

The resolve of many began to waver.

Everyone who had made it this far

could be called an outstanding elite in the eyes of others, even a genius.

They had come to the Dragon Cloud Sect’s assessment

seeking the prestige associated with the Seven Immortal Sect Sons of the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

If they were to go to any other Sect Influence, the treatment they’d receive would be just as good.

Why should they stay in a Sect that was already showing such a stifling aura of corruption before it had even finished recruiting its first Disciples?

Again,

they weren’t moral purists who couldn’t tolerate the shadowy existence of backdoor dealings.

But this...

This was going too far.

For a moment,

the crowd grew restless.

”This is bad!”

Seeing this, Wu Tianhao instantly realized his mistake, and a bead of cold sweat formed on his brow.

In that split second, it hit him.

’I never should have brought Shen Changchuan here directly!’

’Especially not in front of everyone!’

Even if everyone knew about the injustice,

you couldn’t be so blatant about it.

Now, even without that outspoken brat down there, Shen Changchuan would inevitably become a target for everyone’s resentment because of this incident!

This was as good as throwing Shen Changchuan into a pit of fire!

”A grave miscalculation!”

Wu Tianhao cursed himself internally.

Sure, he had reached Soul Emergence at a young age—no small feat.

But whether back with the Wu Family or later at the Yuqing Immortal Sect,

he had spent nearly all his time on Cultivation. He’d engaged in the occasional bit of networking,

but as for administrative affairs,

he had practically zero experience.

Yet, as fate would have it,

with the Dragon Cloud Sect newly founded, his martial brothers occupied with urgent matters, and him being a local, the task of recruiting new Disciples had fallen to him...

Wu Tianhao didn’t know his Master, Master Wandering Dragon’s, true purpose for establishing the Dragon Cloud Sect here.

But he knew one thing:

if he truly screwed this up,

he would definitely face his Master’s wrath!

His gaze immediately fell upon the defiant young man, turning sharp and cold.

His eyes brimmed with killing intent!

’I may not be skilled in administration,’

’but I know how to solve a problem with swift and brutal force. A quick beheading to warn the others will do just fine!’

Just as Wu Tianhao’s killing intent surged and he prepared to strike,

a figure moved to block his path.

It was Shen Changchuan!

Shen Changchuan had no intention of letting his own affairs bring great trouble upon someone else,

let alone jeopardize the Dragon Cloud Sect’s recruitment of its first Disciples.

He stopped Wu Tianhao, signaling for him to calm down.

His gaze turned toward the impetuous young man.

”You’re against me because you think I used connections and am not qualified to pass through the same Heart Inquiry Gate as the rest of you, is that right?”

Shen Changchuan asked, his voice even.

”That’s right!”

The young man replied, his neck still rigid with defiance.

His gaze toward Shen Changchuan,

was tinged with contempt.

The eyes of the surrounding crowd converged on them, their expressions charged with meaning.

Shen Changchuan didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. He gave a small nod,

then raised a finger,

and pointed it at the young man.

The youth was confused and was just about to shout another taunt when,

Shen Changchuan flicked his finger.

SHIING!

In that instant,

all color bled from the world before the young man’s eyes.

Between heaven and earth, only a single, brilliant beam of azure sword light remained, consuming his entire vision!

The world,

seemed to freeze in that moment!

RUUUUUMBLE!!!

Accompanied by a continuous roar, a razor-sharp wind tore past his ears.

The world regained its color.

But at the same time,

a newly-carved chasm over a hundred yards long stretched silently past where he stood, almost splitting the entire plaza in two!

The young man’s limbs were rigid,

his body frozen to the spot...