From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 226 The Path to Mastery: Xiao Yao's First Entry into the Battlefield

I pushed open the heavy door of the library, and an ancient aura rushed out, carrying the scent of ink from the books and a faint ethereal fragrance.

Looking up, the pavilion was already packed with people, with experts from all sides gathered here, and the atmosphere was so tense it was almost palpable.

Purple spiritual light poured down from the dome, illuminating dozens of ancient books suspended in the center. Each book radiated an alluring light, symbolizing top-tier immortal techniques and my destination.

My heart suddenly raced, my palms sweated slightly, and a sense of tension welled up inside me.

The air was thick with a strong competitive atmosphere, as if the very air itself was filled with the smell of gunpowder.

I felt immense pressure, like a mountain pressing down on my shoulders.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent emotions in my heart, and silently told myself: I will never give up!

As soon as I took a step in, a familiar figure blocked my way; it was none other than Master Ziyang.

He was dressed in a purple robe, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible arrogance.

He stroked his beard and said in an elder's tone, "Xiao Yao, you came here to see for yourself, right? Top-tier immortal techniques aren't something just anyone can get their hands on. Young man, you should know your limits."

His words, though seemingly mild, were full of warning.

I felt indignant, and a surge of anger welled up inside me.

He's belittling me, thinking I'm not worthy of possessing a top-tier immortal technique manual!

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails almost dug into my palms.

All eyes were on me, filled with curiosity, mockery, and even pity.

The atmosphere was a little awkward. I took a deep breath and suppressed my anger.

I can't get into a conflict with him here; that would only make me a laughingstock.

I forced a smile and replied calmly, "Thank you for the reminder, Master Ziyang. I am well aware of my own limitations." I turned slightly to the side, walked past him, and headed towards the manuals in the center.

However, just as I took a step, a fragrant breeze wafted by...

A fragrant breeze wafted by, and a woman dressed in a pale yellow dress gracefully landed in front of me; it was none other than Fairy Feiyu.

She was beautiful and had a proud demeanor, like a goddess descended from the heavens.

She lightly raised her jade-like hand, her fingertips flashing with spiritual light, and a dazzling golden light shot towards the dome, drawing a golden-glowing secret manual into her hand.

She flipped through the pages, glanced at it casually, and a disdainful smile appeared on her lips: "Nothing special." Then, she tossed the manual into the air, and golden light flashed again as the manual returned to its original position.

A chorus of exclamations immediately arose around me: "As expected of Fairy Feiyu, her strength is truly extraordinary!" "Such mastery of immortal techniques is beyond our reach!" The praises surged like a tide, overwhelming me.

I stood there, feeling as if the world had forgotten me, and a strange sense of inferiority welled up inside me.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms, and secretly vowed: I must prove myself and never let them look down on me!

The atmosphere inside the library became even more oppressive, with a tense atmosphere permeating the air.

I took a deep breath and continued walking forward.

However, just as I was about to approach the central area, my foot suddenly slipped, and I almost fell.

I quickly steadied myself and looked down, only to find a smooth piece of jade on the ground.

The jade was crystal clear and almost blended into the ground; it was difficult to detect unless you looked closely.

I was startled and immediately understood what was going on.

This must have been Ling Feng's doing!

I looked up at him abruptly and saw him standing not far away, a sinister smile on his lips.

I was furious, but I couldn't find any evidence, so I could only swallow my anger.

An invisible pressure enveloped me, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.

I looked around and found that everyone around me was staring at me. Their eyes were all different, some were curious, some were mocking, and some were gloating.

I feel like a small animal trapped in a cage, with nowhere to escape.

Suddenly, a soft voice rang in my ear: "Xiao Yao..."

I turned around abruptly and saw Youmeng standing behind me. She was dressed in black, and her face was hidden in the shadows, so I couldn't see her expression.

Her voice was ghostly, possessing a bewitching power.

"Xiao Yao, do you really think you can get the immortal technique manual? You're too naive." Her voice echoed in my mind, tinged with a hint of mockery.

The surrounding scenery began to distort, and the library turned into a gloomy and terrifying dungeon, with bloodstains and skulls covering the walls and a putrid smell permeating the air.

I saw myself bound by chains, covered in wounds and bleeding profusely.

Master Ziyang, Fairy Feiyu, Lingfeng...

They all stood in front of me, looking at me with contempt, their faces full of mockery and sarcasm.

"Useless trash, you have failed in the end." Master Ziyang's voice pierced my eardrums like a sharp knife, causing me a sharp pain.

"Overestimating yourself." Fairy Feiyu sneered.

"Haha, this is your fate!" Ling Feng laughed wildly, his laughter like the roar of a demon, sending chills down my spine.

Fear surged through me like a tide, and I felt desperate and helpless, as if I had fallen into a bottomless abyss.

My body began to tremble, and my breathing became rapid.

Am I really going to fail?

Am I destined to become their laughingstock?

No! I will never give up! I still have a chance!

I bit my tongue hard, and the intense pain instantly brought me back to my senses.

I circulated my spiritual energy and used the Cleansing Heart Immortal Technique. A cool sensation flowed through my body, dispelling the fear and confusion in my heart.

The surrounding scenery gradually returned to normal, and the Scripture Pavilion returned to its original state. Master Ziyang, Fairy Feiyu, Lingfeng…

They all looked at me with surprise.

Youmeng's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant; she hadn't expected that I would be able to break her illusion.

She gave me a cold look, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the central area.

I took a deep breath, calmed myself down, and then stepped forward.

My eyes were firm and full of confidence.

I will not be defeated by any difficulties, I will definitely obtain the immortal technique manual!

Suddenly, Elder Moyun's voice resounded throughout the entire Scripture Pavilion: "The first test begins now!"

As soon as Elder Moyun finished speaking, the ground of the Scripture Pavilion began to tremble, and beams of light shot down from the dome, dividing the entire space into countless small areas.

Each area presented a different illusion, some depicting mountains of knives and seas of fire, others icy wastelands, and still others misty forests...

The area I was in was a maze full of traps, with ancient runes carved on the walls, emitting an eerie glow.

I moved forward cautiously, taking each step with utmost care.

I know that the slightest carelessness could trigger a trap and plunge me into utter ruin.

I channeled my spiritual power and used my "Divine Eye" to perceive everything around me.

My gaze pierced through the wall, revealing hidden mechanisms and traps in the shadows.

I avoided the danger and walked forward step by step.

I wasn't fast, but I proceeded steadily and without the slightest panic.

Some weaker competitors ran into trouble shortly after entering the illusion. They panicked and ran around in a panic, eventually triggering the mechanisms and being eliminated.

Looking at those who were eliminated, I felt no sympathy whatsoever; instead, my determination to seize the secret manual only grew stronger.

I know that only the strong survive, and only the strong can achieve ultimate victory.

With my own strength and wisdom, I successfully navigated the maze and arrived at the exit.

I took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped out of the illusion.

When I stepped out of the illusion, I found that there were far fewer competitors around me, less than half the number remained.

They all looked at me with admiration.

I felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"Congratulations, Xiao Yao, you have passed the first test." Elder Mo Yun's voice rang out again, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation.

I smiled slightly, bowed to him, and then walked towards the central area.

Suddenly, a cold voice rang in my ear: "Xiao Yao, do you think this is over? The real challenge has only just begun..." I whirled around, only to see a blurry figure disappear into the shadows...