The Strongest Knight

In the days that followed, Zhao Qinghe traveled an average of fifty miles a day.

Occasionally, you can catch a ride on a merchant's carriage and catch up with Baili Di.

While traveling, Zhao Qinghe observed the environment along the way, trying to find more traces of ascetics. This was his first time traveling far in this world in twenty-one years.

Perhaps the distance limit for ascetics is too far for mortals, often tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of miles.

In the first month, Zhao Qinghe made inquiries about both monks and monsters, but to no avail.

Most mortals believe this is just a legend.

The territory of the Ming Dynasty was not peaceful, and there were many bandits on the roads.

Zhao Qinghe knew that his strength was not enough to protect himself 100%, so even if he had to take a detour, he would choose the relatively safe official road.

With a machete on his back and a six-foot-tall, broad and sturdy figure, even petty thieves wouldn't dare to provoke Zhao Qinghe.

After traveling like this for two months, Zhao Qinghe saw many things along the way.

There were horse thieves who came with the wind, swept away the property and ran away; there were also chivalrous men who took action to righteousness and subdued the thieves; but there were also many evil-minded people in the martial arts world who were cruel and ruthless, killing people and stealing their property.

Zhao Qinghe could either avoid or escape, but if all else failed he could only draw out his machete and fight.

After adding a cut on his cheek that would have been fatal if it had been cut another three inches deeper, Zhao Qinghe finally reached his destination, the foot of Tianlong Mountain.

A journey of three thousand miles in wind and rain would bring danger to even a second-rate master like Zhao Qinghe. It is conceivable that most ordinary people would be trapped near their hometowns throughout their lives, let alone seek immortality.

At the foot of Tianlong Mountain, there is a small town with a population of over a thousand called Luoyun Town.

Recently, the number of outsiders in Luoyun Town has gradually increased. The townspeople know that this is the case every few years when the sects on the mountain begin to recruit disciples, so they have posted notices outside their houses to rent out their homestays.

No one knows what sect there is on the mountain. Every time at this time, Luoyun Town is crowded with people, and most of them are people who can be seen at a glance that they are wealthy.

When Zhao Qinghe arrived at Luoyun Town, the number of outsiders in the town had not yet reached its peak.

After figuring out the situation, Zhao Qinghe spent one or two taels of silver to rent a side room in a well-off farmer's house for a month, with food and accommodation provided.

Zhao Qinghe traveled three thousand miles in two months, and there was only about a month left before the founding day of Liuhua Sect.

During this period of time, Zhao Qinghe planned to gather information about Liuhua Sect and the world of cultivation in the town.

However, most of those who, like Zhao Qinghe, were planning to take part in Liuhua Sect's disciple-recruiting trial were accompanied by servants and subordinates, and looked as if they did not want to be disturbed by strangers.

Occasionally he would meet a few guys who, like Zhao Qinghe, had the same luck as learned about the founding of the Liuhua Sect. Zhao Qinghe would ask them in various ways but got nothing out of them.

However, Zhao Qinghe did notice some trouble. Most of those who came to participate in the trial were only in their teens, and there were very few who were in their twenties like him.

"What's wrong? I'm thirty-six this year, so I can't come to seek the truth?"

Zhao Qinghe was drinking tea at a roadside stall in town when a loud voice came from the side.

It was a bearded burly man dressed as a knight who slammed the handle of his knife on the table and shouted at a master and servant who had just entered the town.

Zhao Qinghe looked at the master and servant again. The servant was about forty or fifty years old, with a kind face, tall and thin figure, and a distant aura. It was obvious at first glance that he was quite powerful.

The young man, who was about fourteen or fifteen years old, had an arrogant look on his face. He wore a silk scarf on his head, a jade pendant on his belt, and an extremely expensive jade robe.

When the old servant saw the bearded man like this, he apologized repeatedly and asked the reluctant young man to go somewhere else.

The bearded man then started to do it again, cursing.

There are quite a few martial artists like Bearded Man and Zhao Qinghe who come to participate in the trial.

There are no weaklings among those who can collect a hundred taels of gold and arrive at Luoyun Town safely. They are all at least second-rate masters and are experienced, but their disadvantage is that they are relatively old.

The old man was obviously afraid that the young master's previous discriminatory remarks against the bearded man and his age would anger everyone, so he quickly showed weakness and apologized, then took the young master away.

If a fight really breaks out, the bearded burly man might not be as strong as Zhao Qinghe, and would definitely not be a match for this old man.

"Brother, you have a clear aspiration for the truth. I believe you will be able to successfully enter the Liuhua Sect." Zhao Qinghe, holding a teapot and teacups, sat down in front of the bearded man's table without any awkwardness.

The bearded man glanced at the 49-jin machete that Zhao Qinghe was holding beside the table, and then looked at Zhao Qinghe's body shape, knowing that he was a fellow practitioner. His expression improved a little, "Thank you for your kind words, brother. However, how can the path of seeking the truth be so easy? To be honest, this is my third time going to Tianlong Mountain."

At the end of his speech, the bearded man even lowered his voice.

"The third time? Brother, does Liuhua Sect allow you to go up the mountain again?" This was the first time Zhao Qinghe heard of it.

"Of course it's allowed, as long as you can afford the 100 taels of gold for each trip up the mountain, you can go up the mountain as many times as you want!" the bearded burly man affirmed.

"Is the trial of Liuhua Sect so difficult?" Zhao Qinghe frowned slightly.

If you can't even enter a Taoist sect, how can you even think about finding the way of yin and yang?

"Well, it's not that difficult, but if you don't get the opportunity, it will be as difficult as it can be." The bearded burly man sighed.

"My humble disciple Zhao Qinghe, may I ask your name? This is my first time going to Tianlong Mountain, and I only have this little extra money. I hope you can help me explain matters related to the trial!" Zhao Qinghe took out an ingot of gold from his arms.

The bearded man glared at her and said, "Take the money back! My surname is Yan and my given name is Xingyun. Yan Xingyun is my real name!"

"Brother Qinghe, right? We get along well, so I won't be shy and tell you about the situation on Tianlong Mountain."

Zhao Qinghe took advantage of the situation and called Yan Xingyun "Brother Yan" which went into his heart. Yan Xingyun immediately began to tell the story slowly.

On the day of the Tianlong Mountain Trial, strange lights will randomly appear on the top of the mountain.

After reaching the top of the mountain, participants in the trial must find the location of the strange light. There is a Taoist priest waiting there. After paying a hundred taels of gold, they can enter the mountain gate of Liuhua Sect.

"That strange light is about two or three people tall and wide. Once you enter it, the scenery in front of you will change drastically! You will arrive at a cliff!"

"On the other side of the cliff, there are rows of immortal residences, and cranes fly by from time to time. It is truly an immortal residence!"

Speaking of this, Yan Xingyun's eyes were filled with longing.

Zhao Qinghe did not interrupt him. Sure enough, after being immersed for a while, Yan Xingyun continued.

There is a long suspension bridge connecting the cliff to the opposite side.

There is a square high platform in the middle of the suspension bridge. It is said that it is one of the gathering points of spiritual inspiration in the Tianlong Mountain Paradise. Every few years, a faint amount of spiritual inspiration will be produced there.

At this time, this place is the most suitable for newcomers to comprehend the power of heaven and earth, and it is also the day when Liuhua Sect starts to accept disciples.

Participants in the trial must sit upright on a high platform and successfully sense the power of heaven and earth before the output of spiritual inspiration ends, and complete the entry of spiritual inspiration into the body!