Chapter 435 - 246: Getting Flexed On
The old man, who had been fishing, froze on the spot when he heard Jiang Man’s words.
He stared silently at the first young man to arrive.
The young man’s statement gave him much to ponder.
A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind.
In the end, he still couldn’t figure out what the young man was trying to do.
"Did you... just say something presumptuous?" the old man finally asked after a moment’s pause.
Jiang Man thought for a moment. "It was a bit presumptuous."
"Since you also find it presumptuous, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear it," the old man said.
Jiang Man was taken aback. "Senior, can’t I just touch you?"
The old man’s gaze froze slightly. "Do you have any idea what you’re saying?"
Jiang Man looked at him, thought for a moment, and corrected himself, "Senior, you’ve misunderstood. I’ve studied medicine. Your complexion doesn’t look good, so I wanted to take your pulse."
Hearing this, the old man looked at Jiang Man with suspicion. "Is that what you meant?"
Jiang Man nodded emphatically.
Only then did the old man let out a breath of relief. "Taking my pulse, huh? You scared me."
He then extended his hand.
Jiang Man didn’t hesitate and took his hand.
He immediately activated the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books.
The pages of the book quickly began to flip, finally stopping on the last page.
[A spirit formed from the negative Divine Thought of Heart Demon Lake. Has unique insights on fishing, which is worth mentioning.]
Jiang Man had indeed been curious about a person suddenly appearing here.
That was why he wanted to touch him and see.
He hadn’t expected to actually discover something.
’I thought he was someone from the Sect, but it turns out he’s a spirit formed from the Heart Demon Lake.’
’The Celestial Mirror Hundred Books doesn’t mention if he’s dangerous or not, only his fishing insights.’
’So his identity is even less important than his fishing tips.’
’That’s the one thing that’s no good about the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books—it leaves out so many details.’
"Am I sick?" the old man asked curiously.
"No," Jiang Man said, shaking his head. "Just stay happy. Eat what you want, drink what you want, and don’t make things hard on yourself."
"You make it sound like I don’t have many days left," the old man said, withdrawing his hand. "I think you should try and see if you can handle this lake. Don’t fall in and get eliminated right away."
"Of course, I’m quite knowledgeable about this lake. Care to buy some information from me?"
"It’s not too expensive. Just five thousand Spiritual Source."
Five thousand? Jiang Man immediately shook his head. "No need. As an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, knowing a lot or a little isn’t important. This lake can’t stop me."
The old man looked at Jiang Man’s expression and couldn’t help but sigh. ’Not only is he reckless and poor, he loves to put on an act.’
Jiang Man looked at the old man before him and felt that the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books was right.
This was the embodiment of negative emotions.
Jiang Man then looked toward the lake’s surface. "Senior, if I walk across, will I secure a spot?"
"I don’t know." The old man shook his head as he gazed at the other side. "But you can try. No one has ever succeeded, though."
Jiang Man stepped forward. "Then you’re in for a treat, Senior. Today, you’ll get to watch me walk across."
The old man paid no mind to Jiang Man’s words.
He had been here for many years and had seen plenty of confident people, but without exception, they all met their doom here.
Although Jiang Man was even more arrogant than the others, arrogance alone couldn’t change his fate.
Even he didn’t know where the slim chance of survival in this place lay.
Perhaps there was none at all.
Seeing Jiang Man’s foot land on the lake’s surface, the old man offered a kind reminder, "The moment you step on the water, your Heart Spirit will be tested. If it wavers even slightly, the lake’s surface will ripple in response. A turbulent Heart Spirit will summon raging waves, and you’ll easily fall into the water."
"So no matter what you encounter, you must maintain your Heart Spirit. Don’t get agitated."
"Also, the moment you step on, a fire will appear in your Heart Spirit to make you waver."
"You have to be care—"
Before he could finish the word "careful," the sound of a single drop of water fell, startlingly clear as it sent a ripple across the surface.
The sudden sound startled the old man, as he had never heard a water drop so clearly.
But he quickly realized it wasn’t that the sound of the drop had grown louder, but rather...
The world around him had fallen silent, and the waves on the lake’s surface had vanished completely.
The lake was now as smooth as a mirror, its ripples contained, like an ancient, undisturbed well.
It was the disappearance of all other sounds that had made the single drop so distinct.
Just then, Jiang Man turned back to look at the old man and asked softly, "Senior, were you telling me to be careful of the surging waves?"
The old man fell silent.
He stared at Jiang Man in disbelief.
’How can a Golden Core cultivator’s Heart Spirit be so tranquil?’
He questioned him, "Doesn’t your Heart Spirit waver?"
"Of course it does, but didn’t you tell me to keep my Heart Spirit calm, Senior? So that’s what I did," Jiang Man replied.
’So that’s what you did? And it just... worked?’
The old man said no more. It was only a moment of peace.
’It’s nothing.’
Jiang Man smiled faintly and stepped further out onto the lake.
The flames beneath the water burned with exceptional intensity.
A searing heat emanated from within his Heart Spirit, creating a sense of irritation.
But none of this caused a single ripple in Jiang Man’s Heart Spirit.
As he moved forward, sounds gradually began to appear in his ears.
Sounds of grievance, unwillingness, despair, and shouting.
It was as if all the negative emotions from every previous participant were engulfing Jiang Man at once.
They made his steps heavy and his limbs stiff.
Not only that, but when he looked down into the lake, he could see one Demon Beast after another staring at him with ravenous hunger, ready to burst out and devour him at any moment.
Experiencing all this, Jiang Man had a feeling that the further he walked, the heavier his steps would become.
Especially while maintaining his inner peace.
This was the lake’s test for him.
Furthermore, the surrounding negative emotions would constantly try to shake his heart.
After confirming all this, Jiang Man shook his head slightly. "How dull. Is this how you test an Unparalleled Celestial Pride?"
’They won’t even part with a single piece of Spiritual Source. They really don’t get it.’
A test like this was meaningless to Jiang Man. If his Heart Spirit could be broken so easily, how could he ever be an Unparalleled Celestial Pride?