The cultivators of the Xuanming Sect spent nine days in Huangsha Prefecture, witnessing the sunset glory of the Holy Sword Sect.
They finally understood what it meant for a sect to be called the foremost sword school in the cultivation world.
At the front gate stood the legendary "Knocking Gate Stairway," a path of three thousand steps. Any seeker, regardless of talent, who could ascend a thousand of them would be granted entry into the Holy Sword Sect.
But these steps were not as simple as they appeared.
The first time Chen Jinshu saw them, she was stunned.
The stairs were neither stone nor jade, yet they could manifest shifting illusions—divine dragons, vermilion birds, black tortoises—reflected as if across a water mirror beneath the night sky.
Later, she learned from a Holy Sword disciple that the stairway had developed its own spirit. All those visions were manifestations of the gate's artifact soul.
She also followed her master, Shui Huanmeng, to see the sect's famed Ascension Cliff.
There stood a broken white jade staircase—only half intact—called the "Sky-Severing Stair."
Legends said that those who crossed it could ascend and become true immortals.
But when Chen Jinshu looked at it, she saw nothing extraordinary.
The day before the Five Realms Alliance began, they had the rare honor of attending a lecture by a Holy Sword Sect divine lord, soon to ascend.
The Grand Hall had no ceiling, leaving only the searing sky above. The divine lord sat in midair, his presence immense, his aura transcendent.
That lecture helped Chen Jinshu gain clarity about her own cultivation path.
Barring surprises, she was confident she would reach the Nascent Soul stage within fifty years.
…
At last, the day of the Five Realms Alliance arrived.
Chen Jinshu stood on a towering bronze platform with other Golden Core cultivators from across the realms, preparing to enter the trial illusion.
At the hour of the dragon, a Holy Sword elder waved his sleeves, casting nine formation flags into the clouds.
The sky split open, revealing a swirling rift from which a torrent of starlight poured down, engulfing the thousand Golden Core cultivators.
Chen Jinshu felt the ground vanish beneath her feet. When she opened her eyes, she was standing on a scorched battlefield.
"Master once said this trial is experienced directly, but everything within is an illusion. As long as you stay true to your heart, you will make it through."
She looked up at the blood-red moon hanging overhead and repeated her master's words to calm herself.
Before she could take a step, the roar of beasts echoed in her ears.
The ground quivered. Lava seeped from new cracks, bubbling with a sinister red glow.
"Stage One: Trial by Fire. The first ten to clear this stage will receive random rewards."
A booming voice filled the air, and cultivators across the battlefield began unleashing their powers.
Only after arriving at the Holy Sword Sect had the Xuanming Sect learned of the new rules: the illusion trial was divided into stages. Only the first twenty to clear each stage would earn rewards and points.
Total points would determine the top ten cultivators, who would be awarded further prizes—and establish their sect's rank among the top five in the world.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
Suddenly, a horde of red-eyed fire crows swarmed toward Chen Jinshu like poisoned arrows.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
She drew two fingers across her zither strings. A bright melody burst forth, swallowing the crows' shrieks.
Zheng—!
With a sharp note, the sound transformed into flocks of azure luan birds, which collided with the crows in a flurry of feathers and flame.
The crows were instantly dispersed.
"Too easy. Just the appetizer."
From the lava cracks emerged wave after wave of flame-scaled lizards, covered in blackened red armor, radiating fire and venom.
Before Chen Jinshu could act, a voice rang out.
"Holy Sword Sect's Violet Sword Master—first to pass the trial!"
"So fast? The trial just started!"
Seeing the flood of lizards, Chen Jinshu activated her beast bracelet.
A streak of green and blue light shot out—Yinshan Que, her spirit bird, emerged in full glory.
"Let's clean them up together."
She gave the order and leapt into the air, green light bursting from her zither.
Plants erupted from the scorched earth, transforming into vines that lashed at the flame lizards.
Hissss!
The beasts howled as Yinshan Que soared above them, wings fanning blazing wind like a tempest. In moments, the battlefield cleared.
…
"Xuanming Sect's Luanque Master—eighth to pass the trial!"
It had taken Chen Jinshu nearly two incense sticks' time. After the lizards came several more waves of demonic beasts, but she and Yinshan Que vanquished them all.
Holding her zither, her green robe fluttering, Chen Jinshu vanished from the stage.
Half an hour later, deep within the illusion—
Stage Five.
A massive ravine blocked her path. The sea below churned with violet lightning, serpentine bolts twisting like dragons across the thunderstorm waves.
On the far cliff stood a solitary figure—Cold Smoke, the violet-robed sword cultivator from the Holy Sword Sect.
She was locked in battle with a thunder-patterned Kui Bull, a peak Tier 3 beast. Her blade called down divine lightning, sword-light dancing like meteors.
Chen Jinshu landed at the cliff's edge and narrowed her eyes at the distant duel.
"You're just in time," Cold Smoke said, her voice sharp as lightning. Her sword pointed toward Chen Jinshu without turning.
Chen Jinshu blinked, momentarily surprised.
So you can meet others inside the illusion? Interesting.
She felt a spark of battle intent stir in her chest. She had long wanted to fight this sword immortal to see who was stronger.
"Can anyone else appear in this trial illusion?" she asked quietly.
"Usually no—unless someone's desire to fight you is strong enough to twist the illusion's rules."
"Which one of us wanted this more? You or me?" Cold Smoke's voice was cool, yet tinged with anticipation.
Chen Jinshu's instincts flared. She shot across the ravine in a blink, landing opposite her.
With a flick of her hand, she drew the Dragonbone Whip.
Crack!
It lashed into empty air and struck an invisible demon—an image wraith. The creature revealed its true form: a siren-faced demon born from a cultivator's negative emotions, known to devour divine sense.
Chen Jinshu tightened the whip. The beast wailed, then disintegrated.
"Didn't even notice that hiding behind you," she smirked.
The whip's murderous aura pulsed stronger, absorbing the slain wraith's essence.
"I knew it was there," Cold Smoke replied, raising a brow. "Still, your whip technique isn't bad."
She smiled faintly. "How about we finish off this Kui Bull together?"
"I've heard it's a rare fortune left behind by a grand elder. Only those with fate can encounter it. Seems you're lucky."
"Who says I'm not?" Chen Jinshu chuckled.
The two women moved in unison.
Cold Smoke's sword became a falling star, summoning thunderclouds. Lightning echoed across the sky.
Chen Jinshu's whip sliced through the air, tearing sparks across the beast's hide.
She paused, then placed a hand on her zither.
The powerful melody of Breaking the Formation transformed into blades of sound, sealing the beast's movements.
Cold Smoke struck. Her sword pierced the bull's eye.
Boom!
The creature collapsed.
"Nice teamwork," Cold Smoke said, smiling as the Thunder-Mark Tianyan Grass appeared at their feet.
This rare herb could grant insight into a Nascent Soul law. It was vital for ascension.
"Tianyan Grass?" Chen Jinshu gasped.
She'd only seen it in ancient texts. Her master had mentioned it, but she never thought she'd find one.
"Let's fight for it. Winner takes the herb."
"Deal."
…
Five days later, the illusion shattered.
Only around three hundred cultivators remained on the bronze platform. Chen Jinshu's fellow disciples were among them.
The Jade Purity Sect and Heaven's Mechanism Pavilion had fared well. Medicine King Valley had suffered devastating losses—less than one in ten survived.
A Holy Sword elder announced the results.
"Holy Sword Sect's Violet Sword Master: First in the Illusion Trial!"
…
"Xuanming Sect's Luanque Master: Third in the Illusion Trial!"
Not far off, Shui Huanmeng nodded with quiet pride.
"Third place—very good. That should earn you a fine reward. And you retrieved the Tianyan Grass, too."
Chen Jinshu's smile bloomed.
"Nothing will stop me from reaching the tribulation stage now."
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The author didn't allocate the cultivation timeline in this book very reasonably, resulting in an overly long Qi Refining stage, too short Foundation Building, and an even briefer Golden Core phase. This made the later parts feel rushed and difficult to write, leading to a hasty ending. However, Chen Jinshu's story isn't over yet. The extra chapters will try to fill in the plot holes from before.
Of course, the author will also make cameo appearances in other xianxia novels. (The timeline roughly follows a young girl from the male lead's family in the future, who inherits the legacy of Jinshu after her ascension. The male lead's mother, Madame Chen, carries Jinshu's bloodline!)
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[Notes]
The original author seems busy, the last 3 chapter gap is longer than the last. From 6-6 to 6-14 and this chapter 6-23 when it released. I will continue update if the author continue write this story