Chapter 1281

Ahead, the river feels calm but defies advance, testing mind more than body, the same trial that once beat Ren Zu. Central Continent’s Gu Immortals fail one by one: Yu Yi Ye Zi, then two more, then Shi Zheng Yi and an unwilling Bu Zhen Zi. Bi Chen Tian watches each one washed away. Only rank eight Wei Ling Yang remains, his willpower truly shocking. Bi Chen Tian gathers the fallen safely, since neither Old Ancestor Xue Hu nor Mao Li Qiu obstructs them. Some resent that Ying Wu Xie’s gang and Fang Yuan still hold on, and one just swept out grants their willpower is shocking at rank six. ^{ch. 1281}

Ma Hong Yun chokes and nearly gets swept away, but Zhao Lian Yun steadies him, her willpower shocking too, Mao Li Qiu notes. Past the reversal the river runs smooth, but upstream it grows shallow while its pull on the will grows stronger. Zhao Lian Yun, voiceless, forgets her age, drawing on strength she never knew she had. She feels this is the most blissful stretch of her life. Their observers, even Flood Extremity and Black Extremity, are shaken, and a disappointed Xue Hu only snorts coldly. ^{ch. 1281}

Ying Wu Xie smiles bitterly that even his immortal zombie body tires. He will not abandon the mad Purple Mountain True Monarch, who might drown, and calls himself Shadow Sect’s only hope, meaning to seize the pair and stall until his lord wakes. Bai Ning Bing laughs, face distorted with excitement, calling the trial the same road Ren Zu walked and worth it even in death. Hei Lou Lan trembles with rage, resolved to avenge her mother herself. Both eventually run out of energy and are washed away. Their safety is certain, since Xue Hu already waits outside. Only six remain inside: Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun first, Ying Wu Xie and the still mad Purple Mountain True Monarch second, Fang Yuan third, Wei Ling Yang fourth. ^{ch. 1281}

Xue Hu’s hopes now rest on Ying Wu Xie capturing the pair, which would give their side the initiative to threaten Bi Chen Tian and Mao Li Qiu, while losing them opens a free for all decided by strength and luck. Wei Ling Yang finally reaches his limit. Despite his unwillingness, he is swept away, sighing over Heavenly Court’s glory. Central Continent’s Gu Immortals are completely stunned, until someone explains the river tests willpower, not cultivation. Bi Chen Tian steadies them by recalling that the pair rested on the mound with fruit at the front while everyone behind spent stamina and will, and the others answer that an even start would surely have given Wei Ling Yang the win. Still heavy hearted, he weighs retreat, a run to black heaven for Myriad Tidal Dragon’s Immortal Gu House, and staying to contest the pair, but leaves the decision to Wei Ling Yang, the leader. ^{ch. 1281}

Ying Wu Xie, refusing to give in, is swept away regardless, and Fang Yuan, waiting for this moment, collides heavily with him. Both stop to grapple as the river carries all three downstream. Sovereign immortal body against strength path immortal zombie, Ying Wu Xie is outmatched and beaten. But an immortal zombie’s only weakness is its brain, not its heart. So Ying Wu Xie protects only his skull, meaning to counterattack once Fang Yuan is swept out. With Hei Lou Lan, Bai Ning Bing, and Xue Hu already outside, Fang Yuan is truly alone, racing to kill Ying Wu Xie and Purple Mountain True Monarch before they escape. Ying Wu Xie only stalls to survive, and for the moment Fang Yuan can do nothing to him. ^{ch. 1281}