Jin Ling Xian Xia investigates the truth in deep space

Chapter 156 Abyss of Time

The confrontation between the White Crane Immortal and the Dark Leader instantly heightened the tension on the battlefield. Holy light and dark sword energy intertwined, forming a dazzling beam that soared into the sky. Beneath this beam, the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion nervously watched this decisive battle that hinged on their fate.

"Baihe Immortal, you are finally back!" The Pavilion Master secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew very well the strength of Baihe Immortal. With him around, the Five Immortals Pavilion might still have a chance of survival.

However, the Dark Leader was no pushover. He snorted coldly, and the dark aura emanating from the demonic sword grew even stronger, as if to devour all light. The two forces locked in a stalemate in mid-air, the entire space seemingly ripping apart.

At that moment, the White Crane Immortal suddenly flashed, transforming into a streak of white light and instantly appearing beside the Dark Leader. The longsword in his hand, like a flash of lightning, struck the Dark Leader's vitals. The Dark Leader reacted quickly, dodging to the side, but the sword still slashed through his shirt, revealing a hideous wound.

"Damn it!" the Dark Leader roared. He hadn't expected the White Crane Immortal to be so fast. He knew that if he continued like this, he would be defeated by the White Crane Immortal.

So, he came up with a plan, and suddenly swung his magic sword, attacking the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion. His magic sword was like a huge black dragon, rolling in the air and rushing towards the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion.

"Not good!" The White Crane Immortal's face changed drastically. He hurriedly swung his sword, trying to resist the Dark Leader's attack. However, the Dark Leader's attack was too swift and fierce. He could only protect some of his disciples, and many others fell under the attack of the magic sword.

"White Crane Immortal, don't even think about saving them all!" The Dark Leader smirked. He knew that as long as he could weaken the Five Immortals Pavilion, he would be able to gradually control this area.

The White Crane Immortal glared at him, took a deep breath, and the spiritual energy in his body instantly boiled over. The long sword in his hand seemed to sense his anger, and its light became even more dazzling.

"Dark Leader, today is your end!" The White Crane Immortal roared and attacked the Dark Leader again. This time, his attack was even more swift and fierce, as if he wanted to devour the Dark Leader completely.

Seeing this, the Dark Leader didn't dare to be careless. He swung his magic sword and engaged in a fierce battle with the White Crane Immortal. The two figures moved swiftly through the air, their sword beams and sword energy intertwined, forming a series of gorgeous landscapes.

However, as time went on, the Dark Leader gradually felt powerless. The White Crane Immortal was too powerful for him to resist. Finally, during a confrontation, the Dark Leader was pierced through the heart by the White Crane Immortal's sword, and fell in a pool of blood.

"We won!" The disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion cheered. They knew that this victory was hard-won, and was won at the cost of the White Crane Immortal's life.

Immortal Baihe looked at his cheering disciples with a gratified smile on his face. He knew that although the Dark Leader had been defeated, the entire cultivation world was still fraught with danger. Only by continuously improving one's own strength could one gain a foothold in this chaotic world.

So, he turned to the Pavilion Master and said, "Pavilion Master, although we have defeated the Dark Leader, the battle is not over. We must continue to work hard to enhance the Five Immortals Pavilion's strength in order to meet future challenges."

The Pavilion Master nodded, knowing full well that White Crane Immortal's words made sense. He said, "White Crane Immortal, you are right. We must continue our efforts to make the Five Immortals Pavilion a powerful force in the world of cultivation."

In the days that followed, the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion, led by the White Crane Immortal and the Pavilion Master, began their arduous training. They continuously improved their strength, learning new spells and martial arts. At the same time, they also strengthened exchanges and cooperation with other sects, jointly responding to the challenges of the cultivation world.

However, just as the Five Immortals Pavilion was growing stronger, a new crisis quietly arrived. In another distant region, an evil force was rapidly rising. This force was inextricably linked to the dark leader, and they seemed to be brewing a greater conspiracy.

"Pavilion Master, we've received news," a disciple hurried over to report. "In another area, an evil force is rapidly expanding. They seem to have taken control of multiple sects and are extremely powerful."

The Pavilion Master frowned upon hearing this. He knew full well that if this evil force was not contained, it would pose a huge threat to the entire cultivation world.

"Baihe Immortal, what do you think?" The Pavilion Master turned and looked at Baihe Immortal.

After a moment of contemplation, the White Crane Immortal said, "We must go to that area, find out the truth, and stop their conspiracy. Otherwise, once they grow stronger, the consequences will be disastrous."

The Pavilion Master nodded in agreement. He immediately summoned the elite disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion and prepared to head to that area.

On their way to that area, the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion encountered multiple attacks. These attackers, all members of that evil force, attempted to stop the disciples from advancing. However, under the leadership of the White Crane Immortal and the Pavilion Master, the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion successfully repelled the attackers and continued on their way.

Finally, they arrived at the location of the evil power - a gloomy and terrifying castle. The castle was surrounded by black fog, as if even sunlight could not penetrate.

"This is their lair." The White Crane Immortal said, looking at the castle, "We must proceed with caution."

The Pavilion Master nodded in agreement. They then led the Five Immortals Pavilion disciples and quietly approached the castle. At the castle entrance, they encountered resistance from the guards. However, under the leadership of the White Crane Immortal and the Pavilion Master, the Five Immortals Pavilion disciples successfully broke through the guards' defenses and entered the castle.

The interior of the castle was eerie, filled with darkness and evil. The disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion moved forward cautiously, fearing they might trigger some mechanism.

Finally, they arrived at the deepest part of the castle. There, they saw the leader of the evil force—a mysterious figure in a black robe. He wore a hideous mask on his face, making it impossible to see his true face.

"You're finally here." The black-robed leader looked at the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion and said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The White Crane Immortal looked at the black-robed leader and said, "You are the leader of that evil force, right? We have discovered your conspiracy."

The black-robed leader sneered and said, "So what if you see through me? Do you think you can stop me?"

As he spoke, he waved the magic wand in his hand. Suddenly, a powerful dark force surged out from the magic wand and rushed towards the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion.

Seeing this, the White Crane Immortal and the Pavilion Master hurriedly waved their weapons to resist. However, this dark force was too strong, and they could only barely resist it.

At this moment, the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion suddenly shouted in unison. They all used their most powerful spells and martial arts to attack the black-robed leader.

The black-robed leader had not expected the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion to be so united and brave. He hurriedly waved his wand to resist the attacks of the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion. However, with the efforts of everyone, his wand was eventually shattered, and he was also seriously injured.

"Impossible!" the black-robed leader exclaimed, "How could you possibly defeat me?"

The White Crane Immortal looked at him and said, "Evil can never defeat good. You lose."

As he spoke, he swung the long sword in his hand, and a holy light instantly penetrated the black-robed leader's body. The black-robed leader's body gradually dissipated in the light, and finally turned into nothingness.

With the death of the black-robed leader, the evil force quickly collapsed. The disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion successfully prevented their conspiracy and saved the innocent lives in the area.

When the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion returned to their own sect, they were warmly welcomed and praised. They used their actions to prove that the power of justice is always the most powerful.

However, for the White Crane Immortal and the Pavilion Master, this victory was only temporary. They knew full well that the world of cultivation still held many unknown dangers and challenges. Only by continuously improving their own strength and strengthening cooperation and exchanges with other sects could they meet these challenges.

Thus, in the days that followed, the disciples of the Five Immortals Pavilion, under the guidance of the White Crane Immortal and the Pavilion Master, continued to diligently cultivate and learn new spells and martial arts. At the same time, they also strengthened exchanges and cooperation with other sects to jointly respond to challenges and crises in the world of cultivation.

Over time, the Five Immortals Pavilion gradually became a formidable force in the world of cultivation. Their reputation and strength were widely recognized and acclaimed. However, White Crane Immortal and the Pavilion Master were not content with this. They knew that only through continuous effort and improvement could they maintain their leading position and protect their sect and its disciples from harm.

By chance, the White Crane Immortal learned of a legend about an ancient artifact. This artifact was said to possess immense power, capable of granting a cultivator any wish. However, this artifact was also fraught with danger and temptation, and many cultivators paid a heavy price to obtain it.

The White Crane Immortal knew the importance of this artifact, and also understood the dangers it could bring. Therefore, he decided to personally search for it, hoping to use its power to further enhance the Five Immortals Pavilion's strength and protect his disciples.

In the process of searching for the artifact, the White Crane Immortal experienced many hardships and life-and-death tests, encountered many powerful enemies and dangerous situations, but he successfully overcame these difficulties with his wisdom and courage.

Finally, in an ancient and mysterious ruin, the White Crane Immortal found the legendary artifact. However, as he was about to pick up the artifact, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear: "Are you truly ready to accept the power of this artifact? It may cost you everything."

The White Crane Immortal was stunned upon hearing this. He knew the voice was telling the truth. While the artifact was powerful, it was also fraught with danger and temptation. If he could not resist these temptations and use the artifact's power correctly, he might lose his original heart and fall into an irretrievable situation.

The White Crane Immortal was silent for a moment, pondering within himself. Then, he slowly spoke, "I know the power of the artifact is immense, but the Five Immortals Pavilion is facing unprecedented challenges. The lives of our disciples and the peace of this continent hang on a thread. I, the White Crane Immortal, am willing to stake my life on this power, seeking it to protect all that I hold dear."

The voice seemed to carry a hint of approval, yet also contained an immense sense of vicissitudes: "Your courage is commendable, but before the test comes, you do not yet know what true sacrifice means. If you decide to move forward, you must first pass three trials to prove that your desire for power comes from a pure heart."

The White Crane Immortal's eyes were firm: "Triple Trial? I'm willing to give it a try."

The voice rang out again, echoing through the empty ruins. "The First Trial, the Mirror of the Inner Demon. You will face your deepest fears and desires. Only by conquering yourself can you pass. The Second Trial, the Abyss of Time, you will experience fragments of the past and future, understanding the weight of time and the true meaning of life. As for the Third Trial, it is the Choice of Destiny. You will face a decision with an unpredictable outcome, which will test your wisdom and compassion."

The White Crane Immortal nodded, indicating his acceptance: "Let's begin."

Instantly, the ruins glowed brightly, and a massive mirror appeared before him. Reflecting not his own form, but countless distorted images—these were the fears and longings he most refused to face. The White Crane Immortal closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his vision was clear. He faced each one, overcame them one by one, and finally, the images in the mirror gradually calmed, transforming into a pool of clear water, reflecting his calm and resolute face.

"First trial, passed," the voice announced.

Immediately, the ground cracked, and a powerful suction pulled the White Crane Immortal in. He found himself in a chaotic state, with scenes of the past and future flashing by like a revolving lantern. Here, he witnessed the glory and decline of the Five Immortals Pavilion, the growth and sacrifice of his disciples, and the perseverance and confusion of his own long path of cultivation. Ultimately, he realized the preciousness of time and the impermanence of life, and a deeper reverence for life surged in his heart.

"Second trial, passed." The voice sounded again.

When the White Crane Immortal emerged from the Abyss of Time, he found himself at a crossroads. Two paths lay before him: one radiant and bright, seemingly leading to victory and glory; the other, thorny and uncharted, its end unknown. As he hesitated, a cry echoed from nearby: an innocent cry for help. Without hesitation, the White Crane Immortal chose the seemingly difficult path, knowing that the true path of a hero lies not in the pursuit of personal glory, but in protection and sacrifice.

He walked along the thorny road, saving those who were in trouble along the way. Every time he helped, the light in his heart became brighter. Finally, when he stood at the end of the road, he found that there was not despair, but another new world full of hope.

"Third trial, passed. You have proven your courage, wisdom and compassion, and the artifact recognizes you." There was a hint of relief in his voice.

As the words fell, a divine artifact emitting a soft glow slowly emerged before the White Crane Immortal. It was neither dazzling nor icy, but instead exuded a warming power. The White Crane Immortal gently touched the artifact, and it merged with him. An unprecedented power surged within him, but he could feel that this power was pure and harmonious, born to protect.

"This is the legendary artifact. It uses your mind as a medium to give you the power to protect. Remember, true power lies not in conquest, but in protection and dedication." The voice gradually dissipated, and the ruins collapsed. The White Crane Immortal took the artifact and set out on his journey home.

To know what happens next, please read the next chapter.