2404 Cruelty of Time
Su Zimo and the other two moved and continued forward.
Dong!
The three of them stopped in their tracks when they heard the third drumbeat.
Su Zimo frowned slightly and closed his eyes, sensing the changes in his body.
A third drumbeat sounded and his lifespan was reduced once more. However, this time round, it was 30,000 years.
Initially, everyone was about 1,000 feet away from the center of the hall.
But now, the four of them had only advanced 300 feet when they heard three drumbeats.
Every single drumbeat would reduce one's lifespan.
10,000, 20,000, 30,000 years… Although it did not seem like much of an impact, according to the pattern, the lifespan reduction by the time everyone crossed 700 feet would add up to close to 300,000 years!
In other words, even if everyone's lifespans were exhausted, they would not be able to obtain the Supreme Pure Purple Cloud Talisman.
The four of them stood on the spot and did not continue forward rashly.
Right now, the four of them had already lost 60,000 years of lifespan.
If they continued forward, the fourth drumbeat would reduce their lifespans by 40,000 years—that was a total of 100,000 years!
That was a loss that was difficult for anyone present to endure.
Although the Supreme Pure Purple Cloud Talisman was a priceless treasure, the price they had to pay was way too great.
More importantly, even if they gave up all their lifespans, none of them might be able to obtain this talisman!
Against such a situation, anyone would have to weigh the pros and cons carefully.
Right then, Nie Hun and Golden Feather arrived as well. When they saw Su Zimo's group of four standing motionlessly on the spot, a look of surprise and confusion flashed through their eyes.
After hesitating for a moment, the two of them advanced carefully.
There were no other dangers in the hall and the two of them crossed 300 feet before long. Similarly, they heard three drumbeats and their lifespans were reduced by 60,000 years.
"So, this is the test of Immortal Emperor Dawn Twilight."
Golden Feather could tell what was going on as well and murmured softly.
Suddenly, Nie Hun smiled with a mocking expression and said coolly, "Why don't you guys dare to advance?"
"If you advance, no one will stop you."
Ying Tian said coldly.
"Alright! Since everyone is agreeable to it, I won't stand on courtesy."
Nie Hun cupped his fists and sped forward in a flash. In the blink of an eye, he crossed another 100 feet.
Dong!
He heard the fourth drumbeat.
His lifespan was reduced by 40,000 years!
He was originally 80,000 years old and could be considered as one of the younger ones among the Heaven Immortals.
But now, he had lost a full 100,000 years of lifespan and was already 180,000 years old after merely crossing 300 feet!
Nie Hun took a deep breath with a calm expression.
His choice to advance this time round was actually a huge gamble.
That was because he was certain that since Immortal Emperor Dawn Twilight left such a test, there would definitely be a way to break out of the situation—there was no way he would let them die just like that.
Otherwise, the test would be meaningless.
Nie Hun guessed that there was a high chance that Immortal Emperor Dawn Twilight was testing everyone's courage.
The only way he could pass the test and obtain the Supreme Pure Purple Cloud Talisman was through courage and indomitable spirit!
At that thought, Nie Hun was resolute and continued forward, crossing another 100 feet.
He was only 500 feet away from the center of the hall.
At the same time, a fifth drumbeat sounded.
Nie Hun could clearly sense that he had lost 50,000 years of his lifespan!
He was already 230,000 years old!
He was only 70,000 years away from the limit of 300,000 years of lifespan for Heaven Immortals.
Nie Hun's expression darkened and his initial conviction began to waver.
'Was I wrong?'
Nie Hun was hesitant and did not dare to advance or retreat for a long time.
If he took another step forward, he would lose 60,000 years of his lifespan when the sixth drumbeat sounded.
At that time, he would be 290,000 years old and would be in his twilight years—it would be too late!
However, if he returned the way he came, he would not be able to recover the lifespan he lost either.
In other words, 150,000 years of lifespan was wasted just like that.
Nie Hun was indignant!
"Fufu, why aren't you continuing?"
Right then, Ying Tian chuckled. "If you're afraid, retreat obediently. Why are you forcing yourself?"
Lin Luo shook her head when she heard that.
Ying Tian's words were equivalent to sealing Nie Hun's escape path completely.
Indeed, when he heard Ying Tian's mockery, Nie Hun's blood qi surged. With an indignant expression, he harrumphed coldly and charged forward.
Dong!
The sixth drumbeat sounded.
Right in front of Lin Luo and the others, a shocking change happened to Nie Hun.
In that short distance of 100 feet, everyone watched as Nie Hun transformed from a cultivator at his peak to a white-haired old man in his twilight years…
The impact of time was extremely cruel!
Ying Tian, Lang Qianqian and the others felt relieved.
Thankfully, they did not advance rashly. Otherwise, they would have ended up in the same state as Nie Hun.
Nie Hun stood on the spot and looked at his white hair that hung down. Lowering his head, he stared at his old and skinny hands with a lost gaze that was filled with struggle and indignance.
"Why?"
"Immortal Emperor Dawn Twilight, are you leaving such a test so that we can die?!"
"What's the point of such a test?!"
Nie Hun stood on the spot and roared loudly, his voice reverberating through the empty hall.
Ying Tian smiled. "Immortal Emperor Dawn Twilight did not ask you to die. You were the one who overestimated yourself and wanted to die!"
Lang Qianqian nodded as well. "The test in this hall was most probably not prepared for Heaven Immortals."
"According to my calculations, one's lifespan must exceed 500,000 years if they want to obtain the Supreme Pure Purple Cloud Talisman. Even Perfected Immortals won't be able to do it. I'm afraid only Immortal Kings can do it!"
"I don't believe it!"
Nie Hun used the last of his strength and roared.
He no longer had a way out.
Even if he returned the way he came, he was in his twilight years and only had a year left to live.
He could only continue forward and hope for a miracle!
Nie Hun walked forward.
The seventh drumbeat sounded and Nie Hun's eyes dimmed. His Essence Spirit was destroyed and his lifespan was depleted. He collapsed in the hall with his life severed!
Nie Hun's death destroyed the last hope in the hearts of Ying Tian and the others.
Actually, Ying Tian and the others had the same guess initially. Since this was a test left behind by Immortal Emperor Dawn Twilight, it should not be a dead end and there should be a chance of survival.
But now that Nie Hun was dead, Ying Tian and the others gave up completely and retreated.
Although they lost 60,000 years of lifespan, they managed to survive at the very least.
"Fellow Daoist Su, let's retreat too."
Lin Luo looked at Su Zimo beside her.
During this period of time earlier on, Su Zimo stood on the spot motionlessly and remained silent the entire time. His eyes were closed, as though his mind was elsewhere and he was deep in thought.
Right then, Su Zimo suddenly opened his eyes. As though he understood something, he moved and headed towards the center of the hall!
"Fellow Daoist, be careful!"
Lin Luo was alarmed and reminded hurriedly.
Ying Tian and the others noticed Su Zimo's actions as well; all of them had different expressions.
"Hehe, another person who wants to die."
Golden Feather pouted and sneered.
"Greedy. He's lost his mind."
Lang Qianqian shook her head gently with a hint of pity.
Ying Tian said indifferently, "In this world, there are too many people who don't understand their own limits. They often think that they are favored children of the universe blessed with great fortune. Little do they know that they are merely extremely stupid ants!"
"This person wants to die so badly that I don't even have to bother putting in any effort personally."
