https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-309-Achievement-as-a-Sword-Ultimate-Realm-Test-Second-Update-/13450477/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-310-Fourfold-Test-Supreme-Beauty-Part-2-/13450479/
Chapter 310: Fourfold Test, Supreme Beauty (Part 1)
Chapter 310: Fourfold Test, Supreme Beauty (Large Chapter) (Part 1)
In the illusory sky, the Golden Light slowly split open, standing like an awe-inspiring gateway.
The surrounding energy swirled and spread, like waves continuously rippling through the air, diffusing a hazy, ethereal aura.
"So this is the Immortal Gate?"
"Those who come out from there are all as terrifying as True Persons, right?"
"More than that, behind the Immortal Gate lies the realm of the Sages from a distant era, a truly resplendent and glorious world."
"A thousand years ago, we missed the opportunity, but this time, we finally made it."
In the crowd of the Imperial City, besides the excitement and enthusiasm of the young prodigies, some elders also wore fiery expressions, their eyes glowing with fervent light.
Although they appeared old, in the face of a ten-thousand-year lifespan, a mere thousand years still counted as relatively young.
In the Mortal World's Martial Dao, they had already reached the pinnacle of cultivation, and with their high moral standing and seniority, they had little motivation to continue advancing.
But now, with the reopening of the Immortal Gate, the thought of the radiant world beyond it rekindled their long-lost drive, the youthful passion they once had, surging back within them.
Inside the Qian Dao Palace, Taoist Qin also stepped out from a dark room, standing atop the palace, gazing into the distance.
Below him, seven or eight disciples also rose into the air, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Among them, Qingjingzi and Mingyue Sword were the most talented of all the personal disciples, and their eyes shone brightly at this moment.
"This journey, you may all join. Use your abilities to see if you can receive the teachings of the Sages. If you ascend in the future, do not forget the kindness of the Jiang Family."
Taoist Qin said softly to these disciples.
Although his end was near, he did not restrict these disciples. Choosing a successor at this time would be a cruel act, potentially fostering resentment.
Therefore, he wanted these disciples to compete freely. If they failed, he would then select from among them.
However, if that happened, the one who inherited his legacy would likely be the least talented among the disciples, making it difficult for Qian Dao Palace to achieve glory and might even lead to its decline.
But it didn't matter...
In ten years, the Ancestor of the Jiang Family would be reborn, and at that time, the realm of Dayu would no longer need the protection of Qian Dao Palace.
"Master..."
The disciples' faces showed a hint of shame upon hearing his words, but the glorious opportunity of the Martial Dao was right before them, and they couldn't muster the courage to refuse.
Mingyue Sword and Qingjingzi exchanged glances. They had already told Taoist Qin that they did not wish to participate and wanted to stay in the Mortal World to accompany their master in cultivation. However, their master insisted they join, not wanting them to stay behind, saying it would be a waste of their time.
This left them feeling helpless, and now they could only obediently participate.
Still, deep down, they were also extremely eager to explore the mysterious world beyond the Immortal Gate. As cultivators, it was impossible not to yearn for it, even if they believed there were more important things in life.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, there was no morning court today, and the vast palace was relatively quiet.
In the rear hall of the Imperial Palace, Li Hao and Emperor Yu were having breakfast.
The food in the palace was indeed excellent, prepared by top chefs. Emperor Yu had even had the head chef prepare a few signature dishes for Li Hao, which left Li Hao impressed. The dishes were at least at the Fifth Stage of Cooking Dao.
At the moment, the two were savoring a medicinal dragon meat porridge.
The dragon meat was cooked to tenderness, fragrant, and delicious, with no hint of the usual gamey smell.
"The Immortal Gate has opened."
Feeling the energy fluctuations above the Imperial Palace, Emperor Yu looked up, his eyes flickering. A thousand years ago, he had witnessed this scene, and even as an emperor, he could not hide his excitement.
But this time, his heart was relatively calm.
Turning his head, he saw the young man beside him glance briefly before resuming his meal.
This kid... Emperor Yu felt a bit helpless. It's the Immortal Gate, why does he seem so unexcited?
"Another bowl."
Li Hao handed the empty bowl to the eunuch Chu Jiuyue.
Chu Jiuyue quickly took it. In the wattle yard, he could act more casually, but in the Imperial Palace, especially with Emperor Yu, he had to respect Li Hao's status as the only Heavenly General of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty!
He could casually slay members of the imperial clan, which alone demonstrated his position.
Soon, a small bowl of porridge was served, and Li Hao began to eat while casually glancing at the Immortal Gate. He saw a series of powerful auras emanating from it, each one belonging to a Dao Law Realm existence, exuding overwhelming might.
These auras were not concealed but naturally flowed out, as if to display a kind of intimidation.
"The strong from the three Holy Lands have come to recruit disciples."
At this moment, Jiang Zixian and others also arrived, accompanied by several Princes and Imperial Princesses.
These were all extremely talented individuals from the Imperial Clan, who had once studied at the Thousand Dao Palace. Combined with the top-notch cultivation techniques of the Imperial Clan, they were unmatched among their peers.
In the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty, those who could suppress them at the same cultivation level could be counted on one hand.
When they saw Emperor Yu and Li Hao having breakfast, Jiang Zixian was slightly taken aback by the relaxed demeanor of the two.
The Princes and Imperial Princesses behind her felt somewhat guilty upon seeing Emperor Yu. They knew that heading to the Immortal Gate meant abandoning Dayu, and this decision had required a lot of mental preparation.
"Father, we pay our respects."
The Princes and Imperial Princesses hurriedly bowed and knelt.
Their gazes also swept over the young man sitting at the same table as Emperor Yu, their eyes showing a hint of oddness and a faint tinge of jealousy.
However, they knew that this young man was the Great Yu Heavenly General, who had previously saved the Imperial Palace and the Imperial City. Without him, the Imperial Clan would have been annihilated long ago.
Moreover, he had been granted extensive authority. If they dared to offend him, he could kill them on the spot, and Father Emperor Capital would probably applaud from the sidelines...
"Rise."
Emperor Yu said calmly.
Looking at the intense and nervous expressions of his children, he could easily read their thoughts, which were as transparent as a sheet of paper before him.
This made him inwardly sigh. Without comparison, there would be no pain. As his offspring, they were more fixated on the Immortal Gate and the pursuit of achievements and honors than Li Hao. Who in this world could truly escape such temptations?
Thinking of achievements, Emperor Yu couldn't help but glance at the black and mysterious sword next to the young man. The one who cared the least about achievements used achievements as his sword. He hoped that this sword would indeed live up to its name, becoming the object of countless people's pursuit, shining with the most brilliant light in that world!
A smile slowly spread across his face as he said to Li Hao, "I hope one day to see you standing at the peak, radiating brilliance!"
Li Hao handed the empty bowl to Eunuch Chu Jiuyue, and hearing these words, he chuckled bitterly, "Your Majesty, don't put pressure on me..."
Emperor Yu wanted to roll his eyes but decided to ignore this brat.
However, considering his children were present, he maintained his composure.
He let out a light hum and said to his children, "Since you're going to compete, make sure you bring back a name that will make the Jiang Family proud. Don't disgrace us!"
With their father's approval, the Princes and Imperial Princesses were overjoyed, nodding vigorously and making strong assurances.
Emperor Yu noticed more royal family members arriving and his gaze fell on his younger brother, Jiang Qingshan. His eyes flickered as he said, "Qingshan, you should also give it your best."
Jiang Qingshan shook his head slightly, "I won't join in this commotion."
"You're not going?"
Emperor Yu was somewhat surprised.
Jiang Qingshan smiled gently, "If I go, who will chat with you?"
"..."
Emperor Yu looked at him, falling into a brief silence.
At this moment, the Golden Light within the Immortal Gate grew increasingly intense, and several figures emerged, totaling seven.
One of the figures stood in the Golden Light of the Immortal Gate, its form majestic, seemingly on par with Heaven and Earth, impossible to see clearly. However, the supreme and majestic aura emanating from it slowly spread, permeating the entire Imperial Palace.
"I am the Primordial Holy Land's Feather Ancestor. I have now opened the Immortal Gate, bestowing virtue, allowing the Mortal World to tread the path of supreme sanctity."
"Prodigies, all those with sufficient talent may cross the Immortal Gate to seek great opportunities and listen to the Sage's teachings!"
The vague figure's voice, indifferent yet authoritative, drifted out, each word like a pearl, reaching the ears of every person in the Imperial City.
It resonated deep within their souls, causing a buzzing in their minds.
Ordinary commoners, upon hearing this voice, instinctively felt a sense of reverence and involuntarily bowed their heads in worship.
"That is my master."
Jiang Zixian's eyes glowed with reverence. Her master was a Semi-Saint, not quite a Sage, but only after reaching the Dao Law Realm did one truly understand the vast gap between the Dao Law Realm and the Sage Realm.
It was like the difference between an ant and the vast sky, utterly unreachable!
Li Hao put down his bowl and chopsticks, having finished his porridge and feeling full.
He gazed quietly at the towering figure atop the Immortal Gate. The aura emanating from that figure was overwhelmingly majestic, and even from a great distance, it made him feel a sense of pressure.
"Is that a Sage?"
Within the Imperial City, many of the powerful figures who had come for the Immortal Gate watched with excited eyes. They couldn't see the figure clearly, but their reverence only grew.
"Those eligible to enter the Immortal Gate must pass four tests: the Bone Reflection Mirror, the Ultimate Dao Stele, the Dao Heart Tower, and the Heavenly Ladder."
"The criteria will be based on age, realm, cultivation, and Dao Heart, and we will evaluate their talent accordingly."
"Now, let's begin..."
The Feather Ancestor standing within the Immortal Gate spoke calmly, his figure gradually fading away.
The seven Dao Law Realm cultivators who stepped out of the Immortal Gate quickly produced various items.
A massive, pitch-black mirror floated in mid-air, over ten zhang tall and oval-shaped. The mirror was dark inside, not reflecting the blue sky or white clouds.
Additionally, eight Ultimate Dao Steles that Li Hao had seen before were taken out and floated between heaven and earth.
Then, a small tower that spun rapidly appeared above the Immortal Gate, emitting a purple aura.
At the same time, a snow-white, energy-congealed heavenly ladder extended from the Immortal Gate, with forty-nine steps in total.
The Ultimate Dao Steles stood sequentially beside the heavenly ladder, one every five Dao Platform steps. After the ninth layer of steps, there was the Dao Heart Tower for the final test.
Outside the first step of the heavenly ladder, the massive oval black Bone Reflection Mirror awaited.
"Who will go first?"
A Dao Law Realm cultivator stood beside the heavenly ladder, surveying the crowd.
His divine sense already enveloped the entire city, and he could sense the numerous powerful auras gathered within this Mortal World city. His voice was calm, though not as ethereal or majestic as the Feather Ancestor's, but it carried a cold and stern edge.
"That's Senior Brother Zhang."
Jiang Zixian recognized him and immediately stood up, flying over to him.
"Junior Sister."
The young Dao Law Realm cultivator had already seen Jiang Zixian. He smiled slightly as his gaze swept over her porcelain-like collarbone.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang."
Jiang Zixian bowed slightly.
"You're too kind, Junior Sister."
The young man smiled faintly.
After a brief exchange, Jiang Zixian turned to call over the few Princes and Imperial Princesses. "Come, show everyone the bloodline of the Jiang Family Imperial Clan."
Though they were members of the Imperial Clan, they were used to commanding others and had a lofty attitude. However, at this moment, they felt a sense of nervousness and hesitation, exchanging glances with a "you go first" look in their eyes.
In the end, one of the older Princes, a middle-aged man, stepped forward and said to Jiang Zixian:
"Senior Sister, I'll go first."
"Go ahead."
Jiang Zixian nodded.
The middle-aged man then bowed respectfully to each of the seven Dao Law Realm cultivators standing beside the heavenly ladder before stepping forward.
As he approached, the massive oval dark mirror suddenly rippled with white light, revealing the outline of the middle-aged man and the information it reflected.
Ancient text appeared:
Age, 328 years.
The middle-aged man was taken aback, not expecting the Bone Reflection Mirror to actually show his age.
He took a deep breath, not hesitating, and revealed his aura as he stepped onto the heavenly ladder.
As soon as he stepped onto the ladder, a terrifying pressure enveloped his entire body.
It seemed to be some kind of law!
His expression changed, and without any further concealment, he unleashed his full strength.
He quickly ascended the heavenly ladder, but when he reached the fifth Dao Platform step, the adjacent Ultimate Dao Stele showed no change.
Clearly, he had not reached the Divine Power Ultimate Realm.
The middle-aged man didn't stop, charging forward with increasing momentum, but his pace gradually slowed.
He displayed his Ultimate Mastery Realm power, erupting with strength like a bull, his eyes fixed on the Immortal Gate with a mix of longing and determination.
Finally, he crossed the forty-nine steps of the Heavenly Ladder and arrived before the Immortal Gate.
The small tower floating above the Immortal Gate spun rapidly, suddenly emitting a beam of purple light that shone upon him.
Then, the purple light retracted, and the purple aura around the small tower transformed, changing from purple to golden yellow.
The middle-aged man glanced at it but did not stop. He continued toward the Immortal Gate, only to be abruptly halted by a power that blocked his path.
"Huh?"
The middle-aged man's expression changed.
"Three hundred years, Yellow-grade Dao Heart, lower rank talent, unqualified."
The indifferent voice of the Feather Ancestor echoed.
The middle-aged man froze, his face instantly turning shocked and ugly. "How can this be? I am at the Ultimate Mastery Realm. Although I am over three hundred years old, I entered the Fate Reversal Realm when I was just sixty. It only took me one cycle of sixty years!"
"We only assess Talent, not cultivation. Your Dao Heart is too low, and your prospects are limited. Go back to the Mortal World and enjoy your old age."
The Feather Ancestor's voice was cold and distant. A force that could not be resisted enveloped the middle-aged man, transporting him away from the Immortal Gate and back to Jiang Zixian's side.
Clearly, the Feather Ancestor knew that he was Jiang Zixian's younger brother, but it made no difference.
The middle-aged man was dazed. Once he steadied himself, he realized what he had lost. His face turned pale and extremely ugly.
Too low a Dao Heart?
How could that be? His Dao Heart was dedicated to inheriting the throne of the Great Emperor and becoming a sovereign!
How could such a Dao Heart be considered low?
In his view, there was no greater ambition in the world, unless it was Ascension.
But was that something an ordinary person could even dream of?
Jiang Zixian's expression was also somewhat displeased, but she understood her master's nature. A Yellow-grade Dao Heart was indeed too weak.
How could he lack such ambition?
"What is your Dao Heart?" Jiang Zixian couldn't help but ask her younger brother. Although he hadn't reached the Ultimate Realm, he had achieved the Fate Reversal Realm in one cycle of sixty years, which was not a bad talent.
The middle-aged man glanced at her, then lowered his head and remained silent.
He feared that if he spoke, his father would have him executed.
Seeing his reaction, Jiang Zixian instantly understood and sighed inwardly. Inheriting the throne was just that—inheritance. True ambition would be to found a Divine Dynasty and become the founding emperor, a truly grand and noble goal.
"Never mind, who's next? Don't embarrass yourselves."
Jiang Zixian said.
The middle-aged man's face twitched. He knew he had lost his chance at the Immortal Gate and his reliance. He dared not show any dissatisfaction and was now filled with fear.
Taking the risk of displeasing his father and failing to enter the Immortal Gate meant he would likely have even less chance at the throne in the future.
The middle-aged man's failure and rejection were beyond the expectations of the others. The remaining princes and imperial princesses did not rejoice but instead became tense.
The powerful figures gathered from various places in the Imperial City also rushed to the square outside the Imperial Palace. Seeing this, they were all shocked and anxious.
Even someone at the Ultimate Mastery Realm was rejected. The Immortal Gate's screening criteria were too stringent!
Soon, the second member of the imperial family stepped forward, this time a princess.
Her age was only thirty-two.
Her cultivation was at the Peak of the Three Immortalities, just one step away from the Fourth Establishment Realm, and she had no Dao Heart yet.
Without a Dao Heart, there was no need to test it.
However, reaching the Peak of the Three Immortalities at such a young age clearly indicated her exceptional talent.
She stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder and moved quickly, just like the middle-aged man, sprinting all the way.
Seeing her sprint, the middle-aged man was incredulous but then realized something and hurriedly asked Jiang Zixian:
"Sister, is the rule pressure on the Heavenly Ladder adjusted according to each person's realm?"
"Hmm."
Jiang Zixian nodded.
The rule pressure tested practical combat ability, including cultivation techniques and power.
If one's cultivation techniques were extremely poor and their power was average or even below average for their realm, completing the ladder would be a significant achievement.
At this moment, the imperial princess was already dashing forward, using the royal top-tier Vein-Opening Technique, her Qi Power surging. She finally struggled to reach the Immortal Gate.
The small black tower remained silent, and the person paused for a moment before stepping toward the Immortal Gate.
This time, there was no obstruction, and they walked straight into the Immortal Gate.
Seeing the person enter the Immortal Gate, the others all showed signs of joy on their faces, but the middle-aged man's eyes widened with shock.
(End of Chapter)
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