Everlasting Renown Chapter 432: The Third Trial, the Path to the True Immortal Realm - Novel Cool

Chapter 432: The Third Trial, the Path to the True Immortal Realm

Chapter 432: The Third Trial, the Path to the True Immortal Realm

"Hao Tian, I heard from Elder Wang that you’ve already passed the first trial?"

Li Hao had just arrived when a Sage inquired about his progress.

Li Hao glanced at the person asking, noting the sincerity in their eyes, but also a hint of doubt beneath the surface.

"Um, yes."

Li Hao nodded slightly, not paying it much mind.

"Hao Tian, how did you manage to last so long on your first challenge of the True Venerable Tower?"

Another Sage asked curiously, his eyes showing a bit of admiration. While some in the crowd were jealous, others recognized Li Hao's potential and wanted to befriend him.

Flower Sage and Wander Sage also watched Li Hao from the crowd, though they didn’t ask any questions. They believed Li Hao hadn’t taken any shortcuts. After all, someone who could join the Flower Touring Society couldn’t be that bad, and Elder Wang was a figure of such stature that there was no need for deceit.

"By running, continuously running."

Li Hao responded to the person, "The projections inside are indeed very powerful, and there’s no way to face them head-on."

Hearing Li Hao's words, Lin Sheng, Bright Sage, and Pastoral Sage all had their eyes flicker, well aware of the projections' strength.

But running... it’s not that easy to escape.

"Even running is difficult, after all, the projections inside can overwhelm you in every aspect. Did you have some sort of sudden enlightenment inside?"

The person who had initially asked about Li Hao’s trial now looked puzzled.

Li Hao smiled slightly but didn’t respond. After all, the trial itself was secretive, involving various methods and trump cards. The question was already a bit intrusive.

"The True Venerable Tower challenge probably doesn’t have any tricks, Hao Tian must have had some sudden enlightenment, preventing the projection from reflecting him, allowing him to last so long, right?" Bright Sage suddenly spoke up, his voice calm but his gaze fixed on Elder Wang.

Clearly, he was questioning Elder Wang’s authority. If it wasn’t sudden enlightenment, then it must have been a shortcut taught by Elder Wang. Otherwise, he couldn’t believe that someone could last so long on their first challenge against such a terrifying projection.

Running? The projection is even faster!

Elder Wang, feeling Bright Sage’s gaze, couldn’t miss the young man’s thoughts. He smiled lightly and said to Li Hao:

"You little guy, you’re quite deep. I underestimated you earlier."

Li Hao scratched his head, unsure what he meant.

"You all need to work harder and cultivate well. Hao Tian, come with me."

Elder Wang glanced around at the crowd and then spoke to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded.

Seeing Elder Wang’s favor towards Li Hao, the crowd’s expressions were mixed.

Bright Sage, Pastoral Sage, and Lin Sheng exchanged glances, all sensing a strong sense of crisis from Li Hao. Especially Lin Sheng, who had only recently passed the first trial. His time in the True Venerable Tower was even shorter than Li Hao’s, barely lasting half an incense stick. As for how to defeat the projection, he had no clue.

Just when he was about to catch up with the main group and narrow the gap with Pastoral Sage and Bright Sage, he was overtaken by Li Hao, dashing his years of cultivation and newly ignited ambition.

The crowd whispered among themselves, discussing Li Hao’s challenge in the True Venerable Tower, speculating who would be the first to reach the third step and claim the Immortal Emperor’s legacy.

Bright Sage, Lin Sheng, and Pastoral Sage exchanged glances again. Instead of continuing their closed cultivation, they reached a silent agreement and simultaneously rose, flying towards Elder Wang’s residence.

Elder Wang brought Li Hao back and casually set up a sound barrier around them. He was about to explain the third trial, the cultivation of the Immortal Art, and the path to ascending to the True Immortal Realm, including the various differences of the True Immortal Realm. They had just sat down on the wooden stakes when three figures flew in.

"Elder Wang."

The three saw Elder Wang frown and looked a bit embarrassed, though they were inwardly uncomfortable. They had been here for a very long time and had always been attentive to Elder Wang, yet now they felt neglected.

Despite their dissatisfaction, they didn’t show it on their faces, instead smiling broadly.

"Why are you here?"

Elder Wang asked.

Bright Sage bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Elder Wang, we also want to learn from you and hear your guidance."

Elder Wang shook his head slightly, directly exposing their thoughts. "Do you think Hao Tian has been able to endure so long in the True Venerable Tower because of my guidance? Well, considering your years of diligence and obedience, I'll use Hao Tian to teach you your first lesson."

"Hmm?"

The three were caught off guard by Elder Wang's insight into their thoughts. Although they showed a slight embarrassment on their faces, they didn't really think it was a big deal. After all, not only did they think this, but others would as well. Besides, it could very well be the truth.

Hearing that Elder Wang was going to give them a lesson, the three all showed signs of anticipation and glanced at Li Hao. Were they going to learn that technique as well?

"This first lesson..."

Elder Wang's expression remained calm as he paused for a moment before continuing, "is about learning to acknowledge others' excellence."

The three were speechless.

Elder Wang ignored their slightly frozen smiles and said coolly, "When you eventually go to the True World, if it still retains a fraction of its former prosperity, you will see many more monsters. They come from noble backgrounds, have deep roots, and some have been bathed in immortal herbs since childhood, treating Dao fruits as snacks. They cultivate the same cultivation techniques, yet they progress a hundred or even a thousand times faster than you!"

"Others may not have such a background, but they are exceptionally talented, with brilliant Spirit Light. They can rise from obscurity to challenge the prodigies of major factions and earn their own fame."

"At that time, will you compare yourselves to them, feel jealous, and become angry?"

The three's expressions changed, their thoughts completely exposed, including the anger and jealousy in their hearts. This made them hesitant to meet Elder Wang's gaze.

"Hao Tian's talent far surpasses yours. I haven't taught him anything about the trials, but he has spent three years playing chess with me, using his spare time to study on his own, and has cultivated the Yan Luo Immortal Technique to the Primordial True Meaning level. This only shows that his past foundation already exceeded yours!"

Bright Sage, Pastoral Sage, and Lin Sheng looked at Li Hao, their eyes filled with doubt.

After all, the tribulation power aura Li Hao emitted was only at the Second Calamity Saint level, while they had all long since reached the Supreme Sage level!

"Instead of harboring these baseless suspicions, you should put more effort into your cultivation. Your talent in the True World can only be considered average, while Hao Tian can be called a prodigy in the True World!"

Elder Wang said this without any hesitation.

Hearing his words, the three's expressions changed, and they all looked rather displeased.

They had heard Elder Wang recall many things about the True World before and knew he was right. He had long said that their talent was only average.

But could this young man's talent truly be considered a prodigy among the countless monsters in the True World?

In just three years, did he really do it all on his own?

"Go on, don't waste time here. I'm going to teach Hao Tian the Immortal Art for the third trial, the path to ascending to the True Immortal Realm."

Elder Wang waved them off.

The three, who had been feeling anxious, were stunned by his words. They then widened their eyes and stared at Elder Wang in disbelief.

"Elder Wang, you, you're being too partial!" Bright Sage couldn't help but exclaim.

He had spent hundreds of years massaging Elder Wang's legs and shoulders, serving him with dedication. Each time, Elder Wang had told him that he couldn't give hints or guidance about the trials, but he had remained enthusiastic, wanting to show his sincerity.

In the end, he had indeed shown his sincerity to Elder Wang, but still received no help. Instead, Elder Wang had planned to teach him the method to cultivate immortal herbs, but with the Immortal Emperor's Legacy right in front of him, he had no interest in learning about cultivating immortal herbs and had politely declined.

Pastoral Sage and Lin Sheng also stared at Elder Wang, though they didn't speak, their expressions mirrored Bright Sage's.

Elder Wang, seeing their urgent looks, remained calm and said, "This isn't partiality. Hao Tian has already passed the second trial and the first level of the True Venerable Tower. When you can pass it, I will also teach you the Immortal Art for the third trial. But for you, it's still too early."

These words hit them like a bolt of lightning. They were momentarily stunned, their minds buzzing with shock and confusion.

After a long moment, they finally came to their senses, looking at Elder Wang in disbelief and then at Li Hao.

"He, he passed the True Venerable Tower trial? The first level? Could there be a second level?"

Pastoral Sage couldn't help but ask, his expression showing his inability to control his surprise.

Li Hao, hearing Elder Wang's words, inwardly confirmed his suspicions. His earlier encounter in the tower wasn't a hallucination; others couldn't see what was happening inside the tower, but Elder Wang could.

Just then, the True Venerable Tower actually has two floors?

"The True Venerable Tower has a total of three floors, corresponding to the trials for registered disciples, official disciples, and the Immortal Emperor's direct disciples!"

"Of course, the trial for direct disciples includes more than just the True Venerable Tower, but you don't need to know the details."

Elder Wang calmly said, "In the first floor of the True Venerable Tower challenge, the projections are just twice your strength. On the second floor, they are five times as strong! On the third floor, they are ten times as strong!"

"Ten times..."

Not only were the three of them stunned, but Li Hao also widened his eyes slightly.

So, he had gone to the second floor earlier?

No wonder he felt that the projection's aura was much stronger than his own, at least four to five times.

And then he was instantly killed.

It turned out there was a third floor, and it was ten times as strong?!

Li Hao couldn't even imagine what it would be like if his own power were to increase tenfold. It would be terrifying, and he felt he could massacre in the True Immortal Realm.

The second-floor projection he encountered earlier already seemed to have that kind of combat strength. Ten times would be...

"For the Immortal Emperor's direct disciples, passing the third-floor trial is just the simplest part of many trials."

Elder Wang said coldly, "Since this trial exists, you should know that there will always be someone who can pass it. You should understand that there are always higher levels of strength, but you haven't encountered them yet. Now, Hao Tian should be considered the first level of strength you've encountered!"

Hearing his words, the three of them looked at Li Hao with complex expressions.

Is this young man really that terrifying?

"Go on."

Elder Wang said no more, waving his hand to urge them. "I didn't tell you about Hao Tian passing the trial earlier to avoid discouraging you."

While he wanted to use Li Hao to motivate them to cultivate harder, he also knew that Li Hao was too much of a monster for them. Too much stimulation would only backfire, making them feel hopeless and lose their motivation to cultivate.

The three of them felt a sense of oppression but still bowed to Elder Wang and left, their minds somewhat dazed.

Once they were gone, Elder Wang's cold expression softened, and he glanced at Li Hao, rolling his eyes and said:

"If I had known you were this smart, I wouldn't have delayed you these past few years. From now on, you need to focus on your cultivation. Being able to pass the True Venerable Tower challenge on your first try, whether it was due to a sudden enlightenment or not, means that you now have a glimmer of hope to become the Immortal Emperor's official disciple."

"Don't miss this opportunity. Seize it and cultivate hard."

Li Hao was speechless. He was most afraid of being urged to cultivate.

He had already been working very hard...

"Um, Elder Wang, those two things don't conflict", Li Hao tried to persuade him.

Elder Wang's temper flared at his words. It was clear that Li Hao was telling him, "I still want to play!"

"You, you, what can I say to you? That's the Immortal Emperor's legacy, the official disciple trial. Do you know what it means to pass it?"

"Does it mean becoming an official disciple?"

"..."

Elder Wang's eyes rolled so hard he almost flipped them out of his head. He felt like he was talking to a wall, and it was absurd.

When did the Immortal Emperor's legacy need to be urged?

Wasn't it something everyone would fight over?

"Earlier, I had them challenge the registered disciple trial because I knew that the Immortal Deity's legacy had been severed. For them, becoming registered disciples is already the limit. The battle back then was too brutal, and the Immortal Emperor originally planned to have the Dao tradition partially managed by registered disciples. If they performed well, they could unlock more benefits of the Dao tradition and potentially become true disciples."

Elder Wang explained to Li Hao, "If you can become an official disciple, it means you will receive cultivation resources that could lead you straight to the Immortal Lord Realm. With a bit more effort, you might even become an immortal king!"

"In the True World, they are rulers of their domains, second only to the Immortal Emperor. Wherever they go, they are revered by all. How glorious is that!"

Li Hao was somewhat surprised, "So rich?"

"Of course. Even with the losses from the past battle and the limited resources, becoming an official disciple of the Immortal Emperor in the True World's golden age meant becoming a future immortal king!"

Elder Wang replied with a hint of irritation.

Li Hao nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. "Then I'll give it a try."

However, the thought of the second level of the Projection filled him with some apprehension.

Fortunately, he hadn't embedded his Extraordinary Chess Heart yet. If he embedded it into the Body Movement Path, he might have a twenty percent chance.

That's right, only twenty percent. The Projection was far superior in every aspect, and even at the Tenth Rank of Body Movement Techniques, he might only be slightly above five times the strength of the Projection. This wouldn't make up for the other gaps.

Hearing Li Hao's response, Elder Wang finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Since you have a bit of hope, you should seize it. I will treat you as an official disciple and challenge you. Passing the first trial within three years is indeed a fitting pace for an official disciple, with some room to spare."

He continued, "Next, you should aim to pass the second level of the True Venerable Tower, but don't even think about the third level."

"Now, I will impart to you the Immortal Art for Ascending to the True Immortal Realm."

Elder Wang's expression grew serious. "The Saint level involves condensing your own Saint Path from the Great Dao. When this Saint Path reaches its ultimate, you can faintly sense a thread of the Heavenly Will. This is the Supreme Sage, or the Great Perfection of the Saint level!"

"To become an immortal, you must have your Saint Path recognized by Heaven and Earth. This is known as attesting to the heavens!"

"To attest to the heavens, you must comprehend the primordial true meaning of your Saint Path!"

"This is the realm of the first trial. In other words, those who passed the first trial are all qualified to Ascend to the True Immortal Realm!"

Elder Wang glanced at the three people who had returned to their zabutons.

Over the course of tens of thousands of years, only three people had cultivated to the point where they qualified to Ascend to the True Immortal Realm.

"But this is just the ordinary True Immortal Realm."

Elder Wang continued, "As I mentioned earlier, the third trial involves condensing the Three Seal Immortal Seal, also known as the Three Flower Immortal Seal!"

"Mastering one primordial true meaning allows you to condense one flower immortal seal. The Three Flower Immortal Seal requires comprehending three primordial true meanings of the Great Dao!"

"An official disciple, however, needs the Nine Flower Immortal Seal!"

"Additionally, the soul age must be within ten thousand years."

He gazed intently at Li Hao. When Li Hao had first arrived, Elder Wang had noticed that his soul age was only a century. To cultivate to this level in such a short time, based on his past experience, this young man had a chance to become an official disciple.

"Nine Flower Immortal Seal?"

Li Hao was slightly taken aback. "So that means condensing nine primordial true meanings?"

"Exactly."

"What about a direct disciple?"

Li Hao asked curiously. Nine often symbolized the ultimate number, but it could also be a literal figure.

"That's a different matter."

Elder Wang shook his head slightly. "An immortal seal can typically hold nine flowers, which is its limit. Continuing to condense more primordial true meanings of the Saint Path is useless, as they cannot be inscribed on the immortal seal. The Nine Flower Immortal Seal is the ultimate form of the immortal seal, but there are no absolutes. Further advancement would result in the exceedingly rare Dao Source Immortal Seal, which is almost unheard of in the Ten Thousand Realms."

"However, to transform a Nine Flower Immortal Seal into a Dao Source Immortal Seal requires not only talent but also a confluence of various opportunities. In any case, you don't need to worry about that. Condensing a Nine Flower Immortal Seal already makes you a top prodigy in the True World!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end

Report