https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-432-The-Third-Trial-the-Path-to-the-True-Immortal-Realm/13451691/
Chapter 433: Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture
Chapter 433: Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture
Li Hao nodded slightly, feeling the difficulty of becoming a Personal Disciple, which was quite insane.
Elder Wang explained the situation of the True Immortal Realm, then tapped his finger on Li Hao’s forehead, transmitting the Immortal Art.
Li Hao silently accepted it, and it seemed that an immortal seal in his Sea of Consciousness was whispering the teachings.
"This is the Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture. I will only transmit the True Immortal Chapter to you. If you can become an Emperor Immortal’s registered disciple, you will receive the Immortal Lord Chapter. Once you reach the Immortal Lord Realm, I will transmit the Immortal King Chapter, which is the final chapter."
Elder Wang’s eyes were unusually serious and earnest as he told Li Hao:
"Even just the True Immortal Chapter is top-tier among all True Immortal Realm cultivation techniques. It can cultivate a Primordial Immortal Body and a heaven-defying art. Either one of these is enough to sweep through the True Immortal Realm, leaving few rivals!"
He glanced at the distant zabuton and said, "If others can pass this second trial, they can also receive this opportunity, and even if they can't fully comprehend it, learning just the basics will allow them to stand out in the True Immortal Realm, for when the Emperor Immortal was still present, the selection process for registered disciples was extremely rigorous, and ordinary individuals didn't even qualify to take part."
Li Hao was somewhat surprised. That powerful?
"Once this technique is cultivated to its ultimate stage, if you can break its limits, you will master the Emperor Immortal’s imperial technique, the Heaven's Bane Emperor Art."
Elder Wang whispered, "Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture, following heaven leads to kingship, defying heaven leads to calamity!"
His soft words, these eight short characters, made the previously quiet void rumble like thunder.
Li Hao was shaken, faintly grasping the meaning of these eight characters.
"You are still at the saint level and have only passed two calamities. With your strength, you can easily break free from the shackles and pass the Three Calamities. Then, you can touch the Heavenly Dao and reach the Great Perfection of the Saint Level. At that time, comprehending the technique will be much easier."
Elder Wang said.
Li Hao nodded. For others at the saint level, passing the Heavenly Tribulation requires thorough preparation, but for him, it was a minor matter.
However, when it came to passing the Heavenly Tribulation, he had a thought. If he just passed it like this, it seemed a bit wasteful...
"You can start your own enlightenment. I can’t help you much with cultivation, but you can ask me about other things."
Elder Wang said, then picked up the chess box, turned around, and left. He then grabbed a sharp hoe glowing with Dao light from the side of the house and walked toward the fertile fields.
Li Hao sat on a small wooden stool and, once Elder Wang was far away, summoned the panel.
Although he knew Elder Wang couldn’t see, he still subconsciously treated this highly ranked elder with respect.
On the panel, a new Immortal Art had appeared.
【Skill (Near-Emperor Art): Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture (True Immortal Chapter - Not Yet Mastered)】
At this moment, the Immortal Art in his mind had already been absorbed by Li Hao, but the Immortal Art was extremely profound, encompassing both the physical body and the mastery of the Immortal Art, as well as the exquisite control of Immortal Power.
Li Hao was somewhat surprised. According to Elder Wang, passing the first trial qualified one to ascend to the True Immortal Realm.
But in front of the Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture, it didn’t even count as an entry level.
No wonder Elder Wang said that once this technique was mastered, it was enough to sweep through the True Immortal Realm.
"Perhaps, it would take the insights of a 1st Rank Mindset to fully absorb this technique, and... this technique seems to encompass both the Immortal Dao and the Flesh Dao. Maybe both Dao paths need to reach 1st Rank before it can be truly mastered!"
Li Hao thought to himself, immediately feeling the terrifying nature of this technique.
Usually, other cultivation techniques, including the Yama Immortal Technique he had absorbed earlier, could be mastered with insights from a single Dao Realm.
But this technique required both the Flesh Dao and the Immortal Dao to reach 1st Rank before it could be perfected!
As he pondered, Li Hao suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
If he could accumulate the necessary insights for both the Flesh Dao and the Immortal Dao to 1st Rank, and perfect this technique, then ascend to the True Immortal Realm, would that mean he had a chance to pass the third level trial of the True Venerable Tower?
The third level was a projection of himself, amplified tenfold. But if he could break through his current realm, this tenfold gap could be nullified.
Thinking about this, Li Hao felt a flicker of excitement.
After all, Elder Wang had mentioned that the higher a disciple's status, the more of the Immortal Emperor's legacy they could unlock.
"Although this might seem a bit like cheating, those Personal Disciples who can pass the trials were either born in the chaos or have been eating immortal herbs since childhood. Compared to ordinary people, they are also a form of cheating."
Li Hao thought to himself.
In this world, honest people often suffer the most.
He put the panel away and got up, glancing around and spotting Elder Wang's figure. He then started humming a tune and ran over to him.
"Is it that difficult?"
Elder Wang asked with a smile when he saw Li Hao hadn't started cultivating immediately.
Li Hao nodded in agreement, saying, "It is indeed difficult."
He needed to bring both the Flesh Dao and the Immortal Dao to 1st Rank, which seemed like a long and arduous journey.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Elder Wang laughed heartily. No matter how talented one was, in the face of a Near-Emperor Art, one had to diligently study and practice.
"Don't worry, take your time. You are already on the third step, ahead of others. With your talent, as long as you don't slack off, others won't surpass you."
Elder Wang said with a smile.
Li Hao nodded. He wasn't really comparing himself to others; he just wanted to finish as soon as possible so he could leave this place.
But...
"Once I leave, what about you, Elder Wang? Will you still be guarding here?"
Li Hao rolled up his pants and followed Elder Wang's footsteps through the muddy field, stopping behind him and asking curiously.
Elder Wang paused in his work of weeding and pruning the immortal herbs, then smiled calmly and said, "Yes, I will continue to guard here, watching over the Immortal Emperor's Imperial Hall."
Li Hao's eyes grew slightly distant. "That must be very lonely."
"Loneliness is not to be feared; boredom is what's truly terrifying."
Elder Wang continued weeding, his voice reaching Li Hao's ears. "Before you and the others came, I had always been doing this."
At this, he suddenly paused, looked up, and gazed at the distant sky, perhaps even beyond it, and said softly:
"Those old friends who fell in the True World, I wonder if anyone has collected their remains. That is true loneliness..."
As he spoke, a gentle breeze stirred through the fertile fields, caressing the immortal herbs.
Rays of ethereal light gathered, like gentle hands soothing the old man's wounded emotions.
Li Hao fell silent, recalling the ancient path where he had seen countless scattered bones, a vast and endless burial ground.
At first, he had only seen them as corpses, but now he realized that among them might be Elder Wang's old friends, or even his family.
"Is it the rules that restrict you, or do you simply not want to leave?"
Li Hao asked in a low voice.
Elder Wang chuckled, his shoulders trembling slightly. "This is the Immortal Emperor's incense. A registered disciple is not enough; in the dangerous True World, even registered disciples can fall. Only when a true disciple appears can I leave as a guardian and accompany them."
He turned to look at Li Hao, his eyes softening. "You have a chance to become a formal disciple, but it's only a chance. You've experienced the second level trial of the True Venerable Tower. Do you think you can pass it?"
Li Hao was taken aback for a moment, but his eyes brightened up.
Over the past three years, they had spent countless hours playing chess and chatting. Although they never discussed cultivation, they talked about almost everything else.
They had long developed a deep, age-defying friendship.
If he could help the old man leave this place, Li Hao would do everything in his power!
"Can I really help you out just by becoming a formal disciple?"
Li Hao asked earnestly, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Seeing Li Hao's gaze, Elder Wang's smile softened even more. He shook his head gently and said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I've already taught you the Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture and the Nine Flower Immortal Seal. You should know how difficult it is to become a formal disciple!"
Li Hao took a deep breath, his resolve growing stronger. "I will definitely get you out of here!"
"Don't overthink it. The more you worry, the slower your cultivation will be."
Elder Wang smiled, turned around, and continued weeding the immortal herbs. He didn't want to burden Li Hao with this responsibility.
He also didn't want his own issues to hinder Li Hao's cultivation.
Li Hao remained silent, knowing that some things could only be achieved through action.
After tending to the immortal herbs, they returned to the path, and Elder Wang resumed chatting with Li Hao about his past cultivation days.
Here, he often reminisced about the old times with others.
With his long lifespan, he had countless memories that could fill several lifetimes.
He enjoyed sharing these stories, fearing that if he didn't, they might fade away.
Even with an almost eternal life, the erosion of time was still a formidable force.
Li Hao put aside his serious expression and chatted with Elder Wang as usual, listening attentively.
As the sun set, Elder Wang shouldered his hoe and returned to the cottage. Li Hao followed, inviting him to play another game of chess.
Elder Wang chuckled at Li Hao's words. He had thought that after teaching Li Hao the Immortal Art, Li Hao would be eager to immerse himself in the Heaven's Will Ancestral Scripture.
After all, it was a cultivation technique of the True Immortal Realm, a near-Emperor level technique that only the top factions in the True World could access.
However, he was already familiar with Li Hao's personality and wasn't surprised. The thought of the young man's words earlier in the immortal fields made him feel a bit disappointed. It was clear that Li Hao was still passionate about the Dao of Chess and hadn't fully committed to intense cultivation.
But he didn't blame Li Hao. The difficulty of becoming a formal disciple was immense, and without a special foundation from a young age, it was nearly impossible.
Shaking his head, he dismissed the faint sense of loss and smiled, putting down his hoe. He brought out the chessboard and played another game with Li Hao under the starlight of Yue Ying.
In the distance, numerous Sages sat on their zabutons, cultivating like silent statues.
In front of the cottage, the old man and the young man occasionally placed their pieces, sharing laughter from time to time.
Time quietly flowed in this world beneath the Forbidden Area.
Before they knew it, two years had passed.
Since Li Hao arrived in the depths of the Double Crevice Demon Valley, five years had flown by.
In this place, five years seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, with no noticeable changes.
The people on the zabutons remained as still as statues, silent as ever.
The immortal herbs in the fertile fields hadn't grown much; with such a short time, their changes were barely perceptible.
However, the chess games in front of the cottage had undergone a dramatic transformation.
Elder Wang's expression was serious as he stared at the chessboard.
The young man placed his pieces, the game unfolding like a winding mountain path, making it difficult to see the pattern.
It had a certain elusive quality, like the trace of a fairy.
If it were their first game, he might have had the leisure to sip tea and admire the immortal herbs in the fertile fields. Now, the tea beside him had gone cold, and he hadn't even noticed.
In contrast, the young man was equally focused, his eyes fixed on the board, not daring to relax for a moment.
The current situation was due to Elder Wang's momentary lapse, which allowed the young man to seize an opportunity and gradually gain the upper hand.
As the mist dissipated and the immortal herbs in the fertile fields emitted a gentle fragrance, a light breeze caressed them, and Elder Wang's piece landed with a soft click.
After a long while, the young man made his move, and once again, there was a crisp sound.
As the mist turned crimson and the sky was bathed in brilliant hues, the situation on the chessboard seemed to become clearer.
Elder Wang released the piece in his hand, let out a light sigh, and then glared at the young man, saying, "You finally caught your chance."
"Opportunities have to be seized. Thanks to the leniency of the senior."
Li Hao chuckled, his face beaming with joy.
After all, winning against Elder Wang wasn't easy!
"How many times have you won now?"
While putting away the pieces, Elder Wang asked.
Li Hao almost didn't even think before he replied, "Seven times!"
Elder Wang couldn't help but roll his eyes at his quick response. This kid sure has a good memory, he grumbled!
"How many times have you lost?" Elder Wang suddenly looked at him with a teasing smile.
Li Hao coughed lightly and scratched his head. "I don't know."
"You brat..." Elder Wang almost burst out laughing, amused by the young man's slyness.
"I've been keeping track for you", Elder Wang said with a hint of pride. "1821 times!"
Li Hao was speechless.
He had been caught red-handed.
Seeing Li Hao's constipated expression, Elder Wang burst into laughter. He looked at the sky and said, "It's late today. Time to rest!"
Li Hao couldn't help but agree, feeling a bit helpless.
Two years had passed, and Li Hao's Chess Dao experience had long reached the Tenth Rank saturation, but he still hadn't grasped the Tenth Rank Chess Dao Mind Realm.
After Elder Wang put away the chessboard and went to rest, Li Hao returned to his zabuton, took out his painting board, and began to paint the Heaven and Earth Bell under the moonlight.
Over the past two years, besides accompanying Elder Wang in chess, Li Hao had been painting.
His Art Dao experience had also reached the Tenth Rank Perfection, but he still had no clue about the Mindset.
As he finished one painting after another, a hint of confusion appeared in Li Hao's eyes.
In his repeated painting, he felt that his skills had reached their peak, but he still hadn't broken through the Mindset bottleneck.
This made him feel somewhat anxious, as the goal seemed increasingly distant.
"Using heaven and earth as the canvas, and the Great Dao as the brush, even the most exquisite painting isn't the pinnacle. What would the ultimate painting be like?"
Li Hao murmured to himself.
He couldn't imagine it, and thus, couldn't grasp it.
Sitting on the zabuton all night, the next day, as Li Hao was still lost in his thoughts, a voice suddenly caught his attention.
Coming back to his senses, he saw that the other Sages had also been startled by the voice and were looking around. It turned out that the Pastoral Sage had returned from challenging the True Venerable Tower.
"Two years have passed, and this time, the Pastoral Sage spent even longer. The progress is quite fast!"
"Previously, it took decades to make significant improvements, but now..."
Seeing the Pastoral Sage's results, everyone was surprised. Their gazes then unconsciously turned toward Li Hao.
They all knew that since the arrival of this newcomer, the atmosphere here had become more intense, and everyone's Mindset had changed.
Feeling the gazes of the others, Li Hao's heart stirred. It had been a long time, and it was time to try and advance his Body Movement Path to the Tenth Rank to see if he could pass the second level.
If not, he would have to wait until he broke through to the True Immortal Realm to try again.
The Pastoral Sage, with his snow-white hair, returned and saw Li Hao on the zabuton. Noticing that Li Hao wasn't looking at him but at the True Venerable Tower, he frowned, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
It was as if the thing he was striving for had already been claimed by someone else, leaving him with a sense of effort and futility.
At that moment, Li Hao stood up and flew toward the True Venerable Tower.
Seeing Li Hao take off, everyone was surprised.
In the past two years, this was only the second time Li Hao had challenged the tower.
"Hao Tian is challenging again. Could it be that he saw the Pastoral Sage's progress and wants to give it a try?"
"His last performance was impressive. I wonder if he has improved this time."
"He doesn't seem to have cultivated much recently. Maybe he's just feeling competitive."
In the crowd, Lin Sheng and Bright Sage's gazes had already shifted past the Pastoral Sage to the figure flying toward the True Venerable Tower. For some reason, their hearts tightened.
(End of Chapter)
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