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Our Patreon is now open where you can read 12 chapters ahead. Please support the story so we can continue pumping out 3 chapters every day for your reading pleasure!The aptitude testing with the Enlightenment Stone continued. Most of the disciples entering the True Martial Sacred Ground had third- or fourth-level aptitude, with a fair number at first or second level.
As the test neared its end, a young man in a black robe placed his hand on the Enlightenment Stone.
Immediately, the stone erupted with radiant Dao Runes, golden light bursting into the sky.
“Sovereign-grade aptitude!” exclaimed one of the outer court elders in excitement.
“It’s been ten years since we last saw a Sovereign-grade aptitude,” said an inner court elder, smiling.
While not exceedingly rare, Sovereign-grade aptitude was still considered exceptionally valuable, above even first-grade.
The youth, seemingly unsurprised, accepted the awe and admiration from the others with a smug expression.
“What’s your name?” asked the inner court elder, stepping forward.
“Disciple Yu Bo,” the youth replied respectfully.
“Would you be willing to become my personal disciple?” the elder offered. “Even if you fail the rest of the trial, I will still accept you.”
“Thank you, Master. I’m honored,” Yu Bo said, immediately kneeling to perform the formal rites.
The nearby disciples watched in envy.
“Yu Bo has just arrived and already joined an inner court elder. He’s bound for greatness.”
“Senior Brother Yu’s talent is unmatched. You commoners could never compare,” someone chimed in, already flattering him.
“Brother Zimo, should we try to recruit him?” Lin Ruhuo asked, looking at Yu Bo.
“Just a flashy clown,” Xu Zimo said with a shake of his head.
In his past life, Yu Bo did enjoy a brief moment of fame, but with unstable conviction, he ultimately faded into mediocrity.
For cultivators, lacking talent could be overcome. But with a flawed Dao Heart, one would never reach the apex.
As the saying among martial artists goes: “Only with an invincible Dao Heart, one earns the right to become strong.”
After the second test, the group rested for a short time before the third trial began.
This third test evaluated one's Dao Heart, their spiritual clarity and inner will.
The sect would create an illusionary realm. The longer a disciple maintained awareness within the illusion, the higher their score.
There were two ways to earn full marks:
After a short rest, a young man emerged from the sect wearing the distinctive blue robe of the True Martial Sacred Ground.
He had a composed face and eyes that seemed to draw people in.
He was Qi Shan, a direct disciple of the sect’s Seventh Grand Elder, who was a grandmaster of formations. Qi Shan was the most skilled in illusion arrays among the famed Five Sons of Myriad Arrays.
“I will be conducting the third trial,” Qi Shan said to the gathered disciples. “It’s a Seven Emotions and Six Desires Formation. You should know what that means, so I won’t explain further.”
Qi Shan’s hands glowed with spiritual energy as he formed seals at an incredible pace.
Each seal was the size of a thumb. In just a few breaths, he created one hundred of them.
In formations, power levels are categorized by the number of seals:
After placing the 100 seals according to the array’s layout and infusing them with spiritual energy, the array activated.
A thin mist veiled the interior, no one could see what was inside. Outside, the array formed a glowing circle with spiritual energy and rising mist.
“The trial will last fifteen minutes. I’ll deactivate the array afterward,” Qi Shan explained.
The disciples began entering the array one by one, sitting cross-legged and calming their minds.
“Let’s join in and enjoy the show,” Xu Zimo said to Lin Ruhu.
The two entered the array and sat down. The mist rose and enveloped them.
The others quickly fell into illusions. But Xu Zimo was unaffected, this kind of low-level array couldn’t touch his mind unless he chose to let it.
He analyzed the structure. Though full of flaws in his eyes, it was decent enough for a second-level formation.
Xu Zimo relaxed and let the mist pull him into the illusion.
…
White mist surrounded him. Then, flirtatious laughter rang in his ears.
Several scantily clad women approached seductively, ample curves, long legs, damp black hair, like they'd just stepped from a bath.
Before they could reach him, Xu Zimo waved his hand and shattered the illusion.
“Cliché and uninspired. Beauty fades; in the end, it's just bones beneath skin.”
Next came thunderous cheers.
He stood at the pinnacle of the world, Heaven’s Will swirling around him. Clad in a majestic purple robe, he radiated imperial might.
He was the Grand Emperor, the strongest of this era. Countless beings below knelt in worship.
“Since I’ve been reborn, I will reach the peak. Why dream about it in an illusion?”
He smashed the illusion again.
Then, the vision shifted.
He became an ant crawling the earth.
Above him floated ten Grand Emperors, divine and terrifying. Their power bent the heavens, their auras crushing.
“Xu Zimo, do you admit your guilt?” the ten Grand Emperors roared.
They were colossal, godlike beings, shouldering the sky, treading on clouds. Their pressure was suffocating.