Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
The atmosphere in Flowing Cloud Immortal City reached its peak during this half month. Young cultivators from all over the Eastern Region, and even other regions, poured into the city like a swarm of locusts, making the already prosperous immortal city even more crowded and noisy. Inns were full, markets were overflowing with people, and all conversations revolved around the upcoming Ascension Convention of the Azure Profound Dao Sect!
On this day, before dawn, the "Dao Seeking Plaza" in the center of the immortal city was already packed with people. The plaza was vast, paved with white jade, and could accommodate a hundred thousand people without feeling crowded. At the end of the plaza stood a majestic, towering bluestone archway exuding an ancient and vast aura, inscribed with the words "Dao Seeking." It was said to have been personally inscribed by the founding Ancestor of the Azure Profound Dao Sect, containing supreme Dao Rhyme.
Beyond the archway, clouds and mist swirled, vaguely revealing layers of palaces and pavilions. This was the Azure Profound Branch Courtyard, and also the Core Area of the convention.
Ye Chen and Wang Tiechui arrived at the edge of the plaza early. Gazing at the boundless crowd before them, and feeling the countless spiritual power fluctuations, both strong and weak, yet all filled with vitality and desire, even Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion. The path to immortality was a fierce competition, with billions of cultivators vying for dominance. Today, he was one of them in this torrent.
Wang Tiechui was even more nervous, his palms sweating. He had never seen such a scene before.
"Silence!"
A clear bell chime echoed through the plaza, as if possessing a strange magic, instantly suppressing all noise. Under the bluestone archway, more than ten cultivators dressed in the Azure Profound Dao Sect's attire had appeared at some point. Leading them was a middle-aged Daoist with a gaunt face and piercing eyes, his aura as deep as the sea. He was a Deacon of the Foundation Establishment Stage. The others behind him were all elite disciples of the Late Qi Refining Stage, their expressions solemn.
The Deacon of the Foundation Establishment Stage swept his gaze over the dense crowd below, his voice calm yet clear, reaching everyone's ears: "I am Qingxu, an Outer Sect Deacon of the Azure Profound Dao Sect. Today, the preliminary trial of the Ascension Convention begins here!"
"The preliminary trial consists of three rounds: testing root bone, verifying Dao Heart, and examining Comprehension! Only those who pass all three rounds will be recorded on the roster and participate in subsequent assessments. Now, the first round, testing root bone, ascend the 'Dao Seeking Steps'!"
As he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve. The bluestone archway, which had seemed ordinary, was now enveloped by surging clouds and mist. A green stone staircase, stretching upwards as if reaching the heavens, slowly materialized! The staircase had nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, each inscribed with intricate Runes, emitting a heavy pressure.
"The Dao Seeking Steps test the Physique Foundation and Spiritual Power resilience. Those who reach three thousand steps are considered qualified and can proceed to the next round. The time limit is three hours! Begin!"
As soon as the words fell, the crowd, which had been poised for action, surged forward like an unleashed flood, rushing towards the green stone staircase!
Ye Chen did not rush forward. He observed calmly. The cultivators at the very front, the moment they stepped onto the staircase, their bodies sank, and their speed noticeably slowed. The further up they went, the stronger the invisible pressure seemed to become, not only acting on the Physique but also pressing directly upon the Dantian, Sea of Qi, and Divine Soul!
Some resisted with their powerful Spiritual Power, some advanced steadily relying on their robust Physique, and some cleverly used Movement Techniques. But without exception, they all appeared to be struggling. From time to time, someone could not withstand the pressure, spitting blood and rolling down the stone steps, only to be expressionlessly carried away by the waiting Azure Profound disciples.
"Let's go too," Ye Chen whispered to Wang Tiechui, and the two followed the crowd onto the first step.
A heavy pressure descended instantly! It was as if they were suddenly carrying a hundred pounds of weight, and the circulation of Spiritual Power within their bodies also became sluggish.
【Affected by the spiritual power pressure of the Dao Seeking Steps, the Physique and Spiritual Power are tested. 】
【《The Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter》 circulates automatically, Spiritual Power resilience increases, and the pressure's impact is reduced by 10%. 】
As expected! Ye Chen rejoiced in his heart. The solid Dao Foundation forged by the 《Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter》 showed its advantage at this moment! The pressure had a greatly reduced effect on him.
He adjusted his breathing, his steps steady, climbing upwards neither too fast nor too slow. Chaos-colored Spiritual Energy flowed freely within his body, constantly neutralizing the external pressure. He even had enough energy to spare to pay attention to Wang Tiechui beside him.
Wang Tiechui's situation was even more peculiar. The immense pressure fell upon him, and at first, his body sank. But then, the dormant Chaos Battle Body bloodline within him seemed to be subtly stimulated by this pressure, his Qi and Blood surged on their own, and a faint, almost imperceptible dark red luster appeared beneath his skin. Not only did he not feel much discomfort, but he seemed to have been ignited with ferocity. With a low roar, he strode forward, his steps heavy, and he rushed upwards with a clatter, his speed even faster than many cultivators in the Mid Qi Refining stage!
"Who is that big guy? What a fierce momentum!"
"He seems to be a Body Cultivator? This Physique Foundation is incredible!"
Wang Tiechui's unusual performance immediately attracted considerable attention. Even Deacon Qingxu on the high platform cast a glance of slight surprise.
Ye Chen smiled slightly, relieved, and quickened his pace. He did not exert his full strength but maintained a speed that was above average, neither attracting too much attention nor failing to pass.
One thousand steps, two thousand steps...
The pressure increased layer by layer. By the time they reached over two thousand steps, many cultivators were already sweating profusely, their Spiritual Power greatly depleted, and their speed sharply reduced. Ye Chen, however, maintained a steady breath and a composed pace. The 《Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter》 brought not only abundant Spiritual Power but also a "quality" far exceeding his peers and exquisite control over strength.
When he stepped past the three thousandth step, the pressure on him lightened, and the scene before him changed. He was already on a white jade platform. This was the end of the first round. Hundreds of people had arrived before him on the platform, most of them sitting cross-legged, recovering from their exertion. Wang Tiechui was faster than him and was currently scratching his head, looking around curiously.
Ye Chen found a corner to sit down, his gaze sweeping over the people on the platform. These individuals could be considered the first batch of elites selected from tens of thousands of participants. Their auras were generally at Level 4 of Qi Refining or above, with some even reaching Level 6 or 7 of Qi Refining. Their eyes were sharp, and their demeanor extraordinary.
He saw scions of noble families, dressed in luxurious attire and surrounded by attendants; he also saw Rogue Cultivators with defiant eyes and hidden Fiendish Energy; and even some whose auras were obscure, making it impossible to gauge their depth.
"The competition is indeed fierce," Ye Chen thought to himself, further solidifying his intention to conceal some of his strength.
Three hours passed quickly. In the end, less than five thousand people passed the first round and ascended this three-thousand-step platform. The elimination rate exceeded eighty percent! Countless failed participants were sent away from the plaza with unwillingness and disappointment.
Deacon Qingxu's voice rang out again, devoid of any emotion: "The first round has concluded. Those who are qualified may rest for one incense stick. After one incense stick, the second round will begin – the 'Heart Questioning Illusion Array'!"
Heart Questioning Illusion Array!
The expressions of the crowd below immediately became solemn. Compared to testing root bone, verifying Dao Heart was more perilous, directly targeting the core of one's being. With the slightest carelessness, one could suffer damage to their Dao Heart, or even fall into an illusion, causing their cultivation to regress!
After one incense stick, the white jade platform shone brightly. Countless soft white lights rose from the ground, enveloping all the qualified individuals on the platform.
Ye Chen felt a blur before his eyes, and the surrounding scene instantly changed! The familiar rental room, the flickering computer screen, mountains of documents... Scenes from his past life flashed before his eyes, and a strong sense of fatigue and emptiness washed over him, as if his previous transmigration and cultivation were all just a dream.
"Come back, this is reality..." a seductive voice echoed in his mind.
But in just an instant, Ye Chen's eyes regained clarity. The Chaos Spiritual Energy cultivated by the 《Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter》 spontaneously protected his mind, and the Ascension Token emitted a faint warmth, strengthening his will.
"Illusory bubbles, daring to disturb my Dao Heart? Disperse!" he chanted silently in his heart, and the illusions before him shattered like reflections in a mirror.
The scene changed again. He seemed to have returned to the Black Marsh Mine, where Zhao Hu was grinning and whipping him; or he saw the Ye Family members arrogantly announcing his expulsion from the family; he even saw assassins from the Shadow Pavilion pouncing from the shadows...
All sorts of fears, anger, and unwillingness were magnified infinitely, impacting his mind.
However, Ye Chen's Dao Heart had long been tempered as firm as a rock through countless life-and-death crises and desperate struggles. He watched everything in the illusion with cold eyes, as if watching a play unrelated to himself. All negative emotions could not shake his determination to pursue power and control his own destiny!
【Enduring the test of the Heart Questioning Illusion Array, the Dao Heart becomes more stable, and the Spiritual Sense receives a slight tempering. 】
【《Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter》 Proficiency +10. 】
After an unknown amount of time, the illusion receded like a tide. Ye Chen found himself still standing in place, on the white jade platform. Beside him, many cultivators had pale faces, were drenched in sweat, and some had even collapsed on the ground, their eyes vacant, clearly having failed the test. Even more, some appeared mad and were quickly subdued and taken away by Azure Profound disciples.
Wang Tiechui stood beside him, scratching his head, looking confused: "Just now... it felt like I had a dream, there was a lot of delicious food, and just as I was about to reach for it, it was gone..."
Ye Chen was speechless. Sometimes, a pure heart could better resist Inner Demons.
The second round eliminated nearly half more! Only a little over two thousand people remained on the platform.
Deacon Qingxu looked at the remaining two thousand-plus people, nodded slightly, and announced loudly: "Those who passed the second round may rest for half an hour. After half an hour, the final round – the 'Comprehension Stone Tablet'!"
The preliminary trial of Dao Seeking was nearing its end. The final test of Comprehension would determine who was qualified to truly step through the Mountain Gate of the Azure Profound Dao Sect!