Ascension Conference

Inside a quiet room at the Gathering Immortal Town inn, Li Su set down layers of restrictions and sank his divine sense into the two newly acquired items.

The Dao Rhythm within the dark yellow stone shared the same origin as the "Bedrock Rune," but it was older and more substantial. As he slowly absorbed it,

he could clearly feel the phantom of the "Bedrock Rune" becoming more solid. His understanding of the Dao of defense had improved, and the strength of Star Swirl Body Protection seemed to have faintly increased as well.

The damaged milky-white jade pendant obtained from the golden skeleton was even more extraordinary.

The "guardian" Dao Rhythm it contained was not merely about hardness. It also carried an essence of compassion, protection, and purification of evil.

Li Su tried to merge a strand of divine sense into it, only to feel his mind grow tranquil and all distracting thoughts vanish. Even his perception of the stars throughout the heavens became slightly clearer.

The cracks on the jade pendant seemed to be absorbing the meager aura of merit around him at an extremely slow pace—gained from slaying Fierce Beasts and helping others—and showed faint signs of healing.

[Comprehended the innate Guardian Dao Rhythm. Clarity of mind increased; comprehension temporarily increased slightly.]

[Star Swirl Body Protection has fused with a faint Guardian Dao Rhythm. Resistance to negative energy increased.]

[Understanding of the "Bedrock Rune" deepened. Proficiency increased.]

The system prompts delighted Li Su.

Though these two treasures could not directly increase his cultivation, they greatly strengthened his foundation and the potential of his divine abilities. In particular, the increase in his comprehension might prove crucial in the upcoming assessment.

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the enormous central square of Gathering Immortal Town was already packed with people. Tens of thousands of cultivators had arrived from all across the Primordial World to participate in the preliminary round of the Jade Clarity Sect's—Yuanshi Tianzun's lineage—Ascension Conference.

They came from all manner of races and possessed mixed, varied auras, but without exception, anticipation and nervousness gleamed in their eyes.

Li Su and Zhiwei arrived at the square and found a relatively open spot to wait.

Zhiwei looked somewhat nervous and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, there are so many people... and so many of them have such powerful auras..."

Li Su's bamboo body remained still as his divine sense swept across the entire square. He indeed discovered many formidable presences. Earth Immortals at the peak stage were everywhere, and there were quite a few Heavenly Immortals as well.

There were even several whose auras were obscure and unfathomable, likely already at the True Immortal realm. They had presumably come seeking to enter a Sage's sect and pursue a higher Dao.

"Calm your mind and focus. Just make the most of your own strengths," Li Su reassured her.

Just then, a somewhat surprised and uncertain voice came from nearby. "...Mo Xing... Fellow Daoist?"

Li Su followed the voice and saw a young Daoist in a green robe standing not far away, his honest face filled with surprise. It was none other than Ming Chen, whom he had met once at the Jade Clarity Retreat!

Ming Qing and Ming Jing stood beside him. The three of them had much more refined auras than before, clearly having made progress since their parting at the retreat.

"Fellow Daoist Ming Chen? You're here too?" Li Su transmitted with his divine sense, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Meeting familiar faces here was an unexpected delight.

"It really is Senior Mo Xing!" Ming Chen and the other two were both shocked and delighted. They hurried over and bowed.

"Senior is here for the Ascension Conference too? That's wonderful!" They had automatically taken Li Su's earlier modesty as the low-key conduct of an expert senior.

"Yes. I wish to enter Kunlun and seek the Great Dao," Li Su said.

Ming Chen said excitedly, "With Senior here, there is surely nothing to worry about in this preliminary round!

We heard that this preliminary round concerns 'comprehension' and 'temperament,' rather than being a simple contest of magical power and cultivation."

Comprehension? Temperament? Li Su's heart stirred. It seemed the jade pendant's increase to his comprehension had come at exactly the right time.

As they spoke, the space above the platform at the front of the square rippled faintly, and several figures silently appeared.

At their head stood an elderly Daoist dressed in a moon-white robe and wearing a Jade Clarity lotus crown. His features were ancient and refined, and his aura was as deep as the sea. He was unmistakably a mighty Golden Immortal!

Several True Immortal Jade Clarity disciples followed behind him. Yun Yao was among them. When she spotted Li Su below the platform, she gave him a slight nod.

The entire square instantly fell silent, all eyes focusing on the platform.

The elderly Daoist swept his calm gaze across the crowd and slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached every ear. "This humble Daoist is Yuqing. By order of the Sect Master, I shall preside over the preliminary round of this Ascension Conference.

All those who wish to enter the Jade Clarity lineage of Kunlun must pass three trials. Today is the first trial: 'Asking the Heart.'"

With a sweep of his sleeve, countless motes of spiritual light scattered outward, landing precisely in the hands of every participant and transforming into ancient bronze mirrors.

"This is the Heart Mirror. It can reflect the distracting thoughts within your Dao Hearts and manifest inner and outer demonic obstacles. Within the time it takes one stick of incense to burn, those who can keep their minds clear within the mirror, remain unmoved by illusions, and keep their mirrors unbroken shall pass.

Otherwise, if the mirror breaks and the person is injured, their mind will suffer damage and they shall immediately be sent away from Kunlun."

The rules were simple, yet many people's expressions changed slightly. Testing one's temperament and directly confronting the demons within one's heart was far more dangerous than a simple duel. A single misstep could damage one's Dao Heart.

"Begin the preliminary round!"

As soon as Yuqing Zhenren finished speaking, a stick of incense was lit nearby. At the same time, the bronze Heart Mirrors in everyone's hands lit up with a gentle glow!

Li Su felt a strange pulling force emanate from the Heart Mirror in his hand. His divine sense seemed to be dragged into the world within the mirror!

The scene around him changed in an instant! He found himself seemingly returned to the beginning of his transmigration, still that frail, vulnerable green bamboo growing beside a mountain of corpses and a sea of bones. Baleful energy surged, giant beasts roamed freely, and those feelings of helplessness, fear, and despair flooded his heart once more!

"Ant... destruction..." A cold intent battered against his spiritual consciousness.

But Li Su was no longer the person he had once been. His bamboo body—his consciousness form—swayed faintly as he watched it all with cold eyes, his mind utterly clear. "It is only an illusion. Disperse!"

The illusion in the mirror trembled, yet it did not immediately vanish. Instead, it became even more real, revealing the awakening of the system, devouring and evolution, and all the hardships and temptations he had faced along the way.

It also recreated and distorted the most perilous and will-shaking scenes from his experiences—the terrifying shadow of an eye in the underground cave, the warning from the old Witch Clan shaman, the spatial fissures of Riftwind Canyon—magnifying them in an attempt to draw out his fear, greed, hesitation, and other emotions.

Yet Li Su's Dao Heart was resolute. Having endured so many trials, his will had long been tempered into something like adamantine bedrock.

Moreover, the Guardian Dao Rhythm radiating from the damaged jade pendant protected his mind, allowing him to retain a thread of clarity at all times. Like a detached observer, he calmly watched the illusions within the mirror arise and fade.

He could even spare a fragment of attention to observe the subtle reactions of the "Bedrock Rune" beneath the Heart Mirror's illumination, comprehending the true meaning of an unyielding Dao Heart.

Time passed second by second.

Cracking sounds and muffled groans occasionally rang out across the square.

The Heart Mirrors in the hands of one cultivator after another shattered. Their faces turned pale, some even coughing blood, before Jade Clarity disciples nearby swiftly led them away from the grounds.

They had clearly failed the trial of will.

Zhiwei clutched her Heart Mirror tightly, her little face deathly pale and her body trembling slightly. She was clearly undergoing her own trial, but there was a trace of stubbornness amid the struggle in her eyes. She still seemed to be holding on.

Ming Chen and the other two were sweating across their brows as well, but Jade Clarity Celestial Light faintly flowed around them, protecting their minds. Their conditions were somewhat better.

Li Su, however, remained calm throughout. The Heart Mirror in his hand shone steadily, its surface as smooth as ever.

The stick of incense soon burned out.

"Time is up!" Yuqing Zhenren's voice rang out.

The light from every Heart Mirror dimmed, and the illusions vanished. Everyone returned to reality.

Nearly one-third of the people in the square were gone! The elimination rate was astonishing!

Li Su looked to his side. Though Zhiwei's face was pale and her aura weak, the Heart Mirror in her hand remained completely intact. She had successfully passed! Relief and joy appeared on the little rabbit's face.

Ming Chen and the other two had also passed successfully. They cast Li Su admiring looks—they had seen how calm he had remained from beginning to end.

Yuqing Zhenren's gaze swept over those who had passed, lingering briefly on Li Su with a flicker of surprise before he announced, "Those who have passed may rest for one hour. Then we will proceed to the second trial, 'Testing Roots and Affinity.'"

The true test had only just begun.