Dao Venerable Path
A rugged path winds its way through a rustling bamboo forest, leading deep into the majestic mountains; this is the renowned Dao Venerable Path.
At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, yet it drew everyone's attention, causing even Dao Child masters to hesitate, harboring apprehension while simultaneously yearning for it.
Those who succeed on this path will not only have a promising future, but will also be destined to be remembered in history, their names echoing through the ages.
Qin Ming was already standing on the road, looking back at his opponent.
Everyone looked at him and noticed that the outsider was still smiling.
He once joked, "Can't we just reach the end?"
At the time, many people dismissed him, thinking he was just crazy and overly arrogant. Now, seeing how relaxed he still is, some people have become hesitant.
Jiang Yutian had thick black hair and deep eyes. He too set off, preparing to Dao Venerable Path.
"Yutian!" The Noblewoman in Black stopped him.
"No need." Jiang Yutian waved his hand and continued walking forward.
The Noblewoman in Black wanted to pave the way for him, not wanting anything to happen to him.
In particular, the outsider seemed quite sinister, somewhat beyond her expectations.
In her heart, Jiang Yutian was perfect and flawless, and no blemishes should be left on his life's journey.
Virtual Spirit Xi understood and knew what was going on.
"Jiang Yutian's sending out pale gold paper and dispatching the Sick Heavenly Dragon to intercept the team I invited were all paving the way for you, because you and I are destined to clash."
This "rivalry" is not limited to this competition, but is destined to be entangled for a long time, with a sense of destiny. The paths they take, the rare resources they need, and the unique opportunities they seek overlap to some extent.
Virtual Spirit Xi herself hadn't expected that the quality of the external aid would be so high, prompting Jiang Yutian to personally participate.
Let's go.
Jiang Yutian entered the bamboo forest and walked side by side with Qin Ming, heading into the mountains.
Many people know that Jiang Yutian were not solely aimed at Qin Ming; he had glanced at several Anomalies on several occasions, intending to settle the score with them here.
However, none of them expressed their opinion, as they did not want to be led by others; that was not their style.
"It's begun; the two have officially entered the mountains."
Many people were lifted into the air and followed them on their journey.
In an instant, the Dao Venerable Path was covered by a hazy light, forming a barrier that outsiders could only observe from the outside.
Inside, it was mysterious and unpredictable, with various scenes like Illusory Bubble, solidifying and then dissipating, constantly changing.
The Dao Venerable Path diverged, and each chose a different one.
In a flash, the scenery before Qin Ming's eyes completely changed; the trees in front of him were shadowy and indistinct, like ghosts.
Most importantly, the place was shrouded in thick night fog and covered in snow.
The calls of night birds and the roars of wild beasts shook the snow off the treetops.
When Qin Ming breathed, his mouth and nose were filled with white mist.
He was no stranger to this environment, but it felt very unreal. It was almost identical to the winter in Black White Mountain, like a dream of returning to his homeland.
My body has become weak!
His cultivation level vanished like the tide, and he seemed to return to the year he was sixteen, when he went hunting in the mountains.
Suddenly, a foul stench swept over me from behind.
A monster opened its blood-red maw and began to bite at the back of his neck, then extended a pair of large, hairy claws and reached for his shoulders.
"It really is a repeat of the old scene."
Years ago, when Qin Ming was hunting, he was ambushed by Donkey-Headed Wolf and was in danger.
How could he encounter such a trial on his Dao Venerable Path?
He quickly realized the situation: his physical condition had regressed to that of a sixteen-year-old.
That year, he had just activated the Silk Book Method, causing subtle silver ripples to shimmer on his body, and had just embarked on the path of cultivation.
"Crisis—ten times greater than back then?"
After Qin Ming dodged, he found himself surrounded. Ten Donkey-Headed Wolf pounced on him, larger than the one from before, and their fur was all golden, making them formidable mutated creatures.
"Back then, I had just recovered from a serious illness and my coping methods were already perfect. Now, I still have the same body, and you're putting ten times more pressure on me?"
Qin Ming wanted to curse; this was just too perverted.
This ordeal drove him to the brink of despair, making him feel the threat of death.
Right now, he's just stronger and faster than the average person; he hasn't yet condensed the Heavenly Light and doesn't possess any truly extraordinary abilities.
All he could rely on was his vision and extensive combat experience.
The snow in the mountains was up to his thighs. Qin Ming pushed his body's potential to the limit, dodging, rolling, and engaging in a bloody battle in the snow.
Sometimes he would crawl close to the ground, crashing into the belly of the Donkey-Headed Wolf and tearing it open; other times he would stand back-to-back with the upright Donkey-Headed Wolf, using it as a human shield.
After Qin Ming painstakingly killed the tenth mutated Donkey-Headed Wolf, he gasped for breath, his eyebrows and long hair covered in ice crystals, and collapsed backward into the snow.
"This is not the Dao Venerable Path; this is a dead end." He was very Qi Ingestion.
When he first began cultivating, he was only slightly stronger than an ordinary person. How could he possibly fight ten mutated creatures with such a "weak" body?
?
On the other road, Jiang Yutian reverted to his childlike state, looking only a few years old.
This is the foundation of a top-tier training ground; one can begin cultivating very early on.
Ordinary people like Qin Ming, especially those who choose the New Life Path, can only attempt their bodies to undergo their first New Life at the age of fifteen or sixteen without the Take Care Of of a powerful force; otherwise, "early rebirth" will cause serious problems.
"Hiss, this outsider is almost an adult and only just started cultivating?"
People outside were astonished; wasn't this a waste of over ten years of hard work?
Some people frowned, while others didn't understand.
Lu Zizai said, "Why not eat meat porridge?"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Being within a top-tier lineage, they truly haven't experienced the hardships endured by lower-level cultivators.
People like them were identified and given special attention early on.
"Old Six, the youngest Ancestor, is truly a highly accomplished individual!" Niu Wuwei exclaimed.
Si Yeli said, "I suddenly realized that the biggest Ming fan— Green Phoenix —is actually very low-key and objective; she has never exaggerated anything."
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If the location weren't so inconvenient, she would have shouted, "Ming's talent Unparalleled Through the Ages!"
At this moment, Meng Zhiyu, Mu Shinian, Wen Lingxi and others were all unable to calm down. They also believed that the so-called Dao Venerable's demeanor might be manifested in the people of this world.
Qin Ming exhaled a breath of stale air, stood up unsteadily, and said, "This kind of Dao Venerable Trial Path has serious flaws. It simply and crudely magnifies the crises I've experienced in the past by more than ten times. It's too hasty. I demand a change. How about letting a young Dao Venerable fight me?"
A completely emotionless, mechanical voice responded, "Isn't it normal to bring your current memories and experiences to deal with the crises of your youth, adding a bit of difficulty?"
Qin Ming said, "If my methods back then were already at the level of a young Dao Venerable, and you increase the intensity even further, are you trying to send me away, or do you want me to obtain a title that surpasses Dao Venerable?"
After a brief silence, a mechanical voice rang out, saying, "If that's the case, then we'll arrange the dangers the young Dao Venerable will face on his journey."
Qin Ming asked, "I just encountered Donkey-Headed Wolf. Were you probing my Light of the Mind?"
A mechanical voice sounded, "Don't worry, we won't dig up the trial participants' secrets. Limited by the Principle, we're just amplifying the crises you've experienced in the past."
Qin Ming nodded, secretly using the Exotic Gold Cloth to protect his Spirit Domain and carry out necessary defenses.
The next moment, his body heated up, gradually becoming scalding hot. He broke through the barrier and reached the First Realm perfect realm of the New Life Path, his physique greatly improved.
Ahead, the ice and snow have disappeared, revealing a vast plateau.
When Qin Ming arrived, he immediately saw a huge monster flapping its fleshy wings and swooping down towards the ground.
"The First Realm —requires slaying a dragon?"
He felt a chill run down his spine. The young Dao Venerable was indeed extraordinary. Was he already facing such a super-species while still at the very bottom?
The only saving grace is that, despite its large size, this monster is still in its infancy, or even immature.
boom.
Even so, it still managed to crush the top of a small stone mountain.
Qin Ming, wielding Mutton Fat Jade Iron Saber, leaped forward to fight the giant dragon.
This is a dragon from a magical civilization. Its scales are sturdy, and a longsword struck them with a clanging sound. Fortunately, it cannot unleash dragon magic yet.
Otherwise, Qin Ming would definitely die here.
He fought a grueling battle, covered in blood—his own and that of the dragon—making it an incredibly difficult fight that left him feeling as if he had narrowly escaped death.
Qin Ming's expression turned solemn. Are all Dao Venerable this strong? He had only just begun his journey and had already been taught a lesson.
However, those outside the barrier who witnessed this scene were completely stunned and didn't see it that way.
"I'm not mistaken, am I? The First Realm the Dao Venerable Path requires slaying a dragon?"
"Regardless of the Red Dragon's age, its slaying is a fact. This is hardly the achievement a mere cultivator in the First Realm should possess."
Many people ask themselves, what would happen if they were in that situation?
Outside the barrier, most people remained silent.
A moment later, the place became noisy, with people discussing the matter.
"I'd like to ask, is this kind of test really not beyond the scope of the curriculum?"
The mechanical voice clarified immediately, indicating that they did not want to cause controversy.
"This is the achievement of a former underage boy with Gods and Devils bloodlines; he didn't find it particularly difficult to slay the dragon."
After hearing this, people had no choice but to believe it.
"The descendants of Gods and Devils are indeed no weaker than the dragon race."
Niu Wuwei said, "I believe there's a big problem here; you're maliciously targeting my sixth brother."
Zhou Tian nodded and said, "That's right. In the First Realm, my sixth brother was still a human boy. Neither his physical body nor his spirit had transformed into the Extraordinary Field. How could he compare to those with Primordial Foundation?"
Many people nodded in agreement. How could humans in their youth compare to the descendants of Gods and Devils?
Pei Wangchuan, a young man in a silver robe with Diamond-Shaped Mark on his forehead, spoke, "Although this battle was extremely difficult, and he was covered in wounds, he did indeed win."
"This—" Many people gasped in shock.
Such a record is somewhat absurd for a human teenager.
Many people believe that Qin Ming was targeted by the rules of the Dao Venerable Path.
Virtual Spirit Xi asked, "I'd like to know, if Dao Venerable of other races were to return to the First Realm, could they pass this test?"
"Since even Dao Venerable from the Gods and Devils can pass the test, then this trial is not considered against the rules. All the challenges appear randomly, and there is no deliberate targeting."
A mechanical voice sounded, then added, "Given his outstanding performance in this battle, he can be rated as excellent."
Inside the barrier, Qin Ming couldn't hear the discussions outside. He continued walking forward with a solemn expression.
In a short while, his injuries were healed, and he stepped into the Second Realm in peak condition, where he encountered a new test in a hilly area.
It's completely bare here; not only are there no plants or trees, but even the rocks look like they've been shaved off.
"The sound of flapping wings?" Qin Ming looked up and saw countless black dots flying in from the distance. Then the entire sky darkened, as if a dark cloud was pressing down.
The ear-piercing sound of flapping wings, like the friction of metal, made one's teeth ache and gave one goosebumps.
"Locust plague?"
Those were no ordinary locusts; they had become demons, generally over a foot long, with a few larger individuals resembling calves, flapping their wings and making a deafening noise.
"This is outrageous! He's only at the Second Realm, and Qin Ming needs to fight 100,000 demons alone?"
"Old Six has been scammed by the Black Manor!"
Qin Ming's sworn brothers objected, arguing that this trial path had absolutely crossed the so-called red line of compliance. Could a cultivator at the Second Realm possibly face an overwhelming swarm of Locust Demon?
Even those on Jiang Yutian's side had some doubts: was this Dao Venerable Path deliberately favoring their One of Us and targeting outsiders?
Is this a proper test?
"That's beyond the scope of the curriculum!"
Those in Virtual Spirit Xi's camp naturally had to stand up and voice their doubts.
A mechanical voice sounded, saying, "There was Ninth Realm expert who, Moon Queen silence, awakened his Past Life Wisdom in the form of a young boy. He once faced such a crisis and successfully fought his way out."
Inside the barrier, Qin Ming was also completely bewildered by what he saw. He began to doubt his own abilities. Had he gotten a little too cocky earlier and overestimated himself?
Are all Dao Venerable this terrifying?
His body was enveloped in a tapestry of Heavenly Light and surging with Thunderfire as he exerted all his strength to Locust Demon.
In the end, the entire hilly area was covered with the corpses of Locust Demon, yet even so, there was still a great deal of flapping wings in the sky.
"At this rate, won't I be exhausted to death?" Qin Ming sighed.
Even if we put it bluntly, he's only a cultivator at the Second Realm right now, and it doesn't seem reasonable for him to face 100,000 Locust Demon all by himself.
At this level, he could not summon the surging Daoist energy from the heavens, nor could he unleash a powerful, group-attack technique like the Ancestor Worm's Cry.
He could only kill the Locust Demon with a single sword strike and a single punch.
Qin Ming staggered, exhausted and covered in wounds. The Locust Demon ' mouths were sharp and as hard as refined iron, and their hind legs were covered with sharp spikes. When they attacked a person in a frenzy, their destructive power was terrifying.
"Um?"
As the Locust Demon swarm in the sky thinned out, Qin Ming discovered a special individual in the rear.
"It's all golden, and you can tell it's one of the leaders."
Previously, the Locust Demon swarm was too large to detect the ones giving orders, so they were helpless. Now, Qin Ming directly took out his bow and arrows and began to hunt them down in a targeted manner.
"The Supreme Sovereign Divine Arrow never miss!" Si Yeli, who had been worried, immediately relaxed her brows and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Qin Ming shot down ten golden Locust Demon, each as big as an adult water buffalo.
Each of his Jade-Iron Arrow pierced their skulls, and with the deaths of ten leaders, the group collapsed.
Someone outside the barrier commented, "After discovering the Locust Demon leader, this level doesn't seem so difficult after all."
"You make it sound so easy. Go and try it yourself. You'd better kill tens of thousands of Locust Demon first. An ordinary person would have been exhausted to death by now!"
After Qin Ming put away his bow, he did not relax, staring at a large blue stone in the distance.
There sat a boy, who suddenly opened his eyes and shot out two bolts of lightning.
"If you can withstand one of my palm strikes and survive, then you've passed the test," the young man said, his eyes reflecting the vicissitudes of time; he was a man with a story to tell.
Without uttering any further words, he leaped into the air like a meteor streaking across the sky, carrying with him Astral Wind, Thunderfire, and fire, and crashed into Qin Ming.
Who is this person?
Everyone felt that the boy was mysterious and powerful, a performance far surpassing that of the Second Realm expert, and his level of danger seemed no less than that of a hundred thousand Locust Demon appearing together.
A mechanical voice announced, "This is a true young Dao Venerable."
Everyone was shocked. The overwhelming Locust Demon weren't even the ultimate test; did they really have to force a Dao Venerable to personally intervene?
"Boom!"
Qin Ming was exhausted, but he still exchanged a palm strike with him.
"The newcomer is very strong!" The boy retreated, then dissipated into a wisp of pure energy.
Qin Ming stumbled, but despite the violent jolt, he managed to block it.
Even the dashing Mu Shinian couldn't stand it anymore and said, "If you have the guts, let's each fight at our peak!"
The mechanical voice responded, "He only used one palm strike, that's reasonable."
On the other side, Jiang Yutian, still in his youthful state, also passed the First Realm test, covered in blood, and entered the second level, showing remarkable performance.
"Kill!"
At the Second Realm of the challenge, he encountered a ball of Primordial Flame that scorched him to the point of near death, nearly destroying his physical body and bringing his spirit to the brink of collapse.
Ultimately, he survived by relying on the special characters in his bloodline and successfully entered the trial grounds corresponding to the Third Realm.
"This Jiang Yutian is no ordinary person. Although he wasn't as fast Old Six in clearing the levels, he still managed to fight his way through."
"His test wasn't as difficult as Old Six's!"
"The crisis he faces is not simple."
Qin Ming experienced four bloody battles in the Third Realm.
"Is the number of trials encountered also random? Why does this bloodbath at this level seem endless?"
Then, he encountered his fifth bloody battle.
This time, it turned out that his four former rivals came out together and joined forces to attack him.
Outside, Zhou Tian shouted again, "Old Six has been tricked by the Black Manor! Who the hell can single-handedly deal with the Killing Array set up by the Four Sacred Spirits in the Third Realm? Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise. It's one thing for the Four Sacred Spirits to reappear, but each of them has Array Flag in their mouth, and together they have set up a Mysterious Formation."
Although the Four Sacred Spirits are not fully mature, they are still pure-blooded monsters, and with the aid of the Array Flag, they leave no way out for anyone.
Qin Ming took a deep breath, this time without any complaints, and solemnly released his Spiritual Field, imitating the Dao Patterns that exist in the natural world.
Centered on him, ripples spread outwards in layers, and the Spirit Field Wave were indestructible, directly confronting the Four Sacred Spirits and the Killing Array. At the same time, he was also unleashing Longevity Force, Devouring Force, and other techniques, fighting until the world was in chaos.
Qin Ming fought fiercely and finally broke through the Third Realm.
"Hiss, how long has it been since we've seen someone like this? He's entered the Fourth Realm."
"This outsider is extraordinary; he must be one of the strongest Anomalies from the outside world!"
Outside the barrier, the young Dao Child and top-tier Divine Maiden all wore solemn expressions. Faced with such a figure, who would dare to show any disrespect?
Even those in Jiang Yutian's camp wanted to win over this Anomalies and make him their honored guest.
Qin Ming broke through to the Fourth Realm, with a Azure Lamp hanging on his shoulder, making him seem immune to all magic.
Moreover, standing in this realm, he can break through all laws, and with the light of the Azure Lamp, all evil spirits will retreat wherever he goes.
In this land, he fought his way through a mountain range occupied by demons, his Heart Lamp bloomed, all the demons were subdued, and even the most powerful demon kings were annihilated.
"What's going on? Entering the Fourth Realm, he's actually finding it easier to pass the levels."
Qin Ming slayed demons and monsters along the way, cutting through the evil lands where twelve demon kings were entrenched. Tens of thousands of corpses lay beneath his feet, a bloody and terrifying sight.
Among these demon kings are many ancient and extraordinary beings, such as Candle Dragon, Zhu Yan, Taowuji, all of whom are formidable characters.
Someone sighed, "Reaching the Fourth Realm is already the best achievement in three hundred years."
"I've come this far, haven't I?" Qin Ming pondered.
Old Cloth, usually a man of few words, surprisingly spoke up, saying, "Keep walking forward, there's a piece of cloth ahead."
"You'll cover the losses?" Qin Ming asked.
Exotic Gold Cloth replied, "This time—okay!"
Qin Ming did not feel relieved; instead, he realized that Old Cloth was under tremendous pressure.
Fang Zhiwei also had a piece of Exotic Gold Cloth, similar in size to the one Qin Ming had.
Clearly, Old Cloth wanted to be the first to absorb the area in front of him and strengthen himself.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be confident in dealing with the Exotic Gold Cloth in Fang Zhiwei's hand.
Qin Ming's body glowed as he broke into the Fifth Realm, displaying the demeanor of Master.
He seemed to have become even stronger. Although he was still injured and covered in blood, his Exerted Effort and offensive techniques captivated all the spectators, who witnessed him forcefully defeat Thirty-Six Top Experts.
"This is not an illusion; the higher his cultivation level, the faster he can kill enemies."
"In this trial alone, he killed thirteen offspring of Primordial God-Demon!"
Many people were shocked, and even some old monsters were alarmed, rushing to the scene to personally gaze at what was ahead.
Niu Wuwei said, "That's normal. When my sixth brother was in the First Realm, he was still a mortal with a physical body. Naturally, he would feel pressured compared to beings with Primordial Foundation."
Having reached the Fourth Realm and Fifth Realm and undergone multiple New Life, his innate talent was no weaker than that of the offspring of gods and Gods and Devils, not to mention his comprehension.
Qin Ming asked, "That piece of cloth isn't here?"
Exotic Gold Cloth replied, "Still ahead."
At this moment, Jiang Yutian was disheveled, unsteady on his feet, and pale-faced. He had almost died in the Third Realm, but managed to reach the end with great difficulty and finally survived.
"The Fourth Realm should be my limit; I'll most likely fall there. But this should be my best performance in hundreds of years, right?"
After his body glowed and he was fully recovered, he stepped into the trial ground corresponding to the Fourth Realm.
If a participant is on the verge of death here, they will be revived and teleported out.
"Jiang Yutian is truly remarkable!" someone whispered.
However, there weren't as many exclamations of surprise as one would expect.
If it weren't for that outsider, Jiang Yutian's performance would undoubtedly have been splendid.
Compared to the other two, he is naturally slightly less impressive.
Qin Ming embarked on the Dao Venerable Path corresponding to the Sixth Realm, arriving at a peaceful place.
In an instant, his pupils contracted, for he saw a familiar figure—the powerful young man who had once exchanged a blow with him in the locust-stricken area.
He had previously received a mechanical voice indicating that it belonged to a Dao Venerable.
Several people sat on equal footing with the young man; some were playing chess, others were drinking tea, and all of them looked at him.
Outside the barrier, Si Yeli said, "What kind of test is it to block the way with a guaranteed death situation!"
Zhou Tian shouted, "The treacherous manor has resorted to Black Hand! Have they summoned multiple Dao Venerable phantoms to descend together and attack my sixth brother?"
Not to mention outsiders, even the locals are speechless.
In fact, they had never seen what the trial grounds of the Sixth Realm looked like before, and people of this world simply could not get there on their own.
Someone spoke with a lack of confidence, "The reincarnations of the Supreme Experts the Power Realm, retracing the Extraordinary Path, all have their own pride and would never attack those who come after them."
Qin Ming tensed up. Even he felt like he'd been set up by the Black Manor. He whispered, "Could it really be—that they're all manifestations of ancient Dao Venerable level beings? Waiting for me here as a group?"