"Just as you'd expect from a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. A casual swing was enough to kill a gray eagle at the peak of the Earth Immortal Realm."
Li Qingxu sighed to himself, thoroughly satisfied with the power of the Chixiao Sword.
With the Chixiao Sword in hand, he might not only stand a chance against an opponent at the peak of the Earth Immortal Realm—even one at the peak of the Heaven Immortal level might not be beyond his reach.
The Three Pure Ones, who had witnessed everything, were also deeply shaken.
There were only three thousand Innate Spiritual Treasures in the entire Primordial World, and the vast majority were held by the Six Sages and other top-tier powers of the Primordial World.
Even Grand Unity Golden Immortals found it difficult to obtain a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
Not only had Li Qingxu's foundation undergone a transformation and had he safely crossed countless millions of miles to reach Kunlun Mountain, but he had also mastered True Sun Fire and acquired a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
It was clear that his fortune was far deeper than that of an ordinary person.
"Though this youth's foundation is lacking, he makes up for it with a steadfast Dao Heart and deep fortune."
His eyes filled with growing approval, and his resolve to take Li Qingxu as a disciple was settled. "He may enter the Chan Sect and inherit the Yuqing Dao Lineage."
Tongtian Cult Master had also intended to take Li Qingxu as a disciple, but seeing that Primordial Heavenly Venerate had spoken first, he had no intention of competing with him.
After all, in his view, Li Qingxu was a promising talent, but he was far inferior to those at the front of the group, such as Jin Ling, Guangchengzi, and Wudang.
Bringing them into his sect was the greater priority.
As time passed,
Burning Lamp Daoist was the first to reach the Peak of Kunlun Mountain. He arrived before a vast square, its ground engraved with the Yin Yang Taiji Diagram.
He was one of the great powers of ancient times. By the end of the Immortal-Demon War, he had already attained the cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. He was also one of the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests of Zixiao Palace, and had once listened to the Dao there alongside the Six Sages, Zhen Yuanzi, and others.
But while the Three Pure Ones and the others had now proved the Dao and become Saints, Zhen Yuanzi, Di Jun, and others had broken through to the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm. Burning Lamp Daoist, however, had remained stuck at the early stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, unable to advance an inch.
That was why he had chosen to "set aside his dignity" and seek instruction from Primordial Heavenly Venerate and Tongtian Cult Master, hoping to find a way past his bottleneck.
Soon after, Guangchengzi, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Holy Mother Wudang, Chijingzi, and the others arrived at the square one after another.
They all possessed top-tier Innate Roots, and had felt almost no pressure while climbing Kunlun Mountain.
Before long, Antarctic Immortal Elder, Zhao Gongming, Sanxiao, Wuyun Xian, and others appeared as well, trudging forward under the strain.
The moment they stepped into the square, all the pressure on them vanished.
"Phew..."
"It's finally over!"
Zhao Gongming and Sanxiao all let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from their brows. Their anxious hearts finally settled, replaced by joy.
"Brother, we all passed the test. We can become disciples of the Saints!"
Yunxiao spoke, her excitement plain to see.
Bixiao looked around. Clouds rolled across the sky, Spiritual Springs gurgled, and a rainbow bridge arched over the water. Palaces shimmered amid the Rosy Clouds, while the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth was so dense it seemed almost tangible.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and she sighed softly. "The Kunlun Immortal Realm truly lives up to its reputation. If we could cultivate here and receive a Saint's guidance, what could keep us from attaining the Great Dao?"
After her brief joy, Bixiao's brows furrowed slightly. She gazed toward the end of the mountain path.
"Brother, Sister, do you think Fellow Daoist Qingxu can pass the test?"
Zhao Gongming sighed softly.
"Unlikely."
"Fellow Daoist Qingxu may have an extraordinary temperament, but his foundation is ordinary, and his cultivation is only at the middle stage of the Earth Immortal Realm. He's probably already been eliminated."
Yunxiao and Qiongxiao nodded as well.
Along the way, they had seen many Golden Immortals and even Taiyi Golden Immortals fail the test, collapsing on the path to the Dao.
Given Li Qingxu's circumstances, passing the test was almost impossible.
Time ticked by.
Wang Mo, Yang Sen, Shi Ji, and the others also struggled their way up.
Unlike the enormous crowds at the foot of the mountain, only around a thousand cultivators had successfully passed the test and reached the summit. The elimination rate was astonishingly high.
After Shi Ji and the others arrived, no one appeared at the end of the mountain path for several hours. The light of expectation in Bixiao's eyes gradually dimmed.
Just as she was about to give up hope, a figure appeared before her at last—tottering as if he might collapse, pale as a sheet, his robes almost drenched with sweat.
"Fellow Daoist Qingxu!"
Bixiao's eyes lit up, and undisguised delight showed on her face.
With a flash, she swept over to Li Qingxu like a jade-green cloud and steadied him. A warm, gentle stream of Immortal Spirit power flowed into his nearly depleted meridians.
When Wang Mo, Qin Wan, Shi Ji, and the others sensed the aura radiating from Li Qingxu, they too looked astonished.
Even with their intermediate Innate Being Foundations and their cultivation at the Heaven Immortal or True Immortal level, they had nearly failed to endure the climb.
Yet Li Qingxu had only been at the middle stage of the Earth Immortal Realm—and had still forced his way to the summit. It was almost unbelievable.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist."
Li Qingxu straightened and thanked Bixiao. Under the nourishment of her Immortal Spirit power, his condition gradually improved.
In the latter half of the climb, it had felt as though an invisible mountain rested on his back. Every step took everything he had.
Fortunately, Heaven rewarded those who persevered. He had endured the ordeal and successfully reached the Peak of Kunlun Mountain, earning the right to seek a place among the Saints' disciples.
"I'm just glad you're all right."
Seeing Li Qingxu's breathing gradually steady, Bixiao let go of him. In addition to her admiration, she now felt a deeper respect for him.
Li Qingxu and Bixiao entered the square, passed through the crowd, and came before Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao, and Qiongxiao.
"Congratulations on passing the test and achieving your wish, fellow Daoist."
Zhao Gongming cupped his hands.
He had helped Li Qingxu reach Kunlun Mountain earlier only on a whim, hoping to form a good connection. He had never thought someone with Li Qingxu's circumstances could truly be accepted by a Saint.
Yet Li Qingxu had passed the Saint's many trials with nothing but the cultivation of a middle-stage Earth Immortal and reached the summit.
"I was only lucky."
Li Qingxu smiled and replied modestly.
"Hmph!"
"A mere human at the Earth Immortal level—even if he enters a Saint's sect, he'll only be a fraud, wasting resources. What use will he be in the future?"
"Worse, he'll bring shame upon the Saint and disgrace our Xuanmen."
Winged Immortal stood nearby with his arms folded, staring at Li Qingxu with arrogant contempt.
He even felt that for a dignified Golden-Winged Great Peng like himself to share a sect with a mere human at the Earth Immortal level was an insult.
Quite a few others thought the same way. In their eyes, the Human Race was synonymous with weakness and inferiority.
"My future is no concern of yours."
Li Qingxu glanced at Winged Immortal, who had mocked him, and replied without either deference or defiance.
His cultivation might still be low for now, but he had the system at his side and knew all the major events yet to come in the Primordial World.
Once he entered a Saint's sect, he would have another layer of protection. In the future, the sky would be his to soar through, and the sea his to swim in.
As for Winged Immortal, his fate had already been decided. He would be captured during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation and forced into the life of a mount.
That kind of "superiority" might look impressive, but it was really just a cage built by fate. In Li Qingxu's eyes, it was laughable—and not the least bit intimidating.
"You..."
Winged Immortal had not expected Li Qingxu to dare answer him in public. His expression immediately darkened, and undisguised killing intent blazed in his eyes.
Just as he was about to strike,
"Hum..."
A vast, boundless bell chime rang out without warning, as though it had existed since the very beginning of the Primordial World. In an instant, it soothed all agitated Spiritual Energy and killing intent.
Above the heavens, endless auspicious clouds gathered, Golden Lotuses Springing from the Earth as Sweet Dew rained down.
Three figures, so majestic and mysterious that words could not describe them, descended from the heavens, surrounded by boundless Purple Qi and golden light, and came to rest above the square.
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