Entrance Trial

Bai Ze stopped studying the Primordial Forbidden Formations so closely, and their journey sped up considerably.

Before long, they arrived at a relatively flat clearing near the mountaintop.

Here, white clouds rose and rosy vapors gathered. Lush grass carpeted the ground, ancient trees soared into the heavens, and the Primordial Spiritual Qi was so dense it had turned into mist. It was truly an earthly paradise!

Yet Bai Ze did not dare move from where he stood, because beneath that magnificent scene of clouds and glowing haze, he could clearly see countless terrifying formation patterns flickering in and out of sight.

Those patterns were densely packed and intricately intertwined, blending with the clouds and radiant mist, merging with roots, stems, leaves, and veins.

They were even more complex and profound than the Primordial Forbidden Formations he had seen along the way.

Especially the faint, almost imperceptible terrifying Dao aura they emitted—it made every hair on his body stand on end.

This was absolutely not something that had formed naturally!

If not for his Insight Divine Ability, he likely would not have noticed them at all.

Bai Ze swallowed hard and looked at Duobao beside him.

"Brother, why is the Array Formation here so terrifying? Could it be a naturally formed Primordial Forbidden Formation?"

Duobao gave a mischievous grin. "Little brother, if Master heard you say that, he would definitely laugh with delight."

Suspicion appeared in Bai Ze's eyes. "What do you mean, Brother?"

Duobao straightened his back and clasped his hands behind him. "These formations were not created by nature. My Master personally arranged them after imitating Primordial Forbidden Formations.

"So, if Master heard a genius like you, someone capable of comprehending primordial formations, praising him, he would definitely go brag to Second Senior Uncle."

"Uh..." Bai Ze gave an awkward laugh. He did not particularly mind Duobao using him to flatter the Upper Clear Heavenly Venerable.

What truly concerned him was the somewhat unruly personality Duobao had described in the Celestial Venerable!

Still, upon thinking it over carefully, it was only natural. The Three Pure Ones he knew of were all the Three Pure Ones after they had become saints.

As for what the Three Pure Ones had been like before becoming saints, later generations had offered no detailed accounts. He could only speculate that before becoming saints, they had probably been more like "people."

Bai Ze glanced around. Such a massive formation had been arranged here, so this should have been the location of Three Pure Ones' Courtyard. Yet there was nothing in sight. Could Three Pure Ones' Courtyard be somewhere else?

"Brother, may I ask whether the Celestial Venerable's residence is elsewhere?"

Duobao smiled and shook his head. "You have already entered the great formation. Do not wander around. Wait here for a moment while I go in and report to Master."

Bai Ze was slightly stunned. He lowered his head and saw that dense formation patterns had somehow already spread beneath his feet.

The sight made his scalp tingle. Just as he was about to look up and question Duobao—

Duobao took a step forward!

The next instant, dazzling patterns suddenly lit up in the surrounding clouds, mist, grass, trees, and even the empty air.

Then the formation patterns in the void before Duobao lit up, their brilliant lines weaving together into a vortex-like doorway.

"Brother Bai Ze, if you have nothing to do, you can study this formation. But remember—do not run around recklessly, or you may be reduced to ashes."

Duobao grinned, waved at Bai Ze, then fell backward. His figure instantly vanished without a trace.

Bai Ze stared wide-eyed at Duobao's antics. "Why do I suddenly feel like I've been set up?"

He then shook his head. "Don't overthink it. Duobao said he was going to report in, so he probably would not lie.

"Since that's the case, I'll wait here peacefully.

"Hopefully, it isn't just my imagination."

Bai Ze sat down cross-legged and began breathing in the dense Primordial Spiritual Qi of this place.

It had to be said that although this was also Kunlun Mountain, the Primordial Spiritual Qi at the summit was far denser than the Qi around his cave abode.

He wondered how it compared to the ancestor of spiritual veins where Demon Ancestor Luohu resided—Western Mount Sumeru...

As Bai Ze entered meditation, boundless Primordial Spiritual Qi surged into his nose and mouth like great rivers.

While Bai Ze cultivated, six eyes in the void stared unblinkingly at him outside the formation.

Their gazes were filled with curiosity.

"Senior Brother Duobao, how long did it take you to comprehend this formation back then?" a small golden flood dragon asked, raising his head.

"It took nearly ten thousand years to comprehend it completely. Figuring out how to enter and exit took around three thousand years."

Duobao pondered for a moment before answering slowly.

The golden flood dragon's eyes widened. Duobao's attainments in formations were the highest among the three of them, yet even he had taken so long.

"Senior Brother Guang Chengzi, how long did you take?" The flood dragon tilted his head toward Guang Chengzi.

A man surrounded by purple mist paused before softly saying, "About the same amount of time."

Upon hearing this, the golden flood dragon broke out in a cold sweat. Venerable Yuanshi had picked him up casually, unlike the two direct disciples beside him, who had successfully become disciples through their own abilities.

Yet after spending these years together, he knew all too well just how terrifying their talent and innate foundations were!

Even so, it had taken them ten thousand years to fully comprehend this great formation!

One could imagine how intricate and difficult the formation was!

"Senior Brother Guang Chengzi, Senior Brother Duobao, how long do you think this Bai Ze will need to comprehend it completely?"

After steadying himself, the golden flood dragon looked at Bai Ze within the formation and asked curiously.

Guang Chengzi looked toward Bai Ze in the formation, his gaze calm as he shook his head.

"Since Eldest Senior Uncle has taken a liking to him, even if his comprehension is poor, he should not be much worse than us."

"I'm not so sure about that." Duobao watched Bai Ze cultivate, a smile in his eyes.

Guang Chengzi raised his head slightly. "Oh? It seems Junior Brother Duobao has great confidence in this Bai Ze?"

"Of course. In my opinion, my little brother's comprehension is at least a level above yours and mine!" Duobao praised him without reservation.

Guang Chengzi immediately became interested. Looking at Duobao Daoist, he smiled. "Care for a wager?"

"Bring it on!" Duobao replied, then looked at the golden flood dragon. "Huanglong, do you want in?"

Huanglong hurriedly shook his head. "Senior Brother Duobao, please do not set your sights on my meager savings. It took me more than a hundred years to save up enough."

Duobao put an arm around Huanglong's shoulders and chuckled. "Just play a round. Otherwise, wouldn't it be boring to merely watch?"

Seeing Duobao trying to swindle Huanglong again, Guang Chengzi shook his head helplessly.

"Junior Brother, stop bullying Junior Brother Huanglong. He has not formally entered Master's sect yet and does not have many treasures. I'll cover his share."

Duobao withdrew his hand sheepishly and gave an awkward laugh. "I was only joking with him. Come on, I'll decide the stakes this time!"

Guang Chengzi smiled calmly and waved a hand. "Junior Brother, please."

As Duobao and the other two wagered on how long Bai Ze would take to successfully comprehend the formation, two blurry figures in the courtyard were playing a game of Go.

"Junior Brother Lingbao, how long has it been since your disciple cared so much about someone?"

The young man smiled. "That unfilial disciple never acts without profit. He must have received some benefit from someone again.

"But Second Senior Brother, why did you allow him to climb the mountain?"

The middle-aged man held a white stone and pondered slightly.

"I had not intended to pay attention, but before Eldest Senior Brother went to the Chaos Sea, he said this child would become a variable and told me to keep watch over him."

The young Daoist studied the changes on the board and fell silent for a moment. "Since he is a variable, why not kill him?"

The middle-aged Daoist picked up a white stone. Light and shadow flickered in his eyes as though, through the board, he could see Bai Ze meditating and cultivating. After a long while, he finally placed the stone.

"Let's wait and see."