Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 420

Volume 3 - Chapter 117: The Fourfold Trial, Unparalleled Grace - Part 3

Two supreme realms, igniting two Extreme Dao Monuments.

Ji Xuanshen was only 29 years old. If given a few more decades, he would undoubtedly comprehend other supreme realms.

As the Dao Seed of the Ancient Holy Clans, his potential was immense, worthy of being counted among the top-tier heaven's chosen of the mortal world.

Before long, Ji Xuanshen advanced unimpeded, arriving effortlessly before the Immortal Sect's Heavenly Gate at the forty-ninth step.

No further Extreme Dao Monuments were lit after that.

As he stood still, the Dao Heart Tower emitted a circle of purple radiance, which illuminated his body before retracting.

Following that, the small tower shone with a silver-white brilliance.

"Xuanshen-level Dao Heart!"

A voice came from within the Immortal Sect, as if someone whispered in awe, though it wasn’t Yu Zu.

Standing at the Heavenly Gate, Ji Xuanshen turned once more, glancing back toward the imperial palace and locking eyes with the youth inside. He nodded, his gaze conveying, "I'll wait for you there," before stepping through.

Seeing Ji Xuanshen pass the trial, the other prodigies of the Ji Clan beamed with joy, letting out small sighs of relief—though their main reaction was one of inevitability.

If even Ji Xuanshen couldn’t pass, then the Heavenly Gate would have been deemed unreasonable.

"Then it’s my turn now."

A heaven’s chosen stepped forward. Reaching the Heavenly Ascension Staircase, he glanced back at the youth in the imperial palace, bowed slightly in salute, and then charged up.

This individual was also remarkably young, just thirty-two years old, and already in the Absolute Technique Stage.

He soon activated the first Extreme Dao Monument, proceeding directly to the top.

His Dao Heart was also revealed to be silver-white, though the radiance wasn’t as dazzling as Ji Xuanshen’s.

"One supreme realm and an Xuanshen-level Dao Heart—this one is ours."

A voice again drifted out from within the Immortal Sect.

Some of the more powerful cultivators overheard and couldn’t help but be stunned. Were factions already beginning to compete over these talents?

Soon, with the second heaven’s chosen stepping in, the third, fourth, and others followed. When they reached the Heavenly Ascension Staircase, they would mostly glance at the youth in the imperial palace and nod slightly as a form of greeting.

Among them was Ji Qingyuan’s daughter, Ji Qingshuang.

Back during the contest for the Dao Seed, she had obeyed her father’s orders and tried to defeat Li Hao and remove him from contention. Yet, in the end, Li Hao had relied on his iron fists to command respect.

Using the strength of the Three Immortals Realm, he vanquished opponents across the Dao Domain, crafting an invincible myth. He had awed the entire Ji Clan’s generation of heaven’s chosen, leaving them in submission both in heart and spirit.

Ji Qingshuang nodded at Li Hao, a brief acknowledgment as they crossed paths. She then began her trial.

The Bone Reflection Mirror displayed her age: twenty-seven.

Her cultivation was at the Tongli Realm's supreme level.

Ji Qingshuang swiftly ascended the forty-nine steps, stepping into the Heavenly Gate with ease.

...

Inside the imperial palace, Emperor Yu noted the strength of this batch of heaven’s chosen. All of them appeared to possess supreme realms, which was exceedingly formidable. It was evident they were not from the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.

He had already vaguely deduced their origins. What surprised him was their apparent acquaintance with Li Hao.

"Do you know these people?" Emperor Yu asked.

Li Hao nodded slightly. "We’ve crossed paths before."

Emperor Yu was enlightened, suddenly recalling Li Hao’s mother’s surname, and a realization dawned in his heart.

Jiang Ziyan and the others also noticed that this group of heaven’s chosen was notably stronger than others. All of them possessed Tongli Realm supreme levels, and the first two participants even displayed dual supreme realms at just twenty-nine years of age—an almost exaggerated feat.

"These people… all seem to know him," Jiang Ziyan murmured as she glanced at the dragon table within the imperial palace. There, the youth casually chatted with her father, exuding no sense of urgency.

As the Ji Clan’s heaven’s chosen continued stepping into the Heavenly Gate, the square quieted for a moment. Following a question from Jiang Ziyan’s senior brother, Zhang Shixiong, another figure soon leaped forward to challenge the gate.

With each trial and attempt, there were those under thirty, incredibly young, whose cultivation remained at the Three Immortals Realm. Under normal circumstances, they would have been revered as top-tier heaven’s chosen. Such talent and cultivation would ordinarily inspire awe.

However, compared to the Ji Clan prodigies, who averaged the Fourth Pillar Realm, their abilities seemed significantly inferior by contrast.

Nevertheless, among the crowd, individuals in their thirties, with cultivation only at the Heaven and Man Realm, stepped forward to challenge the gate. Their trials reignited the competitive fervor around the Heavenly Gate, making the testing process as lively as ever.

Most participants failed to ascend the entire Heavenly Ascension Staircase, unable to reach the gate itself. This revealed that their actual combat prowess was only average for their realms, disqualifying them from passing.

"This is so difficult!"

"Even the genius of the Chishui Lin family failed, only managing to climb thirty steps of the staircase."

"Who are those people who passed so easily earlier? Absolute monsters?"

"Look, there’s another supreme realm—he seems to be the true dragon of the Wang family!"

On the Heavenly Ascension Staircase, the light of an Extreme Dao Monument shone once more. This time, it was ignited by a youth from the Wang family, exuding an extraordinary aura and a cold, piercing gaze.

He activated the Tongli Extreme Dao Monument, his body radiating with a brilliant red-gold light as he unleashed immense physical strength. Charging forward, he quickly ascended all forty-nine steps of the staircase.

As expected, the Heavenly Gate admitted him.

"You all should go as well," Qin Zhenren instructed Mingyue Jian and the others beside him.

Mingyue Jian nodded in agreement with Qingjingzi and the rest before flying toward the Heavenly Gate.

As these disciples of Qiandao Palace approached, the fervor of the competing heaven’s chosen on the square paused momentarily. They gave way, allowing the group to proceed.

"Let me go first," said Qingjingzi.

He stepped onto the Heavenly Ascension Staircase but failed to ignite the first Extreme Dao Monument. Surprisingly, he managed to light the second Extreme Dao Monument, revealing his mastery of the Earth and Heaven Meridians.

Such an unusual achievement was rare.

Nonetheless, he ascended all forty-nine steps with ease and entered the Heavenly Gate.

...

Inside the gate was a vast void. Qingjingzi had barely arrived when he saw the others who had passed before him already standing there. Additionally, three majestic figures and several Dao Heart Realm cultivators stood present, their auras deeply intimidating.

Simultaneously, he immediately noticed the rich, profound energy of the world behind the gate. It seemed to flow into his body naturally, enhancing his power without requiring active cultivation.

"This is incredible. Is this truly the Land of Saints?"

Qingjingzi couldn't help but be amazed and curious. After offering a slight bow, he glanced around, realizing that his vision could easily penetrate the gate to observe the outside world.

Yet from the outside, it was impossible to see within.

"Hasn’t he arrived yet?"

Ji Qingshuang turned her gaze to the crowd beyond the gate. Noticing that Li Hao had not yet made his move, she frowned slightly.

Ji Xuanshen maintained a composed expression, his eyes glinting faintly, but he said nothing.

Outside the gate, Mingyue Jian and others began their trials on the Heavenly Ascension Staircase.

The Bone Reflection Mirror revealed their ages. Some were hundreds of years old, but the youngest among them, Mingyue Jian, was only fourteen—two years younger than Li Hao.

Despite his Heaven and Man Realm cultivation, Mingyue Jian failed to ignite the Extreme Dao Monuments. However, upon ascending the forty-nine steps, the small tower trembled, emitting purple light that shone on him.

As the light retracted, the small tower emitted a humming sound, stirring a murmur from within the gate.

"Dao Heart Resonance! Could he be a natural-born prodigy?"

As Mingyue Jian entered, cries of astonishment echoed from inside. Someone even declared, "This youth is ours in the Void Holy Land!"

The spectators outside overheard snippets of the low conversations, sparking surprise. Was this youth’s physique extraordinary?

Emperor Yu, observing Li Hao’s calm demeanor as he sat beside him, urged, "It’s time for you to go as well."

"Understood," Li Hao replied with a nod. He rose and said, "Your Majesty, please remember to help me locate that small white fox—it’s a companion of mine."

"I will," Emperor Yu assured him.

Li Hao then called to Ren Qianqian, encouraging her to prepare herself.

Ren Qianqian, still tense and anxious after witnessing so many failures, felt uneasy.

Seeing her nervousness, Li Hao smiled and said, "Don’t worry. Take your time to adjust. With your abilities, even without supreme realms, your talent is commendable."

Encouraged, Ren Qianqian took a deep breath to calm herself. Exhaling slowly, she nodded with determination. "I’m ready now, young master."

Li Hao acknowledged her readiness and led her into the air.

As they approached the square, a figure shot forward from the crowd, heading toward the Heavenly Ascension Staircase.

"You brat, I’ll go first," said Jiang Lichen as he ascended the staircase.

In a flash, he activated the second Extreme Dao Monument, mastering the Earth and Heaven Meridians. With a powerful burst, he ascended all forty-nine steps in no time.

As he reached the top, the small tower trembled, radiating purple light over him. Moments later, the light retracted, transforming into a pitch-black hue.

At the same time, a buzzing sound came from within.

"An Earth-level Dao Heart?!"

The exclamation from within the gate was tinged with shock.

"And he’s a natural-born prodigy! What kind, though?"

Another voice followed, equally astonished.

Jiang Lichen had already stepped into the Heavenly Gate.

The whispers inside grew chaotic, seemingly sparking heated discussions.

On the square, the crowd was stunned. Though they didn’t fully understand what had occurred, it was evident that something extraordinary had just taken place.

Jiang Ziyan, startled, faintly recognized Jiang Lichen’s face. Wasn’t he her royal uncle? But to think he possessed an Earth-level Dao Heart!

Such a Dao Heart was something only Saints were expected to achieve!

While the commoners below were unaware of its true value, the rarity of an Earth-level Dao Heart was undeniable even in the vast Land of Saints.

Jiang Ziyan couldn't help but wonder, “Could the Jiang family truly produce two Saints in the future?”

She was momentarily dazed. With their resurrected progenitor and a royal uncle possessing an Earth-level Dao Heart, there was no doubt that, barring unforeseen events, he had the potential to seek sainthood.

"Young master, you go first. I’ll take a bit more time to prepare," Ren Qianqian said, her nervousness reignited by Jiang Lichen’s astonishing feat.

Reluctant to follow immediately after such an outstanding performance, she hesitated, her confidence faltering.

Seeing her hesitation, Li Hao shook his head in mild exasperation. This girl, though talented in swordsmanship, lacked real combat experience and mental fortitude.

"Fine."

Li Hao stepped forward, no longer delaying.

Jiang Ziyan noticed his movement and focused her gaze intently.

She had discerned the youth’s extraordinary potential—one who could rival six Dao Heart Realm cultivators. However, she was curious to see the true depth of his talent.

As Li Hao approached the Heavenly Ascension Staircase, the Bone Reflection Mirror revealed his age.

Sixteen.

Seeing this, many were momentarily stunned.

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