Second test - part 1

A sky filled with light-azure clouds, hosting an unmovable mountain standing in the void, never shaking. Right above its heaven-piercing peak, there were two bright-yellow suns. That was the scene the Truth Shifting Eye revealed the moment Yi Jiang touched it.

"Good! Refined light-azure clouds, which means exceptional cultivation potential as so as a high-level chant! And this mountain... I don't know what it means, but it must be something good!" Elder Bao spoke after analyzing Yi Jiang's results.

He, on the other hand, was quite intrigued by that new outcome. Back then, his master had said that the sky represented cultivation talent, and the mountain, his Dao Heart. Still, he had never heard about those two bright suns! Were them some other truths he was yet to uncover? Could they be somehow related to his teacher, and his reincarnation? Everything was still a big mystery.

"Alright, now let's move on! Today, there will be another test before you guys can rest. As for what these tests stand for, let's just say they are considerably related to your future here in the Celestial Royal Clan! Now follow me to the next hall!" Elder Bao spoke, interrupting Yi Jiang's deep thoughts on the Truth Shifting Eye matter.

Although Yi Jiang was very eager to investigate this matter through, he was just too weak right now! The first thing he had to do was to guarantee a suitable place for cultivation! And after sensing his surroundings, Yi Jiang discovered that the spirit Qi concentration at this Celestial Palace domain was insane! If he cultivated there for a day, it would be like a month of cultivation outside! Just from that point alone, that place occupied a top spot in his heart already! Just imagine, all the years he could save up to fight the Heavens on a better day? First, he had to get a spot in that divine mountain at all costs!

Following along Elder Bao, the group of young men headed out of the Visitor Hall by a silver-gold walkway. Everyone, including Yi Jiang, was deeply captivated by the stunning senary displayed beyond their eyes. The most beautiful gardens, filled with exquisite sculptures, breath-taking springs, and ponds, as so as all-year-long cherry blossoms. That was really the concept of a piece of Heaven built in the mortal world!

Such an exuberant view filled one's sigh without end, stretching on into the horizon. If uninstructed daoists saw it with unknowing eyes, they would say it was the work of a grand Illusion Formation. Still, that was all as real as it could be! Then, in the middle of everything, there was a majestic light-purple palace standing one level above everything, overshadowing the whole Heavens!

"That, me little friends, is the Celestial Palace! The Holy Residence of the all-powerful Celestial Empress! For now, you can only feed your eyes with its grandeur, hehehehe! But maybe, one day, who knows, you may have the honor to visit it at least once in your lifetime!" Elder Bao said, breaking the young men out of their delirium.

"But for now, we'll be heading to this building over here!"

Looking around, the group had unknowingly arrived before another great white-marble building. Just like the other ones around the Celestial Palace, it followed the same ancient design. A grand extended arcade supported by multiple towering marble pillars, each one of them inlaid with the most beautiful patterns in lines of gold.

Upon entering through the initial arcade, the great hall's insides revealed itself to the group. On both sides of the gallery, from the entrance to the very end, multiple smaller halls led to individual rooms accommodating enormous array formations inscribed on the jade floor. Each and every one of those giant formation circles contained thousands of finely carved lines and ancient-looking runes. Also, each one of their four corners held a head-sized golden stone.

Yi Jiang gasped in surprise upon seeing so many of those large array formations: each one of them was a Great Teleportation Array! And those four golden stones on their corners were nothing less than Divine-tier spirit stones! Although he was pretty rich in cultivation resources back at his days as a god-like painter, this Celestial Royal Clan wholly different level!

One had to know that back then, he could count in the fingers of his hands how many times he used Divine-tier spirit stones to CULTIVATE, and those people used them to TELEPORTATE! What a waste! What a sacrilege with the Heavens! How can this Celestial Empress sleep at night knowing such injustice is happening with these noble spirit stones!? They should be the cornerstones of a daoist to the Great Dao!

As Yi Jiang was shredding internal tears for the wasted Divine-tier spirit stones, the group continued forward until Elder Bao stopped in front of a specific hall.

"As you guys had probably already guessed, this is our Celestial Palace's Teleportation Hall! From here, we can teleport to any royal branch or region in the whole Celestial Realm! There are even some that go all the way to the demon beast territory! Yet, we're here today to teleport to the place where the second test will take place! Now I'll ask again, are there any questions?" Elder Bao spoke calmly, gazing throughout the group.

This time, though, the young man from before was quite avid in raising his hand. It was so that Elder Bao did not have the chance to interrupt him like previously. Then, with a low snort, she permitted the teenager to make his question.

"Elder Bao, I have a question! Although we already know this is an important selection of male talents and so one, it's still a mystery for us the reason for this selection in the first place! Could you explain it to us?"

The moment the young man finished his words, he glanced at Elder Bao with some apprehension, followed by the other ones. Although they had great expectations for this selection thing, most of them still held some fear in their heart! What if this was a selection for some evil, secret sacrifice ritual or something like that? They would be handing over their precious little lives without even knowing it! Even Yi Jiang had such thoughts on the matter!

Looking at their scared faces, Elder Bao just gave a little laugher, imagining what was currently passing through their minds.

"I understand your concerns! But there is no need to worry, as this selection will only bring benefits to you! Why would Her Highness have the trouble to organize such a great event just to size some useless men!? She could directly go around the realm, seizing you guys like vegetables if she wished! Hehehehe! As for the real intention for the selection, you will know in the future!"

"Now lets teleport to our next test, shall we?"

With a wave of her hand, Elder Bao sent a wisp of her white spirit Qi into the teleportation array in front of them. Seconds later, it's exquisite lines and runes all lit up, just waiting for them to step in and teleport away to a distant place.

"Come on, everyone inside, please!"

After the whole group stepped inside the limits of the Great Teleportation Array, she let out another wisp of energy. Seconds later, the lines and runes began to shine up in a blinding white light, engulfing everyone within. Then, with a loud clap, a white pillar of light flew through the ceiling into the skies with incredible speed.



...

In some obscure corner of the Celestial Realm, dark abyssal clouds took up the skies like a thick mat. From time to time, earth-shaking thunder would sound throughout the mountain range of black peaks, releasing thick drips of yellowish water from the Heavens.

There were no signs of life in a radius of thousands of kilometers in those forsaken sharp-stone peaks. There was no sun, no green, nothing that could resemble even a bit the enchanting ecosystem of the Celestial Realm.

Right in the middle of those black mountains, though, there was a small valley cut into the stone. It was clean and isolated from the senary by a transparent dome of energy. And right in the middle of it was an exquisite array formation, built from multiple lines and runes. On each one of its four corners was a big, golden stone. It was a Great Teleportation Formation!

Amidst the static environment of those deadly mountains and stormy clouds, a white flash of light cut through the Heavens, heading straight to the array formation. Stopping right above it, it formed another great pillar of white light, perfectly fitting the array circle carved in the black-stone floor.

Seconds later, the pillar disappeared, leaving behind a group of young men together with a mid-age woman. Although she was alright, almost all of the other ones had signs of dizziness. Some unfortunate young men even threw up in the spot, much to their embarrassment.

"Hum! What a bunch of sissies! A mere great teleportation reduced you to this point!" Elder spoke with disgust in her eyes.

Yet, to her surprise, the youngster named Yi Jiang was actually alright! He did not even have slight signs of dizziness after the teleportation. As an experienced Saint Daoist in his previous life, Yi Jiang knew that one needed to protect their internal organs with their spirit Qi during great teleportations since its space dilatation was very powerful. Unknown for him, though, such a simple act gained him another point of respect from that Elder Bao.

"Alright, alright! Now that everyone is better, please listen up! Do you guys see this mountain right in front of us?"

Saying so, Elder Bao pointed to a black mountain located right in front of them. Although it was not the highest one around, it was still quite tall, going all the way up next to the stormy dark clouds. From their point of view, it was like a straight stone wall to the Heavens, completely soaked in the yellowish waters from the rain.

"So, the next test is quite simple: you just have to climb all the way up to its peak!"

"Just... just that?" some doubtful young daoists asked with caution.

"Yes! As simple as that! The first 50 to finish the task will become honorary disciples of our Celestial Royal Clan and continue on with the selection! The rest will be sent home without anything!" Elder Bao said with a mysterious smile.

Upon hearing the test's conditions, the young men became excited as they boasted about their profound abilities, and how they would be the first ones to accomplish that easy task. One had to know that the moment a person became a daoist, they were totally different from mortals. They had superior strength, inhuman stamina, and could use spirit Qi through their chants! For them, climbing a mountain like that was as easy as taking a walk!

The only person who remained silent in the group was Yi Jiang. Unlike the other ones, he had a solemn expression on his face. Something was not right! Looking around that place, those mountains, that yellow rain, a sense of alertness took up Yi Jiang's heart. Still, he remained silent, waiting for that Elder Bao's next instructions.

"Alright, alright! You guy can start right away, and there is no time limit! But first, please take this and swallow it down right away! Elder Bao said before swinging her hand, lanching a tiny green pill to each one of the male daoists present.

"This is a "special" pill that will help you guys in your way up! Now please, swallow it down, come on, right away!"

As the other ones shoved the pill into their mouths and rushed away to the mountain standing at their full speed, Yi Jiang eyes flashed with insight, taking a closer look at the pill. Then, unlike those reckless fools, Yi Jiang sat down in meditation, refining the pill the fastest he could. While doing so, he observed the young men starting to climb their way up the mountain with pitiful eyes.

At the side, Elder Bao gazed at him with surprise in her eyes.

*Elder Bao's internal thoughts*

"What an interesting young man! Could it be that he caught sight of the actual task already?"

*

"Young man, why are you just sitting there? Have you already given up without trying?" she asked in a teasing tone.

"No. In fact, I intend on winning." Yi Jiang responded with a swift smile as he madly refined the tiny green pill inside his body.