Chapter 432: The Third Trial, The Path to the True Immortal Realm

"Haotian, I heard from Elder Wang that you've already passed the first trial?"

As soon as Li Hao arrived, a Saint inquired.

Li Hao looked towards the person who asked. Although the other person's eyes were sincere, there was a hint of doubt in the depths of their eyes.

"Mhm."

Li Hao nodded slightly, not paying much attention to it.

"Haotian, how did you manage to last so long on your first challenge of the True Venerable Tower?"

Another Saint asked curiously, with a faint hint of admiration for Li Hao in their eyes. Among the people present, although some were jealous, there were also those who saw Li Hao's potential and wanted to take the opportunity to befriend him.

Flower Saint and Wanderer Saint were also in the crowd, gazing at Li Hao without asking any questions. They believed that Li Hao hadn't taken any shortcuts, as people who could join the Flower Wanderer Society couldn't be too bad, and besides, Elder Wang was such an important figure; there was no need for him to deceive them.

"Running away, just keep running away."

Li Hao replied to that person, "The projections inside are indeed very strong, you simply can't fight them head-on."

Hearing Li Hao's words, Forest Saint, Bright Saint, and Shepherd Saint all had a glint in their eyes. They all deeply understood how powerful those projections were.

But running… it's not like you can just run away if you want to.

"Even if it's running, it must be very difficult, right? After all, the projections inside can overwhelm you in every aspect. Could it be that you had some kind of enlightenment inside?"

The person who had previously asked Li Hao about passing the trial showed a puzzled expression.

Li Hao smiled slightly and didn't respond.

After all, this trial itself is confidential and involves one's own various methods and trump cards. The other person's question was already a bit presumptuous.

"The True Venerable Tower challenge shouldn't have any tricks, right? Haotian must have had some kind of enlightenment that made the projection unable to mirror him, which is why he lasted so long, right?" Bright Saint suddenly spoke, his voice calm, but his gaze was directed towards Elder Wang.

Clearly, he was questioning Elder Wang's authority. If it wasn't enlightenment, then it could only be a clever trick taught by Elder Wang. Otherwise, he absolutely wouldn't believe that someone could last so long under those terrifying projections on their first challenge.

Run away? The projections are even faster!

Elder Wang sensed Bright Saint's gaze. How could he not see through this little fellow's thoughts? He chuckled lightly and said to Li Hao:

"You kid, you're hiding things deeply. I underestimated you earlier."

Li Hao scratched his head, not knowing what aspect he was referring to.

"You guys also need to work harder and cultivate properly. Haotian, come with me."

Elder Wang glanced around at everyone and said to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded.

When everyone saw Elder Wang's expression of favor towards Li Hao, their eyes all became complex.

Bright Saint, Shepherd Saint, and Forest Saint exchanged a glance, all sensing a strong sense of crisis from Li Hao. Especially Forest Saint, who had just passed the first trial not long ago. The time he lasted challenging the True Venerable Tower was not even as long as Li Hao's, less than half an incense stick's time. As for the method to defeat the projection, he was even more clueless.

Seeing that he was about to catch up with the main group and narrow the gap with Shepherd Saint and Bright Saint, the result was that he was completely crushed and overtaken by Li Hao. This caused his years of cultivation pursuit and newly ignited ambition to be doused like cold water poured over his head.

Everyone whispered among themselves, discussing Li Hao's challenge of the True Venerable Tower, and speculating about who would be the first to reach the third step and obtain the Immortal Emperor's Dao lineage.

Bright Saint, Forest Saint, and Shepherd Saint exchanged a glance, but instead of continuing their secluded cultivation, they seemed to have reached a tacit understanding and simultaneously stood up and flew towards Elder Wang's residence.

Elder Wang brought Li Hao back and casually set up a soundproof barrier around them. He was just about to explain to Li Hao the immortal technique for cultivating for the third trial, as well as the path to advance to the True Immortal Realm, including the various distinctions within the True Immortal Realm. The two of them had just sat down in front of the wooden stakes when, before Elder Wang could even speak, they saw three sounds of air being torn apart flying over.

"Elder Wang."

When the three saw Elder Wang frown and look at them, they showed some sheepish smiles on their faces, but in their hearts, they felt a bit uncomfortable. They had been here for a very long time, after all, and had been extremely attentive to Elder Wang in every way, but now they felt like they were being discarded for someone new.

Although they were dissatisfied in their hearts, they didn't show it on their faces. Instead, their faces were full of smiles.

"What are you doing here?"

Elder Wang asked.

Bright Saint bowed slightly, smiled, and said, "Elder Wang, we've also come to learn from your wisdom and listen to your teachings."

Elder Wang shook his head slightly inwardly and directly exposed their thoughts, saying, "You think Haotian was able to last so long in the True Venerable Tower because of my guidance? Alright, for the sake of your efforts and obedience over the years, I'll use Haotian to give you your first lesson."

"Hmm?"

The three of them were exposed by Elder Wang, and although they showed a hint of embarrassment on their faces, they didn't take it seriously in their hearts. After all, it wasn't just them who thought this way, others would also think so, and besides, this was very likely to be the truth.

Hearing that Elder Wang was going to give them a lesson, all three showed expressions of anticipation. At the same time, they glanced at Li Hao. Was he planning to pass on that trick to them as well?

"This first lesson…"

Elder Wang's expression was indifferent. He paused for a moment before saying, "is to learn to acknowledge the excellence of others."

The three of them: "..."

Elder Wang ignored the three's slightly frozen smiles and said indifferently, "When you go to the True World in the future, if there is still some of its former prosperity left, you will see even more monstrous geniuses. They come from high backgrounds with deep foundations. Some of them have been bathing in immortal medicine since childhood and eating Dao fruits as snacks. Cultivating the same techniques, their speed will be a hundred or a thousand times faster than yours!"

"And there are also those who have no background, but are just intelligent, possessing unparalleled talent, and quick-witted. They can also rise from humble beginnings, compete with the geniuses of major powers, and build their own fame."

"At that time, will you also compare yourselves to them, be jealous, and be angry?"

The expressions on the three people's faces changed. Their thoughts were completely seen through, including the anger and jealousy in their hearts. This made them somewhat dare not directly look at Elder Wang's eyes.

"Haotian's talent surpasses yours by far. I haven't taught him anything regarding the trials. But he played chess with me for three years, only using his spare time to secretly ponder and comprehend, and he has already cultivated the Yama Immortal Art to the level of the Origin True Meaning. This can only mean that his past foundation already surpasses yours!"

Bright Saint, Shepherd Saint, and Forest Saint looked at Li Hao, but their eyes carried a hint of doubt.

After all, the tribulation energy aura that Li Hao exuded was only at the Second Calamity Saint level, while the three of them were already Supreme Saints!

"Instead of having these wild guesses in your minds, you should put in more effort. Your talents in the True World can only be considered average, while Haotian, in the True World, is also worthy of being called a genius!"

Elder Wang said unceremoniously.

Hearing his words, the expressions on the three people's faces changed, and they all became somewhat unsightly.

Having previously heard Elder Wang reminisce about many things about the True World, they also knew that Elder Wang was right, and had long said that their talents could only be considered average.

But, could this young man's talent, in the True World filled with countless monstrous geniuses, also be considered a genius?

Three years, could it be that he really did it on his own?

"Go, don't waste time here. I'm going to impart to Haotian the immortal technique for the third trial and the path to advance to the True Immortal Realm."

Elder Wang waved his hand, shooing them away.

The three who were originally feeling uneasy, hearing these words, were all stunned for a moment, then widened their eyes and stared blankly at Elder Wang.

"Elder Wang, you, you're being too biased, aren't you?" Bright Saint couldn't help but say.

He had helped Elder Wang massage his legs and shoulders, spending hundreds of years serving him. The other party had repeatedly told him that they couldn't help with hints or suggestions regarding the trials, but he was still enthusiastic, wanting to show his sincerity.

In the end, he did indeed make Elder Wang see his sincerity, but he still didn't get any help. Instead, Elder Wang intended to teach him the method of cultivating immortal herbs, but with the Immortal Emperor's Dao lineage right in front of him, how could he have the mind to think about cultivating immortal herbs? He immediately declined.

Shepherd Saint and Forest Saint were also staring intently at Elder Wang, although they didn't speak, their expressions were the same as Bright Saint's.

Elder Wang, seeing the anxious look of the three, was very indifferent, and said:

"What kind of bias is this? Haotian has already passed the second trial and passed the first level of the True Venerable Tower. When you are able to pass, I will also impart to you the immortal technique for the third trial. But for you now, it's still too early."

These words were like a bolt from the blue. The three of them were stunned for a moment, then their brains exploded with a roar, becoming somewhat blank.

After a good while, the three of them came back to their senses, looking at Elder Wang in astonishment, then looked at Li Hao.

"He, he passed the True Venerable Tower trial? The first level? Could it be that there's a second level?"

Shepherd Saint couldn't help but say, his expression somewhat uncontrollably losing composure.

Hearing Elder Wang's words, Li Hao thought to himself, "As expected." The eye contact he had inside the tower earlier wasn't an illusion. It seemed that others couldn't see his situation inside the tower, but Elder Wang could.

Only, does this True Venerable Tower actually have two levels?

"The True Venerable Tower has a total of three levels, corresponding to the trials for nominal disciples, formal disciples, and the Immortal Emperor's personal disciples!"

"Of course, for personal disciples, besides the True Venerable Tower trial, there are other things as well. You don't need to know about those."

Elder Wang said calmly, "For the first level of the True Venerable Tower challenge, your projections are only twice your strength. For the second level, it's five times! For the third level, it's ten times!"

"Ten times…"

Not only were the three of them stunned, but Li Hao also widened his eyes slightly.

So that means he went to the second level earlier?

No wonder he felt that the projection's aura was much stronger than his own, at least four or five times stronger.

And then he was instantly killed.

As a result, there's still a third level later, and it's ten times stronger?!

Li Hao was a little dare not imagine what it would be like if his own power increased tenfold, feeling like he could slaughter even in the True Immortal Realm.

The second-level projection he encountered earlier already felt like it possessed such combat power. If it were ten times stronger…

"For the Immortal Emperor's personal disciples, passing the third level trial is only the simplest part of the many trials."

Elder Wang said coldly, "Since these trials exist, you should know that naturally there will be people who can pass them. You should also understand the principle that there is always a sky beyond the sky. It's just that you haven't encountered it yet. Now, Haotian should be considered the first 'sky' you've come into contact with!"

Hearing his words, the three looked at Li Hao, their expressions all becoming complex.

Is the young man before them really that terrifying?

"Go."

Elder Wang said no more, waved his hand to urge them away, "I didn't tell you about Haotian passing earlier because I was afraid of discouraging you."

Although he wanted to use Li Hao to stimulate them to cultivate harder, he also knew that Li Hao was too monstrous a genius for them. Over-stimulation would only backfire, making them despair and lose the motivation to cultivate.

The three of them felt a sense of chest tightness, but they still cupped their hands in farewell to Elder Wang, turned around, and left, but their minds were somewhat in a daze.

After they left, the coldness on Elder Wang's face receded. He looked at Li Hao and rolled his eyes at him in annoyance, saying:

"If I had known you were this smart, I wouldn't have wasted your time these past few years. In the days to come, you must cultivate properly. Being able to pass the True Venerable Tower on your first challenge, although I don't know if it was due to enlightenment or breakthrough, but as you are now, there's a sliver of hope for you to become the Immortal Emperor's formal disciple."

"Don't miss this opportunity. You must seize it and cultivate properly."

Li Hao was speechless. He was most afraid of others urging him to cultivate.

After all, he's already working very hard…

"Um, Elder Wang, these are two separate things, they don't interfere with each other." Li Hao tried to persuade him.

As soon as Elder Wang heard this, he immediately felt a surge of anger. These words clearly told him, "I still want to play!"

"You, you, you, what can I say to you? That's the Immortal Emperor's Dao lineage, formal disciple! Do you know what it means for you to pass the trial?"

"Means becoming a formal disciple?" (Li Hao's somewhat clueless answer).

"..."

Elder Wang's eye roll almost reached the heavens. He felt like he was playing the lute to a cow, and also felt a sense of absurdity.

When did it become that when the Immortal Emperor's Dao lineage is presented, someone still needs to be urged?

Isn't that something everyone would be fighting over?

"The reason I initially gave them the trial for nominal disciples was because I knew that the inheritance of immortals and gods outside is broken. For nominal disciples to emerge among them is already the limit. And that great war back then was too tragic. The Immortal Emperor originally intended to first entrust a portion of the Dao lineage to nominal disciples to master. Then, depending on their subsequent performance, if they improved, and there was hope of them becoming true disciples, more benefits of the Dao lineage could be unlocked."

Elder Wang said to Li Hao, "If you can become a formal disciple, it's equivalent to obtaining cultivation resources that directly lead to the Immortal Lord Realm. You might even be able to reach Immortal King if you stretch a bit and work harder yourself!"

"That's in the True World! They are all hegemonic figures, second only to the Immortal Emperor. Wherever they go, they are revered by all directions. What grandeur and magnificence!"

Li Hao was a little surprised and said, "That generous?"

"Otherwise, what? This is still due to that war back then. Many things were lost, and resources are not that abundant anymore. If the Immortal Emperor were still alive, during the most prosperous period of the True World, becoming a formal disciple of the Immortal Emperor would mean becoming a future Immortal King!"

Elder Wang said in annoyance.

Li Hao nodded, and his heart also became a little fired up, saying, "Then I'll strive to try."

However, thinking of the terror of the second-level projection, his heart also felt a bit hesitant.

But fortunately, his Extraordinary Chess Heart hasn't been embedded yet. If he embeds it into the Way of Movement, perhaps he has a 20% chance.

That's right, only 20% at most. After all, the projection is stronger than him in every aspect. Quantitative change leads to qualitative change. Even if his movement technique is at the tenth level, it's possible that it would only be slightly higher than the five-times projection, and this cannot compensate for other gaps.

Seeing Li Hao say this, Elder Wang finally felt a sense of relief and then said, "Since you have even this small sliver of hope, then you must seize it. I will also treat you as challenging for a formal disciple. Passing the first trial within three years, this speed is indeed in line with that of a formal disciple, and there's still time to spare."

He continued, "Next, you need to strive to pass the second level of the True Venerable Tower, as for the third level, don't even think about it."

"Now, let me first impart to you the immortal technique for advancing to the True Immortal Realm."

Elder Wang's expression became serious, "Saint-level is just condensing your own Saint Dao from the Great Dao. When this Saint Dao is cultivated to its extreme, you can faintly sense a trace of Heavenly Will. That is Supreme Saint, also known as Saint-level Great Perfection!"

"But to become an immortal, your Saint Dao must be recognized by Heaven and Earth, that is, 'Proving Dao to Heaven!'"

"To Prove Dao to Heaven, you must comprehend the Origin True Meaning of your Saint Dao!"

"Which is also the realm of the first trial. In other words, those who could pass the first trial earlier all possess the qualifications to advance to the True Immortal Realm!"

As Elder Wang spoke, he glanced at the three people who had already returned to their meditation cushions.

In these tens of thousands of years, only three people had emerged who cultivated to the point of possessing the qualifications to advance to the True Immortal Realm.

"But this is just an ordinary True Immortal Realm."

Elder Wang said, "I told you before that the third trial is to condense three Immortal Marks, also commonly known as Three Flower Immortal Marks!"

"Mastering one Origin True Meaning allows you to condense one Flower Immortal Mark. Three Flower Immortal Marks means three, you need to comprehend the Origin True Meaning of three Great Daos!"

"And formal disciples need Nine Flower Immortal Marks!"

"Furthermore, your soul lifespan must be within ten thousand years."

He gazed at Li Hao. When Li Hao first arrived, he saw that Li Hao's soul lifespan was only about a hundred years. Based on his past experience, the young man before him had a chance to become a formal disciple.

"Nine Flower Immortal Marks?"

Li Hao was slightly taken aback, "Does that mean condensing nine kinds of Origin True Meaning?"

"That's right."

"What about personal disciples then?"

Li Hao asked curiously.

Nine is often a symbolic number of extremes, but sometimes it's also an actual number.

"Personal disciples are even more difficult."

Elder Wang shook his head slightly, "An Immortal Mark bearing nine flowers is basically the limit. Continuing to condense more Origin True Meanings of Saint Daos is useless, as they cannot be engraved onto the Immortal Mark. Nine Flower Immortal Marks are already the limit of Immortal Marks. But nothing is absolute. If you can improve further, it will become the Dao Source Immortal Mark, which is rare even in the myriad realms."

"But wanting to transform Nine Flower Immortal Marks into Dao Source Immortal Marks requires not only talent but also the accumulation of various opportunities. In short, you don't need to consider this. Being able to condense Nine Flower Immortal Marks is already considered a top-tier True Immortal Realm genius in the True World!"

(End of Chapter)