Chapter 672: Longyou

Having discovered this, Li Qi didn't panic. In fact, he had already prepared for this when he decided to come and observe the ceremony. To be honest, after staying here for over five hundred years, he was indeed a little curious about the true state of the True World.

He received the message and read its contents.

It said: "Fellow Daoist, do not interfere with the Immortal Ascension selection. Also, why are you in the Mortal World? Be careful not to incur punishment from the Celestial Palace."

Li Qi was somewhat surprised to receive this message.

Celestial Palace? It should be the controller of the Immortal Heaven’s True World, but it doesn't matter.

However, he didn't reply to the other party, because the one above was only a Sixth Grade. Li Qi quietly concealed his Qi, only to see the person in the clouds above blink...

What's going on? Someone was just there. Did I misread it? Or was it an illusion?

He composed himself and looked again, but he could no longer see anyone.

Either he misread it, or the difference in cultivation between the other party and himself was too great, so much so that he couldn't—

Just as he was thinking this, suddenly, this Sixth Grade from the True World shook his head.

What just happened?

It seems like nothing. I'm here to open the Heavenly Gate and let Mortals undergo Tribulation. Let's get down to business first.

Thinking this, he continued to lie dormant in the sky.

When the Mortal below released his Qi and communicated with the Heavenly Tribulation, he would open the Heavenly Gate and bring down the calamity.

While dormant, he looked at the 'True Dao Sect Supreme Elder' below with anticipation.

Not everyone is qualified to have the True World send people to manually bring down a tribulation.

Only those Geniuses whose cultivation has reached the Peak, and who, after promotion, can secure a good seat even among Seventh Grades, will have someone manually bring down a tribulation. This way, the size of the calamity can be manipulated, pushing the other party to their limit.

This way, their true limits can be tested, and the Heavenly Gate can automatically identify whether these individuals have reached their limit after Seventh Grade, or if they are qualified to advance further.

If Seventh Grade is their limit, the calamity will directly destroy them.

If they can still progress, they are qualified to enter the True World and enjoy Immortal blessings.

Just as he was thinking this, Li Qi nodded slightly from the side.

So that's how it is.

Beside this Immortal Sky Sixth Grade, Li Qi stood behind him, completely unnoticed by the other, as a black Qi had already invaded his Inner World.

Demonic Dao method, manipulating memories, altering cognition.

Moreover, he planted a demonic thoughts in the other party's mind. This wisp of demonic thoughts would follow the other party, observing the world from their perspective at all times. Although it couldn't be directly transmitted to Li Qi, as long as Li Qi encountered this person again and absorbed the demonic thoughts into his body, he would be able to see everything that had happened during that period.

While doing these things, Li Qi felt a little emotional.

These are all methods favored by Heavenly Demons, and he hadn't expected himself to be so proficient at using them now.

But no matter what, Demonic Dao spells and Divine Abilities are indeed very useful.

After doing this, Li Qi continued to descend.

He waited another seven days.

Seven days later, that 'Supreme Elder' finally moved.

This white-haired, immortal-like old man slowly rose, exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi, and then, released his Qi.

Immediately, Li Qi saw the mountain gate below, above and below the mountain, including that city, many Eighth Grades, all flying up, forming a circle nearby, preparing to observe the ceremony.

Li Qi also sat down nearby, seriously watching that Supreme Elder Undergoing Tribulation.

The first layer that descended was the Lightning Tribulation.

However, the Supreme Elder waved both hands, unleashing a lightning-repelling spell, which was the Faraday cage used by humanity on the extraterrestrial battlefield.

Li Qi smiled and nodded.

It's crude, but they developed it themselves.

Yes, from beginning to end, independently developed. Unlike other forces in the Immortal Sky Mortal World who choose to forcefully resist the Heavenly Tribulation, Zhen Dao Sect has already learned how to explore the essence of the Heavenly Tribulation and develop corresponding spells.

Very good, very good. This shows that the other party is still thinking, and has even achieved results.

It seems that although Zhen Dao Sect below advocates empty talk and impracticality, those above still apply it to practical matters.

The Lightning Tribulation was easily passed due to the lightning-repelling spell, but without the lightning-repelling spell, the power of these Lightning Tribulations would have reached the level of a half-step Seventh Grade, far exceeding the endurance limit of ordinary Eighth Grades.

Is this a selection?

This is murder, no wonder they say only one in ten survive. The intensity of this Lightning Tribulation alone could eliminate most people... Thankfully, there was a lightning-repelling spell that channeled the power of the Lightning Tribulation into the world.

Next is the Original Tribulation.

However, in the sky, thunderclouds gathered, and countless Spiritual Qi surged, condensing into a human form, exactly identical to the True Dao Sect Supreme Elder.

It seems this is the Original Tribulation.

Li Qi continued to watch as the two began to fight.

Identical Divine Abilities, identical thought processes, and even subtle habits were completely replicated.

This is a bit creative.

Li Qi realized that this so-called Original Tribulation tested the ability to Breakthrough in battle.

With a completely identical Clone, the combat power is naturally also completely identical.

Moreover, everyone knows that Heavenly Tribulations are very difficult, so they will all raise their state to the best, to the point where there is no further room for improvement, and only then will they choose to open the Heavenly Gate and summon the Heavenly Tribulation.

Therefore, they will face the Clone of their Peak period.

Under normal circumstances, they would perish together with this completely identical Clone.

Unless... you can Breakthrough in battle.

Only if you can make a Breakthrough in this battle, even after you have reached your Peak, can you defeat this Clone.

This is very difficult. You barely scored 99 points, thinking you would definitely pass this exam, but the passing line for the exam is actually your highest score plus 1 point.

If you can't Breakthrough in battle, you die.

Li Qi watched as the Supreme Elder, desperate and using all his wisdom, finally made a tiny Breakthrough, figuring out a new usage for a spell, exchanging injury for life, and destroying the opponent with a heavily injured body.

Then, the next is the third calamity, the Mortal World Tribulation.

Regarding this, Li Qi was actually quite curious.

What is the Mortal World Tribulation? It is said to test the mentality of longevity.

Just as Li Qi was guessing, he suddenly discovered that the surrounding time and space began to distort.

Special time and space?

No, it's thought acceleration.

The True Dao Sect Supreme Elder's thoughts began to accelerate. Now, his thoughts were disconnected from his Physical Body.

This ratio... Dao Resonance scanned it and found it to be about one to one thousand.

In other words, one day for him was roughly equivalent to three years.

Is this the Mortal World Tribulation? Testing patience?

Is that even a test?

Li Qi thought so.

Then, he saw that Supreme Elder begin to sit cross-legged, absorbing the Spiritual Qi descending from the sky.

The Heavenly Gate opened, and above it was the True World, from which countless Spiritual Qi gushed out.

Li Qi took a breath—

Such pure Spiritual Qi, of extremely high quality, and it also seemed to contain Dao Resonance, which could greatly heal injuries, allowing the previously heavily injured Supreme Elder's wounds to completely recover.

And some of the Spiritual Qi that escaped was also greedily absorbed by the other people watching around.

This was Immortal Qi that only escaped during Ascension. It was absolutely impossible to come into contact with it in the Mortal World.

Li Qi, meanwhile, carefully analyzed the composition of the Spiritual Qi.

This seems... not naturally born Spiritual Qi.

The Great Harmony of natural, the Spiritual Qi of the Nine Essences, naturally has the saying: "Famous mountains and great rivers all have Spiritual Qi, water is also a spiritual object, Qi is the same as the mountain, a number of Innate phenomena, born from the Primordial Chaos, corresponding to each other and Spiritual Qi is born."

Naturally born Spiritual Qi, its essence is actually the essence exhaled by all things. The reason it is called Spiritual Qi is actually because it is the pure and refined Qi of brilliance. All things will breathe and naturally filter out external Impurities, including all kinds of life, plants, mountains, and water.

For example, why is mountain spring water clear and sweet?

Because when water enters the mountain, Impurities are filtered out layer by layer by the mud, stone, and earth Qi, and what finally emerges is clear mountain spring water.

Humans are also like this. Humans eat grains, vegetables, and meat, and the essence and nutrients within are absorbed by the body, while Impurities are excreted.

This is purification layer by layer; every single thing is actually purifying.

Then, when it dies, the purified essence will return to natural, becoming the so-called 'Spiritual Qi,' which is the essence of various Qi.

This is also why forests, mountains, great rivers, and lakes are full of Spiritual Qi, because various lives are active within them, coupled with the flourishing of great sources, making them increasingly pure. And the more Spiritual Qi there is, the stronger life becomes, forming a positive cycle that makes the world increasingly powerful.

Shamanes themselves are also like this; it can even be said that after Shamanes form a connection with the greater world outside, the Spiritual Qi they produce will be much more than that of ordinary life.

But some cultivation methods are different. They absorb external Spiritual Qi, and even more than just Spiritual Qi, they also collect other Qi, taking whatever is suitable. This is 'exploiting the world,' ultimately causing the cycle to collapse, and then they pack up and Ascend, going to harm other worlds.

The cultivation methods of Immortal Heaven are typical of this kind: exploiting the world to supplement oneself.

Therefore, in Li Qi's previous conjecture, although Immortal Heaven was a First Grade world, it probably couldn't withstand such exploitation, which is why this almost deformed elimination mechanism appeared now.

But at this moment, he took a breath of the Immortal Heaven’s True World's Spiritual Qi and suddenly realized a second possibility.

Immortal Heaven has a way to create Spiritual Qi.

Is it creation from nothing?

Or is it drawn from somewhere else?

Li Qi thought so, while staring at the True Dao Sect Supreme Elder, observing the other party's test.

The other party's subjective perception of time was greatly stretched; one day was a thousand days.

In other words, sitting still for one day for him was equivalent to sitting for three years, and during these three years, he basically couldn't move because his thought speed was too fast for his Physical Body to keep up.

So that's it, this is the Mortal World Tribulation.

It tests patience and the qualities of a long-lived being.

Sitting in place for decades or even centuries! Immobile, completely unable to act, basically like a conscious paralyzed state of a vegetative person.

Only by maintaining this state for a century, yet remaining steadfast and not collapsing or going mad, is one qualified to enter Immortal Heaven.

This test, for an Eighth Grade, is truly... quite difficult.

However, for Li Qi, this was too simple.

If he could, he would actually wish for such an experience, allowing him to rest properly.

Rest, what wonderful words. Li Qi hadn't had a good rest in a long time.

Watching these, he also sat there.

He sat for ninety-nine days, and the Ascension ceremony also lasted for ninety-nine days.

A full ninety-nine days, a thousand times, which is twenty-seven years.

A person, unable to move, sat still for twenty-seven years with a clear mind.

To pass this stage, one must possess a clear mind, a firm heart, and extraordinary patience.

Evidently, this Supreme Elder, already over four hundred years old, had enough mental fortitude to endure such solitude.

Soon, ninety-nine days passed.

The calamity was overcome.

The Heavenly Gate opened wide.

In the sky, a truly magnificent jade gate opened.

Li Qi immediately stood up, his True Knowledge Dao Resonance fully unleashed; he wanted to scan the situation of the True World!

At first glance, it truly looked like an Immortal realm inside.

Acacia green jade newly presenting auspiciousness, fine rain and sparse smoke obscuring the view.

Clear bright lakes like opened mirrors, shining pearls and jades astonishing the eye.

Besides the scenery, looking ahead, there were magnificent palaces, with arched roofs adorned with pearls and jade, and a surging, grand aura pressed down like an overwhelming tide.

The palace floated in the sky, beneath it was the Sea of Great Void and the Land of Great Desolation, boundless and immeasurable, spanning an unknown number of miles. The seawater within was foul, putrid, and black, without discernible boundaries. In its midst was a colossal, peculiar mountain, towering high into the azure sky and plunging deep into the wind and springs, countless miles high, and the palace floated upon this mountain.

Such magnificence definitely reached the Fifth Grade standard. Even from Li Qi's perspective, this was a very good Dharma Hall, with exquisitely arranged Formations, forming its own Inner World, clearly the work of a master.

Of course, not as high as Li Qi, but already very impressive, at least surpassing over ninety percent of the Fifth Grades in the outer realms.

Then, the True Dao Sect Supreme Elder flew up and passed through the jade gate.

The speed was very fast.

In the eyes of others, this was the Old Ancestor eager to Ascend and become an Immortal, to enjoy Immortal blessings forever.

But Li Qi saw that he was pulled up; an irresistible force for an Eighth Grade seized him, and then the Heavenly Gate closed.

Truly...

Annoying.

He hadn't seen enough; it was only a fleeting moment, far from enough for him to memorize all those things.

Just a fleeting glimpse.

It is said that cultivators skilled in calligraphy can, with just a fleeting glimpse, completely replicate Formations, spells, and even such palaces.

It is said that when the brush and ink possess Qi, they can depict mountains and rivers, and when one's temperament is close to mountains, rivers, and all things, one can contain them within one's chest and release them onto paper for others to see.

Of course, Li Qi didn't have this ability.

If he were to use painting and calligraphy, his chest would be constrained, his inspiration would be blocked, his feet would lack strength, and his view would be incomplete. What he drew would also lack spirit, merely possessing the form.

"Forget it, let's continue to observe this Zhen Dao Sect," Li Qi thought.

Being able to experience a part of the True World's scenery was already achieving his goal.

So, he simply sat there on the mountain Peak, observing the entire Zhen Dao Sect and the city below.

He sat and observed for a hundred years.

A hundred years of time slipped by quickly.

Li Qi witnessed all the developments of the entire Zhen Dao Sect, their growth, internal strife, rebellions, and wars.

A hundred years later, Zhen Dao Sect was no more.

A young man ascended the already defunct Zhen Dao Sect, walking onto the once supreme mountain gate.

His name was Chang You.

Monthly pass

Tomorrow's extra update