Chapter 65: Enlightenment Aurora! The Hundred-Day Enhancement Plan! (Requesting Follows)

The meditation cushions were already occupied, with people seated here and there, nearly full.

But the front row and the side seats in the middle row remained empty.

Only the top twenty prodigies of this year’s Immortal Ranking could ascend to the ninth-level Enlightenment Platform.

Lin Mo glanced once and spotted several top geniuses who had drawn intense attention on the Ascension Platform.

Chen Xuanzhi, ranked first in Jibei Province, super elemental affinity, admitted by Qingtian Palace.

Feng Ji, ranked first in Jin’an Province, thunder elemental affinity, admitted by Youming Ghost Sect.

Murong Taotao, ranked first in Jinling Province, water elemental affinity, admitted by Hundred Flowers Valley.

……

None were mutated elemental affinities, heavenly elemental affinities, or primordial holy bodies…

Without exception, all were the top immortal seedlings of this generation in Qinzhou.

According to Senior Feng, this year’s Immortal Ranking was far more prestigious than previous ones, even ranking among the top few in Qinzhou’s imperial exams over the past century.

In past years, these top ten seedlings would have had a real chance to compete for the title of Immortal Ranking Top Graduate.

But unfortunately, this year they faced Chu Wange, a prodigy whose talent and fortune were both maximized.

Several who had already entered meditation turned their heads at the noise, glancing toward the two.

Upon noticing Lin Mo and Chu Wange, their gazes did not leave them.

A bit nervous… Lin Mo took a shallow breath; he hadn’t felt the slightest tension when thousands watched him earlier.

Now, merely sensing the stares of these dozen people, an inexplicable pressure settled in his chest.

But soon, he realized he’d overthought it.

“It’s Chu Wange!”

Someone whispered.

Only then did Lin Mo notice that most eyes were fixed on Chu Wange, with few paying him any attention.

Cough, overestimated myself…

Lin Mo felt a small pang of embarrassment inside.

In comparison, Chu Wange’s expression was far calmer.

Under countless stares, she remained composed, stepped forward to the frontmost cushion, slightly lifted her Daoist robe, and sat cross-legged.

Her movements were clean, efficient, and utterly natural—as if that frontmost seat had always belonged to her.

The prodigies watching this scene frowned slightly, sneered, or revealed unhidden battle intent in their eyes…

All those who had risen above a million candidates in this year’s exam were here.

Each possessed extraordinary talent, even dominating their entire province, and most had scored above perfect in the Immortal Exam’s secret realm.

For them to truly accept Chu Wange’s superiority would be extremely difficult.

With Chu Wange drawing all the attention, Lin Mo quietly found his seat, unnoticed by anyone.

Though only twenty seats existed, they were arranged in strict order, more clearly stratified than the lower levels of the Enlightenment Platform.

There were four rows total.

Chu Wange sat alone at the top.

The second to fourth ranked formed the second row.

The fifth to tenth ranked formed the third row.

The eleventh to twentieth ranked formed the fourth row.

Lin Mo sat at the edge of the third row, crossed his legs, and gazed ahead.

The aurora, originating from far beyond, slowly pierced through layers of mist, gradually cascading toward the Enlightenment Cliff.

At that moment, a voice reached their ears:

“Sit in meditation. The Enlightenment Aurora lasts only three hours daily—use it well, do not waste it.”

The speaker was likely a team leader from one of the Nine Great Dao Academies.

Upon hearing this, everyone calmed their minds and swiftly entered meditation.

Lin Mo did the same, yet his eyes remained fixed on the distant aurora.

Moments later, the aurora finally broke through all obstacles and poured straight down from the heavens.

The first to be bathed in it was Chu Wange, seated at the front.

Then, the beam of aurora slowly spread outward, reaching the second row, then the third…

Until it fully enveloped the platform atop the cliff.

The instant the aurora touched Lin Mo, he instinctively closed his eyes; his body warmed as if kissed by morning sun, a soothing heat spreading from skin inward, bringing peace and tranquility.

【Ding! Exposed to Enlightenment Aurora, Insight +1, Insight +1, Insight +1…】

System prompts kept coming, but they were exactly as he expected.

Yes, the Enlightenment Cliff’s 【Enlightenment Aurora】 boosts Insight!

Of course, this extra Insight bonus was temporary, not permanent.

The reason the Enlightenment Cliff was the sacred site for all aspiring Foundation Establishment seedlings was precisely because of this 【Enlightenment Aurora】.

With the extra Insight bonus, the speed of mastering the 【Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment Method】 would increase dramatically.

But the Cliff’s seating was limited, available only to current-year Immortal Exam candidates.

If one failed to perfect their Dao Foundation within a hundred days and reach Foundation Establishment, they would thereafter have to cultivate slowly on their own…

As for the Insight bonus from the Aurora, the better the seat, the greater the Insight boost.

After one full cycle of his internal cultivation method, Lin Mo’s Insight bonus stabilized at a fixed value—

【Enlightenment Aurora Bonus: Insight +20】

A flicker of delight crossed Lin Mo’s mind; the Insight bonus exceeded his expectations.

With +20 Insight, his total Insight doubled to 40.

Of course, even 40 Insight was still low compared to the prodigies beside him—barely worthy of sitting with them.

But for him, it meant another possibility.

Thinking of this, his heart burned as he looked at the merit points accumulated over three days of seclusion in the Immortal Vessel’s guest room—

He hesitated, then, for caution’s sake, allocated a portion to the 【Five Elemental Dao Body】 skill panel.

【Ding! You invested 100 merit points into the skill “Five Elemental Dao Body,” Experience +40 (10*40%)】

As the pleasant system chime reached his ears, Lin Mo clenched his index finger, his emotions stirred.

As he’d predicted, though both the 【Enlightenment Aurora】 and 【Heavenly Golden Light】 were temporary buffs, they still stacked with his innate cultivation potential, enhancing merit point efficiency.

Thus, the “Hundred-Day Enhancement Plan” on the Enlightenment Cliff was now set.

First and foremost: the 【Five Elemental Dao Body】, which improves cultivation potential; once perfected, the increased potential would further boost merit point efficiency.

Only then would increasing his cultivation base offer the best cost-benefit ratio.

Meanwhile, he should meditate as much as possible and refine the 【True Ultimate Flame】 within his body.

Perfect. The plan was set. Now, push forward!

He was about to invest all several thousand merit points into the 【Five Elemental Dao Body】—but, sensing the platform’s seating was now open, he suppressed his impulse.

【Ding! You invested 100 merit points into the skill “Five Elemental Dao Body,” Experience +40 (10*40%)】

【Ding! You invested 100 merit points into the skill “Five Elemental Dao Body”…】

One hundred at a time—wasn’t this speed fast enough?

Lin Mo chuckled inwardly.

But in truth, he’d underestimated.

The progress of the top seedlings around him was so rapid it even startled the Dao Academy disciples trailing behind.

Murong Taotao was veiled in a faint mist, her body echoing the clear flow of mountain streams.

Feng Ji, ranked first in Jin’an Province, crackled with lightning, occasional thunderclaps startling all nearby.

Chen Xuanzhi, ranked second on the Immortal Ranking, was even more astonishing—his head glowed with searing light, briefly outshining the aurora around him, appearing from afar like a miniature sun rising.

As for Chu Wange, alone at the top, bathed entirely in aurora, though she showed no extravagant phenomena like the others, her body periodically erupted with astonishing sword intent—as if something immense was brewing within…

Compared to them, Lin Mo’s occasional flashes of five-colored light seemed unremarkable.

Yet without notice, he had slowly blended into the scene…