Chapter 346

Huh!

Around him, silence fell instantly, so complete not even a needle could drop.

Feeling the gaze piercing through the mist, Li Yuan felt like a crawling insect beneath a great beast's foot—his hairs stood on end, frozen in place.

Fortunately, the gaze from beyond the mist did not last long, and slowly faded away.

"Is it the Dao Master's will, or that of the two Ancestors?"

With the pressure easing, Li Yuan relaxed inwardly. He focused his eyes and saw the mist before him gradually thinning, revealing a narrow path.

"Could this be similar to the entrance behind Long Jing Mountain?"

Li Yuan pondered briefly—this sense of déjà vu was too strong. He turned back; the mist behind him had thickened, clearly urging him forward along the path.

"Could it be that after the Yangsheng Furnace's realm, there are also ruins like those behind Long Jing Gate?"

A thought struck Li Yuan. He immediately switched his cultivation gear, replacing all six pairs of boots with weapons enhancing his hammer techniques and physical aptitude. Feeling the various buffs, he stepped forward slowly.

The ground beneath his feet was soft, as if treading on air. He glanced down and felt his calves weaken—beneath the mist lay a bottomless abyss.

Huh~

Outside the mist, within the eighteenth level of Long Hu Tower, smoke curled thickly.

Long Yingchan sat cross-legged, behind him the Yangsheng Furnace burned fiercely, its smoke rising from within, where a dragon and a tiger coiled, their gazes meeting Long Yingchan's.

"This boy is cautious, but he has courage."

Through the swirling smoke, Long Yingchan watched Li Yuan walking slowly, and nodded inwardly.

When he himself walked this path, he had performed worse than this boy. Nothing visible around, abyss beneath his feet—each step was a severe trial for the spirit.

"Why is this path so long?"

Li Yuan felt as if walking a tightrope. Though he knew he wouldn't fall, it was far from pleasant—acrophobia couldn't be overcome overnight.

Huh~

In the unnervingly silent mist, Li Yuan quickened his pace, walking for over a dozen steps, until the swirling mist finally began to thin.

He hurried forward, passing through the path, and his vision suddenly cleared.

Beyond the mist stood an immense mountain peak, dense with trees, narrow at top and bottom, thick in the middle—resembling a giant elixir furnace at a glance.

Steps descended from high above to the mountain's base, leading to a towering mountain gate adorned with intricate patterns.

"Liehai Divine Script."

Though he couldn't read it, the characters on the gate bore an uncanny resemblance to those of Long Jing Gate. Li Yuan glanced once and understood.

"There's a ruin left by Liehai Star within the Yangsheng Furnace too—but judging by the script, it's not Long Jing Gate. It must be another sect?"

Curiosity stirred in Li Yuan. Were all twelve Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapons accompanied by similar ruins?

Hum~

As Li Yuan's thoughts scattered, the mist around him coalesced, and in an instant, Long Yingchan stepped out from within.

"I pay homage to the Dao Master."

Li Yuan bowed. Such divine feats, no matter how many times he witnessed them, still filled him with envy.

"Hmm."

Long Yingchan replied: "Do you know where you are?"

"The Yangsheng Realm?"

Li Yuan could only feign guesswork.

"Correct. This is the heart of the Yangsheng Realm—the true secret of the Yangsheng Furnace."

Long Yingchan stroked his long eyebrows:

"I cannot enter this place at will. Only the will of the two Ancestors can guide one here. The path you took is the shortcut to this location."

"Shortcut? Then what's the proper way?"

Li Yuan's mind flashed to the celestial ladder.

"The proper way lies within Long Hu Tower: climb to the eighteenth level, or gain the Yangsheng Furnace's recognition and ascend the celestial ladder. But both paths are exceedingly difficult."

Long Yingchan had no intention of hiding anything—he had come this far, he must explain clearly.

How difficult indeed?

Thinking of that celestial ladder, Li Yuan inwardly grumbled—it required piercing through sixty-seven thousand layers.

So there really was a shortcut.

Gazing at the towering mountain gate ahead, Li Yuan's mind raced. Did all twelve Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapons conceal similar ruins?

"I let you enter through the gate because the two Ancestors wish to see you."

Long Yingchan explained.

"Do the two Ancestors approve?"

Li Yuan recalled the colossal presence that had gazed down upon him from within the mist.

"Your talent is indeed exceptional."

Long Yingchan's fingers tightened slightly on his eyebrows as he gazed at the towering gate before him: "These patterns are a strange script. Their meaning is 'Yangsheng Sect.'"

Long Yingchan tightened his fingers on his long eyebrows, gazing at the towering mountain gate: "These patterns are a strange script, meaning the Nourishing Life Sect."

Li Yuan glanced again—he only recognized the third character: "Gate."

"What about the ones on either side?"

"Ahem, irrelevant."

Long Yingchan cleared his throat and changed subject:

"According to the Ancestors' Daily Records, each of the twelve Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapons contains a hidden ruin of a mysterious sect, and these likely all lead to the same secret place..."

According to the Ancestral Master's Daily Records, among the twelve Heavenly Destiny Mystic Weapons, each contains a relic of a mysterious sect, and very likely leads to the same hidden place...

Before Long Yingchan finished, the name leapt into Li Yuan's mind.

"The origin of all martial arts and Mystic Weapons: Bafang Temple."

Long Yingchan paused slightly:

"But this is merely legend. No one knows whether the Mystic Weapons truly lead to Bafang Temple—or even whether Bafang Temple exists. The martial world is divided on the matter."

Martial arts originate from Bafang Temple...

Li Yuan's eyes gleamed. This matched the information he had received from the Heavenly Voice.

"Ancient legends say that the ancient temple holds the secrets to immortality and transcendence. Of course, whether true or not, no one knows."

Long Yingchan was a practical man—he always added "no one knows if true" after mentioning any legend.

Li Yuan committed every word to memory.

"The legend I just mentioned—listen to it, but don't take it as fact."

Finally, Long Yingchan warned.

"Disciple remembers!"

Li Yuan bowed in response.

"Bafang Temple may be legend, but this ruin is indeed a treasure trove—it's tied not only to the Yangsheng Furnace's recognition, but also grants access to valuable items..."

At last, Long Yingchan turned to the matter at hand:

"For instance, Long Hu Dadan, Long Dan, Hu Dan, Da Huan Dan, and their formulas."

"This ruin has Long Hu Dadan?"

Li Yuan's spirits lifted. Bafang Temple was distant, but Long Hu Dadan—he already had one in his dantian. That was a true treasure.

"Correct. Not only Long Hu Dadan, but also things like Purple Bamboo Rice come from here."

Seeing his interest, Long Yingchan added more:

"But obtaining these benefits is no easy task."

"However, obtaining these benefits is not easy."

"Enter through the gate. Based on the entrant's innate talent and constitution, they undergo trials: Outer Disciple, Inner Disciple, and True Disciple."

Long Yingchan glanced at him: "The distinction between Outer, Inner, and True Disciples among our major sects originated from these ruins."

"So one must pass the trials to gain the rewards?"

Li Yuan pondered Long Yingchan's words, a sudden clarity dawning.

Perhaps these ruins were the true reason the Five Great Sects endured while others faded—by recruiting prodigies, testing them in these ruins, and granting them elixirs, spiritual rice, and other benefits in a self-sustaining cycle.

Perhaps these relics are the very reason the Five Great Sects differ from all other sects and can flourish endlessly.

They recruit gifted disciples, subject them to trials within the relics, and obtain benefits such as spiritual elixirs and spiritual rice, repeating this cycle endlessly, thus never declining.

This was a secret of the Dao Sects—most True Disciples lacked the qualification to even learn of it.

"Dao Master, you mentioned earlier that this ruin is tied to the Mystic Weapons' recognition?"

Li Yuan asked.

"Legends say the Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapons appear once every few centuries. When the wielder dies, the weapon vanishes. This is partly true, but not entirely."

Long Yingchan gazed deeply at Li Yuan, but did not elaborate:

"Recognition of the Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapons has two layers. The legend of 'choosing a master' is merely the shallow layer—hence, the weapon vanishes when the wielder dies."

"Rumors in the martial world say the Heavenly Destiny Mystic Weapons appear once every few hundred years; when their master dies, the weapons vanish. This claim is partly true, partly false."

Li Yuan nodded. The Ancestors of the Five Great Sects must have achieved the deeper layer of recognition—they had fully mastered the Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapons.

"The Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapon recognizing its master should have two layers; the Jianghu legend of selection is often merely the shallow layer, which is why the weapon vanishes after the master's death."

"So that's how it is."

Li Yuan nodded; the founding masters of the five great sects must have achieved deep recognition, having fully mastered the Heavenly Fate Mystic Weapon.

Over two thousand years ago, the Long Hu Yangsheng Furnace appeared; two Founding Masters battled countless heroes, seized the Yangsheng Furnace, and passed the Final Trial within its ruins, thereby gaining complete mastery over it.

Long Yingchan did not conceal this—it was no secret to the Military Lord; knowing it was merely a matter of time.

But knowing and doing are two entirely different things.

"Final Trial?"

Li Yuan's heart sank slightly. The True Disciple Trial had already required combat with a Master—would the Final Trial demand fighting a Grand Master?

Then again, Long Hu Temple had produced Grand Masters in every generation for over two thousand years...

"With your current cultivation, don't even think about the Final Trial."

Long Yingchan cut off his speculation and pointed toward the mountain gate: "Go test it. See what trial you can unlock."

"Is there danger?"

Li Yuan had just lifted his foot when he lowered it again.

He was no longer a body formed of true qi—if this Yangsheng Gate trial required combat, that would be disastrous.

He remembered clearly: during the True Disciple Trial at Xuanjing Sect, the opponent he faced was a millennia-class Grand Master.

That opponent did not fight him on equal footing.

"..."

Long Yingchan, waiting for him to ask, fell silent, scowling at him:

"Of course there's danger—but with the Yangsheng Furnace present, there will be no life-or-death threat."

"Then that's good."

Li Yuan felt no shame; no matter how great the benefits, they couldn't outweigh his own life.

"Huh~"

He took a deep breath, raised his foot, then lowered it again—this time touching the Shenlong Belt at his waist:

"Lord of the Dao, can I use a divine weapon in this trial?"

"..."

Long Yingchan's long eyebrows twitched. He forced patience to explain: "Of course you can—but your whip hasn't yet reached unity with its wielder. You cannot use it yet."

Unity with the weapon?

Li Yuan frowned. Unity with the weapon didn't mean forcing the divine weapon to act—it meant merging its aura completely with his own.

Normally, even with daily blood offerings and nurturing, it took many years to achieve.

"Go."

Long Yingchan glared at him. As Li Yuan walked toward the mountain gate, his heart tightened.

Since the two Founding Masters, over two thousand years had passed. Though their lingering wills still allowed the Yangsheng Furnace to be activated and the True Disciple Trial opened—

the trial triggered by a Military Lord differed greatly from the one the Yangsheng Gate opened automatically. The former could never trigger the subsequent Dao Heir Trial.

Hum~

A soft chime rang out. From the mist emerged a dragon's head the size of a house; a divine tiger stepped forth beside it.

Long Yingchan glanced at them, feeling a pang of envy—he'd never received such treatment in his day.

"Huh!"

The gaze behind him felt tangible. Having experienced this once before, Li Yuan felt no tension—he stepped naturally past the gate's archway.

Splash!

The next moment, Li Yuan heard the sound of waves—the mist surging rapidly around him.

Soon, the archway behind him was swallowed by fog. A stone stele rose from the ground, and strange, scribbled characters flashed into existence.

"Same as before."

Li Yuan had an excellent memory. The characters on the stele matched exactly those he'd seen before the Xuanjing Sect's gate.

So the Divine Weapon's evaluation of talent was consistent—and did this standard originate from Liehai Star?

As Li Yuan pondered, laughter erupted behind him—Long Yingchan's, barely contained:

"Good! Excellent!"

Li Yuan turned. The Dao Lord had half his body leaning through the archway, face flushed as if drunk, grinning uncontrollably:

"Unparalleled in a thousand generations—top-tier!"

"Eligible for the True Disciple Trial!"

Wu!

A gale whipped through the mist. Li Yuan's vision blurred—two colossal beasts, formed of wind and cloud, stood before him, their eyes blank yet flickering with human-like intelligence.

"Disciple Li Yuan, pays homage to the Two Founding Masters."

Li Yuan took a quick look, then bowed deeply.

After so long in the sect, he could guess something of the Founding Masters' state.

Earthly Immortals lived two hundred years; their wills were not indestructible. The only way to preserve will indefinitely was through incense offerings.

These two Founding Masters existed in precisely this state—akin to deities officially sanctioned by the imperial court, except they accepted offerings only from their own disciples.

These two Ancestral Masters exist in this state—similar to the gods officially appointed by the imperial court—except they accept offerings only from their disciples and sect members.

The two wind-cloud beasts nodded slightly, then dissolved into the mist, leaving only two lingering roars—the dragon's cry and the tiger's howl.

Long Yingchan also bowed deeply, watching the Founding Masters depart. He pinched his twitching eyebrows, joy swelling within.

For the first time in over two thousand years, Long Hu Temple had a disciple who unlocked the True Disciple Trial through his own innate talent!

Anticipating it was one thing; witnessing it firsthand was another.

Long Yingchan scrutinized the stele. He understood only the common phrases among its characters.

The only slight regret was the Divine Endowment:

"This Divine Endowment is only middling-lower. That's rather low."

"Divine Endowment?"

Li Yuan seized the chance to ask: "What does that mean?"

"The stele displays your talent and Divine Endowment. The former is excellent; the latter is weak."

Long Yingchan's mood remained high, unaffected:

"Talent, simply put, is the upper limit of your physical constitution. While cultivation can improve talent to some degree—

Divine Endowment refers to spirit."

Compared to Xuanjing's explanation of Liehai Hammer, Long Yingchan's words were far clearer. Li Yuan understood at once.

"So this middling-lower Divine Endowment is like middling-lower constitution?"

"Not comparable."

Long Yingchan shook his head slightly: "I don't even know if Divine Endowment is graded the same way as talent. According to the Founding Masters' daily records, both of them were top-top."

Long Yingchan shook his head slightly: "Whether divine tickets are ranked like talent, this old man is not entirely clear. According to the Ancestral Master's Daily Records, both Ancestral Masters were Superior Superior."

Long Yingchan glanced at him: "Middling-upper."

"I understand."

Li Yuan's heart eased considerably. Only then did he ask: What harm does low Divine Endowment cause?

Long Yingchan glanced at him—he could see the boy's thoughts clearly. But his mood was good, so he didn't mind:

"It relates to the Spirit Form."

Seeing Li Yuan still wanted to ask, Long Yingchan flicked his

Seeing him still about to ask, Long Yingchan swept his sleeve, shoving him into the passage formed by the mist.

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