Yellow Court Daoist-Chapter 324 - 304: Breaking Through Four Barriers to See Yuu Mountain
"The Third Level."
Crushing the Golden Armor Divine General, Lu Qingfeng looked up. The divine thought of the Yuu Mountain Daoist manifested again, his white hair billowing as he stood in the air, indistinguishable from a true man, and he laughed heartily, "Welcome to the third challenge. The first two challenges tested your mastery of array and evaluated your nature and morality, as well as your cultivation. This third level, however, tests your innate talent and insight."
Accompanying the words of the Yuu Mountain Daoist, golden light exploded in the sky.
Four gateways materialized above the vast expanse of the earth.
Lu Qingfeng inspected each one in turn.
Looking at the first gateway from the left, it shimmered with golden light, and within it appeared a daoist who was either sitting in meditation or contemplating some wonderful method.
The second gateway from the left also flashed with golden light, and within it was a daoist refining alchemy medicine, an aromatic fragrance wafting throughout.
The third gateway from the left glowed just as brilliantly with a daoist inside refining a magical artifact, its radiance dazzling.
The fourth gateway from the left was equally luminous, with a daoist arranging an array, each Array Flag falling into place and revealing mysterious patterns.
After examining the four gateways, Lu Qingfeng heard the voice of the Yuu Mountain Daoist from above, "These four gates represent four paths: cultivation, alchemy, artifact refining, and array. Each contains scrolls you can comprehend. Whichever you choose to enter, achieving comprehension signifies success."
"Your root bone is the foundation of the cultivation path, your nature is vital, and insight lies in between."
"Choose one gate to enter."
"Succeeding in comprehension means you have passed the challenge."
With that said, the Yuu Mountain Daoist stood in the sky as golden light materialized beside him into the rules of this level, and he spoke no more.
"This level—"
Lu Qingfeng pursed his lips and stepped into the first gateway from the left.
When it comes to insight, he has never been afraid since his mastery of the Yellow Court Scripture ascended to the Third Layer.
Upon entering the gateway, he saw no daoist.
There was only a desk before him, upon which lay six golden books. The desk's inscription laid out the rules—
[Choice of one.
Multiple choices allowed.
Master the chosen technique to Great Success, and the challenge is considered broken.]
Lu Qingfeng remained in front of the desk, the Yuu Mountain talisman flashing again. He ignored it, casually picking up a page from the golden books.
[Technique: Stepping Cloud]
[Grade: High-level]
[Description: An ascendant escape technique that allows you to traverse and ride the winds among the Nine Heavens Gang Wind, taking you thousands or tens of thousands of miles away.]
"Three Sects Sixth-Order Magical Instruments, six high-order techniques."
"The Yuu Mountain Daoist has lived long and amassed quite a wealth."
Lu Qingfeng, with his abundant possessions, has far surpassed the Yuu Mountain Daoist in magical artifacts, divine skills, techniques, and cultivation.
Yet in reality, cultivators like Lu Qingfeng are one of a kind.
Being able to casually produce a Sixth-Order Magical Artifact or a high-level technique for testing others showcases the substantial wealth of the Yuu Mountain Daoist.
"High-level techniques are regarded as secret techniques, greatly tempting even to a Jiedan True Man."
A typical Core Formation cultivator, who acquires one such technique and dedicates themselves to mastering it to Great Success or even Perfection could become a formidable peer without the aid of powerful magical artifacts.
Like the Cold Rhinoceros Wanderer, a spiritual cold rhinoceros who cultivated the Dao, his lifebound technique, Xuan Light of the Ice Soul, was a high-level technique already perfected. Once used, even Han Ji with the White Bone Six Yang Hammers in hand must be extremely cautious and dare not slack off.
Similarly, the Gui Cang Wanderer who wielded the Netherworld Ghost Fire was another holder of a high-level technique. Once unleashed, it erodes bones and gnaws marrow, entangling the divine soul and proving to be very troublesome, causing peers to pale and avoid confrontation.
After all.
Even in the Xuanyuan Sect, the highest-grade technique is merely high-level.
"Mastering a high-level technique to Great Success would take even a genius several years or even more than a decade of hard work."
"As for me, it would require at least a hundred years of diligent study and continuous refining."
"But—"
Lu Qingfeng smiled, entered 'Stepping Cloud' into his attribute panel, sat down cross-legged, appearing to comprehend, but in reality, he was logging into 'Primordial.'
About one-tenth of thirty minutes later.
Lu Qingfeng opened his eyes.
Spirit light sparked under his feet as he shattered the gateway and shot directly beyond the clouds.
"Challenge passed!"
From all directions, thunderous applause erupted.
Lu Qingfeng's form transformed, the four gateways vanished from sight, and in their place arose nine arched bridges. Extending in nine directions from his feet into layers of mist, their destinations unknown.
He had entered the Fourth Level.
Perhaps even the Yuu Mountain Daoist himself never imagined that a future cultivator could pass the first three levels as swiftly. Such speed, if the Yuu Mountain's Immortal Mansion were to persist, would surely be unprecedented.
"The Fourth Level."
Lu Qinfeng lifted his gaze.
As expected.
Atop the bridges, the figure of the Yuu Mountain Daoist appeared. His sleeves fluttered, his demeanor serene, truly the embodiment of a revered hermit.
He said:
"On the path of cultivation, without great fortune, root bone, insight, and nature are all indispensable. Yet with profound luck, even if one's root bone, insight, and nature are mediocre, one can still reach the pinnacle of the Immortal Path."
"To have overcome the first three levels, you must undoubtedly possess keen insight and strong nature."
"Nevertheless, chance and luck are also crucial."
At this point, the Yuu Mountain Daoist paused for a moment, seemingly with a hint of regret.
Shaking his head, his expression was unreadable as he pointed to the nine arched bridges and said, "These nine bridges, only one leads to where this old man has placed his magic gates and magical artifacts. It's always shifting. Within you'll find the Longevity Secret Method, the Array Dao and Artifact Refining inheritance, and the 'Green Wood King Ding,' the Supreme Treasure of Green Wood Valley, as well as a Seventh-Order Magical Artifact, the strongest safeguard of the Four Sects."
"From nine, choose one, and only through fateful opportunity and supreme fortune will you obtain my inheritance."
"For thousands of years, perhaps someone has already had the opportunity to enjoy such benevolence, equipped with profound luck," the Yuu Mountain Daoist elaborated on the rules.
Suddenly, golden light manifested and transformed into a set of rules arranged in the sky.
Upon hearing the Yuu Mountain Daoist's final statement, Lu Qingfeng immediately took out the 'Yuu Mountain Command Talisman' from his sleeve. Holding the talisman, a hint of coolness passed through it and, sure enough, the mist at the ends of six of the nine arched bridges dispersed.
Sword Mountain, Fire Sea, boiling cauldron, Purgatory...
Each was a path to death.
Only at the end of three bridges did the mist linger, their finality obscured. According to the Yuu Mountain Daoist, this was the privilege of possessing his talisman.
From choosing one out of nine.
To choosing one out of three.
The odds greatly increased.
"Yuu Mountain Command Talisman."
"From the first trial to the fourth, the Yuu Mountain Immortal Mansion shows favor to those who hold the Yuu Mountain Command Talisman."
Clutching the talisman, Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh.
At the first trial, the talisman provides hints, making it easier to discern the path to the second trial. At the second one, possessing the talisman enables one to bypass the rules and choose any Sect Magical Artifact, while still passing the Great Array of the First Level.
At the third trial, Lu Qingfeng entered the first gateway to comprehend the techniques. Others need to reach Great Success in their techniques to pass, but if the talisman is activated, one only needs Small Success to shatter the gateway.
For those who hold the Yuu Mountain Command Talisman, the challenges of these three trials are far less difficult than for others.
It was in the fourth trial that Lu Qingfeng came to realize—
"Yuu Mountain Daoist is stressing the importance of chance and destiny. Amidst the vast expanse of time, to obtain the Yuu Mountain Command Talisman is truly to have extraordinary fate."
"Thus, the favoritism is not misplaced."
"The final trial, however, is for those who enter the Immortal Mansion for trials without the Yuu Mountain Command Talisman. Even if no one gets the talisman, the test of chance and destiny still awaits."
It has to be said.
This Yuu Mountain Daoist seems to have an unusual obsession with destiny.
Even if one has exceptional perception or an excellent temperament, in his eyes, they do not compare to those with profound destiny.
"Almost a demon in old age."
"Such elaborate guidance, indeed formidable."
"Had I not possessed the Great Divine Power 'Seven Beasts Small Divine Number' to foretell fortunes and calamities, I would have likely fallen prey to this scheme."
With a light chuckle, Lu Qingfeng stored the Yuu Mountain Command Talisman into his storage bag and glanced around at the nine arched bridges. "Of course, destiny is important on the path of cultivation, but the foundation still lies within oneself."
As he spoke.
His eyes burst forth with dazzling Spirit Light, 'Daluo Cave Temple' sweeping nine directions.
The Spirit Eye opened.
Penetrating the essence of all things, tracing back to the origins of all things!
To Lu Qingfeng, the mist obscuring the ends of the nine arched bridges became as though it were all a ruse; all scenes could not avoid his Dharma Eye.
Sword Mountain.
Fire Sea.
Boiling cauldron.
Purgatory.
At the end of each bridge, obvious dangers lurked, including the three bridges that had been cleared by using the Yuu Mountain Command Talisman. They were even more perilous, not with Sword Mountain or Fire Sea, but with pitch-black and grim space fissures.
Once set foot within, one would certainly be sucked into these spatial fissures and be ripped to shreds by the turbulent flows of space, leaving not even the Divine Soul remaining.
"Quite ruthless."
Lu Qingfeng composed himself.
The Yuu Mountain Daoist distributed the talismans and even harbored such malice toward those who held them—it truly puzzled Lu Qingfeng.
"Useless to me."
Lu Qingfeng shook his head and peered towards the ends of the remaining six bridges.
Looking past the Sword Mountain, it still appeared as an endless Sword Mountain, and looking past the Fire Sea, it remained an infinite Fire Sea.
However, beyond the boiling cauldron lay a grand hall, nearly identical to the forehall of the Immortal Mansion.
"This is where the true legacy lies."
Lu Qingfeng's eyes brightened, he sailed towards the leftmost bridge. With one step into the cauldron, no trail lay behind, but though the cauldron looked horrifying and boiling, setting foot in it was completely harmless, like walking on flat ground.
Passing the cauldron.
He stepped into the grand hall.
On the coiled dragon pillars, Golden Dragons seemed to come to life, majestically pacing through the hall. Likewise, Divine Generals holding Iron Halberds lined up on both sides.
Their presence was nothing short of extraordinary.
Lu Qingfeng turned towards the main seat of the grand hall, where a seated Daoist suddenly came into view—none other than the Yuu Mountain Daoist. Just as Lu Qingfeng looked over, the Yuu Mountain Daoist opened his eyes, and their gazes met. It was as if Lu Qingfeng glanced through thousands of years, seeing the once peerless Yuu Mountain Daoist in his prime, and now in his twilight years, sitting in meditation.
A thousand feelings surged.
As their eyes crossed, the Yuu Mountain Daoist suddenly stood up, approached, and examined Lu Qingfeng. Lu Qingfeng felt a frown form as this Divine Thought from the Yuu Mountain Daoist felt different from the ones in the previous four trials.
As for exactly how it was different, he couldn't tell at the moment.
The Yuu Mountain Daoist made a couple of rounds around Lu Qingfeng, then stood in front of him, eyes revealing a hint of amazement, "You are neither from Green Wood Valley nor a Disciple from the Three Mountains or Seven Gorges Great Sects. It seems I've truly stumbled upon a treasure; after dying for over ten thousand years, I've indeed met a descendant with excellent heart and insight, and matchless destiny."
"Senior—"
Lu Qingfeng looked at the Yuu Mountain Daoist, his eyes sparkling with Spirit Light—
[Yuu Mountain Daoist thought incarnation: Merely a wisp of remaining thought, sealed for thirteen thousand years, containing the last vestige of the Yuu Mountain Daoist's consciousness.]
"It's not just a simple Divine Thought!"
Lu Qingfeng was suddenly astounded.
