Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Foundation Establishment Stage Enters the Three Trials

What was a court assembly?

In the mortal world, it was the ceremony between ruler and ministers.

The Hundred Sects Assembly carried its name for a reason.

According to Liu Xuan, in the world of Heng Yun there were four great domains—east, south, west, and north—and each had a leader who held that domain’s spiritual pulse and fortune.

If any one force tried to swallow everything for itself, the Heavenly Dao would not permit it.

To ensure the immortal path continued to flourish, this grand gathering was established so fortune could be divided and contested.

Sect battles were also rankings. How well a sect performed determined how much fortune it received.

In years past, the Ling Zhen Sect’s results were poor, and the sect declined again and again. Only later, when Qiu Silhouette rose like a sudden star and seized fortune for them, did the sect begin producing talented juniors in steady succession.

A leader who held a domain’s fortune naturally carried the air of a monarch. A monarch granted lands to kings; likewise, the leader distributed fortune among the sects.

At the same time, each sect presented tribute upward, honoring the burden of responsibility the leader bore under the Heavenly Dao.

More than 1,000 Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators had gathered for this assembly. First would come contests among those at Foundation Establishment Stage; later, there would be Essence Condensation Stage duels. The entire event would last more than a month.

Beyond fights between realms, there was also the sect-level Sect War. That came after the individual contests and was determined by each sect’s performance in those individual battles.

Last time, the Ling Zhen Sect and the Chang Yuan Sect faced each other in Sect War precisely because their individual results were similar.

Those individual contests were known as the Three Trials.

The first trial measured how solid a cultivator’s cultivation truly was. A Profound Division Stage cultivator would press them down with true essence and observe how much their Spiritual Foundation could bear.

It was the bedrock of every path that followed. Of course it mattered.

The second trial conjured a phantom double of the cultivator and forced them to fight it. This tested comprehension—an essential quality on the road of cultivation, and the line that separated genius from ordinary talent. Because the phantom was condensed from the cultivator themselves, it was both most familiar and most alike; only by battling one’s own self could strengths and weaknesses be laid bare.

The third trial was the most elusive of all: it questioned the Dao heart.

The Dao heart was difficult to define, hovering between real and illusory. Some people seemed unshakably resilient, yet their hearts were packed with hatred and calculation, bound up in karmic Devil hindrances. They looked firm, but their inner devils still clung tight.

Others were slow and dull, yet held no distracting thoughts at all, their Dao hearts clear as still water.

Someone may look carefree and still be chained. Someone mired in the mundane may still break through it. That was the principle.

After the Three Trials, the top 100 by overall performance would be selected to enter the Fortune-Seizing Battle, where they would contend for extra fortune beyond what their sects already received.

Last time, among the Ling Zhen Sect’s disciples, only Huo Zi Xun made it through. The Chang Yuan Sect had only Geng Tian Qin. That was why the two sects ended up grouped together in Sect War.

This time, Li Shu finally felt at ease. The Ling Zhen Sect had ten disciples at late Foundation Establishment Stage. Du Fan Zhi and Liu Xuan—his personal disciples—were outstanding; surely they would enter the Fortune-Seizing Battle. As for the other eight, if any of them made it, that would be pure good fortune.

With over 1,000 Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, there was no chance they would all take the field at once. They would be divided into groups of 200, and the trials would last several days.

To keep spectators engaged, the order would be randomized. Disciples would not be arranged by sect at all; instead, 200 would be drawn at random for each round. Within any given round, strengths and weaknesses would quickly become clear for all to judge.

Liu Xuan sat at Zhao Chun’s side, unhurried and utterly unruffled. As they talked, she told story after story about famous geniuses from other sects, broadening Zhao Chun’s horizons without effort.

“This time, Junior Sister, you’re only limited by your cultivation,” Liu Xuan said with a grin. “By the next assembly, you might not only reach Foundation Establishment Stage—you might even step into Essence Condensation Stage. Then you can take the stage yourself. No need to envy anyone.”

Zhao Chun smiled and bowed her head. “Thank you for the auspicious words, Senior Sister.”

Admiration stirred in her chest, along with a rising battle intent. One day, could she also make a name in the Southern Domain—or even across the entire world of Heng Yun?

“Song Yi Kun and Xue Yun were born with heavenly spirit roots,” Liu Xuan went on. “Their cultivation naturally advances far faster than others.

“But what truly makes the Southern Domain fall for them is their comprehension—something no one else can reach.

“To geniuses like that, any technique or spell becomes simple in their hands, pared down until it touches the Dao itself.”

Her eyes shone with sincere respect. Then she turned back toward Zhao Chun. “In my opinion, Junior Sister, your comprehension in the sword Dao is no worse than theirs. I’ve traveled for years, and at least in the world of Heng Yun, I’ve never seen a second person like you.”

“At least… in the world of Heng Yun?” Zhao Chun echoed, startled.

Had Senior Sister been to other worlds?

Liu Xuan laughed. “Where did your mind run off to? In this world, only those guided by an Upper Realm cultivator can break the boundary and leave. How could I possibly have gone?”

As if she’d read Zhao Chun’s thoughts, she continued lightly, “Even if I haven’t seen it myself, I’ve heard enough. For all its vastness, the world of Heng Yun is only a Minor Thousand World. Above it there are Middle Thousand Worlds, and beyond those, Great Thousand Worlds—places where the spiritual qi of heaven and earth gathers in full. The geniuses born there are naturally beyond anything we can compare.”

“So that’s how it is…” Zhao Chun murmured.

The land beneath her feet was only a tiny corner of the universe. How could dust and gravel ever glimpse the sea’s true breadth? Her road was still long, and she couldn’t see its end.

She shook off the sudden weight of that thought and looked back at Liu Xuan. “There are countless worlds. In time, we can go and see them for ourselves.

“And from what I’ve seen, Senior Sister, your talent in the Dao of alchemy is something others can’t match.”

Liu Xuan’s smile turned radiant. She rested a hand on Zhao Chun’s shoulder and lifted her chin in proud amusement. “As it should be. Among my peers, I claim I’m not inferior to anyone. Even if I meet Dan Cheng Sect disciples, I still dare to say it.”

They were about to continue, but a name rang out from the platform—Liu Xuan’s.

After the sect’s disciples were gathered and organized, she was confirmed as one of the first 200 to take the field.

The platform hovered far from the surrounding seats. Foundation Establishment Stage disciples couldn’t fly through the air; they had to rely on artifacts and techniques to reach it.

Many tossed out Mist Skiff talismans and rode upward. Wealthier heirs from major sects summoned flying artifacts. In an instant, everyone displayed their methods, and treasure light flared across the sky.

In the first round, three of the Ling Zhen Sect’s ten Foundation Establishment Stage disciples were drawn. It was hard to call it anything but unlucky.

The other two rose with Mist Skiff talismans like most people. Liu Xuan was different. She pressed two fingers together, pinched out a slender oval leaf, and murmured an incantation. The leaf lifted on the wind, swelling to several meters in length and width. She stepped onto it lightly and drifted upward, graceful as falling silk.

Those 200 would have to clear all Three Trials, and after each one they would be given only two hours to recover. Time was precious.

Using a flying artifact to ascend inevitably drew attention. Only those confident in their strength would do it openly. One Chi Shou Sect disciple even rode in atop a late Foundation Establishment Stage peng bird, instantly becoming the focus of the arena.

Zhao Chun’s brows knit.

There were advantages and dangers to such a display. Win, and you made your name. Lose, and you became a laughingstock.

She could only watch and see how he fared.