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Chapter 1187: Chapter 1062: High Praise_2
Li Chengsheng and his group were hiding within a desolate mountain near the secret portal!
This concealed location was sufficient to evade most searches and was exceptionally safe.
On the day the portal to the Secret Realm reopened, Li Chengsheng temporarily stored Yang Li and the others in the Spirit Beast Bag and flew over alone.
Seeing the unguarded portal, he did not approach straight away but hid cautiously. Only after ensuring there were no issues did he dart through the portal with the utmost speed.
The moment he returned to the Primal Spirit Realm, Li Chengsheng released Yang Li, urging him to quickly take him away.
"Where are we heading next?" After a while, Yang Li asked.
"Let’s head straight back to Mount Wanxian," Li Chengsheng replied after some thought.
He was unclear how long it would take to comprehend the Sun Law from the Fusang Branch. If he rented a cave mansion in an Immortal City, the cost would likely be exorbitant, and there might even be unforeseen issues disrupting his retreat.
"Sounds good. We’ve been away from home for so many years; it’s time to return," Yang Li agreed.
Since the journey to Mount Wanxian was long, it was naturally impossible for Yang Li to simply carry Li Chengsheng throughout the flight. Hence, he summoned a Spirit Boat, which was piloted alternately by Yang Li, Li, and Yang Li.
Meanwhile, Li Chengsheng seized every moment to comprehend the Fusang Branch, striving for an early breakthrough to Integration.
At the same time.
On the distant Mount Wanxian, the Li family was holding their annual Spirit Testing Assembly.
As the Li family’s strength continued to grow, what used to take a single day to complete now required an entire seven days!
Of course, it had evolved beyond merely testing Spiritual Roots; additional assessments such as examining the Spiritual Soul and traversing the Heart-Testing Array had been added.
This shift underscored the Li family’s advancement; they no longer solely prioritized the quality of Spiritual Roots but also placed value on Dao Heart and mental fortitude.
Subsequently, participants were given a comprehensive evaluation based on the results of several rounds of testing. Rankings were divided into three grades and nine tiers, with the highest being "Superior-Superior" and the lowest being "Inferior-Inferior."
This evaluation determined the amount of cultivation resources they could later obtain from the family for free.
Though this system was quite unfair, it was unavoidable. As the number of family members grew, it became impossible to provide everyone with sufficient cultivation resources.
However, as a cultivation family, the Li clan maintained some level of equity. Unlike sects, they would not treat kin with extreme bias.
"I wonder how many promising talents will emerge from this year’s Spirit Testing Assembly."
"Last year, there were over a dozen participants who ranked Superior-Superior. The hosts received significant rewards; I wonder if we’ll be that lucky this time."
Two Void Refinement cultivators sat atop auspicious clouds, casually chatting. Although others nearby remained silent, they too wore expressions of anticipation.
The Spirit Testing Assembly did not require their personal involvement. Their primary role was to serve as a deterrent against any disruptions.
"Oh?"
One Void Refinement cultivator suddenly let out a startled exclamation, drawing everyone’s gaze. He then chuckled and said, "I just noticed two or three strands of pure Spirit Light within the Spirit Testing Array. It seems we’re not short on Heavenly Spiritual Roots this year."
In the past, Heavenly Spiritual Roots were exceedingly rare in the Li family, appearing perhaps once every thousand years, and thus were highly cherished by the clan.
Those individuals had indeed fulfilled the family’s expectations. Li Mingyao, Li Yunran, Li Yunzhuang, Li Yunluo, and others had at least reached Late Stage Void Refinement by now, with some even in seclusion attempting to break through to Integration.
However, with the increasing number of children tested each year, Heavenly Spiritual Roots now appeared almost annually, sometimes more than one.
Consequently, their value waned compared to before and no longer warranted special privileges.
Moreover, if these Heavenly Spiritual Roots performed poorly in the other tests, their overall evaluation would likewise drop.
"Let’s hope their subsequent performances are outstanding enough to earn a Superior-Superior ranking."
The other Void Refinement cultivators echoed sentiments of expectation.
In the midst of the thousands of children participating, one plainly dressed boy stared determinedly at the stairway in front of him, silently psyching himself up. After taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.
The scene before him shifted abruptly, and he found himself face-to-face with his deceased parents, who waved and affectionately called him by his childhood name.
This heartwarming sight tempted the boy to dwell in it.
However, a deeper conviction within him sobered him, enabling him to take the next step.
The scene changed once more. This time, he saw himself after countless years of cultivation, as the first in his family to break through to the Immortal Realm, leading the clan to unprecedented heights.
"Though a fine dream, it doesn’t align with my true character."
This time, the boy awoke even quicker. He disdained shortcuts, favoring instead the sense of steady progress.
Subsequent illusions arose, but none could overcome the resolve of this five-year-old child.
The other children who had entered the Heart-Testing Array with him had already been replaced multiple times, while he alone advanced to the final step of the stairway.
With just one more trial, he would become the first five-year-old to emerge from the Heart-Testing Array since its creation!
This would prove his Dao Heart to be exceptionally steadfast, surpassing even that of many Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation cultivators!
Unbeknownst to him, he had already drawn everyone’s attention. The Spirit Testing Assembly even came to a halt as all participants turned to watch whether he could achieve this miracle.
At this moment, the boy was undergoing an unexpectedly arduous challenge—confronting his Heart Demon!
"Don’t you desire unparalleled strength and profound cultivation? Just nod, and I can grant it all! There’s no need to suffer through arduous cultivation like others," the Heart Demon coaxed, its words imbued with a mesmerizing allure that enticed unwitting submission.
The boy, momentarily entranced, began to walk slowly towards the Heart Demon. But just as he was about to reach out, his outstretched hand froze.
"I’ve said before, I prefer the feeling of solid effort!"
With that declaration, the boy snapped fully awake.
"Impossible! How can I, a Heart Demon, fail to beguile a mere uninitiated child?" Enraged and disheartened, the Heart Demon flickered, its form fading as it vanished in unwilling resignation.
"I’ll remember you! The day you face Tribulation Transcendence, it will be me who blocks your path!"
The boy, oblivious to the cryptic warning, stepped through the final gate, exiting the Heart-Testing Array.
Wow—
The moment he emerged, a tidal wave of gasps and cheers erupted across the entire site.
A five-year-old child with untempered meridians had completed the Heart-Testing Array!
This feat was even rarer and more invaluable than possessing Heavenly Spiritual Roots.
Such terrifying resolve might prompt a rule change in his favor, granting him a Superior-Superior evaluation even if his other tests were lackluster.
Unexpectedly, he excelled in all categories. Though not as awe-inspiring as his Dao Heart, he had dual spiritual roots and respectable comprehension abilities.
Combined with his extraordinary Dao Heart, a Superior-Superior ranking was unquestionably within his grasp.
Following this boy’s performance, the remaining tests became dull and uninspiring, leaving participants eager for the assembly to conclude.
News of this event spread rapidly among many Li family cultivators.
"Are they serious? A five-year-old child with unrefined meridians completed the Heart-Testing Array? Even we couldn’t manage that!" a Nascent Soul cultivator exclaimed skeptically.
"Who would dare to fabricate such a claim? Don’t forget, a few years ago, a Void Refinement elder tampered with the Spirit Testing Assembly and faced severe punishment."
The Nascent Soul cultivator shuddered. If even a Void Refinement elder had their cultivation abolished and was expelled from the clan, who else would dare attempt manipulation?
"I’m curious about his other attributes. If they are even halfway decent, he might truly deserve the title of prodigy."
"Sigh! Perhaps a century or so from now, we’ll be bowing to him," another murmured wistfully.
When word reached Li Taiyao, she frowned and asked, "You mentioned this news has already spread throughout the family?"
"Yes, and many people are praising him openly."
She was deeply displeased. Such undue adoration lavished on a mere child risked distorting his development.
With this in mind, Li Taiyao’s discontent grew. She immediately contacted the Void Refinement members overseeing the Spirit Testing Assembly, instructing them to address these matters promptly.
