Chapter 1181 - Mortal, Immortal, and Dao
The rewards stirred the crowd into a frenzy but also cast a shadow over the next stage of the competition. The Nine Heavenly Dragon Forms in particular made hearts pound with greed. Cultivators could buy spiritual pills with enough resources, but a supreme martial technique that promised evolution into a mythical art was priceless.
Not every technique could ascend into a mythical art. Only formidable sects held such legacies, and cultivators like Mu Heng and Shen Yue had likely chosen the Heavenly Dragon Sect for those arts.
Astral stones were hard to come by for ordinary cultivators, but those two lacked no resources. Their families owned private mines, supplying them with a constant flow of wealth for cultivation.
Fifteen minutes of rest vanished in an instant. Liu Wuxie, having barely consumed any true essence in the previous fight, saw no need to meditate. Around him, anticipation simmered among the remaining candidates.
The valley was emptier now, its open space echoing with expectation. By tradition, the assessment consisted of three stages, but no one ever knew what each year would bring.
"Now, let us begin the first trial—writing!" Elder Ding's voice resounded across the sky.
A ripple of shock ran through the crowd. Some faces brightened with relief, others paled in dismay. Writing was a test of comprehension, and for those without a deep understanding, it was a nightmare.
Liu Wuxie and He Yingwu, however, remained unshaken. For them, such a trial was far easier than combat. He Yingwu himself was proof of talent, and reaching the Heaven Profound Realm in the True Martial Continent was no small feat.
With a wave of Elder Ding's hand, a light screen materialized above the valley, transforming into a resplendent phoenix.
"It's a phoenix!" Gasps echoed as the divine bird circled overhead, its radiant aura forcing heads to bow.
Even Liu Wuxie paused, awe flickering in his eyes. He recognized it not as a true phoenix but as the phantom of an ancient one. This meant an ancient phoenix had once appeared in the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and its will still lingered within the sect.
He Yingwu gaped, his heart trembling. Divine beasts had long vanished from the True Martial Continent. If any remained, they dwelled in places forever hidden from mortal reach. Yet here was one, its will enduring centuries, millennia, perhaps even millions of years.