Chapter 46: A Glorious Revitalization of the Cultivation World (46% complete)
The group spent the following days exploring.
Unfortunately, even though they lived near the sycamore grove, they were unable to see the legendary phoenix. However, they knew that the proud phoenix would not easily reveal itself to people, so although it was a pity, it was also within their expectations.
In their spare time, besides learning about the First Heaven, they basically spent all their time on the university's intranet.
Not only them, but everyone who comes to this island is amazed and fascinated by the extraordinary beauty of the First Heaven and the magical inner network.
The first heaven is very large and is divided into four different areas, each with its own beautiful scenery.
Peach groves, coastlines, sycamore trees, glaciers—although the island is not small, its span is not enough to present four distinct and different landscapes, which is why everyone who visits the island is amazed.
Su Xiaoyao came from another world and considered herself quite knowledgeable even in this age of information overload, but she was still thoroughly amazed.
She spent several days sightseeing with everyone, and even as the assessment was about to begin, she still felt like she hadn't had enough.
On the day the assessment officially began, she keenly noticed something amiss with the first level.
Logically speaking, although the island is large, it is definitely not large enough to accommodate so many people. However, no matter how many people land, the island still seems empty and not crowded at all.
Su Xiaoyao sat by the sea, watching the cultivators who were seizing the time to break through the storm's limits and enter, and inexplicably felt a sense of déjà vu, like the fierce competition of the college entrance examination.
"There's still an incense stick's time before the assessment begins," Jiang Yun said.
The three-person team sat side by side on a horizontal log. It was unclear which cultivator had brought the log ashore; after using it as a makeshift anchor, they had simply left it there and forgotten about it.
Looking at the sky, clouds, and sea, Su Xiaoyao sighed, "When I was in school back home, my teachers often told us that one more point on a test can make all the difference between a 211 and a 985. It turns out that this theorem also applies in the cultivation world."
Jiang Yun and Xiao Tingyuan were already used to her saying things they couldn't understand. They could roughly grasp the meaning and sensed that Su Xiaoyao's words might not be meant for them.
She might just be reminiscing about something; all they need to do is listen quietly and let her pour out her secrets.
This has been a long-standing tacit understanding within the three-person team.
"We've been here for several days now, what do you guys think of this place?" Su Xiaoyao finished her lament and changed the subject.
“Very good.” Jiang Yun said succinctly.
"Don't be so quiet, cool guy, be more specific." Su Xiaoyao said disdainfully, gesturing with her hand, "Tell me your thoughts, like how beautiful the scenery is, whether you like our dormitory, or what you think of the intranet, there's so much to say."
Jiang Yun lowered his eyes: "I think the Heavenly Evolution Dao Ancestor is very strong."
Su Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow: "They haven't even shown up yet."
Jiang Yun glanced back at the island: "Apart from the original Phoenix, as well as Lai Ye and Xiao Hei, no fourth manager has appeared on this island, but there is not a trace of dirt. Every flower and plant looks like it has been carefully tended and cared for. The day before yesterday, Helian Yi went to sea and found that this is a rootless island. It should have been drifting with the sea all day long, but it was bound to the spot by a force. There are also two floating islands above it. This island itself is extraordinary, and the person who created it is even more extraordinary."
"Moreover," he paused, gazing into the distance, "as far as I know, although countless people have been thrown out by the storm, not a single person has perished. We heard stories from storytellers in the town at the foot of Kunpeng Mountain, and the storms described in those stories were far more powerful than this."
Xiao Tingyuan frowned slightly: "I've noticed this while observing these past few days. When the challenger is a lone cultivator, the storm's power is correspondingly reduced. But if they're facing a young master from a powerful family who's protected by a high-level cultivator, the storm's power increases considerably. It's as if they have a soul; they can discern the challenger's strength and adjust the storm to an appropriate intensity, always leaving a glimmer of hope."
“Yes, the storm automatically parted to make way for us when we arrived, which means they can be manipulated. Someone is controlling the powerful storms, making them give Foundation Establishment cultivators a chance, and then rejecting those who need external help to even pass the trials.” Jiang Yun’s eyes lit up. “Fairness is simple to say, but how many of those in power are willing to look down on us ordinary cultivators? Tianyan Academy is a place worth coming to.”
“The island was supposed to close yesterday, but there were too many people trapped outside, and the cries outside the storm were too loud. The golden light that had risen halfway actually retreated.” Xiao Tingyuan sighed, “The Heavenly Evolution Ancestor is truly… a rare kind-hearted immortal.”
Ascended immortals are unattainable. Throughout history, no immortal has ever been willing to look back at the declining cultivation world after ascending, except for Tianyan Daozu.
His heart and actions reveal him to be a truly kind and good person.
These few details alone were enough to show that this was a being completely different from all the powerful beings they had ever seen. Xiao Tingyuan and Jiang Yun were already in awe and looked forward to learning more here in the future.
They believed that once they entered this place, they would surely become the pinnacle of the cultivation world.
Su Xiaoyao grew up in a different world, where law and equality are valued, and she lacks a certain sense of awe. She is more grateful to Tianyan Daozu for being willing to maintain fairness and justice with her own strength in a world where the strong prey on the weak, and she has a good impression of her.
She narrowed her eyes: "Although I don't know just how powerful this person is, I'm certain that she must be a great weapon refiner."
"Why do you say that?" Jiang Yun looked at her.
Su Xiaoyao tapped the ground with her toes and pouted, saying, "After all this talk, haven't you realized yet? This island is a giant spiritual artifact."
Jiang Yun was only surprised for a moment before she immediately realized what was happening.
He thought about it for a moment and figured out the key.
Yes, apart from the explanation that the island is a magical artifact, there is nothing that can better explain the island's extraordinary nature.
It can encompass the beauty of the four seas, and no matter how many people land on the island, it never feels crowded. Isn't this a testament to the capabilities of a top-tier spatial artifact? And then there's the storm…
“Storm…” Jiang Yun’s face showed a rare expression. “I have heard that some sacred artifacts can give birth to artifact spirits. Artifact spirits have no fixed form and are only born to protect the artifact.”
"The storm that even cultivators at the Integration stage dared not approach in the stories is merely the spirit of a Saint-grade spiritual weapon in the hands of the Dao Ancestor. The Dao Ancestor's weapon-refining skills are even more exquisite than those in the legends!"
Xiao Tingyuan thought that under the guidance of the system, he had broadened his horizons and would never lose his composure over anything again, but he was still shocked when he realized this.
"Legend has it that the Heavenly Dao Ancestor was originally a rogue cultivator, skilled in refining weapons, making medicine, and drawing talismans. Unfortunately, after saving the world, she achieved perfect merit and ascended to heaven early, leaving no time to find suitable successors for all her cultivation techniques and secret manuals," Su Xiaoyao said.
She learned the weapon-refining techniques given by the system and discovered that all top-level techniques were inseparable from some basic techniques left by the Heavenly Evolution Dao Ancestor. Therefore, compared to others, she had a very concrete and intuitive understanding of how strong this legendary figure was.
"Because the techniques and secret manuals were not passed down, when someone possessed her things, they would usually hide them for fear of being snatched away. Over time, most people had a vague concept of how extensive her skills were and how strong her abilities were."
Jiang Yun unconsciously reached for the Soul-Summoning Banner on his back: "Very few people possess Saint-grade spiritual artifacts. Only those who have had sporadic contact with the Dao Ancestor's works know how powerful she is."
All the magical artifacts that appeared on the day the vehicle was summoned were made by the Heavenly Evolution Dao Ancestor, and the Soul-Transfer Banner was among them, so it is self-evident who its creator was.
The three banners for summoning, binding, and delivering souls appeared together, and their initial use in combination clearly indicates that they were created by the same person.
He possessed the Soul-Summoning Banner and knew its power, which made him even more respectful and grateful to the Heavenly Dao Ancestor.
If it weren't for the chance encounter with the soul-summoning banner, the wronged spirits of the Jiang family would have dissipated with resentment three years ago.
The three chatted for a long time while gazing at the boundless sea, until finally the moment arrived when the assessment was about to begin.
"The first illusionary trial will expose people's hidden vulnerabilities and desires, but I believe the three of us will be the fastest to get out." Returning to the assessment itself, Xiao Tingyuan was very confident.
"Of course! I'll show you the highest state of being free from desires." Su Xiaoyao tossed her head casually. "You always say I'm too ambitious, but today I'll tell you that being ambitious has its advantages!"
After saying that, she remembered something, looked at Jiang Yun and pursed her lips: "Xiao Jiang, I know that your family's affairs have always been a pain in your heart, but you must distinguish between illusion and reality. Remember, only by defeating the illusion can you take revenge in reality."
She wasn't worried about Xiao Tingyuan; he was too upright and his heart was pure. She was only worried about Jiang Yun being tormented by painful memories.
Jiang Yun was surprisingly calm, a hint of gentleness appearing on his cold face: "Don't worry about me. I've had you all and it with me all these years. I know very well that what happened back then wasn't my fault, but the fault of the mastermind behind it. Even if it's just to find out the culprit, I won't get addicted to the illusion. Besides, now that the Soul-Saving Banner has appeared, I have a firm goal to achieve."
Su Xiaoyao knew that "it" referred to System 444, and nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
She said, "Xu Lingyou has experience with the mountain gate ceremony. He told me that the first test is usually the same old thing, just a test of one's character. Some involve climbing a ladder to heaven, while others involve various temptations. We don't know what kind of illusions will appear here. The internal network describes it very vaguely, only saying that everyone's illusion is different, and this large-scale illusion will continue until half of the people are eliminated. In short, it should be roughly the same: showing you painful memories, or temptations of power and sex, and presenting you with the path to immortality so you can resist the temptation to soar to the heavens. We just need to remember to keep our feet on the ground."
She understood all this perfectly; all those cultivation novels she read in her past life weren't for nothing. When it came to willpower, she was invincible because she was free from desire! She would immediately show the four continents what it meant to be unhindered in the abyss of desire! She would give those high-level cultivators, plagued by inner demons and controlled by selfish desires, a real shock to their souls!
"There's one more thing highlighted in red," Xiao Tingyuan added. "Since creating an illusion inevitably touches a person's fragile and sensitive consciousness, in case someone has malicious intentions after regaining consciousness and affects others, the assessment will start and end simultaneously. Those who finish early must continue to stay in the illusion, otherwise it will be considered a challenge to the rules."
"It's a kind of protection for the test takers," Su Xiaoyao nodded. "This regulation is quite good."
"After waking up, I won't be idle. I can observe the illusions of other examinees, just like the examinees from the Four Continents." Xiao Tingyuan's expression was a little awkward. "I wonder what I will see. I hope I don't make a fool of myself."
The real-time delivery of entrance examination results has both advantages and disadvantages for candidates.
The downside is that if you make a fool of yourself, you'll lose a lot of face.
The advantage is that winning the assessment here will bring you more fame and fortune than participating in ten Lingzhou Grand Gatherings.
This is a golden opportunity, and no one wants to miss out on a chance to make a name for themselves just because of a little embarrassment.
"Just how powerful is the Dao Ancestor? He can simultaneously trap tens of thousands of people in an illusion and then project everything that happens here onto the four continents... This is unprecedented in history." Xiao Tingyuan felt a mix of shock and excitement.
He is about to become a disciple of such a powerful master!
"Let's go, it's time! Get ready for my moment of glory!" Su Xiaoyao rubbed her hands together, eager to pounce. "Money, power, and handsome men, just throw them all at me!"
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Author's Note: This is just a transitional chapter. Tomorrow is the main event. Let me think about what perspective to use.
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