Chapter 153 - 152: Profound Spirit Mountain, The 5-Stele Trial

The Royal Secret Garden.

Two days had passed since it opened.

In those two days, the top geniuses of the Qiu Yue Kingdom had engaged in a merciless slaughter.

Of the fifty people who had entered from the Azure Cloud Kingdom, more than half had been lost, with ninety percent of them dying at the hands of their powerful enemies from the Qiu Yue Kingdom.

Now, the geniuses from the Azure Cloud Kingdom had grown vigilant, moving in groups of two or three. They rarely acted alone.

After leaving the high tower, Luo Tian and his two companions explored the gardens for half a day.

During this time, they harvested several rare Treasure Materials that were extinct in the outside world.

However, Luo Tian didn’t encounter any other Heavenly and Earthly Treasures on the level of the Dragon Scale Grass or Blood Pear Fruit.

In the sky,

the Crow beat its wings. Its long, sharp beak had faded by twenty or thirty percent.

Suddenly, the Crow’s feathers ruffled, and its eyes flashed as it stared in a certain direction.

Almost at the same time,

Luo Tian sensed a tremor in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in a distant part of the space.

BUZZ! BOOM!

Four or five miles away, a colossal pillar of five-colored light shot into the sky, causing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to roar.

A majestic pressure, powerful enough to shake the heavens and the earth, spread out.

Even the Master of the Holy Mansion would feel utterly insignificant if he were here in person.

"What is that...?"

Senior Jin was so shocked he was speechless. He stared at the five-colored glow that had triggered the celestial phenomenon, feeling a suffocating pressure.

Then, on the distant horizon, a massive, dark-blue mountain shrouded in a five-colored radiance began to rise.

RUMBLE—

The ground beneath their feet began to tremble and roar ceaselessly, as if in an earthquake.

"A mountain rising from beneath the ground?"

Luo Tian’s eyes widened slightly as he watched the bizarre scene.

A few breaths later, the sky-piercing pillar of five-colored light gradually dissipated as the mountain finished rising, and the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi returned to normal.

"That’s Profound Spirit Mountain! It’s an extremely rare opportunity in the Royal Secret Garden."

Li Yunxiu’s beautiful eyes flashed as she spoke with joy.

"Profound Spirit Mountain?"

Luo Tian quickly recalled the information Nangong Yu had given him, which included a brief description of this mountain.

Profound Spirit Mountain was said to contain many treasures and inheritances left behind by Great Powers from Ancient Times.

The Royal Secret Garden could open a dozen times or more without Profound Spirit Mountain appearing even once.

It was rumored that the mountain was tied to some of the secrets of the Jin Dynasty when they created this Secret Realm Space, but it remained a mystery to this day.

"Let’s go, quickly!"

The three of them hesitated no longer, executing their Body Techniques to rush toward Profound Spirit Mountain.

A moment later, the mystical mountain, wreathed in five-colored light, appeared before them. They could faintly see streaks of treasure light and various rare birds and beasts within.

Besides Luo Tian’s group,

some other geniuses from the Azure Cloud Kingdom who were nearby also rushed over.

Among them, the Third Prince’s faction was the most powerful, with six or seven people gathered together.

"Haha! To think Profound Spirit Mountain has appeared! It seems my luck has finally turned!"

A domineering and unrestrained voice echoed.

Just then, a man in a Black Robe with a mole on his brow flew over, exuding a cold and oppressive aura.

"Wang Tian!"

The geniuses from the Azure Cloud Kingdom who were present looked at him with dread.

The aura around Wang Tian was even more terrifying than it had been during the Wu Mansion’s grand event. He had clearly found some opportunities in the Royal Secret Garden.

At this moment, all the geniuses from the Azure Cloud Kingdom gathered at the entrance to Profound Spirit Mountain, none daring to act rashly.

Because, Profound Spirit Mountain was surrounded by the Five-Colored Radiance Array, and not everyone was qualified to enter.

At the sole entrance to Profound Spirit Mountain,

stood five ancient, cyan steles, each several dozen meters tall, giving off a majestic and archaic aura.

Luo Tian discovered that

each of the five ancient cyan steles had a different aura.

Some emanated a tyrannical, oppressive power; some contained a spiritual charm; and others gave off an unfathomable spiritual presence.

Moreover, each stele bore a few shallow marks, mostly in the shape of palm prints.

"These five steles are the entrance trial for Profound Spirit Mountain!"

the Third Prince, Li Yi, said with a smile.

"If you can gain the recognition of any one of the steles and leave a mark on it, you’ll be able to enter the mountain."

As a core member of the Royal Family, Li Yi knew more of the Secret Garden’s secrets.

The five great steles, from left to right, were:

The Power Stele, the Talent Stele, the Opportunity Stele, the Enlightenment Stele, and the Spiritual Stele.

"I’ll give it a try!"

A sturdy young man at the Spirit Sea Realm from behind the Third Prince strode forward confidently.

WHAP!

The sturdy youth channeled all his strength and punched the Power Stele, producing a dull thud.

’That punch didn’t use any True Qi, just physical strength, yet it had the power equivalent to the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening.’

Clearly, the sturdy youth was either naturally strong or had also cultivated Body Refining Techniques.

But after the punch,

the Power Stele was left without a single mark.

The sturdy youth’s expression changed slightly, but he wasn’t discouraged.

After all, there were five steles in total, and passing any one of them would grant him entry.

"The Talent Stele!"

With a confident expression, the sturdy youth tested the second stele.

WHOOSH!

The sturdy youth activated his True Qi and Martial Vein, striking the Talent Stele.

In the end,

the Talent Stele also remained unmarked.

"How is this possible! I have a Profound Tier Upper Grade Martial Vein, yet I can’t pass?"

The sturdy youth was in disbelief.

Next, the sturdy youth tested the Opportunity Stele, the Enlightenment Stele, and the Spiritual Stele in succession.

He failed every single one!

The geniuses present all wore grave expressions, their hearts filled with shock.

Although the sturdy youth wasn’t one of the current generation of geniuses from the Wu Mansion’s grand event, reaching the Spirit Sea Realm by the age of twenty-five or twenty-six was still the mark of a genius.

Yet such a genius couldn’t even pass the trial of Profound Spirit Mountain.

He couldn’t even get past the gate, let alone compete for the various opportunities within the mountain.

After the sturdy youth,

the other geniuses on the field stepped forward one by one to be tested.

BOOM!

A loud, muffled bang erupted from the Power Stele, startling many people.

Hong Peng had thrown a punch, leaving a shallow fist print on the Power Stele.

BUZZ!

A Five-Colored Streaming Light suddenly lit up on the Power Stele and, with a flash, enveloped Hong Peng’s body.

"Hong Peng gained the recognition of the Power Stele."

Some envious gazes were cast in his direction.

"Haha..."

Hong Peng let out a loud laugh, a faint layer of the Five-Colored Streaming Light now surrounding him.

Wrapped in this layer of light,

Hong Peng ignored Profound Spirit Mountain’s Five-Colored Radiance Array and stepped inside with ease, now able to enter and exit freely.

Of course,

Hong Peng had only been recognized by the Power Stele; he failed to leave a mark on the other four.

BUZZ!

Another stele lit up with the Five-Colored Streaming Light.

This time, it was the Third Prince, Li Yi, who had passed the Talent Stele’s test.

As one of the top three on the Human List, Li Yi’s aptitude was naturally exceptional.

Talent wasn’t determined solely by one’s Martial Vein; it was also related to one’s overall constitution, bloodline, and innate bone structure.

Li Yi possessed a peak Profound Tier Upper Grade aptitude, and being under twenty, he had passed the Talent Stele’s test.

Luo Tian guessed that the five steles’ tests were also related to age.

’If an elderly Spirit Sea Realm expert were to take the test, he might not be recognized, even if his strength and talent were top-notch.’

Before the five steles,

geniuses tried one after another, but less than half of them passed the entrance trial.

Most people passed via the Talent Stele, followed by the Enlightenment Stele.

Among those who were recognized, there were also differences in strength.

The deeper the imprint left on the stele, the brighter the Five-Colored Streaming Light that enveloped them.

The shallower the mark, the dimmer the light.

Just then,

Wang Tian strode toward the steles like a meteor.

The tyrannical aura he emitted made those nearby hastily step aside.

"I heard Wang Tian’s aptitude isn’t outstanding. He only has his current achievements because of a fortuitous encounter after falling off a cliff."

"He’s second on the Human List. Surely he won’t fail to pass the trial of Profound Spirit Mountain, right?"

A few of the people who hadn’t passed the trial transmitted their thoughts to each other in secret.

Those who failed hoped others would fail as well, which would make them feel a bit better.

Sure enough,

Wang Tian failed to leave a mark on both the Power Stele and the Talent Stele.

Just as everyone thought Wang Tian might be stopped outside Profound Spirit Mountain,

BUZZ!

The third stele, the Opportunity Stele, flashed with a layer of Five-Colored Streaming Light.

Wang Tian’s palm left a fairly deep palm print on the Opportunity Stele.

Instantly,

the Five-Colored Streaming Light surrounding Wang Tian surpassed that of the Third Prince, Hong Peng, and the others.

Everyone present was stunned.

So far,

Wang Tian was still the only person to have been recognized by the Opportunity Stele.

Luo Tian mused to himself, ’Wang Tian was able to gain a great opportunity after falling from a cliff when he was young. His fortuitous encounters truly are far beyond those of an ordinary person.’

After being recognized by the Opportunity Stele,

Wang Tian walked over to the Enlightenment Stele, confidently placed his hand on it, and then closed his eyes.

To everyone’s surprise,

Wang Tian also left a rather shallow palm print on the Enlightenment Stele.

BUZZ!

Another surge of the Five-Colored Streaming Light blessed Wang Tian’s body.

"He passed the tests of two steles?"

The crowd was in an uproar.

Although Wang Tian’s talent was ordinary, his opportunities and comprehension were not. It was no surprise he could become the second on the Human List; he was truly no simple character.

"Hahaha! This Profound Spirit Mountain will be my land of great fortune."

Wang Tian grinned, his face filled with arrogance.

He couldn’t help but look forward to it. With the opportunities from Profound Spirit Mountain, his strength would soar, and he would definitely conquer that woman, Xia Bingyue.

"Brother Luo, it’s just the three of us left."

Li Yunxiu said with a charming smile.

"You two go first."

Luo Tian wasn’t in a hurry, letting Li Yunxiu and Senior Jin go test first.

Senior Jin went to test and left a rather shallow mark on the Talent Stele, which was an average result.

Li Yunxiu stepped forward.

The first, the Power Stele, she left no mark.

But on the second one, the Talent Stele,

Li Yunxiu left a clearly visible, delicate palm print.

The depth of the imprint surpassed everyone before her.

BUZZ!

A brilliant Five-Colored Streaming Light flashed from the Talent Stele and wrapped around Li Yunxiu.

"That woman..."

Wang Tian’s expression darkened slightly.

The blessing of the Five-Colored Streaming Light Li Yunxiu received from a single stele was almost equal to what he had received from two.

The strength of the Five-Colored Streaming Light’s blessing determined the magnitude of the opportunities one would find inside Profound Spirit Mountain.

However,

Li Yunxiu’s performance wasn’t over yet.

She walked to the Opportunity Stele and left another imprint, neither deep nor shallow.

"Li Yunxiu... she also passed the tests of two steles?"

The Third Prince, Li Yi, and the other members of the Royal Family were quite astonished.

BUZZ!

The Five-Colored Streaming Light surrounding Li Yunxiu now definitively surpassed Wang Tian’s.

"Damn it!"

A trace of jealousy and killing intent flashed through Wang Tian’s cold, dark eyes.

He could see that Li Yunxiu and Luo Tian had a good relationship, perhaps even an intimate one.

"Brother Luo, it’s your turn."

Li Yunxiu smiled sweetly, extremely pleased with the recognition she had received from the steles.

She had a feeling that Luo Tian’s performance would only surpass her own.

"Alright."

Luo Tian walked unhurriedly toward the five steles.

’That kid...’

A sharp glint flashed in Wang Tian’s eyes. He had been about to enter the mountain, but seeing Luo Tian make his move, he decided to watch for a moment.

The Third Prince, Li Yi, had the same idea.

Luo Tian walked toward the stele on the far right.

Huh?

The onlookers wore strange expressions.

Luo Tian’s choice of order was the opposite of everyone else’s; he had chosen the most obscure one, the Spiritual Stele.

So far, not a single person had been recognized by the Spiritual Stele.