Chapter 933 - 657: Ascension Conference

"The path of Cultivation begins with the spiritual aperture. First one must gather qi and ingest it... this is the Tenfold Qi Refining."

"The qi of Heaven and Earth is divided into nine grades and thirty-six tiers. Below the Seventh Grade, there is no fate with Foundation Establishment."

"Qi Refining at Great Success lifts up the sea of consciousness, refines the form and establishes the foundation. This is the Dao Foundation Realm."

"After the Dao Foundation, one can then refine Divine Techniques and ascend to the Purple Mansion. Above the Purple Mansion is the True Monarch Golden Core."

The book in Chen Sheng’s hand, Ascending Dragon Ridge Daoist Scripture, is but the most basic introductory Technique, and only speaks up to the Qi Refining Realm.

The later realms of Dao Foundation, Purple Mansion, Golden Core—these he had only seen in scattered notes and fragmentary scrolls at the side.

For each Realm there were usually only one or two lines, vague and incomplete.

In the Daoist Scripture it was written:

"Ascend high to gaze upon the Grand Void, conceal the breath and awaken to the True Constant... I behold the coiling dragon winding back, see the Great Dao hidden in hills and ravines, true qi gathered in layered ridges..."

As he read, Chen Sheng’s brows slowly furrowed, and within his heart billows of shock surged.

"Just a mere introductory qi-ingesting mnemonic, yet it secretly contains a trace of... Thick Earth Dao Rhyme?"

An ordinary Cultivator would likely never see, in his entire life, the true essence hidden within this Cultivation Technique.

But who was Chen Sheng?

He was a being only one step away from thoroughly comprehending Innate Taiyin, from ascending to Mahayana.

With a single glance he saw through it: on the surface, this Technique teaches one to gather qi and ingest qi, yet its true core lies in the accumulation of Dao Rhyme.

Chen Sheng closed the scroll, unable to calm his heart for a long while.

One must know, in the Spirit Realm he came from, the matter of comprehending Dao Rhyme mostly had to wait until the Nascent Soul Realm, as preparation for the future Divinity Transformation and comprehension of the Heaven and Earth Dao Principle.

It was not that they did not wish to do so earlier, but that their Realm was insufficient; they simply could not.

To seek to experience the resonance of Heaven and Earth ahead of time?

As hard as ascending to Heaven.

"Even the most monstrous geniuses of the Spirit Realm, those peerless prodigies whose affinity with the Great Dao is exceedingly high, must first cultivate to Golden Core, with Divine Sense at Great Success, in order to barely brush against a wisp of Heaven-and-Earth Dao Rhyme."

"The vast majority of Cultivators must wait until their Divine Sense transforms and condenses into a Nascent Soul before they are qualified to speak of Enlightenment."

But in this world?

At the very lowest level, within the introductory Cultivation Technique of Qi Refining Cultivators, Dao Rhyme has already been fused into it—though it be but a thin, threadlike trace, it is enough to inspire dread.

"Could it be... that the Cultivators of this world are each and every one heaven-defying prodigies?"

Chen Sheng lightly shook his head, instantly denying this thought.

Impossible.

The problem certainly does not lie with the people.

"Is it in the ’qi’..." Chen Sheng’s gaze grew deep, "or in the ’spiritual aperture’ itself?"

...

Time flowed, the years passed in silence. In a blink, another year.

It was once again the grandest day of the Mountain City—the yearly Ascension Conference. This time, it was personally presided over by Chen Sheng.

Upon the central square of the Mountain City, a sea of people had long since gathered. Clan members supported the old and led the young, shoulder to shoulder, their faces filled with expectation and anxiety.

At the center of the square sat a set of ancient testing Magical Artifacts: a green Jade Stele, a zhang in height, its body carved with intricate Runes, faintly suffused with flowing Spirit Light.

This was a Treasure from the Great Feather Grotto Heaven, remotely controlled by the Cultivators of that Grotto Heaven, capable of testing in one batch whether large numbers of youths possessed spiritual apertures.

Once a test was passed, the Jade Stele would rouse Spirit Light, piercing straight into the heavens, to be noted down by the Cultivators of the Grotto Heaven. Soon after, Immortals would descend of their own accord, take the chosen seedlings away, and they would step upon the true path of Cultivation.

The clansmen encircled the square, from time to time casting their gazes toward Chen Sheng, seated upon the Main Position, whispering among themselves.

"Look at the Old City Lord—he seems to be growing more and more vigorous."

"Isn’t that so! At the start of the year he was still bedridden. Who would have thought that now not only can he walk about, he can even personally preside over the Ascension Conference."

"With the Old City Lord here, perhaps this year our clan will have a few more Immortal seedlings!"

Chen Sheng sat straight upon the Main Position covered in beast hide, expression calm, the corners of his mouth bearing a faint smile, quietly observing the activity upon the square.

After a few pleasantries, the topic quickly turned to the Ascension Conference.

Parents of every household tightly grasped the hands of their own youths of suitable age, over and over exhorting:

"When you go in later, you must focus your mind and calm your qi, don’t be nervous. It may be that you are that Immortal seedling!"

"If you can be taken away by the Immortal Envoy, your future will be boundless. Don’t forget your family!"

At this moment, Zhaxi stepped forward, raising his hand to signal silence, and said in a loud voice:

"Clansmen, the Ascension Conference begins at once!"

"According to the previously arranged order, every batch of one hundred, step into the testing formation in turn. Focus your mind and quiet your breath, and do not make a racket!"

As his words fell, the clansmen instantly quieted down, leaving only faint murmurs of instruction.

The first batch of one hundred youths, under the guidance of the clan members, neatly stepped into the testing formation before the Jade Stele.

Each youth wore a nervous expression. Their hands clenched tightly, eyes shut, striving to focus their minds and still their qi in accordance with their elders’ exhortations.

Time ticked away bit by bit. The green Jade Stele remained utterly unmoved, the Runes upon its body still dim and without light.

"Alas, still no result..."

"It seems there are no Immortal seedlings in this batch."

Sighs rose from the crowd. The youths of the first batch drooped their heads as they walked out of the testing formation, and their parents’ faces were filled with disappointment.

The second batch, the third batch... Batch after batch of youths stepped into the testing formation, and batch after batch returned in disappointment.

Until the thirty-fifth batch: the hundred youths had only just stepped into the testing formation when the originally dim green Jade Stele suddenly erupted with a pillar of brilliant, clear light.

"It lit up! The Jade Stele lit up!"

"We have an Immortal seedling! Our Mountain City has produced an Immortal seedling!"

"Heavens! That light pillar is truly bright—this child’s spiritual aperture must be extraordinary!"

Countless gazes of envy, jealousy, and longing all swept toward that youth within the formation.

The youth looked to be thirteen or fourteen. At this moment, he was staring wide-eyed at the light pillar above his head, utterly at a loss, clearly not yet having processed what had happened.

Within the crowd, a middle-aged couple burst into joy:

"Our child... is an Immortal seedling! Our son is an Immortal seedling!"

The surrounding clansmen crowded around to offer congratulations to the couple:

"Congratulations, congratulations! Brother Bunu, your family truly has great fortune!"

"This child will have great prospects; he’ll be an Immortal Envoy in the future, and you will share in his glory!"

"We truly envy you. If only my boy could have such fortune as well!"

The couple repeatedly clasped their hands in thanks, the joy on their faces impossible to hide, their mouths grinning almost to their ears.

Zhaxi was also all smiles; this child was from his own bloodline, and by reckoning should call him maternal granduncle.

Chen Sheng’s face, too, showed a gentle smile. He beckoned to the child and spoke with a kindly voice:

"Good child, come here."

The youth froze for a moment, then walked step by step to stand before Chen Sheng, bowing respectfully:

"I pay respects to Ancestor."

Chen Sheng extended his hand, gently stroking the top of his head, appearing every bit the loving elder cherishing his junior:

"Good child, no need for excessive courtesy."

"Your ability to test out a spiritual aperture is a blessing for our Mountain City. In the future, when you cultivate in the Grotto Heaven, you must be diligent and hardworking."

"Yes."

At the same time.

Within Chen Sheng’s palm, an extremely obscure Martial Arts Spiritual Power probed toward a hidden node within the youth’s body.

In his heart he thought:

"At last, I can personally examine the mysteries of the spiritual aperture of this world."