Chapter 423: Meeting an Old Acquaintance in the Celestial Palace

Chapter 423: Chapter 171: Meeting an Old Acquaintance in the Celestial Palace

The descriptions in the triad-themed cultivation novels Xu Lei had read back on Earth weren’t on the same level at all.

In the cultivation novels back on Earth, a random Foundation Establishment or Golden Core cultivator could live for a thousand years, or even several thousand.

And they never had to live in seclusion, become monks, or sever all worldly desires and attachments.

They lived like bandits, robbing and murdering for treasure every day, their Magical Power endless and inexhaustible.

Xu Lei had fantasized about such a crude lifestyle himself.

“If that day ever truly comes, it’ll be amazing.”

Xu Lei said with a mix of genuine and feigned excitement, “I just wonder if we’ll live to see an era like that!”

“Hard to say.”

Yuan Kong added, “Right now, there’s the Saint Master, that’s one. The Venerable, that’s two. And me, that makes three! It’s not nearly enough people to open the Celestial Palace Secret Collection! I don’t even know if I can last that long! Alright, that’s enough nonsense. Get in there. I’ve said all that needs to be said!”

Xu Lei thanked Yuan Kong again, then turned and walked toward the entrance of the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower.

Before entering, however, Xu Lei asked, “What happens if I can’t pass the trial?”

“If you can’t pass the trial, you’ll never get out. You’ll be trapped inside the Ninefold Celestial Tower until you die.”

Just then, a smile tugged at the corner of Yuan Kong’s mouth. As he spoke, he suddenly lashed out with his leg. His Magical Power condensed into a giant foot that kicked Xu Lei directly into the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower. “Don’t blame me, Junior Brother Liao Chen. This is the Saint Master’s rule. Either you pass the trial, or you grow old and die inside! No destruction, no creation. So don’t get your hopes up for an easy way out. You must have the resolve to burn your boats!”

THUD! Xu Lei landed hard on the floor inside the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower. He skidded across the ground, tearing his clothes.

Slamming his hands on the ground, Xu Lei sent out a jolt of Magical Power to stop his momentum.

He then pushed himself up into a crouch.

Xu Lei’s brow furrowed as he recalled Yuan Kong’s final words.

‘I can’t believe the Celestial Palace’s rules are so tyrannical.’

‘No wonder I haven’t seen any Ascenders return below after all these years.’

‘I’ve only ever seen Bodhisattva Guan Yun and Yuan Kong.’

“Oh, look, we’ve got a new guy.”

“AHAHAHAHAHA, another cellmate!”

“So lonely, so lonely. Finally, someone else has arrived. Hey, cellmate, come on over! Let’s play some Pai Gow!”

At that moment, Xu Lei still couldn’t see his surroundings clearly, as the floor of this First Heaven of the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower was shrouded in white mist.

The mist only rose to a height of about a meter.

Since Xu Lei was still crouching and hadn’t stood up, they couldn’t get a clear look at him either.

The voices belonged to several male Cultivators who were laughing and talking.

Xu Lei turned his head and saw two Daoists who were as decrepit as old geezers, their hair disheveled and bone-white, their faces etched with wrinkles. There was also a bald old Monk who looked just as haggard.

Xu Lei immediately understood that they were also Ascenders.

But they must have failed to pass the trial, and over the long years, their spirits had broken.

He never expected to see a few old men playing mahjong here in the heavens.

Xu Lei was rendered speechless.

‘Looks like the trials of the Nine Heavens are pretty tough after all.’ Xu Lei’s heart sank.

After all, if it were easy, these men wouldn’t be trapped here on the First Heaven, their minds broken from the confinement.

They had clearly given up completely.

Xu Lei had seen this state of mind plenty of times back on Earth.

Many people, after struggling with no results, would lose all their fighting spirit and just give up.

Then, Xu Lei stood up. When the old men saw his face, their expressions instantly changed.

“Impossible! How is he so young? He ascended at such a young age?”

“Another genius…”

“And here I thought we had another cellmate. How boring!”

They muttered among themselves.

“Forget it, forget it. Not my business.”

“Let’s get back to our Pai Gow.”

“Back to the game, back to the game!”

Waving their hands dismissively, the three old men walked away.

“Are you alright?”

Just then, a young man suddenly walked over to Xu Lei and asked.

“I’m fine,” Xu Lei replied with a smile.

“By the way,” the young man added, “my Dharma name is Wu Sheng. And you are?”

“Liao Chen,” Xu Lei replied.

As the two were talking, a voice suddenly drifted over from another direction.

“Senior Sister Jin Xin, you didn’t pass the trial again?”

A man’s voice continued, “Don’t lose heart. You’ll make it one day. Are you tired? Did you get hurt anywhere?”

Two more figures appeared.

One of them was graceful and elegant, possessing an extraordinary charm. It was none other than Zhao Xin.

After successfully Crossing the Tribulation, Zhao Xin had reverted to the delicate beauty of a mature woman in her early thirties. Even her simple attire held a unique charm.

The other figure was a man with a somewhat round face, also around thirty years old, who was shamelessly fawning over Zhao Xin.

“Who’s that guy?” Xu Lei immediately asked Wu Sheng.

“The man? His name is Jue Gen.”

Wu Sheng explained, “Actually, it seems he’s been strong enough to advance to the Second Heaven for a while now. He just insists on staying here on the First Heaven for Senior Sister Jin Xin. A lot of people find him annoying, but since he’s Senior Brother Yuan Kong’s son, everyone tolerates him.”

“What?”

Xu Lei was stunned. “He’s Senior Brother Yuan Kong’s son?”

Wu Sheng nodded.

Xu Lei’s expression immediately darkened.

‘The father, Yuan Kong, has killed me twice, and now his son, Jue Gen, is trying to hit on my woman!’

“As for Senior Sister Jin Xin, she’s gorgeous, isn’t she? It’s rare to see such a beautiful Female Cultivator here on the First Heaven, so all the male Cultivators are falling over themselves to chase her.”

Wu Sheng added, “But Senior Sister Jin Xin is very cold and aloof. No one has been able to win her over; it’s useless. This Jue Gen is a stubborn one, though. He’s relentless. No matter how many times she rejects him, he keeps at it. Junior Brother Liao Chen, what’s with that look on your face? Don’t tell me you’re interested in Senior Sister Jin Xin too? I’d advise against it. You’d just be wasting your time.”