From the lips of Yan Leizi, calm as a placid lake, flowed the words, “Indeed, it is this Stone.”

“Legends whisper of this relic,” the elder of the Xiang clan intoned, a shadow of concern darkening his countenance, “a fragment of the ancient Immortal Domain. Should a soul inscribe their name upon it, that name, by divine power, pierces the veil of nothingness, echoing within that lost realm! That the Feng Xian Stone should reside within the Thunder Immortal Hall…”

“Though the Ancient Immortal Domain vanished, prophecies endure,” a middle-aged man, bearing the noble name of Gongsun Fu, added, his eyes gleaming with inner light. “It is said that after countless ages, the Domain shall awaken once more, and only those whose names adorn the Feng Xian Stone shall be welcomed within! Mere rumors, perhaps, yet the only thread left to us by that ancient civilization.”

Silence descended, heavy as a mountain. Few amongst the assembled cultivators possessed knowledge of the Feng Xian Stone, but the words of Elder Xiang and his companions painted a vivid picture of its significance. Yet, the term “Ancient Immortal Domain” remained an enigma, prompting curious gazes towards the ancestral figures of their respective clans.

Yan Leizi, with a disarming placidity, broke the silence, “The Feng Xian Stone shattered during the Thunder Immortal Realm’s demise, scattering into countless shards. The Thunder Immortal Hall lays claim to none. No need to dwell further. An esteemed elder presented me with a palm-sized fragment after subduing the Moon Beast!”

At this pronouncement, the venerated elders seated upon their prayer mats fell into contemplative silence, their inquiries quelled.

“The trials to ascension are threefold: Heaven, Earth, and Man. The first test, the Trial of Man! Those who strive to claim a celestial title must endure for ten breaths to pass!”

“Luo Su, enter the Thunder Pool!” Yan Leizi’s voice boomed, and a streak of emerald light hurtled from the distant horizon. Before Yan Leizi and the other elders, the light coalesced into the form of a middle-aged man clad in verdant robes.

He offered a respectful bow to the gathered multitude, his voice deep and resonant. “As you command, Hall Master! Ah…” He descended, his feet touching the flagstones of the vast plaza. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression held a blend of serenity and subtle pride.

His arrival ignited a ripple of attention among the surrounding cultivators, many recognizing the esteemed Luo Su. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Luo Su of the Thunder Immortal Hall!”

“Rumor claims his cultivation reached the early stages of Soul Transformation three centuries past. He has remained secluded ever since. Today, he stands as the guardian of the Trial of Man!”

“Luo Su is no ordinary man, his mastery of spiritual energy is legendary. Even some of the most seasoned elders have lauded his abilities!”

The murmurs grew louder as Luo Su lifted his gaze to the swarm of younger cultivators hovering within the many transmission arrays. His expression remained impassive. “In my eyes, you are all unworthy to bear the mantle of the One Hundred and Eight Immortals. To extinguish your lives is no more challenging than crushing ants! Now, heed my command. I shall point, and whomever I select shall descend!”

At Luo Su’s harsh words, a collective darkness fell over the faces of those within the transmission arrays. Xu Ting’s eyes blazed with a crimson fury, though he remained silent.

Without further preamble, Luo Su extended his right hand, his finger settling upon a cultivator hailing from the Northern Domain of Luo Tian.

The chosen cultivator hesitated for a fleeting moment, but that was enough. Luo Su snorted coldly, and his right hand transformed into a colossal hand that manifested in the void. A howling wind accompanied the transformation.

Swift as lightning, the hand seized the cultivator, ruthlessly dragging him from the sky and flinging him aside.

The cultivator’s face paled instantly, his cultivation at the early stages of Soul Formation rendered insignificant before such power. The chilling grip froze his very life force. Landing heavily, he instinctively assumed a meditative pose.

Luo Su’s eyes revealed a growing impatience. He held no regard for the so-called Ascension. Only the Hall Master’s command compelled him to oversee this trial. Otherwise, he would have continued his secluded cultivation, striving to reach the later stages of Soul Transformation. And, there was another reason, a pivotal point in his decision to stand guard.

After removing the first contestant, Luo Su’s severe expression deepened. He unleashed his divine sense, causing the heavens and earth to tremble. His spiritual energy possessed the extraordinary ability to morph within his body. As it spread, it coalesced into a golden-armored giant, each step echoing with thunderous reverberations.

The giant, without pause, marched towards the meditating cultivator, its speed increasing with each stride. Three steps brought it close, and the golden giant raised its right fist and violently thrust forward! Even before the blow landed, the seated cultivator’s face drained of color, his eyes widened in abject terror. His robes whipped back as if caught in a tempest, his hair a wild halo around his face.

Wang Lin’s eyes burned with focus as he observed. The instant the giant’s fist descended, the cultivator convulsed, spewing forth a mouthful of blood. His body flickered, and his nascent soul was forcefully ejected, hurled from his body.

With a disdainful snort, the golden giant retracted its fist, retreating a few steps to stand motionless beside Luo Su.

“Worthless! With such cultivation and lack of mental fortitude, you are unfit to compete for celestial titles. You fail!” Luo Su’s impatience grew. He felt that testing this individual was a gross waste of his time.

The cultivator’s nascent soul returned to its physical form, his gaze locked on Luo Su. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately said nothing. He rose, offered a shallow bow, and departed, his face filled with shame. He returned to the transmission array, and vanished along with the fading light.

Three hundred and twenty-five had become three hundred and twenty-four.

Luo Su frowned, his eyes sweeping over the cultivators still suspended in the air. At random, he selected another, and this cultivator gritted his teeth, descending to the plaza to stand before Luo Su. He bowed deeply. “I await your guidance, Senior!”

Luo Su’s expression softened slightly, though he remained silent. The golden giant beside him took a single step forward, unleashing the same technique as before, a thunderous fist hurtling through the air.
The cultivator, teeth gritted against the torment, wove intricate hand seals. A sudden burst of incandescent light erupted from him, a desperate attempt to halt the advance of the golden-armored giant. Alas, the brilliance was but a fleeting illusion, shattered like glass beneath the giant’s thunderous fist.

Staggering backward, the cultivator bit his tongue, spitting forth a crimson cloud of blood in a final act of defiance.

The giant’s fist crashed into the blood mist, unleashing a deafening roar. The vaporous barrier dissolved, and the cultivator, face ashen, faltered. His nascent soul, the very essence of his being, began to tear from its mortal coil. Yet, with a guttural scream born of unbearable agony, he forced his spirit back, the sound of cracking bone echoing from within.

The sheer strain was too much. Though his soul was anchored once more, his vital energies plummeted. “Ten breaths held! You pass, barely,” sneered a voice, dripping with disdain. “But such a wretch as you will surely fall in the trials to come!” With a flick of his sleeve, the speaker, known as Luo Su, flung the cultivator back towards a shimmering portal. The man, drained and pallid, offered a shallow bow before retreating to the传送陣 and sinking into a meditative posture.

One after another, aspirants were summoned by Luo Su. Those who acted swiftly fared marginally better, but hesitation was met with brutal force. Like the first unfortunate soul, many were injured before the test even began.

As the plaza filled with fallen contestants, the air grew thick with the sting of Luo Su’s scorn. Even those who succeeded were rarely spared his contemptuous pronouncements. Increasingly impatient, he would merely point, and the golden giant’s fist would fly.

Two incense sticks burned low, marking the passage of time. More than half had faced the trial, with only four in ten deemed worthy, however grudgingly. The gifted – the youth炎雷子, the child prodigy大頭童子, the enigmatic 南宮寒 – all with their profound cultivation, passed with relative ease. Only when judging these individuals did Luo Su’s expression soften, his venomous words silenced.

“You, come down!” Luo Su’s finger stabbed towards a figure within a portal in the sky. It was Xu Ting of the Eastern Star, his eyes burning with a malevolent light, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

Luo Su’s gaze was glacial. With a sweeping gesture, a colossal hand materialized, lunging towards Xu Ting. As it closed, Xu Ting wove a complex seal, and black miasma swirled around him, coalescing into a grotesque, spectral horror. The creature shrieked, grappling with the ethereal hand. Xu Ting, a chilling laugh escaping his lips, plunged downward, but not towards the plaza. Instead, his hands met before him, drawing apart to unleash a torrent of inky blackness that formed into a spear.

Luo Su’s eyes flashed with fury. The golden giant thundered forward, but Xu Ting, with a mad cackle, veered, abandoning his advance toward Luo Su. In a single bound, he stood beside the giant, the spear poised to strike. The giant’s fist hurtled towards the weapon, but at the last moment, the spear twisted in an unnatural contortion. Its point vanished, replaced by a serpentine form – a slender, obsidian viper, its maw expanding to a monstrous scale of dozens of丈. The sight was unsettling, prompting murmurs of unease amongst the observing修士.

With a terrifying gulp, the viper swallowed the golden giant whole. A figure in the crowd, 王林, watched with narrowed eyes.

“The Serpent Devourer of the Xu clan!” an elder, 向家老者, nodded approvingly. “An impressive technique.”

“Indeed,” another老者 agreed. “Xu Ting may well prove to be one of the most formidable contenders for the title.”

Around them, whispers spread as family elders identified the arcane art for their kin.

“The Serpent Devourer, one of the four great arts of the Eastern Star Xu clan,” one elder intoned. “A technique of profound mystery.”

“It is said,” another added, “that against lesser cultivators, the Serpent Devourer can consume not only their form, but also their very cultivation, adding it to the user’s own power!”

The immortal 清水仙君 observed Xu Ting with a cold indifference, offering no comment.

Luo Su’s gaze intensified, but remembering Xu Ting’s origin from the esteemed Xu clan, he suppressed his rage and forced out a curt, “Passed!”

Xu Ting, still chuckling, his black spear reformed, swaggered back to his portal, casting a defiant glance at 王林.

Luo Su’s face darkened as he pointed once more towards the remaining aspirants in the celestial传送陣. This time, his finger landed upon 王林.

“You, come down!” Luo Su’s eyes glinted with barely concealed intent. He knew 王林’s face well. The reason he had been tasked to oversee this first trial was because of 王林! With unwavering composure, 王林 stepped forward, descending towards the plaza. Perhaps sensing 王林’s pace was too slow, Luo Su unleashed a contemptuous snort, and the colossal hand materialized again, lunging towards 王林.

The resulting gust of wind buffeted 王林, a warning that to be caught by that hand, regardless of the trial’s outcome, would mean grievous injury.

王林 was no lamb to be slaughtered. His eyes flashed with a frigid light as his third eye, centered on his brow, snapped open. A crimson beam, thick and searing, spread out in a fan-like arc, engulfing the descending hand.

He did not falter, but continued his descent. The crimson light met the ethereal hand, and a series of explosive reports echoed across the plaza. The colossal hand, caught in the withering blast, fractured and dissipated. 王林 landed lightly upon the plaza, bowing respectfully towards Luo Su. “I am ready to be tested,” he stated calmly.

炎雷子, seated in the stands, observed the spectacle, his eyes narrowed in shrewd appraisal of the crimson light. He regarded 王林 with a newfound appreciation.

“The boy possesses a remarkable ability,” he murmured, “though still unrefined, it resonates with the very essence of the Dao!”

The immortal 清水神色, his expression inscrutable, glanced briefly at 王林 before turning away.
The ancient grotesqueries perched upon their lotus thrones stirred, their eyes gleaming with a predatory light as the newcomer defied expectations. Only the Blood Seed, his face a mask of chilling disdain, harbored a silent, venomous amusement.

Amongst the throng of onlookers, few possessed the insight to grasp the significance of the crimson light emanating from the third eye. Yet, the elder patriarch of the West Phoenix clan sighed, muttering to himself, “Such power… and in one so young. Truly, this one is not to be trifled with.”

Luo Su’s countenance darkened. The stranger’s magic had unsettled him. Fixing his gaze upon Wang Lin, he unleashed his spiritual might. From the ether, a towering golden automaton manifested, radiating a blinding, ethereal light. With a thunderous roar, it lunged forward, a shockwave designed to shatter the very soul preceding it.

After three strides, the construct’s gauntlet clenched, delivering a blow imbued with a potent anti-spirit force. Wang Lin, having anticipated this assault, swiftly wove a web of incantations. Countless protective sigils coalesced before him, forming an intricate latticework of mystical barriers.

As the golden warrior bore down upon him, Wang Lin extended his hand, unleashing the seals. “Seal!” he intoned, his voice resonating with arcane power.

The myriad seals surged forth, engulfing the golden figure. Layer upon layer, they clung, ensnaring the automaton. Just inches from its target, the construct ground to a halt, utterly imprisoned by Wang Lin’s potent magic.

From the moment he stepped into the square, Wang Lin hadn’t moved an inch. Now, he cast a frigid glance at Luo Su, dismissing the frozen warrior with a mere flicker of his eyes. Turning on his heel, he strode away.

His dark hair danced in the air as he moved, his white robes flowing around him. Though his features were plain, an aura of undeniable presence clung to him, a subtle magic that belied his humble appearance.

Such a clean, decisive victory in the first trial! All who witnessed it turned their heads, their gazes drawn to the mysterious stranger. Xu Ting’s eyes gleamed with a predatory red light as he scrutinized Wang Lin.

Xi Zifeng’s heart fluttered in her chest. Her face flushed a delicate rose as memories of their time in the Realm of Thunder cascaded through her mind.

“His seals are formidable,” the six-fingered monk mused, his brow furrowed as he studied the captive construct.

Even the large-headed child, his face plastered with an idiotic grin, betrayed a hint of chilling awareness in his vacant smile.

Luo Su’s face was like granite. He thought back to the day, two days before, when he had emerged from seclusion, only to learn of the affront that had ignited his fury. His younger kin had fallen, slain by one called Xu Mu near the transfer array of the Realm of Thunder! And this Xu Mu now stood before him, a contender in the Conferred Immortal Trials! A flash of cold fury sparked in Luo Su’s eyes. He wouldn’t kill him here, not overtly. But he would ensure that Xu Mu failed the first test, that he was ejected from the Thunder Immortal Palace, vulnerable, where Luo Su could then exact his vengeance! With a snarl of disdain, Luo Su amplified his spiritual power, causing the trapped automaton to erupt in blinding light. It pulsed with newfound, unnatural energy. The seals began to crack, shattering one after another with echoing reports.

The golden construct, with a mighty step, manifested a colossal golden blade in its hand. It raised the weapon, preparing to strike. Moreover, in the wake of Luo Su’s intensified spiritual onslaught, not only did the blade-wielding automaton swell to colossal proportions, but two more golden giants materialized upon the arena, all three bearing down upon Wang Lin in unison. The speed of the constructs whipped the air into a maelstrom. Wang Lin swiftly pivoted, his eyes burning with icy determination. Retreating rapidly, he unleashed more seals to intercept one of the giants. Simultaneously, he invoked the Spell of Slaying, which then pierced through the web of protection, hurtling towards the second. As for the third behemoth, Wang Lin charged directly, raised hand ready with the parasitic bone he carried, the child and mother Dao. The bone manifested, gleaming with an unholy, shadowed light, filling the world with baleful aura.

Immediately, the automaton’s golden glow dimmed, replaced by a sickly grey. Without hesitation, Wang Lin extended his hand, his first two fingers shaped as a blade, and tapped the construct.

With a thunderous boom, the automaton shattered. Just as quickly, the other two constructs crumbled beneath the onslaught of seals and slaying spells, the arena reverberating with the destruction.

But at that very moment, as the last shards of the fallen automata settled, Luo Su surged into action. His first direct intervention, beyond spiritual interference, was executed with lightning speed. Crossing the distance in an instant, he thrust a single finger towards Wang Lin, unleashing the full force of his cultivated power. The peak stage of the Nirvana Scrying realm crashed upon Wang Lin with a deafening roar. Too late to evade, Wang Lin threw out the Immortal Sealing Stamp as a shield.

Luo Su’s finger slammed into the Immortal Sealing Stamp, causing it to shudder violently. Wang Lin staggered, feeling an immense force surge through the artifact, not bruising his flesh but invading his spirit. His essence recoiled, partially ejected before being pulled back by his iron will. Luo Su, a cruel smile playing on his lips, retracted his hand and stepped back. “Unworthy!” he declared, with a dismissive flourish.

Luo Su’s actions bordered on reckless, given the scrutiny of the Conferred Immortal Trials. Yet, he felt confident, for his position in the Thunder Immortal Palace was unassailable and he had been careful not to transgress too far.

The celestial formations singled out a new target, a warrior who was clearly caught off guard, but followed commands and descended. However, Wang Lin was not done. In his eyes a cold fury burned.
“Unworthy?” Wang Lin had entered the Celestial Ascension Tournament with the burning ambition to not only succeed, but to claim a place amongst the elite. Roso’s pronouncement, however, struck at his very core. Failure he could accept, perhaps, but this blatant manipulation was a different matter entirely. A glacial fire ignited in Wang Lin’s eyes. With a single stride, he closed the distance. His right hand lashed out, unheeding of the descending cultivator above. The poor soul felt a tempestuous wind buffet him, his face contorting in alarm as he stumbled backward, inwardly cursing his fate.

“You dare deem me UNWORTHY!” Wang Lin roared as he advanced, a tidal wave of killing intent erupting from his very being. While the middle stage of Insight Nirvana was formidable, it was not insurmountable. Wang Lin had clawed his way through a life of cultivation steeped in bloodshed. Now, reaching the initial stage of Insight Nirvana, he might lack certainty against one so advanced, but he refused to yield without a fight. Besides, with Qing Shui at his back, Wang Lin felt no fear. He raised his right hand, and the Art of the Wind surged into the heavens. Black winds howled, blotting out the sun, as two colossal black dragons materialized, their roars shaking the very fabric of the sky as they lunged at Roso.

Roso’s eyes flickered with annoyance. “You defy the will of the Thunder Immortal Hall!” he sneered. Stepping forward, he unleashed the full force of his divine sense. In an instant, nine golden-armored giants materialized around him.

Each of these titans stood a hundred feet tall, wielding immense greatswords. With a unified bellow that echoed through the realm, they charged towards Wang Lin.

A chilling laughter escaped Wang Lin’s lips, devoid of warmth. He pointed a finger at the heavens, and the Kunji Whip shimmered into existence. Amidst the roars of the black dragons, it lashed out with furious speed, the resounding booms shaking the ground.

The Kunji Whip danced and struck with savage abandon. Three of the golden giants shattered into fragments upon its onslaught! Driven by murderous intent, Wang Lin pressed his assault directly towards Roso. Roso’s gaze was locked on the Kunji Whip, and a flicker of unease crossed his face. Qing Shui’s eyes gleamed with a cold light as he murmured to himself, “Now that’s more like the disciple of Bai Fan I know!”