Chapter 346: End of the Trial - Part 2
Someone couldn't help but change expression and shout in anger.
Among the remaining individuals, no one dared act rashly anymore. Only a few had flickering eyes as they stared at the golden mist, seemingly deep in thought.
"Unexpectedly, this young one's Dao Heart has already reached the pinnacle of the Eternal level."
Outside the Mountain of Inquiry, Emperor Jiang spoke softly, yet his gaze remained fixed on the youth.
A Dao Heart represented one's future potential. Though this youth was only at the True Immortal Realm, with ample cultivation resources, he could be pushed all the way to the peak of the Immortal King Realm!
Of course, nurturing someone from the True Immortal Realm to the Immortal King Realm was still within the means of an Immortal Dynasty.
But to cultivate one to the pinnacle of the Immortal King Realm—even the seven ancient Immortal Dynasties that had survived the chaos of the ancient fiends dared not claim certainty.
After all, the resources required for the Immortal King Realm—rare treasures and sacred materials—were so scarce that each time one appeared, it could trigger a mad scramble among various powers, even military conflict.
"For someone not yet a hundred years old to possess such Dao Heart comprehension... what has this child experienced?"
The Empress of Yuanzun narrowed her eyes, a trace of depth in her gaze.
The higher the Dao Heart, the more one had experienced. To have a heart as eternal as the stars at such a young age must mean he had lived through experiences others could not even imagine.
Yet among the billions of lives in the world, any path of growth for a member of the human race could find a similar example. In the end, it might all come down to innate difference.
"The other few youngsters probably have pinnacle Eternal Dao Hearts too, but they chose not to act."
Emperor Tianzhao’s gaze swept over several figures within the palace, a smile playing at his lips.
Emperor Chi said, "Those who have truly attained such a Dao Heart no longer bother to display it or compete. A heart like eternity—its will is unshaken by fleeting brilliance. If they were provoked into competition because of this, it would prove that their Dao Heart is not yet enough. A pinnacle Eternal Dao Heart simply follows what it desires, unshaken by others."
Emperor Tianzhao nodded slightly in agreement.
This also meant that those who tried to reach into the golden mist were already doomed to fail from the moment they leapt.
Their actions already revealed that their Dao Hearts were insufficient.
"This child will be the backbone of the human race in the future. Now that he has been illuminated by the trial, the infiltrators of the ancient fiends likely have taken note of him too. Once this battle concludes, we must assign someone to protect him well."
Emperor Jiang sighed.
Emperor Chu nodded. "I’ve already made preparations for that."
"Let’s observe the rest of the competition. If he makes it into the top ten, he’ll be allowed to cultivate in the Primal True Realm. With the protection of the Primal Immortal Emperor there, even ancient fiends cannot reach in. If he can train there until the late Immortal Lord Realm, or even the Immortal King Realm, by the time he returns, he’ll be a true pillar of our race."
The Empress of Yuanzun spoke.
The others nodded in agreement.
As long as he entered the Primal True Realm, they would rest easier.
That was currently the only place where even the ancient fiends could not extend their reach.
Meanwhile, atop the Mountain of Inquiry, with numerous prodigies collapsed across the ground, no one dared attempt further.
But the contrast made others’ gazes toward Li Hao grow increasingly complicated.
Such a young age, yet a Dao Heart superior to their own—it was difficult not to feel disheartened.
Li Hao, however, paid them no mind. He returned to the palace, sitting cross-legged as though no one else were present. His gaze rested silently on the golden mist as he pondered that one phrase.
Time passed, and from below the mountain came occasional bursts of celestial techniques, but none climbed any higher.
Another day went by. Li Hao did not see Gu Yan or Yuexi arrive, and a hint of regret settled in his heart.
Yuexi’s Dao Heart was strong enough—it was also an Eternal Dao Heart—but she had likely failed to defeat the Dao Incarnation and had been stalled.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Afterward, the Mountain of Inquiry became much quieter. Many who had attempted to charge the peak had failed; only a rare few succeeded.
"The trial of the Mountain of Inquiry has concluded!"
As the divine sun illuminated the mountain, a voice from the Immortal Guard Commander resounded across its entirety.
All across the mountain, those who had been lost in the illusionary state of Dao Inquiry awoke one by one, dazed and confused.
"What happened? Why am I still here?"
"Did I fall?"
"The Hall of Forgotten Hearts is right there—I didn’t make it. How did it end already?"
Whether at the summit or the base, many awoken prodigies looked around in confusion.
The moment they fell into the Dao Inquiry illusion, they had lost all sense of the outside world.
Soon, with the booming announcement from the Immortal Guard Commander, many came to realize they had failed and been eliminated during this second trial.
Of the original nearly three thousand, only a thousand or so remained.
Though thanks to those who did reach the peak, the number surpassed a thousand.
"We all failed? I barely touched it before I lost control of my body..."
Those fallen on the summit regained their senses and looked around in shock, finding many others just as bewildered.
"Did anyone enter the golden mist?"
"Aside from that guy, who else?"
They questioned each other, but received no answers—only astonished silence.
"This second trial has no reward."
At this moment, the Immortal Guard Commander’s voice echoed once more, thunderous and clear: "Or rather, the reward of this second trial has already been given to you during your climb."
"Whether facing the Dao Incarnation or reflecting on your Dao Heart within the illusion—these were all refinements of yourselves."
"The destination is important, but do not overlook the scenery along the way."
Many froze at his words, lost in reflection.
But some wore calm expressions—they had already gained much from battling their Dao Incarnations.
"Now, all who passed the trial, gather at the Hall of Forgotten Hearts!"
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