Yellow Court Daoist

Lu Qingfeng was confident in facing Primordial Spirit Practitioners during the Core Formation Stage, but even with many Divine Skills at his disposal, he dared not confront a Primordial Spirit Practitioner head-on until he had refined his mana and perfected the Gathering Law Realm.

Even with the blessing of the Dutian Xuanming Strategy, victory was a rare occurrence, and the chances of triumph were slim.

At such a time.

Yuu Mountain Daoist had been dead for many years, yet a single Divine Thought of his survived to this day—a realm unimaginably profound for ordinary folk.

"Young Yellow Robe pays respects to Predecessor Yuu Mountain."

Lu Qingfeng bowed respectfully, his demeanor reverent.

Entering the Immortal Mansion was in pursuit of Yuu Mountain Daoist's legacy; it was only right and reasonable to show respect.

However, this wisp of Divine Thought from Yuu Mountain Daoist paid no heed to Lu Qingfeng, and spoke on its own, "Those who pass the Array test in the front hall and make it here are all qualified to inherit my legacy."

"The road ahead is perilous."

"This Second Level will test the depth of your Dao ability and the choices you make on your immortal path."

Lu Qingfeng listened quietly, realizing that this Divine Thought of Yuu Mountain Daoist seemed to lack its own consciousness.

"I see."

"If Yuu Mountain Daoist possessed the capability of 'Divine Thought Business,' he likely wouldn't have perished so easily," Lu Qingfeng mused inwardly.

His gaze stayed fixed on the Divine Thought of Yuu Mountain Daoist.

The Daoist ceased speaking and raised a hand, transforming the golden light in the air into several lines of large characters—

Second Challenge: Choices.

Ahead lies a Great Array with Five Layers.

Those who do not take a magic artifact will enter the First Layer Array, where the guardian's cultivation level matches that of the challenger, and there are five guardians.

Taking a Fourth-Order Magic Artifact enters you into the Second Layer Array, where the number of guardians is ten.

Taking a Fifth-Order Magic Artifact enters you into the Third Layer Array, with twenty guardians.

Taking a Sixth-Order Magic Artifact enters you into the Fourth Layer Array, with forty guardians.

Taking a magic artifact exceeding one sect enters you into the Fifth Layer Array, with eighty guardians.

Once in the Array, life and death are in one's own hands, with no retreat possible.

Those unwilling to enter may abstain from taking magic artifacts and may freely leave the mansion.

"Five Layer Great Array."

Lu Qingfeng tightened his grip on the Yuu Mountain command token in his hand and forewent even a glance at the Obelisk Array as he proceeded forward, releasing his suppressed cultivation level.

Boom!

As he crossed the array, a resounding echo rang out near his ears—

"Have not taken a magic artifact, enter the First Layer Array!"

Lu Qingfeng found the scenery before him transforming, and he was suddenly standing within the First Layer Array.

"Fourth-, Fifth-, and Sixth-Order Magic Artifacts—I can refine them myself. It's more pressing to seize the Longevity Secret Method first," Lu Qingfeng surveyed the Array, noticing it activate as five Golden Armored Divine Generals manifested and arrayed before him.

Spirit Void Grain Avoidance!

A slight smile played on Lu Qingfeng's lips as he stepped forward and suddenly raised his palm.

Boom!

With a sound, the newly formed Golden Armored Divine Generals dissolved into bursts of golden light.

"Challenge successful!"

The Array roared, golden light scattering in all directions, and Lu Qingfeng's gaze sharpened as he passed the Second Level of Yuu Mountain Immortal Mansion.

Too simple.

Lu Qingfeng stood still, thinking to himself.

However.

He was aware.

With his profound accumulation, Golden Armored Divine Generals of the same level stood no chance against him.

But for a Jiedan True Man later on, defeating cultivators of the same level wouldn't be so easy. Even without coveting magic artifacts, overcoming the First Layer Array and defeating five same-level Golden Armored Divine Generals would be a challenge.

Should one covet magic artifacts, the difficulty increased manifold.

Choices!

Choices!

Lu Qingfeng held no regard for Fifth- and Sixth-Order Magic Artifacts, but for a Three Realms Jiedan True Man, possessing a Sect's Fifth-Order Magic Artifact, finely refined, would make one a standout among peers.

Like Han Ji of the White Bone Demon Sect, wielding the White Bone Six Yang Hammer, he was a layer of the Demon Sect Protector. Once Lu Qingfeng seized the magic artifact, Han Ji's strength was greatly reduced, reduced to just an ordinary Solid Pill Realm True Man.

Among the Three Sects and Three Realms.

Every Jiedan True Man with a Fifth-Order Magic Artifact by their side was extraordinary and held significant renown. Conversely, they were considered quite ordinary without one.

And a Sixth-Order Magic Artifact was even something the Three Sects dreamt of.

The Xuanyuan Sect secured the Three Talents Clearing Circle, establishing an unshakable foundation for eternity. Having lost two of the circles, the Heavenly Phenomenon and Earth Spirit, they even sparked a great war with the White Bone Demon Sect.

This illustrated the importance of Sixth-Order Magic Artifacts.

In this Second Level Obelisk Array, Lu Qingfeng saw it just moments ago—three Sixth-Order Magic Artifacts of the Three Sects and eighteen Fifth-Order Magic Artifacts.

It was feared none could resist such temptation and forsake the magic artifacts to merely leave the Immortal Mansion directly.

And if one chose to take a magic artifact...

They would face an even more perilous Array.

With great benefits ahead, making the right choice was crucial.

Of course.

Lu Qingfeng had no such concerns.

He chose not to take any magic artifact and proceeded directly through the challenge.

...

Three incense sticks later.

Following closely behind Lu Qingfeng were Xun Bai, Jing Zhan, and Elder Wu, arriving in front of the Obelisk Array.

Xun Bai looked up at the golden rules in the sky and sneered, "Anyone unaware would think this old turtle had some incredible inheritance. All these tests, it's as if he seriously wants to pick a turtle disciple to inherit his mantle."

Hearing this, Jing Zhan chuckled and said, "The Yuu Mountain Daoist is, after all, a figure from thousands of years ago. This place is remote, and descendants only know that he practiced the Longevity Secret Method and had a prolonged Life Span. They do not know his reputation among the Three Mountains and Nine Waters during his time as a Primordial Spirit Great Cultivator. If they did, they might be ashamed to associate with him."

"Ha-ha!"

"Let whoever wants that Longevity Secret Method try to seize it, and whoever wants to be the disciple of the old Yuu Mountain turtle, go ahead. I, Xun Bai, came here only to retrieve the supreme treasure of my sect. Should anyone dare to reach out, don't blame me for not being polite."

Xun Bai looked around but could not find the first to arrive, the Yellow Robed Old Monster.

"This place's cultivators are at their highest only at the Core Formation Stage. Brother Xun, with your profound expertise in the art of core formation, and mastery of the secret techniques of Green Wood Valley, who has the right to reach out in front of you?" Jing Zhan said as he shook his head. "After ten thousand years, the Green Wood King Ding is destined to return to the Green Wood Valley."

Upon hearing this, Xun Bai's face carried a smile, though his heart was noncommittal.

He then turned to look at Elder Wu.

Elder Wu had been observing since he entered. He now spoke, "All ninety-nine obelisks are here; that Yellow Robed Man hasn't taken any magical artifacts. He entered the First Level Array and has now passed through, entering the third trial. We need to hurry."

As he spoke.

Elder Wu took a command token from his bosom and aimed it at the most central obelisk among the ninety-nine. A beam of light shot out and struck the obelisk.

The obelisk immediately dissolved, revealing a Sect Magical Artifact.

"A Sixth-Order Magical Artifact!"

Seeing the arrow artifact, Jing Zhan exclaimed, "Taking a Sixth-Order Magical Artifact means entering the Fourth Layer Array, facing the attack of forty peer level guardians!"

Even if Jing Zhan was among the top of his peers and had fought above his level in many previous realms, facing forty peer cultivators, he could not confidently say he would come out unscathed.

And Elder Wu, for a single Sixth-Order Magical Artifact, why risk such danger?!

"Mr. Jing, do not panic."

Xun Bai spoke up and nodded to Elder Wu, who then put away the arrow artifact and crossed through the obelisk array.

Boom!

The array materialized above the ground, and five Golden Armor Divine Generals appeared, their aura far more formidable than those faced by Lu Qingfeng by a hundredfold.

Core Formation - Golden Core Realm!

"Just five guardians?"

Jing Zhan was surprised and looked toward Xun Bai.

But he saw Xun Bai, like Elder Wu, take out a command token from his bosom and aim it at one of the remaining two obelisks containing a Sixth-Order Magical Artifact. The obelisk dissolved, revealing a shield artifact.

It was also a Sixth-Order Magical Artifact.

Xun Bai took the shield artifact in hand, examined it, and smiled at Jing Zhan, "This Sect Magical Artifact is called 'Heavenly Star Shield', crafted entirely from Sky Stone, its defensive power is not weak."

"This command token—"

Jing Zhan didn't look at the Heavenly Star Shield.

Though a Sixth-Order Magical Artifact was good, he already possessed two and wasn't eager for more. What caught his attention was that both Elder Wu and Xun Bai had retrieved magical artifacts twice, and Jing Zhan finally understood the trick.

Their command tokens seemed to possess a mystery.

After they used the command tokens to retrieve artifacts from the obelisk and bypass the regulations, what they entered wasn't the Fourth Layer Great Array facing forty peer level guardians, but the First Layer Array with only five guardians.

"Before the death of the old Yuu Mountain turtle, he left behind his cave mansion and heritage, placing within it the highly sought Green Wood King Ding that was stolen from our Green Wood Valley, concealed by numerous arrays. Despite ten thousand years of searching, it remained hidden. Fearing chaos in the world before his death, he distributed seven command tokens. Those fated to receive them would, at the emergence of the cave mansion, be guided by the tokens to the location of the Immortal Mansion."

"Fortunately,"

"Our Green Wood Valley, after ten thousand years of searching, obtained five of the command tokens. Only two remain outside. This time, Elder Wu and I each brought one. Unexpectedly, they came in handy during the Second Layer Trial."

Xun Bai spoke with a light chuckle.

Though the Sixth-Order Magical Artifacts were not enough to stir his emotions, whether for personal use or to win the hearts of his subordinates, they were excellent.

One could only complain about having too few, never too many.

"So that's how it is."

Jing Zhan, whose position in the sect wasn't as significant as Xun Bai's in Green Wood Valley and who was less informed about the connections between Yuu Mountain Daoist and Green Wood Valley, finally understood.

"Mr. Jing—"

Xun Bai looked at Jing Zhan.

Jing Zhan understood, "With my limited strength, facing forty guardians would surely be too much. Better to honestly challenge the First Level Great Array."

Fourth-Order, Fifth-Order Magical Artifacts—Jing Zhan had no interest in them.

Taking a Sixth-Order Magical Artifact meant challenging the Fourth Level Great Array, with no guarantee of success. So, rather than taking the artifact, he decided to directly face the challenge.

"Good."

Xun Bai nodded.

As they talked, Elder Wu had already defeated the five Golden Armor Divine Generals and followed Lu Qingfeng into the Third Layer Trial.

Xun Bai and Jing Zhan followed closely behind.

Given their heritage and abilities, the peer level Golden Armor Divine Generals were no challenge for them.

In a short moment.

They had broken through the array.

And they too disappeared into the Second Layer, entering the Third.

Afterward.

The Black Robed Man entered.

He first looked around, not seeing the four who had entered before him. Then, he looked up at the golden rules in the sky, and his eyes suddenly widened—

"Sixth-Order Magical Artifact!?"

Xun Bai and Jing Zhan were indifferent to the Sixth-Order Magical Artifacts, but the Black Robed Man, merely a Loose Cultivator, lacked such grandeur.

His face showed a conflicted expression.

Looking again.

He saw that two of the Sixth-Order Magical Artifacts in the obelisk array had already been taken, leaving only the last one, and he frowned.

Hesitating for a moment, the Black Robed Man walked up to the obelisk sealing the last Sixth-Order Magical Artifact.

Seeing the complex array patterns on it.

He gritted his teeth, turned, and stepped into the First Level Great Array!

…