Chapter 1183 - Invitation

Gasps swept across the heavens, and the phenomenon crushed every heart with awe. Mu Heng's earlier brilliance vanished as if it had never existed.

If participants tossed their writings into a pond like stones, most would be fingernail-sized pebbles that raised faint ripples. Mu Heng's words were like a fist-sized stone, stirring waves across the surface.

However, Liu Wuxie's words were meteors, crashing into the pond and shattering it entirely. That was the most accurate description of what everyone felt.

The phoenix phantom above Liu Wuxie had already shaken countless experts. Yet what truly terrified the valley was not the Primal Origin Realm experts who arrived but the silent old man who descended among them.

His aura was so overwhelming that even Primal Origin experts bowed in respect toward him.

He cultivated in the Void Realm, one step beyond the Primal Origin Realm. Beyond it stretched the Earth Immortal Realm, the Heaven Gaze Realm, and finally the Immortal Realm itself.

Liu Wuxie had learned of these levels back at Mount Dragon City. Only those at the Heaven Gaze Realm could glimpse heavenly secrets, touch the profundities of the dao, and walk the path of true immortality.

If his instincts were correct, this elder had to have reached the Void Realm. In the Astral Domain, such a figure was nothing short of a titan.

"Who wrote it?" The Void Realm elder's voice rolled across the valley, heavy as thunder. His gaze swept over the crowd, and no one dared lift their head. His presence was like that of a deity, irresistible and suffocating.

Liu Wuxie summoned the Heavenly Dao Book to withstand the immense pressure. But even without answering, everyone already knew. The phoenix phantom still circled above his head, its cries announcing the truth.

The elder's eyes locked on Liu Wuxie. They stared at each other for three breaths, and Liu Wuxie did not flinch. At last, the old man withdrew his gaze.

"What is your name?" he asked.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The fifty-six words Liu Wuxie had written cut straight into the marrow of dao itself. Around them, Primal Origin Realm experts fixed their eyes on the light pillar, desperate to comprehend the profundities it contained.

"Junior Liu Wuxie greets Senior," Liu Wuxie replied, bowing deeply with respect.

The old man nodded in approval. Liu Wuxie's expression carried no arrogance, no pride. His composure remained steady, as though his feat was nothing extraordinary.

If it had been someone else who caused such a phenomenon, they would have exulted in triumph. However, Liu Wuxie stood calmly, as though such things were natural.

"My name is Li Chen. Do you want to join the War Dragon Institute?" Li Chen asked, stunning the entire valley.

The assessment had not yet ended, and the Heavenly Dragon Sect had not yet decided whether to admit Liu Wuxie. Yet here was Li Chen, openly extending an invitation.

"If I make it through the assessment, I will give the War Dragon Institution my consideration," Liu Wuxie answered carefully. His tone was measured, neither acceptance nor refusal.

He dared not commit hastily, as Li Chen's true intentions eluded him.

In his eyes, the difference between the War Dragon, Dharma, and Heavenly Martial Institutes mattered little. What troubled him was Li Chen's aura, which made his instincts tighten with unease. Accepting too readily would be reckless.

"Brat! Elder Li Chen's invitation is an honor, and you dare refuse?" A middle-aged man stepped forward from behind Li Chen. His eyes were like blades, and a crushing force swept toward Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie's brow furrowed. He had clearly said "consider," not "refuse." Yet this man twisted his words deliberately. Then, Liu Wuxie caught the man and Mu Heng exchanging a subtle glance, and the truth became clear.

The middle-aged man despised him for stealing Mu Heng's glory.

After all, Mu Heng was the son of Sky Cloud Star's planet lord, which meant his status rivaled sect masters of second-tier sects. The Sky Cloud Star itself was not far from Indigo Bamboo Star, and many sought its lord's favor.

This man, Yu Zhengyang, was clearly a close ally of Mu Heng's father. He was eager to suppress Liu Wuxie and preserve Mu Heng's brilliance.

"I did not refuse Senior Li Chen's offer," Liu Wuxie said calmly, suppressing his anger. "The assessment is not over. I dare not make a rash promise. I ask all elders present to bear witness to my words."

He had to endure. Until his strength surpassed Yu Zhengyang's, he could not risk needless conflict. His foremost goal was to enter the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

"You look down on the War Dragon Institution! Since that is the case, withdraw from the assessment. The Heavenly Dragon Sect does not welcome you," Yu Zhengyang sneered. His words dripped venom, his intent to drive Liu Wuxie out clear.

"Elder Yu, you're going too far," Elder Ding's cold voice cut through the tension. "Liu Wuxie has spoken correctly. If he promised now but failed later, would that not make him dishonorable? His caution is proper."

Others were unaware of it, but Elder Ding knew of Elder Yu Zhengyang's friendship with Mu Heng's father. It was his recommendation that allowed Mu Heng to join the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

Others in the valley exchanged gloating glances. Liu Wuxie had made enemies even before joining the sect. Then again, Mu Heng's background carried enormous weight, so many would side with him without hesitation.

"Enough. Let the assessment continue," Li Chen said, ending the matter. His tone was calm, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

After Elder Li Chen spoke, the others dropped the matter.

Liu Wuxie noticed it with the Ghost Eye, though others missed it. That trace of hostility made him thankful he hadn't accepted earlier. Since Li Chen had already revealed his pettiness, how dangerous would it be to tie himself to him too soon?

Meanwhile, cultivators remained fixated on Liu Wuxie's words, their profundity still rippling in the valley.

"Those with emotion and wisdom are mortals. Those among mortals who attain perfect benevolence and holiness are gods," a Primal Origin expert exclaimed, laughing as enlightenment washed over him. "Excellent! My state of mind has risen! I am on the verge of stepping into the Void Realm!"

The few middle-aged men accompanying Li Chen had their attention on the words, oblivious to the earlier argument.

"Those who live without desire and dwell in peace—that is immortality."

"Dao is law, the union of heaven and man..."

"Marvelous! Brilliant!" Another Primal Origin cultivator gasped, overwhelmed by the depth.

"Young man, would you consider joining our Heavenly Martial Institute?" another expert asked earnestly.

"I will consider it," Liu Wuxie replied.

He didn't agree immediately, as Li Chen had set a perfect example by showing his hostility the moment he said that he would consider the offer.

The four institutions' competition with each other was clearly fierce.

"Good! I await your decision," the expert said with a smile. "Your words have enlightened me. I must return to seclusion at once. If fate permits, let us discuss the dao together again."

His humility stood in stark contrast to Li Chen's veiled hostility.

This was not unusual. Every assessment saw the institutions compete for prodigies.

The assessment had not ended yet, and the Heavenly Dragon Sect still hadn't decided whether to admit Liu Wuxie or not. Regardless of Li Chen or the middle-aged man who spoke earlier, they had merely extended invitations.

By the time the trial ended, the remaining participants were done. Liu Wuxie's name now stood above all others. His feat had already spread through the sect's upper echelons, shocking those who heard of it.

The trial eliminated eighteen thousand, leaving only twelve thousand. The once-crowded valley now felt sparse. The three elders wove seals, dispersing the phoenix phantom and dissolving the light pillar, along with the writings on it.

Liu Wuxie's reputation spread like wildfire. His celestial phenomenon had already brought invitations from both the War Dragon and Heavenly Martial Institutions. This attention was common for prodigies, but no such phenomenon had appeared for ages, and that absence left everyone unsettled.

"Wuxie, I don't trust Li Chen, nor that man who tried to stir trouble," He Yingwu whispered cautiously.

"There's no need to dwell on it," Liu Wuxie said, waving his hand dismissively. "We'll take it one step at a time."

The Heavenly Dragon Sect's reputation was firm. Its history stretched across countless years, its management strict and perfected. Whatever inner rivalries brewed, their foundation was unshakable.

"We now begin the second trial—the Bridge of Heaven!" Elder Ding's voice resounded across the valley.

At the name, Liu Wuxie and He Yingwu exchanged knowing glances. They had seen this trial before at the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, but now, its origin was clear. It belonged to the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

When the starry bridge manifested in the heavens, Liu Wuxie's eyes widened. This was no mere imitation. The academy's version was a flickering firefly, while the sect's Bridge of Heaven shone like a full moon—majestic and vast, stretching across the cosmos itself.