Chapter 1413 - Climbing to the Heavens

Shi Lu guided Liu Wuxie to another area within the lesser realm, where a strange waterfall appeared before them. The water there condensed into a cascade of pure spiritual energy, and Shi Lu motioned for Liu Wuxie to undress and cleanse himself beneath it.

Liu Wuxie quickly removed his outer robe and walked toward the waterfall. Whenever the sect master accepted a disciple, the sect treated it as a grand occasion and refused to tolerate even the slightest mistake.

As the waterfall washed over him, Liu Wuxie felt layers of impurity gush out of his body. The spiritual energy that formed this waterfall carried powerful laws within it, capable not only of tempering his flesh but also of refining his internal organs and soul sea.

Back on the Celestial Immortal Star, his soul sea had already reached a level comparable to the ninth-level Void Realm. Now that his cultivation stood at the pinnacle of the Primal Origin Realm, his soul energy finally rose to the pinnacle of the Void Realm as well.

Even so, stepping into the Earth Immortal Realm would not be easy. He would have to build up his foundation until it overflowed, allowing his cultivation to reach the Earth Immortal Realm naturally.

The force of the waterfall struck him so hard that Liu Wuxie felt waves of numbness spread through his body. His soul sea churned restlessly as the power of fate slowly emerged, taking the form of a chain—one end stretching into boundless time and space, the other end tightly bound to his primordial spirit.

If he failed to unravel this power of fate, it would bind him for eternity.

Heavenly burial's summit and chosen by the earth—he still had no idea what those words truly meant. He had asked Han Shanzi about them in the past, but even Han Shanzi had no clear answer. The Han Clan had only managed to divine that the True Martial Continent would soon welcome a great opportunity, and that a chosen one would appear at that time. Yet their divination remained incomplete, because they had already lost much of their art.

Liu Wuxie had sought Elder Han for answers as well, but he still learned nothing definitive. Elder Han only told him that someone in the future might be able to unravel those words, and that person would be Han Feizi.

Han Shanzi's Spirit-Sealing Physique meant that he might one day master the Spirit-Sealing Art, allowing him to divine past and present and uncover Liu Wuxie's true origins.

After breaking through two levels in succession, Liu Wuxie's cultivation remained somewhat unstable; he had not had much time to consolidate. Under the tempering of the waterfall, though, he could feel his foundation stabilizing and his cultivation rising even faster than before.

He had already reached the pinnacle of the Primal Origin Realm, yet he could sense room for further growth in every aspect. His true essence, his soul energy, his physique, and even the desolate world within him were all undergoing tremendous transformations. With the nourishment of immortal energy, his true essence had even become comparable to that of a pinnacle Void Realm cultivator.

In addition to his powerful soul sea, he felt confident that he could kill a pinnacle Void Realm expert in single combat if he summoned the Gate of Darkness. Of course, that also meant he would stand no chance if he had to face multiple Void Realm opponents at once.

Once he broke through to the Void Realm, Liu Wuxie planned to visit the Sky Cloud Star and the Tranquil Meteor Star—the two forces that had dared to join hands with the Grand Unity Sect against him.

After the Myriad Race Ceremony, the Heavenly Dragon Sect had already expelled Mu Heng and Shen Yue. Their fathers' actions crossed the sect's bottom line, and the sect refused to forgive them.

In addition, the sect also punished people like Hua Haosheng for deliberately trying to stir up trouble for Liu Wuxie.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

About fifteen minutes later, Liu Wuxie's physique finally reached saturation, and he stepped out from beneath the waterfall.

"Senior Brother Liu, put this on," Shi Lu said as he hurried over with a fresh ceremonial robe, placing it in Liu Wuxie's hands. For the apprenticeship ceremony, Liu Wuxie naturally could not appear in casual attire.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Shi," Liu Wuxie replied, taking the ceremonial robe and putting it on. Shi Lu even stepped forward to help straighten the folds and adjust the fit.

"I didn't expect Junior Brother Liu to be so handsome. I'm afraid you'll dazzle an entire crowd of junior sisters when you walk out there," Shi Lu praised as he circled Liu Wuxie, appraising him from all angles.

After being tempered by the waterfall, Liu Wuxie's skin had grown even smoother and clearer. He had always been good-looking, but now an ethereal air lingered around him as well.

"Senior Brother Shi, you're teasing me," Liu Wuxie said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The bright red robe outlined his lean figure perfectly, without a trace of excess flesh. With his long black hair tied back with a ribbon, he resembled an immortal who had stepped out from a painting.

"It's getting late. Let's go," Shi Lu said after checking the time. There was not much time left, and they needed to hurry to the Auspicious Cloud Hall.

As they made their way there, Shi Lu explained the ceremony's rules and etiquette in detail to Liu Wuxie, emphasizing every key point so he would not make any mistakes. With representatives from every major force in the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain present, the Heavenly Dragon Sect would become a laughingstock if anything went awry.

Liu Wuxie committed each detail to memory. As the reincarnation of an Immortal Emperor, no one in the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain was truly qualified to instruct him, and strictly speaking, no one was worthy of becoming his master.

Hua Feiyu, however, was an exception. He had saved Liu Wuxie multiple times, and accepting him as a disciple was secondary to the true purpose—protecting him. From the very beginning, Hua Feiyu had never once guided Liu Wuxie's cultivation, having long realized that Liu Wuxie was anything but ordinary.

By becoming Hua Feiyu's disciple, Liu Wuxie would gain a powerful protective talisman. Even the Lingqiong Clan and the Grand Unity Sect would think twice before targeting him. Liu Wuxie naturally understood his master's intentions.

After leaving the lesser realm, they turned into streaks of light and flew toward the Auspicious Cloud Hall. The hall stood atop a mountain range roughly a hundred miles from the Heavenly Dragon Sect, far from the sect's core region.

The entire hall resembled a mass of auspicious clouds that could soar into the heavens at any moment. It was enormous in scale, and people had already packed its vast interior.

A long stairway climbed from the foot of the mountain all the way to the summit. They had leveled the mountain so that its peak formed a giant platform.

At the center of that platform stood a towering stage, where they would hold the apprenticeship ceremony.

Liu Wuxie would start at the foot of the mountain and walk all the way up. Only when he reached the summit would the ceremony truly begin.

On either side of the stairs, rows of Heavenly Dragon Sect disciples stood in formation, watching intently as they waited for Liu Wuxie to appear. The disciples who had entered the sect alongside him were especially excited, shouting their cheers at the top of their lungs.

The platform teemed with people. Representatives from every force stood gathered in their designated areas, while other powerful cultivators who had come uninvited were assigned to a separate sector to observe the ceremony.

"The auspicious house has arrived! Let the apprenticeship ceremony begin!" Chi Heng appeared at the center of the platform and proclaimed. His voice carried his soul energy, spreading outward in ripples that enveloped the entire Auspicious Cloud Hall.

All chatter faded instantly as everyone turned their gazes to the base of the mountain.

"Junior Brother Liu, it's starting. This is called the Auspicious Cloud Stairs, symbolizing a climb to the heavens. But they won't be easy to ascend, and there will be trials along the way. If you encounter one you can't pass, don't force it," Shi Lu whispered in reminder.

Liu Wuxie nodded and looked up at the gleaming white stairs ahead. There were a thousand steps in total—not many at all. If he walked normally, he could climb them in a few minutes, and if he slipped through space, he could reach the summit in an instant.

But that was not permitted during the apprenticeship ceremony. He had to climb step by step. This was the first lesson a master taught his disciple in conduct, action, and cultivation alike: keep your feet firmly on the ground and advance one step at a time.

Liu Wuxie straightened his robe and set foot on the Auspicious Cloud Stairs, while disciples on both sides cheered him on.

He climbed at a measured pace, each step steady, as if he had already weighed and marked every single one in his heart.

This composure left many people shocked; they could not fathom how he could maintain such precision. Before they realized it, Liu Wuxie had already reached the thirtieth step, where a red banner appeared, and three people stepped forward.

Liu Wuxie stopped when he saw the trio. Shi Lu had already explained the rules to him beforehand. The Auspicious Cloud Stairs would not be an easy path, and many sects liked to set trials midway to test the disciple. When his three senior brothers had undergone their own apprenticeship ceremonies, they too had faced such trials, and the practice had long since become a tradition in every sect's ceremony.

"My name is Yi Shanhe, a representative from the Mount Willow Star. I want to congratulate Young Master Liu for finding a renowned master, and you will surely shine brightly in the future among your generation," an elder among the three stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Thank you for your blessings, and I will remember them," Liu Wuxie replied politely, returning the salute. Whether they had come to cause trouble or to test him, he still had to maintain proper etiquette.

Typically, these trials tempered a disciple, most of them testing the heart. Over time, however, some sects began treating them as the perfect opportunity to embarrass promising disciples from other forces.

"Young Master Liu, we must test you with a question according to the tradition, and I hope that you can help us find the answer to them," Yi Shanhe said with a gentle smile. The Heavenly Dragon Sect, however, enforced strict rules on which sects could participate in the trials; not just anyone earned the right to stand here.

"Senior Yi, please go ahead. I will do my best, and I hope you will not take offense if I don't have an answer to them," Liu Wuxie said. He made no reckless promises, knowing that if the other party posed an impossible question, he would only end up embarrassing himself.

"I have a question that has troubled me for a long time. Can I ask what's greater dao and what's lesser dao?" Yi Shanhe asked.

The disciples lining the stairway and the experts at the summit alike fell silent, waiting for Liu Wuxie's answer. Even Earth Immortals might not be able to respond to such a question.

Yi Shanhe was not deliberately making things difficult for Liu Wuxie; he had genuinely struggled with this question for a long time. If he could obtain an answer, he believed that he would be able to break through to the Heaven Gaze Realm.

Liu Wuxie closed his eyes and sank deep into thought. No one disturbed him. Instead, many began exchanging thoughts through divine sense, hoping to find their own understanding of the question.

An invisible forcefield formed over the area, preventing Hua Feiyu from offering any hint. During the apprenticeship ceremony, all answers had to come from the disciple alone, and no outside help was permitted.

Roughly five breaths later, Liu Wuxie opened his eyes and looked at Yi Shanhe. Seeing that he had concluded, everyone fixed their gaze on him, anticipation burning in their eyes.

"Greater daos are ultimately simple, and lesser daos are endlessly complex. Great people hold great aspirations, bringing greater dao to simplicity. At the same time, lesser daos lead to division," Liu Wuxie replied, his words echoing like the sound of dao itself in everyone's minds.