Chapter 1328: Dragon Tiger Temple

Standing at the outer edge of the Dragon Tiger Temple, an enforcer watched as more than a thousand cultivators queued up for the Three Halls Trial. He grumbled to his colleague, "Another routine day."

As a Golden Core Realm cultivator, he had been in the sect for more than 300 years and had gone through the Three Halls Trial over a dozen times. Each time, hundreds or even thousands entered, and not a single one succeeded.

Even they, every thirty years, were required to enter as a formality.

"Silence! If the old temple master hears you, you'll be scrubbing latrines for a month."

His colleague quickly made a shushing gesture, then nervously glanced toward the old temple master not far away. Seeing him chatting with the three strongest grand elders of the sect, not paying attention, he finally relaxed.

"What are you so scared of? The old temple master hasn't cared about these things in ages. He's broad-minded. He wouldn't care about those things. Haven't you heard? Lately, people have been comparing our Three Halls Trial to the Ancient Immortal Path.”

The Golden Core Realm enforcer sighed. "Some are even calling our trial a sham. After all, even on the Ancient Immortal Path, you could have an Immortal Seed pop out every few years, but the Dragon Tiger Temple hasn't had a single person succeed in the trials in over eight thousand years."

His colleague nodded. "The other day, Elder Shi invited me for drinks. Even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator like him thinks something is off. He suspects a misunderstanding happened a long time ago, and this trial doesn't even exist."

The two chatted idly. When the time came and the crowd began entering the stone cavern, they fell silent and turned to maintaining order.

At that moment, the old temple master, flanked by three Dao Union Realm cultivators, smiled. "Those two enforcers are too talkative. Punish them with latrine duty."

The three grand elders were stunned. One instinctively asked, "old temple master, what did they say? If there isn't a proper reason, such punishment can brew resentment."

"They said the Three Halls Trial is a sham. Isn't that insulting our ancestors?" The old temple master sneered. "This trial was passed down by our forefathers. Would they deceive us?"

The three grand elders exchanged awkward looks, faces uneasy.

At last, one nodded. "Rest assured, old temple master. Tomorrow I'll assign those two to clean the latrines. They'll be punished for gossiping behind our backs."

The old temple master smiled and nodded, watching as one disciple after another entered the cave. Then he suddenly said, "A few days ago, when you three were out drinking with outsiders, you said that once I pass away, you'll tear this place down?"

The three stiffened. They quickly shook their heads.

"Absolutely not."

The old temple master sighed. "Good. I hope that when I die, you won't go around tearing down the rules our ancestors set. Our Dragon Tiger Temple is already declining every year. Geniuses like me haven't appeared in ages. You three are the best talent this temple has, but the Dao Union Realm is probably as far as you'll go. Reaching the Tribulation Realm will be hard..."

The three exchanged odd looks. One asked in a low voice, "old temple master, tell us honestly... have you already reached the Ascension Realm?"

"Ascension Realm?" The old temple master gave a cold laugh. "The Ascension Realm is nothing."

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Ascension is... nothing?!

In ancient times, Ascension Realm cultivators were considered provisional immortals, waiting only for official ascension.

The three stared at each other in shock.

On Ziyuan Star, there wasn't a single acknowledged Ascension Realm cultivator, barely even a handful of Tribulation Realm experts. People like them, who were in the Dao Union Realm, were considered top experts.

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. On this vast Ziyuan Star, I have yet to find a rival." The old temple master sighed softly. "

Ahh

, how lonely I am."

The three glanced at each other in disbelief.

Seriously? You're lonely... because you can't find a rival?

Strangely, whenever challengers came to the temple, the old temple master was almost always absent. It always seemed... oddly coincidental.

They had been in the temple since childhood, but they had never seen the old temple master make a move. If not for his undeniably long lifespan, they would've doubted every word he said.

The Three Halls Trial ended as quickly as it began. In just a few days, the thousand-odd candidates had all failed. This came as no surprise. Most were long accustomed to it. Only a few young disciples looked a bit disappointed, saddened that they were not the "chosen ones."

Seeing the results, the old temple master sighed, then said, "As I always say, do not despair. Try again in thirty years."

The veterans exchanged knowing looks and nodded. The young disciples, encouraged, clenched their fists, determined to shine in the next trial.

Just then, as everyone left the cavern, a middle-aged man appeared before it, hands clasped behind his back.

"How interesting. On Ziyuan Star, the resources aren't depleted at all. In fact, since there are a few strong cultivators, the resources are rather abundant."

He looked the cavern over with interest and chuckled strangely. "The trial of the Three Divine Beasts... So, Ziyuan Star has preserved the orthodox legacy. How fortunate for me."

His presence was quickly noticed. The crowd bristled with hostility at the intruder, but none acted rashly.

The three grand elders exchanged glances, then suddenly unleashed their secret arts together. In an instant, the air shook with roars of tigers and dragon cries. Terrifying spiritual pressure crashed down on the middle-aged man.

But the man, still with his back to them, didn't move at all. When their techniques were about to strike him, their power suddenly multiplied several times before they bounced back the same way they came.

The three elders were stunned.

Flustered, they hastily defended themselves, but the force behind the attacks had grown manyfold, leaving them no chance to escape unscathed. They staggered back in humiliation, blood trickling from the corner of their mouths.

Meanwhile, the old temple master had vanished without a trace.

The thousand disciples of the Dragon Tiger Temple gasped sharply at the sight.

The three grand elders were Dao Union Realm cultivators, one of the strongest experts of Ziyuan Star. The three together formed a lineup that could stand undefeated across the star. Furthermore, the Dao techniques of the Dragon Tiger Temple were extremely powerful. With their help, these three elders could contend against five opponents of the same realm.

Yet this mysterious man hadn't even lifted a finger, simply standing with his back to them, and the three were defeated?

Clutching his chest, one elder gasped. He hoarsely asked, "Who are you!?"

Such a formidable figure exists on Ziyuan Star? And that damned old temple master disappeared again!

The middle-aged man finally turned around, smiling faintly at the three. His gaze shifted past them, settling on the empty air nearby. He said coolly, "The Shadow Escape Technique. Among the Dao Sects, few ever manage to master it. Didn't expect to find a talent like this here. But why do you hide yourself?"

The silence remained.

The man sneered. He flicked his finger, and a bolt of lightning slammed into the shadow nearby.

The old temple master appeared suddenly, stumbling back tens of feet in embarrassment, staring at him in shock.