Chapter 58: Commence! The Trial! Ascending the Steps with Ease

Ancient Shu Mountain indeed possesses many legacies. Especially in the realm of swordsmanship and divine arts, it stands among the very highest echelons. Lu Yuan was naturally well aware of this, particularly that the higher the Sword Monuments, the more formidable their power.

In his previous life, many awakened ones entered Ancient Shu Mountain, sitting cross-legged for days on end, all for the chance to comprehend the mysteries within, and thereby advance further on the path of evolution. For most, though they had acquired extraordinary powers, the road ahead was shrouded in confusion. One needed a breathing method or visualization technique to keep moving forward. Yet such things were exceedingly rare and precious—only the great powers might possess a few. Thus, most did not care how excellent the method was, only that they could obtain one at all.

The Sword Monuments of Ancient Shu Mountain were the only opportunity for many awakened ones. Yet Lu Yuan knew well that, even under such circumstances, the legacy of the highest Sword Monument had never been truly comprehended by anyone. It was simply too difficult, requiring an exceptional level of insight. Had he not fused with the ancient Bodhi tree, he would not have chosen to come.

“Mr. Lu, it’s been a while,” a clear and gentle voice soon called out.

It was Lady Ice, who approached with a smile. Beside her, Zhu Qingyu and the others instinctively stepped back. The Northern Emperor was their senior and approachable, but Lady Ice was different; they kept a respectful distance. Of course, none of them knew that Beidou Biological and Zhendan Academy were one and the same—a secret known only to the higher-ups.

“A while?” Lu Yuan smiled. “It’s been less than half a month, hasn’t it?”

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. She had shown goodwill toward him several times. Whatever her motives, it was clear she was sincere, so he responded in kind.

“Half a month feels long,” Lady Ice’s eyes brightened, thinking that her previous efforts had not been in vain, given his cordial attitude. She chuckled lightly and glanced at the nearby crowd. “Mr. Lu, look, that young Taoist over there is the Little Celestial Master from Dragon and Tiger Mountain. The other is Hui Kong, the monk from Jiuhua Mountain—both are exceptionally gifted. With the legacy of the Sword Monuments opening today, their gains will surely be immense.”

“I imagine those two can reach at least the thirtieth Sword Monument for enlightenment. Do you think you can surpass them, Mr. Lu?”

The Sword Monument legacy required a threshold; the higher one climbed, the harder it became. Everyone knew this. Lady Ice had no intention of creating rivalry between the three, merely wanted to converse more with Lu Yuan.

“I harbor no intention of competing with anyone,” Lu Yuan replied.

Her smile widened, interpreting his words as humility. She thought perhaps his insight was not as great as those two. But that was fine; she herself was no different. She was about to shift the conversation when Lu Yuan’s next words stunned her.

“My goal is merely the highest—the ninety-ninth Sword Monument.”

His voice was soft, yet suffused with confidence and resolve. Lady Ice was left speechless, her mouth half-open, unable to respond. She acknowledged his strength and fathomless depth, but capability was one thing, and insight another. In the end, not knowing how to reply, she could only glance at the Northern Emperor, nodding as a greeting.

Zhu Qingyu and the others had also heard Lu Yuan’s words and looked at each other in amazement. It was, indeed, audacious.

From afar, the Little Celestial Master of Pure Yang cast occasional glances. He felt he had met Lu Yuan before, though the figure before him did not quite match his memories.

“Everyone,”

At that moment, Dean Chen of Zhendan Academy in Shuntian City stepped forward. Everyone ceased their conversations, eyes intent.

“It’s late—the legacy of Ancient Shu Mountain’s Sword Monuments is about to begin. But before that, I must give some advice: There are ninety-nine Sword Monuments. The higher you climb, the harder it is to comprehend. I hope you all act within your limits—do not be greedy.”

“Once you step onto the stairs, a force will emanate, targeting the soul. If you can adapt, you may continue upward. But if you feel pain within your mind, you must stop. That means you’ve reached your limit; pressing on will only harm you.”

Dean Chen’s voice was loud as he looked around at everyone present. “Remember—act according to your limits.”

He explained all the points to be mindful of when climbing and seeking enlightenment—a word of warning. The implication was clear: The higher one ascended, the stronger the energy emitted by each step. It was not about raw strength, but a trial of soul and body—of insight.

“We understand,”

Everyone responded, taking his words to heart. They had already researched what to expect beforehand.

“Very well,”

Dean Chen nodded and declared, “Now, the legacy of Ancient Shu Mountain’s Sword Monuments begins!”

As his voice fell, the squad facing the stairs turned aside, clearing the way. At this, the crowd’s eyes lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, they surged toward the steps, most aiming for the first Sword Monument.

Over twenty thousand participants moved at once—a grand spectacle. Fortunately, the staircase of Sword Mountain was vast enough to accommodate all without hindrance.

The legacy had commenced. Each participant was filled with excitement. Most were awakened ones with no particular background, who had stepped onto the path of the extraordinary merely by consuming spiritual fruits and rare herbs.

Breathing techniques, visualization methods, and divine arts held immense allure for them. Yet, as Dean Chen had said, upon stepping onto the stairs, a surge of energy appeared, affecting their souls. Of the crowd who rushed upward, thousands felt it immediately, faces paling. The higher they climbed, the more intense the pressure became, almost unbearable. Clearly, for them, the first Sword Monument was already the limit of their insight.

At the second Sword Monument, another few thousand stopped. Soon, by the time the fifth was reached, only a few hundred remained able to proceed, their abilities varying widely—some quite strong, others only at the first stage of the initial realm.

This was, in fact, a good thing, placing everyone on equal footing; the opportunity for a better legacy was not denied by strength alone.

The five deans sighed at the sight—it was as expected. The Sword Monument’s legacy truly demanded high levels of insight.

“Mr. Lu, I’ll be going now,”

Lady Ice nodded politely and began ascending the steps. The Northern Emperor, Zhu Qingyu, and others followed. Also among them were Asura and other students from Zhendan Academy, their goals set high—at least the tenth Sword Monument and beyond.

Before long, the vast clearing was nearly empty, save for a few dozen people, including the Little Celestial Master of Pure Yang and Hui Kong from Jiuhua Mountain. They watched, not rushing to act. Lu Yuan did the same, for this was his first time seeking enlightenment on the Sword Monuments of Ancient Shu Mountain.

Having fused with the ancient Bodhi tree, he had awakened innate spirit, possessed the wisdom spirit, and could sense more than others.

“Mr. Lu, do your best in the Sword Monument legacy,” Dean Zheng approached, thinking Lu Yuan intended to compete with the Pure Yang duo. He himself did not choose to ascend, believing it unnecessary—insight was difficult to compare.

“I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Dean Zheng.” Lu Yuan paused, quickly realizing the misunderstanding but chose not to explain, continuing to sense the steps of Sword Mountain.

Dean Zheng sighed and said nothing more, knowing that every strong one possessed their own pride. He returned to the other four deans to observe the progress.

At that moment, someone had already reached the tenth Sword Monument; some stood before the fifteenth, faces pale from the pressure, eventually stopping there.

Meanwhile, the Northern Emperor, Asura, and Lady Ice all passed the fifteenth Sword Monument, showing no signs of discomfort and seemingly able to continue.

Surprisingly, Zhu Qingyu kept pace with them, pleasing Dean Zheng. He had known the child had fine bloodlines, but did not expect such insight—her future potential was immense.

“They’re moving—Pure Yang’s Little Celestial Master and Hui Kong are moving too,” Dean Chen announced. All turned to see the two ascend rapidly, barely pausing as they climbed, passing the tenth Sword Monument swiftly, then the twentieth, just behind Lady Ice and the others.

“Indeed, the surprises of this legacy are found in those two,”

“I wonder who will rank higher?”

The deans were delighted. The purpose of opening the Sword Monument legacy was to have someone comprehend a superior inheritance, which could then be recorded for Zhendan Academy’s benefit. The higher the rank, the better the legacy; naturally, they were pleased.

Lady Ice stopped at the twenty-fifth Sword Monument, feeling the pressure on her soul, her face slightly pale. She could go further but chose to reserve energy for enlightenment, so she sat cross-legged.

The Northern Emperor stood before the twenty-sixth, feeling it was enough. Asura, competitive by nature, pressed on to the twenty-eighth. Zhu Qingyu, unexpectedly, surpassed him by two ranks, reaching the thirtieth.

Only Pure Yang’s Little Celestial Master and Hui Kong continued onward.

Thus, the rankings for this Sword Monument legacy were largely settled. Most awakened ones clustered at the first five Sword Monuments—over ten thousand, all seeking the same legacy. Beyond that, numbers diminished, with Zhu Qingyu at the thirtieth, though she was not one of the five supreme figures, surprising many.

“So that’s how it is,”

Lu Yuan gazed at the steps of Sword Mountain. Through his observations and senses, he understood the wonders of this place.

Simply put, the entire Sword Mountain was suppressed by a mysterious force. At each Sword Monument, this power manifested, affecting the soul—a trial of insight. If one failed to meet the requirements, they would be rejected and harmed.

As for the source of this force, it was connected to the heavens and earth, profoundly mysterious.

He now comprehended the general situation.

“Testing insight, is it?” Lu Yuan smiled, saying nothing more. He began to ascend the steps at last.

Meanwhile, almost everyone, aside from those seeking enlightenment, watched Pure Yang and Hui Kong. The two had passed the thirtieth Sword Monument and pressed onward. They were not comfortable; their faces were pale from the ceaseless stimulation to their souls. Yet, to outsiders, it was astonishing.

The five deans smiled. “Indeed, bloodline strength does not equate to insight. These two disciples of Taoism and Buddhism surpass me in this regard,” Lady Ice remarked, shaking her head. She was not in a hurry to seek enlightenment, choosing first to acclimate and observe others.

She was surprised, however, to see Zhu Qingyu reach the thirtieth Sword Monument. The Northern Emperor and Asura noticed as well and shook their heads; being surpassed never felt pleasant, but it was normal. No one could excel in both bloodline and insight—such a person would discourage all others.

Some awakened ones wore troubled expressions, feeling weak in comparison. Qin Lan, especially, who sat before the seventh Sword Monument, was resigned. She knew Qingyu was more gifted, but had not expected the gap to be so vast.

“Hm?”

At that moment, she sensed a familiar presence passing nearby. Turning, she saw to her astonishment that it was Lu Yuan.

“It’s the Human Sovereign! He’s begun as well?”

“Truly worthy of being one of the five supreme figures—he crushed the Southern Sovereign and now has caught up so quickly.”

“He’s moving fast—he’s reached the tenth level already. I wonder where his limit lies.”

“He should be close to the Northern Emperor and the others, right?”

“Yes, the process is so arduous.”

At last, everyone present noticed Lu Yuan, observing his rapid ascent past the tenth level. But no one found it strange—after all, he was a newly crowned supreme figure. That his insight exceeded theirs was to be expected.

Dean Zheng and the others glanced at him, but their main focus remained on Pure Yang and Hui Kong, eager to see who possessed greater insight.

Meanwhile, as Lu Yuan climbed Sword Mountain, he felt the mysterious force surge forth, stimulating his soul and spirit. The higher he went, the stronger the force, creating a sense of oppression.

Yet, with a slight movement of his mind, the feeling vanished, without even needing to invoke the wisdom god within his mind.

Thus, his ascent was effortless, each step solid and steady. Within a few minutes, he stood before Lady Ice, offering her a smile. Without hesitation, he continued upward.

“How is he so relaxed?” Lady Ice was dumbfounded, unable to understand. She noticed his expression remained unchanged, even at the twenty-fifth level.

Then, she saw Lu Yuan pass directly by the Northern Emperor and Asura, his demeanor calm as if climbing a hill.

Dean Zheng’s expression changed. This man was aiming for the thirtieth level. He suddenly recalled the promise made when inviting Lu Yuan to Ancient Shu Mountain—that whatever he comprehended, he need not turn over to Zhendan Academy.

I’ve lost out!

But at least Qingyu reached the thirtieth level too—so it’s not a problem.

Yet soon, Dean Zheng was completely stunned, unable to help but gape.

For within a few minutes, Lu Yuan stood beside the thirtieth Sword Monument, smiled at Zhu Qingyu, then strode onward, quickly reaching the thirty-first.

And judging by his manner, he was not exhausted—he could continue upward!

(End of this chapter)