Chapter 765 - 857 Realm Shock
"Brother-in-law, that brat speaking ill of others behind their backs, must have learned it from you."
In the resplendent and grand hall, a voice suddenly rang out. Then, the space within the hall seemed to ripple, and a graceful figure in a purple dress stepped out first, her gaze sweeping over to the man in the golden robe, her eyebrows furrowing.
Wang Chen, standing behind the man in the golden robe, felt a little embarrassed and quickly called out sweetly, "Auntie."
The man in the golden robe, Wang Ao, coughed immediately upon realizing his words were overheard by the concerned individuals. Shifting the topic, he turned to the man behind Zuoqiu Yiren and said, "And this must be Chen Mo, truly a man of remarkable talent."
"Thank you for the praise, Elder Wang." Chen Mo cupped his hands in respect, and then bowed once more towards Dao Feizi above, "Disciple Chen Mo, greets the Sect Leader and all the elders."
Chen Mo’s gaze swept over the elders one by one.
The image used by the Profound Spirit Mirror’s Artifact Spirit was that of the Sect Leader Dao Feizi, so Chen Mo easily recognized him.
Upon seeing Chen Mo, Ice Spirit first raised a fist at him, looking as if she wanted to teach him a lesson.
But when the Sect Leader addressed him, Ice Spirit was dumbfounded.
"Middle Stage Nascent Soul, not bad. It seems, for this Daoist alliance examination, our Shenxiao Sect can shine a bit more," Dao Feizi’s gaze seemed to see through Chen Mo’s soul, but his expression remained kindly as he spoke.
"Middle Stage Nascent Soul." The elders were stunned, then realized they couldn’t discern Chen Mo’s current realm.
"What’s going on? How come I can’t see through his cultivation?" Elder Li, who was somewhat older, asked in surprise.
"This might be Elder Zuoqiu’s doing." Dao Songzi, Xuan Cheng’s master, who was dressed in purple-gold attire, shifted his gaze to Zuoqiu Yiren.
Zuoqiu Yiren nodded openly and replied, "He indeed is Middle Stage Nascent Soul. Before the examination starts, I thought it best to have him keep a low profile."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place was in an uproar.
Especially among the disciples who came for the Daoist alliance examination, their eyes widened in disbelief.
Impossible.
During the assessment contest, he was still at the Golden Core Realm.
After a Spiritual Power Infusion, he reached the Middle Stage Nascent Soul?
Even if the Star Ladder was triggered, isn’t this too outrageous?
Breaking through to Nascent Soul Realm is one thing, but directly jumping to Middle Stage Nascent Soul? Even Elder Zuoqiu back then wasn’t so over-the-top.
"No way..." Ice Spirit bit her red lips tightly. She originally believed she could make a comeback in the Daoist alliance examination after also advancing to Middle Stage Nascent Soul with a breakthrough in talismanic arts. But now, it seemed impossible.
He could defeat her at the Golden Core Realm, and now, being at the same realm, he could probably crush her with one hand.
The contrast was too great for Ice Spirit to accept.
Xuan Cheng was also in a daze for a while before he snapped back to reality.
He had witnessed Chen Mo’s combat capability; now, having jumped to Middle Stage Nascent Soul, wouldn’t that put him on par with Xuan Cheng?
The elders were equally surprised.
The first time they heard about Chen Mo was when he, with his Blue Body, a waste material physique, defeated Song Jun from the Foundation Establishment List.
After that, it was like he was opening a cheat mode.
He defeated Feng Hao of the Golden Core Realm to win the first place in the Outer Sect disciples’ meeting.
Then, he was taken in as a "disciple" by Zuoqiu Yiren.
Soon after, it was rumored that he was Zhao Fujin’s Dao Companion.
Following that, he snatched the first place in the assessment contest points.
Now, in less than five years, he had risen from the Foundation Establishment Realm to the Nascent Soul Realm.
Such a breakthrough speed, if spread out, nobody would believe it.
It’s too outrageous.
But Dao Feizi, with a calm demeanor, after hearing Zuoqiu Yiren’s words, smiled and said, "Being a bit low-key before the examination begins is indeed wise. Your status as Fujin’s Dao Companion has already spread in the Luotian Domain. That girl has many admirers, and if they know you’re here, they will surely come to trouble you."
Chen Mo smiled awkwardly; before coming, Sister Yiren had also mentioned that her admirers in the Daoist alliance were numerous, including disciples from the Divinity Transformation Realm and Void Realm.
Yet, since he dared to come, he was prepared for it.
Outstanding individuals, regardless of gender, will attract many admirers wanting to become their Dao Companions. These pressures are something he must endure, unless one gives up on them.
But in Chen Mo’s dictionary, there are no words for giving up.
"Brother Chen, I never expected you to have reached Middle Stage Nascent Soul." Wang Chen approached Chen Mo, with a somewhat complicated expression.
With the previous Spiritual Power Infusion and elixirs his father provided, he also managed to break through from Golden Core Perfection to Nascent Soul Realm.
But unexpectedly, his strength wasn’t as great as Chen Mo’s, and now his realm was surpassed as well.
Wang Chen felt like he had lived in vain for these past years.
Afterwards, Dao Feizi spoke about some matters regarding the examination.
As per previous examinations, it was divided into three stages.
The first stage, Path of Immortality.
The Path of Immortality was originally used by Daoism to hone disciples, having intense pressure to temper one’s muscles and bones, compressing True Qi.
But now, it’s used for examinations.
Merely walking five hundred feet would count as passing.
The second stage, the willpower test.
Participants who passed the first stage would enter an illusion realm, incredibly realistic, with temptations from beauties, wealth, cultivation techniques, and divine techniques, used to strengthen participants’ willpower, aiding them in overcoming the Heart Demon Tribulation more easily in the future.
The third stage is the grand melee.
Within an hour, the one thousand participants still standing in the melee and not eliminated would become disciples of the Daoist Alliance.
Finally, there’s a physique test.
Of course, this physique test will not eliminate participants.
It’s to assess one’s physique.
The better the physique, the better the treatment received after entering the Daoist Alliance, and the more valued they become.
So overall, only three stages are necessary.
However, listening to Dao Feizi, these three stages will have adjustments.
As to what the adjustments are, they’ll only be known during the examination.
After speaking, Dao Feizi arranged accommodations for the disciples.
There was still a week until the Daoist Alliance examination.
...
On the other side.
In the tavern.
"Brother Long, why have you come? It’s been fifty years since we last parted, hasn’t it?"
"Indeed, time flies. I heard that before the examination begins, an auction will be held? Each lineage will bring out treasures for auction. I came to see it."
"I see, I also came for the auction myself."
"By the way, Brother Long, among the Shenxiao Sect’s participants this time, who are the powerful ones? Tell me about them."
"Indeed there are. You know Xuan Cheng?"
"I’ve heard a bit; they say he would have become a Direct Disciple of your Shenxiao Sect if not harmed by evil ways."
"Correct, besides Xuan Cheng, there is also Chen Mo."
"Chen Mo? This name sounds familiar; where have I heard it before?"
"I remember now; Zhao Junior Sister’s Dao Companion is named Chen Mo, isn’t he?"
"Yes, that’s him. Brother Long, has he also come to participate in the Daoist alliance examination?"