Chapter 719 - 714: Star Palace
"Emperor Ying?"
After hearing Lü Yang, a look of clear confusion crossed Dragon Map’s face. "Why ’Emperor Ying’? That’s supposed to be the third trial."
"This..."
Hearing this, Lü Yang frowned as well. "Could it be because the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness shattered? Did that disrupt the order of the trials?"
"Impossible!"
Dragon Map shook his head firmly. "The Celestial Human Residual Consciousness was formed from a variable. Its internal mechanisms are solid as a rock; they couldn’t possibly fall into disarray just because it shattered. There’s only one other possibility... you’ve already obtained the clue for the second trial and established a karmic link. That’s why it’s showing you the third trial!"
After a moment of thought, Dragon Map offered his conclusion.
"Yes, that’s the only possibility."
"The Celestial Human Residual Consciousness operates on karmic links. Other than our Guardian lineage, which has specific methods to select who can enter and exit, all other challengers must rely on destiny."
"The reason you unlocked the third trial, ’Emperor Ying,’ is because you’ve already formed a karmic link with the second trial, ’Nourishing Life Master.’ It doesn’t need to give you the coordinates for it. On top of that, your performance in this trial was nothing short of perfect. That’s why it’s promoting you ahead of schedule by giving you the coordinates to the third trial."
Lü Yang stroked his chin at this.
"So, I can go directly to the third trial?"
"Of course."
Dragon Map nodded, then shook his head. "However, even if you can enter the third trial early, passing it will be next to impossible."
"Because you’re skipping the second trial, you won’t receive its reward. As a result, the third trial will be several times more difficult for you, making it almost impossible to pass... So, don’t get ahead of yourself. First, find a way to clear the second trial, ’Nourishing Life Master,’ and then proceed to the third."
"I understand."
As he finished speaking, Lü Yang glanced at Ang Xiao, who gave him a slight nod. They both said in unison, "It must be Mu Changsheng."
When they considered the karmic link to the second trial, Mu Changsheng was the only one who fit.
’In that case, Mu Changsheng must have gone to ’Nourishing Life Master’ all those years ago. And judging by his incredible performance, he probably cleared it, too.’
’The reward from the previous trial is a great help for the next one... ’Human World’ provides Dao Heart, but there are substitutes for that.’
Like the Gold Attribute!
’If I’m not mistaken, the second trial, ’Nourishing Life Master,’ probably has ways to disrupt one’s Dao Heart. Only someone with Dao Heart Perfection could withstand it.’
’But that was in the past. Now, with the Pocket World Technique and the boost from the Gold Attribute at Foundation Establishment Perfection, it should be possible to be immune to its effects. Otherwise, Mu Changsheng couldn’t have passed... Then again, the fact that he was able to create the Consciousness Stripping Technique and access the Dao Heart might have been a factor in him clearing the trial...’
This showed that Dragon Map’s words weren’t absolute.
Almost impossible didn’t mean completely impossible.
In fact, some who might have been able to pass could easily get stuck permanently if they encountered special circumstances.
For example, ’Human World’ was an anomaly. If that shameless bastard Ang Xiao hadn’t entered with his True Monarch Cultivation, it never would have become an unwinnable dead end.
At this thought, Lü Yang inwardly cursed Ang Xiao again:
’One person ruins it for everyone else. That naturally evil old beast definitely did it on purpose. He just wanted to stop anyone else from obtaining the great opportunity here!’
’Of course, after today, it’ll probably be even harder.’
One Ang Xiao was bad enough—he was, after all, only at the Early Stage of Golden Core. Now with me, someone at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, the trial is utterly hopeless for anyone else.
’But so what if it is? It’s better this way. Why would I let a great place that allows one to quickly achieve Dao Heart Perfection be wasted on others? Especially in this era where Dao Heart Cultivation Techniques have all but vanished. The more perfect one’s Dao Heart, the greater the danger. It’s better if I bear this danger all by myself.’
But he was completely different from Ang Xiao.
’That old beast’s intentions were so malicious, even if his actions had some merit. I’m just taking the good and leaving the bad, acting entirely for the public good...’
Lü Yang quickly convinced himself.
.......
「Star Palace, Cyan Dragon Star Constellation.」
The current master of the Horned Wood Jiao, the Star Monarch of Qinghe, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze calmly fixed on the handsome young man standing below in the great hall.
However, compared to his usual self, he was in extremely poor condition. He had just been suddenly and bizarrely injured. After a long period of divination, he learned that the residual image he had left behind in ’Human World’ had been destroyed, and the backlash had affected his true body. This left him deeply unsettled, and he suspected it might be the work of a Demon from the Immortal Pivot.
That was why he had summoned the young man.
After a moment of silence, the Star Monarch of Qinghe spoke in a low voice, "Hao’er, you have now reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, and your accumulation of Merit and Dao Practice is sufficient."
"However, the ’Human World’ trial is particularly treacherous."
"Even setting aside the final Guardian’s Memory, there are many powerful foes within."
"Even the residual image I left there long ago was defeated. The opponent could be a prodigy, a Demon from the Immortal Pivot. You must proceed with the utmost caution."
The young man’s expression turned solemn upon hearing this.
"Rest assured, Master. I cultivate the Cyan Dragon Star Constellation and aim to use the Supreme Star Map to attain the rank of Star Monarch. No matter how difficult the path ahead, I am confident I can face it!"
"Good. That’s the spirit."
The Star Monarch of Qinghe nodded, then drew a Jade Token from within his robes and handed it to the young man. "Take this and keep it safe," he said gravely.
The young man started, surprised. "This is..."
"It was left behind by a lineage of Guardians," the Star Monarch of Qinghe said calmly. "Long ago, when the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness shattered, the Guardians splintered and scattered."
"One of those branches found its way to my Star Palace."
"To repay us for saving their lives, that line of Guardians left behind this Token. It can help one of us enter the first trial, ’Human World’."
At this, the Star Monarch of Qinghe sighed with some emotion. "After all, the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness is truly and infinitely mysterious. Without a karmic link, you can’t enter even if you know the coordinates. You would only perceive it as a fleeting illusion. Otherwise, we would have moved in en masse long ago."
"Furthermore, this item has been empowered by generations of our ancestors, adding a Divine Effect that can help you breach the Sea of Suffering and smoothly enter the trial."
As he finished speaking, the Star Monarch of Qinghe shook his head with a bitter smile.
"The times have changed, after all. What Foundation-Stage Cultivator has the time to breach the Sea of Suffering anymore? We can only rely on such shortcuts."
"However, only a Foundation-Stage Cultivator such as yourself can use this Jade Token to enter. Once you achieve the rank of Perfected Lord, like myself, you can no longer get in."
The young man looked puzzled. "But I heard that the Guardian’s Memory..."
"That’s not a person!"
The Star Monarch of Qinghe snarled, "That’s an animal! An Immortal Pivot Demon who cultivates the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood! He used the Veil of the Trees to sneak into the trial!"
"The shameless bastard!"
As if recalling some unpleasant memory, the Star Monarch of Qinghe cursed furiously for some time before composing himself and turning back to the young man.
"However, as you said... there are exceptions."
At this, his tone filled with hope. "If you can harness the power of the Secret Realm to become the Star Monarch of the Cyan Dragon Star Constellation, things will be different."
"After all, the Cyan Dragon Star Constellation is exceptionally profound. A dragon possesses the ability to change its size and conceal itself. When large, it summons clouds and exhales mist; when small, it can hide its very form. When it ascends, it soars through the cosmos; when it hides, it lurks beneath the waves. At that point, you might be able to bypass the rules of ’Human World,’ just like that animal did."
"Then, you will be able to fight him."
"If you win, the greatest opportunity in ’Human World’ will be yours. After all, there can’t be a second beast like that, not even in the Immortal Pivot."
"...I understand, Master."
The young man cupped his fists in a solemn salute, then sat down cross-legged. Holding the Jade Token, he declared with soaring fighting spirit, "Master, I’m going now!"