Chapter 118: The Path to Divine Ascension

February 21.

Spring Equinox with a light drizzle.

The road from Jin Guang Mansion to the Qianyuan Divine Sect Branch’s mountain gate was utterly jammed. In the narrow passages, carriages jostled to overtake one another—no one yielding.

Inside the carriage.

Li Che, Zhang Ya, Granny Mu, and XiXi rode together. The lively XiXi was visibly excited.

She felt no trace of nervousness about joining the Divine Sect assessment—as if she were simply out enjoying a day in nature, curious about every new sight.

Peering through the window, she marveled at the mass of carriages and the throngs of people, many leading children on foot.

“Daddy, there are so many people!”

It was XiXi’s first time seeing such a crowd, and she was astonished that the world could hold so many.

“This year’s assessment has far more candidates than before,” Granny Mu said affectionately, though her eyes held a trace of regret.

After today, XiXi would officially join the Divine Sect and have to ascend the towering Qing Peak—leaving home much less often.

At least Granny Mu’s plan to have Li Qingshan visit her eased some of that worry.

“Li Qingshan mentioned that this year’s assessment seems tied to the Siyu Bizarre Temple near the heart of the Jiulong River—risky, yet filled with immense opportunity.”

Granny Mu added.

Zhang Ya’s eyes filled with concern as she asked, “Connected with that Siyu Bizarre Temple? That sounds way too dangerous!”

“But XiXi can’t possibly avoid the Divine Sect…”

Zhang Ya, torn with uncertainty, turned to Li Che as if pleading for guidance.

“Don’t worry. Since the Divine Sect dares to use the Siyu Bizarre Temple to test these children, they must have some tricks up their sleeves,” Li Che reassured.

He smiled gently in comfort.

Li Qingshan remarked, “The Divine Sect Branch has deployed 【Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel】, one of the Four Supreme Divine Weapons!”

Clearly, they were taking this very seriously; using such a weapon showed their confidence—it wasn’t their first time pulling this off.

Since Li Che promised it was safe, Zhang Ya ended up trusting him completely.

She simply believed him without question.

“This carriage is completely stuck—we haven’t moved much at all. Why don’t we get off and walk?”

Glancing at the sky, Li Che remarked.

He knew that if they stayed stuck and missed their appointed time, it would be a disaster.

It wasn’t only Li Che; everyone in the other carriages had disembarked—some walking, some leading by hand—all heading toward the Divine Sect’s mountain gate.

Zhang Ya and Granny Mu didn’t object; as cultivators, a bit of walking was nothing.

Li Che lifted XiXi onto his back and had her hold a small oil-paper umbrella. They stepped off the carriage and strode forward, basking in the spring rain and breeze as if on a leisurely outing.

Once on foot, they actually moved even faster.

Moments later, they passed through the busy streets of Jingguang City and arrived before the Divine Sect’s mountain gate.

Flanking either side, lush lawns and vibrant green grass swayed in the breeze, adorned with glistening droplets of rain.

A striking peak—Qing Peak—rose into the sky, visible even beyond the imposing city gate, as if Jingguang City had been built around it.

But upon closer inspection, one discovered vast expanses surrounding the mountain.

Gazing upward at Qing Peak with its towering majesty and verdant slopes, wisps of blue smoke curled around its midsection in the misty rain.

……

Along the banks of the Jiulong River, a lone mountain abruptly rose. This was Jin Guang Peak, the main seat of the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Yunzhou Branch on Lingnan Path.

Around Jin Guang Peak were many smaller hills, though none could match its grandeur—they were completely overshadowed.

These minor peaks were the cave realms established exclusively by cultivators of illusory prowess in the Divine Sect Branch.

For example, Li Qingshan, with his illusory combat strength, earned the right to establish his own cave realm—his mountain was named “Zheng Lei Peak.”

After crossing a stretch of verdant grassland, they came upon a massive white jade archway at the foot of Jin Guang Peak.

Before the arch, an expansive grassy field had a gigantic, exquisitely built wooden platform.

Around the platform, various powerful factions from the elite circles of Jingguang City had gathered.

The Five Great Families—Qin, Gong, Hai, Shangguan, and Gongyang—placed great importance on this event. Not only had their clan heads attended, but even their Patriarchs of Divine Appearance were present.

For instance, Qin Family’s Patriarch of Divine Appearance, Qin Di Kun, sat with his head bowed on a high platform erected by the Qin faction.

Beside him were the Qin Family head Qin Cang and second-generation figures like Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao, peers of the late Qin Yuqing.

The Five Major Sects had sent their representatives as well.

Elite masters from Jin Lie Men, Zhu Lin Academy, Guan Chao Pavilion, and Sha Xie Forest had also arrived. Unlike the great families, they hadn’t sent their Patriarchs of Divine Appearance but had stationed skilled illusion practitioners instead.

Even factions like the Black Jiao Gang and the Beggar Gang—now reduced from three to two major groups—sent their top experts, with both leaders making an appearance.

Though their imposing auras were somewhat restrained, the mingling and clash of energies formed a suffocating, awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Li Che arrived at the venue clutching XiXi. The open space beneath the platform was already packed with people.

Suddenly, Lu Chi’s head emerged from the crowd. Dressed in the inner disciple uniform of the Divine Sect—a striking light-green robe—he was impossible to miss, causing many to instinctively step aside.

“Uncle Li, Aunt Zhang, and XiXi—over here! Follow me,” Lu Chi called out excitedly.

He waved his hand with evident enthusiasm.

Li Che, aware of the special treatment they were due, didn’t care about the surrounding stares. With a gentle smile and a quietly powerful aura that pushed aside the crowd, he led his wife, daughter, Granny Mu, Uncle, and Old Chen to follow Lu Chi.

Not long after, Shangguan Qinghong bounced over from afar, exclaiming in a fluster, “Li Ge, I’m right here! I got a good spot too!”

Nearby, Liu He and Hai Chuanying couldn’t help but laugh, “Who knew Li Bro had connections within the Divine Sect?”

“That’s Lu Chi, a disciple of Li Qingshan. In the last session, he was one of three who triggered the temple spirit’s resonance—achieving a 65% resonance rate. He’s the only one who still cultivates the 【Furious Third Prince】 Divine Essence Technique, aiming to forge the divine foundation just like his teacher,” Hai Chuanying explained.

Hai Chuanying, hailing from the illustrious Hai Family of the Five Great Families, spoke with well-informed assurance.

“Li Bro’s daughter is said to be one of the three elite prodigies from the thirteen jurisdictions under the capital, isn’t she?” Liu He remarked.

“Yes, Li Nuǎnxi, an elite prodigy… though her chance at the true transmission seems slim. She’ll likely have to first join the inner circle and then work her way up—she’s just too young,” someone observed.

“The elite prodigies hidden within the Five Great Families and many other smaller clans in the capital are all being showcased. I’ve heard that this year there are over fifteen elite prodigies, yet the Divine Sect’s true transmission accepts only five,” Hai Chuanying said coolly.

Hai Chuanying’s tone was calm as he spoke.

Liu He sighed and shook his head, “It hasn’t been easy. After all that happened in Feilei City, Li Bro bringing his elite prodigy daughter to the capital—he must have suffered a lot…”

“Even just gaining entry into the Divine Sect’s inner circle is a feat,” someone remarked.

Standing aside, Shangguan Qinghong frowned and clenched her fists, exclaiming, “My little sister XiXi will surely secure the true transmission; you have no idea how mighty she is!”

Hai Chuanying snorted, “A three-year-old kid who can’t even master basic potty training—how impressive can she be?”

“Our Hai Family’s elite prodigy, Hai Chaosheng, along with the Patriarch of Divine Appearance, were only reluctantly revealed. If it weren’t for the temple spirit resonance at the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple, the Patriarch would have kept them hidden to train them personally,” someone explained.

Shangguan Qinghong shot Hai Chuanying a glance. “You have no idea how precious it is when a three-year-old masters Bone Tempering.”

She refrained from boasting, adding, “You little brats…”

“Just wait until Great Emperor XiXi gives you a scare!”

……

……

On the blue stone steps beneath the stone archway at the Divine Sect mountain gate,

rows of chairs were arranged, occupied by figures in flowing robes exuding an ethereal aura. The fine drizzle seemed to twist around them, as if warped by invisible energies before even touching their bodies.

“This session is really lively… There are so many people! It seems every gifted prodigy from Jingguang Mansion has been brought here,” one elder remarked.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, seated at the central position, gently stroked his beard while looking kindly over the dense crowd.

This man was Nan Lihuo, the sect master of the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Yunzhou Branch—his cultivation was unfathomable.

“Of course it’s hectic. After all, the Third Prince Temple has activated the temple spirit resonance—an event that might not recur for another twenty years. Missing this chance means it would be nearly impossible to obtain the Temple’s true transmission for the next two decades,”

Li Qingshan, lounging languidly in his chair, added.

“Li Qingshan, you’re ruthless! Barely after returning to the capital, you forced an Eight Extremes Corpse God Envoy out of the Corpse God Sect—nearly causing a catastrophe!”

No sooner had Li Qingshan spoken than a scholarly, lean old man in Confucian attire roared from nearby.

Li Qingshan immediately retorted, “What do you mean by a catastrophe? Don’t you know what sort of creature the Corpse God Sect’s Corpse God Envoy is? You let them roam the capital, seducing and corrupting various factions…”

“That is the true disaster!”

“What about Jizhou? Haven’t you heard? It has fallen into the hands of the Corpse God Sect’s minions! The common folk are being used as tools to refine dead energy—and masses perish. Do you want Jingguang Mansion to meet the same fate?”

The scholarly elder’s face flushed red as he argued, “Of course we must stop the Corpse God Sect, but strategy is key. You openly hunt their envoys in the city while the masters, supervisors, the sect master, and even we Patriarchs of Divine Appearance remain trapped in uncertainty…”

“If they decide to go all out and massacre the populace, how many lives will be lost?”

Li Qingshan merely raised an eyebrow and replied, “That’s the incompetence of the local Patriarchs of Divine Appearance.”

In the distance, a woman in a red robe opened her eyes; flames danced in her gaze as she spoke coolly.

“Li Qingshan, are you saying that I, Zhu Hongdou, am incompetent?”

Li Qingshan fell silent immediately.

This woman had studied the 【Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince】 for an entire cycle—she was formidable and vengeful. Li Qingshan decided it was best to hold his tongue.

Master Nan Lihuo raised his hand gently and said, “Alright, purging the Corpse God Sect and other wrongdoers—as challenging as it may be, even if it’s Qingshan’s doing—is the right course of action.”

“But the methods are rather harsh; they should be more measured afterward,”

he added. “Elder Zhang, as a former court jinshi, you’re well-suited to supervise this sect assessment. Behave with composure and set a good example for the younger generation—don’t let that sour face scare the little ones.”

The scholarly elder, Zhang Qingzheng—one of the four great Patriarchs of Divine Appearance in the Divine Sect—clasped his fists in acknowledgment. Sitting down, he even rubbed his face, as wrinkled as a bitter lotus, trying to offer a smile.

Alas, it only made him look even more intimidating.

Li Qingshan almost chuckled at the sight.

“It is now time—the mountain gate will open and the sect assessment will commence.”

Master Nan Lihuo cast a solemn glance at Li Qingshan, causing him to stifle a laugh.

“Begin—!”

Red-robed Elder Zhu Hongdou stood up, walked to the massive black gong mounted on the arch behind, gripped the mallet, and struck it gently.

In an instant, a powerful vibration shook the gong, unleashing a thunderous, electrifying sound!

The sound rippled like waves and stirred a wild gust that quickly spread throughout the venue, plunging everyone into sudden silence.

“This is the sect assessment and selection for disciples of the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Yunzhou Branch on Lingnan Path,”

the gong announced, “Commence!”

……

……

A fine, continuous drizzle fell as the spring breeze caressed everything.

Before the Divine Sect’s mountain gate, the explosive sound of the black gong mimicked the surging waters of the Jiulong River rolling outward, quieting groups of parents and children gathered nearby.

The gong resonated three times, and the clear, resounding voice of the stunning red-robed woman reached every corner—even from hundreds of yards away.

Clutching XiXi, Li Che took his seat at the designated spot on the lower left of the wooden platform built before the mountain gate.

Several wooden chairs had been arranged, and Li Che’s group, led by Lu Chi, had just taken their places.

Besides Li Che’s family, a few figures in fine attire holding children sat quietly.

When Li Che’s family appeared, all eyes turned toward them. A few opulently dressed women couldn’t help but frown when they saw the modestly clad Zhang Ya.

Judging by their attire, it was clear that Li Che’s family wasn’t of high status.

What level could they possibly be to sit alongside such people?

Li Che remained low-key; very few in the Capital knew him except as the woodcarver who miraculously survived the sacrificial rites of Feilei City.

Even his appointment as a third-class guest minister in the Imperial Watch was known to only a handful.

However, Li Che’s group had been brought by Lu Chi, and although the well-dressed onlookers were displeased, they kept silent.

Li Che was aware of every scrutinizing gaze, yet he didn’t mind.

“Uncle Li, this spot was specially reserved for you by the teacher. Those in fine attire are from the noble families of the thirteen jurisdictions under the Capital—and among them are two elite prodigies.”

Lu Chi leaned over to Li Che and whispered.

While Li Che settled with XiXi, a twitch of his eyebrow betrayed his curiosity—was it the one that Li Qingshan rated even above XiXi among the prodigies?

“Huang Sixiang?”

Li Che asked softly.

Lu Chi immediately pointed to a little boy seated about three or four spots away.

The boy, who sat beside an exceptionally attractive woman, was impeccably behaved with a rare buzz cut and sun-kissed bronze skin. Although only five or six, he exuded a quiet, piercing intensity.

As if noticing Li Che’s gaze, Huang Sixiang turned; his eyes fell on XiXi. Seeing her rosy, three-year-old face, he scoffed and tossed his chin dismissively, breaking eye contact.

“A mere three-year-old is nothing to worry about,” he concluded.

Huang Sixiang made his judgment instantly.

Feeling slighted, XiXi cried out in anger, “Daddy, he’s staring at me!”

Li Che ruffled her hair gently and said, “Wait till later and show him what I taught you; you’ve learned them all, haven’t you?”

“I have! I can even flick out a little kitten move now,” XiXi declared proudly, clenching her tiny fist and blinking her big, sparkling eyes.

Nearby, Lu Chi was utterly puzzled, “What little kitten move?”

He wondered what new tricks XiXi had secretly picked up.

“And that one is another elite prodigy from Thirteen Cities—apart from XiXi and Huang Sixiang—a genius from the Liu Family of East Ring City, Liu Changqing. The teacher thinks he isn’t as good as XiXi,”

Li Che nodded at the remark.

“How old are they, anyway?”

“Huang Sixiang is six, and Liu Changqing is seven,”

Lu Chi recited as if listing prized possessions.

After a brief exchange, the room fell silent as a woman in a stunning red dress ascended the high platform. Gracefully, she approached the edge of the wooden stage, holding a roster of prodigy names selected from various cities and regions.

“This is Elder Zhu Hongdou, one of the four great elders of our sect—a true marvel of divine appearance!” Lu Chi tilted his head as he introduced her to XiXi and Li Che.

However, as soon as Lu Chi finished speaking, Zhu Hongdou’s piercing gaze swept over him.

“Don’t spout nonsense. This elder is stunningly beautiful—an unparalleled vision, like a blossom in full bloom. Mind your words,” Li Che chided, patting Lu Chi’s head.

All for the sake of his daughter, he would shamelessly heap praise without a care for propriety.

Lu Chi, suddenly sensing the tension, realized too late that he might have misspoken.

“Now, those prodigies whose names are called, please come onto the stage,”

the roster announcement continued. Zhu Hongdou, as if having caught wind of Li Che’s unbridled praise, scoffed dismissively—even though, truth be told, sweet words were always pleasing to the ear.

“Xianghuancheng’s elite prodigy, Huang Sixiang!”

Her words echoed out.

Immediately, the obedient Huang Sixiang leapt to his feet. His chin rose high, and his bronze skin glistened in the spring rain as if oiled.

Proudly, he marched forward as the first whose name was called.

Huang Sixiang vowed that he would always be first.

“Feilei City’s elite prodigy, Li Nuǎnxi,”

Zhu Hongdou continued to recite from the roster.

“Daddy, I think they called my name!” XiXi exclaimed excitedly.

Li Che gently set her down and smoothed the creases from her tiny training outfit, saying warmly, “Go on—Daddy’s cheering for you!”

He patted her before inserting two 【Chess Sage】 chess pieces to guarantee extra safety.

XiXi nodded and then dashed toward the platform with determined strides.

The three-year-old XiXi, so tiny, stood beside Huang Sixiang on the platform, clearly dwarfed by him.

Below, murmurs and even bursts of laughter began to rise.

“A three-year-old elite prodigy with impressive talent—but alas, she’s too young,” someone remarked.

“Joining the assessment at such a tender age offers few advantages. She should probably be nurtured for another year; it’s safer to enter at four,” another observed.

“She’s from Feilei City, after all. I’ve heard that in Feilei, under the Corpse God Sect’s demonic influence during the Thousand Infants Sacrifice, many prodigies perished. For this child to make it to the Capital alive is no small feat…”

……

Below, conversations rang on incessantly.

Still, a three-year-old elite prodigy is unlikely to contend for the true transmission; she would probably become an inner disciple, trained for a year before possibly being recognized by the elders for promotion.

With keen interest, Zhu Hongdou glanced at XiXi before continuing to call out names.

“East Ring City’s elite prodigy, Liu Changqing,”

“Qin Family’s Qin Fenghuo…”

Soon, a total of fifteen names were announced. On the platform, fifteen children stood in orderly rows.

There were boys and girls, all around six or seven years old.

Among them, XiXi stood noticeably shorter, her presence somewhat diminished.

But XiXi didn’t mind; with her large, curious eyes, she began to scrutinize the boys and girls beside her, lingering on the attractive ones and quickly averting her gaze from those she found less appealing.

Meanwhile, a commotion was already brewing below.

Does this mean the first round of the elite prodigy assessment has begun?

In other words, the true transmission contest is underway, with these fifteen elite prodigies competing for five slots!

Four elders and… the sect master!

A total of five true transmission positions!

Sitting offstage, Li Che clenched his hands; he was admittedly a bit nervous.

Even though he already had his own estimate and was confident in XiXi’s talent and ability, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.

This was the unmistakable emotion of a father—uncontrollable worry as he watched his daughter stand so lively on stage.

Surrounded by towering prodigies, his own petite daughter glanced around fearfully, as if overwhelmed.

Li Che’s heart trembled, and he felt an urge to scoop her up right then.

Zhang Ya, who had somehow grasped Li Che’s hand, was sweating profusely, her anxiety evident.

“Husband, do you think XiXi can secure the true transmission?”

“I’ve heard that obtaining the true transmission is an entirely different matter from entering the inner circle. Once inside, advancing to the true transmission is extremely difficult,” he explained.

Zhang Ya’s nerves got the better of her, and she began to babble anxiously.

Li Che reassured her for a while.

“Don’t worry—XiXi will perform well,”

he added, “after all, she’s our daughter.”

Next to them, Old Chen trembled more than he had ever when fending off mountain bandits during his escape, continuously rubbing his hands and sipping from his gourd of wine.

Granny Mu, however, appeared completely unfazed—she kept rubbing Lu Chi’s head, much to his chagrin.

Faced with the matriarch’s affectionate attention, Lu Chi could only grin and bear it.

On the wooden platform.

Elder Zhang Qingzheng, his face creased like a bitter lotus, approached the children with solemnity.

Instantly, all fifteen prodigies held their breath.

XiXi nearly covered her eyes—what an ugly face!

Zhang Qingzheng stood with his hands behind his back, feeling as if his face might crack into a smile. How could these little ones not sense his warm, amiable nature?

“The first round of the sect assessment is the true transmission selection,” he announced.

“The selection is divided into three stages. The first stage is the challenge match,”

he continued, “There are five challenge platforms arranged on the stage and I have fifteen sheets of folded paper. Draw one—those who draw the five will be the defenders, and the rest will challenge them. The winners will continue to defend their position.”

“The last person standing on a platform will be the winner of the first phase of the true transmission assessment,” he declared.

“The second stage will test your divine aptitude using the Divine Sect’s Divination of Essence to measure the height of your divine aura,”

he explained, “with scores awarded on three tiers: Upper A, A, and Lower A.”

“As for the third stage—well, we’ll discuss that once the first two are completed.”

Zhang Qingzheng’s eyebrows drooped, resembling the bitter tendrils of a yellow herb.

He looked at the fifteen elite prodigies on stage and chuckled softly.

Intimidated by his stern expression, the fifteen prodigies quickly stood at attention and shouted in unison that they understood.

Then, Zhang Qingzheng abruptly tossed the fifteen folded sheets into the air.

Invisible energy surged, and the sheets spun wildly as if encased in an unseen, transparent sphere.

“Each of you draw one; when you open it, you’ll know whether you are a defender or a challenger,”

Zhang Qingzheng explained.

Curious, XiXi gazed at the fluttering sheets before her, and with her chubby little hand, she grabbed one.

A rush of air hit her arm, making her chubby skin tremble—it felt both ticklish and oddly comforting.

After taking her sheet, XiXi opened it with inquisitive eyes.

Her eyes went wide in confusion, for it bore a character she couldn’t recognize.

She scanned it, her gaze and a barely noticeable raised eyebrow, then shook her head slightly.

A three-year-old prodigy chosen as a defender would inevitably be seen as an easy target by her peers.

Alas, that is the rule of the true transmission assessment…

If a three-year-old dares to compete for the true transmission, she must truly prove her abilities.

With a stern, disdainful look and his scholarly robe billowing, Zhang Qingzheng spoke gravely.

“The defenders for the first stage are: Huang Sixiang, Qin Fenghuo, Hai Chaosheng, Gongyang Xiu…”

“…and Li Nuǎnxi.”

Please upvote, recommend, and support the continued reading!