Chapter 272: Celestial Ascension of the Divine Prodigy

Time seemed to freeze in this moment as countless divine essences surged between heaven and earth, while a wild, howling wind roared into existence.

It was as if the rustle of billowing robes echoed ceaselessly.

XiXi’s purple divine aura cascaded like a waterfall, unconcerned with the dampening effect of the White Jade Stairway. Ever since surpassing Gongshu Wéntian, her pace had quickened—urgent and insatiable.

She was desperate to devour the little treat gifted by the Boss.

All she wanted was to reach the peak of the White Jade Stairway quickly, undisturbed during her meal.

There would be no interruptions like those caused by that purple-haired youth.

“Tea Egg!”

After XiXi crushed the White Feilei Chess Piece, the gift that the Boss had entrusted Li Che to deliver to her appeared in her chubby little hand.

Clutching a tea egg almost the size of her fist, her big eyes shimmered with delight.

XiXi was overjoyed!

The mere aroma of the tea egg made her mouth water uncontrollably.

It carried a uniquely rich scent—a deep tea fragrance mingled with an intensely matured egg aroma!

The egg’s shell was riddled with cracks, allowing the tea-infused broth to fully permeate the ingredient.

XiXi’s chubby fingers began prying at the shell.

She hadn’t even noticed that the discarded shell on the ground was slowly dissolving, turning into fleeting grains slipping through her fingers.

Her eyes were locked intently on the tea egg, as though she were staring into the world itself.

Indeed…

This is the realm of foodies.

Pure and unadulterated.

Not a speck of distraction in her gaze.

The tea egg, shed of its shell, looked as exquisite as fine porcelain, its cracked patterns spreading out like ink brush strokes by a master calligrapher.

Simply beautiful—

XiXi grinned broadly and took a big bite.

Immediately, she sensed a piercing gaze upon her.

She lifted her head.

A gentle breeze stirred, and wisps of smoke curled in the air.

It was as if someone had stepped out of legend, standing before her with flowing white hair, beard, and robe.

Bending slightly, he locked eyes with XiXi, who was crouched and nibbling on her tea egg.

Their contrasting gazes—one imposing, one youthful—seemed to collide across time and space.

XiXi’s eyes gleamed moistly.

The ancestral patriarch of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, as if brought back to life, wore a gentle smile.

He looked at XiXi with admiration and affection.

He was amazed by her talent.

That purple divine aura, cascading like an inverted waterfall, was unprecedented—even that brat Taibai could not match such aptitude!

Not even he could reach this level of talent!

Martial prowess, divine essence, divine weaponry, divine talismans, the legacy of the Divine Eagle, and divine pills—

Indeed.

This tea egg had been simmered with an abundance of medicinal herbs and tea, perfectly infusing its healing properties into the egg. It was nothing short of gourmet medicated cuisine.

Its medicinal effect far surpassed that of ordinary divine pills!

In the realm of divine pills, XiXi’s inherent talent was almost instantly supplemented—this tea egg contained the very essence of the Dao…

Her sixfold divine prowess was utterly complete!

A perfect hexagonal marvel!

Cheating—

Could it really work like this?

The ancestral patriarch’s eyes sparkled with delight!

This little miss—

Her talent in the preliminary assessment was top-notch!

Unquestionably!

Anyone daring to question would surely be in for a severe rebuke from the patriarch!

In the ancestral patriarch’s eyes shone rich admiration, kindness, and indulgence…

Yet, in XiXi’s sparkling large eyes—

There flickered a touch of panic.

It was just like being caught sneaking a bite.

For nearly three heartbeats, she held his gaze.

Then…

XiXi gaped wide.

“Ming!”

She stuffed the remaining tea egg into her mouth, swallowing it whole as her cheeks puffed out.

“I have it!”

“I got it!”

XiXi covered her mouth as she spoke.

It was as if—

She feared the patriarch might snatch it away.

“Hahaha!”

The patriarch broke into hearty laughter at the sight.

The brilliance from the shattering egg shell swirled around him like a sudden gust of wind.

He raised his hand and gently patted XiXi’s head. Instantly, an invisible white aura surged forth from his palm, enveloping her in a cool, ethereal mist.

While she chewed, XiXi felt this brisk white current washing over her.

Her eyes blinked in curious wonder.

How did this white aura taste so much like the treat from the Boss?

“This is the Dao Essence Pillar. For topping the talent assessment, you have earned a nine-foot Dao Essence Pillar—”

“For second place, a three-foot Dao Essence Pillar; third place, a one-foot pillar. Beyond that, no pillar is granted.”

“After all three stages, the highest Dao Essence Pillar wins a special reward, while the others have their Dao Essence absorbed back into the Minor Cavern of the Heavens.”

The patriarch ruffled XiXi’s head as he explained.

His voice wasn’t just speaking to her—it seemed to merge into the wind, cascading down the White Jade Stairway like a dragon’s spine, reaching the ears of all the prodigies treading its steps.

Upon hearing this, XiXi’s eyes lit up.

With a gurgle, she swallowed the tea egg, her eyes bright as she wiped her mouth and stared at the patriarch.

“Grandfather, what exactly is Dao Essence? Can you eat it?”

XiXi asked earnestly.

The patriarch burst into laughter, and the entire Minor Cavern of the Heavens seemed to quake slightly.

He didn’t answer her question.

The Divine Eagle of the patriarch re-solidified, his robe billowing as he stared into the distance.

XiXi scratched her head, feeling a twinge of regret.

Nevertheless, she turned and ascended the peak of the White Jade Stairway.

Hands on her hips, she puffed out her little belly.

In that moment, she couldn’t resist laughing out loud to the heavens.

Looking down at the myriad prodigies beneath her, XiXi felt invincible, as if she could overwhelm them all!

At last, she experienced the sensation of becoming the Great Emperor XiXi!

In the dim gaze of the onlooking prodigies, Gongshu Wéntian, whose purple divine pillar had been surpassed by five-year-old XiXi’s torrential aura, felt his heart—

Torn between shattering and holding together, he wavered in uncertainty.

His form, standing atop the White Jade Stairway, teetered on the brink of collapse.

A brief stagger, then he was cloaked in the glow of the Dao Essence Pillar—a three-foot column that brought him both solace and hope.

“It’s not over yet—the direct transmission test still has two more stages: the Essence of Heart and the Temple Quelling trial! I merely lost at the Talent Stage!”

Gongshu Wéntian’s dao heart, once trembling on the edge, suddenly coalesced.

He wasn’t defeated yet.

His dao heart must never break prematurely!

The third prodigy was Xuan Yue, who cheerfully accepted a one-foot Dao Essence Pillar.

She gazed at XiXi seated at the summit, bathed in a nine-foot Dao Essence Pillar, radiating like a dazzling midday sun, her eyes sparkling as if filled with starlit dreams of an idol.

“Wow, as expected of the little senior disciple taken in by the Sect Master’s Wife. She’s truly incredible!”

On the White Jade Stairway,

The mighty Jin Taisui, having been knocked back by thousands of steps, flailed his purple hair wildly, his eyes burning with anger.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes reddening.

Not only was his fury palpable, but also the fact that XiXi had earned the nine-foot Dao Essence Pillar reward.

“This brat—this girl!”

“That Dao Essence should have been mine!”

Jin Taisui roared from the White Jade Stairway, his anger surging.

He was closing in on Xuan Yue, about to overtake her. Securing a top-two finish guaranteed a reward of Dao Essence!

Now—

It was gone!

That little runt had pulled off a staggering contraption, catching him off guard!

It sent him tumbling down thousands of steps, a crushing defeat!

“Why did I even mess with her?”

A twinge of regret surged in Jin Taisui’s heart.

Gripping his Zijin Bell tightly, its tinkling echoed his turbulent thoughts.

“The Essence of Heart and the Temple Quelling trial—”

“This little girl is only five—her heart has yet to be rigorously tempered!”

“And as for the Temple Quelling trial, what combat experience can a five-year-old possibly have?”

“I still have a chance—”

“If I clinch first place in the remaining two stages, I can still surpass her!”

Jin Taisui inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled, calming his turbulent emotions.

After all, he carried the bloodline of Great Witch Gods—

This little girl, born of ordinary stock, could never match him.

The torrential rain roared across the leaden clouds high above, before bursting forth like a barrage of arrows from the heavens.

Thunder rumbled, flashes intermingling like a vast, blue net that enshrouded the very dome of heaven.

Before the White Jade Archway,

A profound silence fell.

After a long pause, cheers suddenly erupted.

It came from the area where Li Qingshan and his companions were gathered.

Prodigies like Gong Yuanliang, Gongyang Xiu, Hai Chaosheng, and Huang Sixiang, along with others who had followed the Great Emperor XiXi from Jin Guang Mansion to Daocheng, were exhilarated and flushed with excitement, cheering loudly!

As the right and left arms of Great Emperor XiXi, how could they not feel honored witnessing her overwhelming dominance?

When the scene of Taibai Sect Master’s sword aura first appeared,

they were gripped by tension, as though the heavens were collapsing.

But now, as XiXi ascended to the summit—even prompting the Ancestral Patriarch of the Divine Eagle to open his eyes and bestow a nine-foot Dao Essence Pillar reward—

they collectively heaved a sigh of relief and erupted in joyous celebration!

Apart from the cheering children, even numerous martial figures from the rivers and lakes who had come to witness the spectacle could not help but join in the exultation.

After all, the conflict between the Great Realm and the Da Li had been brewing for quite some time.

When prodigies from the Great Jing Court’s Divine Sect’s direct transmission test were subdued by a Da Li prodigy,

it struck like a brutal blow to the pride of the Great Jing.

The martial world immediately elevated this contest to a matter of national honor.

When prodigy after prodigy was surpassed, a silence fell over the martial world, their hearts sinking—an overwhelming frustration that not even a torrential spring rain could wash away.

In Daocheng, members of the great families furrowed their brows heavily.

Seated in the carriage, the young Dao Master Yue Weizheng’s brows were drawn tight into furious lines. As an official of the Great Jing Court in Daocheng,

how could he possibly gaze at Da Li prodigies with such audacity, crushing the Great Jing’s prodigies with disdain?

Even the elders of the Qianyuan Divine Sect couldn’t help but clench their fists when they saw the situation within the Minor Cavern of the Heavens.

No wonder when Jin Taisui rapidly surpassed one prodigy after another and neared Xuan Yue and Gongshu Wéntian, many elders wore grim expressions.

If Jin Taisui managed to trample over the Great Jing’s prodigies to claim first place…

The impact would be monumental.

Li Che sat in his chair, his dark robe billowing as his gaze fell upon the interwoven sword auras.

He saw XiXi seated in meditation atop the summit of the White Jade Stairway, while Gongshu Wéntian, Xuan Yue, Yun’e, Gu He, Lü Qingxuan, and other prodigies sat below.

Her slight figure, at the pinnacle of the White Jade Stairway, exuded an aura that overwhelmed everything beneath her.

Through the Feilei Chess Piece, Li Che could clearly sense the Dao Essence Pillar surging from the Ancestral Patriarch’s Divine Eagle, purifying XiXi’s “Eight-Armed Three-Faced Indomitable Lotus” divine foundation.

Faintly, the divine pattern of the Eight-Armed Three-Faced Indomitable Lotus on her divine core shone with a subtle radiance.

The purification of her divine nature was steadily elevating both her quality and her stage.

It even deepened her insight into the divine technique.

Within the Microcosmic Cavern of the Universe, countless strands of divine energy intermingled and converged around XiXi, swirling like a vortex around the Dao Essence Pillar.

Of course,

it wasn’t only XiXi—many prodigies seated on the White Jade Stairway were rapidly absorbing the divine power of the Microcosmic Cavern to expedite their cultivation.

The entire cavern was akin to a colossal divine crystal, and a high-quality one at that, imbued with the power of the ancestral patriarch’s fallen essence.

Dao Essence… was truly beyond comprehension for these youngsters.

But they didn’t need to grasp its true nature—just the fact it could purify their divine foundation and boost their innate talent was enough.

Training within the cavern naturally accelerated their progress,

and everyone was now racing against time in preparation for the third stage: the Temple Quelling trial.

The Temple Quelling trial, as its name implied, would test their real combat ability.

The more strength one accumulated in the Microcosmic Cavern, the better.

As the rain subsided into a gentle drizzle, the scene gradually reverted to one reminiscent of falling fine strands.

Beneath the White Jade Archway,

crystal-clear droplets gathered like stalactites.

Li Che exhaled a long breath.

Relief washed over him.

In the first stage, aided by his tireless efforts and the Boss’s tea egg, XiXi managed to clinch first place and secure the nine-foot Dao Essence Pillar reward bestowed by the Ancestral Patriarch after opening his eyes.

Li Che had worried endlessly for his daughter.

Truth be told,

without leveraging the power of numerous Dao Fruits via the Feilei Chess Piece and XiXi’s innate talent, she might not have broken into the top three.

Although Li Che continuously used his Unsullied Heart divine essence to purify her mortal body and enhance her talent,

this process was slow and could only reveal itself with time.

Thus, purely in terms of innate talent, XiXi might have reached a level of a thousand-foot purple aura, but when compared to prodigies like Gongshu Wéntian, Jin Taisui, and Xuan Yue with their ten-thousand-foot purple auras, she still lagged behind.

However, the patriarch cared about one thing: the ceiling of her talent—

And Li Che spared no effort.

What’s the point of doing nothing when you’re already a salted fish?

The power of the four Dao Fruits—【Dragon Elephant Vajra】, 【Xiangong】, 【Unsullied Heart】, and 【Painted Immortal】—was channeled entirely into XiXi via the Feilei Chess Piece.

Combined with the treat from the Boss and her inherent divine armory, her talent received a comprehensive boost.

She had reached the level of a perfect hexagonal warrior!

According to the patriarch’s rules, the subsequent stages, the Essence of Heart and the Temple Quelling trial, would distribute Dao Essence Pillar rewards based on performance.

Only the top three would receive a Dao Essence Pillar reward; from fourth place on, there would be no reward.

The challenge was indeed formidable. Even though XiXi clinched first in the Talent Stage, the Essence of Heart and Temple Quelling trials still awaited.

“Essence of Heart—”

Li Che murmured with a furrowed brow, deep in worry.

For XiXi, the Essence of Heart trial was the ultimate test.

As for the final Temple Quelling trial, Li Che had no qualms. With XiXi’s full divine garb, it was akin to having home advantage.

But the Essence of Heart trial was by far the hardest—

nobody knew what exactly it would test.

Li Che couldn’t help but look up at Lü Taibai, seated in the position of the Sect Master.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair streamed as he tapped his chair’s armrest with a finger.

Sensing Li Che’s gaze, his eyes seemed to shimmer with endless, shifting sword-like gleams.

Extremely dazzling.

Lü Taibai smiled gently and nodded.

Li Che returned the nod with satisfaction.

Lü Taibai stood up, capturing everyone’s attention in an instant.

Crossing his arms, his white robe and silver hair flowed as he exhaled like a drawn sword.

The sword aura swirled, echoing through the Microcosmic Cavern.

“One hour from now, the Essence of Heart trial will begin.”

Every prodigy seated on the White Jade Stairway opened their eyes.

A strange light shone from each gaze.

At the same time,

in the Microcosmic Cavern, those prodigies on the ten steps below the White Jade Stairway saw dazzling lights, swirling sword auras, and were promptly expelled from the cavern.

They appeared on the Grand Plaza.

In that moment, each felt a whirlwind of emotions—a deep sense of loss.

They knew that failing the first stage meant disqualification from the rest of the trials.

One by one, they returned to the Grand Plaza, dazed.

These prodigies, once celebrated across prefectures and great families for their unparalleled talent, now found themselves utterly invisible in this test.

They truly experienced what it meant to encounter someone beyond compare.

In Daocheng,

at the Eight-Cornered, Double-Eaved Imperial Watch Tower,

the drizzle gathered into fine, silken rain along the edges of black-tiled eaves.

Monitor Hongshibo observed as the looming sky gradually lightened and the rain diminished, smiling softly.

Inside the tower, Daodong Yue Huanglong, seated across from the chessboard, squinted as he considered the unexpected results of the Talent Stage.

The sudden appearance of Jin Taisui, bearing Da Li’s great witch bloodline, had caught him off guard.

Yue Linghu nearly finished last, which was equally surprising.

And Li Nuǎnxi managed to surge past Jin Taisui to claim first place and secure the nine-foot Dao Essence Pillar reward—this amazed him even more.

“It seems… that Xuan Qisha has bestowed some remarkable gifts upon this divine talisman disciple,”

Yue Huanglong remarked, his smile softening.

Monitor Hongshibo shook his head. “No, quite the contrary. Xuan Qisha gave her nothing good at all—Lü Taibai wouldn’t allow it. Besides, Xuan Qisha specializes in offensive divine talismans. What good could he do with one that enhances raw talent?”

Yue Huanglong’s plump face lost its smile in an instant.

“Are you saying… that a tea egg—did you notice?”

Hongshibo rested his hands on the railing and murmured,

“I suspect that within Daocheng lurks an unregistered Divine Prodigy of mysterious origins.”

“Lü Taibai is searching for him, I am searching for him, and even the master of Lie Shen Pavilion is on the lookout—”

“Yet no one can find him.”

“As enigmatic as the Underworld itself. Perhaps…”

Yue Huanglong’s chubby face suddenly broke into a comical, amused grin.

“Are you saying that the Divine Prodigy cooked a tea egg, and that one act enabled this little girl’s talent to surpass prodigies like Gongshu Wéntian, Xuan Yue, and Jin Taisui, all of whom carry divine blood?”

However, Hongshibo replied coolly, “You practice martial arts; it’s only natural you can’t sense it. Even though the connection between Heaven and Man is strong, it still pales in comparison to the cosmic soul of a divine prodigy.”

Yue Huanglong slowly stopped smiling.

His chubby face trembled as he squinted and mumbled,

“A tea egg—”

What does the Essence of Heart trial truly test?

How can a five-year-old’s heart be examined?

“The trial of heart is designed using phantom landscapes shaped from divine energy to test the choices one makes under varying circumstances.”

Elder Tang Xiejia of Shendiao Ridge seemed to sense Li Che’s anxiety and explained,

“In truth, while this stage may be called a test of heart, it really examines one’s true nature—

“One’s fundamental essence.”

“This essence varies: it could be the pursuit of the Dao, the will to protect, or even the urge to kill—”

He added, “As for the exact method of assessment, it remains unknown. Every trial is unique; no one can predict what the Sect Master has conjured up this time.”

Elder Tang nodded, and Li Che bowed in gratitude for his explanation.

Seated in his chair, Li Che felt his worries ease.

After all, fretting wouldn’t help—when it came to the Essence of Heart trial, there was little he could do for XiXi.

If the first stage of the Talent trial allowed any means whatsoever,

then the second stage, the Essence of Heart trial, would bar all external aids.

This stage was particularly unforgiving for XiXi.

At five, a child’s heart is in constant flux; remaining true to oneself is no easy feat.

So even if XiXi didn’t achieve a stellar ranking in this trial, Li Che wouldn’t be overly troubled.

Once the Temple Quelling trial restored the rank of Dao Essence, all would be well.

Then,

an ancient divine bell tolled, its mighty, unseen waves resonating through the distant mountain ranges deep within Daocheng.

The bell’s sound spread far and wide.

Beneath the White Jade Archway,

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu in his rustic robe, with flared sleeves and a swirling wind, declared,

“One hour has passed.”

“The Essence of Heart trial begins!”

“Please, Sect Master, present your challenge.”