Chapter 167: Chapter 139: Those Who See the True Skill Are the Fated Ones (Part 2)

The others also chose steles corresponding to their Spirit Root Attributes and began to focus on their enlightenment.

After all, they were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. None of them were particularly slow-witted.

Seeing that someone had taken the lead and ascended the steps, the rest also hurried up, following them behind the stone steles to comprehend the methods for Core Formation.

Xiao Chen only had a Wood Spirit Root, so he naturally chose the Wood Character Stele.

Behind the Wood Character Stele was a Chun Tree Painting, which depicted a large chun tree.

At the very bottom were a few characters, small as ants: "In antiquity, there was a great chun tree that considered eight thousand years its spring and eight thousand years its autumn."

Huh?

Seeing this, Xiao Chen couldn’t help but frown. ’Where’s the Core Formation technique they promised? Are they really going to make me figure it out on my own?’

’If there’s a marvelous technique for Core Formation, just write it down!’

’Just giving me a picture... Aren’t they just trying to make things difficult?’

Although he was famous within the Li Huo Sect for his high aptitude for comprehension...

...when it actually came time to compete based on comprehension, Xiao Chen still felt a bit insecure.

’Augments, save me!’

But it was obvious that none of the few Augments he currently possessed could be of any use at a time like this.

Xiao Chen could only bite the bullet and try to comprehend the Chun Tree Painting.

Unfortunately, no matter how he looked at it, all he could see was a tree—a tree with lush branches and leaves.

There was nothing else to it.

The other cultivators also grew restless and began to frequently glance around.

Clearly, he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t see anything.

Just then, a cultivator had a sudden flash of inspiration and actually took out a brush and paper from his Storage Bag.

He then ran behind the Gold Character Stele and began to copy it on the spot.

.

Holding his brush and paper, he went to copy them one by one. It was obvious he intended to transcribe every single one of the Enlightenment Diagrams.

This peculiar action left the other cultivators staring in a daze.

Xiao Chen was also a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected someone to try such a method.

Just as he too began rummaging through his Storage Bag, trying to find suitable paper...

...a voice as pleasant as an oriole’s song sounded from behind the Ice Character Stele on the other side. "The Enlightenment Steles contain the Daoist resonance left behind by powerful seniors."

"A simple copy like that will only capture the form, not the spirit. Even if you take them out of here, they will just be worthless pictures."

The one who had spoken the reminder was Wen Ruoxi.

She too had received a warning in advance from the Wen Family elders.

Seeing someone going down the wrong path, she couldn’t help but furrow her delicate brows and offer some guidance.

At the same time, she turned to warn the group of Loose Cultivators gathered before the final Inscriptionless Stele, "The same goes for that Inscriptionless Stele."

"Over the years, countless seniors have studied it. It’s just an empty stone stele where no one had the chance to leave a legacy."

"Make the most of your time and focus on comprehending the Enlightenment Diagrams. Don’t try to take shortcuts."

Unfortunately, although she truly meant well,

most of the Loose Cultivators paid her no heed.

The cultivator who was copying continued to do so, and the Loose Cultivators trying to study the Inscriptionless Stele kept on probing its mysteries.

Only two Loose Cultivators took her advice, leaving the Inscriptionless Stele and dutifully returning to the Water Character Stele to focus on their enlightenment.

"Haha, Ruoxi, why bother reminding these people?"

A young man behind the Thunder Character Stele laughed. "Loose Cultivators are an ambitious lot whose aspirations are higher than the heavens. Just let them waste their own time."

"Who knows? Maybe one of them really is a prodigy of extraordinary talent."

He seemed to enjoy the spectacle and didn’t mind fanning the flames, adding proactively, "As far as I know, a Divination Master from the Celestial Secret Pavilion once divined that there are indeed nine legacies within the Profound Celestial Immortal Palace."

"Everyone, you’d better seize this opportunity. It’s now or never."

Wen Ruoxi looked at him coldly. "Zhao Yangming, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"For tens of thousands of years, countless Golden Core True Men have achieved enlightenment in the Profound Celestial Immortal Palace, and not one has ever discovered a ninth legacy."

"Why are you using some unsubstantiated rumor to mislead others?"

His train of thought interrupted by their argument, Chu Yuebin couldn’t help but yell, "We only have nine days! That’s barely enough time to focus on our own enlightenment."

"If you don’t want to reach Core Formation, you can go argue outside. Don’t disturb everyone else here!"

Zhao Yangming, however, shot back without any courtesy, "I’ll do as I please. What business is it of yours?"

"Ruoxi, I’m just reminding them out of the goodness of my heart. Our goals are aligned."

Wen Ruoxi shot him a glare at his words, but she seemed to want to say something and then thought better of it.

In the end, she didn’t say anything else, turning her head to concentrate on the Ice Character Stele.

’Chu Yuebin was right. Time was short, and her own cultivation path was more important.’

Seeing this, Zhao Yangming just smiled nonchalantly and turned back to observe the Thunder Character Stele.

Their exchange, however, had piqued Xiao Chen’s curiosity.

After all, no matter how he wracked his brain, he couldn’t figure anything out from the Wood Character Stele.

’Besides,’ he thought, ’the White Jade Wall mentioned the "Nine Methods," so how could there only be eight Enlightenment Steles?’

’The person who left the White Jade Wall would have had no reason to mislead future generations. Perhaps there really is another legacy on that Inscriptionless Stele?’

So, he decided to just walk over to the last stele and try his luck.

Unlike the others, Xiao Chen immediately saw a three-line message behind the stele. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

After a thousand years of cultivation, I have finally comprehended the Great Dao today, and I wish to leave behind a Heaven-Reaching Technique to benefit future generations.

However, such a technique cannot be transmitted lightly. Therefore, I have placed an Enchanting Soul Technique upon this stele as a final test.

He who sees the True Skill is the one who is destined.

HISS!

Xiao Chen felt a jolt of excitement and immediately looked down.

Below the message, five large words were carved vertically—Mystic Sky Eating Secret Technique.

To the left of the large words, an entire Profound Technique was recorded in thousands of densely packed, minuscule characters.

"Sigh..."

A Loose Cultivator to his right, having gained nothing after staring at it for a long while, dejectedly walked away from the Inscriptionless Stele.

Xiao Chen turned to look to his left. The others were still studying the stele, but their gazes were blank. Clearly, they couldn’t see the Profound Technique inscribed on it.