Chapter 906: Arrogant Artifact Spirit, Breaking the Record

Hearing Long Niu’s words, Li Chang’an felt a wave of helplessness. He could naturally tell Wang Yannian and Jiang Xuanyuan’s purpose for coming here today. Moreover, both men were well aware of each other’s intentions. Because of this, the current atmosphere was incredibly awkward.

This strange awkwardness persisted until the evening. Wang Yannian and Jiang Xuanyuan exchanged another glance, but ultimately said nothing, departing from Changqing Mountain their separate ways.

“PHEW…” Li Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief. He would rather fight White Tiger True Monarch than be interrogated by these two about his romantic affairs.

Over the following month, no further disturbances occurred.

The entire birthday banquet concluded smoothly, and the representatives from various factions took their leave one after another. After bidding everyone farewell, Li Chang’an boarded the Purple Mist Sect’s Flying Ship, heading toward the Purple Mist Sect with Zi Xi and the others. Naturally, the purpose of this trip was the Ancient Beast Taming Sect ruins located within the Purple Mist Sect’s Secret Realm.

During the journey, Zi Xi explained the specific details of the Zi Xia Ruins to Li Chang’an.

“Daoist Li, the outer periphery of those ruins no longer holds any value; you need not waste time investigating it. Only the core area, which is controlled by the Artifact Spirit of that Tier Five Beast Taming Wheel, remains inaccessible to anyone to this day. In that area, you might find the Tier Four forging method you desire…”

The greatest difficulty of this matter was exactly as she had previously mentioned through the Communication Treasure. To enter the core area, one had to obtain the Artifact Spirit’s acknowledgment. However, the Artifact Spirit was far too arrogant; no one could earn his approval.

The Purple Mist Sect’s past generations of Nascent Soul True Monarchs, as well as numerous Holy Sons and Saintesses, had nearly all gone to meet that Artifact Spirit, yet not a single one had succeeded. Zi Xi’s beautiful eyes resembled calm water as she gazed toward the direction of the Purple Mist Sect and sighed softly. “Many years ago, I also went to meet the Artifact Spirit, but he said my aptitude was mediocre and unworthy of his acknowledgment.”

“Saintess, did that Artifact Spirit set up a test? If there is no test, how does he judge a person’s aptitude?”

“He did.”

Zi Xi nodded gently and continued her explanation. Initially, there was no test; the Artifact Spirit merely judged the aptitude of the numerous Purple Mist Sect Cultivators based on his own observations. Later on, a Celestial Pride with a Celestial Spirit Root was born within the Purple Mist Sect. That Celestial Pride went to meet the Artifact Spirit, expecting to receive a completely different evaluation, but all he got was the exact same phrase: “mediocre aptitude.”

After that evaluation, everyone in the Purple Mist Sect was dissatisfied. A Celestial Spirit Root was already the absolute pinnacle of Spiritual Roots in the entire Cultivation Immortality Realm. If even a Cultivator with this kind of Spiritual Root wasn’t considered excellent, then what was? They voiced their doubts, arguing that the Artifact Spirit couldn’t discern aptitude at all and was purely using it as an excuse to put them down.

Thus, in order to truly convince everyone, the Artifact Spirit established a test. He proclaimed that as long as one passed the test, they would receive his acknowledgment. However, ten thousand years had passed, and to this day, no one had passed it.

Hearing this, Li Chang’an grew somewhat curious. “What kind of test is it? Could it be related to Beast Taming?”

“No, it is slaughter.”

“Slaughter?”

“That’s right, pure slaughter!”

Zi Xi’s tone remained even as she slowly detailed the contents of the test for Li Chang’an. After accepting the test, the Artifact Spirit would send the challenger into a bizarre spatial realm. Within that space, Demon Beasts equivalent to their Cultivation would continuously spawn. If a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator entered, Tier Three Late Stage Demon Beasts would appear.

The Artifact Spirit’s requirement was very simple: slay the Demon Beasts relying solely on one’s own strength. The more one killed, the higher his evaluation would be. For an ordinary Cultivator, unless they used external trump cards, killing even a single Demon Beast of the same tier was incredibly difficult—let alone killing multiple in succession.

Furthermore, that space was extremely cramped. As time passed, the spawning speed of the Demon Beasts would grow faster and faster. If one could not kill them in time, they would ultimately be surrounded and besieged by Demon Beasts of the same tier!

Li Chang’an asked, “Saintess, how many Demon Beasts did you kill back then?”

“One hundred and three.” Zi Xi did not hide anything and recounted the process of her test from those years. It was relatively easy at first, but it became increasingly strenuous later on. By the end, she was forced to simultaneously face the siege of dozens of same-tier Demon Beasts.

“Saintess, how did the Artifact Spirit evaluate that number?”

“The same as always: mediocre aptitude.”

Hearing this, Li Chang’an was secretly astonished. Zi Xi’s combat record was already exceedingly astounding. It was equivalent to continuously killing over a hundred Cultivators of the same tier within a confined space. Even so, she still hadn’t received an “excellent” evaluation.

According to Zi Xi, throughout the entire history of the Purple Mist Sect, the one with the most outstanding performance was a Celestial Pride from over six thousand years ago. That Celestial Pride possessed superb aptitude; not only did he have a Celestial Spirit Root, but he also bore a Spirit Body. This was already considered the absolute pinnacle of aptitude in the entire Cultivation Immortality Realm.

Yet, the Artifact Spirit’s evaluation of him had also been “mediocre aptitude.” Refusing to accept this, he entered the test space set up by the Artifact Spirit and ultimately slew one hundred and fifty same-tier Demon Beasts. This combat record far surpassed Zi Xi’s, but it still didn’t earn him an excellent evaluation.

After him, no one else ever surpassed that combat record. Let alone one hundred and fifty, even those who exceeded a hundred were incredibly rare. The Purple Mist Sect had essentially given up on that test, though they would still send their outstanding disciples to try their luck.

A few days later.

The group arrived at the Purple Mist Sect. The others dispersed and returned to their respective Cultivation Dojos. Li Chang’an, however, followed Zi Xi into the sect’s main hall to pay his respects to Zi Xia True Monarch.

Zi Xia True Monarch was already aware of his purpose for coming. She didn’t make things difficult for him, merely stating, “Li Chang’an, regarding that Artifact Spirit’s test, no one in my Purple Mist Sect has passed it for ten thousand years. You must not force yourself.”

“This junior understands.”

“Good. Follow me.”

Zi Xia True Monarch beckoned with her hand, leading Li Chang’an and Zi Xi toward the Purple Mist Sect’s exclusive Secret Realm. On the way, Li Chang’an learned that a few others would be entering the Secret Realm alongside him, and one of them was an old acquaintance of his.

Liu Xuanfeng!

Many years had passed, and Liu Xuanfeng had already passed the Saint Child trials, becoming the Purple Mist Sect’s newly appointed Saint Child.