Chapter 572 - 571: Who’s Calling?

Chapter 572: Chapter 571: Who’s Calling?

Outside the Celestial Book Tomb, none of the Tier Five or higher Demon Cultivators went inside.

It couldn’t be helped. The ones leading the charge were Tier Four. If a Tier Five Demon Cultivator were to heed the call of someone a tier below them, they’d lose all face.

It would bring shame upon all Demon Cultivators.

That was a blow to their pride they just couldn’t afford.

Fortunately, they weren’t the main force to begin with.

Although it wasn’t ideal to be stuck outside, it still had its perks.

Of course, the Tier Five Daoist Cultivators were similarly too embarrassed to go in.

The moment a Tier Five approached, many of their peers would look over.

Although there weren’t many Tier Five cultivators present, they were all prominent figures and couldn’t bring themselves to lose face.

So what could they do if they couldn’t go in? ℯℯ𝑙.

Discuss, of course.

Just then, a massive image appeared, projected from within the Celestial Book Tomb.

Many people immediately scattered.

They needed to see the entire projection clearly.

As they all moved back, the Celestial Book Mountain was revealed before them.

They saw quite a few people heading toward the Celestial Book Mountain.

At that moment, a Demon Cultivator said, "According to the records, the first trial on Celestial Book Mountain is the Refining Heart Road. If one’s will isn’t resolute enough, they have no hope of ascending."

As he spoke, he turned to Chu Qing’s father, who had reappeared beside him. "I wonder if those Daoist Cultivators have what it takes. Going in with insufficient Cultivation is practically suicide.

Do they really think they can pass just because they’re in a zone that matches their tier?

What’s the difference between a rookie with no life experience or real combat practice and a lamb to the slaughter?"

Chu Qing’s father had no desire to respond. ’Ah, the Refining Heart trial...’ he mused. ’Chu Qing is certainly determined, but who knows if determination alone is enough for her.’

’As for Chu Qing, I don’t think he’ll have much of a problem.’

’I’m not concerned about the others.’

At this point, Chu Qing’s father gazed at the highest summit of Celestial Book Mountain and said, "I’ve heard that no one has ever reached the true peak of Celestial Book Mountain.

And that no one has ever obtained the Enlightenment Stone."

A Demon Cultivator replied, "We don’t know if anyone’s ever reached the peak of Celestial Book Mountain, but who says you have to reach the peak to get the Enlightenment Stone?

Just you wait. This time, one of us Demon Cultivators is bound to get it."

Chu Qing’s father just smiled without a word. ’How should I put this...’

’Before, I might have believed them a little.’

’I even hoped my son and daughter would be the ones to get the Enlightenment Stone, but I don’t think that way anymore.’

’Why, you ask?’

’Because Po Xiao is here, and it seems he came specifically for the Enlightenment Stone.’

’Then there’s no point in competing. The Enlightenment Stone is as good as Po Xiao’s.’

"I’ve heard that reaching the highest peak of Celestial Book Mountain will trigger a celestial anomaly. I wonder if that’s true," another Demon Cultivator said.

"Reaching the peak? No one’s ever done it since the beginning of recorded history. It probably won’t happen this time either."

"Hard to say. The rules have changed this time, and you don’t even need a key. It’s definitely different."

At this, they all fell silent, stunned. That’s right, this time was different.

But they still had no idea who was behind all this.

They had no way of knowing if this person was friend or foe.

But if a celestial anomaly were triggered, it would probably attract a lot of powerful figures, wouldn’t it?

Perhaps then, they would find out.

***

Just then, the Door Spirit welcomed another guest.

It was a Daoist. Standing before the Door Spirit with a smile, he said, "Young friend Door Spirit, would you be so kind as to let me in?"

The Door Spirit replied bluntly, "Sure. Call me ’Daddy’."

The Daoist smiled. "Since I can, I won’t stand on ceremony. You and I may have a fateful connection, but you don’t have a cent. Our fate, it seems, is to go our separate ways."

With that, the Daoist opened the door and walked right in.

The Door Spirit, who had been about to retort, froze on the spot. ’Crap, another tough one.’

’First "Daddy," now another one I can’t mess with.’

The Door Spirit couldn’t understand it. ’Why are so many of these hard cases showing up all of a sudden?’

’A long, long time ago, it had met three of them. Those were dark times it preferred not to recall.’

’Time to lay low for a while.’

***

Jiang Zuo passed the Refining Heart Road and came to the shore of a lake.

The lake was vast. In its center stood a small mountain, and on that mountain was a path leading to the upper levels of Celestial Book Mountain.

This lake was essentially a rest area. There were many benefits to Cultivating here.

However, trying to ascend was dangerous, as there were quite a few things in the middle of the lake.

Speaking of which, Jiang Zuo wasn’t even sure which stratum he was currently in.

The Celestial Book Mountain automatically sorted people, and the lake one encountered would be different depending on their level.

There should be nine such lakes, meaning nine paths. Each tier had its own chance to reach the very top.

It all depended on whether they had the strength for it.

But as for which stratum he was in, Jiang Zuo truly had no idea.

He had been sorted like everyone else, but the Lord of the Immortal Spirit Mansion had tampered with the process. Now it was hard to tell if he was on his own path or on Qin Qianning’s.

’If it’s Qin Qianning’s path, this is going to be a pain.’

’Tier Eight... No matter how strong I am, I can’t possibly pass a trial meant for a Tier Eight.’

’With my Cultivation only at Tier Three, it would be impossible to complete a Tier Eight trial without relying on external aids.’

Jiang Zuo then plucked a leaf from a nearby tree and tossed it toward the center of the lake.

The moment the leaf touched the water, a giant python shot up and devoured it before vanishing back beneath the surface.

’Alright,’ Jiang Zuo confirmed. ’It’s the Tier Three trial.’

’If it’s just Tier Three, then there’s no problem at all.’

With that confirmed, Jiang Zuo prepared to head to the next level. It shouldn’t take long for him to reach the summit.

The only troublesome part was what came after reaching the summit—a strange phenomenon would appear. ’Then again,’ he mused, ’that anomaly could also be considered a great opportunity.’

’Most of my time will be wasted there.’

***

「The Holy Land」

After her epiphany, Su Qi’s eyes snapped open.

Unlike the others, her epiphanies were always the most potent and came the fastest.

She had just attained a complete understanding, and there were no longer any obstacles in her path of Cultivation.

Not even her senior sister could compare to her in this regard.

But Su Qi was considerate and made sure not to wake the others.

What surprised her, however, was that they had all fallen into an epiphany at the same time, meaning they’d missed whatever happened on the projection afterward.

’I hope nothing important happened.’

Su Qi then lightly hopped up from her spot. After all, she was the only one awake right now.

Absorbing the Immortal Spiritual Qi was out of the question, so all this time was hers alone.

’And what does that mean?’

’It means I can call my husband and chat!’

’Good thing I still have my phone, or this would be tragic.’

So, without a second thought, Su Qi ducked into a corner and secretly called Jiang Zuo.

Su Qi sat on the floor, leaning against the wall and fiddling with her Hairband. How to describe this feeling?

’She was so happy.’

It felt just like when they were first dating, getting to chat with her husband (who was her boyfriend back then).

As Jiang Zuo was walking across the surface of the lake, he felt his phone ringing.

He continued his stroll across the water and let out Duan Qiao. "Who is it?"

’If it’s just some random person, I’m not going to pick up.’

’I’m about to make my move and ascend.’

But just as he began to exert his power, Duan Qiao stammered, "It’s... it’s the mistress."

Faced with the pressure radiating from Jiang Zuo, Duan Qiao hadn’t wanted to come out at all.

Hearing that it was Su Qi calling, he was forced to retract the power he had just summoned.

Then, with a loud SPLASH, he fell right into the water.

He had barely hit the water, however, before he immediately leaped back out.

He returned to the shore, set up a Sound Insulation Array, and only then answered Su Qi’s call.