The Path of Survivor begins with obtaining titles

Chapter 634: 318: The Test of Choice

Chapter 634: Chapter 318: The Test of Choice
 

At the foot of the mountain, in front of the staircase, there stood an archway with the words “Tai Xuan Dao Palace” inscribed on it. The inscription was exceedingly simple, yet it carried an archaic and mysterious aura.

This must be the mountain gate of the Tai Xuan Dao Palace, but oddly, there were no disciples guarding it.

In the sky above, some cultivators could be seen traversing back and forth above the Tai Xuan Dao Palace on their swords. He sensed the presence of a formation nearby, overwhelmingly powerful.

Elder Peng had mentioned that handing the Token over to a Dao Palace disciple would grant entrance for the trials, yet there were no disciples anywhere, signaling that perhaps the elder had not returned to the palace for many years.

Soon, he saw two Divinity Transformation cultivators suddenly emerge from the formation. They had been invisible on the stairs just a moment ago, indicating that the formation likely had a cloaking function.

The two Divinity Transformation cultivators glanced at each other and left dejectedly, not even sparing a look at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi felt these two were probably not Dao Palace disciples, so he used his Eye of Emptiness again, looking towards the interior. At first, he saw nothing.

He continued employing the Eye of Emptiness, intensifying the input of his Divine Sense. After a while, he finally saw some figures appearing on the stairs, slowly ascending with each step seeming to bear the weight of ten thousand catties, as if with great difficulty.

This scene made him speculate that, without a doubt, this was part of the Tai Xuan Dao Palace’s trials, and this long staircase must be fraught with formidable impediments.

He soon developed a headache and had to cease using the Eye of Emptiness, a testament to the extraordinary nature of the Tai Xuan Dao Palace’s formation.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Yi clasped his fists while standing in front of the mountain gate, “Ascender Dongfang Bubai has come to accept the trials of the Tai Xuan Dao Palace.”

Quickly, a voice transmitted over, “As an Ascender, why come directly here without waiting for the Spirit City Guards to evaluate your strength? Did the Flying Spirit Hall not explain this to you?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi didn’t hesitate to take out the Token bestowed by Elder Peng from his storage ring, “In Qinglian Spirit City, I have already passed Elder Peng’s strength evaluation and received this Token, allowing me to come to the Dao Palace and accept the trials on my own.”

Elder Peng had said that handing the Token over to a Dao Palace disciple would grant entry, yet there was not a single disciple present. It was uncertain how many years had passed since the elder last visited the palace.

Then, he felt a Refining Void presence scan the Token, emitting a sound of astonishment, “Please wait a moment.”

After a while, the figure of a Void Refinement cultivator appeared at the mountain gate, draped in a green Taoist robe embroidered with a gourd. He walked out slowly, smiling, “I apologize for the wait, distinguished guest. I am Lord Xu Zhiyuan, the Hall Master of the Flying Spirit Hall of the Tai Xuan Dao Palace, specifically in charge of all matters concerning Ascenders within the palace.”

“I pay my respects to Lord Xu,” Lin Yi clasped his fists in greeting.

Lord Xu nodded slightly, looking at the Token in Lin Yi’s hand and remarked with a hint of emotion, “You have truly broadened my horizons, esteemed friend. I have been serving in the Ascension Hall for a thousand years, yet this is the first time I’ve seen an Ascender blessed with a Token from the Spirit City elder, and that too from the renowned Elder Peng. It seems you possess extraordinary capabilities, friend.”

The appearance of this friend, Dongfang Bubai, was truly beautiful and enchanting, quite unique. However, who was Elder Peng? He was a Fusion Capability elder who only had eyes for slaying demons, certainly unperturbed by mere looks. Therefore, the only possibility for the bestowal of the Token must be that his strength had earned Elder Peng’s approval.

“You flatter me, Lord Xu. May I ask how to proceed with the Dao Palace’s trial?” Lin Yi asked with a calm countenance.

Lord Xu chuckled, foregoing further pleasantries, “I have received the command through a transmission from an elder within the Dao Palace, knowing that you would arrive. Now, I shall convey his message to you. The choice will be yours to make.”

“Are you the Ascender whom Peng Tianwu took notice of? He has specifically instructed the Dao Palace to allow you to undertake the trial in the Tai Xuan Tower…”

“How fanciful of him to let a newly ascended Huashen cultivator enter the Tai Xuan Tower. Since he has presented you with this opportunity, you now have two options.”

“The first option is the standard trial, where you climb the staircase in front of you. Surpassing fifty steps admits you into the Dao Palace. The second option is as Peng Tianwu suggested, the trial within the Tai Xuan Tower. Passing just two levels will grant you entry to the Dao Palace as well as certain privileges.”

“The higher you go beyond these levels, the more privileges you’ll earn within the Dao Palace. If you choose the Tai Xuan Tower and fail to surpass two levels, it’s not just the Dao Palace—you won’t even be eligible to enter Tai Xuan Divine City.

“The choice is yours to make. The privileges gained from the Tai Xuan Tower trial are a one-time offer; even if you pass more levels later on, you can only receive corresponding item rewards.”

After the transmission ended, Lord Xu watched Lin Yi contemplative and couldn’t help saying, “There’s no need to hurry, friend. You have an entire day to decide. Just come here before noon tomorrow and transmit your decision to me.”

Indeed, his previous guess was correct; the staircase was part of the challenge. Lin Yi thought for a moment and then asked, “Lord Xu, may I inquire about the nature of the Tai Xuan Tower’s trials?”

He had just arrived in Tai Xuan Divine City, and while he had seen the Tai Xuan Tower, he was unaware of its purpose. He had surmised, considering its location and the aura it radiated, that it was not merely decorative. Now it appeared to be something designed for cultivators to challenge themselves.