Chapter 104: The Ancient Demon’s Five Beasts Merge with the Verdant Mountains, the Martial Champion Proves Himself Before the Martial Leader’s Stone [Please Subscribe, Please Vote]

The Celestial Profound Palace was enveloped in silence, whether within its magnificent and resplendent halls or upon the vast white jade plaza at its base.

The morning sun filtered through the yellow glazed tiles crowning the palace roof, casting a spectrum of iridescent light that shimmered and danced above the plaza. This light coalesced into the form of an invincible dragon, its jagged horns and razor-sharp claws exuding a dazzling and mysterious aura.

The White Python’s Invincible Heavenly Dragon!

This was a transformation of spirit and presence—a reflection along the path of legend.

The invincible aura was an elusive force, one rarely claimed by anyone. Across the endless ages, only a select few geniuses dared to tread this desperate path, risking everything—their innate talent, cultivation, faith, and future. Failure meant utter ruin, like a mountain collapsing, with consequences so severe most would not dare attempt it.

The brilliant sunlight kissed An Le’s pure white robes, the spring breeze billowing his wide sleeves. His confident and handsome face bore a gentle smile.

Within the Celestial Profound Palace, Chancellor Qin’s expression was grim and cold. Beneath his ornate official robe, his hands clenched tightly. He was uncertain how to face An Le at this moment.

The words “An Le” floated on the spring breeze into the palace like thunderclaps, ringing sharply in Qin Lishi’s ears. Many officials heard them clearly.

Two words, laden with scorn, dripping with contempt and an unyielding spirit defiant of all winds.

The preliminary palace examination was advanced by seven days, yet the youth came unfaltering, fearless.

In the literary test, Qin Hua’an, ranked third on the Junior Sage List, was assigned to ambush An Le. Yet he showed no hesitation, and within the Mountains and Rivers Chart, An Le’s spirit force decisively shattered, pursued, and utterly annihilated Qin Hua’an’s divine soul. Emerging as the top scorer of the literary test, An Le strode out of the chart with pride.

It was as if riding upon a windstorm, displaying an unstoppable momentum.

The wager between An Le and Chancellor Qin was well known to the attending officials.

An Le had slain Qin’s most cherished son, Qin Qianqiu. Should An Le place among the top three in the preliminary palace exam, he would earn a pardon, his crimes wiped clean.

But failure meant that Chancellor Qin could press the full weight of Da Zhao’s laws upon him, casting An Le into the Zhao Prison of the Ministry of Justice. Even the most gifted talents incarcerated there would be tortured beyond recognition, their spirits ground down, invincible aura extinguished, ultimately meeting a miserable end.

Yet now, inside the Mountains and Rivers Chart, An Le, with only a fourth-level spirit core, had forcefully defeated talents like Qin Hua’an and Wang Qilin, who were ranked high on the Junior Sage List, claiming the top spot in the literary test.

It must be known that both Qin Hua’an and Wang Qilin had reached the Fifth Spirit Refinement stage, possessing the rare talent to step into the Realm of Forgetting.

The Realm of Forgetting spirit cores bore radiant light, manifesting extraordinary phenomena, their divine souls immensely powerful.

No one had anticipated that An Le could overcome them within the Mountains and Rivers Chart’s spirit contest.

This victory itself was a miracle!

The Wang family’s Wang Qilin’s spirit refinement method was "Blazing Wildfire," a top-tier technique alongside the "Sword Waterfall Chart." Qin Hua’an’s "Wind and Thunder Fury" was of similar caliber.

Under such refined spirit methods, An Le, with merely a fourth-level divine soul, was the last to laugh, leaving many baffled.

Old Madam Yu, clutching her dragon-headed cane, revealed a trace of surprise within her aged, clouded eyes.

Lady Hua’s smile blossomed like a flower.

An Le had delivered them a tremendous surprise through his literary test performance.

Perhaps, with his own strength, An Le truly could bring calm to the storm—the very tempest that threatened to sweep over Lin’an.

"Though he leads the literary test, the preliminary palace examination is not yet over; the martial test remains… whether he can secure a top-three finish is still uncertain," Qin Lishi said, his hands hanging at his sides, his countenance unreadable, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

Even facing An Le’s subtly mocking words, he remained impassive, embodying the essence of endurance.

Yet his words drew soft laughter from many.

To top the literary test greatly increased the chances of entering the top three of the palace exam; with Qin Hua’an ranking last in the literary test, he could not compete for a top-three spot.

In other words, An Le only needed to place within the top five in the martial test to secure a top-three finish in the palace exam.

He even had a chance to claim the coveted title of the number one scholar, a dream sought by countless.

Qin Lishi was certainly aware of this; the fierce hatred and fury swimming in his eyes revealed how Qin Hua’an’s defeat had thoroughly unsettled his faction.

However, Qin Lishi lowered his head slightly, calming himself and withholding further words, as if plotting something.

To break all conspiracies, one needed overwhelming strength.

An Le’s strategy against Qin Lishi was just that: no matter what tricks Qin Lishi employed, as long as An Le triumphed all the way, all schemes would be rendered useless.

And An Le held that conviction, gathering invincibility, walking the path of legend, needing to advance resolutely through the preliminary palace exam.

Within the Mountains and Rivers Chart, candidates assigned to the mountain region continued their divine soul confrontations.

Master Er, however, felt much relieved now that An Le had exited the chart. Without the terrifying pull of the Green Mountain, his own divine soul would no longer be drained.

As Master Er exhaled deeply, An Le felt a pang of regret and lingering attachment.

He did not wish to leave the Mountains and Rivers Chart so quickly. Inside, he could easily visualize the Green Mountain and the future sword aura, even clearly parting the mist atop the mountain to glimpse the ancient divine soul scriptures inscribed there.

He had already contemplated most of the scripture, only some remained.

Unfortunately, Wang Qilin had challenged him, forcing him into combat.

Without the Mountain and River Chart’s support, An Le’s own spirit visualization would be more arduous.

He even wondered whether, after the preliminary palace exam, he might visit the Literary Institute and secure another chance to enter the chart.

Yet, since he was not affiliated with the Literary Institute, which owned the chart as a first-grade spirit refinement treasure, it was unlikely they would readily open it for him.

Such a treasured first-grade spirit refinement artifact would not be wielded lightly; the cost would be considerable.

The spirit confrontations within the chart gradually concluded.

With Ye Wenxi’s radiant spirit force decisively extinguishing Sima Pudu’s, Ye Wenxi claimed second place in the literary test.

The rest were ranked by Master Er based on their performances within the chart.

Sima Pudu ranked ahead of Wang Qilin because Wang Qilin’s spirit had been shattered too quickly by An Le, thus scoring lower.

Wang Qilin was unbothered by this; after all, encountering An Le’s bizarre Green Mountain vision was a matter of misfortune, not lack of strength.

Compared to Qin Hua’an, eliminated first, Wang Qilin considered his own showing comparatively good.

Thus ended the first session of the literary test.

Master Er rolled up the hundred-meter-long Mountains and Rivers Chart with a pale face but maintained an air of serene composure.

"The literary test is officially complete. The top three are An Le, Ye Wenxi, and Sima Pudu. The remaining rankings are recorded and will be combined with the martial test results," he announced calmly.

He then bowed slightly to the Zhao family emperor seated on the throne before departing gracefully.

Arriving swiftly, leaving swiftly.

Not a wisp of cloud left behind his sleeves.

The crowd was momentarily stunned, wondering why Master Er left before the preliminary palace exam concluded—was there an urgent matter?

Yet they did not dwell on it, for with Master Er’s departure, Martial Champion Di Cang stepped forward from the Celestial Profound Palace, respectfully saluting the emperor before proceeding solemnly toward the grand exterior.

Standing upon the white jade steps, Di Cang’s aura surged forth like a pillar of crimson light shooting into the clouds above the palace, turning the mist into blood-red clouds.

His vigor was like a towering pillar of smoke and flame.

"The literary test is complete. Now comes the martial test," he declared.

"I, Di Cang, will oversee the martial test."

His disheveled hair, tattooed face, armored torso, and the ancestral Zhao Dragon-Slaying Blade at his side made him an imposing figure. As he spoke, his fierce vitality surged like a tidal wave, crashing against the candidates standing on the white jade plaza.

An Le stood tall and proud, like a green bamboo bracing against a hurricane—unyielding. Beneath his skin, his blood and qi churned violently, ancient demonic roars echoing thunderously.

Ye Wenxi, Sima Pudu, Wang Qilin, and Zhong Taohua among others glowed with fierce determination, their energies intertwining in magnificent waves of vitality and innate power, standing firm against Di Cang’s imposing aura.

They were all prodigies from the Junior Sage List, proud and unwilling to retreat easily.

Of course, Di Cang had not yet unleashed his full might; this was merely a show of force to intimidate the candidates.

Nevertheless, many candidates flushed red-faced, forced to step back under the overwhelming pressure.

Clad in armor, standing on the white jade steps, Di Cang’s gaze swept like cannon fire across the dozen or so palace exam candidates on the plaza.

"The martial test’s rules are simpler than those of the Literary Institute—straightforward and direct," he said.

"I will summon the Martial Champion Stone. Each of you will unleash all your blood, qi, profound insight, and innate power to push the stone. The distance the stone moves will be your martial test score."

His words caused many candidates’ expressions to shift.

The martial test involved… pushing the Martial Champion Stone?!

The Literary Institute brought forth the Mountains and Rivers Chart, and now the Martial Temple brought out its Martial Champion Stone?

Indeed, this was a fierce contest.

Though the Literary Institute and Martial Temple had clashed for nearly ten thousand years, everyone was accustomed to such rivalry. Yet this preliminary palace exam, so grand and spectacular, still exceeded expectations.

Inside the Celestial Profound Palace, civil and military officials exchanged surprised glances. The exam questions were jointly set by the Literary Institute and Martial Temple; none had prior knowledge.

Thus, when Di Cang announced the Martial Champion Stone’s arrival, quite a stir ensued.

Chancellor Qin narrowed his eyes. Beside him, Deputy Chancellor Ouyang Xiangru chuckled, "Di Cang is still his usual self. The Literary Institute brought the Mountains and Rivers Chart, so the Martial Temple had to wield the Martial Champion Stone to dominate. The Literary Institute’s Wenchu Monument can’t be moved about like the Martial Champion Stone; no matter what, they suffer a loss. The Martial Temple’s champion is far more straightforward."

"Isn’t that right, Chancellor Qin?"

Qin Lishi glanced at Ouyang Xiangru and gave a forced smile, ignoring him.

In the court, Qin Lishi was chancellor, Ouyang Xiangru his deputy, but the two were at odds. Moreover, Ouyang was a close friend of Lin Silang, and Qin Lishi bore him no favor.

Before the white jade steps, Di Cang finished speaking and stepped forward. His figure surged into the clouds like a blast of air, leaving a trail of fiery blood qi across the azure sky.

Within breaths, a deafening roar of surging vitality echoed.

Then Di Cang returned to the ground, hoisting the massive Martial Champion Stone on his back, still wrapped in thick chains.

Like a meteor falling, it crashed onto the white jade plaza with a thunderous boom, sending invisible shockwaves outward.

Yet, despite the fierce impact, the white jade bricks beneath remained unscathed—not a crack to be seen—testament to Di Cang’s precise control over his power.

At the stone’s appearance, the plaza erupted in astonished murmurs.

Many candidates from the A and B lists had never seen the Martial Temple’s Champion Stone, finding it fascinating.

The massive stone seemed to drain the blood from one’s body just by looking at it, causing many pallid candidates to avert their gaze.

Yet Ye Wenxi, Ye Yinping, Wang Qilin, and other Junior Sage List prodigies stared unflinchingly at the stone.

Ancient voices seemed to strike their minds from the stone.

Di Cang placed the Martial Champion Stone on the white jade tiles, chains taut, as misty blood qi swirled around the massive rock.

He clapped his hands, reined in his aura, and surveyed the candidates.

Then he raised a hand, pointing first at Wang Qilin: "You start. One by one, fair and just."

Wang Qilin accepted the challenge without fear.

Dressed in elegant robes, head held high, though his spirit core was crushed by An Le within the Mountains and Rivers Chart, his confidence remained intact.

Unlike Luo Qingchen, Wang Qilin was not one to lose faith after a single defeat.

Besides, Wang Qilin believed An Le’s victory over him in spirit combat stemmed from that strange Green Mountain visualization.

He saluted Di Cang, then summoned his blood and qi, martial insight manifesting as a fiery qilin that roared and stamped about him, flames spreading like stars.

Step by step, he approached the Martial Champion Stone, where blood and qi intertwined, a powerful martial aura influencing his mind.

His face grew solemn. As he advanced, he locked his divine soul tightly, unwilling to reveal any spiritual power to the stone.

Otherwise, the stone might recoil and severely injure him.

His flowing robes billowed tightly against his muscular arms, which he placed firmly on the stone.

Boom!

Instantly, the stone’s blood and qi intertwined, revealing a martial vision of a fiery qilin that roared fiercely at Wang Qilin’s body.

Behind him, the martial aura manifested as another fiery qilin, clashing and wearing down the stone’s vision in an invisible tug-of-war.

Only by suppressing the stone’s martial vision could he hope to move it.

This test was not about cultivation level but about transcending one’s limits.

Wang Qilin roared fiercely; his sleeves tore away, revealing dragon-like arms bulging irregularly with raw power, surging like a dam breaking.

The fiery qilin vision on the stone was instantly dispersed by his vitality.

Rumble!

The stone, bound by chains, groaned as he pushed it with immense strength, chains scraping and creaking, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Inside the Celestial Profound Palace, many eyes fixed on the scene, including the Zhao family emperor seated on the throne, curiosity shining in his gaze.

Bang!

Blood mist exploded from Wang Qilin’s arms as he staggered back, breathing heavily yet smiling with satisfaction.

The sensation of breaking one’s limits was exhilarating.

He returned to the ranks.

"The Martial Champion Stone moved one foot, three inches," Di Cang announced.

He then called out other candidates one by one.

Most could barely budge the stone; the best managed only an inch.

Moving the Martial Champion Stone was no easy feat.

Sima Pudu displayed remarkable vitality, pushing the stone one foot, one inch, slightly behind Wang Qilin.

Ye Yinping moved it nine inches.

Zhong Taohua moved it one foot.

No one surpassed Wang Qilin, prompting the Duke of Wang to smile with satisfaction within the palace.

Then Ye Wenxi stepped forward and pushed the stone two feet, three inches, causing an uproar.

The Duke of Wang’s smile vanished; he snorted coldly but said nothing.

Ye Longsheng’s favored heir, hardened by battles on the Canglang River battlefield against the Yuanmeng Empire’s geniuses, had a steely spirit, making it easier to break his limits.

Wang Qilin had not yet experienced battle’s sharpening and lagged behind Ye Wenxi somewhat, not concerning the duke much.

Nonetheless, Wang Qilin’s score assured him a firm top-three finish in the martial test.

Only Qin Hua’an posed a threat to his standing.

An Le, the literary test’s top scorer, was barely at the fourth realm of body tempering cultivation; even pushing the Martial Champion Stone one foot would be difficult—no match for Wang Qilin.

Next, Di Cang called out Qin Hua’an.

The unexpectedly faltering Qin Hua’an stepped forward.

His arrogance was gone, shattered by An Le’s Green Mountain vision that crushed his divine soul, the first to be cut down in the Mountains and Rivers Chart.

His mood wavered; ranked last in the literary test, even winning first in martial would not secure a top-three finish overall.

Suddenly, Qin Hua’an felt a piercing gaze from the Celestial Profound Palace.

His body trembled slightly, and his fading spirit reignited with fire.

"I disappointed my father in the literary test… but in the martial test…" he vowed, "I will restore his hope."

Flames flickered in Qin Hua’an’s eyes. If he could break into the martial test’s top three, An Le’s chances would diminish.

With this conviction, Qin Hua’an’s vitality surged as he approached the Martial Champion Stone.

He fixed his gaze on the stone, blood and qi swirling, martial insight erupting.

When his hands pressed upon the stone, a mountain vision suddenly appeared—a replica of the Green Mountain An Le had used to shatter his divine soul and send him plummeting.

Qin Hua’an’s eyes narrowed sharply; his spirit could not remain calm.

Behind the Martial Champion Stone, Di Cang frowned and shouted angrily, "Fool!"

At that moment, a human face emerged from the stone, its overwhelming blood qi crashing like a tidal wave onto Qin Hua’an.

His vitality was forcibly driven back into his body, his martial insight and innate power shattered.

He was flung backward, blood spraying from his mouth and nose, shattering dozens of white jade tiles.

Silence fell; no one knew what to say.

Qin Hua’an had blundered, using his spirit in front of the Martial Champion Stone.

Who dared do that? It was a sure invitation to punishment.

Such a rookie mistake drew laughter from many.

Both inside and outside the Celestial Profound Palace, the reaction was the same.

Qin Lishi’s body trembled; was his only son truly performing as a joke? Was he deliberately becoming a laughingstock?

He had once neglected Qin Hua’an; the latter’s refusal to avenge Qin Qianqiu was understandable. Yet today’s display was like a performer on a stage.

The crowd’s laughter pierced his heart like daggers.

Qin Lishi’s expression turned terrifyingly cold.

On the white jade plaza, Qin Hua’an covered his face in despair. The third-ranked Junior Sage had now developed a psychological scar from that Green Mountain.

The Martial Champion Stone had manifested the Green Mountain, demanding he shatter it to surpass his limits.

Yet…

He had lost control and used his spirit.

At this moment, Qin Hua’an’s spirit sank to its lowest, years of preparation wasted, unable to avoid disappointing his father, only becoming a laughingstock.

Di Cang barely glanced at him, considering it sheer stupidity.

"Qin Hua’an, negative thirty feet," Di Cang declared.

Laughter erupted uncontrollably.

"An Le, your turn," Di Cang said, his tattooed face silencing those who wished to mock.

An Le’s robes fluttered as he stepped forth, the Green Mountain Twin Swords hanging at his waist. After bowing to Di Cang, he approached the Martial Champion Stone.

With each step, the invincible Heavenly Dragon aura coiled and roared above him.

His blood surged beneath his skin, racing swiftly.

Before the Martial Champion Stone, An Le sealed his Brow Sword Furnace.

Within his dantian, the inner core trembled, ancient demonic tiger roars, fierce bear growls, and demon ape cries echoing.

A blood qi phenomenon blossomed behind him.

Ye Wenxi, Sima Pudu, Wang Qilin, and others watched intently.

Within the Celestial Profound Palace, sharp gazes converged upon him.

Lady Hua, Li You’an, and Old Madam Yu’s eyes held a trace of expectation.

Qin Lishi’s face remained inscrutable, coldly observing.

An Le struck the stone with both palms; ancient demonic images emerged.

Suddenly, the invincible Heavenly Dragon above lunged into An Le’s body, boosting his aura and blood qi.

Rumble!

The Martial Champion Stone began to move.

One inch, two inches, three inches…

Though bolstered by the Heavenly Dragon aura, An Le pushed past his limits, advancing the stone rapidly.

Yet his fourth realm body tempering cultivation meant a gap remained.

At one foot, two inches, he felt immense resistance and fatigue.

Just as all, including An Le himself, believed his martial score would halt there at third place, a strange transformation occurred.

The ancient demonic scripture taught by many Martial Champions stirred within his body, reshaping into the ancient text he had glimpsed from the Green Mountain vision.

The scripture’s characters blended with his blood qi, spreading across his face as if ink painted upon paper.

The Green Mountain at his waist suddenly emitted a clear sword chant.

A surging, pure sword aura flowed from the Green Mountain Sword into his body.

The sword aura formed a mountain within his dantian.

Ancient demonic five-beast insight once again merged with the Green Mountain’s profound meaning.

Invincible aura, demonic blood qi, and Green Mountain insight exploded forth inside An Le.

The bond between sword and stone seemed renewed.

An Le’s face, covered in blood qi scripture, glowed with a sudden crimson light in his eyes.

Boom!

The previously immovable Martial Champion Stone moved once more.

Phantom images of Martial Champions swirled and raced around the bloodstone.

The grinding of stone and chains rang out piercingly.

Amid the disbelief of Ye Wenxi, Sima Pudu, Wang Qilin, and others, An Le surged forward, propelling the stone toward Di Cang standing three feet behind.

Di Cang was momentarily stunned, eyes narrowing. Instinctively, he raised his hands to catch the charging stone.

A muffled thud.

Di Cang remained unmoved.

Yet beneath his feet, two white tiles silently shattered.

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