Chapter 399 - The Outer World’s Nine Heavens, The Qian Emperor’s Trial, That’s It?
“That’s right. It’s just me.”
Chu Kuangren laid out the eight Jade Amulets and said, “It seems that I’m the only one who’s qualified to inherit your inheritance, Qian Emperor.”
The man who was the Qian Emperor was slightly stunned.
According to his prediction, all eight Jade Amulets would eventually gather at his Imperial Palace. That meant that eight top-tier sky-prides would come and compete for his inheritance.
So why was there only one left?!
Was his prediction wrong?
“Sky-pride of the future, please state your name.”
“Chu Kuangren.”
“How did you get all the eight Jade Amulet pieces?”
The Qian Emperor asked, puzzled.
“The others gave them to me willingly.”
Chu Kuangren said and chuckled after a while.
“Willingly?”
“Does it matter?”
“No.” The Qian Emperor shook his head and then said, “Although you’re the only person here, it doesn’t mean that my inheritance will be given to you. A trial is still required regardless.”
“Of course. But before we start, I have a few questions that have been bugging me for quite some time now. Honorable Qian Emperor, do you mind clearing these doubts of mine?”
“Go on.”
“Qian Emperor, have you passed away?”
Chu Kuangren looked at the Qian Emperor before him and asked. He could tell that the Qian Emperor standing before him was just a manifestation of spiritual thought.
It was similar to the Mindful Emperor that he met previously.
“I’m still alive,” the Qian Emperor replied.
“Where are you currently at?”
“Above the skies.”
“Above the skies?” Chu Kuangren was slightly surprised, but he proceeded to ask, “Could it be the immortal world that was spoken in legend?”
‘The immortals really exist in this world?!’
“That’s not it. The immortal world you speak of is incredibly ethereal and otherworldly. The place that I’m talking about is known as the… Outer World’s Nine Heavens!” Qian Emperor smiled as he said
“What is the Nine Heavens?”
“Beyond the skies of Firmament Star lies the Nine Heavens!”
“Is it a higher-level world?”
“It’s not accurate to put it that way, because the Nine Heavens was created by a group of Emperors. It is just like how Sages create secret realms. Strictly speaking, it’s not a higher level than Firmament Star.”
“Then what’s the reason for the Emperors to create the Nine Heavens?”
Chu Kuangren was full of questions.
At this moment, he wished to ask and understand everything.
“To protect the Firmament Star!” The Qian Emperor said loudly.
“Protect Firmament Star from what?”
“Sky-pride of the future, that’s too many questions you have there. The moment my spiritual thought manifestation is activated, it won’t be able to last very long. Do you still want to obtain the Opportunities of Fortune that I’ve left behind?” As if not wanting to answer any other questions, the Qian Emperor chuckled
Chu Kuangren’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Alright, I understand.”
“Then, are you prepared for the trial?”
“Please start.”
The grandiose Imperial Palace suddenly disappeared, and the scene was replaced by an ancient battlefield.
At that moment, a raging battle was happening on this battlefield.
That great battle was chaotic, and it included various tribes and cultivators of all levels. There was quite some Emperor’s Aura in the air as well!
It was a great battle that even involved the Emperors!
Chu Kuangren appeared minuscule compared to the scale of that battle. It was as if a random burst of energy could destroy and decimate him right away.
“This is… an illusion realm?!”
Chu Kuangren muttered.
He was still inside the Imperial Palace one moment ago, so a battlefield like this could not have appeared out of thin air. This meant that he was inside the Qian Emperor’s trial now.
“That’s right, sky-pride of the future. You’re very smart. This is indeed my trial.” The Qian Emperor’s voice rang beside Chu Kuangren’s ears.
“What’s the requirement to pass this trial, honorable Qian Emperor?”
“It’s simple. You’ll just have to go through this battlefield!”
‘Go through this mess of a battlefield?!’
Looking at the endless armies and that never-ending battlefield, Chu Kuangren grinned.
“Is this a trial of the Daoist core?”
“I’m afraid that I’ll have to disappoint, honorable Qian Emperor.”
Chu Kuangren replied.
He then got up and started walking towards the end of that battlefield.
At this time, an incomparable terrifying surge of Daoist Rhyme suddenly appeared from beside him, and a powerful palm strength was unleashed towards Chu Kuangren.
However, Chu Kuangren merely stood still and appeared calm.
That palm strength was destroyed as soon as it landed on his body.
It seemed to cause no damage to him.
One step after another, Chu Kuangren walked towards the end of the battlefield. The shockwaves from the battles and Emperor’s Aura around him had no effect on him at all.
In other words, they were ineffective against his Daoist core at all.
His Daoist core was rock steady and immovable!
…
“How can this sky-pride of the future’s Daoist core be so firm!”
Inside the Qian Imperial Palace.
In front of the Qian Emperor was a light display screen. It was displaying the scene of Chu Kuangren traversing through the battlefield. Seeing Chu Kuangren’s calm and composed manner despite everything happening around him, the Qian Emperor could not help but be surprised.
That illusion realm was indeed a trial to test a person’s Daoist Core.
However, knowing that it was an illusion and not being affected by it were two completely different things!
There were some illusions where one would still be affected even though they knew they were inside one. They could even die from the effect of the illusions.
Some illusion realms were so realistic that it was no different than reality itself!
Anyone whose Daoist core was not strong enough would easily be trapped within it.
The current illusion realm cast by the Qian Emperor was known as the Ashura Illusory Realm. A Sage would no doubt be affected by it no matter how powerful they were.
The Qian Emperor’s requirement for Chu Kuangren to go through that Ashura battlefield was actually a joke. In fact, he did not have to walk through the entire battlefield. As long as he had traversed a satisfactory distance, the Qian Emperor would regard him as passing the trial.
He initially planned for the eight qualified sky-prides to do the trial together and see which one among them could walk the furthest.
However, he did not expect it to be just Chu Kuangren.
“So show me how steady your Daoist core is then.”
The Qian Emperor muttered.
Inside the Ashura battlefield, Chu Kuangren continued to walk through the area. Despite countless lethal energy and shockwaves landing on him, he was not the slightest bit affected. By now, he had arrived at a sea of skeletons.
That sea of skeletons was a part of the Ashura battlefield.
Countless skeletons were wailing and screeching around Chu Kuangren. As they crawled towards him, their surges of rage qi rushed toward him, seeking to attack his mind.
“How dare you mere vengeful ghouls block my path?!”
Chu Kuangren grunted lightly.
Buddhist Light then manifested around him, and a giant ancient Buddha appeared in the air!
The millions of skeletons immediately turned to black qi and dispersed under the vast Buddhist Light.
Outside the illusory realm, the Qian Emperor was stunned at that sight. “He’s using his Daoist core to unleash an Emperor Technique. By the heavens, this guy’s Daoist core is no weaker than any Emperor out there. Where and when did a monster like him come from?”
The Qian Emperor commented as he gulped.
Inside the Ashura battlefields, Chu Kuangren unleashed his Tathagata Rebirth Mantra and instantly purified the whole skeleton sea, causing the whole Ashura Illusory Realm to tremble!
Multiple cracks appeared in the skies within the illusory realm.
The Qian Emperor shook. Even a spiritual thought manifestation like him was trembling violently. It was as if he was startled by what happened.
“The Ashura Illusory Realm can’t handle his Daoist core’s strength?!”
The Qian Emperor gasped in shock. That alone was more shocking to him than Chu Kuangren reaching the end of the Ashura battlefield.
“This trial can’t go on any longer.”
The Qian Emperor waved his arm and dispersed the Ashura Illusory Realm’s battlefield.
Only then did Chu Kuangren slowly open his eyes and said, “Why did you put away the illusory realm? Are we going to continue with the trial?”
The Qian Emperor rolled his eyes.
‘You still want to continue?’
‘And, eventually, destroy my illusory realm?!’
“You’ve successfully passed the trial,” the Qian Emperor said.
“Wait, that’s it?”
A look of disappointment washed over Chu Kuangren’s face.
‘That’s it?!’
‘That’s the Emperor’s trial?’
