Chapter 228 – Heaven and Earth Sword Formation, Sky-Piercing Phantom—This Is the Path to Heaven

“The Immortal’s gift… this is too generous.”

After a moment of reflection, Lu Chen stopped dwelling on the matter.

After all, he was merely a lowly Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator at present.

Let alone the level of an Immortal—even Nascent Soul Cultivators were beyond his ability to casually speculate about.

Lu Chen felt that perhaps only after he condensed a Transcendent Golden Core and cultivated the “Man Follows Earth” stage of the Dao Unity Art would he be qualified to contend with Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.

His belief that he could rival Nascent Soul Cultivators while at the Golden Core Stage stemmed from the combination of his Transcendent Golden Core and the Dao Unity Art.

In Lu Chen’s conception, the Transcendent Golden Core he condensed would incorporate four Dao Integration Realm Sword Domains.

The quality of this Golden Core was so exceptional that whether anyone would surpass it in the future remained uncertain, but it was undoubtedly unprecedented.

Because in both the game world and his reality, Lu Chen had not only never heard of a Transcendent Golden Core—he had scarcely heard of any first-grade Golden Core cultivators.

The power of a Transcendent Golden Core was evident.

The Dao Unity Art was also a Cultivation Manual Lu Chen specifically tailored for himself.

This manual was unique because its strength entirely depended on the cultivator’s own “Dao.”

In Lu Chen’s design, the Dao Unity Art was divided into four stages: “Man Follows Earth,” “Earth Follows Heaven,” “Heaven Follows Dao,” and “Dao Follows Nature.”

Among these, “Man Follows Earth” corresponded to the Golden Core Scroll.

“Earth Follows Heaven” corresponded to the Nascent Soul Scroll.

“Heaven Follows Dao” corresponded to the Deity Transformation Scroll.

“Dao Follows Nature” corresponded to the Mahayana, or Immortal Scroll.

After all, the Great Vehicle Stage was the realm between cultivators and Immortals.

Otherwise, how could it be called “Mahayana”?

Although Lu Chen had not fully comprehended the content beyond “Earth Follows Heaven,” he had a thorough understanding of “Man Follows Earth.”

The essence of “Man Follows Earth” was to fully fuse the cultivator with their own “Dao,” making the Dao a part of their body.

This approach had both advantages and disadvantages.

If others’ Dao techniques were broken, they would at most suffer severe injuries or damage to their Foundation, rarely leading to death.

But cultivating the “Dao Unity Art” was different.

Its essence was to refine the cultivator into that “Unity.”

If Lu Chen’s Dao were broken, the only outcome would be complete annihilation—body destroyed, Dao extinguished.

This was the greatest drawback of the Dao Unity Art’s “Man Follows Earth” chapter.

However, this drawback was also its greatest advantage.

Once Lu Chen began to “Follow Earth,” unless his “Following Earth” was broken, all damage he received would be converted into mana consumption.

This temporarily granted him an “Indestructible Body.”

Coupled with the Azure Lotus Sword Domain’s terrifying ability to absorb Spiritual Power, although Lu Chen at the Golden Core Stage could not achieve the level of “Nascent Soul indestructible, cultivator immortal” like Nascent Soul Cultivators, he could temporarily attain “Dao unbroken, person undying.”

To defeat Lu Chen while he was in the “Man Follows Earth” stage, there were only two methods:

One was to break Lu Chen’s Dao, and the other was to overcome skill with brute force—suppressing him with absolute cultivation.

But neither method was easy to accomplish.Because once Lu Chen reached the Golden Core Stage, he would be able to step into the ‘Transformation Dao Realm’.

To break his Dao, one would need at least the power of the Transformation Dao Realm.

However, even for other great divine power users in the Transformation Dao Realm, directly breaking Lu Chen’s Dao would not be an easy task.

As for the alternative approach of using brute force to overcome technique, that too would be extremely difficult.

Lu Chen’s Transcendent Golden Core destined that even if he had just entered the Golden Core Stage,

his cultivation level would not be much less than that of ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.

After all, this was a Transcendent Golden Core condensed from four Harmony Realms and twelve Dao Patterns.

It could be said that just the ‘Dao Unity Art’ alone had already made this journey worthwhile for Lu Chen.

After switching his cultivation manual to the Dao Unity Art, Lu Chen’s potential had been elevated once again.

【Name: Lu Chen (Azure Cloud Sect · Danyang Peak Direct Lineage Disciple)】

【Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Perfection (30,000,000/30,000,000)】

【Foundation Establishment Quality: First Grade Great Dao】

His spiritual power cultivation had increased from ‘20,000,000’ to ‘30,000,000’.

Simply by switching cultivation manuals, Lu Chen’s spiritual power limit had increased by a full ‘10,000,000’.

This improvement was quite significant for him.

It also brought him one step closer to the ‘50,000,000’ spiritual power cultivation required to condense a Transcendent Golden Core.

After he completed this True Immortal Trial and returned to reality to exchange the Immortality Art: Unified Qi Scripture from the Liuzhou Xu Family,

his spiritual power cultivation would be further enhanced.

By then, he would be almost ready to begin attempting to condense his Golden Core.

This gave Lu Chen a feeling as if a lifetime had passed in an instant.

He remembered that before obtaining “True Immortal Cultivation”, his goal had merely been to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage before the college entrance examination.

But now it seemed he had underestimated himself.

Or perhaps he had underestimated “True Immortal Cultivation”, this little game.

If he continued cultivating at his current pace,

he might even have a chance to complete the Golden Core Stage before the college entrance examination.

However, considering that there was only about one month left until the exam in reality,

Lu Chen felt that his Golden Core breakthrough would probably have to wait until after the exam.

After all, he couldn’t possibly travel between Qingzhou and Liuzhou, obtain the Immortality Art from the Xu Family, and achieve his Golden Core breakthrough—all within a single month.

The path must be walked step by step.

Having clarified these thoughts, Lu Chen looked up at the Book Mountain before him.

Having delayed for so long, it was about time he ascended the mountain.

As Lu Chen activated the Dao Unity Art, the barrier blocking his path on Book Mountain immediately dissipated.

The mist that had enveloped him was now blown away by some unknown force.

Although Lu Chen was walking on a path no one had ever taken before, his speed ascending the mountain was not slow at all.

Soon, Lu Chen encountered some fellow climbers around the mountainside.

Although these people had started their ascent much earlier than Lu Chen, they were now all trapped at the mountainside.

What hindered them was the ‘Knowledge Obstruction’ on Book Mountain.

If learning a technique from the wordless stone tablet at the mountain’s base gave examinees the qualification to climb Book Mountain,

then their understanding and application of that technique determined how far they could go.

Those trapped at the mountainside had insufficient comprehension ability—they knew the what but not the why.

Once they encountered problems, they couldn’t adapt flexibly.Thus, he was trapped by the Knowledge Obstruction of Book Mountain.

‘Knowing is difficult, and acting is equally challenging.’

To thoroughly internalize what one knows and apply it is no simple matter.

Lu Chen glanced at those trapped halfway up the mountain but did not linger, continuing his ascent toward the summit.

With each step he took, a mountain path materialized behind him.

Once Lu Chen reached the peak, a blank stone tablet would appear at the mountain’s base, belonging solely to him.

Though Lu Chen appeared to climb with ease, he understood well that reaching the summit would be anything but straightforward.

His Dao Unity Art had only reached the Golden Core Stage.

In Book Mountain, any Cultivation Manual capable of forming a complete mountain path required at least the Nascent Soul Stage.

Thus, Lu Chen knew the final leg of his ascent would be extraordinary indeed.

The last ten percent of a hundred-step journey often proves the most arduous.

When Lu Chen was approximately one-tenth from the summit,

he discovered the Knowledge Obstruction around him… had intensified.

Simultaneously, one ethereal figure after another materialized around him.

These figures were familiar to Lu Chen.

They were the Ancient Cultivator Phantoms who had left their Dao traditions upon Book Mountain.

They now stood blocking Lu Chen’s path to the summit, clearly positioned to obstruct his advance.

Were this any ordinary person, being barred by so many Ancient Cultivator Phantoms

might have made them retreat in the face of difficulty.

The weakest among these phantoms were cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Among them stood even cultivators at the Transformation Soul Stage and Great Vehicle Stage.

However, these latter two merely observed from the summit, showing no intention of intervening.

Though aware these were merely echoes of ancient cultivators without true consciousness,

Lu Chen still paused, cupped his hands respectfully, and declared solemnly: “Lu Chen of Azure Cloud Sect seeks guidance from all Seniors.”

Perhaps in response to his words, one phantom descended from the mist-shrouded peak, stopping not far from Lu Chen.

Though the opponent’s aura was unmistakably at the Nascent Soul Stage,

Lu Chen understood this contest would test their Dao comprehension, not cultivation levels.

And in matters of Dao, Lu Chen believed he yielded to none.

Lu Chen gazed at the phantom and took a decisive step forward.

As he crossed the boundary symbolizing the divide between Golden Core and Nascent Soul Stages,

a massive phantom manifestation materialized behind the unknown ancient cultivator.

An Ancient Spirit Beast – the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull.

Legend described the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull as bearing hellfire wherever it trod,

scorching lands for thousands of miles with raging flames.

A true beast of fire element.

Undoubtedly, this ancient sage had created his cultivation method through contemplating this very beast.

In this Dao debate, both parties needed to fully manifest their respective Daos.

The Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull phantom represented this ancient sage’s manifested cultivation method.

As the bull phantom appeared, not only did Book Mountain tremble slightly as if shaken by some immense force,

but the surrounding temperature began rising dramatically.

“I don’t understand – I never heard of such phenomena occurring in previous Academy examinations.”

Many candidates still lingering on the mountaintop exclaimed in astonishment at the environmental changes.

“Look down the mountain!”

One candidate, uncertain what was happening, suddenly directed everyone’s attention toward the mountainside.

Through the swirling clouds and mist, the massive phantom of an Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull could be vaguely discerned.Standing opposite the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull was a single figure.

Though they couldn’t clearly see who it was, everyone present understood what was happening.

Without a doubt, someone had triggered the Sage Debate.

What was even more astonishing was that behind the phantom of the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull, there appeared to be over a hundred sage phantoms.

This was something that had never occurred since the establishment of White Deer Academy.

The so-called ‘Sage Debate’ was the most difficult trial within Book Mountain.

The normal examination process required candidates to choose a sage’s Dao lineage.

They would then follow the path left by the sage on Book Mountain, tracing it step by step.

Finally, near the mountain summit, a sage phantom would appear to test the candidate.

The content of this test was the Cultivation Manual they had learned from the blank stone tablets.

If they passed, they could ascend Book Mountain.

If they failed, they had to return and study again.

However, the study time wasn’t unlimited.

Because Book Mountain would only remain open for one hundred days.

After one hundred days, Book Mountain would close, along with the Sea of Learning that lay beyond it.

Therefore, those still trapped at Book Mountain’s summit, unable to cross the Sea of Learning, were generally people with some talent—but not enough to gain admission—mediocre individuals.

As for those candidates with outstanding Aptitude and remarkable Comprehension Ability, they had either entered the Sea of Learning early or had already crossed it entirely.

That’s why everyone was so shocked upon witnessing the events unfolding in the mountain.

To provoke over a hundred sages for testing at once—

What in the world had the person inside Book Mountain learned?

Could it be that he had mastered the Cultivation Manuals and Dao lineages of over a hundred sages all at once?

But as soon as this thought emerged, everyone dismissed it.

Not only were many Cultivation Manuals mutually incompatible,

but merely attempting to learn over a hundred manuals within one hundred days was impossible.

This had nothing to do with Comprehension Ability; many manuals had special restrictions.

Such as Bloodline, Aptitude, innate talent, and so on…

Thus, ruling out this possibility, the only explanation for such a phenomenon was that the person had cultivated a Cultivation Manual never before seen in Book Mountain, or had created one himself.

Only in this way could so many sage phantoms be summoned.

And they leaned more toward the former explanation.

“Understood. This must be some lucky individual who stumbled upon an ancient Cultivation Manual and thought that with it, he could easily ascend the mountain without following the paths of the sages.”

A candidate nearby sneered upon hearing this: “He still hasn’t managed to ascend after nearly a hundred days. It seems his manual isn’t all that impressive—just a clown making a scene, nothing to worry about.”

Though they said this, everyone knew the situation was likely not as simple as they made it out to be.

They simply didn’t want to admit that they were inferior to someone else.

Lu Chen was unaware of these discussions.

But even if he knew, he wouldn’t care.

Because his focus was entirely on the massive phantom of the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull before him.

This was also one of his rare opportunities to verify his ‘Dao Unity Art.’

Lu Chen looked calmly at the sage beneath the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull phantom.

As if sensing something, the sage immediately turned his gaze behind Lu Chen.

There, unnoticed until now, a colossal human-shaped Cultivation Manual phantom had appeared behind Lu Chen, standing in opposition to the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull.This ethereal figure wore a Trigram Celestial Robe, crowned with the light of purple clouds.

He was suspended mid-air, borne upon a massive blue lotus.

Though this apparition was considerably smaller in stature than the Infernal Flame Barbarian Bull,

the Aura it exuded and the level of existence it manifested were immeasurably superior to that Ancient Spirit Beast.

And this was not the end.

As the phantom raised its hand, four Immortal Swords flew out in response.

These four swords then transformed into colossal pillars of steel, completely encircling Book Mountain.

Sensing the astonishing Sword Intent emanating from the four Immortal Swords and the Heaven and Earth Sword Formation they collectively formed,

the crowd atop the mountain had long fallen into utter silence.

Though they could not comprehend the core principles of this Heaven and Earth Sword Formation,

they clearly felt its overwhelming power that seemed to pierce through heaven and earth.

Trapped within such a Sword Formation, they felt like insignificant mayflies in a vast ocean, utterly powerless.

In truth, it wasn’t just them.

Even Gu Yue True Immortal and Cloud Deer, who were observing this discourse from above the clouds, were somewhat awestruck.

Gu Yue True Immortal stared blankly at the conceptual projection of the four Immortal Swords, remaining silent for a moment before speaking.

“Perhaps… this is the true Path to Heaven.”

(End of Chapter)