"Did this count as a success, or..."
"Who could tell? Even though his foot had reached the final step, his body had already exploded into a mist of blood."
"If he succeeded, he would be the first person to ascend Mount Xuan Xuan in over ten thousand years! But how to judge the current situation, it seems only the few Supremes can make the final decision."
"..."
As if the scene were frozen, the various forces watching, as well as the disciples of Tian Yi Pavilion, began to discuss amongst themselves.
*Hum!*
Just then, a humming sound suddenly rang out. Then, under everyone's gaze, a golden light shone around Li Xuan, who had already turned into a mist of blood.
The next instant, all the blood mist was absorbed into the golden light and disappeared.
"I say, can anyone tell me what's going on?"
"Could he have actually succeeded? Otherwise, why would he suddenly disappear?"
"It's likely he succeeded. After all, Mount Xuan Xuan was built by the Great Venerable Lin Yi. And we've never known what happens after one reaches the summit. Now that Commander Li Xuan has disappeared, it's very possible that he triggered a restriction set by the Great Venerable Lin Yi after reaching the peak."
"..."
The crowd chattered, each offering their own guesses. On the high platform, the assembled individuals exchanged glances with complex expressions. Among them, Supreme Jin Guangshuo's expression changed the most. He had seen that golden light before.
Only by ascending to the summit could that golden light be triggered. As long as there was still a breath of life, that golden light was enough to restore a person completely. The appearance of that golden light now naturally proved that Li Xuan had indeed reached the peak.
"We were mistaken," Supreme Chen Peng said with a sigh after a long pause.
Supreme Mu Lanxin nodded with a wry smile, "This young man, we have indeed underestimated him. It's just that now he's been absorbed by that golden light, we don't know what will happen next."
"Venerable Mu, don't worry. He'll be fine. Perhaps he'll even find an opportunity," Supreme Jin Guangshuo said.
He recalled that he himself had reached the summit with similar severe injuries, only to be completely healed by that golden light.
Later, Supreme Jin Guangshuo had met the Great Venerable Lin Yi and, naturally, received guidance that greatly improved him. Although the Great Venerable Lin Yi was no longer on Mount Xuan Xuan, who could say if he had left anything behind?
At the summit of Mount Xuan Xuan, Li Xuan's body had been restored and was floating on a stone platform. If Li Xuan were awake, he would have noticed that this stone platform was almost identical to the one in the core of the Creation Furnace.
At this moment, the stone platform was shimmering with spiritual light, and a lot of spiritual energy and golden light swirled around Li Xuan's body. Visually, Li Xuan's skin was as delicate as a baby's. Under the constant flashing of the golden light, his skin became firm and strong.
*Hum!*
After more than ten minutes, the golden light was completely absorbed by Li Xuan's body. As the golden light dissipated, the stone platform also stopped. The spiritual light receded, and Li Xuan's eyelashes trembled slightly.
About ten breaths later, Li Xuan's eyes suddenly opened. A glint of golden light flashed, and his entire aura ascended to its peak.
"Ten thousand years have passed, and finally, someone has climbed up again. Young man, you are very good." At this moment, a gentle voice slowly sounded. Li Xuan looked towards the voice and saw a man in white, smiling at him.
Upon seeing this person, Li Xuan immediately bowed respectfully, "Disciple greets the Great Venerable!"
Although Li Xuan had never truly met the Great Venerable Lin Yi in person, he had seen his true appearance from the statues and image stones in Tian Yi Pavilion. The person before him was indeed the Great Venerable Lin Yi. Moreover, on the summit of Mount Xuan Xuan, no one would dare to impersonate a Great Venerable of a region.
"I am but a wisp of a phantom body, you need not be so formal," the 'Great Venerable Lin Yi' said with a smile, waving his hand. Then he spoke, "When I left, I left me here. Ten thousand years have passed, and I thought no one would succeed in climbing up. I didn't expect that today, I would be able to fulfill my mission. Are you called Li Xuan?" xxs1
As the 'Great Venerable Lin Yi' spoke, Li Xuan's heart trembled. The Great Venerable Lin Yi's preparations from over ten thousand years ago could even know his name?! And from the sound of his words, did he have something to instruct him to do?
Li Xuan straightened up, cupped his fist, and bowed, then nodded, "Disciple is indeed Li Xuan. I wonder what the Great Venerable's command is."
"No need for formality. I said I am just a phantom body. Now that you have appeared, my mission can be considered complete."
The 'Great Venerable Lin Yi' smiled and waved his hand, then said, "Years ago, I instructed my subordinate to impart a cultivation technique to a disciple named Li Xuan, partly as a reward for climbing Mount Xuan Xuan, and partly in the hope that you could grow rapidly with this technique."
"This Cloud World is not as peaceful as you see it."
"Disciple thanks the Great Venerable." Li Xuan was overjoyed. A cultivation technique imparted by a Great Venerable must be of a very high level. However, from the words of the person before him, Li Xuan understood that the Great Venerable Lin Yi knew what problems the Tian Yi Domain would face over ten thousand years ago.
Yet, the Great Venerable Lin Yi still chose to leave, which likely meant that the problems were not as simple as Li Xuan currently understood.
"You will gradually come to understand the problems of the Cloud World as you grow stronger. For now, you don't need to investigate the truth too much. Well, that's all I have to say. Now, please sit down, gather your thoughts, and leave everything to me."
The 'Great Venerable Lin Yi' nodded slightly and said.
"Yes!" Li Xuan nodded and immediately sat down, closing his eyes. Seeing that Li Xuan was ready, the 'Great Venerable Lin Yi' suddenly flashed with spiritual light, transforming into a beam of golden light that shot directly towards Li Xuan's forehead.
"Chaos Heart Sutra, Law of All Things. This technique is divided into ten levels, and each level can only be unlocked upon reaching great accomplishment. Cultivate the heart mantra, gather divine light, and reach the heart of heaven. Continuously existing, inexhaustible in use. The dantian qi flows smoothly, the five internal organs are one. Qi circulates the belt meridian, and the first level is formed."
"..."
As the golden light entered, a scroll appeared in Li Xuan's mind. On the scroll, the four characters 'Chaos Heart Sutra' shone like gold leaf. A deep, ancient voice sounded, as if explaining or transmitting.
Time gradually passed. After about an hour, the other disciples on the steps of Mount Xuan Xuan had also finished their assessments. However, at this moment, none of the participating disciples spoke. Every eye was fixed on the summit of Mount Xuan Xuan.
*Hum!*
After another ten minutes, on Mount Xuan Xuan, with a flash of golden light, Li Xuan's figure finally appeared.