Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1592: 858: Refining the Heart and Seeking Enlightenment, First Steps into the World

Drifting white clouds fill the expansive, pristine sky, while rolling mountains undulate below, draping the earth in verdant splendor. Pristine streams twist down from the peaks, merging into a profound gorge before pooling into an enigmatic lake.

The lake's waters gleam with crystal clarity, gentle waves sparkling across the surface, vibrant underwater flora blooming at the depths, fish glimpsed now and then.

As midday approached, a herd of white deer gathered at the lake's edge, bowing their heads gracefully to sip the water.

Suddenly, an archaic and grand palace materialized high above the lake, its immense shadow engulfing the water below.

The palace's abrupt emergence terrified the white deer herd, who flashed into white streaks of light, vanishing into the dense pine woods miles distant in a blink.

A deep rumbling echoed.

The ancient palace's massive doors creaked open slowly, revealing an elderly Taoist priest with a flowing beard, clad in an Eight Diagrams Purple Gold Taoist Robe and a Longevity Crown.

Trailing the elder Taoist came ten Taoists in yellow robes, eerily identical in look and aura, like a set of ten identical siblings.

Next, a throng of vibrant, commanding young cultivators strode out from the hall one by one.

Zhao Sheng mingled amid the group, neither leading nor trailing; his looks and bearing paled against those leading outer disciples.

These so-called outer disciples ranked as the top ten from this year's selection contest, each a peerless talent, true dragons among men.

Remarkably, every one of the two hundred “outer disciples” chosen this year was a Nascent Soul cultivator, none at Perfect Golden Core.

All these “outer disciples” were under a century old.

In any corner of the Constant Sand World, they would count as millennium-rare cultivation geniuses.

But within the Taiqing Sect, such “prodigies” merely qualified as outer disciples, barred from inner sect entry.

The bearded elder Taoist exited the hall, a vast Qingyun cloud blooming beneath his feet.

The ten yellow-robed Taoists fanned out wordlessly, each mounting a Qingyun cloud, positioning themselves behind the elder.

As the cultivators left the Liezi Hall, the bearded elder Taoist swept his voluminous sleeve, unleashing a cascade of pure radiance over their heads.

The pure light flickered before merging into the cultivators' bodies, vanishing without trace.

Hmm?!

Zhao Sheng sensed a torrent of potent mana flood his limbs and frame, morphing into myriad law powers that locked his meridians, Qi Sea, Dantian, and Purple Mansion Soul Sea.

In moments, he became utterly mortal, his mana entirely suppressed.

The other “outer disciples” fared the same; their cultivations sealed, leaving just mortal strength.

The cultivators first panicked briefly, then steadied themselves, gazing reverently upward at the bearded elder Taoist amid the clouds.

This bearded elder Taoist was none other than a Returning to Void elder of the Taiqing Sect, Quan Junzi by name, his power bottomless, and the overseer of this gathering.

Quan Junzi eyed the fresh disciples and boomed: “Infinite Heavenly Venerate! Our sect’s Taiqing Ancestor once declared: The Heavenly Dao, the Taoist Skill is natural! Cultivation since ancient times demands harmony with heaven's will and grasping one's true nature.”

“Hailing from the mortal realm, your Dao hearts remain flawed. Thus, you shall temper and refine your essence in the Heart Refining Valley down below for a period.”

Our sect boasts two core scriptures: the “Yellow Court Inner Vision Scripture” and the “Taiqing Cave Truth Scripture.”

“Once settled in Heart Refining Valley, recite and delve into these scriptures each day, perceiving heaven and earth. Upon awakening to your cultivation path through them, you may depart the valley and enter the sect’s Taoist register.”

Finishing his words, the bearded elder Taoist's face grew stern, his piercing gaze sweeping over the new outer disciples.

Right then, this year's champion Zhou Zixu advanced calmly, inquiring steadily: “May this disciple ask the Ancestor, having pored over the Yellow Court and Cave Truth scriptures since youth, I feel I've grasped my cultivation path. Might I bypass Heart Refining Valley and join the Taoist register directly?”

Before Quan Junzi could reply, Zhou Zixu bowed low, voicing respectfully: “Disciple seeks the Ancestor’s test!”

His words barely fell when over a dozen others surged forward:

“Disciple Mo Long, willing to face the Ancestor’s test!”

“Disciple Feng Sanxiao, requests the Ancestor to probe my Dao heart…”

“Disciple Zou Qingluan…”

Witnessing this, fellow outer disciples stirred with ambition, soon another wave stepping up to request the Ancestor’s trial.

The “Yellow Court Inner Vision Scripture” and “Taiqing Cave Truth Scripture” circulate broadly across the Eastern Domain. What Eastern Domain cultivator doesn't know them by heart, reciting fluidly forward or reverse?

Hence, Quan Junzi's directive struck them as simple; mere “enlightenment and heart refining”—how challenging could it be?

Shortly after, only about twenty lingered hesitant, the majority brimming with assurance to undergo the Ancestor’s test.

With no further advances, Quan Junzi stated flatly: “Ten Taoists, escort them to the Heart Refining Road.”

His command issued, the ten yellow-robed Taoists bowed as one, chorusing: “We heed Ancestor Master Uncle’s order!”

Then, one eyed the disciples and barked icily: “Board the Qingyun clouds at once—do not dawdle!”

Zhou Zixu, Feng Sanxiao, Mo Long, and the rest promptly picked the closest Qingyun clouds and mounted them swiftly.

Instantly, the ten Qingyun clouds soared toward the horizon, vanishing into the mountain fastnesses.

Now, Quan Junzi turned to the leftover twenty-odd, flicking his sleeve to conjure a fierce wind that hurled them from the clouds in a cluster.

Bam, bam, bam…

They plummeted from the heavens, slamming into the lake with thunderous splashes, water erupting skyward, bottom-dwelling fish fleeing in chaos.

Caught off guard, they emerged as sopping wet rats.