Not Even Pretending Anymore

In the Night Mist Sea, a small skiff came ashore. A young man dressed in splendid brocade stepped off with unhurried grace and approached the dilapidated outer villa. A jade pendant hung at his waist, his black hair fluttered in the night wind, his eyes were clear and bright, and his features were remarkably handsome. Holding a broom, a gray-robed elder with a head of withered yellow hair had already been waiting here for some time. "Go on in," he said. "There is no need to rush. That person took the most difficult path and will face all kinds of extreme trials. You will easily match his pace without having to hurry." The young man, Li Heng, stepped forward and bowed in greeting to the gray-robed elder. A smile blossomed on his face, his peach-blossom eyes shining brightly, which lent an added touch of warmth and charm to his already strikingly handsome appearance. The gray-robed elder's expression darkened slightly. "If you truly reach Her Highness's presence, do not try to be clever. Even though you have cultivated a 'divine fetus,' so-called ultimate spiritual allure is utterly negligible before Her Highness. Don't dream of leaping to the heavens in a single bound to become the Dao companion of such a figure. All you need to do is keep your place, obey Her Highness's orders, and follow her arrangements. What is meant for you will not slip away; what isn't will never be granted no matter how much you scheme. Sincerity, modesty, and devotion will serve you far better than any special domain your divine fetus emanates." "I understand!" Li Heng nodded. "Take this path!" The gray-robed elder, Li Cang, pointed to a path corresponding to an ink-black sign. Li Heng's body stiffened slightly. While he was exceedingly ambitious and confident he could navigate a harder path, that hardly meant he wished to subject himself to a hell-tier ordeal. In the past, when certain saints retraced these paths, some had ended up utterly helpless on the hell-tier route, forced to call for help halfway through, and had ultimately been carried out on stretchers. "So... the signs were scrambled? I see. Then I shall set out." Li Heng departed immediately, wasting no time. He crossed the ruined courtyard, passed a silver bamboo grove, and stepped through a moon gate radiating Nine Heavens Pure Spiritual Qi with steady, measured strides. He was calm and confident, murmuring to himself, "How could a true paragon resign himself to serving beneath another? My spiritual domain forms its own world, my divine fetus has attained completion, and by becoming a saint in this extraordinary era, I might well scale the highest peak." Soon, however, a look of shock crossed his face. An enormous commotion had broken out along the distant path. Waves of crimson glow surged forth, followed by distortions and blurs, accompanied by rumblings of collapse. "What is happening over there?" Li Heng's expression turned grave. Along the most terrifying path, was someone already clearing the extreme trial? That was far too fast! Qin Ming's gaze was clear, misty light flowing around his body. "This is only the first stretch, yet it is already this arduous. Yujing's standards for selecting disciples really are excessively high." This was a stretch where one had to forge ahead under heavy burden. Dao rhymes corresponding to his realm descended, testing the upper limit of what he could endure, as though the legendary Feixian Mountain were pressing down upon his crown. Qin Ming withstood it, walking all the way to the end. Yet right after his success, crimson clouds churned across the world, and a tangible domain descended to suppress him once more. Although the initial trial was cleared, Yujing always gave everyone an unforgettable experience when choosing saints. It would exert additional pressure, not merely to test their limits, but to deal the future saints a humbling blow from the outset. Rich crimson clouds surged wildly, the Dao rhymes along the path churning like boiling water until, with a loud bang, they erupted, exploding in all directions. Qin Ming exhaled a breath. The pebble-paved path beneath his feet glimmered faintly, and the nearby bamboo grove rustled. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. Right then, purple mist descended from the sky. It appeared immensely noble yet grew far more perilous, as dense Dao rhymes solidified into tangible pressure bearing down on the path. "It's still not over? Twist after twist, and the pressure is ramping up!" Qin Ming was enveloped by the purple qi. Moreover, the path under his feet expanded and extended on its own, plunging into a special area of the outer villa. Immortal melodies rang out, heralding the extraordinary potency of this auspicious cloud. The bones inside Qin Ming creaked and ground against one another, his body swaying unsteadily, but in the end he stumbled his way through this stretch. With a pop, the purple qi blew apart, and the Dao rhymes dispersed. Staring at the distant path, Li Heng looked utterly astonished. He already understood what was happening: the challenger had already passed, but Yujing's trial was designed to humble new disciples and ultimately crush the challenger under pressure. Was this an extra "heap" of trials? He could not help but frown. Hadn't the old ancestor said the newcomer tried to choose the easiest path, only to take a wrong turn by chance and stray onto the wrong track, meaning he should have been eliminated quickly? How could this person be performing so brilliantly? "There's more?" Qin Ming was startled. Could he really be broken here on this very first path? The night sky was no longer serene. An inexplicable power began to stir, and then outer realm toxic fire, flowing light, and otherworldly substances poured down. The Dao rhymes sweeping down from beyond the Nine Heavens were ferociously violent, crashing like tumbling meteors. At the very first contact, Qin Ming's entire body turned fiery red, his flesh scalding hot, his bones feeling as though they were fracturing, and his five viscera seeming to ignite, as if his entire person were about to be burned through. The violent Dao rhymes were like venomous fire and sharp blades, eroding his body directly through the void. Qin Ming was not here in his true body; he had arrived by borrowing a vessel. Yet the sensations remained intensely real. The agony proved unbearable even for him, forcing a muffled groan from his throat. His five viscera felt ready to turn to ash, and his spiritual field was on the verge of being burned right through. It was inhuman torment. Meanwhile, the path beneath his feet extended rapidly, winding toward the villa's deeper reaches. "This... an extra three layers of trials? What kind of monster is this?" Li Heng, walking steadily along his own path, felt his spirit shaken as he watched the various manifestations across the way. What was more, it looked as though the other person had gritted his teeth and endured it all. "Does that mean he can rival Her Highness?" Li Heng's face changed abruptly. A person who was supposed to take the easiest path had suddenly surged forward like a roc spreading its wings to soar into the firmament? "No, if he were truly so extraordinary, why would he want to take the easiest path? Could he be hiding a priceless treasure, slipping through the cracks while Yujing is collapsed and undergoing its initial rebirth to plunder all the benefits here?!" Li Heng remembered vividly that even Her Highness had lost her composure back then, emerging in disheveled misery with her hair wild and scattered, and had refused to speak of the experience ever since. People speculated that Her Highness's inner landscape had been blasted through and her immortal charm shattered. Though originally possessing an otherworldly body unsoiled by mortal dust, she had ultimately crawled out on all fours in sheer humiliation. Li Heng's peach-blossom eyes flickered. "Even Her Highness had to draw upon the foundations of two major systems to barely survive the extra three trials. How could someone who didn't even dare to choose a harder path pull it off?" At this moment, smoke billowed from Qin Ming's entire body. Each step he took along the path left a scorched footprint. From head to toe, body to spirit, he felt thoroughly scorched. Fortunately, he held out once more. Rich Nine Heavens Pure Spiritual Qi poured into his body, wrapping him in a fresh, revitalizing aura. Moments later, his injuries healed, and his vitality was restored. Even so, Qin Ming was deeply shaken within. Yujing's selection of disciples was far too strict. This path was genuinely excruciating, pushing him to the brink between life and death. He inwardly cautioned himself that he must hold himself to the highest standards from now on; otherwise, how could he possibly vie with true Yujing saints? Gazing toward the villa's depths, the sweeping elder Li Cang revealed a perplexed expression. "Calculating the time, that youth should have collapsed by now. Why hasn't he been sent out yet?" This was a grove of golden bamboo, where spiritual substance flowed like water. Qin Ming sat in quiet rest, taking a brief respite. From the night sky, wisps and strands of order light descended toward him. "Hm?!" He snapped his eyes open. "In view of the challenger's outstanding performance in braving the three extra trials and reaching the end of the path, the baptism of law chain light is hereby granted." A line of golden text materialized, displaying this prompt. "Yellow Silk Canopy, come out and greet your guest!" Qin Ming hurried to call it out. He was exceptionally wary of law chains, order light, and Dao chains. Everyone said they were Yujing's blessings and heavenly fortune, but he dreaded them intensely. He had not forgotten how Liu Mo, a high deity, had suffered excruciating torment in his bid to break free of his past, and even after five hundred years, had still not achieved complete rebirth. The Yellow Silk Canopy was merely a palm in length, floating before Qin Ming. He swiftly activated it, causing it to expand instantly and display a remarkable grandeur, resembling a premier ceremonial regalia used on an emperor's royal progress. It trembled gently, seemingly leaping with joy and cheering at finally escaping the space inside the rag. Smelling the breath of the greater world once more, it was no longer so stifled. Suddenly, its divine light flared dramatically as though poised to tear the night sky open. The canopy spun, and the embroidered sun, moon, and stars upon it seemed to come alive, eager to scatter across the night. Yet it soon emitted an unusual fluctuation, tinged with indignation—for the descending law chains were weaving across its canopy and coiling around its metal shaft. It had no choice but to resist, striving to stop the law chains from spreading. Qin Ming was astonished. What was originally the Myriad Gods Banner now glowed faintly, exposing its true materials. Whether canopy or ribs, everything was crafted from exotic metal! Setting all else aside, this material alone was beyond priceless. "It truly has an immense background, most likely the supreme treasure of an entire realm!" Qin Ming thought, his expression grave. Such an item would definitely be difficult to control. Fortunately, it had suffered severe damage, and its grade appeared to have dropped, making it struggle even to contest these law chains. In the end, the Yellow Silk Canopy looked as though it had been "tattooed." Inexplicable law chains appeared across its surface like veins, rooted into its very body and exuding a divine glow. Qin Ming remarked, "I've heard that the more densely interwoven law chains are upon a rare treasure, the more formidable it becomes. Haven't you received a rather grand fortune here?" With a whoosh, the treasure shifted back into the Myriad Gods Banner. Ghostly silhouettes flickered, Yin qi turned bone-chilling, and surging black mist threatened to turn the surroundings into a world dipped in ink. Its weapon spirit had suffered grievous trauma and remained muddled, but it could still comprehend its predicament. It was infuriated to no end; had it been able to speak, it surely would have unleashed a torrent of curses. In fact, it dearly wished to slap its banner right across his face! Seeing this, Qin Ming tossed it straight back into the space within the rag. "Aren't weapons meant to be used? Giving you new law chains allows you to resist and analyze them at your own pace, which will be of immense benefit in the future. Yet you show no gratitude at all." Inside the rag's space, the Myriad Gods Banner trembled. It was utterly uneasy there, unwilling to linger for even a single breath. In an instant, it transformed back into the Yellow Silk Canopy, a veiled gesture of yielding. Qin Ming said, "Most special weapons forged from exotic metal can liquefy into battle robes that drape over the body. Can't you transform like that as well?" He had long envied how the weapons of Li Qingyue and Jiang Ran could transform into battle garments. However, the Yellow Silk Canopy emitted a hazy fluctuation, explicitly conveying that its system was different and it could not become battle robes. Still, one could sense how arrogant the weapon spirit was. Across the canopy's surface, a vague scene emerged of black mist sweeping across heaven and earth, immensely terrifying. Toying with the petite Yellow Silk Canopy, Qin Ming resumed his journey. Before walking far, he spotted a scripture repository tower. Drawing near, he displayed the jade plaque in his hand, which served as proof of his identity granted by the New Board. Immediately, a green jade desk and a prayer mat manifested before the repository tower, with true scriptures laid upon the desk. One of them was the *Extreme Dao Golden Body*, which even Tianzun cultivated and had devoted over half his life to studying. It was his foundational scripture, an immortal body-refining method leading directly to the Heavenly Immortal realm. Qin Ming sat down, opened the Yellow Silk Canopy, and enlarged it, enjoying the pomp and ceremony of an ancient emperor. The *Extreme Dao Golden Body* consisted of two thin volumes, upper and lower. Though slender, the text inside was dense, replete with annotations from predecessors containing the interpretations and insights of numerous venerable seniors. "Hm?" Qin Ming was surprised. This classic was bound to be ancient, yet it was remarkably "clean," devoid of any emotional fluctuation. This meant he could not achieve resonance. "Was this severed intentionally by someone? Or did certain Dao rhymes and emotions disperse when Yujing collapsed?" Qin Ming's expression grew somewhat grave. He realized ancient powerhouses were terrifyingly astute; they might well have known about the ability to resonate! He did not force the matter. Having the complete scripture was enough; his own comprehension was already frighteningly formidable. Qin Ming leafed through it briefly before turning to the *Heaven-Transmitted Jade Book*. Made of jade stone, it totaled only six pages, which constituted the complete text. In the outer pure land, four damaged jade pages were already revered as the sect-anchoring classic and regarded as one of the three most difficult true scriptures to cultivate. That this full version had only two additional pages was understandable. Moreover, even within Yujing, this was an extraordinary scripture that renowned Heavenly Gods and peerless Heavenly Immortals of the past had studied. The jade book likewise offered no resonance, remaining silent and devoid of fluctuation. Qin Ming calmed his mind and began to read intently, grasping the various profound truths within. Li Heng glanced toward the distant path and said, "He must be studying the scriptures. I need to hurry as well and reach the destination ahead of him." Soon, he was startled. Over on the distant path, spiritual radiance billowed upward, accompanied by the faint, echoing sound of chanting. "He is comprehending the true scripture so quickly?" Li Heng was shaken. He knew full well that this trial tested comprehension. That person appeared to be demonstrating supernatural comprehension, even conjuring anomalies while studying the text. "Could he be cheating?" Li Heng grew suspicious, wondering if the man, like himself, knew in advance which scripture would be tested along this path. The gray-robed elder Li Cang had instructed him thoroughly and lectured on the scriptures for days. Li Heng now strongly suspected this newcomer had also received advance "guidance" and possessed an equally powerful background. Otherwise, how could he be so fierce? Li Heng hastily steadied his emotions, sat before his jade desk, and began studying a classic in the spiritual domain. Anyone able to walk this path would find the trip worthwhile even in failure, having gained access to an invaluable grimoire that generally led straight to the sixth realm. Qin Ming had two true scriptures whose levels vastly exceeded standard parameters. This was mainly because he arrived carrying the jade plaque that explicitly stated which scriptures he was owed, provided here in the form of rewards. "The *Extreme Dao Golden Body* is indeed wondrous beyond words. No wonder Tianzun could look down upon all rivals as a body refiner. This scripture is unfathomably profound, unique, and overbearingly domineering," Qin Ming marveled after reading it. He had delved deeply into the *Scripture of Harmonizing Body and Dao* and also comprehended the *Vajra Scripture*, both of which pertained to body refining. The former was especially mysterious and unpredictable; without employing heavenly light, its sheer physical might alone could slay deities! Consequently, Qin Ming achieved twice the result with half the effort when comprehending the *Extreme Dao Golden Body*, picking it up in no time. As for the latter portions that exceeded his current realm and comprehension, he committed them directly to memory. He then turned to the jade book, firmly memorizing the final two newly added pages before setting it down. This true scripture was exceedingly obscure, involving the severing of the mind monkey and other concepts; whatever parts could currently be comprehended, he had already understood long ago. Qin Ming stood up and continued forward. "The spiritual radiance dispersed. He's already finished his comprehension and hit the road again? This... he isn't even pretending anymore!" Li Heng found this absurd. Even though he had studied the text before him in advance, he at least kept up appearances by sitting here for a bit. That fellow was being far too brazen! He felt uneasy. Could this connected insider's backing be even stronger than his own? In the Night Mist Sea, an immense tree branch grew into the villa. One could not tell what the parent tree looked like; this single branch alone was as massive as a mountain ridge, lush and verdant, radiating a sacred aura. At the very tip of the branch hung a colossal flower bud. Layer upon layer of petals numbered thirty-six in all, seemingly corresponding to the thirty-six layers of heaven. Rich in fragrance, it drifted with hazy radiant mist and dense Dao rhymes. Deep inside this massive flower bud sat a woman cross-legged, silently contemplating Yujing's supreme heritage. A woman bearing transparent butterfly wings flew over and reported, "Your Highness, the person who took the same path as you has already cleared two trials in succession and is on the move again." Inside the flower bud, the woman was crystalline throughout like a divine moon, even her hair strands glowing, her whole body hazy as if spun from condensed moonlight. Slightly surprised, she asked, "So fast? How many extra trials were imposed on him in the first stage?" The Butterfly Maiden was lithe and shapely, with pretty features. "I do not know. I am rather far from there and cannot discern it, though presumably it could not be like Your Highness, who had three extra trials added." She continued, "Observing from afar the spiritual brilliance he released while contemplating the scriptures and the faint resonance of chanting, he appears to be practicing the *Extreme Dao Golden Body*. Finishing so swiftly, he almost certainly obtained the scripture beforehand." A slightly magnetic female voice came from within the bud: "The *Extreme Dao Golden Body* points straight to the Grand Dao of Heavenly Immortals; ordinary people never have the chance to lay eyes upon it. Tianzun, who ranks exceptionally high on the New Board, cultivates this very scripture." The Butterfly Maiden remarked, "Could he be someone with connections? Having studied this scripture in advance would explain how he comprehended it so quickly, with an efficiency even higher than Your Highness back then." Then she chuckled softly. "He likely has no idea Your Highness is meditating in seclusion here and that you will personally oversee the final juncture. If he is merely an insider leaning on connections, he is going to be battered mercilessly. After suffering such a devastating blow, his confidence might crumble, and his Dao path could become unstable!" ... Qin Ming had arrived before an enormous mirror. An inscription carved onto the mirror's surface stated that one could attack it, and it would illuminate one's personal deficiencies. He realized the rewards arranged for him by the New Board were closely tied to the saint's trial path—if not a one-to-one match, then very close. This was a Law Body-Illuminating Mirror. Along the other path, Li Heng muttered to himself, "I have reached the third trial. Yujing already holds a fair degree of recognition for someone like me and has begun granting boons in disguised form. There are three Body-Illuminating Mirrors here to help me identify my deficiencies. I must seize this opportunity." Taking a deep breath, he charged toward a mirror. A figure manifested within and lunged at him, engaging him in fierce combat. During this clash, the mirror displayed his various shortcomings, prompting him on areas where he could improve and even pointing out flaws in the scriptures he cultivated and issues within his body. With a bang, he finally manifested his divine fetus, condensing a celestial saber from his spiritual field to slash violently, shattering the first Law Body-Illuminating Mirror. Strands of flowing light sank into his spiritual field—pointers informing him where he fell short and what needed correction. Right at this moment, he sensed something unusual and looked up toward the distant path. Li Heng's eyes widened in sheer shock. "So... ferocious? Shattering three Law Body-Illuminating Mirrors in a row? Did he obtain a mirror in advance so that the Law Mirrors have no effect on him and he can just rush straight through? Now this is a true insider—he's not even pretending anymore!" In truth, the feedback the Law Body-Illuminating Mirrors provided Qin Ming was overwhelmingly positive, even lavish with praise. For a moment, he wondered if he had encountered counterfeit mirrors! They didn't correct a thing for him, making them utterly useless! Qin Ming shattered mirror after mirror as he advanced, smashing through twelve precious mirrors in succession before the final three finally offered some valuable feedback: "The foundational scripture cultivated may harbor hidden perils; in the future, there is a risk of physical and spiritual collapse, with a probability exceeding thirty percent." Seeing this prompt, Qin Ming could not help but sink into contemplation. Unfortunately, the mirror offered no real solution, merely advising him to reduce the fusion of top-tier true scriptures. Evidently, this did not align with Qin Ming's intentions. "How could his path have twelve mirrors, and how did he blast through them all in one go?" Li Heng was dumbfounded, growing ever more certain the man was cheating. He must have experienced the wonders of these Law Mirrors beforehand and already corrected his shortcomings, which was why he could advance like splitting bamboo! Qin Ming noticed that the law chains in the night sky had appeared again, trickling down like glowing rivulets to bestow another baptism upon him. Golden text prompted him that this could potentially make up for his deficiencies, using law chains to mend his body and spirit and forge wisps of immortal attributes. "Yellow Silk Canopy, greet your guest!" Qin Ming once again summoned the dust-cloaked rare treasure. At the same time, he collected all the shattered mirror fragments and tossed them into the space within the rag. He would need to destroy them later; who knew whether they had recorded scenes that shouldn't be seen? The Myriad Gods Banner clearly carried intense emotional fluctuations, billowing with black mist in uncontrollable fury—because it was being "tattooed" yet again! Qin Ming resumed his journey toward the fourth trial. After blasting through three mirrors, Li Heng didn't have time to savor the experience. Committing the pointers from the flowing light to memory, he rushed along his path. He did not want to fall behind, hoping to reach the final destination first. "Wait, how is that possible? How could the Wishing Pool appear at the fourth trial?" Soon, Li Heng's peach-blossom eyes blinked rapidly, filled with astonishment. Ahead, spiritual qi swirled, radiant mist billowed, and Dao rhymes circulated. A hazy treasure pool manifested in the void, resembling the source of the Heavenly River. Moreover, Li Heng noticed that several paths converged toward this place. At this moment, he caught sight of his competitor on the distant path, already approaching the Wishing Pool enveloped in sacred brilliance. "Definitely an insider! He must have experienced the Law Body-Illuminating Mirrors in advance, which is why he cleared them so fast, only to run straight into the Wishing Pool. This was all prearranged!" Li Heng's heart sank. The other party's backing seemed exceptionally powerful, capable of rewriting the rules. "I'll risk it all! We're both insiders with connections—who's afraid of whom?!" Li Heng charged forward, aiming to plunge into the Wishing Pool first. "A competitor?" Qin Ming's expression changed, his mood turning grave. He was walking what was supposed to be an easier path and had already felt immense pressure. The path across the way, even if not hell-tier, couldn't be far off—certainly harder than his own. Qin Ming felt he had most likely encountered a formidable foe. "The Wishing Pool cannot be lost. This was mine to begin with, and I will never back down!" Qin Ming muttered. "As expected, you can't even pretend anymore! It was already decided in advance for you, wasn't it?!" Li Heng was indignant. Even though they were both insiders, he felt the other man had gone too far. Saying such words aloud in public showed an utter lack of shame! Naturally, he had to "fight on the merits" and refuse to bow. If matters spiraled out of control, he could always ask Her Highness to step in at the final moment and uphold justice for him! "It belonged to me from the start!" All at once, Qin Ming's entire body shone resplendently. Heavenly light, consciousness, and divine wisdom blended together, erupting into a terrifying radiance that pierced the night sky. His battle intent surged high as he summoned his most formidable power, bracing to clash with this unprecedented archfoe.