"Good! Very good!"
Deacon Zhang shouted excitedly, joy overflowing in his eyes.
He’d already scanned Yao Santu’s body with divine awareness earlier – the Qi Palace in his Dantian was unmistakable. The young man had genuinely reached the first level of Gathering Qi realm, qualifying for the secret realm trial!
The two young helpers trembled with excitement.
"Amazing! Brother Santu did it!"
"Right! Never giving up! Pushing through to the end! We should work twice as hard now!"
While these three rejoiced, the surrounding crowd wore expressions of disbelief. This Yao Santu – whose terrible aptitude nearly got him expelled from the sect – had actually broken through to Gathering Qi within a year.
People racked their brains. No resources. No talent. No secret opportunities either. Every disciple at Artifact Towers knew Yao Santu followed the same dull routine daily, never leaving the compound. Where would he find fortune? Did they think some magical chance would fly in on its own?
After much speculation, everyone settled on the only possible explanation – this breakthrough stemmed from a full decade of relentless effort finally bearing fruit.
"Thank you, Deacon Zhang, I-"
"Save it for later! Get moving before you miss the secret realm opening!"
"Right!"
Yao Santu nodded fiercely before sprinting toward the secret realm entrance. The Condensing Essence elder supervising the portal had just finished headcount when he spotted the approaching figure.
"Yao Santu? What are you doing here?"
"Elder, I’ve come for the Secret Realm of Hundred Refinements trial."
The elder opened his mouth to rebuke, then froze upon sensing Yao Santu’s cultivation level. With a skeptical grunt, he pressed a hand against the young man’s chest.
His eyebrows jerked upward. While Yao Santu had indeed formed his Qi Palace, the cost made the elder’s breath catch. All twelve Qi levels showed cracks, every Qi meridian in his body bore injuries.
The elder had heard rumors about this named disciple’s perseverance, but witnessing the physical proof stirred genuine respect. Remembering how he’d supported expelling Yao Santu a year prior, he shook his head slowly.
"Seems I misjudged. With this ironclad willpower… you’re someone destined for greatness."
Thinking of this, the elder’s gaze toward Yao Santu softened.
"Congratulations. Go wait over there."
"Thank you, Elder."
Yao Santu entered a large teleportation array. When other waiting disciples saw him, they began murmuring.
But Yao Santu didn’t care. His only thought was to bring Senior Immortal Stone into the secret realm and secure a forging Inheritance for him.
When time came and all were present, the secret realm’s teleportation array activated.
With a flash of formation light, twenty-eight new Gathering Qi Disciples entered the Secret Realm of Hundred Refinements.
To be precise – twenty-eight disciples and one stone.
Yao Santu opened his eyes to find himself in a mining area.
Five other Artifact Towers disciples stood with him. Their clothes had changed into rough mining apprentice outfits, pickaxes in hand.
Before all six cultivators lay massive dirt-covered unrefined ores.
While others still puzzled over the situation, Yao Santu immediately started swinging his pickaxe.
The rest hurried to follow.
Then they suddenly discovered their cultivation levels and spiritual power were sealed – they had to face this trial as ordinary mortals.
Two disciples hadn’t undergone apprentice training, like those forging room helpers.
Soon after digging began, these two fell behind. Their stamina drained quickly, movements slowing as they complained between pickaxe swings.
The digging trial lasted three hours. Yao Santu alone worked continuously the entire time.
At the three-hour mark, he fully excavated his ore to claim a green orb.
Three who’d partially mined theirs received gray orbs. The two slowest were teleported away.
Yao Santu and three others blinked as fatigue vanished. Their surroundings shifted again.
They now stood in a giant warehouse facing three-yard-high rubble piles. The secret realm’s new task: sort out spiritual ores within time limits.
This was Yao Santu’s specialty. He dominated with eighteen spiritual ores, easily earning another green orb.
Merging both green orbs created a blue orb. Two more disciples vanished, leaving Yao Santu and one other.
The third trial: ore smelting. Since spiritual power was needed for flames, their cultivation restrictions lifted.
The remaining disciple grinned confidently – his second level of Gathering Qi should ensure victory.
True enough, Yao Santu fell behind due to lower cultivation. Yet he stayed calm, finishing just before time expired.
Though missing the green orb reward, he advanced.
Fourth trial: forging room. Two years of extra practice paid off. Yao Santu completely outclassed his rival.
His cold-gleaming long-handled curved saber earned a blue orb. The other disciple’s lost effort during forging saw him teleported away.
After four trials, only Yao Santu remained. Merging two blue orbs formed a purple orb.
The scene shifted again. Fifth trial: instilling spirit into forged items.
Yao Santu looked at his purple orb regretfully.
"Senior Immortal Stone, this humble one may fail here today. My apologies."
Having started Gathering Qi late, he’d never learned spirit instilling. Yet he approached the task anyway, following book-learned steps.
Suddenly his vision blurred.
Vast knowledge flooded his mind as an ancient voice spoke:
"Boy, fret not. Work hard – leave the rest to this old man."
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter