As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life

Li Che was utterly worn out from worrying about his daughter.

In truth…

If it weren’t for the Thunder Chess Piece guiding the power of numerous Dao Fruits, with Xi Xi’s innate talent alone, she would barely stand a chance of making it into the top three.

Though Li Che kept refining Xi Xi’s physical body and enhancing her talent using the Pure Heart Divinity,

the process was ultimately slow, requiring the accumulation of time to gradually reveal its effects.

Thus, speaking purely of talent, Xi Xi may have reached the level of thousand-foot Purple Qi, but compared to talents such as Gongshu Wentian, Jin Taixui, and Xuan Yue with ten thousand feet of Purple Qi—approaching the sublimity of Purple Qi Reaching Heaven—she still fell short…

However, what the Grandmaster valued was the upper limit of talent…

Li Che decided he wouldn’t hold back then; he would go all out.

To not make use of resources would be no different than being a salted fish.

The powers of the Dao Fruits—[Dragon Elephant Vajra], [Immortal Artisan], [Pure Heart], [Fairy in the Painting]—were all channeled by Li Che, using the Thunder Chess Piece as a bridge, into Xi Xi’s body.

Moreover, with the small treats from the boss, along with Xi Xi’s innate possession of Mythical Weapons, her talent underwent comprehensive enhancement.

She reached the level of a perfect hexagonal warrior!

According to the rules outlined by the Grandmaster, the subsequent Heart Test and Temple Guardian Test would distribute Dao Yun Qi Column rewards based on performance.

Only the top three could obtain the Dao Yun Qi Columns. From the fourth place onward… there would be no reward.

The challenge was indeed daunting. Although Xi Xi attained first place in the initial test, the Heart Test and Temple Guardian Test still awaited her.

“The Heart Test…”

Li Che murmured softly, furrowing his brow with a faint trace of worry.

The Heart Test…

For Xi Xi, it was the greatest trial.

As for the final Temple Guardian Test, Li Che had no worries at all; with Xi Xi fully equipped with Divine Equipment, it was practically her home field.

But the Heart Test was truly the most challenging for Xi Xi.

It remained unclear what the Heart Test would assess.

Li Che couldn’t help but look up toward Lv Taibai seated in the Sect Master’s position.

Lv Taibai’s silver hair fluttered as his fingers gently tapped on the armrest of his chair.

He seemed to have sensed Li Che’s gaze and turned his eyes toward him. In his pupils, endless sharp sword light seemed to swirl and shift.

Extremely dazzling.

Lv Taibai smiled warmly and nodded slightly.

Li Che paused for a moment, then returned the nod as well.

Lv Taibai stood up, and in an instant, all eyes were drawn to him.

Standing with hands folded behind him, his white robes and silver hair dancing in the wind, Lv Taibai exhaled as if releasing a sword.

Sword light swirled, echoing throughout the Qiankun Small Cave Heaven.

“One hour from now, the Heart Test will commence.”

The Divine Children seated along the White Jade Staircase abruptly opened their eyes.

Their gazes showed unmistakable intrigue.

At the same time…

Radiance swirled. Within the Qiankun Small Cave Heaven, those Divine Children seated below the tenth step of the White Jade Staircase found themselves surrounded by flashing streams of light and swirling sword Qi, and before they knew it, they were removed from the Small Cave Heaven.

They reappeared in the vast White Jade Square.

In that instant, their hearts were overwhelmed with mixed emotions, utter dejection.

They knew that in the first test, they had been eliminated. In the subsequent tests, they wouldn’t even qualify to participate.

One by one, they returned to the Da Ping Area, dispirited and forlorn.

These individuals, who prided themselves as Divine Children, with unparalleled talent, the shining stars of noble families across state cities, found themselves utterly overshadowed in this competition.

Here, they truly witnessed what it meant to say there’s always someone stronger, beyond the heavens.

…

…

Qianyuan Dao City.

The octagonal tiered eaves and dripping corners of the Qintian Observatory Treasure Building.

Spring rain drizzled and converged along the black-tiled eaves, forming rain strands resembling silk threads.

Supervisor Hong Shifu looked at the gradually clearing skies, with the rain abating, and chuckled softly.

Inside the building, Daoist Master Yue Huanglong, seated across the chessboard, squinted slightly, genuinely showing a trace of surprise at the results of the first talent test.

The emergence of Jin Taixui, possessing the Great Witch God Bloodline of Da Li, surprised him.

Yue Linghu nearly ranking last also surprised him.

Li Nuanxi unexpectedly surging ahead to surpass Jin Taixui and taking first place, securing the nine-foot Dao Yun Qi Column—the biggest surprise of all.

“It seems… Xuan Qisha has given quite a lot of treasures to her Divine Talisman disciple.”

Yue Huanglong squinted his eyes, and the smile on his face faded significantly.

Hong Shifu glanced at Yue Huanglong and shook his head. “No. Quite the opposite. Xuan Qisha hasn’t given this little girl any treasures. Lv Taibai wouldn’t permit it… After all, Xuan Qisha specializes in offensive Killing God Talismans. As for talismans that enhance talent, what effective ones could he even offer?”

A goofy smile spread across Yue Huanglong’s round face. “Could it be… this little girl truly relied on nothing but her utterly unremarkable bloodline talent to surpass Gongshu Wentian, Xuan Yue, and Jin Taixui, the geniuses with ten thousand feet of Purple Qi Divinity?”

Hong Shifu shook his head.

“I don’t believe it.”

“But… I have no proof.”

“Without proof, we have no choice but to believe…”

“Tell me… What sort of miraculous resource would make your grandson Yue Linghu’s talent surpass Xuan Yue, Gongshu Wentian, and Jin Taixui?”

The smile on Yue Huanglong’s fleshy face instantly vanished.

Could you not ask such heart-wrenching questions?

“Did you notice that tea egg?”

Hong Shifu laid his hands atop the railing, speaking softly.

“I suspect that hidden within Dao City is an unregistered Divine Fetus Great God yet to be listed by the Great Supervising Minister.”

“Lv Taibai is searching for him, I am searching for him, and the Pavilion Master of the Hunting God Pavilion is searching for him…”

“But none of us have been able to locate him.”

“As elusive as the underworld, perhaps… this person is the founder of the underworld itself and its greatest hidden strength.”

The sheer absurdity on Yue Huanglong’s jiggling face turned into a mix of incredulity and humor. “You’re saying… that Divine Fetus Great God boiled a tea egg, and that was enough to make this little girl’s talent surpass Gongshu Wentian, Xuan Yue, and Jin Taixui—the geniuses carrying the bloodlines of great gods?”

Hong Shifu gazed at him impassively. “You practice the Martial Path, so it’s no surprise you’re impervious to this perception. Heavenly Person Sensing may be fine, but it’s nothing compared to the Heaven and Earth Soul of a Divine Fetus…”

Gradually, Yue Huanglong stopped laughing.

The fat quivered on his face as his eyes narrowed, quietly murmuring.

“A tea egg…”

…

…

What would the Heart Test assess?

What could a five-year-old child be tested on for inner character?

“The Heart Test… creates illusion realms using Divinity to construct scenarios that examine the choices one would make in varying situations.”

The Great Elder of Divine Carving Ridge, Tang Xiejia, seemed to notice Li Che’s growing anxiety and explained deliberately.

“In truth, although it’s called a test of inner character, it would be more appropriate to call it a test of essence.”

“The essence of one’s being. What defines them most profoundly.”

“The essence may differ vastly for each individual—it could be pursuit of the Dao, devotion to protection, or a propensity for killing…”

“As for the particular method of assessment, that remains unknown. Every test differs, and no one can predict what trial the Sect Master has devised this time.”

Tang Xiejia shared.

Li Che nodded, cupping his hands in gratitude for the explanation.

Seated once again, Li Che no longer seemed as preoccupied with worry.

After all, worrying would serve no purpose here—the Heart Test was something he couldn’t possibly assist Xi Xi with.

If…

The first talent test had unrestricted rules and methods.

Then for the Heart Test, every external aid would be categorically forbidden.

This test would indeed be disadvantageous for Xi Xi.

A five-year-old child, at a playful age, with an yet unformed inner character—how difficult would it be to hold firm to her essence?

Even if Xi Xi didn’t secure a prominent ranking in this test, Li Che wouldn’t be bothered.

He could make up for the lost Dao Yun rewards in the third Temple Guardian Test.

Dong——!!!

The ancient Divine Bell sounded, and its immense, invisible reverberations echoed forth from deep within Dao City’s winding mountains.

The waves of sound rippled outward.

Beneath the White Jade Arch.

Jiao Shaoqiu’s simple long robe swelled in the wind, his wide sleeves billowing.

“The hour has come.”

“The Heart Test begins!”

“Sect Master, please present the challenge.”

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