"The old rules—everyone, line up and proceed toward the Taicang Sacred Stone."
"Anyone who can get within ten zhang of the Sacred Stone and endure for the time it takes incense to burn may enter the Taicang Sacred Land!"
Cang Yue Martial Venerable waved his hand.
Behind him, several dozen martial artists immediately enacted a peculiar formation.
"Summon the Taicang Sacred Stone!"
A gigantic stone monument slowly began to rise from the high platform.
The stone monument exuded an ancient, mysterious aura.
Its surface was riddled with cracks.
Yet despite the web of fractures, the Sacred Stone showed no signs of breaking.
Instead, it emitted some sort of extraordinary energy.
Even someone like Cang Yue Martial Venerable, who had cultivated beneath the Taicang Sacred Stone on countless occasions, still felt awe each time he laid eyes upon it.
"Worthy of its name—the Taicang Sacred Stone."
"It contains mystic power; anyone who comprehends even a fraction of its truths can ascend to Martial Saint."
"Unfortunately, thus far, only Elder Lu Tong standing on the platform has managed to perceive a sliver of its truth. Of the remaining thirty-three Martial Venerables, not one has grasped even the smallest trace..."
Cang Yue Martial Venerable was inwardly moved.
The Taicang Sacred Stone was of paramount importance to the Taicang Sacred Land.
Legend says the Taicang Sacred Stone descended from the heavens, infused with enigmatic powers. To fathom its mystery is to unravel the secrets of the universe—and to thus achieve Martial Saint.
Indeed, the existence of the Taicang Sacred Land owed itself entirely to the Sacred Stone.
The Sacred Stone also served as a means to identify disciples with exceptional potential.
Any ordinary individuals or low-level martial artists able to endure within the vicinity of the Sacred Stone might stand a faint chance of becoming Martial Venerable.
Of course, the odds were slim.
Still, this was enough to earn the title of a disciple of the Taicang Sacred Land.
With the appearance of the Sacred Stone, countless ordinary individuals and low-level martial artists erupted with excitement.
They were witnessing the Taicang Sacred Stone for the first time.
Previously, they had only heard tales of its legend.
Stories of rare talents who, upon glimpsing a fragment of the Sacred Stone’s mysteries, propelled their martial cultivation ahead in leaps and bounds, achieving Martial Venerable.
Some spoke of geniuses whose power surged overnight within the Stone’s presence.
Others told of those who devised groundbreaking martial techniques while meditating at the Sacred Stone.
Indeed, the Taicang Sacred Stone was a thing of wonder.
And so, one by one, the eager masses began to queue and file toward the Stone.
The first threshold was within one hundred zhang.
Yet, as soon as they approached the range of one hundred zhang, many already found themselves unable to withstand it. A strange force bore down on their spirits, and they immediately fainted.
Those who fainted were eliminated—anyone unable to last even within one hundred zhang was deemed utterly unfit.
Some managed to press forward to within several dozen zhang, showing faint signs of talent.
However, it still wasn’t enough.
To be accepted as a Taicang Sacred Land disciple, they needed to endure within ten zhang of the Sacred Stone for the time it took for incense to burn.
Cang Yue observed the young martial artists falling one after another in their effort to enter the Sacred Land. His heart was heavy with mixed emotions.
He reflected on his own humble beginnings—as a wandering swordsman struggling through bloody skirmishes, living each day as though licking the edge of a knife.
Until the day came when he arrived at the Taicang Sacred Land, hoping to try his luck.
To his astonishment, he made a name for himself on the day disciples were selected—not only did he reach within ten zhang of the Taicang Sacred Stone but also advanced to within one zhang, enduring for an entire hour!
Thanks to this, Cang Yue soared to new heights and became a center of focus for cultivation in the Sacred Land.
In just ten short years, he ascended to Martial Venerable.
All of this owed itself to the Taicang Sacred Stone!
Without it, there would be no Cang Yue as he stood today.
Just as Cang Yue prepared to observe closely and identify promising talents...
Suddenly, there was a faint shift in the void—a stir of wind.
Being a Martial Venerable, Cang Yue was attuned to the slightest disturbance.
Immediately, he sensed that something was amiss.
Amid the gusts of wind, three figures materialized faintly.
These three silhouettes stood suspended in midair, gazing down at all who were present.
The sight sent instant shockwaves through the entire Taicang Sacred Land.
"Who are those three individuals?"
"To traverse the void and stand in midair—those are Martial Venerables!"
"Judging by their presence, they don’t seem to belong to the Taicang Sacred Land. Then, what business do these mysterious Martial Venerables have here and now at this sacred place?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt
"Could they be Martial Venerables from rival Sacred Lands, here to stir trouble in the Taicang Sacred Land?"
"But with only three Martial Venerables, how could they dare seek conflict with the Taicang Sacred Land?"
The identity of the three figures stirred curiosity and speculation among the crowd.
Cang Yue, however, immediately braced himself in vigilance.
His figure rose abruptly, and step by step, as though ascending invisible stairs in the void, he came to a halt tens of zhang away from the three unfamiliar figures.
"From where do you come? And what purpose brings you to my Taicang Sacred Land?"
Cang Yue stood with hands clasped behind his back, exuding a powerful aura as he coldly questioned them.
Within the Taicang Sacred Land, there was no one Cang Yue feared!
"The Taicang Sacred Land... I suppose the Taicang Sacred Stone is just beneath us?"
One of the trio—a remarkably youthful man—spoke suddenly.
"Your target is the Taicang Sacred Stone?"
"Audacious! This is the Taicang Sacred Land, and you..."
Cang Yue seethed with rage.
After so many years, who would dare cast greedy eyes on the Taicang Sacred Stone?
No matter who these three were—even entertaining thoughts of seizing the Sacred Stone was intolerable!
The penalty for coveting the Taicang Sacred Stone was death!
Without hesitation, Cang Yue struck.
His fist pounded forward.
The void seemed to tremble.
A fearsome power blasted outward, instantly locking onto the three figures.
Cang Yue dared to confront three Martial Venerables, single-handedly!