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A Top Grade Fire-Element Full Spiritual Root was one in ten thousand-truly rare and precious.

But to the entire Divine Flame Imperial Palace, it could hardly be considered "mythical." After all, the Sect boasted hundreds of thousands of disciples; what was one in ten thousand could still be found in abundance.

Elder Luo Tong was a Saint. In the presence of a Saint, a junior with a mere Top Grade Fire-Element Full Spiritual Root daring to show such blatant disrespect was a grave offense.

Teaching this so-called genius a slight lesson-showing him the immensity of heaven and earth, that there was always a higher mountain-would not be excessive.

But just as Elder Luo Tong prepared to strike, he realized Chu Chen was walking toward the second Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar.

This...

Hadn't he already finished testing his spiritual root?

Why was he approaching the second Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar?

Could it be???

The moment that terrifying thought surfaced, Elder Luo Tong could no longer suppress his surging excitement. His weathered face flushed crimson, and his turbid eyes locked onto Chu Chen atop the high platform. He didn't even dare to exhale.

For fear...

For fear that the sound of his breathing might disturb Chu Chen.

Elder Luo Tong remained dead silent, and the other trial participants dared not move an inch.

They stared with wide eyes and slack jaws, their faces painted with utter bewilderment.

Over a thousand trial participants fixed their gazes on Chu Chen. There was astonishment and jealousy, but mostly, pure incomprehension.

Chu Chen did not keep them waiting long. To him, the number one cultivation genius of the Desolate Ancient Continent, this so-called spiritual root test was nothing more than going through the motions.

It was as effortless and natural as breathing or drinking water.

Smack!

When Chu Chen's fair, slender palm pressed against the Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar, the spiritual power within his body surged forth once more, violently crashing into the second pillar.

Boom!!

A golden beam of spiritual power slowly materialized on the jade pillar. Then, beneath the crowd's incredulous stares, it transformed into a golden arrow that shot straight toward the nine heavens.

Ten meters!

Twenty meters!

Fifty meters!

Seventy meters!!

...

The golden beam of spiritual power pierced to a height of seventy meters in a single breath. The entire high platform had long since fallen into a deathly silence.

Seventy meters!

That signified a Top Grade spiritual root.

And the golden light represented the Metal-Element.

In other words, aside from possessing a Top Grade Fire-Element Full Spiritual Root, Chu Chen also possessed a Top Grade Metal-Element...

Whoosh!!

Before the crowd could even recover from their shock, the golden beam on the second Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar did not slowly dissipate after reaching seventy meters. Instead, it violently surged upward once more!

Eighty meters!

Ninety meters!

One hundred meters!!

...

Even after crashing into the very apex of the Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar, the golden beam showed no signs of stopping, as if it sought to shatter the pillar's restraints and soar into the nine heavens!

"T-Top... Top Grade Metal-Element Full Spiritual Root!"

Staring at the two soaring pillars of spiritual light, Welcoming Elder Luo Tong trembled uncontrollably. He, a mighty Great Saint, was actually stuttering.

Who would believe it? What kind of grand spectacles hadn't Luo Tong witnessed in his life? Yet today...

"Impossible!"

"This kid is clearly in his twenties. At such an age, he doesn't have a shred of cultivation."

Luo Tong stared fixedly at Chu Chen below, his face twisted in confusion.

"Harboring two Top Grade spiritual roots... even a pig that lived for twenty years would have at least reached the Essence Condensation Realm, right?"

Cultivation was an act of defying the heavens. Generally speaking, the earlier one started, the better. The prodigies and Saint Sons of the various Holy Lands often displayed cultivation talent and speed far surpassing their peers at a very young age.

In his twenties, yet still a mortal devoid of cultivation... this...

How could anyone associate such a person with a peerless prodigy possessing two Top Grade Full Spiritual Roots???

"Forget it. No matter what, the Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar will never make a mistake."

"This person was recruited as a Novice by me. The Sect will surely bestow countless Rewards upon this old man, hehe~"

Though baffled, Luo Tong didn't overthink it. He took a deep breath, manipulating his spiritual power to slowly descend from the nine heavens until he landed before Chu Chen.

Relying on talent breeds arrogance. Highly gifted cultivators always possessed a certain haughtiness.

Luo Tong completely understood this.

Standing before a prodigy with two Top Grade Full Spiritual Roots, even though Luo Tong was a lofty Great Saint, his temper had completely vanished.

He didn't hover in the air, but walked right up to Chu Chen, dropping all his airs.

He was clearly treating Chu Chen as a 'peer,' overflowing with sincerity.

"This old man is the Welcoming Elder. Since you possess two Top Grade Full..."

As Luo Tong spoke, Chu Chen continued to ignore him, walking straight toward the third Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar on the high platform.

This...

Luo Tong sucked in a breath of cold air. Visibly moved, he tactfully shut his mouth.

The gaze he directed at Chu Chen could no longer be described as mere shock; it grew increasingly solemn.

"Heavens? Who is this kid?"

"He's already lit up two Awakening Spirit Jade Pillars, and both spiritual beams shot straight to the apex. Why is he walking toward the third?"

"Could it be that aside from a Top Grade Fire-Element Full Spiritual Root and a Top Grade Metal-Element Full Spiritual Root, he also..."

"Also possesses a third major spiritual root? Impossible! How are the rest of us supposed to live?"

"If he can light up the third Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar, I, Zhang Erniu, will do a handstand and eat shit!!"

...

Luo Tong remained silent, but the thousands of trial participants on the high platform had already exploded into an uproar.

Boom!!

Chu Chen did not keep them waiting. Stepping before the third Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar, he slapped his palm against it.

He remained as calm as a gentle breeze, handling it with effortless grace, as if performing the most mundane task in the world.

Whoosh!

The instant his palm made contact, a pale blue beam of spiritual power materialized on the jade pillar. Then, beneath the utterly incredulous gazes of Luo Tong, Zhang Erniu, and the rest, it shot straight up, piercing the clouds.

Ten meters!

Fifty meters!

Seventy meters!

One hundred meters!!

...

Rumble-

When that ice-blue beam of spiritual power reached the apex of the Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar in the blink of an eye, heaven and earth trembled.

Luo Tong staggered. He impatiently rushed up to Chu Chen, his voice trembling as he blurted out:

"This old man is an Elder of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace, a Great Saint of the Third Heaven. You... are you willing to take this old man as your master?"

After speaking, Luo Tong stared nervously at Chu Chen, his heart in his throat.

He didn't look like he was accepting a disciple. Instead, it looked like...

Like he was begging Chu Chen to take him as a master~

A cultivation genius who simultaneously possessed a Top Grade Fire-Element Full Spiritual Root, a Top Grade Metal-Element Full Spiritual Root, and a Top Grade Water-Element Full Spiritual Root-given time, his achievements would absolutely eclipse Luo Tong's.

If Chu Chen was willing to take him as a disciple, he... Luo Tong wouldn't be entirely opposed to the idea~

Hearing the voice, Chu Chen finally withdrew his hand. He turned and calmly glanced at Luo Tong, raising a single brow without uttering a word.

Instead, his face remained placid as he continued walking forward...

His goal was crystal clear!

As for the other trial participants on the viewing platform, they had long been shocked speechless.

If Chu Chen only possessed a single spiritual root, they could still question and mock him.

But Chu Chen had revealed three Full Spiritual Roots. A Peerless prodigy of this caliber was no longer someone from the same world as them.

Zhang Erniu, who had just made his 'grand vow,' stared fixedly at Chu Chen with his mouth half-open, consumed by envy and jealousy.

But before Zhang Erniu could speak, he noticed his companion grinning wickedly at him. The man publicly unbuckled his belt and squatted down right in front of him.

Pfft pfft pfft~

"..."

Zhang Erniu's weathered face flushed crimson as he hurriedly hauled his companion up from the ground.

This kind of thing... even if he had to eat it, shouldn't he go back and hide to do it?

With so many people watching on this high platform, didn't he, Zhang Erniu, need face??

...

Meanwhile, Chu Chen had already arrived before the fourth Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar. Without the slightest pause or hesitation, he extended his fair, slender palm and pressed it firmly against the stone.

Boom!

With a massive tremor, a cyan beam of spiritual power surfaced on the Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar, shooting straight toward the nine heavens.

Ten meters!

Fifty meters!

Seventy meters!

One hundred meters!!

...

Top Grade Wood-Element Full Spiritual Root!

Rumble-

The crowd on Red King Mountain had been shocked into absolute numbness.

Welcoming Elder Luo Tong's legs gave out, and he immediately slapped himself twice across the face.

A monster who simultaneously possessed a Top Grade Metal-Element Full Spiritual Root, a Top Grade Wood-Element Full Spiritual Root, a Top Grade Water-Element Full Spiritual Root, and a Top Grade Fire-Element Full Spiritual Root... what right did he, a measly Saint, have to even dream of taking him as a disciple???

Just as Luo Tong hesitated over whether to step forward and ask if Chu Chen would take him as a disciple, the sky above Red King Mountain suddenly darkened with rolling clouds, and thunder roared.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

Accompanied by the explosive sound of rupturing space, terrifying figures shattered the void. They crossed the heavens, appearing in the air around Red King Mountain.

"Hahaha! This old man just emerged from seclusion and immediately met a destined one. What fate!"

"Cut the crap about fate. This king is taking this boy. He is the beloved disciple this king has waited eighty years for!"

"Fire Virtue Great Saint, have you no shame? You're only seventy-eight years old, yet you've waited eighty years?"

"This boy is no longer young. Coincidentally, my daughter is also of age. You all merely want to take him as a disciple, but this Saint wants to be his father-in-law! How can you compete with this Saint? Haha! Hahaha!!"

...

As these terrifying figures shattered the void and descended, the very clouds above Red King Mountain were blasted away.

These arrivals were the absolute apex combatants of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace. They usually remained in death seclusion and rarely showed their faces.

Fire Virtue Great Saint, a Great Saint of the Seventh Heaven.

Yan Bin Great Saint, a Great Saint of the Eighth Heaven.

Mu Ke Great Saint, a Great Saint of the Ninth Heaven.

Shui Yuan Great Saint, a Great Saint of the Tenth Heaven, merely half a step away from the legendary Saint King realm.

...

Seeing these figures, Welcoming Elder Luo Tong dropped straight to his knees in terror.

He was merely at the Third Heaven of the Great Saint realm. Old, frail, and nearing the end of his lifespan with no hope of a breakthrough, how could he dare compete with these mighty figures?

"Men... someone... quickly go... quickly investigate this boy's background! What is his name, and where does he come from?"

After paying his respects, Luo Tong frantically sent voice transmissions to the other disciples, desperate to uncover Chu Chen's origins as quickly as possible.

Such a genius.

Such a monster.

Even if he couldn't take him as a disciple... Pah! What time was it to be thinking about that?

Even if he couldn't become his disciple, he absolutely had to figure out his background to build a relationship later.

After all...

After all, aside from Yan Bin Great Saint, he... Luo Tong also had an unwed daughter at home.

Although... although she was a bit on the older side, what if this boy happened to have a taste for mature, charming older women?!

...

Chu Chen paid no mind to these people. After testing the fourth Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar, he maintained his own rhythm, walking step by step toward the fifth.

Boom!!

Chu Chen took but a single, simple step, yet the bickering Fire Virtue Great Saint, Yan Bin Great Saint, Mu Ke Great Saint, and the rest simultaneously snapped their mouths shut and held their breath.

This... this boy couldn't possibly...

He couldn't possibly light up the fifth Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar as well, could he?

Could... could a Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root be about to appear?

One had to know that throughout history, across the entire Desolate Ancient Continent, those possessing a Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root could be counted on one hand! On a single hand!!

These terrifying Great Saint-level powerhouses exchanged a single glance. Then, in perfect unison, they unleashed their spiritual power, forming an impenetrable barrier that completely enveloped Red King Mountain.

They had realized the sheer gravity of the situation. This was absolutely not the time for internal squabbling!

Preventing any powerhouses outside the Red King Palace from spying was the absolute top priority!!

With the defenses set, the Great Saints held their breath, their eyes locked onto the high platform where Chu Chen now stood before the fifth Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar.

Smack!

Chu Chen remained as calm as the wind. Standing before the fifth pillar, without the slightest hesitation, he raised his palm and slammed it against the jade.

Boom!

With a massive tremor, beneath the utterly incredulous stares of the Great Saints, an earthy-yellow beam of spiritual power slowly surfaced on the Awakening Spirit Jade Pillar before rocketing into the sky.

Ten meters!

Fifty meters!

One hundred meters!!

...

A Top Grade Earth-Element Full Spiritual Root had appeared!

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth-all five elements were complete.

This meant that the number one talent of the Desolate Ancient Continent, a Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root, had descended upon the world!!

At that exact moment, deep within the forbidden grounds scattered across the Divine Flame Imperial Palace, terrifying Saint King-level powerhouses stepped out of their secluded chambers.

With a mere wave of their hands, these terrifying, living-fossil-level existences instantly forged spatial passages, forcibly connecting to Red King Mountain.

The slightest wisp of their overflowing spiritual power caused the void to shudder, the Great Dao to roar, and the power of laws to surge wildly.

"A Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root has appeared! Who dares compete with this old man?!"

"How many years has it been? My Divine Flame Imperial Palace has finally welcomed a Peerless monster!"

"Twenty-three years ago, the Ye family produced Ye Chuchen, elevating the unranked Ye family directly into an immortal aristocratic family that controls ninety-nine spiritual veins of the world."

"Now, my Divine Flame Imperial Palace has finally awaited a Peerless monster of our own!!"

...