The fluctuations of the Great Path grew violent, rumbling endlessly.

  After Lu raised his hand and severed the massive suction force of the Great Path that had tried to drag him away,

  Lines danced in his eyes as he traced the origin of this power.

  He had sent Qi Liujia to handle Five Phoenix’s grading, never expecting something like this.

  On the blood-colored battlefield, the scene quickly became clear to him.

  He saw the Joyful Venerable and the Judicial Venerable.

  The Judicial Venerable sat cross-legged on the battlefield, nine jade tablets floating around him—that was the source of the Great Path suction.

  As strange characters on the tablets—manifestations of the Great Path—blazed with light,

  Great Path array patterns appeared around the Judicial Venerable.

  Figures emerged within them.

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, Ni Chunqiu…

  Overlord, Nie Changqing, Ning Zhao…

  Even a bewildered Liu Yuanhao.

  These were all Five Phoenix cultivators who had comprehended dao intent.

  Qi Liujia watched them appear—among them was his own disciple, Li Sansui.

  Everyone looked around in confusion.

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and Ni Chunqiu exchanged glances.

  They had been tempering their bodies in the dragon blood pool of the fourth city—how had they suddenly appeared here?

  Rumble!

  Terrifying auras swirled above the blood-colored battlefield, oppressive and suffocating.

  The presence of a Mighty Being!

  Du Longyang’s pupils contracted. He stood.

  “Senior Qi… what is happening?”

  Seeing Qi Liujia, he asked.

  The atmosphere felt wrong.

  The Joyful Venerable merely smiled warmly—he clearly knew the grading process well.

  The blood-colored battlefield churned with Great Path intent.

  Everyone grew wary.

  The array patterns vanished.

  The battlefield fell silent once more.

  Yet every face remained on high alert.

  “Master…”

  Li Sansui called.

  Qi Liujia’s expression was grave. He shook his head at her.

  Liu Yuanhao, now leader of the evil cult, was terrified.

  He saw Overlord, Tang Yimo, Mo Ju—representatives of Xiliang, South County, and Great Xuan.

  How could he not panic? As cult leader, he had infiltrated all major powers.

  Tantai Xuan had long grown sick of him—he had spent five thousand spirit stones in the Mo Pavilion to put a bounty on his head.

  Liu Yuanhao had lived in hiding ever since.

  Yet now—he was exposed!

  His first thought was the Lord of White Jade Capital.

  But the Lord had no reason to drag him out.

  Looking at the strange scene on the blood-colored battlefield, he realized things were not as he had imagined.

  The Judicial Venerable opened his eyes.

  “Thirty people… all present.”

  He smiled.

  He was somewhat surprised—a newborn High Martial world had produced thirty cultivators with dao intent.

  In a Derivation Nine world, comprehending dao intent already marked one as a genius.

  The anger he had felt over this realm’s Holy Lord’s discourtesy faded considerably.

  Among these geniuses, there had to be some worth recruiting.

  In such a harsh world, anyone who could comprehend dao intent had limitless potential.

  Still, the Judicial Venerable maintained his stern, imposing demeanor.

  “Since everyone is here, we shall begin testing dao intents…”

  He announced.

  “This is a required step for a newborn High Martial grading. Those who perform excellently will receive special opportunities.”

  The moment he spoke—

  The blood-colored battlefield erupted in shock.

  Many exchanged bewildered glances.

  Nie Changqing frowned, hand on Dragon Slayer at his waist.

  Ning Zhao narrowed her eyes—did Young Master know what was happening?

  These two bald donkeys clearly weren’t up to any good!

  “You—step forward.”

  The Judicial Venerable pointed at Du Longyang.

  His aura was the strongest.

  Du Longyang’s brow furrowed.

  He did not move.

  You tell me to come, and I come?

  The Judicial Venerable’s expression chilled.

  “Go.”

  Qi Liujia said, “There is no danger.”

  Du Longyang trusted Qi Liujia—the man had sacrificed himself to hold back countless terrifying experts for Five Phoenix.

  If even he was untrustworthy, who was?

  Du Longyang stepped forward to the Judicial Venerable.

  The Venerable’s face remained impassive.

  He controlled the nine “Great Path Decrees,” stacking them into a massive plaque.

  “Place your palm upon it.”

  Du Longyang hesitated, then pressed his hand to the plaque.

  Buzz…

  The plaque trembled. Faint Great Path fluctuations swept past.

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  Words appeared.

  “Du Longyang, Fifth-Sequence, Valor Spear Intent.”

  The Judicial Venerable froze.

  Then surprise and delight flashed across his face as he looked at Du Longyang.

  “Not bad.”

  Du Longyang was utterly confused—dragged here just to test his dao intent?

  The plaque looked cheap—nothing compared to a dao stele’s grandeur.

  He shook his head and stepped back, uninterested.

  The Judicial Venerable was inwardly shocked.

  “A fine seedling. To comprehend Fifth-Sequence intent in a newborn High Martial world—worth recruiting.”

  Thus, his gaze toward Du Longyang softened, even carrying a hint of a smile.

  Du Longyang ignored him.

  The Judicial Venerable was unbothered—geniuses always had their pride.

  Fifth-Sequence intent—wasn’t that excellent?

  He tested a few more at random.

  Most were ordinary—Seventh or Eighth-Sequence, quite standard.

  His expression remained neutral.

  “You.”

  He pointed at Tianxu.

  Having seen the process, Tianxu stepped forward without fear.

  “Fifth-Sequence, Yin Water Sword Intent.”

  The plaque displayed.

  The Judicial Venerable was stunned, glancing at the frail-looking Tianxu.

  He hadn’t expected this weak-looking fellow to also have Fifth-Sequence intent.

  A newborn High Martial world… had produced two Fifth-Sequence cultivators?

  “Excellent, excellent…”

  The Judicial Venerable praised.

  Even the Joyful Venerable watching from the side was stunned.

  His eyes flickered—no wonder the Great Venerable valued this newborn world.

  As the saying went, the land shaped its people. Five Phoenix’s cultivation environment clearly far surpassed theirs.

  “Fifth-Sequence intent and you call it excellent?”

  Tianxu glanced at the nodding Judicial Venerable, eyes full of resentment.

  He felt mocked.

  As cultivation progressed, he had gradually been left behind by Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and others.

  Same Fifth-Sequence intent—why was he the weakest?

  And this monk kept praising him—was he looking down on him?!

  Hearing Tianxu’s muttered curses, the Judicial Venerable’s face stiffened slightly.

  The geniuses of this world had talent… and quite the temper.

  Was Fifth-Sequence not good enough?

  Still, he remained amiable—to lure these geniuses away after testing.

  He didn’t care much. Once he offered the chance to cultivate in a Derivation Six High Martial world, they would leap at it.

  After all, people climbed upward, water flowed downward.

  “Next.”

  The Judicial Venerable smiled.

  Mo Tianyu stepped forward.

  Bare-chested and round-bellied, he squinted at the Judicial Venerable.

  “Monk, your face glows with health and fortune. Shall I divine your future?”

  Mo Tianyu grinned.

  Suddenly dragged here, he had been startled.

  But seeing many familiar faces, he relaxed.

  “Divination?”

  The Judicial Venerable glanced at him.

  Only Infant Transformation realm…

  Weak. And he dared divine for him?

  Divination involved heavenly secrets and the Great Path—one misstep could invite backlash.

  “Test first.”

  Mo Tianyu laughed.

  He rolled up his sleeve and pressed his palm to the plaque.

  “Mo Tianyu, Fourth-Sequence, Defiance of Fate Intent.”

  BOOM!

  The Joyful Venerable far away inhaled sharply.

  Fourth… Fourth-Sequence?!

  How was this possible?

  Fifth-Sequence in a newborn High Martial world was already acceptable—there had been precedents.

  But Fourth-Sequence? Many Derivation Seven worlds only produced one after tens of thousands of years!

  The Judicial Venerable’s mouth twitched.

  He suddenly understood Tianxu’s earlier curse.

  Tianxu had been telling the truth.

  His heart burned.

  “This one must be taken! Fourth-Sequence intent—within the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm, there’s a chance to raise it to Third-Sequence! He could even be sent to the upper realms in the future!”

  Delivering a Third-Sequence prodigy to the upper realms—his merit would be immense.

  “Amitabha. Benefactor… you have affinity with Buddha.”

  The Judicial Venerable rarely smiled.

  “Since you have affinity with Buddha, divine a reading for this monk.”

  One reading to plant karma.

  Worth it.

  Mo Tianyu had already turned to leave. Hearing this, his eyes lit up.

  “Really?!”

  He grinned widely.

  He immediately began calculating.

  After staring at the Judicial Venerable for a long while…

  Joy burst across his face.

  “Monk, the signs are tremendously auspicious—beyond excellent!”

  “With this reading as a gift, I wish you fortune like the eastern seas and longevity like the southern mountains.”

  Mo Tianyu bared his white teeth.

  The Judicial Venerable couldn’t help but smile.

  Not only lacking a genius’s arrogance but also humble and pleasant-spoken.

  Excellent!

  Mo Tianyu eagerly slipped away.

  The Judicial Venerable smiled.

  The Great Venerable had sent him to grade the Void Heaven’s newborn High Martial world. At first, he had been unwilling.

  Now…

  He was delighted.

  Two Fifth-Sequence and one Fourth-Sequence genius—if he could bring them all back…

  His achievements would surpass all previous.

  Well worth the trip.

  In a good mood, he even found Qi Liujia more pleasing to the eye.

  “Continue. Next.”

  Yet…

  The shock…

  Had only just begun.

  …

  Lake Heart Island.

  Lu swept a hand across the Spiritual Pressure Chessboard.

  An instant later, an image of the “Great Path Decrees” appeared.

  “Like a simplified dao stele…”

  Lu studied it closely, as though tracing the patterns on a stele.

  “Weak. Far inferior to a dao stele.”

  He shook his head, slightly disappointed.

  “As a combat tool, this Young Master could sit still and let it hit him—it wouldn’t even tickle.”

  With a flick—

  The decree illusion on the chessboard shattered.

  Lu calmly watched the scene within while rubbing the Profound Ring.

  He saw the Judicial Venerable’s smile.

  And couldn’t help but smile too.

  That smile… looked just like a thief stealing peaches.

  “This Judicial Venerable clearly doesn’t get along with the Great Venerable of the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm. The Joyful Venerable never told him this Young Master’s combat record—his intentions are not simple…”

  “Trying to borrow a knife to kill?”

  “Or using the Judicial Venerable to clip this Young Master’s wings?”

  Lu’s half-smile deepened as he watched the Judicial Venerable on the chessboard, his gaze growing profound.

  “Or perhaps… the power behind this Judicial Venerable is no simple matter either?”

  Lu pondered.

  The Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm was Pingyang Heaven’s overlord—yet only Derivation Six.

  Above Pingyang Heaven were seven more heavens…

  World grading and High Martial Records entry must involve other powers.

  Lu’s eyes flickered.

  As expected—the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm had ill intentions.

  Using the Judicial Venerable to suppress Five Phoenix?

  Leaning back in the Thousand Blades Chair, he beckoned.

  A bronze wine cup floated over.

  Lu’s gaze deepened.

  …

  “Ning Zhao, Fourth-Sequence, Ice Frost Intent.”

  The Judicial Venerable stared at the words on the plaque—his composure finally cracked.

  Thirty cultivators with dao intent—he had assumed most would be Ninth or Eighth-Sequence, with luck yielding Seventh.

  Yet…

  Fifth-Sequence was no longer impressive.

  Ning Zhao glanced at him and walked away.

  His gaze gave her a strange feeling.

  The Joyful Venerable’s smile had long since vanished.

  This situation… was beyond his expectations. A mere Derivation Nine world had produced so many geniuses with excellent dao intents.

  If the Judicial Venerable recruited them all—even sending some to the upper realms—it would be disastrous for him and the Great Venerable.

  Qi Liujia smiled, eyes gleaming with pride yet also worry.

  Young Master Lu had kept a low profile.

  But these young ones were shining too brightly.

  Five Phoenix needed to stay low-key.

  Yet strangely, after being looked down upon by the Judicial Venerable, Qi Liujia felt a surge of pride and excitement.

  Ignorant bald donkey.

  Overlord stepped forward, axe and shield on his back.

  Though unsure of the plaque’s purpose, it clearly concerned Five Phoenix.

  He placed his palm upon it.

  Buzz…

  “Xiang Shaoyun, Third-Sequence, Unyielding Intent.”

  BOOM!

  The Judicial Venerable’s expression changed. He could no longer remain calm.

  “How is this possible? Third-Sequence?” The Joyful Venerable cried out in disbelief from afar.

  Qi Liujia laughed, eyes dazzling—yet filled with concern.

  Young Master Lu had not shown off.

  But these kids were doing it for him.

  Five Phoenix needed to keep a low profile.

  Yet inexplicably, Qi Liujia—who had been looked down upon—felt proud and thrilled.

  Ignorant bald donkey.

  Overlord withdrew his hand.

  His face remained calm and composed.

  Third-Sequence was strong?

  In truth, Lu Jiulian’s dao intent was even stronger. Scanning the crowd, Overlord frowned—he did not see Lu Jiulian.

  With Lu Jiulian’s level of dao intent, he disdained testing.

  He glanced at the excited Judicial Venerable and walked away coolly.

  “Excellent, excellent, excellent…”

  The Judicial Venerable clapped and laughed.

  This trip had been too worthwhile.

  A Third-Sequence genius from a Derivation Nine world—like finding gold in endless sand.

  The remaining cultivators tested—most were Eighth or Seventh-Sequence.

  Impressive in other Derivation Nine worlds, but compared to Third and Fourth-Sequence, they paled.

  Suddenly—

  The Judicial Venerable’s face stiffened.

  A serious problem occurred to him.

  “With Third-Sequence, Fourth-Sequence, and so many Fifth-Sequence intents…”

  “What grade should this newborn High Martial world be?”

  He looked at the Joyful Venerable.

  “Still Derivation Nine… just a Derivation Nine with limitless potential. With enough accumulation and dao intents inscribed, it can reach Derivation Six.”

  The Judicial Venerable finally decided.

  After deciding—

  His smile grew even wider.

  His gaze swept over Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, Ni Chunqiu, and the others.

  Finally settling on Overlord.

  “This monk said earlier that those who perform excellently after testing would receive special opportunities…”

  “Now this monk shall tell you what those opportunities are.”

  He believed—no one could resist once he spoke.

  “In the world you currently inhabit—a Derivation Nine High Martial world…”

  “Given your outstanding talents, this monk can bring you to a Derivation Six High Martial world for supreme resources and cultivation… You may even have the chance to ascend to the upper realms!”

  The Judicial Venerable announced.

  Far away, the Joyful Venerable’s smile had long disappeared.

  He could not smile.

  If the Judicial Venerable recruited all these geniuses, his merit would be unimaginable.

  This went completely against the Great Venerable’s intentions.

  Qi Liujia’s expression changed—deep worry in his eyes.

  The Judicial Venerable smiled broadly.

  He was certain—no one could refuse this temptation.

  From his past experience, cultivators from Derivation Nine worlds would go mad with joy at the chance to enter a Derivation Six world.

  Yet—

  The expected flood of agreements did not come.

  Overlord glanced at him. “Opportunity… that’s it?”

  The Judicial Venerable’s smile froze.

  “I refuse.”

  Overlord said.

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, Ni Chunqiu, and Tianxu refused without hesitation.

  They knew what it meant.

  The gap between Derivation Nine and Derivation Six was greater than between Low Martial and peak Mid Martial.

  Yet they still refused.

  Even though they had once been mere Tianyuan cultivators.

  But ever since Tianyuan merged with Five Phoenix, they had become part of it.

  The Judicial Venerable’s face gradually darkened.

  Far away, the Joyful Venerable smiled again.

  …

  Lake Heart Island.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The Origin Lake around the island churned, ripples exploding outward.

  Ni Yu, just returned, hugged her black cauldron.

  Little Yinglong clung to her head.

  Both wore faces of terror, feeling the pressure of an approaching storm.

  Who?!

  Who had crazily provoked Young Master’s petty heart again?!

  To make him this furious?!