Daojun, start from Penglai foundation building

The Four Sages Test the Fundamentals.

What is fundamental?

Supernatural powers, magical treasures and implements, innate talent and comprehension, natural gifts and background, and good fortune and luck are all fundamental.

Ultimately, the so-called Four Saints Test is not about the riddle itself, but about whether the geniuses of all races have the opportunity to take this chance.

Those with profound Taoist cultivation and high supernatural powers can pass the test; those with powerful magic weapons and numerous magical artifacts can also pass the test; those with extraordinary comprehension and outstanding talent can also pass the test.

The rest, those with extraordinary backgrounds and abundant good fortune, also passed the test smoothly.

The first stage of this Dharma Banquet for attaining Buddhahood did not involve any profound puzzles or special tests. It was simply that there were too many people from all the heavens and myriad races, and the Heavenly Court had to eliminate some of them.

It's that simple.

Those who were eliminated had no cultivation, magic treasures, background, or supernatural abilities. Even their luck and fortune were not deep enough. Eliminating them early was not a bad thing for them. At least they didn't have to fight to the death with the real geniuses and old monsters in the myriad worlds.

In fact, the purpose of the first six stages of this struggle for the throne is to filter out a large number of those who are not strong enough or lucky enough, and to select those who are truly blessed with great fortune and great supernatural powers for the Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor to choose and appoint.

As for those with status and background, they can at least reach the sixth level. After all, it seems that only the immortals, Buddhas and saints in the Lingxiao Palace are paying attention to this competition for the fruit position, but how could the pure yang people from all the holy lands in the myriad worlds not cast their eyes here?
In fact, at this very moment, besides the immortals, Buddhas, and saints in the Lingxiao Palace, at least ten Pure Yang beings from all the heavens and myriad realms were also watching this battle for the fruition. Their eyes were naturally focused on their own descendants. Just based on the attention of these Pure Yang beings, their descendants would surely be able to reach the sixth level.

Qiongyun Daojun understood this basic social etiquette; otherwise, the Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor wouldn't have appointed Qiongyun Daojun as the referee for this fruit-position competition.

Aside from the fact that Qiongyun Daojun has a good relationship with the four families of immortals, gods, Buddhas, and demons and is a neutral figure, the most important thing is that Qiongyun Daojun understands the thoughts of the Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor, knows what can be done and what cannot be done.

However, precisely because of this, there aren't many suitable candidates for the Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor to choose from across the myriad realms.

Those who are worldly-wise are not as skilled as Daoist Qiongyun, and those with similar skills are not as well-connected. Looking across the heavens, only Daoist Qiongyun can meet the needs of all parties. That is why the Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor appointed Daoist Qiongyun as the Southern Emperor.

Otherwise, could any random Xuanmen practitioner holding the Dao Pure Yang position be one of the Four Emperors of the Three Realms?

If it were really that simple, then the position of Northern Emperor and the two elders among the Five Elders wouldn't still be vacant.

As for whether or not they could ultimately seize the position of the Heavenly Lord of Justice from the Eastern Heavenly Daoists, the Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor did not care too much, only the Divine Firmament Emperor was fixated on it.

However, ever since the Divine Emperor of the Firmament chose to abandon his daily affairs and go into seclusion to cultivate in order to express his dissatisfaction with the Golden Palace Heavenly Emperor, the Divine Emperor of the Firmament was destined not to be able to sit on the position of the Heavenly Lord of Justice.

Let alone the Heavenly Lord of Justice, even his current position is not guaranteed. After all, the Heavenly Emperor of the Golden Palace has already chosen a replacement for the Heavenly Emperor of the Divine Firmament. The Heavenly Emperor of the Southern Crimson Realm seems more submissive than the Heavenly Emperor of the Divine Firmament and is more in line with the Heavenly Emperor of the Golden Palace's wishes.

At this moment, the immortals and gods in the Lingxiao Palace had different expressions. For example, the great immortals who belonged to the Eastern Heaven or came from Chixiao and Yaochi, such as Xiangyu Immortal Lord, Huaguang Immortal Lord, Xuanjing Immortal Lord, Yuzhen Immortal Lord, and Chiyun Immortal Lord, naturally had no good feelings towards Shenxiao Emperor, who had repeatedly opposed the Eastern Heaven Daoists.

The Sun and Moon Lords appointed by the Eastern Heaven also treated the Divine Firmament Emperor coldly, while the Sun and Moon Lords appointed by the Heavenly Court remained silent.

The Divine Emperor of Shenxiao had no idea that he had become an isolated figure in the Heavenly Court. Perhaps this was what it meant to be blinded by the calamity's energy, stubborn and inflexible, unable to see reality clearly.

The Crimson Cloud Dao Lord, the Jade Pool Golden Mother, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Bright Light Bodhisattva, and Pure Lotus Bodhisattva all ignored the resentful Divine Firmament Emperor. Even the good-natured Qiongyun Dao Lord, who wavered between the Heavenly Court and the Xuanmen Buddhism and Taoism, looked down on the Divine Firmament Emperor. Once the six trials are over, facing the true geniuses of the myriad realms, if the Divine Firmament Emperor dies on the dueling platform, that would be fine. But if he doesn't die or become crippled, his fate will certainly not be good.

At Sisheng Pass, amidst the vast desert sands, Jiang Sheng walked with unwavering determination, step by step.

The yellow wind howled, sand and gravel flew, and his divine sense was completely restricted. Even though he had all his divine powers, he was not able to use them at all, but Jiang Sheng was never worried.

As Jiang Sheng entered this vast expanse of yellow sand, a voice resounded in his mind: "Keep moving forward."

With just five words, Jiang Sheng felt confident. He didn't need to distinguish east from west or north from south, nor did he need to consider any riddles or puzzles. He just needed to keep moving forward, and he could pass the test with ease.

Just as Jiang Sheng had guessed, as he walked, he emerged from the endless yellow sand and the boundless sea, and an oasis appeared before him, with clear lakes and lush greenery.

In the oasis, a huge tree cast a large shade, and Jiang Sheng looked over and saw that it was a jujube tree, a tree that was thirty feet thick and over a hundred feet tall, with red markings all over its body, and bearing golden jujubes as big as honeydew melons.

Clearly, this was a reward for passing the first test, a blessing bestowed upon the younger generation by the powerful beings of the Pure Yang realm.

Jiang Sheng gazed at the jujube tree, and after a few breaths, recognized its origin: "This is the Vast Ocean Crimson Gold Jujube?!"

The Vast Ocean Crimson Gold Date is a spiritual root of the Mahayana level. This tree originally existed in a middle thousand world full of yellow sand and desert. Restoring magic power, nourishing the soul, and repairing physical injuries are just its most common effects. The greatest function of the Vast Ocean Crimson Gold Date is to eliminate hidden dangers in the physical body.

Whether it's the wounds left from past battles, the injuries to your soul caused by forcibly breaking through to a higher realm, or the residual poison left from alchemy and weapon crafting, as long as the hidden danger is still within the eighth rank, the Vast Sea Crimson Gold Dates can slowly dissolve it, restoring you to a carefree immortal body.

However, ever since that Middle Thousand World failed to advance to the Great Thousand World and collapsed, the traces of the Vast Sea Crimson Gold Date have been rare in all the heavens and myriad worlds. Now, looking across the Three Realms, there are less than a hundred of these spiritual roots. Jiang Sheng never expected to see one here.

In fact, the Vast Ocean Crimson Gold Dates were part of the collection of the Divine Wind Great Sage. If there were a hundred Vast Ocean Crimson Gold Dates in all the heavens and myriad realms, the Divine Wind Great Sage would have at least thirty of them in his possession.

However, since this kind of spiritual root is useless to those above the ninth realm, and since the Great Sage Shenfeng is a demon race Great Sage of the Demon Emperor Palace of the Mountain and River Realm, with the Five Elements Great Sage Kong Xuan as his backer, and also has some connections with the Qinghua Dao Sect behind the scenes, naturally no one dares to snatch this Vast Sea Crimson Gold Date.

However, the production of the Hanhai Red Gold Dates has always been limited, yielding only about ten fruits over a thousand years. Even if a single date tree appears to have hundreds of Red Gold Dates, only about one-tenth of them are real; the rest are just an illusion.

Jiang Sheng stepped forward. As the first person to pass the test of the Great Sage of the Divine Wind, regardless of whether there was a hidden door or not, Jiang Sheng would receive a share of the Vast Sea Crimson Gold Dates.

As Jiang Sheng walked to the jujube tree, the tree shook, and a large, golden jujube, as big as a honeydew melon, fell down and landed right in Jiang Sheng's arms.

Before he began practicing the technique, Jiang Sheng would have been overjoyed to receive these dates. However, as he used his luck and merit to refine his physical body and soul, eliminating all his hidden dangers, the dates were no longer as useful to him. But the dates still had other uses for him.

After obtaining the dates, Jiang Sheng's restricted spiritual perception and magical powers returned. However, Jiang Sheng was no longer able to interfere with the people in the vast desert, so he simply sat cross-legged and quietly waited for the others to arrive.

A day later, two figures, supporting each other, slowly walked over. The two were initially delighted when they saw the oasis in front of them, but their faces were filled with disbelief when they saw Jiang Sheng. Finally, they both looked at the jujube tree with surprise and delight.

"Hanhai Red Gold Dates!" "They're actually Hanhai Red Gold Dates!"

"Idiot, hurry up and go!"

Those who emerged from the vast desert were naturally the Golden Lion Demon Lord and the White-Armored Demon Lord.

As a celestial demon from the Blazing Plains and the Sinking Sand Waterfall in the Great Wilderness Realm, the Great Sage of Divine Wind was naturally willing to give him some preferential treatment. After all, he was a junior member of the demon race, and the Blazing Plains, the Sinking Sand Waterfall, and the Demon Emperor's Palace had a good relationship.

For the younger generation like the Golden Lion Demon Lord and the White Armor Demon Lord, the Sea Crimson Gold Dates were rare treasures of heaven and earth, but for the Divine Wind Great Sage, they were merely a small treat for the two juniors.

Even though the Great Sage of Divine Wind was only at the Dao Entry Realm, the things he casually gave away were still coveted by a group of Fifth Tribulation prodigies and Mahayana beings.

The Golden Lion Demon Lord and the White-Armored Demon Lord helped each other to the oasis. Then, the Golden Lion Demon Lord lay down without any regard for his image and tugged at the White-Armored Demon Lord's sleeve: "Idiot, go and bring me the Crimson Gold Dates. I can't walk anymore."

The White-Armored Demon Lord was also honest and obediently went forward to pick the Crimson Gold Dates. He was a kind-hearted man after all. When he got to Jiang Sheng's side, he didn't forget to bow to show that he had met him. Jiang Sheng also nodded in acknowledgment.

As the Golden Lion Demon Lord devoured a golden jujube as large as a melon in three bites, he wiped his mouth with satisfaction as his divine sense and magical power returned. Then, he looked at Jiang Sheng and performed a Daoist bow with great seriousness: "Golden Lion of the Blazing Flame Plains of the Great Wilderness Realm greets fellow Daoist."

"In all the worlds, the Xuanmen (Taoist sects) have many prejudices against our demon race. Fellow Daoist, there are not many who are as pure as you. Thank you for making way for me this time."

Jin Ni naturally wanted to thank Jiang Sheng, since Jiang Sheng was the first to restore his magical powers. Although there might be restrictions, if Jiang Sheng had stopped them, Jin Ni and Bai Jia might not have been able to obtain the Crimson Gold Dates.

Jiang Sheng returned the greeting: "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. This oasis is a blessed land bestowed by the Great Sage Divine Wind. All those who have passed the test can rest here. The Sea of ​​Crimson Gold Dates are a prize given to us juniors by the Great Sage Divine Wind. How could I possibly keep them all to myself?"

Jin Ni scrutinized Jiang Sheng for a long time before sighing, "Rumors shouldn't be taken at face value."

"I have often heard that the True Lord of Penglai Lingyuan is arrogant and indifferent, looking down on all the heroes of the heavens. But today, I see that the True Lord is gentle and polite, and is definitely not that arrogant person."

Jiang Sheng was taken aback upon hearing this, then laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist Jin Ni, we have just met. We are neither friends nor enemies. Why would I, a humble Daoist, look down on you?"

Jin Ni was taken aback for a moment, then laughed even more heartily: "True Lord Lingyuan is quite an interesting person."

The Golden Lion and Jiang Sheng chatted happily, while the White-Armored Demon Lord munched on a Golden Jujube from the Vast Ocean, looking quite simple and honest.

This scene was witnessed by the two Great Sages watching from the Great Wilderness Realm. The Great Sage of Mountain Swamp and Mystic Armor couldn't help but sigh, while the Great Sage of Crimson Flame Suanni laughed even more wildly: "Old Mystic Armor, you are an honest man in your junior."

Meanwhile, in the Thousand Mountains Secret Realm, Ying Tian Demon Lord somehow reached the mountaintop and passed the test.

Ying Tian stood on the mountaintop, somewhat bewildered. He himself did not understand how he had passed the test. He had just walked along in a daze and passed the test. What exactly did the Four Saints Test test?
What Ying Tian Demon Lord found even more incomprehensible was that the Crested Ibis Demon Lord had passed the test before him.

At this moment, in the small pavilion atop the mountain, the Crested Ibis Demon Lord was taking a rest, holding a cup of tea in both hands, sipping it slowly and carefully.

The Demon Lord Yingtian was taken aback at first, then sniffed the tea and couldn't help but widen his eyes: "Penglai Daowen Tea?!"

"It's actually such a rare and exquisite treasure!"

Having said that, Ying Tian Demon Lord couldn't wait to step forward. The teapot flew up on its own, and a cup of tea was immediately placed in front of Ying Tian Demon Lord. Ying Tian Demon Lord carefully held the teacup, and without caring that it was too hot, he took a sip and immediately showed a look of great relish: "This is truly the Penglai Daowen Tea."

"Among all the spiritual teas in the heavens, Penglai Dao Asking Tea can rank among the top three in the Nine Realms. And when it comes to improving comprehension, nourishing the soul, and purifying the Dao heart, Penglai Dao Asking Tea is undoubtedly the best in the Nine Realms!"

"Using such a divine item as a reward for passing the first level, the Eastern Heavenly Daoist family is truly extravagant!"

Despite saying this, Ying Tian Demon Lord kept eating without stopping. Such a good thing was not easy to obtain even for someone like him who came from the Yinglong clan of the Kuocang Realm.

Moreover, if Ying Tian Demon Lord is not mistaken, the origin of this Penglai Daoist Tea should be the ten-thousand-year-old tea tree in the spiritual tea garden of Penglai Jingxuan Daoist Lord; otherwise, it would not have such an effect of enhancing wisdom and enlightenment.

Throughout the vast Three Realms and myriad worlds, immortals, Buddhas, saints, and geniuses from all realms gazed at the white-armored demon lord devouring the crimson dates of the Vast Ocean, and at the demon lord Yingtian sipping the Penglai Daowen Tea, feeling nothing but envy.

Who would have thought that in the struggle for a Mahayana position, just the first stage, the immortals, Buddhas, and saints of the Three Realms would bring out such a treasure?
The Demon Emperor's Palace's Divine Wind Great Sage's Vast Ocean Crimson Gold Dates, Penglai Jingxuan Daojun's Penglai Daowen Tea, Dalingyin Temple's Zhenque Bodhisattva's Seven Treasures Lotus Heart Seeds, and the Heavenly Court's Supreme Emperor's Supreme Emperor Pearl Brew—all sorts of rare and precious celestial treasures, hard to find even in the Mahayana realm, were laid out at the first hurdle for those who passed to enjoy. For the first time, the extravagance of the Three Realms was so blatantly displayed before the eyes of all the heavens and myriad worlds.

Three days later, the first stage ended.

Ten thousand geniuses from all races across the myriad realms attempted the trial. After the first trial, seventy percent remained, meaning that three thousand with poor luck and weak backgrounds were eliminated. Only the top ten from the first trial's fourth level of the secret realm were able to receive rewards from the four Pure Yang experts.

Of the ten thousand people, only the top forty will receive the reward. These ten thousand are all outstanding talents from all the heavens and myriad realms. They are either True Monarchs of the Fourth or Fifth Tribulation in the Integration Realm or old monsters in the Mahayana Realm. The probability of four in a thousand allowed the outstanding talents from all realms to witness the profound depth of the Three Realms and understand their own insignificance.

Those who succeeded later learned of the rewards for the top ten in the first round and were filled with regret. They beat their chests and stamped their feet in remorse for missing the opportunity, while secretly vowing to perform better in the future.

However, not long after the seven thousand people who had passed the first test returned to the South Heavenly Gate, the voice of Daoist Qiongyun rang out again: "You have passed the first test, which is enough to prove that you have some good fortune."

"However, the first hurdle is easy, but the second one is a different story."

"Let me tell you, only half of you will be able to pass the second level."

Similarly, the third level will only be half of the second level.

"If you pass the first three tests, eight out of ten of you will be ineligible for this Dharma banquet."

"You must all strive to perform well and be the first to act. Do not miss the opportunity and then complain about heaven and earth."

Before Daoist Qiongyun could finish speaking, a brand new, massive vortex appeared above the South Heavenly Gate. The seven thousand prodigies, who had just caught their breath, were once again pulled into the vortex, leaving only Daoist Qiongyun's laughter echoing in the air.

"The second challenge is the Guanyin Pavilion amidst the surging waves of the Western Sea." (End of Chapter)