Humans are in the wilderness, God is in perfection!

Xia Mangqing arrived at the foot of the mountain at a leisurely pace.

The opportunity granted by the Dao Ancestor is either bestowed by the Dao Ancestor and can be obtained without any test; it depends entirely on luck and opportunity, and no one can take it away from you.

There will be many obstacles and trials, and it's not a matter of who starts first and who gets it.

The opportunities and good fortune here belong to the latter category.

"This mountain... seems to be a treasure?"

Looking up at the sacred mountain, Xia Mangqing could discern some clues.

However, he didn't think too deeply about it. This was an opportunity left by the Dao Ancestor, and it was nothing special that the object itself was a treasure.

With this thought in mind, he began to climb the mountain. The snow-white steps exuded Daoist charm, but the power of this section was extremely weak, probably only equivalent to the true meaning of the Dao in a minor Daoist path.

This section has 999 steps; after crossing them, you will arrive at the first pavilion.

Upon entering, he saw that the Earth Immortals and Scattered Immortals of the Tianshui Clan were all sitting cross-legged on futons, seemingly meditating on something.

Upon closer inspection, a strange rock was discovered at the very front, with nine marks on it. Each mark contained the true meaning of a path, and they were all different, belonging to the five elements, wind and thunder, light and darkness.

Beside the strange rock stands a stone tablet with the following inscription:

"If you fully comprehend the true meaning, you may obtain an opportunity to proceed to the second pavilion."

Xia Mangqing frowned. This test was simple, but he was afraid that the rest would be like this. It was easy to comprehend the nine true meanings, but the nine Dao realms and the nine complete minor Daos were completely different in difficulty.

Even for him, it would take quite a while.

After all, he has only mastered one minor path each of the three attributes of water, fire, and wind. He can draw inferences from these three paths and quickly comprehend the others.

But the other six require a lot of time.

Of course, there are also benefits, which are good for the future.

"Let's get past this pavilion first and then see what's going on."

Xia Mangqing thought to himself, and found a futon to sit cross-legged, and then began to comprehend the nine true meanings on the strange stone.

He mastered the three elements of water, fire, and wind in a short time, and his speed with the other elements was not slow either.

His comprehension was already quite good. Before he was forty, he had already mastered three complete minor paths and comprehended the Great Dao Domain. With his current level of attainment, he could easily grasp the true meaning and master it.

One day later, he had fully comprehended all nine truths.

The other immortals have not yet finished. Although they started before Xia Mangqing and have cultivated for many more years, their understanding of the Dao and their comprehension are not as good as Xia Mangqing's. It is only natural that he has overtaken them.

With a thought, the true meaning of the nine Daos began to circulate. This action startled the other immortals, who all looked at him in surprise.

Xia Mangqing nodded to them, and then he saw that the strange stone also seemed to be drawn by the energy and rhythm, resonating and trembling slightly.

wow~

A ball of light slowly descended from the top of the pavilion. Xia Mangqing reached out and caught it. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that it was a set of nine flying swords, all of which were top-grade human-level magic treasures.

"..."

Xia Mangqing looked at the meager sum of money and was somewhat speechless.

But he also came to understand some things because of this.

This opportunity with the Dao Ancestor is not just a simple opportunity; it should be the place where the Dao Ancestor selects and trains his successors. Therefore, it should be a place where one progresses from weak to strong, and the difficulty will inevitably increase in the future.

"Fellow Daoists, I shall take my leave first."

Xia Mangqing stored the flying sword in his personal immortal abode, then left the first pavilion and headed towards the second pavilion.

The Daoist aura emanating from this section of the staircase, which incorporates the nine Daoist truths he had previously comprehended, is much stronger than the first section, but it is still very simple for Xia Mangqing.

He walked quickly and arrived at the second pavilion.

Upon entering, his cultivation level changed, suppressed by an unknown force. His Qi Refining and Body Refinement were both at the early stage of the Myriad Manifestations realm. In front of him stood a puppet.

The inscription on the stone tablet not far away reads:

"Defeat the puppet and you will gain an opportunity to go to the Third Pavilion."

When Xia Mangqing made his move, this puppet was also at the Myriad Manifestations level, mastering a Dao Domain and supplemented by eight True Meanings. It was by no means weak at the Myriad Manifestations level, but for Xia Mangqing, his combat power was a hundred or a thousand times greater than that of his Myriad Manifestations era.

After defeating the puppet, Xia Mangqing obtained a divine ability called "Thunder God's Eye". This is the foundation of the top 100 divine abilities in the Three Realms - "Thunder God's Eye". It can cultivate a third heavenly eye, which contains divine thunder and can wield tribulation thunder to judge all living beings.

This supernatural power is quite formidable, sufficient for those below the level of a celestial being, and for Xia Mangqing, it is also a good opportunity.

Soon, he stepped onto the third set of steps, which exuded a pressure at the Dao Domain level.

In the third pavilion, illusions are used to test one's soul and Dao heart; even ordinary primordial spirit Daoists could easily become deeply entangled in them.

Through this pavilion, Xia Mangqing obtained a top-grade Heaven-rank portable immortal abode, which was extremely valuable and much more precious than the one he was currently using.

"Multiple Dao Domains, then the fifth stage should be the Dao Realm or the Great Dao Domain, right?" Xia Mangqing stepped onto the fourth step, his power already reaching the Multiple Dao Domains, which was difficult for ordinary people to pass.

When he stepped over the stairs and reached the fourth pavilion, he saw an old Taoist priest.

Upon seeing him, the old Taoist bowed respectfully before smiling and saying, "Congratulations, young friend, on passing the Three Pavilions."

Xia Mangqing returned the greeting and asked, "May I ask who you are, senior?"

"I am the spirit of this mountain," the old Taoist priest said. "According to the decree of the Taoist Ancestor, I will meet with those who pass through the Three Pavilions, guide them through the subsequent trials, and grant them opportunities and rewards later."

"I see."

Xia Mangqing remained calm and bowed again: "Then I'll have to trouble you, senior."

"No need for formalities."

The old Taoist smiled faintly, then led Xia Mangqing into the fourth pavilion, saying, "The Nine Pavilions Trial is conducted in a cycle of three pavilions. The trial for the fourth pavilion is the same as that for the first pavilion."

As he spoke, he pointed to a strangely shaped rock standing tall inside the pavilion:

"Previously, young friend comprehended the true meaning of nine Daos in the First Pavilion. In the Fourth Pavilion, you will deduce all nine true meanings of Daos to the level of the Dao Domain."

Xia Mangqing thought to himself, "As expected," and then asked, "Senior, has any great demon ever arrived at the Fourth Pavilion before?"

The first three pavilions were not difficult for Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals, and he did not believe that the Black Mist Demon King had not arrived here.

The old Taoist nodded: "That's right, it has passed the fourth pavilion, but has been defeated twice in a row by the fifth pavilion. It only has one last chance, but it is a rogue immortal, so I don't think it can pass."

Xia Mangqing nodded, then stopped asking questions and sat cross-legged on the futon to begin his meditation.

He first comprehended the Dao Domains of the Water, Fire, and Wind elements, but the others were much slower. Even he could no longer do it as easily as the First Pavilion.

However, during this period, the ten-year period arrived. Therefore, after consulting with the old Taoist, he switched his main body and second primordial spirit, letting the second primordial spirit comprehend the outside world, while his main body entered his personal immortal abode, and then his divine soul went to the Void God Realm.

This time he was well prepared. After arriving, he first hunted down some ferocious beasts in the Void God Realm, took their bones to refine the inheritance bone slips, and also carved several bone books for propaganda purposes.