Chapter 255: Chapter 134: Seeking One’s Own Death.

Just at that moment–

“The third trial.”

“Since ancient times, only one hundred and eight Heavenly Prides have been chosen. This trial ranks participants based on their Golden Core Grade, eliminating all those beyond the one hundred and eighth position. If the Golden Core Grade is the same, Cultivation will be used to decide who stays and who leaves.”

–

“…”

Chen Qiu looked at the panel before him, shrouded in mist, with a strange expression. At least the previous two trials had some room for subjectivity, where, if one’s strength was lacking, they could still use certain methods to ensure a higher ranking.

This trial, however,

was brutally straightforward, filtering out the top one hundred and eight based on Golden Core Grade.

Meaning those with even slightly inferior Golden Core Grades were directly disqualified from the Heavenly Pride’s path, unable to even pass the initial filtering of the Secret Realm?

What was this Heavenly Pride’s path? Why was its screening so strict?

However, he wasn’t worried.

After all… it was impossible for anyone to have a higher Golden Core Grade than him. His only concern was that if his Golden Core Grade were to be revealed, the crisis awaiting him when the Da Xia Country’s prison was eventually broken might be… just a tad greater.

And soon, the stele displayed the rankings again.

–

“The third trial’s Golden Core Grade ranking list.”

“Rank one”: Chao Tian Sect Sect Master Chen Qiu.

“Rank two”: Tao Sword Sect True Disciple Li Shiyi.

“Rank three”: Citian Sect Saint Heir Zhang Mo.

–

Chen Qiu’s worries did not come to fruition; the list simply showed the positions without specifying the exact Golden Core Grades.

Seeing this, Chen Qiu couldn’t help but grin.

He had never imagined he would achieve rank one three times.

If nothing unexpected happened, that True Disciple from the Tao Sword Sect must be on the verge of breaking. It’s clear that he is strong both in terms of Golden Core Grade and personal strength, classifiable as a top-tier Heavenly Pride of this era. But such a prideful individual is likely not accustomed to setbacks.

To have suppressed him thrice in a row.

He should really spend the next year not on cultivation, but on adjusting his mentality and slowly mending his Dao heart.

…

Just as Chen Qiu had expected.

At this moment, that True Disciple from the Tao Sword Sect, Li Shiyi, stood in front of the stele at Green Stone Square, face twisted in fury as he screamed at the sky, “Inside job, inside job!!!”

“This Chen Qiu is definitely not normal, there must be some damn inside job!!!”

He was a true unparalleled Heavenly Pride of the Xuantian Continent!

When the panel for the third trial first appeared, he was overjoyed that he was finally poised to achieve rank one, yet he was worried about his Golden Core Grade being exposed. His Golden Core Grade was the topmost secret of the Tao Sword Sect, completely unknown to outsiders!

He was a Sword Cultivator of extraordinary talent, nurtured by the Tao Sword Sect’s thousands of years of heritage.

His Golden Core was Eighth Grade.

He was planning to astonish everyone on the path of the Heavenly Pride, thereby advancing to Nascent Soul and pursuing the path to immortality. This was his life plan.

He was at the Golden Core Peak, always holding back his Cultivation, just to participate in the Heavenly Pride’s path, and after it ended, to advance to Nascent Soul.

That meant Chen Qiu couldn’t possibly have the same Eighth Grade Golden Core as him, but a Ninth Grade Golden Core instead!

Could this be possible?

Throughout the entire Xuantian Continent, he had never seen a Ninth Grade Golden Core, only hearing vague mentions from elders that such a grade had existed long ago, but it had not appeared for thousands of years.

Furthermore, the first two trials.

Chen Qiu had completed them within a single breath’s time.

That only reinforced his belief that there was something abnormal about Chen Qiu, that there had to be some inside job. But this was the Heavenly Dao Secret Realm; could there be foul play even here?

No matter how furiously Li Shiyi screamed at the sky, no one paid him any attention, nor was there any response.

…

“Quite interesting,”

Chen Qiu said to himself with a light chuckle as he looked at the third trial’s ranking list.

He was also somewhat curious about the Golden Core Grades of the other Heavenly Prides– Da Xia’s highest was only Fourth-grade. Perhaps these Heavenly Prides from the Xuantian Continent would be Eighth or Ninth Grade?

Although he knew their Golden Core Grades would be lower than his,

he was still curious by how much.

He hoped these people wouldn’t be too disheartened. He had been inexplicably dragged into this Heavenly Pride’s path by the “Heavenly Pride Order,” so if anyone was to blame, it should be the Evil Clan’s Heavenly Pride.

Subsequently, another panel slowly emerged in front of him, enveloped by clouds and mist.

“The initial filtering of the Heavenly Pride’s path in the Secret Realm has concluded.”

“All the Heavenly Prides will receive their Grade. The one hundred and eight Heavenly Prides that passed the initial filtering of the Secret Realm will have their Heavenly Pride Orders bound to them personally. Should anyone lose their Heavenly Pride Order and it falls into the hands of another, that person will be unable to enter the Heavenly Pride’s path through it.”

“And should any Heavenly Pride lose their Order, they also cannot enter the Heavenly Pride’s path and are considered to have forfeited their right.”

“One year from now, the Heavenly Pride’s path will officially open, and the Grades will determine the order of entry.”

“…”

“Chao Tian Sect Sect Master Chen Qiu, Grade: Heavenly Pride 100.”

–

“Ranking list of the initial filtering of the Heavenly Prides.”

“Rank one”: Chao Tian Sect Sect Master Chen Qiu, Heavenly Pride 100.

“Rank two”: Citian Sect Saint Heir Zhang Mo, Heavenly Pride 17.

“…”

“Rank six”: Tao Sword Sect True Disciple Li Shiyi, Heavenly Pride 4.

“…”

“Rank seventy-two”: Fukuizong Inner Sect Disciple Li Kui, Human Pride 87.”

–

With a flash of white light, everyone was ejected from the Secret Realm. In this initial filtering of the Heavenly Pride’s path, there were three trials. Based on the performance of the Heavenly Prides in these trials, they were classified into Heavenly Pride, Earth Pride, and Human Pride.

The number following the title of the Heavenly Pride.

Indicates the differentiation of strength among those who are also Heavenly Prides, with a full score of 100, and the weakest at 1.