Crossing the light curtain, the black Mountain of Truth came into Zhang Ruochen’s view. Its majestic aura struck his mind with overwhelming force, far different from the sensation of gazing at it from the shores of the Sea of Truth.
Before even setting foot on it, Zhang Ruochen felt immense pressure. His holy soul and Heavenly River trembled, nearly collapsing under the strain.
The Mountain of Truth was incomparably grand, towering ten thousand li into the clouds, entwined with countless rules. Facing it was like confronting the supreme truth of the heavens and earth. Even gods, he suspected, would feel awe.
“It seems the Temple of Truth’s reward isn’t easily claimed. Crossing the ten sea domains is merely a foundation. The true key is whether I can ascend the Mountain of Truth,” Zhang Ruochen murmured.
Many believed the greatest challenge to earning the Temple’s reward was crossing the ten sea domains, unaware that ascending the Mountain of Truth was far more difficult.
Zhang Ruochen was certain that “ascending” didn’t mean just reaching the base—likely, it required climbing to the summit.
Braving the immense pressure, Zhang Ruochen fully controlled the Boat of Truth, finally drawing near the Mountain of Truth.
With a shift, he stepped off the boat, landing on a smooth reef.
Instantly, his holy energy stagnated, flowing sluggishly. Even his Heavenly River seemed to solidify. No matter his strength, he couldn’t unleash it.
He tried to release his Spatial True Domain, but failed. Here, all the holy paths he cultivated were completely suppressed.
As a result, let alone reaching the summit, he could barely move.
“Is it because I haven’t condensed a Truth Form?” Zhang Ruochen realized.
As a trial set by the Temple of Truth, the Path of Truth was naturally crucial. No wonder, starting from the ninth sea domain, condensing a Truth Form was a prerequisite for crossing.
To resist the Mountain of Truth’s suppression, an ordinary Truth Form clearly wouldn’t suffice.
Though Zhang Ruochen had found a path, condensing a high-tier Truth Form in a short time was impossible.
He frowned slightly. Having reached the Mountain of Truth, was he to give up now?
“Remarkable that, since the Celestial Court’s founding, the first Saint King to cross ten sea domains isn’t a divine disciple trained by our Temple of Truth,” a voice tinged with感慨 sounded.
At the same time, golden mist rose from the sea, shrouding the Mountain of Truth, rendering it invisible even to gods.
Zhang Ruochen looked up toward the summit.
At some point, a towering figure had appeared there, godlike yet demonic, as if reflecting the heavens. The rules of the world revolved around it.
Though it exuded no powerful aura, Zhang Ruochen sensed it was undoubtedly a god.
He bowed respectfully. “Junior Zhang Ruochen pays respects to Senior.”
“You’ve crossed ten sea domains, truly exceptional. But whether you can claim the Temple of Truth’s reward depends on your own ability,” the towering figure said.
Zhang Ruochen quickly replied, “Please guide me, Senior.”
Since there was a chance, he had to seize it.
“The Temple’s reward lies at the summit. Before that, you must meet two conditions. The first is to condense a ‘Star Sea Boundless’ or even ‘Cosmos Infinite’ Truth Form,” the figure said.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes narrowed slightly. As he’d suspected.
Even among the Temple’s divine disciples, few had condensed “Star Sea Boundless,” and none had achieved “Cosmos Infinite.” Expecting him, without secret teachings, to condense a high-tier Truth Form was daunting.
Condensing a high-tier Truth Form was no easy task, even with the Temple’s secret methods, and couldn’t be done quickly.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen wasn’t without confidence, but he needed sufficient time.
Unfortunately, time was what he lacked most, with the Central Imperial City in peril. He couldn’t linger here.
“If you join the Temple of Truth, I can take you as my disciple and teach you the secret method to condense a Truth Form,” the figure said.
For others, such an offer would be thrilling, prompting immediate agreement.
After all, a god appearing on the Mountain of Truth was no ordinary being, surely holding high status in the Temple.
Being their disciple would bring far better treatment than ordinary divine disciples.
But Zhang Ruochen fell silent. If he truly wanted to join the Temple, he wouldn’t have waited until now.
He had many tasks ahead, and joining the Temple might bring constraints, limiting his freedom.
After a pause, the figure spoke again. “Crossing ten sea domains is no small feat. I’ll give you an opportunity.”
With that, ten beams of divine light descended from the summit, materializing as ten divine stones before Zhang Ruochen.
Looking at them, Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred. He looked up, but the towering figure had vanished.
The intent was clear: use the Sundial to cultivate here for ten years.
During the Battle of Luo Water, Zhang Ruochen had activated the Sundial against Yan Wushen’s evil body, exposing its secret.
“With the unique environment of the Mountain of Truth and my forty-nine ten-thousandths of the Mysteries of Truth, ten years might be enough to condense a high-tier Truth Form. I’ll try,” Zhang Ruochen decided.
Regardless, cultivating on the Mountain of Truth for ten years would bring immense benefits, giving him no reason to refuse.
Without hesitation, he took out the Sundial, embedded the divine stones, and began comprehending the Path of Truth.
The more Truth Rules he cultivated, the more it would aid in condensing a Truth Form.
On the shores of the Sea of Truth, many cultivators looked disappointed. The Mountain of Truth, shrouded in golden mist, hid Zhang Ruochen’s situation.
“Sister, do you know what the reward in the divine oracle is?” Feng Yan asked curiously.
Feng Xi shook her head. “The oracle was issued by the Temple’s Master. Few know the details. My master might, but he won’t say.”
Feng Xi speculated that a reward envied by gods might be a large amount of Mysteries of Truth, as even gods rarely mastered Mysteries, especially of an ancient path.
The thirteen Great Saints who ascended the Mountain of Truth had received significant Mysteries, becoming Truth Emissaries, rivaling gods before achieving divinity.
After becoming gods, they became towering figures, renowned across the heavens.
But on second thought, Feng Xi doubted it. If the reward were the same, why would the Temple issue such an oracle?
“No idea when Big Brother will return from the Mountain of Truth. I’m waiting to drink with him,” Xiang Chunan muttered.
He didn’t overthink, as if nothing mattered more than drinking.
Soon, news of Zhang Ruochen crossing the ten sea domains spread like wildfire, causing a sensation.
Even many gods took notice of him.
Saint King leaders from various realms felt immense pressure, sensing the widening gap between themselves and Zhang Ruochen.
First Yan Wushen, now Zhang Ruochen. Being born in this era was both fortunate and tragic.
Naturally, the most discussed topic was what reward Zhang Ruochen would receive from the Temple.
Already invincible below the Great Saint, would this reward, feared by gods, make him even stronger?
Ten days passed.
The crowd at the Sea of Truth dwindled. With no way to know Zhang Ruochen’s situation on the Mountain of Truth, there was no need to wait.
It was uncertain if Zhang Ruochen would even reappear on the shore.
Xiang Chunan, Feng Yan, and others stayed, patient, knowing Zhang Ruochen would find them wherever he appeared.
At the edge of the Mountain of Truth, Zhang Ruochen was immersed in cultivation. Behind him, a hazy world formed, swirling with dense Five Elements Chaos Qi and countless twinkling lights, like tiny stars.
Though small, this world felt boundless, constantly expanding.
As the Sundial stopped, Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes. The hazy world trembled, manifesting billions of varied characters, vividly interpreting the world’s truths.
A faint smile appeared in his eyes. “Success. Using the phenomenon of my Five Elements Chaos Body, I’ve condensed my own Truth Form.”
Without the Temple’s secret methods, his Truth Form was distinct, truly unique.
Normally, even if he revealed it, most wouldn’t recognize it as a Truth Form, mistaking it for his Five Elements Chaos Body phenomenon.
This wasn’t wrong. The hazy world was a fusion of Truth Form and phenomenon, holding many indescribable mysteries.
As a result, his Five Elements Chaos Body evolved, becoming stronger, surpassing some Immortal Holy Bodies.
With the Truth Form, Zhang Ruochen felt relieved, the Mountain of Truth’s suppression greatly reduced.
“My Truth Form differs from standard ones but should be no weaker than ‘Star Sea Boundless,’ meeting the first condition. What’s the second?” Zhang Ruochen wondered.
Looking up, he saw no sign of the towering figure.
After a moment’s thought, he stored the Sundial, stood, and began climbing.
On the Mountain of Truth, space was frozen, preventing flight. He could only climb on foot.
At first, his pace was swift, but as he reached a certain height, it slowed. It felt like an ancient divine mountain pressed upon him, his steps impossibly heavy.
After an unknown time, he reached the mountainside, nearly collapsing, unable to take another step.
“You’ve condensed a Truth Form on your own, impressive. Meet the second condition, and you can reach the summit for a chance at the reward,” the voice sounded again.
Zhang Ruochen looked up, seeing the towering figure. “Senior, what is the second condition?”
“Great Perfection of the Saint King Realm,” the figure replied succinctly.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes flashed. He knew this meant cultivating one hundred million rules, like Yan Wushen.
Everyone knew how daunting this was.
Even Yan Wushen had taken an incredibly perilous path to succeed.
Across the history of the Celestial Court and Hell Realm, a Great Perfection Saint King might not appear in an eon.
In some ways, reaching Great Perfection was harder than becoming a god.
Legend held that a Great Perfection Saint King could rival a Hundred-Shackle Great Saint.
Zhang Ruochen’s holy rules neared one hundred million, short by mere tens of thousands, but he didn’t know how long it would take to cultivate them.
“This time, I’ll give you twenty years. If you fail, you’re not fated for the reward,” the figure said indifferently.
As it spoke, twenty beams of divine light descended.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t rush to collect the divine stones, instead asking, “Senior, what’s the situation in Kunlun Realm’s Central Imperial City?”
“Is Kunlun Realm’s fate more important than your great opportunity?” the figure countered.
Zhang Ruochen pondered. “Opportunities matter, but Kunlun Realm holds people and things I care about. I can’t ignore them.”
The figure was silent for a moment. “Rest assured, the Central Imperial City is safe for now. If trouble arises, I can send you back.”
Relieved, Zhang Ruochen said, “Thank you, Senior.”
With no worries, he could focus on comprehending the Holy Path on the Mountain of Truth.
Twenty years to reach Great Perfection seemed fantastical, but without trying, how could he know it was impossible?
Throughout his journey, Zhang Ruochen had never backed down, no matter the challenge.
