148: test

When everyone arrived at the blue pillar of light, they discovered an Immortal Palace standing there.

And the True Immortal's will was emanating from this very Immortal Palace.

The various prodigies who had arrived first were gathered on the vast Ice Plain in front of the Immortal Palace.

The extreme cold here was enough to freeze and crack a Divine Soul; everyone circulated their immortal power, doing their best to resist it, while their eyes scanned the legendary Immortal Palace intently, trying to find an entrance.

"It's here!"

Someone shouted in surprise.

Soon, many prodigies gathered there.

But when they tried to enter the Immortal Palace, they found themselves blocked by an invisible force that they could not break through no matter what.

This force did not cause them harm, but it barred their way.

"Damn it!"

"The true immortal inheritance must be inside!"

"Is there any way to get inside the palace?!"

"..."

Although it was freezing cold and snowing heavily, everyone was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

The true immortal inheritance was right before them, yet out of reach.

"What about the exotic treasures? Where are the Legacy Cultivation Techniques?"

"We can't enter the Immortal Palace, but they can't just leave us here to wait in vain!"

"Shut up! You damn well keep your mouth shut!"

"What the hell did you say?!"

"Don't be impatient, Senior Brothers. Even if we can't get in, these ubiquitous Extreme Cold Dao Laws are the greatest Opportunity; even comprehending a sliver would be of infinite benefit! Since the Immortal Palace has appeared on its own, it might open at any time!"

"We might as well wait patiently for a while and see."

"Wait, wait, wait! How long are we supposed to wait?!"

"This godforsaken place is freezing, and our immortal power is depleting too fast! If we stay any longer, we'll probably be frozen alive into ice sculptures!"

"..."

Just as everyone was restless and cursing, suddenly... above the Immortal Palace, a soft yet supremely majestic blue immortal light slowly lit up.

Within the light, a woman's figure coalesced; she was slightly ethereal, yet possessed peerless elegance.

She wore a pale blue dress, her beauty capable of toppling cities, and her starry eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of time and exhaustion.

"Who... is she?"

The entire Ice Plain instantly fell silent as the gazes of all the prodigies converged on that figure.

The woman's gaze swept over the young, eager faces below, and her ethereal, compassionate voice echoed through the world: "Latecomers... This Immortal is the Ruoshui True Immortal, known as Fairy Li Meng..."

Clamor!

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd immediately erupted into an uproar.

Having come here for training, they naturally knew something of this Secret Realm's Origins and were no strangers to the title of Ruoshui True Immortal.

"Didn't the Ruoshui True Immortal die in battle twenty million years ago?"

"How is she still alive?"

"Look, she... seems to be just a Divine Soul, she doesn't have a Physical Body!"

"It seems so..."

"..."

Ignoring the noisy discussions, Fairy Li Meng continued: "Twenty million years ago, a world-shaking war broke out between the Qinggu Heaven Domain and the Ziling Heavenly Domain. To protect the billions of living beings in the Qinggu Heaven Domain, This Immortal fought fiercely against powerful enemies but eventually fell here due to severe injuries and a shattered Dao foundation."

"However, the obsession in my heart did not dissipate, and a wisp of my remnant soul remained immortal."

"This Immortal transformed my lifelong cultivation site into this Ruoshui Secret Realm, drawing upon the world's Extreme Cold Dao Laws to nourish my remnant soul, while also leaving a chance for inheritance for the future prodigies of the Qinggu Heaven Domain."

"Over the millennia, the Secret Realm has opened many times, producing many prodigies, and many have obtained opportunities..."

"However, no one has ever been able to inherit This Immortal's Great Dao and continue my will to protect."

"Now, This Immortal's remnant soul is at its end, and without its support, the Secret Realm's Origin will also dissipate... Therefore, in this final moment, I will no longer wait for fate but will... actively appear to personally choose a successor!"

"I hope that a latecomer will inherit my Dao, continue my will, and protect all living beings of the Qinggu Heaven Domain..."

These words were like a morning bell and evening drum, striking the hearts of everyone.

Suppressed exclamations and sobs immediately broke out in the field.

The voice seemed to travel through tens of millions of years, bringing everyone's thoughts back to that magnificent era.

"It's the Ruoshui True Immortal! It's really her..."

"Wuu... Every time I hear of the Fairy's deeds, I can't help but shed tears! Fighting to the death to protect the heaven domain while alive, and turning her remnant soul into a Secret Realm after death to continue blessing future generations... What a magnificent spirit!"

"Fairy Meng Li, with a heart for all living beings, immortal through the ages!"

"No wonder the Ferryman said this would be the Secret Realm's final opening; it's because Fairy Li Meng's remnant soul is about to dissipate!"

"..."

Most prodigies were proud and arrogant, but now, facing Fairy Li Meng who had protected the Qinggu Heaven Domain for countless years, they were all filled with respect, shaken by this persistence and heart of protection that spanned tens of millions of years.

But many were unmoved.

They only cared about the true immortal inheritance; as for what Fairy Li Meng had done or whether she dissipated, they didn't care at all.

Instead, they thought these people were extremely foolish.

Fairy Li Meng raised her hand slightly, calming the crowd's excitement, and continued: "Those who can reach this place are all dragons and phoenixes among men; there is no need to further test your talent or Luck. Therefore, for this final trial, This Immortal will only test your Heart-Nature and perseverance!"

"This Immortal will activate the remaining Power of the Extreme Cold Immortal Dao Origin here."

"Though this power has eroded over tens of millions of years and not even a tenth remains, its essence is still not something an ordinary Cultivator can withstand."

"You must stay true to your hearts within it, resist the erosion of the cold, and temper your will."

"The one who persists until the end... shall be the successor of my Dao!"

Her voice falling, Fairy Li Meng formed an ancient hand seal with both hands.

"Buzz!"

The entire Immortal Palace shook violently!

An absolute cold, far more terrifying than before, erupted from the Immortal Palace like an ancient frozen river suddenly thawing, sweeping across the entire Ice Plain.

In an instant, the world lost its color, and everything froze!

Cultivators with weaker cultivation didn't even have time to react; their protective immortal light was instantly annihilated, and they were frozen from the outside in—from Physical Body to Divine Soul—directly into translucent ice sculptures, their consciousness falling into eternal darkness.

While some among them had powerful cultivation, their faces also turned pale in an instant, feeling their own immortal power, blood, and even thoughts about to be frozen solid!

They frantically circulated their Cultivation Techniques and sacrificed their protective Immortal Treasures, desperately resisting the erosion of the absolute cold, like flickering candles in a blizzard that could be extinguished at any moment.

The entire Ice Plain turned into a wasteland of life!

Only by persisting could one see the final hope.

After activating this final power, Fairy Li Meng's remnant soul became even more ethereal and transparent.

She looked at the figures struggling in the extreme cold below, her expression extremely complex.

Expectation, bewilderment, worry, pain... a mix of many emotions.

After a long while, she sighed softly, "Maintaining the operation of this Secret Realm for tens of millions of years, this wisp of my obsession... is finally coming to an end..."

"I wonder who... will ultimately gain recognition?"

"And will they... truly have the ability to inherit my Dao, or even... fulfill my unfinished will in the unknown future catastrophe, and perhaps... even save this wisp of my remnant soul?"