The one-hour rest period passed in the blink of an eye.

The Palace Spirit appeared once again and waved its sleeve, causing the palace scene to change abruptly.

Everyone felt the world spinning around them, and when they regained their focus, they found themselves in a void space.

"The fifth trial—Heart Refining." The Palace Spirit’s voice echoed through the void, "This trial tests the firmness of your Dao Heart. Those who persist for one incense stick’s time will pass; those who fail will be eliminated."

As soon as the words fell, the scene before Fang Hao changed suddenly.

He discovered he was standing on a high platform, with thousands of Cultivators below, shouting his name.

Auspicious clouds swirled in the sky, and celestial music played in waves.

"Congratulations to Immortal Master Ning on your Ascension to the Immortal Realm!"

"Ten thousand Immortals come to pay homage, revered by the whole world!"

"Immortal Master Ning is the number one Immortal of this age!"

Amidst countless praises, Fang Hao felt as if he were floating on air, and his Dao Heart wavered slightly.

"Wrong!" He snapped to alertness, "This is an illusion!"

He activated his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes, and the illusion rippled slightly.

But the next moment, the scene changed again.

He returned to Nine Slopes Village, where his parents were old and dying, clutching his hands and weeping: "Haoer... stop Cultivating... stay with your father and mother..."

Fang Hao felt a pang in his heart and almost agreed.

But he quickly steadied his mind: "Father, Mother, your child’s Dao Heart is already set!"

The scene changed again.

Bao Zhijian knelt before him, kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Senior Brother Ning! I was wrong! Please spare me!"

Liang Ling looked at him affectionately: "Junior Brother Ning, would you like to become Dao Companions with me?"

Lin Wan said with a giggle: "Junior Brother Ning, become the Sect Leader! We will all listen to you!"

Power, beauty, grudges... all kinds of temptations played out in turn. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Fang Hao guarded his original intent, and the Heart-Questioning Mirror shone brightly within his Sea of Consciousness, helping him resist the temptations.

The most dangerous moment arrived.

In the illusion, he suffered Qi Deviation while Cultivating, bleeding from his seven orifices, his cultivation completely ruined!

"Give up... the path of Cultivation is too bitter..." a voice tempted.

Fang Hao gritted his teeth and persisted: "My Dao Heart will not change, I have no regrets even if I die nine times over!"

Finally, the illusion dissipated.

Fang Hao returned to the void space, his body soaked in cold sweat.

Looking around, fewer than ten people had passed.

Lin Wan’s face was pale, Liang Ling’s aura was slightly chaotic, and Bao Zhijian was panting; clearly, they had all experienced great hardship.

"Those who passed the fifth trial, receive your reward!" The Palace Spirit’s voice rang out.

A beam of Dao Heart light descended, and Fang Hao felt his Dao Heart become even more clear and firm, and his Divine Sense surged!

"Rest for one incense stick’s time, then the sixth trial—Soul Refining!" the Palace Spirit announced.

Everyone’s hearts tightened.

Soul Refining was even more dangerous than Heart Refining, as it directly targeted the Divine Soul!

One incense stick’s time later, the scene changed again.

Everyone was placed in a netherworld-like place, where cold winds howled and ghosts cried.

"Persist for one incense stick’s time; those whose Divine Soul does not scatter will pass!" the Palace Spirit said.

As soon as the words fell, Fang Hao felt a sharp pain in his Divine Soul! It felt as if countless needles were stabbing his Soul!

"Argh!" Someone screamed on the spot, clutching their head and rolling on the ground!

Soon, a beam of light flashed, and that person was teleported out.

Fang Hao fully activated the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Scripture, using his seven-element Spiritual Qi to protect his Divine Soul.

But the pain did not diminish at all; instead, it grew stronger and stronger!

"This is even more painful than Heart Refining!" Lin Wan gritted her teeth and persisted.

Liang Ling closed her eyes to focus, with cold air protecting her body.

Bao Zhijian unleashed a Magic Treasure for Soul protection, barely holding on.

Fang Hao felt as if his Divine Soul was about to be torn apart! At his most painful moment, he even wanted to just give up.

But thinking of his parents’ expectations and the hardships of the path of Cultivation, he gritted his teeth and held on: "I cannot fall here!"

He quietly activated the Ethereal Art, and the power of space slightly protected his Divine Soul, reducing the pain a little.

Suddenly, countless phantoms appeared in the netherworld, charging straight at everyone’s Divine Souls!

"Get lost!" Bao Zhijian roared, and his Soul-protecting Magic Treasure shone brightly.

Liang Ling activated the Ice Heart Art, freezing the approaching phantoms.

Lin Wan pulled out a handful of Talismans, resisting desperately.

Fang Hao pointed out with his Star Shattering Finger, and the finger force containing the power of space was actually able to disperse the phantoms!

"It’s effective!" His spirits lifted, and he pointed continuously, causing the phantoms to scatter one after another.

But the phantoms were endless, and the more he killed, the more appeared! Everyone was gradually unable to hold on.

"Ah!" A Disciple screamed, their Divine Soul damaged, and they were teleported out.

Then another person fell.

Fang Hao was also reaching his limit. His Divine Soul was in excruciating pain, and his Spiritual Qi consumption was immense.

At the critical moment, he had a flash of inspiration and combined the Ethereal Art with the Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art!

The seven-element Spiritual Qi circulated and generated each other, forming a subtle balance that could actually nourish the Divine Soul!

The pain suddenly decreased, and Fang Hao let out a long sigh of relief.

Finally, the time for one incense stick was up. The netherworld disappeared.

Only five people remained who had passed: Fang Hao, Liang Ling, Bao Zhijian, Lin Wan, and an Old Formation Master from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

All five of them were pale, their Divine Souls damaged.

"Those who passed the sixth trial, receive your reward!" the Palace Spirit said.

Soul light descended, nourishing their Divine Souls. Fang Hao felt his Divine Soul become more solid, and his Divine Sense range expanded by thirty percent!

"Rest for one hour, then the seventh trial—Dao Questioning!" the Palace Spirit announced.

Everyone’s hearts were solemn. The Dao Questioning trial often pointed directly to the fundamentals of cultivation and was the hardest to pass!

Bao Zhijian glared fiercely at Fang Hao and sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing. Having passed six trials in a row, he had consumed a huge amount of energy and did not dare to be arrogant anymore.

Liang Ling said softly: "Junior Brother Ning, are you alright?"

Fang Hao nodded: "I’m okay. How about you, Senior Sister?"

Liang Ling smiled slightly: "I’m fine."

Lin Wan said with a mournful face: "That scared me to death! I almost had my Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering just now!"

The Old Formation Master sighed: "The Nine-Layer Palace trials, each one is harder than the last..."

One hour passed quickly.

The Palace Spirit appeared again: "The seventh trial—Dao Questioning!"

The scene changed again, and everyone was placed on a cloud platform. Opposite them sat an illusory Daoist with an immortal aura.

"Dao Questioning begins." the Palace Spirit said, "Each person must answer three questions. Answer correctly to pass, answer wrongly to be eliminated."

The first question was asked to the Old Formation Master: "The Dao of Formations, how does it reach the heavens?"

The Old Formation Master pondered and said: "The Dao of Formations borrows the power of heaven and earth, simulates the changes of all things, and can ultimately reach the heavens."

"Passed."

The second question was asked to Lin Wan: "The Dao of Alchemy, how does it achieve longevity?"

Lin Wan said nervously: "The Dao of Alchemy refines the essence of heaven and earth to supplement one’s own deficiencies, and thus can seek longevity."

"Passed."

The third question was asked to Bao Zhijian: "The Dao of the Sword, how does it become invincible?"

Bao Zhijian said proudly: "The Dao of the Sword presses forward with indomitable will, severing all things, and can naturally become invincible!"

"Passed."

The fourth question was asked to Liang Ling: "The Dao of Ice, how is it eternal?"

Liang Ling said calmly: "The Dao of Ice is extremely quiet and pure, sealing all things, nearly eternal."

"Passed."

The last question was asked to Fang Hao: "The root of the Dao, how does one seek it?"

Fang Hao pondered for a moment and said in a clear voice: "The root of the Dao lies in one’s original intent. Where the heart points, there the Dao resides. Do not seek external things, but ask your own heart!"

A flash of appreciation appeared in the Palace Spirit’s eyes: "Good! Passed!"

All five passed and smiled at each other.

"Those who passed the seventh trial, receive your reward!" the Palace Spirit said.

Dao light shone down, and Fang Hao felt his understanding of cultivation go a level deeper; many puzzles suddenly became clear!

"Rest for one incense stick’s time, then the eighth trial—Dao Enlightenment!" the Palace Spirit announced.

Everyone held their breath and focused. The last two trials had arrived.