Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 667 - 665: You’re Also a Piece of Trash

"Accept defeat... for this old man!"

The Bald Ancestor summoned two more magical treasures, launching an attack on Ning Daoran from both sides.

However, Ning Daoran, ever cautious by nature, had already summoned his Earth Gold Cauldron, Cold Dragon Stone Plate, and Fire Cloud Shield as protective spiritual treasures well before the ancestor unleashed his Divinity Transformation Strike!

For a moment, the clinking sounds filled the air incessantly, as grains of light blasted against the three spiritual treasures without managing to breach Ning Daoran’s defense within a fleeting breath of time.

In merely a breath’s time, Ning Daoran snapped out of the dizziness, instantly activating the Nine Heavens Escape Thunder Technique, transforming into a streak of lightning and vanishing from the ancestor’s front!

"Such formidable Divine Soul strength!"

The Bald Ancestor couldn’t help but exclaim. A Nascent Soul cultivator recovering so swiftly under a Divinity Transformation Strike was proof of the opponent’s exceptionally strong Divine Soul—there was no other explanation.

"Ancestor, that’s cheating!"

Ning Daoran’s voice turned icy as he gripped the Fire God Sword, slashing out dozens of sword beams while channeling his spiritual treasures for an all-out fight technique.

"What is cheating?"

The Bald Ancestor chuckled. "It’s merely a small test for a younger generation, wouldn’t you agree?"

"Hmph!"

Ning Daoran was not one to be petty; he smiled but said nothing further, focusing entirely on his assault.

At the same time, he noticed something: after the Bald Ancestor executed his Divinity Transformation Strike, his Divine Soul strength plummeted by approximately forty percent. This meant that relying on the artifact spirit’s strength couldn’t allow for the repeated use of such moves. Perhaps... he had only one shot from the beginning, and unfortunately, it had been nullified by Ning Daoran’s treasures.

The tide shifted. Immortal Vines danced wildly across the sky, and Ning Daoran even summoned the Nine Dragon Shadows of the Nine Dragon Technique, battling the Bald Ancestor for hundreds upon hundreds of rounds!

In the end, the Golden Silk Sword pierced with seemingly omnipresent precision. After the first strike of the Golden Silk Sword penetrated the opponent’s arm, the Bald Ancestor’s body—shaped by the artifact spirit—deflated like a punctured balloon, his combat strength falling repeatedly. Even his Transformed Treasure, the Jade Bowl, showed signs of depleted Essence Qi.

...

Outside the Divine Fire Tower, the crowd stared in stunned silence.

"It’s been nearly half an hour now."

A petite female disciple remarked, "Ning Keqing is still fighting. I wonder what the outcome is by now."

"Junior sister, you needn’t worry."

A senior brother beside her sneered, "Do you know who’s guarding the ninety-ninth floor?"

"Ancestor—I know, the Ancestor known as the Divine Fire Venerate, founder of our Divine Fire Sect."

The female disciple’s face lit up with admiration, holding immense reverence for the revered founder-ancestor.

"Hmph, do you know what it takes to be called Venerate in the Cultivation World?"

"Well, I..."

She hesitated, unable to answer.

Nearby, the True Disciple Zhang Puyu smiled faintly and said, "Those who bear the title Venerate are supreme among the Immortals... Our Divine Fire Venerate Ancestor not only ascended to the Earth Immortal Realm as a Divinity Transformation cultivator but also sent word back to the Human World thousands of years ago, informing us that he had already become a dominant force in the Earth Immortal Realm, bearing the title of Venerate."

"Indeed."

Zhang Naiqian said, "For someone who can claim the title of Venerate in the Earth Immortal Realm... it’s likely that our Divine Fire Venerate Ancestor has already advanced to the Mahayana Realm. Once he transcends the Heavenly Tribulation, he will become a true Immortal!"

"!!!"

The female disciple was speechless with shock.

In the Eastern Wasteland Cultivation World, while everyone talked of cultivation, most weren’t aware of its ultimate destination. Even after ascending to the Earth Immortal Realm, there lay stages such as Divinity Transformation, Void Refining, Body Integration, and Mahayana waiting ahead. Yet even advancing to the Mahayana Realm wasn’t the true end of cultivation.

Only by breaking through the Mahayana Realm and entering the ranks of the Immortal could one contemplate eternal life—the ultimate goal of cultivation!

"If that’s truly the case..."

The petite female disciple, until that moment an unwavering supporter of Ning Keqing, had set him as her idol. But now she began to waver: "If that’s the case, Ning Keqing truly stands no chance... No matter how strong he is, he can never be a match for a Mahayana Realm Immortal..."

"Quite right."

Zhang Puyu sneered. "Although we are anxiously awaiting the results of his challenge to the ninety-ninth floor, the outcome was already determined from the start."

...

A short time later.

"Swish—"

Suddenly, the lights on the ninety-ninth floor extinguished, plunging the Divine Fire Tower into shadowy darkness.

"What happened?"

Someone whispered, "Did Ning Keqing lose?"

"I don’t know either..."

"What’s the result?"

"Great Elder?"

Someone glanced at the Great Elder on the third-floor balcony. "What’s the result?"

"Hmph!"

From above, Zhang Puyu spoke condescendingly. "Is there even a need to ask? Though the Divine Fire Venerate’s cultivation was suppressed to the Nascent Soul Stage, he inherently holds Mahayana Realm foundations, possibly even bearing the feedback and powers gained from his Divine Soul in the Earth Immortal Realm—all infused into the artifact spirit of the Divine Fire Tower. How could Ning Daoran possibly triumph?"

Right then, strands of celestial light rose from every brick and tile of the Divine Fire Tower. In the next instant, the tower erupted in radiant brilliance, as though freshly reforged!

A vast beam of heavenly light shot upward, pierced the firmament, and vanished into the boundless universe beyond.

"What’s happening!?"

The crowd exclaimed in disbelief and confusion.

"He... he passed the trial..."

In the midst of the astonished crowd, Huang Xianyu muttered incredulously.

"What!?"

Zhang Naiqian paled with shock. "How is this possible!? Great Elder, is this true?!"

The Great Elder remained composed, stroking his beard, and replied, "The third disciple spoke correctly. This phenomenon signals the passing of the ninety-ninth floor trial. Such phenomena... I’ve only heard of them from my master. I’ve never witnessed it myself."

"Everyone, disperse."

Huang Xianyu declared solemnly, "Since Ning Keqing has passed, he now stands as Divine Fire Sect’s greatest in centuries. No one may question his ascendancy."

"But..."

Zhang Puyu and Long Jiyu clutched their fists, their faces twisted with unwillingness to accept the reality.

Gradually, the crowd dispersed, leaving only a handful sporadically lingering outside the Divine Fire Tower.

...

"Swish—"

Finally, a silhouette leaped from the ninety-ninth floor, transforming into a streak of blood-colored tunneling light before landing—a battle-worn Ning Daoran.

Suspended in mid-air, he cupped his hands toward the Great Elder and said, "After finishing my challenge of the ninety-ninth floor, I sustained severe injuries. I remained there to heal for quite a while. My apologies for keeping the Great Elder waiting!"

"Entirely understandable, Ning Keqing. No need for apologies."

The Great Elder returned the gesture, saying, "I congratulate you on conquering the Divine Fire Tower. In the history of our Divine Fire Sect, only two others have achieved this feat aside from yourself. Truly, this is a grand occasion for our sect!"

Ning Daoran replied with modest pleasantries.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed Zhang Naiqian still standing amidst the wind, his eyes filled with malice.

"Ning Daoran."

Zhang Naiqian clung to his bitterness, his stare sharp with provocation. "Though you passed the ninety-ninth floor trial, I know you must have resorted to some sort of cheating. There’s no way you’d pass Divine Fire Venerate’s test otherwise."

His reasoning stemmed from prior battles near Ning Daoran’s Cave Mansion, where the two’s combat prowess had been evenly matched. Even if slightly outpaced, Zhang Naiqian wouldn’t accept being unequivocally inferior. Thus, he suspected Ning Daoran of holding some secret treasure capable of crippling the Divine Fire Tower.

"What do you want?"

Ning Daoran asked indifferently.

"Hmph!"

With arms crossed, Zhang Naiqian said, "You’re neither a Long-named disciple nor a Zhang Family disciple, nor even truly part of our Divine Fire Sect. You’re merely a Guest Elder—a guest residing here. The rules for the Divine Fire Tower ought to change; you shouldn’t have been eligible to challenge it, and your achievement ought to be erased!"

He then turned to the Great Elder. "Great Elder, am I wrong?"

"..."

The Great Elder remained silent, though he shared a similar sentiment. He wondered who had originally established the rules allowing Guest Elders to challenge the Divine Fire Tower.

"Ning Daoran!"

Zhang Naiqian pressed aggressively, "You claim to have defeated the artifact spirit left by Divine Fire Venerate; very well. Do you have the courage to fight me here and now? If you win, I’ll admit defeat. But if you lose, you’ll leave the Divine Fire Sect on your own accord. What do you say?!"

Ning Daoran ignored him.

After all, accidentally killing Zhang Naiqian with a single punch would jeopardize his cultivation plan at the Fierce Sun Sky Pool.

With his hands behind his back, Ning Daoran turned away, soaring into the air with tunneling light. He said coolly, "Challenge me? First, conquer the ninety-ninth floor of the Divine Fire Tower. After all... trash has no right to make me act."

"You..." Zhang Naiqian flushed red with fury.

"Well said!"

Long Jiyu cheered heartily.

As the top Long-named disciple of the sect’s primary lineage, Long Jiyu had long been at odds with Zhang Naiqian and other Zhang Family disciples. Witnessing Zhang Naiqian’s embarrassment was a great satisfaction to him.

"What are you yelling for? You’re trash, too."

Ning Daoran turned back to Long Jiyu and added, "You call yourself the first Long-named disciple of the Divine Fire Sect’s main lineage, yet you can’t even overcome Zhang Naiqian. Not just him either—you’re constantly overshadowed by a swarm of Zhang Family disciples. If that’s not trash, then what is?"

"Ning Keqing..."

Long Jiyu paled, cupping his hands respectfully. "Ning Keqing’s reprimand is justified..."

This time, he offered no retort nor showed anger.

Ning Daoran shook his head inwardly.

Indeed, in the Cultivation World, strength was the only principle. Only when you were powerful would people truly listen to your words. Without strength, no matter how sensible your arguments, no one would care.

"Enough."

Ning Daoran ascended swiftly, vanishing into the deep night.

Instead of returning to his Cave Mansion, he headed to the Fierce Sun Sky Pool in the forested back mountain. Landing gracefully, he said, "Old Dragon Head, come out. I have some things to discuss with you."

A strand of ethereal aura blossomed as the Old Dragon Head emerged from the void successfully through instant teleportation. "You had already noticed me back in the Divine Fire Tower, didn’t you?"

"I sensed it long ago."

Ning Daoran lightly tapped the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven and said, "Care for a drink?"

"Absolutely!"

The Old Dragon Head responded resolutely.

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