At first, Luo Xiu's arrival didn't attract anyone's attention, as many people came and went through Daoxuan Square every day. But now, thanks to Luo Xian and Shu Xiuling, two so-called "Goddesses," Luo Xiu had become the center of attention.
He was the first cultivator in history who dared to be tested on stage alongside a top-ten talent from the Daoxuan Rankings.
"No matter what level of the Fusion Path this trash tests at today, he's certainly made a name for himself in the Body Refinement Realm."
"Damn, people these days will really do anything for fame!"
"One of these days, I'll go ride a goddess's coattails too!"
"..."
The area below the stage was filled with curses, but Luo Xiu paid them no mind.
He walked straight up to the elder, feeling as if he had entered some kind of barrier that blocked out all outside noise.
The elder was expressionless, as if the very concept of "emotion" was foreign to him. He asked, "Tester, will you be using a Daoist name or an alias?"
Luo Xiu replied without a second thought, "An alias."
The elder said, "Ao Debiao, please use all your current strength to strike the Daoxuan Bronze Bell."
Luo Xiu was curious. I haven't even said my name is Ao Debiao, so how does this elder know?
The next moment, he mysteriously appeared in front of the bronze bell.
Cave Spirit Xiao Yu explained, "Daoist friend, this is the Cave Spirit guarding the Daoxuan Bronze Bell. You may call him the Daoxuan Spirit."
Luo Xiu asked, "There's more than one Cave Spirit in the Divine Oracle Cave Heaven?"
"Yes, Daoist friend. There are many Cave Spirits, all responsible for maintaining the various systems of order within the Grotto Heaven."
Luo Xiu said no more. He took a deep breath and stared at the bronze bell before him.
I just hope I can meet the standard to enter the next layer.
After preparing for a moment, Luo Xiu gathered all his strength. His bones crackled as he focused his Essence, Qi, and Spirit into a single point before fiercely striking the bronze bell with his fist.
DONG!
A melodious bell toll echoed throughout the square. But then, there was only silence.
Luo Xiu took a few steps back, looking at the bronze bell with extreme frustration.
This is really just the First-level Fusion Path? How can I be this pathetic?
Xiao Yu, however, said, "The Daoxuan Spirit hasn't announced the result, which means the test isn't over. The bronze bell needs time to analyze the data from the strength of your punch."
"Hahahaha..."
Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted from below the stage.
"After all that fuss, he really is a piece of trash!"
"A mere First-level Fusion Path, and he dares to come out and make a fool of himself!"
"..."
Luo Xiu glanced at the crowd below, cursing under his breath.
Not far away, Luo Qingxian and Luo Xian exchanged a look and prepared to leave. The two of them had been somewhat curious to see what level this Daoist friend would achieve, but now it seemed there was no need to watch any longer.
DONG!
Unexpectedly, just as the two women were about to leave, the bronze bell shone with brilliant golden light and rang out again.
"Yo!" a cultivator in the crowd exclaimed in surprise.
"Not bad, not bad. Second-level. He's got a little something, but only a little."
DONG!
Before the cultivator had even finished speaking, another chime rang out. This time, the golden light emanating from the bronze bell was even more resplendent.
Luo Xian and Luo Qingxian stopped in unison, turning back to look at the young man standing beneath the bronze bell, their beautiful eyes shimmering with surprise.
Luo Qingxian said, "I've never seen the Daoxuan Bronze Bell emit such a dazzling light."
She added, "To test at the Third-level Fusion Path on his first attempt... this young man's talent is remarkable."
"..."
After the third chime, the bronze bell fell silent again, and the golden light faded.
Luo Xiu sighed inwardly, greatly disappointed. I guess the third level is it.
He had heard from Cave Spirit Xiao Yu that he needed to reach the Fourth-level Fusion Path to proceed to the next layer.
At this moment, laughter still filled the area below the stage.
"After all that, this guy only made it to the third level."
"It's so-so, I guess. Testing at the Third-level Fusion Path isn't completely useless."
DONG!
Just as Luo Xiu himself was feeling disappointed, the bronze bell unexpectedly rang out again. The sudden, intense golden light seemed bright enough to blind everyone.
"Holy crap!"
"That's the fourth chime!"
"A Fourth-level Fusion Path!"
Someone in the crowd cried out in shock. "This kid really does have something special."
Then, the bronze bell grew quiet once again. This time, the silence lasted even longer, as if it was truly over.
However, Luo Xiu himself had come to terms with it. As long as he reached the Fourth-level Fusion Path, he could proceed to the next layer. As for getting his name on the Daoxuan Rankings, he didn't care. He simply wanted to be himself, disdainful of all these flashy trifles.
He turned to the elder beside him, the Daoxuan Spirit, and said, "Senior, I should now be able to goβ"
DONG!
However, before he could finish his sentence, the bronze bell rang out once more, radiating a dazzling golden light!
At this very moment, the entire square fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
All the cultivators looked up at Luo Xiu on the high platform, speechless. The silence was deafening.
Many of the cultivators who had been loudly ridiculing Luo Xiu just moments before now felt a burning shame on their faces. They themselves couldn't reach the Fifth-level Fusion Path.
Someone remarked with awe, "The fifth chime... This kid is a true genius, on par with the core disciples of the major sects."
But some were still disdainful. "But compared to those sects' Chief Disciples, he's still lacking a lot."
"Give me a break, buddy. You're talking like that, but what about you? Can you reach the fifth level?"
"Damn, all you talk about are disciples from major sects. Why don't you compare yourself to them?"
"Exactly! It's one thing not to be as good as him, but you're just standing here being salty. The saltier you are, the more it shows your insecurity!"
"Hey, now you're all ganging up on me? Weren't you just mocking him too?"
"You're right, I was mocking him. But now I admit he's outstanding!"
"..."
DONG!
While the crowd was still arguing, the bronze bell, against all expectations, sounded once more.
The sixth chime!
"Damn, a Sixth-level Fusion Path! That's only one level lower than Goddess Luo Xian!"
"Buddy, can he compare to those Chief Disciples you were talking about now?"
"..."
At this time, the gazes Luo Xian and Luo Qingxian fixed on Luo Xiu were filled with utter astonishment.
DONG!
Suddenly, the bronze bell sounded once more.
"The seventh chime!"
Beneath the high platform, the cultivators gasped.
"Holy hell! Just like Goddess Luo Xian, he's also at the Seventh-level Fusion Path!"
"Turns out he's a true super genius, not just leeching off the Goddess's fame!"
"This guy is so awesome!"
"What in the world is today? For two peerless geniuses to appear at once!"
"..."
DONG!
As the crowd murmured in awe, the bronze bell rang out yet again.
"The eighth chime!"
The people below felt as if they could barely breathe.
"This... this... He's a god among men!"
"What's this god's name? Does anyone know?"
"..."
On the high platform, Luo Qingxian's beautiful eyes trembled as she stared at Luo Xiu in disbelief.
Although she was also at the Eighth-level Fusion Path, she had cultivated in the Body Refinement Realm for a long time and undergone several tests to reach that level. But this young man had reached the eighth level on his very first try!
"What on earth is this guy's background?" she murmured.
Luo Xian replied, "He must be a genius trained by some mysterious figure. But being at the same eighth level as you, Xian'er, this must surely be his limit."
Luo Qingxian nodded. "To my knowledge, the Divine Oracle Cave Heaven has never seen a Ninth-level Fusion Path."
However, no sooner had she finished speaking than the Daoxuan Bronze Bell before them suddenly blazed with an intense golden light!
DONG!
The bronze bell rang out one last time.
The golden light, as bright as the blazing sun, and the melodious, ethereal toll of the bell instantly enveloped the entire first layer, as if proclaiming to all of creation the arrival of a peerless genius of the Ninth-level Fusion Path