Chapter 584: The Fourth Layer

Because of his status as the eldest son of the Meng family, Meng Jingzhou knew a great deal about the modern cultivation world, even more than Lu Yang.

However, when it came to ancient history, he was completely clueless.

Considering that the ancient history known by modern cultivators differed significantly from the true ancient history, it was even more problematic.

There was no need to compare. He suggested Lu Yang be given a direct pass.

As he expected, Lu Yang answered all ten questions correctly, passing with a perfect score—an unprecedented achievement.

What he didn't expect was that his zero score still ranked second.

Luo Hong cast an admiring glance at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

“Your two scores are history's first and second highest respectively,” she said. “Very good.”

Meng Jingzhou was speechless.

What Meng Jingzhou didn't know was that everyone who had previously reached the third floor was an exceptional talent. They were learned, knowledgeable about both ancient and modern times. When the lightning round began, out of absolute confidence in their knowledge, they eagerly rushed to answer questions.

And then they ended up with negative scores.

Losing once was an accident. Wanting to rectify their scores, they continued to buzz in. The more they answered, the lower their scores became.

By the time the ten questions were over, it became a competition of who had the most negative points.

Luo Hong pointed at Meng Jingzhou, Jiang Shishi, and Su Lian'er. “The three of you will receive rewards,” she announced.

Luo Hong snapped her fingers, and a small mountain of treasures appeared, glittering with golden light. Each item was incredibly valuable, capable of fetching astronomical prices, and highly sought after by everyone.

Unlike the second floor, this time the treasure mountain was even more valuable, even containing lost great divine abilities like the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms'.

A cursor floated above each treasure. Most cursors showed 'one', while a few displayed 'two' or 'three'.

For instance, the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' was marked with 'three'.

“Su Lian'er, your performance on the first floor was average. On the second floor, you didn't see through what I was testing, and your natural instinct was to lie. On the third floor, your performance was also average. You may choose any one item from here.”

“Thank you, Senior Luo Hong!” Su Lian'er exclaimed.

Before entering the Ancient Realm of Creation, she never expected to reach this stage, which had already far exceeded her expectations.

“Jiang Shishi, you obtained two hundred and eighty essence fragments on the first floor, setting a historical record and performing exceptionally well. On the second floor, you saw through what I was testing. On the third floor, your performance was average. You may choose any three items from here.”

“Thank you, Senior Luo Hong,” Jiang Shishi replied.

“A word of caution: most treasures you can select freely, but some are of exceptionally high value. Choosing one of them is equivalent to choosing two or three ordinary items.”

The 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' was marked with 'three', meaning selecting it was equivalent to selecting three items.

The complete 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' could defeat ancient dragon ancestors, making it a top-tier divine ability. Even an incomplete version, if mastered, would allow one to dominate their peers in the same cultivation realm.

Luo Hong then looked at Meng Jingzhou and summarized his performance:

“On the first floor, you obtained two hundred and eighty essence fragments, setting a historical record alongside Jiang Shishi, and performing exceptionally well. On the second floor, you not only saw through the test's content but also planted many flowers in the flowerpot. On the third floor, you achieved the second-best historical score.”

“You may choose any five items from here.”

The privilege of choosing five items meant that Meng Jingzhou's overall performance ranked second in the history of the Ancient Realm of Creation.

If not for Lu Yang's score, he would have ranked first.

Su Lian'er chose a defensive ancient talisman, which could block a full-force attack from a Body Integration stage cultivator.

Jiang Shishi chose a Phoenix Contemplation Painting. The phoenix in the painting was lifelike, spreading its wings as if ready to soar, as if it could fly out of the canvas at any moment.

This painting was created by a half-immortal. It could calm the mind and focus the spirit, recreate bloodlines, and accelerate the bloodline awakening process, possessing endless mysteries.

This painting was marked with 'three'.

Meng Jingzhou found it difficult to choose. Most of the items here were useless to him; if he wanted something similar, the Dao Seeking Sect already had it.

“Hmm? What kind of cultivation technique is this? What a strange name! 'Chaos One Qi Two Poles Three Talents Four Symbols Five Elements Six Harmonies Seven Luminaries Eight Desolations Nine Earths Ten Heavens Only My Supremacy Immortal Art'?”

“Such a long name?” he mused.

“I can't understand it,” he said.

Meng Jingzhou flipped through the cultivation technique. It was a translated version.

The technique was marked with a 'five', making it the most valuable among all the treasures.

“It's so expensive, yet it's only half a book?” Meng Jingzhou grumbled.

Meng Jingzhou complained that this technique only covered the cultivation process from the Qi Condensation stage to the Soul Transformation stage, meaning it was the first half.

“The 'Numerical Immortal Art'?!”

As soon as Lu Yang heard the name, his eyes widened abruptly. “This thing actually exists?!” he thought.

This was an immortal art of the Nine Heavens Immortal!

“You've heard of it?” Meng Jingzhou asked.

Lu Yang nodded. “This is an absolute treasure.”

“Don't exchange it yet,” Lu Yang said. “Let me ask someone first.”

Lu Yang turned his head and entered his spiritual space. “Fairy, do you know the contents of the 'Numerical Immortal Art'?”

If the Fairy could recall it, he wouldn't need to memorize it himself.

The Immortal Fairy showed an expression of disdain. “This Fairy barely remembers the name of the Nine Heavens Immortal's technique; why would I remember its contents?”

“Then, Old Meng's half-book technique...” Lu Yang prompted.

“Exchange it,” she said. “This technique is quite good. The Nine Heavens Immortal once showed off this technique in front of this Fairy, saying that different people would gain different insights from it. It helps in comprehending one's own divine abilities, and also in comprehending other divine abilities. There were other things, but this Fairy can't remember them clearly.”

Receiving an affirmative answer, Lu Yang exited his spiritual space, nodded vigorously, and uttered a single word.

“Exchange.”

Meng Jingzhou, without a second thought, exchanged for the half-book immortal technique.

Luo Hong waved her hand. “The three of you may leave now.”

Before he could speak to Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou and the other two were teleported out of the Ancient Realm.

Only Lu Yang and Luo Hong remained in the vast space.

“Senior Luo Hong, you...”

Luo Hong circled Lu Yang with great interest, tsk-tsking in wonder.

“I have indeed seen a few lucky ones who guessed one question correctly,” she said, “but someone like you, who answered all ten questions correctly, has never appeared before.”

“I always thought no one would ever be able to answer all ten questions.”

Luo Hong snapped her fingers, and the dim third floor instantly became bright. This third floor was a city, bustling with carriages, horses, and people coming and going. Great demons also walked among them, with demons and humans coexisting harmoniously, a scene of prosperity.

“Don't be surprised,” she said. “This is the illusion where I usually live. For three hundred thousand years, I couldn't possibly spend every day planting flowers and rolling around with demonic beasts. The fourth floor is where you're going.”

“The fourth floor?” Lu Yang repeated, surprised.

In the model of the Ancient Realm provided upon entry, there was no mention of a fourth floor.

Luo Hong smiled without a word and gestured for Lu Yang to look up at the sky.

As she spoke, a bright light appeared in the sky. The light transformed into a golden ladder, connecting the third and fourth floors.

The creatures in the city stopped, pausing to gaze at the sky, pointing at the golden ladder with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

“The one who created me told me that if someone were to clear the mystic realm,” Luo Hong explained, “they should be allowed to proceed to the fourth floor.”

“The fourth floor is beyond my authority,” she continued. “I don't know what lies within it.”

“Who created you, Senior?” Lu Yang asked.

“I'll tell you when you come down from the fourth floor,” Luo Hong said with a smile.

Lu Yang understood that unless he reached the fourth floor, Senior Luo Hong wouldn't say a word.

But it didn't matter. He was going to the fourth floor anyway.

“Then I shall take my leave for now, Senior,” Lu Yang said, cupping his fists.

“Go on, then,” Luo Hong replied. “I'll be waiting for your return.”

Lu Yang stepped onto the golden ladder. As he stepped on it, a warm current flowed through his entire body, filling him with strength from head to toe.

Lu Yang then vanished into the fourth floor. The golden ladder disintegrated, turning into golden rain that scattered over the city.

The fourth floor's style was completely different from the first three. It resembled a lady's boudoir, with meticulous details visible everywhere. The room's owner must have been a very meticulous person.

“This room looks familiar,” the Immortal Fairy remarked. With no one else present, she emerged from the spiritual space, her attire still wild.