The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 812: I Hate You!

I Hate You! . . .

Even the great ancestor of Cold Moon Palace, the founder of the sect, had only cultivated three of the martial arts in the sect throughout his lifetime. These three were the original and most ancient martial arts that formed the foundation of Cold Moon Palace. The other nine martial arts had been created by prominent disciples throughout the long history of the sect.

In the tens of thousands of years that marked Cold Moon Palace's history, there had been numerous geniuses who attempted to cultivate multiple martial arts. However, only a handful of them met with any success. Their most significant achievement was reaching the ninth level of the Dao Origin Stage, the second-highest level within this martial realm. None of them ever ascended to the pinnacle of the Dao Origin Stage.

In other words, disciples who attempted to cultivate multiple martial arts were never destined to become the main driving force behind the sect's power.

As onlookers pondered the situation with mixed emotions, the degree scales continued to rise relentlessly.

"Sixty now!" exclaimed Yue Changtian, taking a deep breath. The fact that the scales were still climbing amazed him, but he felt a tinge of disappointment. "They're all at the same level. Why is this happening?"

"If all twelve pillars simultaneously show seventy, it's over for this young man," Yue Changtian mumbled, his expression filled with sorrow. He had just discovered a talented disciple for the sect, only to watch him possibly face a crushing disappointment.

The grand dream of Cold Moon Palace becoming the most formidable sect in the world was slipping away.

Should all twelve pillars register seventy, the moonlight would begin to wane. Even if one of the pillars continued to rise afterward, it might not climb very high. After all, expecting all twelve pillars to ascend simultaneously was implausible.

Yue Changtian's nerves were on edge as he maintained a vigilant watch over the pillars. The marks of light on each pillar continued their slow ascent. All twelve were still in perfect harmony.

Seventy!

Yue Changtian closed his eyes in a gesture of defeat. He was in anguish. A score of seventy was commendable and close to excellence for an ordinary disciple. However, for an individual with the extraordinary Nine Exquisite Body, it was utterly disappointing.

Cha Eun Xiao had brought an extraordinary level of hope and anticipation, and his current result was nothing short of heartbreaking.

"The moonlight... is fading," he thought despondently. The desolation weighed heavily on his heart.

Yue Changtian was not very familiar with Cha Eun Xiao. He had not spent an extended amount of time with this young man. He was unaware that Cha Eun Xiao was, in fact, the renowned Xiao Monarch, a man filled with astonishing potential and boundless surprises. Anything was possible with him.

While Prime Master Yue had turned away from the pillars, an uproar erupted amongst the spectators.

Yue Changtian felt a sense of foreboding. [What could have happened that prompted all three grandmasters to exclaim at the same time? Is there still hope for Cha Eun Xiao?]

He opened his eyes, and upon doing so, was met with an intense and blinding light.

[What's going on?]

The cause of the brilliance was simple: the light had grown so dazzling that it blinded everyone present, rendering them incapable of seeing anything clearly.

Yet, Yue Changtian was the only one able to withstand the glare. He peered through the intense light to discern its source, discovering that it emanated from the moons affixed to the hall's ceiling.

He was struck with awe. [Why isn't the moonlight fading? It's not just maintaining its brilliance; it's growing exponentially brighter—dozens of times stronger than before!]

The entire hall was bathed in an intense lunar radiance.

[What is happening?]

Prime Master Yue was not the sole person grappling with this question; the others shared his confusion. They gazed wide-eyed at the pillars, casting aside the discomfort of the dazzling light.

The dazzling glare no longer concerned them. They all stood with bated breath, eyes fixed on the pillars.

And then, the impossible happened.

The twelve pillars simultaneously displayed a score of ninety on their scales!

The illumination on the pillars continued to climb at a remarkable pace, leaving everyone in disbelief.

"Ninety?"

"All twelve pillars?"

"They're all at the same level?"

"No distinction among them?"

Yue Changtian stood there in utter astonishment, his thoughts racing. The events unfolding before him were beyond his comprehension. "What is this? Is it a dream? A nightmare or a delightful reverie?"

"It's just too unbelievable."

He repeated, "What is happening?" thrice in a hushed tone. The murmurs weren't confined to him alone; they echoed through the hall as everyone remained entranced.

Their eyes remained fixed on the scales displayed on the pillars as the marks continued their upward ascent. And, inexplicably, all twelve pillars continued to rise in perfect unison.

"Am I dreaming? Whether it's a nightmare or a sweet dream, this defies all logic." Yue Changtian pinched his leg in a desperate attempt to confirm his reality and felt a searing pain. He almost leaped in shock.

As he clutched his leg, he suddenly noticed three additional hands pinching the same spot. Their unyielding grip amplified the pain, and he struggled not to shout out. It was as if he were experiencing some bizarre dream.

Aghast and in considerable discomfort, he turned to the three grandmasters beside him. They were muttering to themselves in bewildered tones, "This must be a dream. There's no pain in the leg."

Yue Changtian couldn't help but touch his own leg to assure himself that it was real. Then, with a deep breath, he informed the grandmasters, "That was my leg... You pinched the wrong leg... Come on."

However, the grandmasters seemed entirely consumed by the extraordinary scene unfolding on the pillars, utterly disregarding Yue Changtian's words.

Yue Changtian released a sigh of resignation and returned his gaze to the Heaven's Selection in time to witness the most astonishing sight yet.

The pillars... displayed twelve identical marks at ninety-five! It was a staggering occurrence that left the entire hall in dumbfounded silence.

But the astonishment didn't stop there. The light marks continued their ascent, refusing to halt.

"By the heavens! Ninety-six!" Zhan Yunfei suddenly burst out with a thunderous shout. "It's not over yet... Ahhh..."

His exclamation jolted everyone in the hall, and their furious glares turned toward him.

Zhan Yunfei's face had turned ashen, and he muttered, "Xiao Mufei! I loathe you! This hatred will endure a lifetime!"