Gate of God

Furthermore, this was such a blatant, unapologetic move. Did none of these people notice this act of cheating?

Fang Zhengzhi glanced over at Sixth Elder and the crowding Heaven Dao disciples. They looked back at Fang Zhengzhi, appearing completely calm as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"...." Fang Zhengzhi finally understood what home advantage meant.

Should he protest? It would just be a waste of time.

Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t that stupid to dwell on such meaningless things. Since Chi Guyan already left, he had to seize every second he had.

Without any hesitation, Fang Zhengzhi took a leap, imitating Chi Guyan’s posture and splashed into the Divine Rain Pond. Just as Fang Zhengzhi plunged into the water, the spectating Heaven Dao disciples stared at him with eyes wide open, especially the thirty over disciples right by the water.

"...."

"That scoundrel jumped into the blue pond water. That’s the Valley of Mysteries, isn’t it?!"

"Ye .. Yes. Could it be that he doesn’t know that the Divine Rain Pond is split into five streams? He should have jumped into the red Nine Heavens if he wanted to view the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations immediately."

"He indeed entered the blue pond water belonging to the Valley of Mysteries, but isn’t something not right? Didn’t Senior Guyan inform him of the Divine Rain Pond’s five streams?"

Amidst their astonishment, the Heaven Dao disciples seemed to have remembered something, and turned their attention instinctively towards Sixth Elder standing by the water’s edge.

"Cough cough, regarding the changing pond water, as an elder of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, how could I possibly ..." Sixth Elder forced out two heavy coughs. His face turned slightly red but after a brief pause, he waved his hand.

"The Pavilion Leader’s orders were to allow this brat to enter the Divine Rain Pond. Although he accidentally ... Yes, that’s right, although he accidentally jumped into the Valley of Mysteries, he wouldn’t face any imminent life-threatening dangers. That’s just a training ground for disciples in the Rebirth State. He can still reach the Nine Heavens after passing the tribulations in the Valley of Mysteries. In fact, traversing the Valley of Mysteries first would be more beneficial to him. Numerous challenges and tests await him in the Valley of Mysteries which would greatly aid his training, so this can be viewed as a blessing in disguise!"

Sixth Elder very evidently emphasized the words ’accidentally’ and ’blessing in disguise’.

Upon hearing this, the Heaven Dao disciples instantly realized what was going on. Just as Sixth Elder mentioned, Mu Qingfeng’s orders were merely to allow Fang Zhengzhi entry into the Divine Rain Pond. As for the choice of either allowing him to ascend straight to the Nine Heavens or to first overcome one challenge in the Valley of Mysteries, Mu Qingfeng did not specify anything.

"To think that this scoundrel would be blessed with such amazing luck!"

"That’s right! Letting him enter the Valley of Mysteries is already such an outrageous privilege!"

"Agreed. Usually, we would have to make some significant contributions before we have the chance to train in the Valley of Mysteries. This scoundrel is so lucky - he even chanced upon the Valley of Mysteries by accident!"

Just as the Heaven Dao disciples were praising Fang Zhengzhi’s fortune, they exchanged glances and saw the smirks in each other’s eyes.

After hearing the banter of the surrounding Heaven Dao disciples, Sixth Elder lifted his head slowly. "You terrible brat, you can’t blame me for this. How dare you beat up Third Elder and Fifth Elder like this? If I don’t teach you a little lesson now, you’ll really believe that the Heaven Dao Pavilion is your home!"

"Sixth Elder, we’re going in!" The Heaven Dao disciples exclaimed in unison.

"Alright, go in then. Observe the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations carefully and remember, remain calm and composed!" Sixth Elder smiled and nodded at the disciples waiting by the water’s edge.

"We’ll remember Sixth Elder’s advice well!" The Heaven Dao disciples replied simultaneously.

Following that, thirty over Heaven Dao disciples jumped in one after another, each plunging into the red pond water of the Divine Rain Pond.

"Yan Qing, do you want to go in too?" Sixth Elder looked at Yan Qing, his eyes flickering with a faint glow.

He still has high hopes for Yan Qing. This selection test this time round could be considered an unexpected development. Originally, the Heaven Dao Pavilion elders assumed that they could attract at least three talents without fail this time round. But in the end, Qian Wu died; Yan Xiu refused their invitation; and the only one now was Yan Qing.

Although Yan Qing was slightly more introverted, he still possessed undying talent which compensated any personality flaws adequately.

"Yes!" Yan Qing nodded.

"Alright, you have already reached the peak of the Rebirth State. According to the Heaven Dao Pavilion’s rules, you can ascend straight to the Nine Heavens to observe the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations. What do you think?"

"I’ll heed Elder’s advice." Yan Qing nodded again.

"Haha, very well. Jump into the red pond water then!" Upon hearing this, Sixth Elder beamed in satisfaction.

"Understood!" With that, Yan Qing plunged in with a splash, jumping right into the blue pond water.

All the Heaven Dao disciples observing from a distance were evidently astounded by this scene.

"Why did Yan Qing jump into the blue pond water? Isn’t that the Jungle of Mysteries?"

"Didn’t Sixth Elder explain this very clearly?"

"How is this possible? I heard Sixth Elder’s instructions and they were absolutely clear ... he couldn’t be color-blind, could he?"

The Heaven Dao disciples glanced at each other in bewilderment.

Sixth Elder’s smile also crumpled in shock. He stared at the rippling blue pond water, his face flushed red.

....

The Divine Rain Pond’s First Heaven.

It was bright and sunny, without any sign of gloomy weather. However, the skies drizzled with spare droplets, falling upon a verdant pasture.

Chi Guyan stood in the middle of the field in her long pink robes, gazing up at the heavens with her sparkling eyes, lifting her hand up to catch the rising faint mist amidst the shower.

She was like a deity, completely pure and untainted, yet emanating a certain sense of aloofness and superiority.

And standing behind her were thirty over Heaven Dao disciples donning white scholarly robes standing on the grass. All of them opened their mouths wide to catch the falling droplets of water, clearly enjoying this moment.

Not only did this dew rain possess health benefits for one’s physical wellbeing, its most important quality was its ability to freshen up one’s mind and improve one’s concentration. This was the most pivotal reason for their seniors exhausting so much effort to create this rain in the Divine Rain Pond.

And just as Chi Guyan was waiting and the other Heaven Dao disciples were enjoying themselves, a shadow slowly appeared in the horizon. In an instant, an ancient-looking scroll faded into view.

"It has appeared!"

"The first of the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations!"

This scene undoubtedly made all the Heaven Dao disciples’ eyes light up instantly, each beaming with excitement and anticipation.

The scroll opened and it radiated with a faint glow. A stroke of ink appeared slowly and lengthened continuously ... until the end of the scroll. It was only a single stroke from the beginning to the end.

Like a dagger, a sword, a hammer, a lightning bolt, a scar ... It was a very arbitrary stroke, yet it possessed an unbelievable sharpness, and it was in fact the first painting of the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations.

....

Fang Zhengzhi naturally knew that he couldn’t possibly lift his head and be greeted by the first painting of the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations like Chi Guyan and the other Heaven Dao disciples.

In fact, he did lift his head, but ... all he saw was a thick cloud of fog. It was so dense that it made his blood boil, as though seeing an obnoxious couple flaunting their love in public.

"What’s with this f*cking smog?" Fang Zhengzhi blinked in confusion, completely puzzled as to why he suddenly appeared in this place.

Where were the Nine Heavens he was promised? Where is it?

And where did that chick Chi Guyan go? Or the Heaven Dao disciples that came together with her? Why have they all disappeared?

"Did I go the wrong way?" Fang Zhengzhi tried to open his mouth to catch the falling drizzle. It was slightly sweet, and he felt a refreshing surge of energy flow through his body. The effect evidently matched Chi Guyan’s description of the dew brewed from 999 types of herbs.

There’s rain ... and it’s dew.

This should be correct, right?

Fang Zhengzhi was slightly puzzled. This was almost undoubtedly the Divine Rain Pond. After all, he did jump into the Divine Rain Pond and not anywhere else, and there’s the dew rain as proof.

He couldn’t possibly be wrong, but why is this still different from what he had imagined?

Just as Fang Zhengzhi was mulling over this mystery, the thick smog before his eyes darkened gradually, as though it was hiding a gigantic shadow.

"Eh? Is the illustration here?" Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes lit up, his dejection quickly changing to excitement and anticipation.

He didn’t know what form this Nine Heavens Sagely Illustration would take.

Is it a scroll of characters? Or an ink painting? Or a sword, or a spear that has been snapped into half?

Fang Zhengzhi’s imagination certainly knew no bounds, and on the contrary, his imagination now was still very bold. After all, he was someone with boundless experience - like how the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet was not a tablet, but every form of existence in the world.

By that logic, the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations may not be an illustration. It could be a weapon, or even a tree.

"Roar!" Then, a ferocious beastly roar reverberated through the fog, and the ground began to shake.

Boom!

A gargantuan ox-like beast burst out from the fog.

It was three meters tall, almost like a small mountain. Its entire body was clad in thick black scales. It boasted two razor-sharp horns sprouting horizontally over the top of its head, and its pair of eerily blue eyes danced with blue flames.

"So the first illustration of the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations is a beast?!" Fang Zhengzhi gazed at the gigantic beast bounding towards him, slightly overwhelmed.