Lava Immortal Palace.
It was Meng Chong's first time entering the preparation room.
The Five-faced Stone Pillar Leaderboard was quite eye-catching, especially as it rotated slowly and continuously.
Meng Chong immediately spotted the stone pillar.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been keeping an eye on him. Upon seeing Meng Chong enter the preparation room, its half-open eyelids widened slightly out of excitement.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was in poor condition.
Earlier, when the Lava Immortal Palace was under siege by the Red Flame Beasts, the situation had become quite dangerous.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit personally intervened, entering the Dao Master's mechanical puppet to take control and fight. After a fierce battle, it managed to turn the tide and finally killed the Golden Core-level Fire Fusion Demon Ape.
Its spiritual essence had been heavily depleted.
This was mainly because the mechanical creation of the Dao Master did not match it at all.
Even now, many Red Flame Beasts were still besieging the Lava Immortal Palace. The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had to organize the mechanical creations to set up defenses, arrange for various repairs, and also oversee the trials for the Qi Refining disciples.
This overwhelming workload was a constant and draining consumption of its spiritual essence.
Even so, upon seeing Meng Chong approach the leaderboard, it couldn’t help but feel excited and transmitted some crucial information.
In an instant, a flame whip materialized and lashed at it!
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit retracted its head and claws into its shell, enduring the pain in silence.
Meng Chong received the hint and, with a refreshed spirit, realized this was the preparation room and not a place of great danger.
He slightly lowered his guard and walked toward the Five-faced Stone Pillar Leaderboard.
Following the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's guidance, Meng Chong first touched the stone pillar and obtained the Trial Disciple’s Mark.
Then, he raised his head to examine the leaderboard.
The leaderboard displayed rankings for the Qi Refining List, Essence Refining List, Spirit Refining List, Progress List, and Speedrun List.
Among these five leaderboards, Meng Chong ranked second on the Qi Refining List, Progress List, and Speedrun List. He was not listed on the Essence Refining List or Spirit Refining List.
Meng Chong felt a sense of indignation. From a young age, he had always strived to be number one.
He was blessed with immortal potential, a genius among geniuses, destined to surpass others and stand at the peak.
How could he settle for second place?!
However, when Meng Chong saw the name at the top, he became at ease.
The name occupying the first place on all five lists was the same — “Entry Standard.”
"Only by surpassing this standard can one be accepted into the Lava Immortal Palace?"
"The three masters of the sect truly live up to their reputation as great powers at the Void Refining level. Every trial here is incredibly difficult, and even the entry standard is so high."
"Good!"
"This makes me even more eager for the challenge."
"Moreover, there are rewards for being ranked on the leaderboard. That’s really nice."
"Hahaha!"
Meng Chong’s fighting spirit soared. After studying the room for a while, he proceeded to open the door and entered Room No. 4.
Inside the main hall of the Lava Immortal Palace.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, still curled up in its shell, shuddered as the flame whip struck it, and it rolled its eyes at Meng Chong in frustration.
It had clearly given Meng Chong a heads-up, specifically informing him that he ranked “second”! Yet Meng Chong didn’t think much of it and even laughed happily.
This gave the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit the feeling of wanting to spit blood.
It had already done everything within its ability, but Meng Chong failed to notice the strangeness of the situation.
Well!
It had endured that whip for nothing.
Checkpoint No. 2.
After Meng Chong left, Ning Zhuo quickly crawled out of the mechanical trap.
He first went to the first door and used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to crack it open slightly, peeking into Room No. 1.
By then, each Trial Disciple's Mark would serve as the best endorsement for Ning Zhuo.
The third benefit was that it allowed for flexibility in his ranking.
If, in the future, someone surpassed the "Entry Standard," they would think, "I made the cut; I met the requirements to become an entry disciple."
And if the "Entry Standard" later surpassed others, they would think, "Oh, the entry standard is flexible." It’s like many family assessments that only reward the top ten. The entry standard of the Lava Immortal Palace also adjusts based on the trial disciples’ performance.
Ning Zhuo passed by the leaderboard stone pillar.
Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, pushed open the door to Room No. 4 first.
Through the surveillance components, Ning Zhuo discovered that when Meng Chong entered the room, he paused slightly, then cast several spells in succession, obtaining mechanical components corresponding to each spell.
Ning Zhuo muttered, “Strange! It’s as if Meng Chong already knew what to do. There was no exploration, and he just found the answers directly.”
Ning Zhuo quickened his pace with Yuan Dasheng.
There was no sign of Meng Chong in Room No. 5 either.
The surveillance components showed Meng Chong’s relaxed demeanor as he cleared the checkpoint.
Ning Zhuo carefully reviewed everything and confirmed once again that
Meng Chong had made significant progress — he had learned how to channel his immortal potential into his spells!
This made Ning Zhuo even more solemn.
Room No. 6.
Meng Chong laughed heartily, "Now this is interesting. Wild Sprint Thunderclap!"
With a shout, his body moved like lightning, dodging several spell strikes.
He then used his immortal potential again, this time enhancing the Ice-Embracing Technique and a breath of Qi.
The Ice-Embracing Technique and the breath of Qi merged, forming a straight blast of freezing air. In the flicker of lightning, it swiftly hit a spell-casting puppet.
The spell-casting puppet was instantly frozen.
Meng Chong created an opening and took the opportunity to break out of the puppet’s encirclement.
However, just as he was about to revel in his success, Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, suddenly appeared!
"Ah, it's you!!" Meng Chong was wildly excited upon seeing it.
Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, charged forward, wreathed in flames, to engage Meng Chong in close combat.
Meng Chong was unafraid, even thrilled, "Last time, I was burned to death by the flames. This time, I won’t. I have spells to protect me."
Meng Chong cast the Ice-Embracing Technique and a breath of Qi, combining them with the Release Qi Ring, surrounding himself with a thick layer of freezing air.
With the freezing air countering the flames, Meng Chong no longer feared being burned.
But in the next moment, Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng’s palm slammed into Meng Chong’s chest.
The spell — Five Elements Disorder Technique!
This was a reward from Dao Gate’s third checkpoint, and Ning Zhuo was using it in actual combat against Meng Chong for the first time.
As for its effect... it was outstanding!
In an instant, the spiritual energy inside Meng Chong's body went from being well-ordered to a chaotic mess.
“I...” Meng Chong's body was immobilized, while also suffering from the backlash of the interrupted Ice-Embracing Technique and other spells.
Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, struck again, easily plucking off Meng Chong’s puppet head.
Then, with a powerful squeeze, he crushed the puppet head instantly.
Meng Chong could only return to his body outside the palace with overwhelming reluctance, his soul flying out.
Inside the City Lord’s Mansion.
He suddenly opened his eyes, still in disbelief, “What kind of spell was that? It seemed to completely counter the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art?”
“Lost again!”
“No matter, this time I gained a lot.”
Meng Chong was filled with anticipation for the next time he would enter the palace, his fighting spirit burning even brighter.
“By the way, send the latest intelligence to Fei Si and my grandfather. Let them help me figure out if there’s a faster way to clear the checkpoints.”