Becoming evil makes you ten times stronger, but becoming a demon gives you hundredfold strength-Chapter 398 - 326: Losing Face, Three Lists of the Immortal Sect_2

The Investiture of the Gods had long since disappeared, but fragments of the Ascension List were possessed by many sects that came after, used to counteract the laws.

The laws were a good thing, providing cultivators with another choice, but they also made the big shots very uncomfortable.

A world divided by ranks protected the weak, who were capable of killing the strong, so many practicing Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment simply never left the worlds of the First Grade or Second Order. They were like those on Azure Star who save money without spending, without marrying. No matter how nicely things are worded above, youth without cultivation is old age without reliance, and so on. These smart and honest individuals calculated the chances of Pill of Completion and decided to lay low.

There was no way around it. To achieve the Golden Core, one needed relentless courage, the whole family’s unwavering support regardless of the cost, the determination to abandon wives and children, and time and again risk one’s life in service to the big shots—yet the chance of success was no more than one or two percent!

Is it worth it?

Thus, because of the laws, numerous talented individuals with excellent aptitudes lay low, causing their families to do the same (when it came time to worship the Golden Core, most of the worshippers’ peers were almost dead, and supporting others for three generations was indeed less worthwhile than emigrating to some Low Order world to live out one’s life. Let others create the Golden Age).

Consequently, a strange situation emerged in the Cultivation World where everyone strove to manage the present, preferring to be stuck in the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment stages rather than risk everything, including leveraging all they had, to make progress and start a business.

The big shots of the Cultivation World profoundly detested this, saying everyone came from poverty, so why weren’t you striving? Why weren’t you partaking in the ruthless competition? If you don’t buy a house and I don’t buy a house, how can the Immortal Realm develop? Our descendants are no good; surely someone needs to help, to serve as cattle, horses, stepping stones, right?

However... No matter how well the big shots spoke, when the talents below saw the family trees of those with Golden Cores and Nascent Souls, and realized that the one percent chance of Pill of Completion had to be further divided by relationships, they became even more apathetic.

Indeed, had it not been for the constant supply of fresh blood and talents from Minor Worlds, the development of the Cultivation World would have been even worse than now.

But the Cultivation World was a very cruel place, where big shots needed a plethora of people to help gather resources, occupy mines, raise Spirit Beasts, and more. When it came to battle, they needed exceptional disciples even more so.

The lack of trust in the fairness and justice of those above was a grave issue.

Therefore, whether it was the Orthodox Sects or the Ten Great Demon Sects, everyone eventually contributed their fragments of the Ascension List, and forged a new Cave Heaven Treasure.

Its name still was the Ascension List, targeting talents from all corners of the world.

As mentioned before, the major sects of the Central Plains Cultivation World were preparing for a grand competition, open to both Loose Cultivators and true disciples, and some really powerful individuals were invited to judge. Blood Shadow Ancestor was one of them.

The Ascension List was truly a Divine Artifact; its rules were as follows:

First, the Ascension List is fair and impartial, not favoring any party.

Second, the Cave Heaven inside is a virtual world; as long as a wisp of Divine Soul enters, it can reproduce all of one’s information accurately.

Third, appearance can change, names can change, the main focus is freedom, anything goes inside, but the Divine Artifact guarantees that if you die in there, your real body won’t perish.

Fourth, the world inside is a Second-Order World. It’s not like the laws that only Foundation Building can enter but Golden Core cannot; anyone below Divinity Transformation can enter. Everyone who enters, Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment, will have their Cultivation simulated based on their previous level, whereas Golden Core and Nascent Soul will be transformed into the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, strictly limited to the Cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, though there are privileges in aspects like the Divine Soul that are hard to discern.

This is one of the highlights of the Ascension List.

New accounts wouldn’t go to a server where the big shots were decked out in divine equipment. The geniuses of the Cultivation World, even if it is only a wisp of Divine Soul inside, don’t want to be inexplicably obliterated by a wave of a hand from a Golden Core or Nascent Soul. And the big shots, having lowered their Cultivation, are more approachable and can better communicate with everyone, making it easier to absorb suitable disciples, and they can also catch up with old friends.

Fifth, the Ascension List ensures the right of every individual to suicide. If one suffers unbearable humiliation or other troubles inside, they can explode their Divine Soul at any time and exit.

Sixth...

These treaties built the reputation of the Ascension List to the extent that many activities of the large Central Plains sects rent the Ascension List—for instance, the Central Plains Sect Competition a few months ahead, which will not only use the Ascension List but has also invited Blood Shadow Ancestor to judge, safeguarding the rights of the Demon Sect disciples and ensuring the success of this grand gathering.

It is now the stage for the judges to enter. Each judge can bring a true disciple with them, and Blood Shadow Ancestor filled out the invitation with the name Cao Defang—The Ascension List doesn’t care whether the name is real or fake, as long as the ceremony is completed, Meng Yu can log into the Ascension List under the identity of a true disciple of the Blood Demon Sect.

"Ah, logging into this Ascension List, are there any benefits?"

Meng Yu asked with a frown.

"Being able to enter is a blessing," Meng Yu exclaimed. "Opening the Ascension List is very costly in terms of Spirit Stones, so it often isn’t activated even once in over a decade. This time, the Four Great Sects, flush with wealth, have initiated it and have also invited all the major Nascent Soul experts from every corner of the world."

"Such fair and safe opportunities are rare, where everyone can enter without worry. It’s a place for various exchanges and even equal footing, which is extremely precious. For example, if I can enter, I can talk with those Nascent Souls, or even fight with them, without fearing being slapped to death, and I can also chat and trade with people from far and wide."

Mmm, Meng Yu nodded, isn’t this just a virtual world?

"High school exams at the Immortal Sect can benefit countless individuals. Walking through a virtual world once can accumulate a wealth of experience."

"On this side, those Golden Core Nascent Soul powerhouses, although their cultivation is suppressed to the Foundation Building Pinnacle, can still sharpen their skills without wasting any Spirit Stones and play carefree."

"Moreover, this Divine Artifact is open source. Simply put, during its casting, many different factions participated in setting the rules, so there’s no fear of traps."

"Blood Shadow Ancestor, I’m really looking forward to your performance this time."

Ao Wu looked enviously at the invitation. It was still the preparation phase, meaning that before the students entered, it was a gathering for the bigwigs. It was the highest-end Immortal Sect gathering.

"Cao Defang, come find me on the Ascension List, and let’s have a chat," the voice of Blood Shadow Ancestor called from below. He had sent that scroll specifically for this young man to come up and see the vast expanse of the sky and sea!

"Let me think about it."

Meng Yu signaled to Ao Wu and Qin Ningxue to step outside, sealed the cave dwelling with a Formation, and then, holding the Ascension List, sought advice from other Golden Cores.

An hour later, everyone agreed there was no major issue. The rules were fine; it only required a strand of Divine Soul, so any loss would not be significant.

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Should he wait for Mirror Twelve?

Meng Yu thought for a moment and then shook his head.

Mirror Twelve was part of the high school allocation, simply a bunch of private tutors without official titles who had run off to another world and set up shop looking like everyone else. Compared to the official institutions of the Ascension List, it was far inferior. As for other aspects... education was a murky water too deep for Meng Yu. He didn’t want to get involved or learn about any insider details, nor did he want Mirror Twelve to get involved and potentially cause trouble.

Moreover, the Ascension List had a rule.

No Divinity Transformation or dogs allowed.

The Immortal Sect’s simulation of reality could at most reach Foundation Establishment, while the Ascension List could simulate up to Golden Core and Nascent Soul at Foundation Building Pinnacle. But Divinity Transformation... such a simulation would be too excessive. The Ascension List firmly rejected Divinity Transformation from wasting computing resources.

Should he give it a shot?

Meng Yu thought it over. The appearance of the Blood Demon Sect’s old ancestor required thorough investigation. The Growing Golden Lotus within his Divine Soul gave him enough confidence.

Moreover, he had a wildly savage idea.

He hadn’t enjoyed the last high school competition to his satisfaction. Could this be an opportunity to make up for that regret?

Surrounded by Golden Cores providing protection and all defense mechanisms in place, a Golden Lotus bloomed above his head. A strand of Meng Yu’s Divine Soul landed on the Ascension List.

In that instant, he felt his spirit split into two.

One remained in place, able to move freely and do anything. The other thread had entered a wondrous space.

Excellent, excellent, excellent.

The game begins.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!