Follow the path of Dao from infancy

"Okay."

Li Hao was also curious about this legendary stone.

Their conversation was overheard by everyone, and when Lu Chunsheng led Li Hao forward, the many disciples consciously made way, their eyes filled with curiosity.

The rules of the Heavenly Shadow Stele had nothing to do with cultivation level; they primarily tested one's enlightenment.

The young man before them was famous throughout the world for having the fastest cultivation speed in a thousand years; they too wanted to see just how much his enlightenment differed from theirs.

Sometimes, a fast cultivation speed doesn't mean high enlightenment.

After all, below the Heavenly Human Realm, as long as one had the resources, one could improve quickly.

If one disregarded foundational issues, they could even chug elixirs and advance by leaps and bounds in a single day.

Stepping into the Heavenly Human Realm, besides requiring enlightenment, also involved a fair amount of luck.

Some people would have an epiphany just by watching a falling leaf or scooping up a handful of water.

Others would gallop across the world, challenging all the major sects, accumulating scars all over their bodies, yet still find themselves halted in front of that heavenly gate.

"These one hundred Heavenly Shadow Steles record the cultivation technique realms of all the disciples of Tianji Tower over the past hundred years,"

Lu Chunsheng said with a smile, "When the cultivation technique you perform exceeds the level recorded by the stele, the essence of the stele will automatically record the level of your technique, replacing the previous shadow. This is what we call the Stele Shadow Legacy."

Li Hao nodded; he knew all this.

However, hearing about it was one thing, but experiencing it was another. As he approached the pitch-black stele, Li Hao faintly sensed the rich energy of heaven and earth covering it, along with an enigmatic and elusive essence.

"In our tower, disciples may only observe each stele ten times. If they fail to leave a shadow within these ten attempts, they shall not be permitted to observe the stele again,"

Lu Chunsheng said with a smile, "The number of attempts to observe the stele, as well as whether one can leave a shadow or not, are measures of one's talent and enlightenment."

"Interesting."

Li Hao remarked.

Seeing Li Hao's interest, the corners of Lu Chunsheng's mouth curled up. He knew geniuses couldn't resist this kind of challenge.

"Young General, given your talent and swordsmanship, I suggest you try that Heavenly Shadow Stele."

Lu Chunsheng pointed Li Hao to a Heavenly Shadow Stele not far away.

Everyone looked over, immediately beginning to whisper among themselves.

"It's the stele left by Brother Kong ten years ago."

"That stele is ranked 82nd in difficulty. Is he going to challenge one that difficult right off the bat?"

"It might be difficult for us, but not necessarily for him. I think he'll definitely succeed in leaving a shadow within three tries!"

"Three tries? That's hard to say; I think five tries should be about right. After all, he can suppress a grandmaster, and his talent and enlightenment are beyond any of us."

Everyone whispered quietly, some expectantly watching Li Hao.

In the crowd, Tang Zhixi was also gazing intently at the 82nd ranked Kong stele, which was more difficult than the 93rd ranked stele she had just broken through.

Could this young man manage it in three tries?

Her lips were pursed slightly, and her eyes were focused on the young man.

"Okay."

Li Hao glanced at it and walked up to that Heavenly Shadow Stele.

After scrutinizing it and following Lu Chunsheng's whispered instructions, Li Hao placed his palm on the stele and then released his aura.

Soon, the stele seemed to activate, displaying a luminous splendor.

At the same time, a figure stood in the stele, a young man holding a long sword, who suddenly slashed down.

But this young man was just a shadow without the ability to attack. As he slashed and swung, he demonstrated a piercing sword technique.

To leave one's shadow on the stele, one must replicate the exact same sword technique demonstrated by the shadow and perform it even more exquisitely.

If one were to use a different sword technique, it wouldn't work, which is why countless people have used this to test their talents and their capacity for enlightenment.

Quickly, the young man finished the demonstration.

By the middle of his demonstration, Li Hao received a panel prompt, recording the demonstrated sword technique.

"I can actually record swordsmanship here, and it seems it's not the swordsmanship of Tianji Tower..."

Li Hao's eyes brightened.

Didn't this mean that these hundreds of Heavenly Shadow Steles were akin to hundreds of cultivation techniques?!

At this moment, after the young man in the stele finished his performance, his shadow dimmed and disappeared.

Li Hao also came back to his senses, absorbing the multitude of information transferred from the panel, looking at the newly added and extrapolated to perfection "Grasping Moon Myriad Flowers Sword Skill" as well as the "True State" level, and he reminisced once again about the sword move that the young man had just performed.

It seemed to be only at the perfection level.

This was a superior sword technique.

To watch the stele ten times and comprehend and cultivate it to the perfection level really was a test of one's enlightenment; it wasn't any less difficult than passing the imperial examinations after only one year of study.

Most people observed the stele for the first time, memorizing by rote the shadow's sword moves, then repeatedly practiced on their own, attempting the challenge again after a year or half. And so the cycle continued.

The period of ten observations could span over a decade.

"The shadow has disappeared, I wonder if he has comprehended it?"

"Comprehension isn't difficult. I can do it too. If he can't comprehend it after one observation, can he still be called a genius?"

"You're right. However, Brother Kong's sword technique is at the perfection level. The higher the realm, the harder it is to discern its subtleties, making it difficult to imitate and the cultivation even more demanding."

People whispered softly.

Li Hao looked around for a moment and saw a tree in the distance. He summoned a dry branch with a wave of his hand.

Then, with a flick of his hand, the branch in his hand unleashed the Grasping Moon Myriad Flowers Sword Skill.

It was as if a bright moon appeared, captured by the sword light in his hand, and around him myriad Sword Qi, like numerous blossoming sword flowers, drifted about beautifully. However, each blossom carried a sharp Sword Qi, untouchable.

Soon after completing one sword dance.

The Heavenly Shadow Stele shimmered, and then, in the pitch-black stele, Li Hao's sword-dancing figure emerged.

The shadow of the young man that had been there was covered and erased.