At the entrance to the Imperial Seal Shrine, a colossal square seal hovered in mid-air. Every person who entered to pay respects had to pass beneath it.
Strangely, some walked through with ease, as if on a leisurely stroll, while others struggled immensely, as if each step was an arduous feat. A few were even blasted backward.
"Patriarch Ji, what is this?" Zi Linling asked curiously.
Ji Hui smiled, "Miss Zi, this square seal is the personal weapon of our ancestor Ji Zhihao, the Mountain River Seal."
"After that great battle of protection, the Mountain River Seal had gone missing. But on the day the Imperial Seal Shrine was completed, the missing Mountain River Seal suddenly returned, floating in mid-air and blocking the entrance to the shrine."
"Anyone who enters the Imperial Seal Shrine must pass beneath the Mountain River Seal and undergo its trial. Only those who pass the trial may enter the shrine to pay homage to the ancestors. Those who fail will be barred."
"Interesting!" Shangguan Yulin remarked with interest.
"Indeed, it is interesting!" Rong Guang also said with considerable interest.
"It is truly very interesting!" Xuanyuan Xun chuckled.
"How about... we all try it together?" Shen Liuxing suggested.
"Let's try it, who's afraid!" Xi Jingran declared defiantly.
"Then let's all try it together!" Elder Du said with a smile. Su Dan Novel Network
Du Zihao also nodded, appearing eager to try.
Zi Linling gazed at the Mountain River Seal hovering in the air, a meaningful smile flickering in her eyes. "Go ahead! All of you, try it!"
"Alright!"
Shangguan Yulin responded, and with a flash of movement, he was standing beneath the Mountain River Seal.
Suddenly, he stumbled, his expression changing drastically. His muscles bulged.
"Why is it so heavy?" Shangguan Yulin cried out in surprise.
He felt as if his body was being crushed by ten thousand mountains.
He moved forward step by slow step, his legs trembling slightly.
If not for the reinforcement of the formation beneath his feet, he would have left footprints three feet deep.
Fortunately, Shangguan Yulin possessed great strength and ultimately passed the Mountain River Seal's trial, entering the shrine.
The moment he stepped into the shrine, the oppressive weight vanished, causing him to lose his balance and nearly fall to his knees.
"Brothers, be careful, this Mountain River Seal is incredibly heavy!" Shangguan Yulin steadied himself and shouted to Xuanyuan Xun and the others.
Heavy?
Xuanyuan Xun and the others were taken aback.
They had seen Shangguan Yulin's struggle, but they hadn't realized it was due to the gravity.
Now, with Shangguan Yulin's warning, they were mentally prepared.
Rong Guang adjusted his breathing and quickly walked under the Mountain River Seal.
Fortunately, he was prepared. His knees bent slightly, and he managed to stand upright.
However, the gravitational force Rong Guang endured was no less than Shangguan Yulin's.
Thus, his progress was also slow, but like Shangguan Yulin, he eventually entered the shrine.
"Phew..."
Rong Guang let out a long sigh, high-fived Shangguan Yulin, and then stood to the side, recovering.
Xuanyuan Xun cupped his hands towards Zi Linling, then strode quickly under the Mountain River Seal.
His body paused for a moment before continuing forward.
Xuanyuan Xun could also feel the gravity, but his physical body was significantly stronger than Shangguan Yulin and Rong Guang's, so his steps were much easier. He soon stepped into the shrine.
Shen Liuxing exchanged a look with Zi Linling and also rushed forward.
His speed was similar to Xuanyuan Xun's, as he had integrated the power of the Sea Sovereign Xuanxuzi and mastered the technique of overcoming hardness with softness.
After the four had passed, Zi Linling looked at the eager Xi Jingran and said, "You go try too!"
"Yes, Master!"
Xi Jingran responded and walked forward.
But the moment he stepped within the range of the Mountain River Seal, he fell to his knees with a "plop."
Xi Jingran cast a shamefaced glance at Zi Linling and struggled to stand up.
Although he was a Divine King realm expert, he was still far behind Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing.
Because of this, he struggled for a long time but couldn't stand up.
Zi Linling frowned but remained silent.
This expression made Xi Jingran feel even more ashamed.
"I can do it! I definitely can do it!"
Xi Jingran roared, channeling all his strength into his legs. Trembling, he finally stood up.
Seeing this, a smile played on Zi Linling's lips, and she thought to herself, "A promising youth!"
Xi Jingran stood there, cautiously taking a breath, then took his second step, third step, fourth step...
Although he moved at a snail's pace, he was steadily advancing.
One can fall behind, one is allowed to fail, but one must never lose the will to fight!
A quarter of an hour later, Xi Jingran finally entered the shrine.
But the moment the pressure on him disappeared, he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Zi Linling was very pleased with Xi Jingran's performance and pondered how to strengthen his physique.
Following Xi Jingran, Du Zihao also gritted his teeth and embarked on the path of the Mountain River Seal's trial.
He had the highest cultivation among them. He couldn't possibly lose to these younger disciples with lower cultivation, could he?
Fortunately, although his journey was as arduous as Xi Jingran's, he eventually entered the shrine.
"Girl, I'll go ahead!"
Elder Du said with a smile and stepped into the trial area of the Mountain River Seal.
He had initially intended to avoid losing face in front of so many juniors.
But the moment he stepped in, he felt nothing.
"Huh? Didn't they say there was pressure? Why do I feel nothing?"
Elder Du was puzzled, but his steps did not falter. He walked leisurely into the shrine.
Seeing Elder Du's effortless progress, Xuanyuan Yun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing wore expressions of disbelief.
Zi Linling smiled and elegantly walked forward.
However, the moment she approached the Mountain River Seal, the seal trembled violently and automatically moved aside, clearing a grand path for Zi Linling.
"My heavens! The Mountain River Seal actually yielded? This is an unprecedented event in history!"
"Am I seeing things? Is the Mountain River Seal broken? It actually moved out of the way on its own?"
"What's wrong with the Mountain River Seal? Why isn't it testing this woman?"
"Who is this woman? How could she make the Mountain River Seal yield?"
"..."
The surrounding worshippers were utterly stunned, their jaws dropping. They began to discuss amongst themselves.
Even Ji Hui's eyes widened in utter disbelief.