Chu Li felt like a stalk of grass trapped in a flash flood that was pummeled by the torrent from all sides. Although it shook violently, it did not break.

　　 As his vision grew weaker, his determination became stronger. It seemed like the Omniscient Mirror had polished itself as it was now brighter, more efficient and more pristine. With that, his inner state became clearer.

　　 The stream of cool air emanating from the Heavenly Demonic Stone on his chest grew increasingly thicker. Like the Heavenly Demonic Orb, his mind gained the ability to devour the cool air and his mind’s void turned stronger than ever.

　　 When Chu Li was in the Inner Mausoleum and gradually approached the Enlightened Master’s golden body, his cultivation level and inner strength did not double in strength. Instead, his soul became so tough that he made a huge breakthrough.

　　 The giant Buddha and the Heavenly Demon also became clearer. Their features were now much more defined and the lines on their skin were so distinct, it was as if both figures had come to life.

　　 On top of that, as his body toughened, his Heavenly Demon Body and Divine Light Body showed a significant improvement.

　　 With each step he took, Chu Li gained immense strength and massive changes appeared.

　　 When he lifted a foot to attempt to step over the threshold, he had almost crushed by it as the surge of oppressive energy was at its peak. Although everything turned dark before Chu Li’s eyes, he would not retreat without making one successful step.

　　 After some time, his foot finally stepped over the threshold. Then, he brought up the other foot. The pressure around him lessened and he stood still.

　　 There were already four elderly men sitting in Chong Wen Hall. They regarded him with surprise for they had never expected him to be able to enter the place.

　　 Crossing the threshold was the hardest stage and those with a very low cultivation level would face challenges in doing so. If one could cross the threshold, he would only remain still inside the hall but he would not be able to get close to the Enlightened Master’s golden body. This was the magical doing of the formation.

　　 Xu Zhenshan nodded with satisfaction. In fact, he did not imagine that Chu Li would make such progress but Chu Li did have infinite potential, and such a person was a genius among geniuses.

　　 Chu Li looked at the inextinguishable golden body in Chong Wen Hall.

　　 There was a large desk situated on the nine-step staircase in the middle of the hall. A middle-aged man was seated on the armchair at the desk. He was handsome and his thin beard fluttered in the wind. His eyelids were partially shut as if he was deep in thought.

　　 The man’s skin was supple and radiant like a white jade. He gave off an imposing aura which made people around him nervous.

　　 Chu Li moved forward without stopping, taking small steps every few minutes. Although his progress was slow, he did not stop. Fifteen feet, fourteen feet, thirteen feet… until he was five feet away.

　　 He was covered in sweat as if he had sparred with someone else. His eyes were partially closed and it was hard to read his expression. When he looked like he was about to lose his balance, he did not fall but remained tenacious. The four elders who observed him could only sigh in admiration.

　　 Not only did Xiao Lu possess incredible potential, but he was also iron-willed. Young people these days were remarkable.

　　 In the seven days that followed, Chu Li visited Chong Wen Hall daily.

　　 He approached the inextinguishable golden body by taking slow steps until finally, he was one foot away from the golden body. This was the same distance that Xu Zhenshan had managed to achieve. However, Chu Li was incapable of taking more steps.

　　 This final foot was like a moat that prevented him from moving any further.

　　 The last piece of Heavenly Demonic Stone hung in front of his chest.

　　 These days, he would cut the Heavenly Demonic Stone Pillow into several pieces and wore each piece on his neck. One Heavenly Demonic Stone would be used each day and every one of those Heavenly Demonic Stone pieces had turned white.

　　 At this point, his senses had heightened, and he could clearly feel the presence of the giant Buddha and the Heavenly Demon in his mind’s void. It was as if he was on one with both the Heavenly Demon and the giant Buddha, chanting mantras in the void.

　　 The void in his mind became larger and boundless.

　　 Then, the giant Buddha and the Heavenly Demon started to chant mantras at a slower pace, which is akin to the speed used when one is talking. However, every lotus that popped out with each word was particularly clear and gave out a bright shimmer. When the lotuses melted into his body, Chu Li could sense that his body had increased in strength.

　　 Slowly but surely, Chu Li’s mastery of the Heavenly Demonic Power became similar to that of Fu Qingya. The Heavenly Demonic Orb transformed into a Heavenly Demonic Field which covered everything situated ten feet from Chu Li; he could do whatever he wanted within this area.

　　 Despite ignoring the Divine Light Body, his mastery of it had improved greatly as well.

　　 Although the Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture circulated faster than ever, it did not undergo any innate changes. Instead, a deeper understanding of it was required. This was because Chu Li had focused his attention on the Heavenly Demonic Power and neglected the Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture.

　　 Among the four scriptures, the Maha-Vairocana’s Immobility Scripture was the one that had witnessed the greatest improvement. The halo behind the giant Buddha’s head now glowed brilliantly, and it was powerful enough to render formations and artifacts that suppressed divine powers useless.

　　 As his soul grew in might, he predicted that the scope of the Omniscient Mirror and the Life and Death Scripture would expand up to a hundred miles.

　　 …

　　 As the last stream of cool air seeped into his mind, the Heavenly Demonic Stone had been fully consumed. The distance of one foot was like an impenetrable barrier and he could do nothing to break it.

　　 He lifted a foot with all of his might but he could not bring it down as the forceful surge of energy was pushing incessantly against him. Although he struggled, he had managed to put his foot down. Suddenly, a cracking sound resounded from his body and blood streamed from his eyes, nostrils, and mouth. He looked horrifying.

　　 Xu Zhenshan, who was standing opposite him, shook his head in regret.

　　 Xu Zhenshan had been stuck at this stage for five years and he had not advanced forward. However, he was not in a hurry. Five hundred years had passed so five years did not mean anything to him. Only when he thought that he was ready did he pass the final stage.

　　 When approaching the Enlightened Master’s golden body, it was very important to understand the miracles of the Enlightened Master instead of focusing on one’s might. Furthermore, one had to be slow and steady instead of rushing it all.

　　 Lu Xuzhou’s cultivation level was not as high as Xu Zhenshan’s, but the former’s soul was strong and powerful. This was a unique advantage. If both of them had gotten into a fight, Xu Zhenshan could defeat Lu Xuzhou easily, but when it came to withstanding the Enlightened Master’s powerful aura, Lu Xuzhou was at an advantage.

　　 Still, no matter how powerful Lu Xuzhou was, his method of rushing things was a waste of precious resources. Each step a person took would make him learn something new. He had to fully comprehend this given knowledge before he could slowly take the next step and learn something else.

　　 For hundreds of years, Xu Zhenshan had taken small steps to get close to the Enlightened Master’s golden body and he could almost touch the Enlightened Master’s threshold. He was extremely close.

　　 On the contrary, although Lu Xuzhou had arrived in front of the Enlightened Master, he lacked the time to comprehend the knowledge gained. It would be difficult for him to absorb the knowledge when he repeated the whole process, which hinted at the downfall of the Enlightened Master’s path. It was very unfortunate.

　　 Everybody in the hall might not be as strong as Lu Xuzhou and they would not be able to rush things like him. Even if they did intend to rush things, they would have arrived before the Enlightened Master’s golden body. However, they had chosen not to do so and preferred to take matters slowly, for they feared that they would comprehend less if they tried to hasten things.

　　 Lu Xuzhou took the extreme path, but he would not listen despite being advised. Everyone had his or her own destiny and it could not be changed by force. One could only say that he was not destined to come into contact with the Enlightened Master.

　　 “Brrmmm!” Suddenly, Chu Li made a mudra with both hands and blurted out a word. With that, an invisible force seemed to have dissolved before him.

　　 Chu Li took one big step forward and stood still.

　　 “Phssh!” Chu Li made another mudra and took one more step. The Enlightened Master’s golden body was within his arm’s reach.

　　 He slowly stretched out his arm.

　　 “No!” Xu Zhenshan screamed. His voice was thunderous.

　　 The other three elders stared at Chu Li with wide eyes as they watched him touch the golden body’s smooth palm.