Chapter 3302: Chapter 3322: The Quota for the Land of Opportunity
"You, kid, are about to set off on a journey, and you’re still thinking about it."
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch couldn’t help but laugh, "So anxious, huh?"
Lin Chen honestly replied, "Disaster is looming, time is tight. What if one day I become a Saint? Then I could contribute a bit more power to this war. If there were one more Saint, the situation on the battlefield would be completely different."
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch squinted slightly, "You have quite the ambition, huh? Just advanced to Quasi-Saint, and now you’re aiming for the Saint Realm?"
Lin Chen said with a laugh, "Under the heavens, in the entire Immortal Realm, which Quasi-Saint doesn’t want to break through and become a Saint? Although I just entered Quasi-Saint, can’t I have this thought? Besides, the Immortal Path doesn’t ask how long one’s cultivation has been. It’s not as if whoever wants to become a Saint has to necessarily take countless years, right?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch stared at Lin Chen’s eyes, "Do you think the great opportunity I’m talking about is related to becoming a Saint?"
Lin Chen said with a laugh, "Above Quasi-Saint, emphasis is on comprehension, and with enlightenment, strength naturally improves. It has nothing to do with arduous cultivation. Therefore, this place obviously is not somewhere for me to sit and arduously cultivate to improve my strength. You’ve mentioned both the Bodhi Saint and the Immortal Emperor have been here, this hint is quite obvious, right? After all, the only thing that could make even Quasi-Saints drool is becoming a Saint..."
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch said with a laugh, "You’re smart. Alright then, since you’ve asked this far, I’ll tell you to ease your mind."
Lin Chen sat upright, his eyesight filled with anticipation.
After reaching Quasi-Saint, Lin Chen’s strength increased greatly, and so did his status. But Lin Chen knew that in this special situation, being a Quasi-Saint didn’t change his circumstances much from when he was a Da Luo Immortal.
He still couldn’t participate in the battles between Saints and Abyss Demons. If he faced a Demon Lord, he might still not withstand even a single move, just like the Seven-colored Immortal Monarch before.
Thus, although he seemed much stronger, his position on the battlefield hadn’t changed much.
Only by becoming a Saint could he truly alter such a situation. Only then would he have the power to face all enemies. Even if he couldn’t win, at least he could retreat calmly.
"In the universe, there is a place beyond the world, filled with all kinds of peculiar life forms. Everything here contains the breath of the Dao. Entering this place for closed-door cultivation and comprehension might lead to enlightenment of the Dao and breaking through to become a Saint. Back then, the Immortal Emperor and the Bodhi Saint entered this place together and eventually both broke through to become Saints..."
Lin Chen asked in surprise, "The two of them entered together, meaning they weren’t Saints when they entered?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "To be precise, before them, there were no Saints in the Immortal Realm. At that time, Quasi-Saint was the peak for everyone."
Lin Chen’s eyes widened, filled with shock, "What about the Hunyuan Immortal?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "The Mixed Element Saint became a Saint long after the Immortal Emperor and the Bodhi Saint did. This has to do with a stone the Immortal Emperor brought back from that place. It’s said the Mixed Element Saint achieved enlightenment from that stone, and for this reason, the Mixed Element Saint always takes the side of the Immortal Emperor unconditionally, because he believes that without the Immortal Emperor’s help, he wouldn’t have what he has today, so he’s willing to support the Immortal Emperor."
Lin Chen said in confusion, "So all three Saints’ breakthroughs are related to this place, or rather, this place has the key factors for someone to become a Saint?"
"Yes."
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "The great opportunity I mentioned before allows you to enter, comprehend the Dao, and seek the opportunity to break through."
Lin Chen curiously asked, "Why isn’t anyone else allowed to enter such a place? Is it because they’re afraid these people becoming Saints would affect the Immortal Emperor’s status?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "That place isn’t accessible any time one wants to enter. It only opens once every tens of thousands of years. Back then, both the Emperor and the Bodhi Saint appeared at the right time and place to enter. They were already the chosen ones."
Lin Chen asked in confusion, "Is that place about to open again?"
"Yes."
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "The Emperor has always had people looking over this place. It shouldn’t be long before it reappears in the world, and then outsiders can try to enter for cultivation."
Lin Chen pointed to his nose, "Can I too?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch nodded, "Yes, I’m planning to give you a spot."
Lin Chen curiously inquired, "Such an opportunity, aren’t you going, Hall Master? And what about all the Quasi-Saint strong people, the three Immortal Monarchs...?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch smiled bitterly, "I’m giving you a spot, but that doesn’t mean you can enter. The spot means you can try to see if you can enter."
Lin Chen showed an expression of surprise, "Didn’t you say it opens once every tens of thousands of years, and yet you still can’t just enter?"
"Yes."
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "The Immortal Path always speaks of fate. I once stood at the entrance, hoping to enter, but I was rejected."
Lin Chen’s face was filled with disbelief, "Hall Master, you are so strong and excellent, and yet you were rejected?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "Not just me, everyone who went for the test before got stuck outside the door, unable to enter."
Lin Chen asked in confusion, "Could it be the wrong method?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch shook his head, "The Emperor described the process when he first entered, and there was no difference. Perhaps entering the door itself is a selection, being able to enter means you’re the chosen one. If you can’t, no matter how strong your talent, it’s useless."
Lin Chen asked, "So will many people try to enter this time?"
"Yes."
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch explained, "Originally, this place was top secret, and only those absolutely trusted by the Emperor would be chosen. Unfortunately, the few selected before were all stopped at the gate and couldn’t get in."
"This time, both the Immortal and Demon Worlds are facing an existential threat. Like you said, one more Saint brings more hope, so the Emperor has ordered that when the opportunity door opens, I should choose more loyal and meritorious Quasi-Saints from the Immortal Realm to try and enter."
Lin Chen understood.
Previously, this opportunity place had opened, and the Immortal Emperor selected a few people. These few were definitely those he trusted the most, like Shepherd Heavenly Monarch, but these people were all stuck outside and couldn’t enter!
Now, with the Abyss Demons invading, the situation is dire. As a last resort, the Immortal Emperor lets Shepherd Heavenly Monarch select more people to see if someone could enter.
It’s a choice of no other options!
If not for the Abyss Demons’ invasion, if the situation was still under control, the Immortal Emperor might not have made such a decision.
Having more Saints isn’t necessarily a good thing for the Immortal Emperor!
Now, it’s merely choosing the lesser of two evils.
No matter how it is, with such an opportunity to try, Lin Chen naturally wouldn’t refuse, and straightforwardly asked, "How long until it opens?"
Shepherd Heavenly Monarch replied, "A few more years, don’t worry, the current priority is to handle the meeting with the Star Sky Demon Beast Clan Leader well!"