It turns out, it was because he hadn't awakened!
Indeed, he had mastered the Three Calamities Saber Technique, capable of unleashing the three killing techniques: Scorching Sun, Sea of Calamity, and Shattered Peak.
But such a display was just following the answer, doing the task formulaically!
He hadn't comprehended the philosophy behind the Three Calamities Saber Technique; thus, the technique executed step-by-step only possessed form, not spirit, so it wasn't recognized by the heavens, nor subjected to trials.
To give a simple example, if you are given the Tao Te Ching, will reading it once make you Venerable of Dao and Virtue?
Clearly not!
Even if you've only read it, even if you've written and copied it, even if you can recite its five thousand words backwards and write them into a book, you cannot become Venerable of Dao and Virtue.
Because you've only seen its surface, without understanding its essence.
