Chapter 456: Flying Sword Unleashed, Soul Projection (II)

At the mention of An Fuqing, the three of them turned to look at the girl who had made it to 2,300 meters.

Compared to Gabriella and the others, who had been stuck at the 2,700-meter mark for nearly half an hour, An Fuqing was progressing more slowly. She would stop for nearly thirty minutes at each checkpoint.

Yet, for some reason, everyone had the sense that she was moving effortlessly.

In a micro-world within the path to divinity, stone peaks dozens to hundreds of meters tall rose from the ground, standing as straight and sharp as swords.

Atop a two-hundred-meter-high stone peak, An Fuqing sat cross-legged, surrounded by four light bands formed from flying swords. The intertwined sword qi surged and crackled around her.

The length of each battle sword had shrunk from 2 meters to just 1.2, becoming slender and sharp, as their forms underwent significant transformations.

The sword infused with the Disillusionment sword will was now a crystalline red, with a faint, dreamlike red glow shimmering across its surface, casting vast swaths of red light as it flew.

The sword carrying the Spatial Tear sword will had become entirely pitch-black, with one side of its blade honed to a razor edge and the other lined with jagged serrations, exuding a palpable sense of danger.

The sword fused with the Wind Spirit Instant Slash sword will gleamed with a cyan hue, leaving a trail of blue light as it flew, moving so swiftly that it left behind perfect afterimages.

Meanwhile, the sword infused with the Soul Annihilation sword will appeared dim and gray, almost unnoticeable beside the other three swords. Yet whenever it flashed by, it caused a sharp pain in one's spirit, even piercing the soul.

After continuously contemplating the Blood Refinement, Spiritual Medium, and Flying Spirit Sword Seals, and mastering the fusion rune, An Fuqing had nearly refined her four battle swords into legendary flying swords.

Once the sword wills fully merged with the flying swords, a single thought could send them flying at immense speeds, each with a devastating range of a hundred meters.

Through battles against the projections of three kings who specialized in sword arts, An Fuqing’s sword will, which was already nearing the advanced level, was now just a step away from being fully realized.

An Fuqing slowly opened her eyes and gazed into the distance at three runes hovering in mid-air as well as the projection standing with their hands behind their back on top of a sword-like peak.

Hum!

As An Fuqing’s spiritual will connected with the core of the three sword runes, they immediately transformed into beams of light that descended upon her, causing her aura to surge several times over.

The moment the runes were activated, the figure standing two hundred meters away suddenly erupted with the aura of the middle-stage Sixth Heavenly Realm, followed by an incomparably sharp sword will.

Boom!

A thirty-meter-long golden sword light appeared, drawing in transcendent energy as it slashed toward An Fuqing like a ribbon.

Bang!

When the sword qi approached within a hundred meters of An Fuqing, the sword light shattered, transforming into countless fine strands of light that spread out and formed a golden sword web.

Instantly, a nearby stone peak was shredded into pieces by the threads—a truly terrifying sight.

"Sword qi forming into threads!"

An Fuqing's expression tightened. The four flying swords surrounding her began to release an explosive surge of sword qi, each extending into a twenty-meter-long sword light of various colors that hung in the air. The sword qi burst forth, sealing off all directions.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the golden threads swept across, the sword array trembled, with sword qi constantly colliding, shattering, and disintegrating, producing wave after wave of sharp, powerful impacts.

After withstanding the attack, the sword lights around An Fuqing shimmered brightly. The four twenty-meter-long sword qi streaks shot out like supersonic missiles.

The stone peaks collapsed instantly as the sword lights swept through, and amid the explosion of debris, the lights soared into the sky, twisting and tearing toward the distant king projection.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With the support of the three runes, the four flying swords, wielding their respective sword wills, slashed through the sky, their sword lights crisscrossing and obliterating stone peaks along the way and gradually suppressing the middle-stage Sixth Heavenly Realm king projection.

Boom!

A few minutes later, the king projection was torn apart by the sword qi. An Fuqing landed atop the stone peak, holding a black long sword in her hand, her eyes showing a hint of regret. "Still just a little bit more."

As she spoke, two streams of origin descended above her head. Simultaneously, her figure appeared 2,600 meters away in the outside world.

Just as An Fuqing’s figure shifted, four streams of origin fell over Ji Wuji, who had been stalled at the final trial of the path of kings for over half an hour.

Seeing Ji Wuji appear three thousand meters away, someone from the Secret Martial Arts Military Academy shouted excitedly, "Ji Wuji has passed the path of kings! That idio—guy really has the bearing of a king!"

A classmate nearby remarked dryly, "Jiang Wu, were you about to call him an idiot?"

"H-Haha, no way! That guy is the top genius of our academy. How could I call him an idiot for his love of pretending to be aloof?"

At that moment, cheers erupted from the North Lin camp as well. "Bardas has made it through! He’s passed the path of kings too!"

As time passed, the brightest among this group of geniuses crossed the final threshold and entered the third stage.

However, at the same time, nine out of the remaining twenty contestants suddenly lost their footing on the white clouds beneath them and disappeared from the Void Continent.

Suddenly, only a little over ten figures remained on the path to divinity, making the scene feel somewhat desolate.

"Another nine people failed, what a pity."

"Yeah, becoming a king is too difficult. Just the trial to test one’s potential for kingship is something only a few can pass." At these words, many showed bitter smiles.

Although they were top-level geniuses at their respective schools, none of them dared to claim that they had a chance at ascending to the throne, or even that they could break through to the Ninth Heavenly Realm.

While it would seem impressive that they had reached the Fifth or Sixth Heavenly Realm during their three years of high school, most weren’t certain they could break through to the Seventh Realm before graduation.

This wasn’t even mentioning the challenge of integrating with the True Martial Phantom, rebuilding their bodies to break through to the Eighth Heavenly Realm, and mastering the Ninth Realm's domain.

Cultivating top-level secret scriptures from others made the path harder the further they went, since the scriptures were not perfectly compatible with them. Unless they created their own secret scriptures, it was an uphill battle.

Suddenly, someone from the West Meng camp shouted excitedly, "Gabriella has obtained four origins—she’s passed the path of kings!"

On the cloudy path, Gabriella’s giant mech appeared three thousand meters away.

However, compared to Ji Wuji and the others, the projection of the Black Demon White King Mech had its left arm severed and was covered in many massive scars. Clearly, the last trial that she just passed had been difficult.

With Gabriella crossing the path of kings, only six people remained in the second stage.

"Wait a minute, when did that guy pass the path of kings?" Xia Youhui suddenly realized something as he looked suspiciously at the distant figure of Bredos, three thousand meters ahead.

Lin Yu spoke softly, "He crossed just as Gabriella finished."

Xia Youhui nodded in realization. "I see. Now, including Ah Chu, there are six people who have passed the path of kings. I think An Fuqing has a chance of succeeding next."

At that moment, only seven people remained on the path of kings, with An Fuqing already nearing the final trial. As for the others, the closest one had been stuck at 2,300 meters for nearly half an hour.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the clouds beneath the remaining contestants began to dissipate one by one, leaving only An Fuqing in her cyan battle armor standing alone.

As countless eyes focused on her, the previously dormant glow above An Fuqing’s head suddenly brightened.

"Hahaha... Our Nantian School is incredible this time! Two people have crossed the path of kings, and Ah Chu may have already passed the path of heavenly kings!" Looking at An Fuqing, who had appeared three thousand meters away, Xia Youhui was overjoyed.

Even Lin Xue and her sister smiled. Although they hadn't passed the path of kings themselves, they still felt proud as classmates of those who did.

Outside the Void Continent, Xie Chen also smiled. "Seven students with the potential to become kings in this generation—two more than the last. Impressive. Especially that kid."

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The generation Xie Chen referred to wasn’t tied to the current ruins or a specific year, but to certain time periods defined by major events. Each one could be five, ten, or even just two years.

Meanwhile, on the third stage of the path of heavenly kings, Li Daoyi, who was the first to step in, had only reached 3,600 meters after two hours.

As for Bardas, after nearly an hour, he had only made it to 3,200 meters, which meant he had progressed just 200 meters in that time.

This slow pace reflected their sluggish progress in comprehending the power of the world, though it was only slow compared to Chen Chu, who had breezed through with ease.

"As expected, comparisons only make it worse. These guys are far behind Ah Chu." Xia Youhui couldn’t help but smirk at this.

"Xia Youhui, that’s because Chen Chu is amazing. What are you so smug about?" Lin Xue teased.

Xia Youhui looked at Lin Xue curiously. "Ah Chu and I are good brothers. If he’s amazing, doesn’t that mean I’m amazing too?

"When Ah Chu becomes a king in a few years, or even a heavenly king, if I tell people that Heavenly King Chen Chu is my brother, do you think anyone will dare mess with me?"

Lin Yu suddenly chimed in. "Yes, the Purgatory Demon Clan will chop you to pieces."

Xia Youhui’s expression froze immediately, and Lin Xue couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

As most participants were eliminated from the ruins, everyone nervously watched the few remaining contenders, focusing on the top-level geniuses from their respective camps.

However, as time passed, people noticed that Bardas was slowing down, gradually being overtaken by Bredos and Gabriella, who were catching up with Ji Wuji.

In addition, An Fuqing, who had been the last to step into the third stage, was moving faster and faster. Soon, to the shock of many, she surpassed Bardas, and then, under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, she overtook both Gabriella and Ji Wuji.

Seven hours into the trial, as An Fuqing was about to surpass Li Daoyi, someone finally couldn't help but shout, "How is that possible? How is that genius from East Xia moving so fast?"

Xia Youhui responded smugly, "It's because An Fuqing has an extraordinary comprehension talent—she’s a freak of nature. Even though she's only a first-year, she's the strongest person on the southern battlefield, second only to Ah Chu."

Not far away, a young man from the northern battlefield couldn't help but express his envy. "Your southern battlefield is terrifying this time, producing two monsters like that."

"Haha! Your northern battlefield is impressive too; that Innate Awakener is really strong."

As Xia Youhui and the northern battlefield’s participants exchanged compliments, back in the outside world, Xie Chen sighed softly as he observed An Fuqing at around 3,700 meters. "It's a pity. She spent too much time on the path of kings."

The path to divinity had been open for a full day—counted by the ruins' time, with sunset as the limit, which was about ten hours.

By now, more than seven hours had passed. In a little over two hours, the path to divinity would close, and all participants would be ejected from the ruins by the power of the principles.

With just two hours left, it seemed unlikely that An Fuqing would be able to complete the final segment of the path, let alone defeat the guardian beast at the end, despite her late surge.

As for Li Daoyi, it was estimated that he would reach a maximum of five thousand meters, while Bardas and the others would likely peak at around four thousand meters.

None of this mattered now, however. As Xie Chen's gaze pierced through the Eye of the Sky to land on Chen Chu, his voice carried a restrained excitement.

"He's already reached over eight thousand meters... more than eight thousand meters..."

Even Xie Chen, a seasoned king, couldn’t contain his excitement and awe.

Back in the day, even the First Councilor had only made it to eight thousand meters before being unable to go any further, missing out on the legendary emperor’s inheritance by a narrow margin.

Now, Chen Chu’s progress showed a glimmer of hope—hope that he might actually obtain the emperor’s inheritance.