Chapter 650: That Single Saber Strike (1)

Inside the divine hall.

"Very well, since you've accepted the test, I wish you success in obtaining an opportunity of the top three grades. Strive hard! Remember, give it your all, don't slack off." The black-robed elderly man sat in lotus position, his voice calm.

“This chance may be an unparalleled opportunity you won't find again in a billion or even ten billion years. If you slack off and miss it, you'll have missed it for good."

Wu Yuan listened with bated breath.

Having already witnessed many wonders of the Immutable Land, especially the Creation Divine Artifacts and Archeldritch Divine Artifacts whose mystical nature exceeded imagination, as well as its ability to sever the shared consciousness between his true selves, he now believed the black-robed elderly man's words.

This opportunity might be one thing that would determine his future.

I'll give it my all to obtain a second-grade opportunity.

Wu Yuan silently vowed.

At the very least, I must obtain a third-grade opportunity.

This was the goal Wu Yuan set for himself. Secure third-grade, strive for second-grade!

Throughout his cultivation journey, Wu Yuan had repeatedly created miracles, so he had some confidence. Looking at the vast river of space and time, there were likely few monstrous prodigies left who could contend with him in this era.

"Feeling confident? Good, I like those with confidence." The black-robed elderly man smiled faintly and waved his hand.

Whoosh~

Countless beams of light gathered at one side of the divine hall, quickly forming a massive spatial vortex leading to an unfathomable place. At least, Wu Yuan couldn't peer into it.

"Enter," said the black-robed elderly man.

"Yes." Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, then turned and flew directly into the spatial vortex, which immediately closed behind him.

Top-tier soul talent, top-tier Dao comprehension aptitude, top-tier Dao Heart and willpower... He triggered the most difficult test right away?

The black-robed elderly man quickly sensed this.

He wasn't too surprised. This was within his expectations.

As the overseer of the Creation Divine Hall, his consciousness was divided across numerous worlds. Numerous cultivators would enter the hall simultaneously at any one time, and it was his duty to filter them.

For 99.9% of those who entered, he would casually bestow some treasures and opportunities before dismissing them. Meanwhile, the more exceptional ones would trigger ordinary tests.

Only truly supreme geniuses would catch his attention. And only they would qualify to trigger the most difficult test.

Without a doubt, Wu Yuan was already one of the most elite monstrous prodigies the black-robed elderly man had seen in his long years.

Perhaps there were very few who had shown even greater potential than Wu Yuan, but the difference was minimal. They all belonged to the same tier.

Over endless years, there have been nearly a hundred in total, but only six have passed the second-grade test, and only two have received the Saint imprint’s approval to become nominal disciples.

The black-robed elderly man muttered to himself.

I wonder if this Hou Feng will succeed...

It's been too long, far too long. When will I finally complete my task... When will I be freed?

The black-robed elderly man shook his head gently and closed his eyes.

...

Hum~

With an imperceptible ripple, the scenery around Wu Yuan changed without him noticing.

He now found himself in a vast world. This was an endless, desolate land, perfectly flat as far as the eye could see, with nine dazzling suns hanging in the sky.

Hmm?

Wu Yuan stood on the ground, extending his Soul Force.

It spread out to encompass a vast area, without facing any obstacles. However, his Soul Force couldn't penetrate into the earth.

Where is the test?

Wu Yuan wondered silently. He waited calmly, not daring to act rashly.

Rumble!

Enormous stone walls suddenly rose from the flat ground, each inscribed with incredibly complex diagrams composed of countless Dao patterns. Each diagram emanated a grand and majestic aura, appearing incomparably divine. There were 365 stone walls in total.

Each stone wall was an astonishing one hundred li in length and breadth, arranged in a massive circle, perfectly surrounding Wu Yuan in the center.

This ensured that as long as he sat in the center, he could observe any of the stone walls at any time.

365 stone walls... they're Thunder Beast Diagrams.

Wu Yuan's pupils constricted slightly.

No! Not just ordinary Thunder Beast Diagrams. They're Creation Essence Diagrams... 365 Creation Essence Diagrams.

Wu Yuan's heart was already surging with shock and awe.

These stone walls felt incredibly familiar; he had attempted to comprehend them before. He could perceive the spiritual resonance and artistic conception contained in each stone wall.

However, in the Thunder Marsh World, those Thunder Beast Diagrams were suppressed by heaven and earth's essence, so only a tiny fraction of their power was revealed. Ordinary cultivators couldn't even understand them, let alone comprehend them.

With the assistance of the black pagoda, Wu Yuan had managed to form a single Creation Essence Diagram.

But now, Creation Essence Diagrams were inscribed on those mountain walls all around him, and their auras seemed even more authentic and profound.

365 Creation Essence Diagrams, none of them suppressed in the slightest, their power fully unleashed... Each essence diagram expounds upon an Essence Great Dao.

Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.

Comprehending an Essence Great Dao was considered an impossible path in the Greenridge Macrocosm. Everyone knew this path was powerful. But under numerous restrictions, coupled with an extremely difficult entry threshold, hardly anyone could walk it, let alone succeed.

Yet here, these Essence Diagrams had almost fully revealed this mysterious and vast Essence Great Dao. The so-called suppression by heaven and earth's essence seemed like a joke. It simply didn't exist.

But what exactly is the test?

Just as Wu Yuan was pondering in confusion, massive mountains swiftly emerged behind each of the stone walls. Each mountain was a hundred li tall, and crystal clear as if carved from jade, with countless mysterious Dao patterns flowing across its surface.

The interweaving Dao patterns subtly emanated all sorts of profound and unfathomable powers.

What's this?

Wu Yuan's gaze fell upon one of the mountains behind an Essence Diagram, and those streams of Dao patterns suddenly seemed to come alive before his eyes.

They resembled living thunder beasts, roaring fiercely, their claws tearing through heaven and earth, their might shocking...

Ultimate treasures! Each mountain was an ultimate treasure, containing incomprehensibly powerful killing secret arts – this was Wu Yuan's initial judgment. But they were too profound.

I've been comprehending this Creation Essence Diagram for a long time, and my comprehension of the Law of Life has reached the third-level True Intent stage over these past few hundred years.

Wu Yuan thought inwardly.

Indeed, in his nearly two hundred years of wandering the world, Wu Yuan had made extremely rapid progress in the Law of Life, unknowingly reaching the third-level True Intent stage.

If not for this, he wouldn't have been able to unleash such an incredible level of power from the Archeldritch Divine Artifacts, nor could he have easily defeated the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race.

Adding his insights into the Law of Space, it could be said that in terms of Dao comprehension, the current Wu Yuan could almost rival an Eighth Tribulation Archimmortal. Yet he still felt that the mountains behind the distant stone walls were unfathomably mysterious. The killing-type secret arts they contained were all profoundly difficult to grasp. And there were a full 365 mountains.

Suddenly, an indifferent voice rang out from thin air, echoing throughout heaven and earth. "365 Creation Essence Diagrams, expounding the True Intent of the Great Dao. 365 secret art sacred mountains, containing 365 powerful secret arts. You may study and comprehend the Essence Diagrams and secret art sacred mountains to enhance your own strength.

Suggestion: The Dao is limitless, but there are strong and weak Daos. Only the Essence Great Daos are the eternal and indestructible supreme Daos.

Suggestion: Create the techniques yourself. The most suitable techniques are the ones you create personally.

After comprehensive evaluation, you will be given 400 years. If you can clear level seven of the Creation Tower within 400 years, you will obtain a third-grade opportunity.

If you can clear level nine of the Creation Tower, you will obtain a second-grade opportunity.

You may choose to give up at any time by shouting 'I give up' three times in a row, after which you will be sent out immediately. Good luck and strive hard, lowly lifeform. Only by passing level nine of the Creation Tower can you truly come into contact with the most inconceivable power in this vast river of space and time.

Only then can you truly approach greatness." The voice soon faded.

But Wu Yuan was left stunned. The voice should belong to some kind of spirit that controlled this entire test location.

Pass level nine of the Creation Tower? Where is the Creation Tower?

After sweeping his gaze around, Wu Yuan’s pupils constricted slightly. At some point in time, a tall azure tower had appeared above his head, floating in the void. This azure tower didn't seem particularly tall; from the outside, it appeared to have exactly nine floors.

Only at the very bottom of the tower was there a huge entrance, seemingly waiting for Wu Yuan to enter at any time.

Wu Yuan fell into deep thought.

According to the hints I just received, it seems that this test location, or rather the great beings behind the Immutable Land, want me to comprehend an Essence Great Dao and create techniques of my own?

Wu Yuan mused silently.

Is that how I might hope to pass level nine of the Creation Tower?

The reason was simple. This Immutable Land was too mysterious and powerful to be unaware of Wu Yuan's strength and potential. Since it set a 400-year test period, there had to be a good reason for it.

Having presented 365 Essence Diagrams and the secret art sacred mountains to him, they must all be forms of assistance.

If he didn’t follow the suggestions, success was still possible, but it would undoubtedly be much more difficult.

Level seven? Level nine?

Wu Yuan pondered briefly, a glint of battle spirit flashing in his eyes.

Who cares, let's give it a try first. Only after trying will I know how difficult it is.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan's form blurred as he soared skyward, plunging directly into the Creation Tower.

Inside, he beheld a vast and boundless expanse, far more spacious than the tower's modest exterior suggested.

Rumble~

Suddenly, an enormous stele materialized beside Wu Yuan, its surface etched with countless mysterious Dao patterns.

As his gaze swept over these patterns, Wu Yuan found himself subconsciously understanding what they meant.

“The test of the Creation Tower only assesses combat secret arts and Dao comprehension. There is no mortal danger. One may choose any level from one to nine. Defeating the opponent grants rewards corresponding to that level...” The content conveyed by the Dao patterns was simple and direct.

Choose any level rather than having to progress level by level? Wu Yuan's heart stirred, and he spoke without hesitation: "I choose level nine."

Since level nine was the goal, and there was no risk of death, he naturally had to experience the difficulty for himself.

Boom!

An invisible force instantly enveloped Wu Yuan, and he felt his consciousness violently wrenched away. The world spun.

When he regained awareness of his surroundings, he found himself in a vast combat space, roughly ten thousand li in diameter. The entire space was silent.

Sabers?

Wu Yuan instantly noticed the two floating sabers beside him. They were identical, standard-issue battle sabers.

This body could not employ any ether arts, relying solely on his base power for combat, thus no more than two sabers were issued.

The power of the first-stage Elysian Field phase? It seems similar to a voidrealm battle, but it feels far too real.

Wu Yuan's pupils constricted slightly.

Whether in the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm or the Eternal Sun Immortal Voidrealm, voidrealm battles could only restrict the physical body, but not the soul. Thus, when his qi refiner self challenged the one-star tower, having a powerful soul was actually quite advantageous.

But now, Wu Yuan felt that the body his consciousness had descended into restricted even the power of his soul, dramatically slowing his mental processes.

This truly restricts all external factors, testing only combat secret arts and Dao comprehension.

Wu Yuan mused inwardly.

As he pondered, Wu Yuan's gaze fell upon a distant figure.

A silver-robed silhouette wore a silver mask, revealing only a pair of eyes, its features indiscernible. Its aura was elusive and unfathomable, its vital aura identical to Wu Yuan's. Beside the figure floated two sabers, just like Wu Yuan.

Is this my opponent?

Wu Yuan observed his opponent, a sense of wariness rising within him. The level nine guardian? Its strength had to be utterly terrifying.

“The battle will commence shortly. Countdown: three, two..." A cold voice echoed throughout the combat space.

"One!" As the voice faded, the invisible restraints dissipated. Wu Yuan instantly clutched the two sabers and shot forward.