Chapter 775: Twelve Black Devil Tokens (1)

Wu Yuan's sudden leap in progress, completing the second test just a few decades after the first, astounded the Archimmortals and Archdeities from various factions.

In a daze, many powerhouses from the Dao Realm suddenly remembered who Wu Yuan was: a High Immortal with less than two thousand years of cultivation, possessing Dao comprehension at the Astral Monarch level. Someone who obtained three Black Devil Tokens in the first trial.

"We've overlooked Ming Jian."

"He was originally the greatest threat. During the few hundred years he wasn’t refining pills, he was clearly searching for his own path."

"He's still a major threat."

"He already ranks in the top two hundred in our trial ground."

"He has a good chance of obtaining two Black Devil Tokens." The powerhouses from various factions exchanged thoughts, reevaluating Wu Yuan as an even greater threat.

If not for the second trial's restrictions on combat and killing, many powerhouses would likely have already surrounded Wu Yuan.

...

At the third trial.

What? Ming Jian has already complete the second test of the second trial? He's already started crafting talismans.

Astral Lord Gu Shou, who was deep in thought, couldn't help but reveal a look of astonishment when his true self received the news.

He hadn't considered Wu Yuan a major threat previously. After all, when he had completed the three tests and entered the third trial ground, Wu Yuan hadn't even reached the requirements for the first test.

I need to calm down. No matter how big a threat he is, he hasn't caught up to me yet.

Astral Lord Gu Shou struggled to calm his racing mind.

His gaze fell upon the enormous wall before him.

This is where my advantage lies.

I'm already ranked fourth. In this third trial ground, there's a chance to obtain six Black Devil Tokens and advance to the eighth trial in one shot.

Astral Lord Gu Shou thought to himself.

I must work hard.

He pushed aside all other thoughts, continuing to deduce and comprehend wholeheartedly.

It wasn't just him. Throughout the grounds of the third trial, dozens of Archimmortals and Archdeities revealed looks of surprise. Clearly, they had all received news about Ming Jian.

...

Ming Jian?

Astral Lord Xue Yao recalled that terrifying figure wielding flying swords, effortlessly slaughtering enemies in his path.

...

That white-robed High Immortal?

As expected of a monstrous prodigy beyond the realm, his strength can't be measured by common standards.

Archimmortal Xiang Fei had also received the news.

His cultivation years are short, he definitely hasn't studied pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, or talisman cultivation before. Yet in just a few hundred years, he's reached such heights.

She felt genuine admiration.

However, I'm currently in first place. I must strive to obtain five Black Devil Tokens in this third trial.

Archimmortal Xiang Fei thought to herself.

...

Time passed.

Perhaps it was due to the guidance of the ‘Black Devil Secret Codex’, or perhaps the pressure of looming death, or maybe it was the desire for the Sovereign's inheritance, but in Wu Yuan's trial ground, more and more Archimmortals and Archdeities completed the first test, the number gradually approaching two thousand.

And the number of Archimmortals and Archdeities passing the second test was also steadily increasing, approaching two hundred.

Wu Yuan was the first among them.

Whoosh!

A pillar of light shot into the sky, and Big Devil appeared once again, attracting the attention of many powerhouses.

“Astral Lord Red Devil, congratulations on meeting the requirements. You are the eighth in this trial ground, and the seventy-fifth overall, to advance to the third trial.” Big Devil looked down at the red-haired Archdeity.

"Thank you, Senior," Astral Lord Red Devil suppressed his excitement.

"The eighth one."

"Only the top ten who pass the trial can obtain three Black Devil Tokens."

"He's like Astral Lord Gu Shou, Astral Lord Xue Yao, and the others, obtaining six Black Devil Tokens." The powerhouses from various factions discussed, quickly spreading this intelligence.

Although Astral Lord Red Devil took slightly longer, obtaining six Black Devil Tokens was enough to prove his astonishing potential.

It was worth noting that although over seventy Archimmortals and Archdeities had advanced to the third trial, less than twenty had obtained six Black Devil Tokens in the first two trials.

Those with great strength were often skilled in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and many other aspects. But nothing was absolute, just like how the one ranked first in the third trial was Archimmortal Xiang Fei, who was relatively weak.

“Fewer than twenty powerhouses from the Dao Realm have advanced to the third trial."

"In the end, the Devil Realm's powerhouses are still the majority." Faced with this situation, the Sovereigns of the nine major factions in the Dao Realm felt quite helpless.

Although they had tried their best to help, offering all kinds of guidance, the number of candidates from the Devil Realm was too great. Among the nearly one million Archimmortals and Archdeities who had poured in, there were bound to be some outstanding and dazzling individuals.

...

As years passed, the ninth person to complete the third test emerged from this trial ground.

"It's Archdeity Tu Hu."

"A fifth-stage Archdeity actually succeeded? I, a mighty Astral Lord, have only completed the first test."

"I wonder who the tenth will be." The many Archimmortals and Archdeities discussed.

As more and more passed the second trial, many of the remaining powerhouses began to realize the gap between themselves and others.

Those who had yet to complete the pill cultivation test requirements were mostly on the verge of despair, instinctively thinking of giving up. The gap was simply too great.

...

Within the Black Devil Blood Hollow, in that mysterious place shrouded in darkness and mist, nine figures cloaked in black robes fixed their gaze upon the scene within the light screen.

The talisman chamber was completely sealed. Thus, they couldn't discern the exact situation inside.

"The ninth successful candidate of this trial ground has been decided, and the tenth will likely emerge soon," the short black-robed figure said in a low voice. "Could it be that our chosen one won't even make it into the top ten?"

"We needn't be too demanding."

"Ming Jian has already exceeded our expectations by passing the first and second tests at such a rate. His progress has been remarkably swift."

"Indeed, that's right."

"Ninth Devil, we shouldn't set the bar too high. Although Ming Jian's Dao comprehension has reached a profound level, he's only been cultivating for less than two thousand years. Catching up so quickly is already an astonishing feat."

One by one, the black-robed figures spoke up, their attention firmly fixed on Wu Yuan's situation. As for the other candidates? While they paid some attention to them, they weren’t a primary concern.

"I'm not demanding too much. He has the potential to inherit the Sovereign's legacy," the short black-robed figure said gravely. "Once he becomes the Sovereign's successor, he will be master, and we’ll have to serve him.

Only the truly powerful are worthy of being my master," the short black-robed figure said coldly.

Hearing this, the group of black robed figures all revealed a hint of helplessness. They understood the logic, but they were simply more rational, believing the probability of Wu Yuan taking the tenth spot was extremely low.

After all, though Wu Yuan had taken the least time to progress from the first test to the second, he had spent far too long at the very beginning.

"He's done it," the silent Big Devil abruptly spoke.

He had been listening to the black-robed figures argue, but hadn't said anything until now. As the overseer of the entire Black Devil Blood Hollow, Big Devil was the only one who could constantly monitor each candidate's progress.

"What's done?"

"You mean Ming Jian?" All the black-robed figures were filled with astonishment, even the short figure known as Ninth Devil was utterly shocked.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In an instant, the gazes of these black-robed figures all fell upon the enormous light screen projection in the distance.

Whoosh!

At this moment, a pillar of light shot skyward, illuminating the light screen projection.

...

Within Wu Yuan's trial ground, over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities were in the midst of refining pills, forging equipment, or crafting talismans.

As the pillar of light shot skyward, it immediately attracted the attention of over ninety percent of the powerhouses. After so many occurrences, they all knew that this light signified that another candidate had completed the third test.

"Who is it?"

"The one who takes the tenth slot is the last to receive three Black Devil Tokens. Even if one passes the second trial after this, they'll only get two Black Devil Tokens."

"Missing one Black Devil Token means having to work even harder later to make up for it." The thoughts raced through the minds of the numerous Archimmortals and Archdeities.

However, when their gazes fell upon the source of the light, almost everyone gaped in astonishment.

"It's him?"

"How is this possible!"

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Ming Jian? He's actually completed the third test? How long has it been since he completed the second test?"

"Impossible!" Almost all the Archimmortals and Archdeities in the entire trial ground were dumbfounded. Even the powerhouses from the Hanging Moon Palace who were on good terms with Wu Yuan, like Archimmortal Li Shu, found it hard to believe. It was too shocking!

Yes, Ming Jian's talent and Dao comprehension were indeed exceptional, but it had taken him over four hundred years to meet the requirements for the first test.

Almost everyone had believed it would take Ming Jian at least six hundred years to complete the third test.

Even if it took six hundred years to complete the third test, it would have been astounding enough. After all, even the fastest, Archimmortal Xiang Fei, had taken over three hundred years to progress from the first test to the third.

But in the end, Ming Jian had succeeded in just over a hundred years.

"Too fast."

"The tenth position."

"Passing the third test just one hundred years after the first? How could his rate of progress be so swift?"

"It's incomprehensible." The vast majority of Archimmortals and Archdeities couldn't understand, but regardless, the pillar of light shooting skyward couldn't be faked.

Ming Jian was indeed the tenth candidate to pass the second trial in this trial ground.

"Ming Jian," Big Devil looked down at Wu Yuan as he emerged from the talisman chamber.

Wu Yuan bowed slightly.

"Very good. You are the tenth in this trial ground, and the ninety-sixth overall to advance to the third trial," Big Devil said slowly, completely ignoring the complex gazes of the over ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities.

"You have earned the right to receive three Black Devil Tokens."

Whoosh!

With a wave of his hand, three black tokens hovered before Wu Yuan.

The tokens looked ordinary, but their significance was immense.

"Thank you, Senior," Wu Yuan reached out and grasped the three Black Devil Tokens, storing them in his storage artifact.

His mind remained quite calm. Although his progress in equipment cultivation and talisman cultivation was indeed rapid, it was within his expectations. After analyzing the fundamental nature of all things for hundreds of years, Wu Yuan had some confidence.

The more I comprehend, the more I realize that the paths of crafting talismans, forging equipment, and refining pills all lead to the same destination.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

When traced to their origins, all these paths led to the same source.

Although Wu Yuan's Dao comprehension was still far from the Sovereign level, the method of analyzing the fundamental nature of all things was the path that many powerful Sovereigns took when learning pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, talisman cultivation, and array cultivation from scratch.

By mastering that one path, one could comprehend all paths.

"Proceed to the third trial," Big Devil glanced at Wu Yuan. "You've fallen rather far behind. I hope you can catch up."

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan vanished from his spot.

Big Devil's final words secretly alarmed many Archimmortals and Archdeities. Among the many who had passed the second trial, few had received additional remarks from Big Devil. Clearly, Big Devil had high hopes for Wu Yuan.