"He's already passed through the first zone?"

"Ming Jian!"

"How could he be this fast?" The hundred-odd Archimmortals and Archdeities participating in the third trial were all stunned.

Earlier, Wu Yuan had made a surprising comeback in the second trial, completing three tests in succession to snatch the last spot in the top ten, obtaining three Black Devil Tokens. That alone had shocked them.

Now, even if Wu Yuan performed exceptionally well in the third trial, most Archimmortals and Archdeities had imagined it would still take him several decades at least to advance to the second zone. But it had only been one year.

This shouldn't be possible. These Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls are so complex, comprised of multiple Greater Laws... it shouldn't be possible.

Astral Lord Gu Shou gritted his teeth, unable to understand.

He had thought his own progress was already very rapid. He had even glimpsed the way to become an Astral Monarch from the complete Dao pattern diagrams. But compared to Wu Yuan, his progress was dismal.

One year? This!

Even Archimmortal Xiang Fei, widely acknowledged as the candidate taking the lead, felt a wave of despair.

These Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls gave me brand new guidance, but it still took me sixty years to choose one path among them and complete ten Dao pattern diagrams.

The hundred complete Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls represented the paths of multiple Great Daos, pointing the way towards higher levels.

Archimmortal Xiang Fei had sensed that one of those paths suited her, giving her some confidence. However, Wu Yuan's appearance made even her feel somewhat hopeless.

Passing through the first zone in just one year – Archimmortal Xiang Fei understood clearly what this meant:

This foreign monstrous prodigy of a High Immortal has found a path extremely suited to him. In such a short time, he's reached the second zone. At this rate, the third and fourth zones won't be able to stop him either.

The realms beyond are vast beyond measure. Legend has it that the external realms are thousands or tens of thousands of times larger than the Devil Realm.

Archimmortal Xiang Fei thought to herself.

In such an immense heaven and earth, it's only natural that some monstrous prodigies would emerge.

A hint of disappointment welled up in her heart, but it was quickly replaced by an intense unwillingness to give up.

Xiang Fei, oh Xiang Fei! How can you surrender before the very end?

Indeed, this High Immortal may have monstrous talent, but he's just entered the second zone. He hasn't left me behind completely yet.

Even if he does surpass me, as long as he hasn't obtained the final inheritance, I still have hope.

Archimmortal Xiang Fei's heart was filled with longing.

She understood that this was the greatest opportunity of her life. She would give it her all!

I'll exert every ounce of effort. Even if I fail in the end, even if I perish because of it, I'll have no regrets. In this lifetime, even if I cannot reach the pinnacle, I should at least fall while walking on the path toward it.

Archimmortal Xiang Fei calmed her mind. She no longer paid attention to Wu Yuan, focusing solely on her own challenge. Whether she succeeded or not, she would give her all, with no regrets even unto death!

Throughout the long ages of the river of space and time, most Sovereigns had skipped the Archimmortal or Archdeity phase, becoming Astral Monarchs directly before cultivating to the Sovereign phase over countless years.

However, there were always some late bloomers. They weren’t too naturally talented, and their cultivation speed was relatively slow. But they constantly improved, and constantly moved forward, with the determination to forge ahead and the perseverance to never admit defeat.

Thus, as long as even a small opportunity fell into their hands, it would allow them to shine with boundless radiance.

Without a doubt, Archimmortal Xiang Fei was one such figure!

…

"The second zone."

"He reached the second zone in just one year?" The upper echelons of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm quickly received the news, feeling a mixture of shock and helplessness.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Only Sovereign Lan Yan, who had been coldly observing from the sidelines all along, remained relatively calm upon receiving this news.

In the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, on a special celestial body.

"Bai Xuan, the chances of beating Ming Jian are very low," said Sovereign Lan Yan calmly, shrouded in endless blue flames. "The third trial tests one's comprehension of the Great Daos.

If numerous Astral Monarchs could join the trial, there might be hope. But the most outstanding Astral Lord under your command, Astral Lord Gu Shou, is only at the late-stage Astral Lord level. He hasn't even fully comprehended a single Intermediate Law, let alone begin to comprehend a Great Dao. How can he compete with Ming Jian?

Ming Jian is a monstrous prodigy who crystallized the True Intent of a Great Dao at the Earth Immortal phase," Sovereign Lan Yan shook her head. "I told you long ago, he can't be surpassed."

Shrouded in black flames, the Palace Master of the Hundred Mysteries Palace, fell silent.

After a long while, the Palace Master of the Hundred Mysteries Palace spoke slowly, "There will always be a glimmer of hope.”

Sovereign Lan Yan smiled, no longer bothering to argue.

…

In the Black Devil Blood Hollow, at the grounds of the third trial.

The first zone was too easy.

Wu Yuan thought as he arrived in the second zone, looking at the new Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls.

The hundred complete Dao pattern diagrams still expressed different Great Daos. However, each Dao pattern diagram now contained some special profundities. These were the fundamental profundities of all things and all beings within every Law. They were related to all Laws, yet not entirely the same.

If I hadn't analyzed the fundamental nature of all things during the second trial, the first zone might have trapped me for some time.

But I've already laid a solid foundation. As long as I contemplate a bit more and combine these fundamental profundities of all things with the profundities of Spacetime, I'll naturally clear this zone. It's extremely easy.

Wu Yuan revealed a faint smile.

Passing through the first zone in just one year has probably caused quite a stir. But this is only the beginning.

Wu Yuan didn't care at all about what others thought. No one could interfere with his progress anyway.

His current goal was to clear all six zones of the third trial in one go and seize twelve Black Devil Tokens.

The Great Dao profundities within these Dao pattern diagrams have reached a greater depth. They allow me to understand the profundities of the Great Dao of Spacetime anew from the perspective of the fundamental profundities of all things.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Over the past few centuries, his two true selves had been analyzing the fundamental profundities of all things, but the more he deduced, the harder it became to perceive how these Great Dao profundities were connected to the fundamental profundities of all things.

But back then, he didn't dare divert too much attention to this question, as his main focus was passing the second trial.

Now in the third trial, the Dao pattern diagrams left behind by Sovereign Black Devil gave Wu Yuan more guidance and more to ponder.

Analyzing all things and understanding the basic units of life has greatly aided my comprehension of the Law of Life. Without realizing it, my body refiner self has made great progress in the Great Dao of Creation.

And through comprehending these Dao pattern diagrams on the stone walls, I believe my progress in the Great Dao of Spacetime will also accelerate.

Wu Yuan continued to ponder silently.

Passing the third trial was one thing. More importantly, this strengthened his understanding of both Great Daos, allowing him to advance much faster than when he had been comprehending them separately before.

In fact, while deducing and contemplating the ten Dao pattern diagrams expressing the Great Dao of Spacetime, Wu Yuan diverted some attention to studying the ten Dao pattern diagrams expressing the Great Dao of Creation. Even so, he advanced at an astonishing speed.

In the sixth year after starting the third trial, Wu Yuan cleared the second zone.

In the eighteenth year, Wu Yuan cleared the third zone.

In the forty-second year, Wu Yuan cleared the fourth zone.

…

As more Archimmortals and Archdeities began the third trial, the number of passages increased to over 130.

A deathly silence reigned.

The Archimmortals and Archdeities on various passages would occasionally look up, their expressions complex as they gazed at the white-robed figure far ahead on one of the passages.

In first place was Wu Yuan, in the fifth zone.

Behind him were ten others in the second zone, including Archimmortal Xiang Fei, Astral Lord Gu Shou, and Astral Lord Xue Yao.

Indeed! In the decades since Wu Yuan had entered the third trial ground, no one else had made it to the third zone.

The third trial would last for a thousand years. This meant that most candidates would likely find it difficult to reach the fifth and sixth zones.

When most candidates first advanced to the third trial and heard the rules, they all longed to seize six Black Devil Tokens in one go. But as time passed and their comprehension deepened, they came to understand just how unrealistic their goal had been.

Forget about passing through all six zones – even getting to the third zone was incredibly difficult.

"Ming Jian!"

"He's left us far behind." When Wu Yuan had passed through the second zone, moving onto the third, these Archimmortals and Archdeities had felt despair and shock.

And when Wu Yuan continued to clear the fourth zone, reaching the fifth zone, all the Archimmortals and Archdeities were mostly numb by then.

The gap was too massive, so large that even these powerhouses could no longer muster even a hint of competitive spirit. Anyone could see that at Wu Yuan's rate of progress, clearing all six zones was likely just a matter of time.

In fact, even if he ultimately didn’t pass through the sixth zone, so what? Wu Yuan had already effectively claimed ten Black Devil Tokens. He was only two more away from twelve Black Devil Tokens. With the power and potential he'd displayed, how could he possibly fail to obtain two more Black Devil Tokens in the remaining trials?

"We can't match him."

"We can only do our best."

"Now, we can only hope Ming Jian encounters difficulties in the eighth trial." These were the prevailing thoughts among the many Archimmortals and Archdeities.

…

Deep within the Black Devil Blood Hollow, in that mysterious place, the nine black-robed figures had fallen completely silent.

Even the short black-robed figure, who had always maintained the highest, most exacting standards, now looked on with great anticipation.

Reaching the fifth zone in fifty years; what kind of genius is this?

Big Devil stood at the front of the group, his eyes gleaming intensely.

Though he's crystallized Spacetime True Intent, completing these Dao pattern diagrams requires more than just comprehension of Spacetime. He must also have insights into the fundamental nature of all things in heaven and earth.

Ah, I see. I understand now. Back in the second trial, he meditated in seclusion for several centuries, likely working on precisely this.

Big Devil shook his head, sighing with emotion.

Even so, this rate of progress is far too swift.

To analyze the profundities of all things to such a degree in just a few centuries? The mere thought of it left Big Devil incredulous.

The potential Wu Yuan had revealed seemed to far surpass even his existing Dao comprehension.

Could it be that he has some secret I'm unaware of?

Big Devil pondered silently.

"Big Devil, how long do you think it will take Ming Jian to pass through the sixth zone?" the shortest of them, Ninth Devil, inquired.

"How long?" Big Devil hesitated before replying, "The sixth zone is the most challenging, and Ming Jian's Dao comprehension is only at the level of an early-stage Astral Monarch... Three hundred years at the least, five hundred at most.

You should all understand that while the six zones set by the Sovereign vary in difficulty, even at the current lowest difficulty, it was never expected that anyone could break through rapidly."

The other black-robed figures nodded. They trusted Big Devil's judgment.

"Three to five hundred years? Even if it takes the full five hundred, that's still dazzling enough." Ninth Devil's voice was low and deep. "I was wrong about him... This Ming Jian is indeed the most brilliant genius I’ve ever encountered.

Even if the Sovereign were reborn and reached the same age, he still wouldn't come close to matching Ming Jian," Ninth Devil said, shaking his head.

"Haha, even Ninth Devil admits his mistake?"

"How rare." The other black-robed figures couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, well aware of Ninth Devil's temperament.

Getting him to concede was extremely difficult. Even the Sovereigns of the Dao Realm in days past couldn't sway Ninth Devil – at least, he was always stubborn in his speech.

Table for laws vs cultivation phases

Whysee's Thoughts

For reference:

Lesser Law

Intermediate Law

Greater Law

Great Dao

Land

Celestial Body, Longevity

Space, Time, Life, Death

Spacetime, Creation,

Domain= initiate threshold

x

x

x

True Intent

Domain= initiate threshold

x

x

Dao Field

True Intent

Domain= initiate threshold

x

(Completion) = Archimmortal

Dao Field (7th level = peak-stage Archimmortal = Astral Lord)

True Intent

Domain= initiate threshold

x

(Completion) = Astral Monarch

Dao Field (1st-3rd level = early-stage Astral Monarch, 4th-6th level = mid-stage Astral Monarch, 7-9th level = late-stage Astral Monarch, 9th level = peak-stage Astral Monarch)

True Intent

x

x

(Completion) = Sovereign

Dao Field

x

x

x

(Completion)