Dongbo Xueying challenged the third-ranked Blood Blade, engaging in a fierce battle before finally emerging victorious! The primary reason for Dongbo Xueying’s challenge was to gain experience and elevate his own skills, which was why he held back until the very end before unleashing his full power to secure the win. Blood Blade also found the duel exhilarating, as Dongbo Xueying’s spear techniques were indeed of an exceptionally high level, offering him valuable insights.
After defeating Blood Blade, Dongbo Xueying rose to third place.
Subsequently, he challenged the top-ranked ‘Rain Swordsman.’
The Rain Swordsman had similarly modified a cosmic-level supreme technique to create his own unique swordsmanship. His style excelled in area-of-effect attacks, with countless raindrops scattering across the battlefield, each carrying immense threat. Even someone like the Golden Needle Demon, who specialized in wide-range assaults, found himself completely suppressed when facing the Rain Swordsman, who was even more adept at such tactics.
This battle followed the same pattern—Dongbo Xueying was overwhelmed, but thanks to his mastery of the Void Path, the ‘Voidwalker’s Etherealization,’ and his formidable physical resilience, he managed to endure the onslaught.
Ultimately, the battle spirit adjudicated Dongbo Xueying’s defeat.
—
“It’s over.” Ancestor Tianyu, seated at the highest vantage point, gazed down below. The ranking battles had lasted a full twelve years, and now they had finally concluded. The ‘Punishment Hall Master,’ the Demon Ancestor, personally began distributing rewards to the Golden-Robed Disciples.
Those who had fallen out of the top ten were required to return their ‘Golden Robes’ and ‘Golden-Robed Disciple Tokens,’ receiving ‘Purple Robes’ and ‘Purple-Robed Disciple Tokens’ in exchange.
“Ancestor, not many Inner Hall Elders attended the battles this time,” remarked the white-haired ‘Sword Master.’ “Is the situation in our territories that dire? Are they unable to leave? Should I dispatch an avatar to assist?”
“Don’t worry.”
Ancestor Tianyu smiled. “Our lineage excels in the mysteries of laws, and our avatars are powerful enough to handle things. The situation is under control. Focus on your cultivation—every bit of progress you make strengthens the Tai Xu Heavenly Palace.”
The Sword Master nodded.
Though the Tai Xu Heavenly Palace was one of the supreme powers, it still faced its share of troubles.
“I hope more of these youngsters rise to prominence,” Ancestor Tianyu mused as he looked down. “With just a few more Chaos Realm experts, the Tai Xu Heavenly Palace would find things much easier. And if one of them takes that final step, our foundation would be even more unshakable.”
The two conversed casually.
Once the rewards had been distributed below, the Punishment Hall Master, the Demon Ancestor, announced the conclusion of the True God Disciple Battles. Only then did Ancestor Tianyu and the Sword Master rise and depart.
Soon after…
The various Hall Masters began leaving one by one, followed by the Inner and Outer Hall Elders.
They had attended the battles because this was the Tai Xu Heavenly Palace’s grand event, held once every billion years, and a rare opportunity for so many powerful figures to gather. In truth, they weren’t overly concerned with the True God-level battles—they were merely observing to identify promising talents.
—
“I’ve got it.” Dongbo Xueying’s heart swelled with excitement. He had just received the remaining items due to him as a Golden-Robed Disciple from the Demon Ancestor, the most important of which was the ‘Spirit-Calming Fruit.’ There were also other, less valuable but still precious cultivation aids.
“Hmph, Dongbo Xueying, look how thrilled you are—and you’re only third place. If you’d taken second or first, you’d probably be shouting with joy,” the Golden Needle Demon sneered as he flew past.
“Golden Needle fool, Dongbo only lost to you because of the rules of the Phantom Arena. In a real fight, you wouldn’t even scratch him. What are you so proud of?” the portly Blood Blade mocked. He was the most vocal in opposing the Golden Needle Demon.
The Golden Needle Demon glared at Blood Blade, his eyes flashing with malice.
“What, want to fight? Come on, then! Seems like you’re eager to sample the ‘Demon Refining Prison’ under the Demon Ancestor’s command,” Blood Blade taunted. His strength ensured that the Golden Needle Demon couldn’t kill him quickly, and he had life-saving talismans to boot. But if they fought and violated the Heavenly Palace’s laws, the consequences would be dire.
“Senior Brother Dongbo, care to join me for a drink at my abode? Other fellow disciples will be there too,” Blood Blade invited warmly.
“Senior Brother Dongbo, let’s go together,” Zhe Qu Yong, Junior Sister Qian Que, and others chimed in.
The top-ranked disciples shared a close camaraderie.
“Very well,” Dongbo Xueying agreed.
—
The group drank and chatted freely, with even the weakest among them ranked in the top thirty—proof that strength was highly valued in the world of cultivators.
They discussed everything under the sun, even sharing some secrets.
Some of these were things Dongbo Xueying hadn’t even heard from his master, Gu Qi. As an ultimate existence, Gu Qi’s knowledge tended toward the most critical intelligence, leaving many minor secrets unmentioned. Yet these lesser secrets were still quite valuable to Dongbo Xueying at his current stage.
After the gathering, Dongbo Xueying felt much closer to his fellow disciples.
Once the festivities ended, he headed straight to the Time Hall, selecting a hundredfold time acceleration to resume his cultivation.
“Whoosh—”
This time, Dongbo Xueying descended upon a planet where fierce winds howled like blades, though his current realm rendered them harmless.
Alone on the planet, he didn’t rush to break through to the Void God level. Instead, he focused on comprehending the second stance of the ‘World Annihilation Sword.’
The twelve years of True God Disciple battles had exposed him to countless fights, including dozens of his own. These experiences had deepened his understanding of the interplay of laws and mysteries, bringing him closer to mastering the second stance. Since he was on the verge of a breakthrough, there was no need to hurry.
Mastering the second stance of the World Annihilation Sword as a Dominion-level cultivator would further temper his foundation.
A sword must be honed to sharpen its edge.
Jade must be carved to reveal its beauty.
Even the most gifted cultivators needed trials to refine their comprehension. The Dongbo Xueying of his youth, who had grasped the ‘World True Intent,’ was incomparable to the present Dongbo Xueying, who stood on the cusp of becoming a Void God.
But this wasn’t enough—he needed to grow even stronger. Only then could he secure the rarest cultivation aids to assist his wife, Jing Qiu, and their son, Yu’er.
His master, the Voidwalker Gu Qi, had once failed to help a Four-Heavens World God friend achieve transcendence. Granted, Gu Qi had been severely injured and fleeing at the time, lacking suitable cultivation aids for a Four-Heavens World God. Moreover, external aids could only do so much—transcendence ultimately depended on one’s own enlightenment.
Still, his master’s failure weighed on Dongbo Xueying, driving him to push himself harder.
“At least I’ve obtained the Spirit-Calming Fruit,” Dongbo Xueying murmured, settling into deep meditation.
—
Time flowed.
On the planet, 190 million years passed, while only 1.9 million years elapsed in the outside world.
On a floating island at the center stood an elegant complex of wooden and stone structures, exquisitely carved and surrounded by countless blooming flowers.
In one of the pavilions, Ancestor Tianyu, the hunchbacked elder, and the white-haired Sword Master sat cross-legged opposite each other. A low table between them held wine, while incense burned nearby, filling the air with fragrance.
Though they appeared serene, their avatars were engaged in a fierce duel within the chaotic void. As the only two ultimate existences specializing in the mysteries of laws, they were each other’s most suitable sparring partners.
“Palace Masters.”
A voice suddenly echoed in the ears of Ancestor Tianyu and the Sword Master—both held the title of Palace Master.
“Golden-Robed Disciple Dongbo Xueying, currently at the Dominion level, has comprehended the second stance of the World Annihilation Sword,” announced the Time Hall’s artifact spirit.
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