Chapter 333: The Fourth Vine Leaf World

Dongbo Xueying soared upward along the colossal vine’s trunk, the third massive vine leaf below gradually shrinking at an extremely slow pace.

On that third immense vine leaf world, the two platforms, along with the figures of Chen Jiu, He Mountain Master, and Sword Sovereign, grew ever smaller, eventually becoming nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.

“Take care,” Dongbo Xueying murmured silently.

He then lifted his gaze toward the distant upper reaches.

Far, far above, another enormous vine leaf loomed—it was the Fourth Vine Leaf World! Now, he was the only one who had made it this far.

“Never would I have imagined that I, of all people, would end up leading the way through Red Stone Mountain,” Dongbo Xueying mused with a shake of his head and a faint smile.

As he continued flying onward.

One day, two days, three days…

The distance steadily closed, and Dongbo Xueying could feel a growing pressure in his heart. The records he had gathered about the Fourth Vine Leaf World had painted a grim picture, indeed.

In terms of risk of death—

The Fourth Vine Leaf World was far more perilous than the previous three combined.

“I have no room for retreat. I must win,” Dongbo Xueying said to himself as he flew, pulling out a black gourd and tilting it to his lips for a sip. He then stowed it away. A bitter antidote spread through his body. He had long grown accustomed to this bitterness, even come to embrace it.

…

Flying alone for over nine days, clinging close to the gargantuan trunk of the Skyward Vine, Dongbo Xueying finally arrived at the Fourth Vine Leaf World.

A green-haired woman, Xi Wei, emerged from the vine’s trunk.

“Young Transcendent, congratulations on surviving to reach the fourth vine leaf,” Xi Wei regarded Dongbo Xueying. “Among the Transcendents who entered Red Stone Mountain this time, your talent and potential are indeed the highest. I had originally worried that your progress might be too slow to pass the third vine leaf. But I see now that I needn’t have worried. You’ve surpassed even my expectations.”

“It will only be worth congratulating me if I survive all five vine leaves,” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“That you remain so level-headed is commendable.”

Xi Wei nodded. “In the Saint Lord’s design, the first and second vine leaves, while somewhat dangerous, were mainly meant to test your potential. The third vine leaf, however, was significantly more difficult, eliminating the vast majority of Transcendents. Though far more challenging, the duels on the third vine leaf usually held back, rarely ending in instant death.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

The fact that Sword Sovereign and the others were still alive proved that, while difficult, the duels weren’t often fatal.

“But the final two vine leaves are different. They will test your ability to fight for survival, and much more,” Xi Wei continued. “And death may come at any moment.”

“I understand,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

“Look over there,” Xi Wei pointed toward the immense vine leaf below. Upon the colossal leaf stood a single, grand structure. The building was primarily black and gold, with elegant lines. “That is the Battle Arena—a common sight in the Divine Realm!”

“In the Divine Realm, many cultivators, desperate for treasures and resources, risk their lives by entering the Battle Arena,” Xi Wei explained. “They engage in life-or-death combat. Many Divine-level experts, even World Gods, have entered these arenas!”

“Once you step into the Battle Arena, only one of the two can walk out alive. The other will perish within.”

“Because it is a true fight to the death, the Battle Arena offers extremely high rewards to participants in the Divine Realm, attracting many Divine-level experts, even World Gods to participate.”

“World Gods battling… two World Gods in a duel, one must die! Such battles draw countless spectators,” Xi Wei mused. “The Battle Arena is very popular and common in the Divine Realm.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

He had spoken with Chen Jiu before and knew that the Divine Realm was harsh and brutal. Even Divine Beings could be reduced to slaves and sold. So risking one’s life wasn’t surprising. But for World Gods—such mighty beings—to gamble their lives was indeed rare.

“This is a replica of a standard Battle Arena,” Xi Wei pointed toward the massive structure. “Inside, you will face your opponent. After one ‘time-sand’ passes, another wave of opponents will join. After another time-sand, a third wave will enter. Either all three waves must be eliminated, or you will die. Do you understand the rules?”

“I do.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

He was alone. His opponents would come in three waves. So he had to eliminate each wave within one ‘time-sand’ to stand a chance against the next.

Otherwise, if all three waves attacked together, he would be almost certainly doomed.

“Go,” Xi Wei nodded. “Good luck.” With that, her form faded back into the trunk of the Skyward Vine.

Dongbo Xueying gazed down at the Battle Arena structure below and dove downward, landing on the surface of the massive vine leaf.

“It begins.”

Dongbo Xueying strode toward the Battle Arena. The structure had an open passage leading inside.

This deep, shadowy corridor was the path to the battlefield within.

“Gugu,” Dongbo Xueying raised his black gourd and took another sip of the antidote, restoring his condition to peak.

“Kill!” With a surge of killing intent in his eyes, Dongbo Xueying conjured a crimson spear in his hand and strode into the corridor without hesitation. Soon, he passed through the dark passage and emerged onto a vast, blood-red battlefield.

The blood-red arena was square in shape.

Each side stretched for ten thousand li!

A suffocating aura of endless malevolence filled the air. This battlefield had seen the deaths of countless powerful beings, their lingering resentment and killing intent sending chills down one’s spine.

“Whoosh!” Suddenly, an invisible spatial barrier formed around the arena, cutting off all escape. Dongbo Xueying glanced at the barrier. He understood its purpose in the Divine Realm—it prevented the battle from affecting the spectators, but more importantly, it ensured that no one could flee.

Only one would leave alive. Once inside, there was no turning back.

Dongbo Xueying had heard from Chen Jiu that in the Divine Realm, some Divine-level experts, desperate for a coveted treasure, would risk their lives in a duel. But after exchanging just one or two blows with their opponent and realizing their mistake, they might beg for mercy, even surrender. But it was useless. The loser must die.

“Shshshsh~~~” A sandglass appeared in the air, its glowing grains of time-sand slowly trickling downward.

As the grains of time-sand fell, the battle had officially begun.

Once all the time-sand had passed through, the second wave of opponents would appear.

“Damn it,” Dongbo Xueying frowned. Despite all the intelligence he had gathered, he still couldn’t identify the nine figures now materializing on the battlefield—nine four-legged beasts with silver-white fur and golden horns, their eyes glowing golden. They stared at Dongbo Xueying.

The time-sand was flowing. The battle had begun.

Without hesitation, the nine golden-horned, golden-eyed beasts roared and transformed into nine golden streaks, rushing at Dongbo Xueying at once.

Dongbo Xueying, spear in hand, took a single step forward—and vanished.

Within the Void Realm—

Dongbo Xueying saw the nine golden-horned beasts turn their heads toward him, their gazes seeming to pierce through the Void Realm itself. Yet, they hesitated.

“Good. It seems their power is weakened in the Void Realm,” Dongbo Xueying thought.

In an instant, he closed the distance on one of the golden-eyed beasts. His crimson spear lashed out with a devastating strike—the incomprehensibly fast ‘Star Collapse Strike’—his spear spinning, its tip creating a vortex of gravitational pull and terrifying piercing force aimed at the nearest beast.

The golden-eyed beast tried to dodge, its body moving swiftly while swiping a claw in defense.

“Thrust!” Dongbo Xueying’s spear was not so easily blocked. It grazed the beast’s claw and, with a spiraling motion, pierced through the front abdomen of the golden-eyed beast.