Chapter 329: Eighteen Years

Within the boundless, desolate great canyon, Dongbo Xueying, dressed in white, gazed upward at the slash marks carved into the cliff face before him.

“I wonder if I will ever reach such a realm in my lifetime,” Dongbo Xueying murmured, staring at the slash marks. His body trembled slightly, and he quickly took out a black gourd, drinking a mouthful of bitter antidote. The bitterness seeped into his heart, easing his pain somewhat. “Previously, I needed to drink the antidote once every half hour, but now I need to take it twice within that time.”

“One year outside equals eighteen years within this canyon,” Dongbo Xueying sighed.

Eighteen years.

He had examined every trace within the canyon, observing and contemplating each one. Eventually, he came to this single “slash mark,” spending most of his time deciphering its secrets and comprehending the underlying principles.

“It’s time to leave,” Dongbo Xueying said, fully aware of his transformation. The eighteen years of cultivation within the canyon had broadened his vision and deepened his foundation. After all, this canyon was deliberately created by a mighty being within the Divine Realm, intended to uncover the potential of countless cultivators who came here to undergo trials.

Whoosh!

Dongbo Xueying transformed into a streak of light, swiftly advancing along the vast, winding canyon. After flying 1.2 million li, he spotted a towering bloodvine flower, a thousand meters tall, with massive green vines and countless smaller ones, covering a radius of several thousand meters, adorned with beautiful red blossoms.

“Bloodvine,” Dongbo Xueying called out.

“Master,” a youthful voice responded. Instantly, the giant bloodvine flower shrank, flying swiftly toward Dongbo Xueying and coiling around his wrist like a bracelet.

“Master, I, I feel like I’m about to break through,” a ripple of thought reached Dongbo Xueying’s mind.

Dongbo Xueying smiled. “No rush. Even if you’re ready to break through, don’t do it yet. Wait until you enter the Xia Clan’s world to ascend to the Divine Realm.”

“Okay,” the bloodvine flower obediently replied.

When it was first cultivated, it was still immature, but now it could communicate with Dongbo Xueying. Within the canyon, Dongbo Xueying had chosen a place where time flowed the fastest for its growth. The time flow rate there was a hundred times faster, and now it was nearly ready to ascend.

However, the Xia Clan’s world was a mortal realm.

If a cultivator from this world reached the Divine Realm, they would be favored by the “World Will,” allowing them to remain for up to ten thousand years. If their cultivation level was high enough within that time, they might even refine the entire mortal world, becoming its ruler.

But for outsiders?

They could never refine the World Will, as it would never willingly allow itself to be refined. Instead, it would resist from the very beginning.

Outsiders must remain below the Divine Realm!

Only by ascending within the Xia Clan’s world could one remain there for the full ten-thousand-year lifespan.

And before the World Will of the Xia Clan, the bloodvine flower was not a native lifeform of that world, and thus would be rejected. Once it ascended to the Divine Realm, it would no longer be able to enter the Xia Clan’s world.

…

With the bloodvine flower coiled around his wrist, Dongbo Xueying continued forward and soon found Chen Jiu, who was still immersed in cultivation.

“You came, Dongbo,” Chen Jiu stood up, looking at the carvings on the cliff wall before him—depictions of the human form that contained the profound essence of the “True Self Will.”

“I really don’t want to leave this place.”

“If you’re not ready to leave, when you fail to pass the next vine world, you can return to the second vine world to continue cultivating,” Dongbo Xueying teased.

“Don’t jinx me. I will definitely pass the Tianlian Vine smoothly,” Chen Jiu quickly replied.

“Haha, yes, let’s pass it together,” Dongbo Xueying laughed. “Come on, it’s time to go to the third vine world. Are the Sword Sovereign and Mountain Master He still stuck in the third vine world?”

“When my Dou Qi clone faded away, they still hadn’t made it through,” Chen Jiu answered.

Their clones of fighting spirit outside had now completely dissipated.

Then the two immediately transformed into streaks of light, continuing upward along the main trunk of the Tianlian Vine. After flying for nine full days, they reached the higher third vine world.

…

The third vine world was simple.

There were only two arenas!

On one arena sat cross-legged three rosy-cheeked children, each wearing baby bibs, with two large hammers placed beside them.

On the other arena, a fat giant wearing armor was snoring loudly.

Before the two arenas, the golden-robed youth Sword Sovereign and Mountain Master He simultaneously turned their heads toward the sky, watching Dongbo Xueying and Chen Jiu descending after a brief conversation with Senior Xi Wei.

“You two finally arrived,” Sword Sovereign sighed. “It’s been a whole year in the canyon.”

“You’re still stuck here?” Chen Jiu looked at the two arenas. “According to the intelligence, the first two vine worlds were opportunities to uncover potential, but from the third vine world onward, the trials become increasingly difficult. How come you two are stuck at the third? Is it really that hard?”

“You can try it yourself,” the golden-robed youth Sword Sovereign said without bothering to explain.

Dongbo Xueying also carefully observed the two arenas before him.

Passing the third vine world was simple—defeat the opponents on both arenas!

Defeating them meant entry into the fourth vine world.

Arena battles… how simple they seemed, yet they were also the most direct and demanding of true strength.

“The fat giant and those three children are all formed by arrays,” Mountain Master He explained. “They are not real living beings, but their power remains constant. I used spatial true will to prevent the three children from surrounding me, barely managing to defeat them. However, the fat giant gave me no chance to evade. I had to face him head-on and fell short.”

“I’ve tried both,” the Sword Sovereign shook his head beside him. “Even Wu Huang could win one arena, but I couldn’t win a single one. It’s driving me to despair.”

“Your hair isn’t white at all,” Chen Jiu teased.

“Look.”

Sword Sovereign pointed at his hair, and in an instant, it all turned white. Then it reverted back to black. “Sigh, it’s all white. I just changed it back to black.”

“You two lost both arena battles but still have the mood to joke around,” Chen Jiu laughed.

Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but admire them. After all, they were bound by oaths—if they failed their mission, they would certainly die. Therefore, there was no room for retreat. Even after failing both arenas, Sword Sovereign could still joke around. That was truly a strong mindset.

“What of it? In the Temple of Time and Space, how many times have we stood before death during various missions?” Sword Sovereign laughed. “If failure means death, why not die with a smile instead of a frown?”

“Alright, alright, you win,” Chen Jiu jumped up and leaped directly toward the arena with the fat giant. “Let me try him.”

With a mighty roar, Chen Jiu unfurled his eight serpentine limbs, his divine aura erupting like a prismatic tempest. Each arm morphed into the visage of a different primordial dragon—their maws gaping with celestial fury as they surged forth in an annihilating onslaught.

Mountain Master He immediately covered his face.

“Poor guy,” Sword Sovereign said.

“Boom!”

The fat giant, who had been lying there, suddenly swung his hand. His palm, as large as a fan, moved lightning-fast, colliding directly with two of Chen Jiu’s eight arms.

Chen Jiu’s expression immediately changed, his eyes widening.

Whoosh!

He had rushed forward quickly, but he was sent flying backward even faster! Slapped by the fat giant’s palm, he was sent crashing out of the arena, landing heavily on the surface of the vine world’s vast, enormous leaf. The leaf trembled slightly but remained completely undamaged.

“I…” Chen Jiu stared wide-eyed.

“How could you dare to clash head-on with him?” Mountain Master He shook his head. “You brought it upon yourself.”

“How else would I know if I don’t try?” Chen Jiu retorted, though his expression also turned serious. He knew the strength of Mountain Master He and Sword Sovereign well. In close combat, their power was not much different from his. Yet Sword Sovereign hadn’t won a single match, and Mountain Master He had only won one by using spatial true will to prevent the three children from forming an encirclement. He had still failed the second match.

After all, Mountain Master He had mastered the True Self Will.

This was going to be a problem.

And this was only the third vine world!

Dongbo Xueying watched carefully from the side. The intelligence was indeed accurate—it was truly difficult.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!” Chen Jiu tried again, only to be smashed down once more by the fat giant. The giant’s attacks appeared simple but were, in fact, deceptively profound.

After three failed attempts, Chen Jiu helplessly shook his head.

“Dongbo, perhaps among the four of us, only you can pass through the third vine world,” Chen Jiu turned to Dongbo Xueying.

Upon hearing this, Mountain Master He and Sword Sovereign couldn’t help but look over in astonishment.

Chen Jiu had that much confidence in Dongbo Xueying?