Chapter 314: Breakthrough, Tripled State

Inside the canyon.

Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged in front of the cliff wall, while beside him, the old man in black robes stood motionless like a withered tree.

As the seconds ticked by, Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

“Damn it.”

The pain was gradually intensifying.

Although Dongbo Xueying had taken the antidote right before entering the canyon to witness the “Creation of Heaven and Earth,” even in ordinary life outside, he now had to consume the antidote hourly to counteract the curse. Within the Redstone Mountain, to prevent any hindrance in combat, he had to take it every half hour. Yet, “cultivation” was distinct from “battle.”

Cultivation required total immersion, and as the pain increased in waves, it inevitably affected Dongbo Xueying.

Still, he refused to stop. The ‘Creation of Heaven and Earth’ was simply too awe-inspiring, sparking countless ideas in him. He wanted to quickly verify and test each insight before these inspirations faded.

“It’s incredible! The vastness of the laws of the world is beyond imagination. What I’ve understood before was just a drop in the ocean,” Dongbo Xueying was filled with excitement. He had never had a master before, and had always cultivated on his own. But during the ‘Creation of Heaven and Earth’—as a brand new world formed and its profound laws were revealed—Dongbo Xueying finally witnessed countless laws in their true form.

“The Ultimate Piercing technique can be used in such a way. Compared to the true ‘Ultimate,’ I’m still so far away.”

“My True Will of the Stars is indeed shallow.”

“The Void Realm is ultimately just the Void. Only a true ‘World’ can be perfect.”

Dongbo Xueying no longer felt the slightest pride, sensing a gap as vast as a chasm between himself and true mastery!

A single finger strike opens up heaven and earth.

If he could attain such power, he could annihilate an entire mortal realm with but a flick of his wrist. What then were the Witch Gods and the Demon Gods, but mere insignificant adversaries?

“Time’s up!” a cold voice rang out.

“Buzz!”

A wave of force abruptly enveloped Dongbo Xueying, and like tossing a chick, forcibly expelled him from this space.

The scene before Dongbo Xueying’s eyes flickered. The sensation of forced spatial displacement left his body feeling extremely uncomfortable, and his mind dizzy: “The way Senior Xiwēi moved me was so gentle, yet this old man in black robes is so rough.”

“Dongbo.” Chen Jiu’s voice sounded.

Dongbo Xueying also realized that he had returned to the base of the Skyward Vine, where Chen Jiu, Uncle Fu, Wu Ma Hai, Master Meishan, the young swordsman in golden robes, the man in black, and the girl in black robes were all standing.

“Brother Chen.” Dongbo Xueying smiled.

“Haha… It’s pretty uncomfortable getting thrown out like that, isn’t it?” Chen Jiu teased with a grin. “I felt terrible too when I was thrown out. A lot of my insights were nearly forgotten, but the gains were still great. How did you feel?”

“Awe-inspiring.” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“Yes, the Creation of Heaven and Earth! Only great beings can achieve this.” Chen Jiu nodded. “If only we could watch it a few more times.”

“Once it shakes the soul. But if witnessed too often, its impact may fade,” remarked Xueying Dongbo.

“We’ll stay here for three days of cultivation. After that, we’ll start climbing up the Skyward Vine.” Chen Jiu smiled. “Looks like you’ll be coming with us after all.”

“Of course, together.” Dongbo Xueying replied.

…

Then, Dongbo Xueying and the other seven companions began their cultivation at the base of the Skyward Vine, striving to digest their previous insights, each hoping for a breakthrough. Before cultivation, Senior Xiwēi had also given each of them a talisman.

“Boom!”

At the base of the Skyward Vine, within the Void Realm.

After taking the antidote, Dongbo Xueying began practicing his spear techniques. He didn’t want others to see his training, while the other seven were all sitting cross-legged in meditation. Dongbo Xueying’s cultivation effectiveness was weaker, so he needed to repeatedly verify his insights through spear techniques.

“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!”

Dongbo Xueying’s long spear moved so fast it became a blur of countless illusions. Each strike had a faint black dot at the tip, and his speed had clearly improved significantly compared to when he first entered Redstone Mountain.

“Exciting! Exciting! Reaching the Third Stage makes such a difference.” Dongbo Xueying’s face lit up with joy.

The Ultimate Piercing had broken through to the Third Stage.

“Buzz!” “Hua la!”

The spear moved like a dragon swimming, sometimes creating countless spear shadows blooming like snowflakes, sometimes like a divine dragon swinging its tail.

Unknowingly…

Three days had passed.

“I still lack that final feeling.” Dongbo Xueying felt a bit regretful. After three consecutive days of spear practice, only the Ultimate Piercing had broken through. His True Will of the Stars and the Void Realm were still insufficient.

“The Third Stage isn’t a major threshold anyway. Since the Ultimate Piercing has already broken through, the Stars and Void are just slightly lacking.” Dongbo Xueying wasn’t in a hurry.

…

“Let’s go.”

Dongbo Xueying and the other seven companions swiftly flew upward along the enormous trunk of the Skyward Vine.

The trunk was so thick that its edges couldn’t be seen clearly up close, with countless vines entwined around it. Dongbo Xueying and the others were flying close to the surface. The farther they moved from the trunk, the stronger the dark currents in the starry void became.

This flight lasted much longer—no less than nine days.

Knowing there would be no danger during the flight, Dongbo Xueying carefully took the antidote every hour.

“The First Vine Leaf.” As Dongbo Xueying and the others flew upward, they felt an invisible resistance, like a barrier blocking their path.

Looking down from the side.

A peculiar and enormous vine leaf had grown from the trunk of the Skyward Vine. Previously, the countless smaller vines also had small leaves, which were quite ordinary. But this peculiar and enormous vine leaf… it was too exaggerated! Judging from their distant view before, the area of this vine leaf was probably larger than the entire Xia Clan’s world! Truly worthy of being a World God-level lifeform.

“Young transcendent ones.” A green-haired woman, Xiwēi, appeared on the trunk beside them.

“Senior Xiwēi.” The eight of them, including Dongbo Xueying, respectfully bowed.

“The Saint Master has set five vine leaves as trials for transcendent beings.” Xiwēi said. “The earlier ones were too simple. These are the real tests that will determine who can become the Saint Master’s guardian disciples and enjoy the many privileges that come with it.”

The eight of them, including Dongbo Xueying, all looked forward with anticipation.

Becoming a guardian disciple meant obtaining treasures—some so alluring that even World Gods would covet them! That was precisely why Chen Jiu, Wu Ma Hai, Lord Youlan, and the others had descended here—all for the sake of these treasures! As for the poison? Once one became a guardian disciple, antidotes would likely be a trivial concern.

“You should know how to pass the First Vine Leaf.” Green-haired Xiwēi pointed toward the center of the enormous vine leaf. “At its very center, there is a long vine directly connecting to the upper trunk of the Skyward Vine.”

“Reach that vine, and you will succeed. Then you can climb along it… to the Second Vine Leaf! However, the First Vine Leaf contains countless trials and dangers. Be careful before reaching that vine.” Xiwēi smiled slightly. “Wishing you all good luck. I hope to see all of you on the Second Vine Leaf.”

Then Xiwēi’s figure merged into the trunk of the Skyward Vine.

“We’ll go first.” Master Meishan said.

“Hua.”

Master Meishan, along with the white-robed girl and the black-clothed man, immediately dove downward toward the enormous vine leaf.

“Ai!” The young swordsman in golden robes was about to speak when Master Meishan and his group had already set off. He then turned to Chen Jiu’s group, “Brother Chen, shall we go together?”

Wu Ma Hai also turned to look at Chen Jiu and the others, forcing a smile: “Chen Jiu, Dongbo Xueying, let’s go together!”