Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Within the sub-dimensional space of the Mortal Bridge, a door formed from white light appeared. "All those who reached the 1000th step, PROCEED." The voice announced.

A forceful gust swept the bodies of all those who have yet to reach the 1000th step towards the spatial slit. They were sent out. Out of the hundreds of thousands of people, only 103 remained. The bridge eliminated a vast majority of participants.

This shocked everyone, including Yan Zaizen. From his understanding, this trial should have two things - high mortality rate and a decent number of those who passed the three trials. However, this trial was quite different. Barely any died while many, many were directly eliminated.

Yan Zaizen couldn’t help but glance at the Xiantu Emperor. It seems this man had his plans. He had a faint feeling since arriving that this man was dangerous and very scheme-oriented. Yan Zaizen felt an innate sense of distrust and discomfort looking at him.

Shin Xuanji and the others entered the white door. When they arrived at their destination, they recognized that they were alone. The world was a barren wasteland filled with dry ground, cloudy skies, and a chilly air. There was a grey sun that hung in the sky that released a frosty aura. It felt so cold that some had to use their qi-essence to abate the sensation.

"Is this...another realm?" Shin Xuanji questioned as he looked around.

"An array world?" Yan Zaizen was a little shocked as he saw the remaining participants appear on separate screens within another space. An array world was a sub-dimensional space that had been influenced by interconnecting formations. Typically, they were used for training, cultivation, growing herbs, or setting a specific environment to comprehend laws.

After all, a sub-dimensional space was pretty empty. An array world would give it unique characteristics and make it habitable. Some even had their entire clans based in them or used to hide if calamity struck. It was like having a very, very small sub-realm for your own use.

"To structure 103 array world’s, it’s quite extraordinary. The Xiantu Emperor’s abilities and resources are quite deep." Grimm commented from the side.

"That’s incorrect. This is only one array world that was divided into 103 parts." Moana corrected. She was far more familiar with formations than Grimm. She could even be called a master formationist.

Grimm coldly snorted. Getting corrected never felt good, but he kept silent. His mind still was in awe at the array world.

"If I recall, this is the Slaughter World." Xian Li, who’ve stayed quite close to Yan Zaizen, said. "It is a training simulation for members of the Xiantu Emperor’s direct lineage. I think the Mortal Bridge is also a part of the Xiantu Emperor’s tools to help cultivators. To think..." he felt bewildered by what the Xiantu Emperor brought out despite their previous exclusivity.

The Mortal Bridge was a grand opportunity to test your comprehension and experience enhanced clarity towards the laws. While on it, one day translates to one year of seeking enlightenment. Unfortunately, it only helps with conceptual laws and not the overall laws themselves, only helping till the perfect-Nascent level.

"Slaughter World?" Curiosity filled Yan Zaizen’s gaze. Fortunately, his curiosity was sated by the grand announcer.

"The Slaughter World has nine levels. Each level has thirty-three enemies. Pass all nine levels, complete the trial. You can choose to leave in the next five minutes, but if you do not, you will be unable to leave until the trial is completed or finished."

"Thirty-three enemies? Nine levels?" Shin Xuanji was a little intrigued, but he remained stationary. All of the participants did. After all, they didn’t come here to quit.

Within Shin Xuanji’s world, the first enemy appeared within the barren world from nothing. It was humanoid, dressed completely in grey armor, and held a single spear. Shin Xuanji observed this armored figure, realizing his qi cultivation base was only at the mid-Qi Unification Realm. His vital energy aura had the same intensity and his soul was at the Perfect Nascent Soul.

With furrowed brows, he felt that he understood something. Despite this, he was going to strike. Withdrawing his black blade, he readied himself.

Shmmm!

Then, thirty-two of the exact same shimmered into existence, each holding a different mortal weapon. Some held bows, some had lances, spears, tomahawks, swords, and even a whip. They had different weapons that went into thirty-three mortal laws, each with the same cultivation bases, same armor, and same ferocity emanating from their bodies.

Shin Xuanji didn’t take this seriously. His origin core shined as his qi-essence infused with his origin swept out like a tide of black blood. Within a second, it swept his enemies and crushed them all under its immense weight.

For an Origin Core expert, a hundred Qi Unification warriors were nothing more than ants beneath a boot. The difference in realm alone constituted this fact, adding his foundation, concepts, and armaments, this was nothing more than a slight breeze.

After a minute passed, thirty-three more appeared. Their souls were stronger, their auras, both vital and qi, reached the late-Qi Unification Realm. "I see..." With another wave of his sword, the enemies were easily demolished.

Third level, peak-Qi Unification Realm. Shin Xuanji could deduce the levels in the future. He faced them with ease. Fourth level introduced half-step Origin Core experts. Each armored individual started to radiate auras of laws, as if they had discovered and excavated their origin sources.

It’s likely these levels were based on individual cultivation bases, likely relating to his qi cultivation base. This test specifically tested comprehensive combat strength.

The fifth level was harder than any other level thus far. Shin Xuanji struck with ferocity, fighting the experts with a black bloody storm filled with immense weight. It crushed those unable to defend themselves.

The sixth level had peak initial-Origin Core experts. Their great coordination was now capable of being properly exhibited. The difference in strength was slowly closing, forcing Shin Xuanji to expand more qi-essence to kill one.

The seventh level was tougher, dealing with thirty-three mid-Origin Core experts left him sweating. It wasn’t to the point where he was in lethal danger, but it was exhausting. With a bodily strength, qi-essence, and soul tactics that rivaled mid-Origin Core experts, Shin Xuanji felt the pressure pile.

He suffered his first injury. A light laceration on his left arm caused by a thrown dagger. Their tactics were intermixed with short, mid, and long-range attacks. They would put unrelenting pressure in close combat and long-range soul strikes.

"Then...the ninth level is late or peak-Origin Core experts?" Shin Xuanji realized the danger in this trial. It didn’t test understanding in laws but comprehension into arts! Martial arts, qi arts, and soul arts. If you lacked any of them and placed in a situation you couldn’t adapt to, you’ll lose your life.

To sharpen the blade by removing all impurities. To sharpen the person by removing all weaknesses.

"Is this what it means to be a powerful cultivator?" The eight-level emerged, revealing peak mid-Origin Core experts. With a thunderous roar, Shin Xuanji waved his sword to produce an oceanic wave of black blood.

It crushed towards the thirty-three, but besides a few, the others dodged. They proceeded to engage Shin Xuanju in all forms of combat. He suffered a large injury to the abdomen, a lance penetrated his stomach ruthlessly. If it wasn’t for his control of blood laws and strong body, he could’ve died. His soul was also battered by the constant bombardment of soul arts.

Shin Xuanji now understood an indisputable fact - without profound arts trained to their peaks, you’ll always be at a disadvantage. This very lesson was why Yan Zaizen dedicated himself to arts for so many years. They were the foundation of any and all paths.

His arts simply weren’t trained enough. He had a profound law cultivation, but in terms of utilization of that law, he hasn’t reached a high enough level. He simply was too young.

A foundation isn’t just based on comprehension of the heavens or cultivation bases, but the application of those two things. This required time and effort, many geniuses may be able to have high realms or comprehension in laws, but they still lose to old monsters of equal cultivation. Why?

Arts and experience.

The ninth level started. Each armored expert radiated vast killing intent and cultivation prowess. They held their weapons with intense glares through their helmets. With a spark, they took action, not caring about Shin Xuanji exhaustion or precarious situation. They ferociously attacked, each aiming for a vital point or an area that would induce further weakness if struck.

Shin Xuanji raised his black blade, his hazy gaze looked at the incoming enemies, but all he could see was his wife and daughter. His cultivation base erupted and he took a step forward. With a single blade, he intended to carve out a better life for himself and his family.

He had to, he must.