Eternal Heavenly Emperor

This person seemed like an ancient ferocious demon. Just one glance from him made Luo Ping's breath stop instantly. Cold sweat even trickled out, and his face turned deathly pale.

This was not just because You Zhiyuan was a Martial Sect—Luo Ping had seen Martial Sects before. After all, the Yunliu Sect was a Sixth Grade Sect, and the Luo Family was also a Sixth Rank Noble Family. It was not uncommon to see Warrior-level experts.

The main issue was that You Zhiyuan's killing intent was too intense!

Thousands of martial artists had died by his hand, giving him a natural bloodthirsty aura that felt almost tangible. If one's willpower was not firm enough, just one look from his blood-sea-like eyes could stop one's heart from beating.

Seeing Luo Ping's pale face, You Zhiyuan couldn't help but show a mocking smile. But when his gaze swept over Chu Hao, he was slightly stunned.

This kid had no reaction at all.

Interesting, a mere martial master could resist his ferocious aura. It seemed this one had extraordinary talent. However, killing such a person would be more interesting.

You Zhiyuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and a terrifying killing intent emanated from his pupils. The intent to kill had already been ignited.

Although they were all from Cang State, they were from different regions, and there was no friendly relationship between them. In fact, for even a small piece of territory, the Yunliu Sect, the Ten Brocade Sect, and the Rain Field Sect of Tianhe County fought to the death. Expecting the Nine Middle Counties to coexist peacefully?

It was utterly unrealistic.

On the contrary, because the martial arts level of Tianhe County was relatively low, many people would go to places like White Water County and Yanghe County, where martial arts flourished, for training every year. But what was the result? Many never returned.

Weakening others was equivalent to strengthening oneself.

Certainly, places like White Water County and Yanghe County did not want to see the rise of other counties threatening them. Thus, suppressing and killing the young generation of other counties became routine. With their higher martial arts level and War King-level experts, who could challenge them without risking war?

War was out of the question because the Upper Three Counties above the Nine Middle Counties would not permit it. Small skirmishes were allowed, but causing instability in the entire Cang State would lead to its annexation by other states, marking the end for every county, sect, and noble family.

In truth, weak counties like Tianhe County and Exquisite County were no good either. While being oppressed by counties like White Water County and Yanghe County, they, in turn, oppressed the Lower Twelve Counties, preventing any powerful sects from emerging and challenging their position.

So, given the complex competition over regions and resources, no party was "good." It was survival of the fittest.

If you didn't want to be oppressed, then you had to become stronger.

You Zhiyuan looked at Chu Hao and ran his hand across his neck, openly displaying his killing intent.

He had no fear. He was a Martial Sect himself, and his Spirit Demon Sect was a Fourth Grade Sect. There was no need for concern. On the contrary, the sect's seniors had already instructed that upon entering the Ancient Training Ground, they could indulge in a killing spree.

It didn't matter if they were from Tianhe County or even fellow martial artists from Anyuan County; they would kill indiscriminately.

You Zhiyuan no longer looked at Chu Hao. To him, a mere martial master was insignificant. The throat-cutting gesture was just a spur of the moment. His eyes shifted and landed on Qin Yulian, who made his eyes light up.

She was a stunning beauty, no less so than Bai Qi. In fact, her appearance might even slightly surpass Bai Qi's.

If they met, it might be fun to toy with her.

Chu Hao observed his changing expressions and secretly felt a surge of killing intent.

He had no doubt that if they encountered each other in the Ancient Training Ground, the other party would surely kill him. Such an evil god had no sense of right or wrong; killing a person meant nothing to him.

But Chu Hao was not someone to sit and wait for death.

Let's wait and see.

"Time's almost up!" said one of the strong figures from Flying Star Valley.

"Begin!"

All the older generation figures stepped forward, extending their hands. A humming sound ensued as they simultaneously activated their Star Force. Instantly, beams of light shot up from their bodies, soaring dozens of meters into the sky, creating a magnificent sight.

Was this the so-called "Spring"?

Though Chu Hao didn't know the details about Warriors, he had learned some information during his time with Su Wanyue. For instance, transitioning from Martial Sect to Warrior was a complete transformation.

In Martial Sects, and Martial Sects' Star Force, was gaseous and could be considered Star Qi, resembling the true qi in wuxia novels. However, for Warriors, the Star Force would transform from gas to liquid.

How much compression was involved in changing from gas to liquid?

Thus, Martial Sects belonged to the Three Minor Realms, but Warriors started at the Middle Three Realms.

At this stage, martial artists needed to open a Life Spring within their bodies to accommodate the liquefied Star Force.

Warriors had a Human Life Spring, War Generals had an Earth Life Spring, and War Kings had a Heaven Life Spring.

Chu Hao observed closely. The beams of light emitted by these sect experts varied in color, some fiery red and some like blue currents. These were called Spring Columns; each column represented a Life Spring, and from their shapes, one could discern the martial artist's physical attributes.

The most powerful were the Elders from Flying Star Valley and Changmen Sect, each issuing seven Life Springs. Below that, some had six, five, or four springs. Of course, some might have hidden their cultivation, similar to martial masters. If a certain meridian was not activated, the corresponding Meridian Pattern would not light up.

It was said that eight springs was the pinnacle state, but after learning about the hidden Proper Veins and Reverse Meridians, Chu Hao reckoned there were also hidden Life Springs; possibly nine springs was the limit, and ten springs were perfection.

Hundreds of experts exerted their might together, and the light from the Life Springs illuminated a Void Gate that appeared out of thin air. It was about two meters in diameter, with a black vortex swirling within, obscuring any view of what lay beyond.

"The Ancient Training Ground has opened. Enter quickly!" a strong figure shouted.

Whiz, whiz, whiz! One by one, young talents leaped into the Void Gate, plunging into the completely unknown world.

The Ancient Training Ground opened once every three years. It usually remained hidden in a different space, only accessible at this specific time. Opening it required the energy of at least Warrior-level experts, fewer if those experts were stronger.

Consider this; despite the presence of War General-level experts here, it still took hundreds of them to open the trial ground, showing how difficult it was just to open it.

"Be careful!" Elder Luo reminded Chu Hao and Cao Jingwen.

"I will surely find my opportunity and reclaim everything that belongs to me!" Cao Jingwen declared, glancing at Chu Hao before leaping into the Void Gate.

His words had a deeper meaning, and Chu Hao naturally understood. But he paid it no mind. He had always surpassed others and could never be surpassed!

Taking a deep breath, Chu Hao also stepped forward and entered the Void Gate.

Hum—a strange force struck, and Chu Hao felt as if his body were being torn apart. His limbs seemed about to detach from his body, and everything turned pitch black, rendering him completely blind.

It was an empty, weightless sensation.

This feeling made Chu Hao extremely uncomfortable. He preferred having everything under his control.

Bang!

At that moment, he felt a sudden weight as he fell to the ground.

He immediately got up and saw he was in a black mud plain. The sky had no sun, only a dense cloud cover, giving an extremely oppressive feeling.

Was this the Ancient Training Ground?

Chu Hao looked around but could not distinguish any direction. The black soil stretched endlessly, making it hard to decide where to go.

Where were the others?

Chu Hao wondered. A total of 400 people had entered, but why was he alone now?

And what was this world? They had been in a desert before, hadn't they?

"This must be similar to the Mustard Seed Ring, a different space, but unlike the ring, this one couldn't be carried around. It was hidden in the world. Curiously, how did the first person discover it?"

"That was a teleportation gate, but it must have been random, scattering everyone. That's why I'm alone here."

"Finding the right place is probably part of the trial!"

Chu Hao randomly picked a direction and walked forward. The soil was soft and loose, and without controlling his weight with Star Force, his feet sank to his ankles.

After about ten minutes, the surroundings remained utterly unchanged. Someone less patient would likely feel anxiety and fear, wondering if they would ever find a way out.

After a while, Chu Hao's foot suddenly caught by something with great strength.

Startled, he quickly activated the Jade Wall Technique before looking down. From beneath the ground, a hand had grabbed his ankle.

"Humph!" Chu Hao drew his sword and slashed at the hand.

Clang!

The sword struck the hand as if hitting an iron plate, sparks flying, but the hand remained unscathed.

So tough!

Chu Hao thought, then forcefully kicked his right leg upward, pulling the hand along, uprooting a mass of soil—and a person!

"Let go of me!" Chu Hao shouted, pushing with his left hand, launching the Sky Wind Eight Styles.

Bang!

The punch struck, making the person release their grip and fly away, but shockingly, though the hit was solid, the person was nearly unharmed, standing erect like a statue.

But was this really a person?

Chu Hao assessed. Outwardly, it looked human, with a nose, ears, and eyes, all limbs intact. But the skin was green, shriveled like a dried twig, and the eyes were sunken into dark recesses.

Rather than a person, it resembled a zombie.