Ling Tian Sword God

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen disciples from both the righteous and demonic paths had lost their lives.

Blood flowed thickly at the palace gate, reaching over three feet deep.

However, most of those who died were disciples from smaller sects, lacking strong backgrounds or sufficient strength, thus serving only as cannon fodder.

Ling Chen, Shangguan Qiushui, and Xiao Muyu charged into the main hall together.

The main hall was filled with an incredibly dense white fog. Upon entering, everyone was effectively blind, unable to see or perceive anything; it seemed only the most basic senses of touch and hearing remained.

About a quarter of an hour passed. The palace door behind them suddenly closed with a heavy sound. Then, a minor earthquake seemed to shake the palace's interior. Continuous rumbling sounds echoed, rising and falling. Abruptly, the floor beneath Ling Chen's feet sank, and something vaguely sealed the ground from above.

"Be careful, the structure within the main hall has changed," Ling Chen warned urgently.

But no one responded.

With a bitter smile, Ling Chen realized the interior of the main hall had likely been divided, separating them into individual small spaces.

However, the surroundings were still enveloped in clusters of strange white fog. Ling Chen felt that with each breath of the peculiar fog he inhaled, the environment grew more illusory, as if he had fallen into an illusion.

HUM!

Suddenly, the air trembled slightly, and the white fog before him dispersed. Gradually, a figure emerged. The figure, holding a Treasure Sword, stood with a straight back. Upon closer observation, Ling Chen realized the figure looked identical to him, even wielding the same Treasure Sword—it was as if he were looking at himself.

The figure was expressionless, its movements stiff. Ling Chen guessed the white fog must be causing this illusion.

SWOOSH!

While Ling Chen was pondering, the figure opposite him stepped forward and struck at Ling Chen with its sword.

Martial Artist Sixth Realm cultivation, same as me!

Ling Chen sensed that the figure's True Qi fluctuations were similar to his own. Its attack speed was extreme and its power restrained yet astonishing; however, its actual combat prowess remained to be seen.

Taking a beating passively wasn't Ling Chen's style. Besides, if he guessed correctly, this was a trial from the Heavenly Sect Main Hall. He likely had to defeat this figure to earn the right to stay; otherwise, some mechanism would surely eject him from the main hall.

CLANG!

The Cloud-hidden Sword was drawn from its scabbard, and Ling Chen brushed past his opponent. In the next moment, the figure's right arm, still clutching its Treasure Sword, flew into the air. Blood spurted from the stump with shocking realism.

The one-armed figure, still attempting a desperate attack, was swiftly decapitated by Ling Chen's sword. It then dissipated into a cloud of white fog.

BOOM!

The moment Ling Chen killed the figure, the surroundings began to shift once more. The entire secret chamber seemed to collapse. Like a Magic Cube, its sides shifted and moved, teleporting Ling Chen to another location.

「At this time, the same scene was happening inside the entire Heavenly Sect Main Hall.」

In front of everyone stood a figure identical to themselves.

"Not only does he look like me, but his strength is also exactly the same! How can I possibly beat him?"

"Yeah. Defeating it means defeating myself, doesn't it? How can a person possibly defeat themselves?"

"This is too hard! I choose to give up!"

Some fought ardently with 'themselves,' the outcome uncertain. Others managed to suppress 'themselves' but couldn't achieve a quick victory. Still others were caught by surprise. In essence, everyone was undergoing a trial, its difficulty varying based on individual circumstances, not uniform for all.

However, as time passed, more and more disciples were eliminated.

「Outside, in the square before the main hall, figures were ejected one after another from openings that appeared in the ground. They landed on the square and gradually regained consciousness.」

"Damn it! Why am I out here? I was so close to killing that thing and passing the trial!" a disciple who had been teleported out lamented in frustration.

"I finally made it into the Heavenly Sect Main Hall, only to fail at the first hurdle! I refuse to accept this! I'm going to try again!"

Another disciple, full of unwillingness, declared this and rushed back into the palace gate.

"It's useless. Trying again will only end in another failure."

The remaining people looked utterly dejected, their confidence shattered. They no longer even possessed the courage to try again.

They now understood: battling a near-perfect replica of oneself was an immense test of willpower.

Those inside were unaware of the events unfolding outside; even if they had known, they couldn't have afforded any distraction. After being transported by the mechanism, Ling Chen sensed he had arrived on higher ground than before.

The strange white fog around him had also grown denser. If the previous ordeal was the first trial, this was likely the second.

The white fog before him churned, and another "Ling Chen" emerged. However, this new figure's cultivation was a level higher than the previous one's.

Martial Artist Seventh Realm!

Ling Chen was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected the figure's cultivation to increase by a whole level.

SWOOSH!

As the figure rushed forward, Ling Chen's eyes glinted, and he swung his sword.

PSCHT!

With a single sword strike, Ling Chen killed it once more. Its head fell to the ground, and the figure dissolved into white fog.

Although this figure had copied Ling Chen's appearance and aura, it hadn't replicated his martial arts moves. Thus, even though the figure's cultivation was a level higher than Ling Chen's own, it was still easily slain by his sword.

As the number of failures mounted, more and more people gathered outside the main hall, looking at each other in stunned silence.

Those who had endured the second trial were especially incredulous. It was already exceptionally difficult to pass the first trial. Yet, the second trial pitted them against an opponent a full level higher than themselves. This instantly caused a vast number of them to be defeated and eliminated.

「At this time, Ling Chen's surroundings changed again.」

In front of him appeared a third figure. This time, as Ling Chen had anticipated, the figure's strength had reached the Martial Master Eighth Level.

Holding his breath and concentrating fully, Ling Chen dared not be careless and engaged 'himself' in battle. Each time his attack landed on the opponent, Ling Chen felt an imperceptible wave wash over his mind. Every fight, in fact, spurred his progress; the longer he persevered, the greater the advancement.

This advancement was not in terms of cultivation level, but rather an elevation of his mental state.

Battling an ordinary version of oneself, then a stronger version of oneself—victory in such encounters signified a breakthrough in one's mental state. Only by forging a profound mental state, one that allowed a perspective of surveying all existence and seeing other challenges as insignificant, could one's cultivation hope to reach such heights.

Furthermore, the benefits extended beyond the mental state. Although the martial arts techniques of these figures were inferior to Ling Chen's Dragon Seeking Sword Technique, they were nonetheless exquisite, high-caliber martial arts. Sparring with them naturally honed his combat techniques and strategic thinking.