Ling Tian Sword God

SWOOSH!

Within ten moves, Ling Chen's sword pierced through the figure in front of him, which then dissolved into a white mist and disappeared.

As the mechanism activated once again, Ling Chen felt himself rapidly rising. If he counted his previous ascents, he should be on the fourth floor now.

Ling Chen's progress was smooth, but this was not the case for others.

In an enclosed space, Xiao Muyu was covered in sweat. The figure in front of her was slightly stronger than her; defeating him solely on her own strength was almost impossible. How could this be? Would she be eliminated just like that?

No, since it's a test, there must be a way to pass.

BOOM!

Xiao Muyu didn't have much time to think when the figure swung his sword. Its sword qi rained down, fine and continuous, like countless sharp needles.

"Wind and Rain in Turmoil!"

Xiao Muyu exerted all her strength, using her Swordsmanship to the utmost, generating tens of shadows with her sword.

CRACK!

However, in less time than it took to blink three times, all of Xiao Muyu's sword shadows were broken, collapsing with a loud bang.

If I had mastered the final move of the Rain Spirit Sword Technique, I might have been able to defeat him. Xiao Muyu was fully aware of her own strength. She knew she wouldn't be able to get past this stage unless she could achieve a breakthrough and outwit her opponent.

As the figure attacked again, Xiao Muyu held her ground, pushing her True Qi to the limit, and she met the attack with two sword strikes.

「In another small space.」

Xu Ruoyan demonstrated unprecedented strength, actually matching her opponent blow for blow. The overwhelming sword qi ebbed and flowed, blazing brightly like twisting rivers rushing back and forth.

"Fall before me!"

Her left hand locked onto her opponent's right arm; Xu Ruoyan took the opportunity to slash out with her sword, aiming at her opponent's head.

POP! The figure broke apart and disappeared.

The first and second rounds of the test were easy, but the third round was especially difficult. To defeat a "self" two levels higher in Cultivation – it was extremely tough.

Those who could do this were few and far between. Even people like the Young Master of Myriad Dao would probably have to fight bitterly. For the likes of the Young Master of Myriad Dao and Nie Wu Xiang, the opponents they faced were likely at the Grand Master level, which only made their battles more difficult.

But for Ling Chen, challenging those of higher Cultivation was not that difficult.

The Cultivation of this figure had reached the Ninth-level Martial Artist. The turbulence of his True Qi could be felt distinctly, causing the air to ripple like water.

"Bring it on!"

Ling Chen squinted. A Ninth-level Martial Artist opponent was a formidable adversary, but Ling Chen wasn't afraid. His right hand gripped the Cloud-hidden Sword, poised with accumulated Sword Intent.

WHOOSH!

The figure suddenly vanished from his spot. The next moment, it was overhead, bringing down a vertical sword strike from mid-air. The majestic sword pressure was like a mountain or a long river slashing through the Void, taking an unexpected and vicious aim at Ling Chen beneath.

Ling Chen was slightly taken aback and held up his sword to block.

CRACK!

The floor beneath Ling Chen caved in significantly, with pitch-black cracks spreading out like a spiderweb.

"Mountain Mist Overlapping Peaks."

With his tongue pressing against his teeth, Ling Chen shouted aloud. His left hand drew the Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword, and he retaliated with a strike.

RUMBLE!

Ling Chen's feet sank half a foot, while the figure, caught off guard, was sent flying by the Sword Energy. A faint crack appeared on his left arm.

He's injured!

Jumping out of the pit, a look of joy suddenly appeared on Ling Chen's face. He immediately unleashed a huge stream of sword qi towards the figure, intending to eliminate him with one clean strike.

However, this figure was, after all, a Ninth-level Martial Artist. His body twisted in mid-air, barely avoiding the sword qi. He then immediately launched a huge white stream of sword qi towards Ling Chen in an unpredictable manner.

The air seemed to be torn like cloth; the white sword qi's momentum appeared to surpass that of Ling Chen's own.

"Slaying the Dragon in the Wild!"

Ling Chen took a deep breath and executed the seventh form of the Dragon Seeking Sword Technique, attacking with the force of a storm.

The sword qi, filled with Sword Intent, ascended straight up, twisted the air, and formed a massive cyclone in the shape of a Wind Dragon. It shattered the white sword qi with one blow, then whirled towards the light-formed figure. Sharp sword qi constantly shot out from it, sparkling brilliantly.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK...

Sword qi shot out in all directions. Within moments, dozens, even hundreds, of sword marks appeared on the surrounding ground and walls, each one revealing a fierce aura.

The figure brandished his sword wildly, setting up a curtain of swords in front of him to block the onslaught of the Wind Dragon and sword qi, his body retreating step by step.

BANG!

His back against the wall, the figure had no room for retreat. He suddenly leaped up, his foot against the wall, fiercely launching a strike with his sword.

ROAR!

As the white sword qi emerged, a dragon roar resounded. The overwhelming sword pressure froze the air, smashing the rampaging Wind Dragon with an unstoppable intent.

"Still not dead? Divine Dragon's Head!"

The remaining cyclone took on the form of a dragon's head. Ling Chen, his robes whipping in the wind, appeared there in the blink of an eye and swung his sword down.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG...

Sparks flew everywhere as the figure blocked the sword qi with his own blade, but he was pressed to the point of immobility.

"Perish!"

A sharp light flashed in Ling Chen's eyes. The next moment, the sword in the figure's hand was sent flying, and Ling Chen decapitated him.

RUMBLE!

The ground trembled as Ling Chen successfully passed the fourth stage.

However, at the third stage, many people had already been eliminated.

The square outside the great hall was now filled with seventy or eighty people. This meant that seven or eight out of ten people who had entered the Heavenly Sect Main Hall had been expelled.

From the Divine Intent Sect, Xiao Muyu, Shangguan Qiushui, and Longyang had been transported out, leaving only Ling Chen and Nie Wu Xiang in the great hall.

Currently, those still in the great hall were basically the cream of the crop, the truly stunning talents of the Five Kingdoms.

"I'm not surprised that Brother Nie Wu Xiang hasn't come out yet, but I am surprised that Ling Chen is still in there. How could he last this long?"

Shangguan Qiushui looked at the great hall in front of her, a hint of surprise in her almond eyes.

She had no idea that Ling Chen had already passed the fourth stage; she still thought he was struggling through the third. Even so, if he was merely struggling, he was already far stronger than them.

"Who knows? I even suspect that Brother Nie Wu Xiang will come out before Ling Chen."

Xiao Muyu stroked her chin, speaking thoughtfully.

"Impossible!" Shangguan Qiushui's face was full of disbelief. Nie Wu Xiang is the top disciple of the Divine Intent Sect! How could he possibly be surpassed by Ling Chen?

"Let's just wait and see then." Xiao Muyu's gaze swept around, then fell upon the area designated for the Sky Void Palace. She didn't see Xu Ruoyan's figure among them.

Who would have thought Xu Ruoyan is still in there? It seems her talent really is high.

Xiao Muyu mused further, This Heavenly Sect Main Hall tests not strength, but potential and talent. The higher the talent, the more levels one can challenge, allowing them to go further. Conversely, regardless of strength, if one couldn't overcome challenges from higher levels, it was all for naught.