Chapter 18: The Trial Battlefield Opens

Ouyang Xiu glanced back at you, then waved his large hand. “The Trial Battlefield, open!”

The Trial Battlefield’s grand formation activated. All cultivators without a token were隔绝在外. Without any tokens, every rogue cultivator was shut out.

Apart from the disciples of the five great sects, only ten rogue cultivators who had obtained tokens successfully entered.

Suddenly, the ten rogue cultivators spewed blood, gradually turning into puddles of blood that were absorbed by the formation.

You watched this scene and said nothing. Only then did you understand why the five great sects were so kind-hearted, specially releasing ten tokens for rogue cultivators.

So it was to sacrifice the rogue cultivators and open the Trial Battlefield’s passage!

“The passage will remain open for one month. If you encounter danger inside, crush your token to come out!”

“Now, all Foundation Establishment cultivators, enter the passage!”

The five great sects, over a thousand Foundation Establishment disciples, flew on their swords into the passage.

You took the lead, leading the Body-Refining Sect disciples in together.

To ensure you could smoothly obtain the second half of the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art this time, Ouyang Xiu had long since arranged five Foundation Establishment ninth-layer cultivators to protect you along the way.

Besides these few, there were also the four disciples you had once sponsored. Now one of them had reached Foundation Establishment ninth layer, two were at Foundation Establishment seventh layer, and one was at Foundation Establishment sixth layer.

Those four were also on call at any time.

“Roar!!!”

The moment you entered, you suffered a surprise attack from a demonic beast. A Mystic-rank middle-grade flying sword appeared and killed it in one strike!

Ahead, the Cloud Mist Sect disciples who had entered earlier were likewise being besieged by demonic beasts.

“So this is the first level of the Trial Battlefield?” Looking at the demonic beasts everywhere, you murmured to yourself.

Five Foundation Establishment ninth-layer disciples came to your side and surrounded you tightly.

You glanced at them and said nothing. The road ahead was uncertain. At a time like this, being able to preserve your strength was naturally good.

As all the Body-Refining Sect disciples entered, seeing the demonic beasts everywhere, they all consciously chose to band together.

In this place, flying on swords was impossible. They could only cut down demonic beasts all the way and advance on foot.

You were protected at the very center, able only to watch them make their moves.

Gradually, people began to grow dissatisfied and shouted at you. “Why isn’t this Senior Brother making a move?”

Before you could speak, the Foundation Establishment ninth-layer cultivator beside you merely gave a look, frightening the man into shutting up, not daring to say another word.

“That’s Senior Brother Ye. These low-level demonic beasts aren’t worthy of Senior Brother Ye’s hand!” someone reminded.

“Exactly. Once we run into high-level demonic beasts, it won’t be too late for Senior Brother Ye to act!”

The Cloud Mist Sect disciples ahead saw you approaching and suddenly launched a spell, attempting a sneak attack.

A Foundation Establishment eighth-layer Body-Refining Sect disciple saw this and hurriedly defended, while roaring forward. “You damned Cloud Mist Sect! You just wait!”

“Tch, survive first before you talk!” Seeing their sneak attack discovered, the Cloud Mist Sect disciples stopped attacking.

Along the way, with people protecting you, you did not need to act at all, passing straight through the first level without a scratch.

Stepping onto the corridor bridge, you entered the second level.

Arriving at the second level, you swept your gaze around and found that the five great sects’ thousand-strong group was now less than a thousand.

With the experience of the Body-Refining Sect seniors, you knew the second level was a formation. Once you stepped inside, you would sink into an illusion.

Within the illusion, your inner fears would be magnified!

If you could not break through in a short time, you might remain here your whole life, until you died!

“None of you dare to go in? Then let me go first!” a Spirit Sound Sect disciple announced loudly, then stepped in.

“No, don’t kill me! Don’t! Don’t! Ahhh!!!” Soon, a terrified voice came from within the formation, and before long there was no more sound.

“Tch, with that little strength you dare come in? Overestimating yourself!” a Cloud Mist Sect Foundation Establishment ninth-layer disciple mocked, then stepped into the formation.

“That’s it? Die, old man!” Inside the formation, the Foundation Establishment ninth-layer Cloud Mist Sect disciple quickly broke the illusion and strode forward into the third trial.

Seeing this, the five great sects’ disciples no longer hesitated and stepped in one after another.

Beside you, the five Foundation Establishment ninth-layer cultivators glanced at you. One of them spoke up. “Senior Brother Ye, shall we?”

You glanced at him and said nothing, stepping into the formation.

“Ye Xiao, are you ready? Obediently enter my alchemy furnace! Hahahaha!!!” True Person Zidan of the Azure Cloud Sect appeared before you, smiling wickedly.

You were about to be collected into the alchemy furnace and refined into a pill.

You pressed two fingers together. A flying sword suddenly appeared and slashed at True Person Zidan.

Within the illusion, you did not kill True Person Zidan directly. Instead, you first cut off his limbs, then flayed his skin and pulled his bones, and finally threw him into the alchemy furnace. Hearing True Person Zidan’s agonized pleas for mercy, your mood was extremely pleasant.

Finally, a fire burned him to ashes!

“Master, just wait. Once I leave this trial, I will take your dog’s head!” After breaking the illusion, you clenched your hands and swore inwardly.

The moment you opened your eyes, five Foundation Establishment ninth-layer cultivators surrounded you, protecting your safety.

You glanced back at Li Changsheng and the others. After they broke the illusion, you then led the five Foundation Establishment cultivators away.

As for the other Body-Refining Sect members, you had no intention of helping them.

Quickly entering the third level, what appeared before you were steps without end in sight.

According to the records, you knew that every hundred steps crossed, the gravity would double!

As long as you could walk up to the thousandth step, you would clear the third level.

One step out, and double gravity followed. With your Foundation Establishment body, you felt nothing, striding forward.

Behind you, the five Foundation Establishment ninth-layer disciples followed closely.

Soon, you arrived at the hundredth step. As you stepped in, the gravity doubled!

Double gravity fell directly. Your Foundation Establishment body barely reacted before adapting.

As Body-Refining Sect disciples, the five Foundation Establishment ninth-layer disciples also followed without effort.

Moving quickly forward, in the blink of an eye you arrived at the four hundredth step.

Facing fivefold gravity, you began to circulate the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art, forcibly resisting with mere physical strength.

Behind you, the others barely endured with physical strength alone. Without using spiritual power, they could no longer keep up with your pace.

You did not wait for them, directly running upward.

Behind you, watching you still able to run up over four hundred steps with physical strength alone, a flash of surprise passed through their eyes.