Shangguan Xinyao hadn’t chosen the wrong sect, because not only did the sect master support her, but her fellow disciples supported her as well.
However.
Ye Xingchen seemed to have chosen the wrong sect.
Because since joining the sect, he hadn’t shown off much, but had embarrassed himself quite often!
For example, this seventh Heaven and Earth’s test stemmed from negative emotions. A martial artist not only needed absolute willpower but also had to have a positive and upward mindset, otherwise they would easily be eroded, descending into despair and inferiority.
Night Emperor’s willpower went without saying, and his mindset for revenge could also be considered positive and upward. If he had challenged normally, he could have withstood it.
However.
He insisted on challenging the highest difficulty coefficient.
What counted as the most difficult?
Naturally, activating age and soul restrictions!
When negative emotions several times stronger than normal mode swarmed in, Night Emperor didn’t even resist before squatting on the ground and howling. He even became so inferior that he lost the courage to live.
Alas.
Can’t blame him for choosing the wrong sect, can only blame him for courting death!
“Quickly!”
Jun Changxiao urgently said: “Stop it immediately!”
They had finally built up Ye Xingchen’s powerful image through the previous two Heaven and Earths. If he squatted on the ground crying like a little wife, wouldn’t all their previous efforts be wasted!
“Whoosh!”
Shangguan Xinyao hurriedly shut off the test mode.
“I’m too worthless, living in this world is just polluting the air, polluting…” The desperately howling Ye Xingchen suddenly stopped, then froze in place.
I…
What was I just saying?
The most painful thing in the world is that although your sea of consciousness was controlled by various negative emotions and you said things you shouldn’t have said, after it ended, you remember everything clearly!
At that moment.
Ye Xingchen squatted on the ground, not standing up for a long time.
Covering his tear-stained face with his hands, he roared internally: “What the hell was I saying!”
At this moment, if “Yi Jian Mei” played as BGM, it would definitely be very fitting.
……
“What’s going on?”
“Ye Xingchen said he’s worthless?”
“I heard it—he seemed to cry too!”
Although Shangguan Xinyao promptly canceled the test mode, what Ye Xingchen just said and the actions he made were completely transmitted to the outside world, appearing before martial artists across the entire continent.
The fans who had been cheering stood frozen in place, tears welling up.
Their idol was the most outstanding, most diligent, most hardworking in their eyes. Yet now he was denying himself—they couldn’t accept it, couldn’t bear it!
“Everyone.”
Just then, Jun Changxiao hurried to smooth things over: “The seventh Heaven and Earth’s test makes people disheartened and desperate. My disciple is demonstrating to you what disheartened means, what desperate and helpless means!”
“Xingchen.”
He transmitted: “What are you still squatting there for? Stand up quickly!”
“…”
Ye Xingchen stood up, facing away from the camera.
Thinking about what he had just done and said in front of the reflection array, he wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into!
……
“So it was a performance!”
“And I must say, the acting was really convincing—I almost believed it!”
After Jun Changxiao’s explanation, martial artists from all regions had their epiphany, and the star fans also broke into smiles, proudly thinking this was their idol’s acting skill—who would dare question it in the future!
Of course.
Some people were quite puzzled.
Since the seventh Heaven and Earth contained various negative energies, why were they standing in it completely unaffected?
“Come, come.”
Jun Changxiao transmitted: “We’re broadcasting live after all—can’t be too casual. Everyone start acting!”
The matter of controlling the formation absolutely couldn’t be known by outsiders, so since they were in the seventh Heaven and Earth, even if acting, they had to act thoroughly!
“Ahh—”
Su Xiaomo howled and fell down, clenching both fists and pounding the ground, howling: “Too embarrassing, I don’t want to live!”
“Why do I still have the courage to live in this world? Why don’t I just die!” Li Qingyang clenched his fists and lowered his head, trying hard to blink to make tears fall, but no matter how hard he squeezed, there was no feeling.
Just then, he looked back at Xiao Zuiji and saw him facing away from the camera, secretly rubbing a large scallion around his eyes. Soon he was full of tears.
“Life is meaningless!”
Li Qingyang walked over howling, putting his arm on Xiao Zuiji’s shoulder. Facing away from the camera, he transmitted: “Junior brother, give me some.”
“Clang!”
The sound of a sword being unsheathed rang out!
Jun Changxiao placed the sword against his neck, raising his head in grief: “Though the Eternal Sect inherited from ancient times, it has always been humble in this world. Jun is ashamed before the spirits of our ancestors!”
His voice was tragic, his words sorrowful!
Holy crap!
The sect master was still the best, still the best actor!
“What are you mixed-up fools still looking at? Hurry over and seize the sword. Do you really plan to let this master commit suicide in public?” Jun Changxiao transmitted.
“Sect Master!”
Su Xiaomo reacted fastest, immediately rushing over to seize the sword, then placing it against her own neck, crying: “This disciple is a burden while alive and is willing to go to the underworld first!”
After waiting a while, Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji and the others were only concerned with their own despair and no one came to stop her. She could only put the sword down and howl: “How can worthless trash like me defile a sword!”
Everyone: “…”
They finally realized that while the Eternal Sect disciples were making a fuss about not wanting to live, not a single one actually wanted to die!
Just like that, under the gaze of the entire world, Jun Changxiao and some disciples performed for a full half hour before pretending to suddenly awaken and regain their senses, saying in astonishment: “I… what did I just do!”
“Sect Master!”
Li Qingyang pointed ahead: “The stairway to the eighth Heaven and Earth has appeared!”
“We passed? Just like that we passed?”
……
Jun Changxiao didn’t rush into the eighth Heaven and Earth, continuing to rest in place.
Currently, the entire formation system within the Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower had been controlled by Shangguan Xinyao, but the area responsible for the reward system was in a damaged state, so continued effort was needed.
“Keep it up, you can do it.” Jun Changxiao encouraged.
“Mm!”
Shangguan Xinyao also had sufficient confidence now, not because of controlling the formation, but because the sect master and senior brothers all believed in her.
“Let’s go.”
The next day, Jun Changxiao led his disciples up to the eighth Heaven and Earth.
The test here was completely opposite to negative emotions—martial artists entering would fall into illusions where their wishes came true.
Those wanting to become strong would experience hallucinations of already being Martial Emperors, possessing the power to overturn clouds and rain with a flip of the hand.
Those desiring beauty would find themselves with numerous wives and concubines, living freely and happily.
As long as you dared to imagine it, the eighth Heaven and Earth would give you everything you wanted, but the prerequisite was—if you completely sank into it and couldn’t extricate yourself, you would be trapped forever, unable to escape.
Hearing the Illusory Martial Emperor’s introduction, Jun Changxiao didn’t have Shangguan Xinyao activate the test and continued performing a scene of living in drunken dreams with his disciples.
After ‘finishing,’ they ascended to the ninth Heaven and Earth.
“Medicine, medicine, medicine!”
Elder Zhou urgently shouted.
Elder Zhen hurriedly stuffed a pile of pills into Yi Tianxing’s mouth.
Passing the third Heaven and Earth meant creating a modern record. Now that the Eternal Sect had entered the eighth Heaven and Earth, that meant breaking the record from the ancient era!
Thinking about going out in the future to show off to people from other authentication halls—not only could he proudly say that the region he was responsible for had a sect that won the Dragon-Tiger Hegemony championship, but he could also proudly say they broke the Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower’s record sealed for ten thousand years—Yi Tianxing immediately became so excited he couldn’t contain himself!
……
The ninth Heaven and Earth.
The test here was quite impressive because it combined the first eight Heaven and Earths’ tests of physical body, movement techniques, spiritual energy, bone tempering, soul, five elements, negativity, and temptation.
Of course.
They didn’t come one by one—they came through lightning strikes!
In the words of Thunder Punishment Martial Emperor, creator of the ninth Heaven and Earth: this place was Thunder Punishment Heaven and Earth. The descending thunder tribulation contained all the tests from the previous eight trials. Only by withstanding one strike could one qualify to enter the tenth Heaven and Earth.
“Xinyao.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Set the difficulty to the lowest. This master will give it a try.”
System: “…”
Look at Ye Xingchen—when playing, he plays the hardest difficulty. Yet you’re turning the difficulty to the lowest. What’s the point, what’s the fun in that!
“Mm!”
Shangguan Xinyao manipulated the formation.
“Whoosh whoosh!”
Shortly after, in a sky resembling dusk, rolling thunderclouds gradually gathered, spitting out lightning serpents!
“Boom—”
Lightning containing numerous tests descended, instantly illuminating the entire space and striking Jun Changxiao with perfect accuracy.
The physical, skeletal, soul impacts along with various negative emotions and illusions all erupted, immediately putting him into an extremely intense rhythm.
Fortunately, the difficulty was set to the lowest.
After experiencing brief despair, Jun Changxiao recovered to normal, breaking out in a cold sweat: “If this were any stronger, I absolutely couldn’t withstand it!”
“Xingchen, want to give it a try?”
“…”
Ye Xingchen fell silent.
At this moment, he didn’t dare show off.
“Xinyao, open the stairway to the tenth Heaven and Earth.”
“Mm.”
“Buzz!”
The stairway to the tenth Heaven and Earth gradually appeared.
“They passed?”
“Just getting struck by lightning once and it’s over?”
“Why does this Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower get easier the further you go?”
The audience’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t getting easier—Jun Changxiao just had to make it easier.
“What test awaits in the final Heaven and Earth?”
The Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower was very similar to the Trial Tower, but the latter only had nine levels, so Jun Changxiao was quite curious about what test existed in the tenth Heaven and Earth.
If it was a grand combination of all the trials, but the ninth level already was!
The more he couldn’t figure it out, the more curious he became.
“Let’s go, up we go.”
After resting a full day, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Jun Changxiao led his disciples onto the stairway to the tenth Heaven and Earth. The imagery on the light screen disappeared once again.
Everyone eagerly anticipated the latest images arriving.
But after waiting a full quarter-hour, the light screen remained pitch black with no new imagery transmitted!
“What’s going on?”
“Buzz!”
Images appeared on the light screen.
Not the so-called tenth Heaven and Earth, but outside the tower.
Zhen Dejun stood before the camera, rather helplessly announcing: “The tenth Heaven and Earth has restrictions preventing acquisition of imagery information.”
“No way!” Everyone collectively collapsed.
The Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower had ten Heaven and Earths total. The most important was definitely the final Heaven and Earth. Yet they couldn’t transmit it out, couldn’t witness it with their own eyes—whoever it was would find this unacceptable!
This was like watching a TV series, painstakingly waiting for the grand finale, only for it to be suspended—enough to make one curse in anger.
Although no new imagery was transmitted, various martial artists still focused on the imagery outside the tower, waiting to see if the Eternal Sect could come out. If they came out, it would represent that they had cleared the Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower!
In the ancient era filled with experts, only martial artists had reached the sixth Heaven and Earth. If they truly cleared it completely, the震撼性 would definitely be extremely strong!
……
The tenth Heaven and Earth.
This was an even more ethereal, seemingly real yet illusory scene. Jun Changxiao and his disciples entering stood dazed in place.
At this moment, images appeared before their eyes, flashing by like passing clouds, finally freezing on an environment abundant with spiritual energy.
There were mountains, water, various birds and beasts. The air exuded a desolate yet ancient atmosphere. Jun Changxiao and his disciples seemed to transform into spiritual bodies, suspended in high altitude with the scenery below visible in full.
“Sect Master…” Li Qingyang transmitted.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
Suddenly, deafening sounds rang out!
Before everyone could think, they instinctively turned to look and saw a burly middle-aged man in the sky holding up a mountain…
That wasn’t a mountain!
It was more like a miniature Heaven and Earth!
“Great Wilderness Destruction!”
The middle-aged man roared, and the Heaven and Earth he held suddenly flew out, then rapidly expanded, as if instantly enveloping the entire world!
“Whoosh whoosh—”
Wild winds howled, space shattered!
Although Jun Changxiao and his disciples were only observing as spiritual bodies, they could truly feel that terrifying power erupting.
In an instant, from the four words “Great Wilderness Destruction” and the voice, they discerned that this middle-aged man must be the Great Wilderness Martial Emperor from the first level of the Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower!
“Shatter it!”
Angry roars came from beneath the Great Wilderness Heaven and Earth!
Several experts with cultivation no weaker than the Great Wilderness Martial Emperor had their entire bodies flash with dazzling light, then erupted with terrifying power, transforming into fists that bombarded over!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each fist attack shocked Jun Changxiao and the others’ hearts and minds. They determined these people’s cultivation had also reached the Emperor level!
At that time, Martial Emperors were extremely rare, yet so many appeared now. Combined with the desolate ancient environment, they immediately realized what they were seeing must be the scene of the Emperors’ War from ten thousand years ago!
Correct.
What appeared before their eyes was footage from the Emperors’ War—the Great Wilderness Martial Emperor battling several Martial Emperors.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
“Whoosh whoosh—”
Under the power bombardment, the Great Wilderness Heaven and Earth already began showing cracks but continued descending. Finally, under Jun Changxiao and the others’ gaze, it violently collided with the ground!
“Rumble!”
At the moment of contact, a corner of the continent couldn’t bear the load and immediately shattered, then under the spreading aftershock, drifted all the way east.
Holy crap!
They directly shattered the world!
Jun Changxiao and his disciples’ eyes widened in unison. Even Ye Xingchen’s heart and mind were shocked.
So the ancient era’s Martial Emperors’ strength was this formidable. His peak self battling them would definitely be sent to get beaten!
“Swish!”
The Great Wilderness Martial Emperor descended, sitting cross-legged on the Great Wilderness Heaven and Earth.
From the viewing angle, he faced away from Jun Changxiao and the others. His body gradually petrified starting from the legs.
What was happening?
Everyone’s faces showed astonishment.
“Crack crack crack—”
Suddenly, shattering sounds rang out. The originally cracked Great Wilderness Heaven and Earth’s fissures continuously spread and expanded.
“It’s going to shatter.” Jun Changxiao murmured.
“Crack crack crack!”
“Crack crack crack crack—”
As the Great Wilderness Heaven and Earth shattered, the Great Wilderness Martial Emperor’s gradually petrifying lower body also began showing dense cracks.
At that moment.
Everyone immediately realized the Great Wilderness Heaven and Earth was connected to him!
“Alas.”
The Great Wilderness Martial Emperor sighed deeply. Before completely petrifying, he struggled to turn his head, his voice aged: “This emperor’s Great Wilderness Land shall be inherited by you.”
Jun Changxiao was startled.
He instinctively followed this powerful expert’s gaze toward Xiao Zuiji.
Wait!
He can detect us?
Xiao Zuiji said: “Many thanks, senior!”
Their gazes met, smiles appearing on both faces.
At this moment, they seemed to transcend time and space, as if two people from different eras completed some ceremonial handover at a special junction.
“Crack crack crack—”
The shattering sounds continued. The Great Wilderness Heaven and Earth was covered in wounds, and the Great Wilderness Martial Emperor completely petrified. Finally, under everyone’s gaze, he completely shattered into sky-filling dust.
The two Martial Emperors suppressed beneath also had their flesh and blood burst apart.
“…”
Jun Changxiao and the others all fell silent.
The Martial Emperors of the ancient era—to fall just like that was truly bitter.
“Whoosh—”
Just then, the scene before their eyes changed again. A ray of light sped across the endless earth at a breathtaking speed.
“Step!”
After running for who knows how long, that person gradually stopped, then dashingly flicked their head, looking up at Su Xiaomo and smiling: “Little one, how about I give you this Gale Wind Body?”
“Many thanks, senior!” Su Xiaomo said excitedly.
“Buzz!”
Space trembled, the scene before their eyes changed again!
A powerful expert was battling several people. Although fighting alone, the spiritual energy intensity and purity they erupted far exceeded the others!
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
This battle lasted a long time, earth-shattering!
The southern Heaven and Earth couldn’t withstand the pressure and directly separated from the continent.
Jun Changxiao and the others watched with shocked hearts and minds.
The ancient era’s Emperor-level experts—their cultivation was this terrifying. Saying they could destroy heaven and earth was no exaggeration!
With their level of combat, the world being fragmented and scattered without complete destruction was already fortunate!
After intense battle, the Martial Emperor fighting alone defeated several same-level experts, but was also heavily injured. Then looking toward Jun Changxiao and the others, he said: “Who will inherit this emperor’s Spiritual Meridian Body?”
“Me!”
Ye Xingchen spoke first.
If it were other constitutions, Night Emperor would definitely maintain his aloof demeanor, but this Spiritual Meridian Body—he absolutely couldn’t yield!
The Spirit Absolute Martial Emperor looked at Ye Xingchen, a trace of disdain in his eyes.
Holy crap!
What kind of look was that!
Could it be that this emperor inheriting the Spiritual Meridian Body was something that made him feel embarrassed!
“Swish!”
The scene before their eyes continued changing. More Martial Emperors appeared one after another. More explosive battles continued unfolding before everyone’s eyes.
After watching several more battles, Jun Changxiao finally understood—the tenth Heaven and Earth had no test. It simply brought martial artists back ten thousand years to personally witness the earth-shattering Emperors’ War from back then.
However.
What puzzled him was this:
From the imagery, these were clearly pre-recorded scenes. Why could the Great Wilderness Martial Emperor, Riding Wind Martial Emperor and others capture his and his disciples’ presence and even choose physical constitution inheritors?
Could it be this wasn’t pre-recorded movie-like imagery, but rather some divine ability that could fold two different eras’ spaces together, allowing each to glimpse the other?
“Quite possible.” The system said.
“Swish!”
Just then, the scene before their eyes changed again. Everyone appeared in a lush mountain forest.
“This is…”
Jun Changxiao said in surprise: “Where the Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower is located?”
The environment matched, but there was no tower!
“Swish! Swish! Swish!”
Just then, rays of light flew over—clearly the previously fallen Great Wilderness Martial Emperor and others!
Among them was a black-robed elder never seen in previous scenes. He stood where the Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower should exist and said: “Everyone, how about we establish a stone tower here and seal various constitutions, leaving them for future generations to inherit?”
Jun Changxiao suddenly understood.
No wonder there was no Ten Directions Absolute Death Tower—it hadn’t been built yet!
“Acceptable.”
“No objections!”
The Great Wilderness Martial Emperor, Riding Wind Martial Emperor and others all agreed.
The black-robed elder said: “Let’s begin.”
The nine ancient Martial Emperors immediately each displayed divine abilities, extracting square stone blocks from nearby, then stacking them in the shortest time into a ten-story tall tower.
After the tower was built, the scene shifted inside.
The black-robed elder arranged formations and formation lines on the first level.
The entire process seemed infinitely slowed, but because the procedure was overly complex, Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji and the others watched dizzily.
Shangguan Xinyao’s face was full of joy!
As the black-robed elder continuously arranged things, she gradually gained a more comprehensive, more intuitive understanding of the formation on the first level.
“Did you memorize it?” Jun Changxiao inquired.
Shangguan Xinyao said excitedly: “Sect Master, I’ve memorized it all!”
“Swish!”
Just then, the scene changed again.
The black-robed elder appeared on the second level continuing arrangements, and so on—continuously on the third level, fourth level… up to the tenth level, he arranged formations everywhere.
“I see, I see!”
Although this formation was extremely complex, Shangguan Xinyao memorized it all and gained completely new understanding of its internal structure!
“Everyone.”
The black-robed elder said: “The formations for each Heaven and Earth have been arranged. If anyone falls, their physical constitution will separate and merge within, permanently sealed.”
“However…”
He paused: “They also can’t be taken away casually, so this old one suggests you each choose a Heaven and Earth to guard and leave tests. Only those with fate may obtain them.”
The Great Wilderness Martial Emperor spoke first: “I’ll guard the first Heaven and Earth!”
“I’ll take the second Heaven and Earth!”
“I’ll take the third Heaven and Earth!”
“…”
Levels one through nine were occupied by nine ancient Martial Emperors, each displaying divine abilities to leave tests.
The black-robed elder said: “The tenth level will be guarded by this old one. Future generations who can reach here will not only obtain the constitutions stored within but will also glimpse the formation mysteries, thereby controlling the entire Ten Directions Opportunity Tower.”
So the stone tower’s true name was the Ten Directions Opportunity Tower. Only because the challenge difficulty was too high and many martial artists perished within, over time it came to be called the Absolute Death Tower.
“Next.”
The black-robed elder raised his head, looking at Shangguan Xinyao with a kindly smile: “It’s time to arrange the reward mechanism formation. Little girl, watch carefully.”
“Swish!”
“Swish!”
Flowing light flashed. Formation flags flew out, inserting not only on the tenth level but also around the tower’s exterior, forming a pattern resembling a Five Elements Eight Trigrams diagram.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
Chaotic pattern lines were sketched out, then connected with formation incantations. The entire process was seamless, representing the formation arranger as absolutely a top-tier formation master.
Shangguan Xinyao watched intently. Images immediately appeared in her sea of consciousness, then continuously reorganized and spread, finally evolving into an extremely complex stellar chessboard.
“So chaotic!”
“Can’t understand it at all!”
Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji and others had no formation talent. Watching each stroke being sketched felt like reading hieroglyphics.
Although Jun Changxiao could understand, accepting so much information at once made his head feel like exploding.
“Sect Master.”
Before long, Shangguan Xinyao said: “This disciple has understood the tower’s internal formation structure. I can easily control it, and the sealed constitutions can be taken at will!”
Jun Changxiao was overjoyed.
“Whoosh!”
Just then, the scene before their eyes disappeared. Everyone returned to the tenth Heaven and Earth’s ethereal illusory realm.
“Buzz!”
Shangguan Xinyao’s mind moved, instantly merging into the already damaged formation area, then reconnecting the broken formation lines.
“Buzz!”
“Buzz!”
After repairs were complete, space trembled slightly. Rays of light resembling sprites appeared.
“Sect Master.”
Shangguan Xinyao said: “These are the ten constitutions sealed within the tower. From left to right, they are Great Wilderness Body, Gale Wind Body, Spiritual Meridian Body… and finally the Formation Spirit Body. I’ve summoned them all. You can now distribute them as you wish.”
—