Now back to Ao Yue. The trial on the second level was not the even more dangerous sword formation or powerful demonic beast he had expected. After the stele's light faded, he found himself standing on a desolate Gobi, with the blazing sun overhead, waves of heat rolling through the air, and a nauseating stench of blood filling his surroundings.
"What the hell is this place?" Ao Yue wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered a curse. He looked around, but aside from endless yellow sand and a few craggy rocks, there was nothing.
"The trial on the second level is to find the Heavenly Heart Sword." The Sword Tomb Guardian's voice rang out again. "The Heavenly Heart Sword is an ancient divine sword containing powerful sword intent. Only a true genius can find it."
"The Heavenly Heart Sword? Where is it?" Ao Yue pressed.
"It is somewhere on this Gobi." The Sword Tomb Guardian's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Good luck."
Ao Yue cursed inwardly. The old bastard was clearly messing with him! This vast, boundless Gobi stretched as far as the eye could see. Where was he supposed to find it?
Under the blazing sun, he wandered aimlessly across the Gobi. After walking for who knew how long, he felt his mouth go dry and his strength drain away. He was nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
"Damn it, what kind of trial is this?" Ao Yue dropped onto the ground, despair filling his heart. He felt like a headless fly, crashing around this hellhole with not the slightest hope in sight.
Just then, he suddenly saw something sparkling on the ground in the distance. He forced himself to stay alert and walked toward it.
When he got closer, he saw that it was a metal fragment about