Mother's Entanglement? I'll Destroy It with One Sword!

Looking closely.

It was a youth with deep-set eyes, a well-proportioned figure, and a magnificent blue robe.

Water-blue hair draped down his back, hanging all the way to his waist.

Yet his entire aura seemed rather effeminate and cunning.

He somewhat resembled the castrated eunuchs of an ancient Imperial Palace.

"Tang San—!!!"

As Zhao Tao stared at the distant figure, a faint killing intent flashed deep within his eyes!

Because the newcomer was none other than—

The mastermind behind the Ten Thousand Year Plan, and his sworn enemy before and after his rebirth—

Buddha Tang, Tang San, that beast!

Of course...

More accurately speaking, the figure before him was not Tang San's actual body.

It was merely a Tang San Illusion simulated by the Hero Hall through Soul Guidance Technology, used for practical combat training and assessments!

"Testing begins!"

Just then.

The Tang San Illusion before Zhao Tao suddenly opened its eyes!

In the next moment, specks of blue light flickered in the Tang San Illusion's right palm, transforming into a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Two Yellow Soul Rings also appeared around its body.

"Blue Silver Entanglement!"

As the first Soul Ring on the Tang San Illusion's body flashed.

Thick Blue Silver Grass strands, each as wide as an arm, tore through the air and bound toward Zhao Tao.

"Mother's Entanglement?"

Looking at the countless Blue Silver Grass strands winding toward him, Zhao Tao gave a disdainful smile—

"I'll destroy it with one sword!"

With a thought, the first Purple Soul Ring on Zhao Tao's body suddenly flashed!

"Time Burial Sword!"

As the Soul Ring flickered.

Specks of silver Power of Time shimmered in Zhao Tao's hand, forming an ornate longsword.

Holding the Time Burial Sword, Zhao Tao flicked his wrist.

Dense sword light seemed to form an impenetrable, absolute barrier.

Each strand of Blue Silver Grass that touched the sword-wind barrier formed by the Time Burial Sword was instantly severed, then fell weakly to the ground.

"My turn!"

Having effortlessly neutralized the Tang San Illusion's attack.

Zhao Tao took the initiative to attack, wielding the Time Burial Sword as he charged at Tang San!

Facing Zhao Tao's attack, the Tang San Illusion swiftly responded, summoning thick Blue Silver Grass vines one after another!

Some lashed toward Zhao Tao to bind him, while others transformed into heavy Blue Silver Grass barriers before the Tang San Illusion.

"Such a petty trick, and you dare show off before an expert?"

Faced with the Tang San Illusion's various defenses, Zhao Tao sneered.

With a swing of the Time Burial Sword, he cleaved apart every strand of Blue Silver Grass in his path!

In almost an instant, Zhao Tao had already reached the Tang San Illusion!

The Time Burial Sword in his hand slashed down fiercely, beheading it on the spot!

"Intermediate Assessment, First Stage, passed!"

"As the enemy was successfully defeated ahead of schedule, the assessor will skip the Second Stage and proceed directly to the Advanced Assessment!"

As the headless Tang San Illusion slowly dissipated, the mechanical voice echoed through the Spirit Ascension Platform once more.

The next moment.

Another pillar of light condensed before Zhao Tao.

A nearly identical Tang San Illusion appeared before Zhao Tao once again.

However.

Its aura was nearly twice as strong as that of the Tang San Illusion Zhao Tao had beheaded earlier.

This was because, according to the Hero Hall.

The enemy illusions that appeared during the Intermediate Assessment possessed only around thirty percent of their real strength.

But in the Advanced Assessment.

The Tang San Illusion Zhao Tao had to face possessed fifty percent of its real strength!

Naturally, its presence and strength were far greater than those of the Tang San Illusion in the Intermediate Assessment!

"Advanced Assessment, First Stage, prepare!"

"Ten, nine, eight..."

"Testing begins!"

As the countdown ended.

The Tang San Illusion repeated its old trick. Its Soul Rings flashed, and a move of "Mother's Entanglement" came attacking Zhao Tao!

"Break!"

Looking at the distant Tang San Illusion, Zhao Tao sneered coldly. The Time Burial Sword in his hand danced, chopping every strand of Tang San's mother that approached him into countless pieces!

However, this time, the advanced Tang San Illusion's response was undoubtedly much more flexible!

"Parasitism!"

As the second Yellow Soul Ring on the Tang San Illusion's body flashed.

The Blue Silver seeds that had originally clung to the Blue Silver Grass vines and been scattered across the ground after Zhao Tao cut them apart were instantly activated!

In the blink of an eye.

Hundreds of Blue Silver Grass stalks as thick as vines grew around Zhao Tao's body!

They twisted continuously, forming a cage that sought to trap Zhao Tao within!

Compared to the First Soul Skill, "Mother's Entanglement," which had to attack all the way from the Tang San Illusion to Zhao Tao.

This Second Soul Skill, "Parasitism," was unleashed directly from the Blue Silver seeds scattered around Zhao Tao, leaving him far less time to react!

However.

Faced with the continuously surging Blue Silver Grass vines.

Zhao Tao's expression remained as calm as an ancient well, without the slightest ripple!

"Fleeting Bloom!"

With a thought.

The second Purple Soul Ring on Zhao Tao's body flashed, and the wings of the Spring Autumn Cicada Martial Soul in his palm fluttered!

The next moment.

Two ripples of time shot out from the Spring Autumn Cicada's body!

One entered Zhao Tao's body, activating Time Acceleration;

The other locked onto Tang San, slowing the flow of his time!

With the enhancement of "Fleeting Bloom."

Zhao Tao accelerated sharply once more. The Time Burial Sword in his hand severed every Blue Silver vine blocking his path, forcibly carving out a bloody path!

Even with Zhao Tao already charging right before it, the Tang San Illusion still refused to give up resisting.

Its Soul Rings flashed continuously as it summoned vines formed from Blue Silver Grass, trying to stop Zhao Tao!

Unfortunately.

Under the effects of "Fleeting Bloom," the Tang San Illusion's speed in unleashing Soul Skills had also slowed considerably!

It had only just activated its Soul Skill when the Time Burial Sword in Zhao Tao's hand silently swept across, slashing straight toward its neck!

Crack!

With a crisp sound.

The Tang San Illusion was immediately separated into head and body. Its head fell to the ground, while its headless corpse crashed down heavily, though no blood flowed out.

Zhao Tao immediately ended the enhancement of "Fleeting Bloom" as well, in order to conserve Soul Power.

"Advanced Assessment, First Stage, passed!"

"As the enemy was successfully defeated ahead of schedule, the assessor will skip the Second Stage and proceed directly to the Ultimate Assessment!"

As the electronic voice rang out again, the Tang San Illusion's corpse turned into particles of blue light and rapidly dissipated.

At the same time.

A Blue Light Pillar descended from the sky, transforming into yet another Tang San Illusion.

Compared with the two Tang San Illusions Zhao Tao had encountered before, the Tang San Illusion in this Ultimate Assessment gave off an even stronger sense of oppression!

Even the light radiating from its eyes was more agile than that of the two illusions Zhao Tao had slain before, as if it were filled with intelligence!

"In my first life, although I passed the Intermediate and Advanced Assessments, I was defeated in the Ultimate Assessment."

"In this life, I will definitely wash away that humiliation!"

As Zhao Tao looked at the distant Tang San Illusion, confidence gleamed in his eyes!

"Ultimate Assessment, First Stage, prepare!"

"Ten, nine, eight..."

"Assessment begins!"

As the countdown ended, the battle was on the verge of erupting!