Trial Begins

Shangguan Ye's Sea of Soul continued to tear apart and expand, but with the help of the Golden Saint Dragon King and the Divine Tree, he endured it.

"Just a little more..." Shangguan Ye gritted his teeth and held on, drenched in sweat.

At last, his ruptured Sea of Soul began to recover rapidly, and Shangguan Ye's expression relaxed.

"Phew... phew." Shangguan Ye took several deep breaths. When he opened his eyes, he saw Xiao Ning'er's anxious expression.

"Shangguan, are you all right?" Xiao Ning'er hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped away Shangguan Ye's sweat.

"I'm fine. The fusion succeeded. I'll recover soon." Shangguan Ye felt incomparably good. Calling it a fusion was not entirely accurate—his Sea of Soul was now the Mountains and Rivers Painting itself. The space within the Mountains and Rivers Painting was enormous, and its spiritual energy was incomparably pure and abundant. It was far larger than even the Little Exquisite World or the Dragon Void Realm. After all, it was a treasure from the Primordial World.

"I can now be said to possess inexhaustible Soul Power. I can even imprison enemies within the World of Mountains and Rivers. Once they enter, their life and death will depend on a single thought from me." The corners of Shangguan Ye's lips lifted slightly.

"Ning'er, Shangguan, look—the palace is gone." Ye Ziyun pointed in the palace's direction.

"It's probably over. Nie Li and the others should be out by now. Let's go take a look." Shangguan Ye led the two girls back and happened to run into Nie Li as he emerged.

"Nie Li, where's Xiao Yu?"

"Him? He left first." Nie Li spread his hands.

"Nie Li, your aura has become so much stronger." Ye Ziyun asked curiously.

"Yeah, I comprehended the Death Law."

"Why don't we find the others first? There's nothing worthwhile left on the First Layer anyway," Nie Li said.

"No rush. Since we're here, let's return a favor first." Shangguan Ye smiled.

"Return a favor?"

"The Witch Ghost Family is outside the Nine Heavens Death Land."

At the mention of the Witch Ghost Family, murderous intent flashed in Nie Li's and the two girls' eyes.

"Fine. Let's deal with this trouble first."

Shangguan Ye directly used the Space Law to bring the three of them above the Witch Ghost Family's camp.

"Witch Ghost Family scum, get out here!" Shangguan Ye's furious roar shattered numerous tents.

An older-looking member of the Witch Ghost Family flew up and cupped his hands toward Shangguan Ye.

"May I ask why you have come? If our Witch Ghost Family has offended you in any way, please tell me. As the Patriarch, I will apologize to you." Wu Hun bowed.

"We are from—Glory City." Shangguan Ye heavily emphasized the words "Glory City."

!!

Wu Hun was shocked.

Glory City actually has such a powerful expert, and he's so young. His aura is unfathomable. I can't possibly be his match. What should I do? Wu Hun's heart was already in turmoil.

"It's actually very simple. You only need to pay a small price," Shangguan Ye said coldly.

Wu Hun was overjoyed, thinking there was still room to turn things around.

"Please speak, sir. Our Witch Ghost Family will offer it with all our strength."

"I want your lives." The instant Shangguan Ye's words fell, he formed hand seals.

Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu

A white cube flew from Shangguan Ye's hand and landed in the center of the Witch Ghost Family's camp. It instantly expanded by more than a hundred times. In a moment, the entire camp and everyone within it vanished without a trace.

"Run!" Wu Hun immediately turned and fled.

Kamui

Shangguan Ye used the Space Law to instantly tear apart Wu Hun, who had already flown far away. With the Patriarch dead and the family's elites erased by Shangguan Ye's Dust Release, the Witch Ghost Family was effectively finished.

"Let's go. We'll deal with the Northern Nether Family whenever we run into them," Shangguan Ye said indifferently.

"Okay."

The four of them returned directly to the Jade Seal Family's camp. Everyone else had also returned safely. Xiao Ning'er distributed the Spirit Origin Fruits among the group. After consuming them, everyone instantly broke through two minor realms. Nie Li, Yu Yan, Duan Jian, Du Ze, Ye Ziyun, and Xiao Ning'er all reached five-star Legend rank, while the rest reached four-star.

The group rested at the camp for two days before Luo Xiao brought news that the Seventh Layer of the Nine Heavens Death Land had opened.

Luo Xiao brought his family members and Shangguan Ye's group to the entrance of the Seventh Layer. The place was already packed with people, so crowded that not even water could pass through.

"Nephew, once you enter, we truly won't be able to look after you anymore. Be careful."

"Don't worry, Uncle Luo."

While they spoke, the gates to the Seventh Layer opened, and everyone rushed inside.

After a dizzying whirl, everyone was transported to the Seventh Layer. Small platforms appeared beneath their feet, supporting them in midair. Then, figures clad in gray-blue armor and bearing wings on their backs slowly descended.

"Are they the Attendant Gods of the Nether Realm Controller?"

"Their auras are all so powerful!"

The crowd murmured among themselves, and the Attendant Gods began to speak.

"This test is rather special, so not many people will die in the Seventh and Eighth Layers. Be grateful for the Nether Realm Controller's mercy."

"No one will die? That's great!"

"Yeah, since when has the Nether Realm Controller been so merciful?"

"Silence! The challenge on this level is about to begin." After the Attendant God spoke, a water ball appeared in everyone's hands, containing countless winding threads.

"This is a Reflection Ball. Inject your Soul Power into it and follow the threads. As long as you exceed one foot, you will pass," the Attendant God explained.

"Isn't this just a test of energy control?" Someone began injecting Soul Power and advancing along the threads, but the next moment, his Reflection Ball exploded. This meant he had failed the challenge. With a wave of the Attendant God's hand, he was teleported away.

"A test of energy control? That's far too childish." After Shangguan Ye sensed it briefly, he began injecting his Soul Power. It continuously covered the threads, and in only a few breaths, every thread inside his Reflection Ball was covered by Soul Power.

"Seven feet?! He completed it so quickly? I never expected this youth to be such a super genius. Even Master would view him in a different light." An incredulous expression appeared on the Attendant God's face beneath his mask.

Immediately afterward, a young man in red robes also completed the test.

"This young man also reached seven feet! But he was nowhere near as fast as that boy just now. To complete it perfectly in such a short time... I can hardly imagine how terrifying his energy control is."

Afterward, some people gradually completed the challenge while others were eliminated. After one round, only a few thousand remained out of the more than two hundred thousand who had entered.

"Next, I will send you to the Eighth Layer, where someone will assign you tasks." The Attendant God brought everyone to the Eighth Layer. Upon arriving, they were greeted by an Attendant God clad in golden armor, with golden wings behind his back.

"Thank you for passing the first stage. The second stage will not kill you either, but a moment of carelessness could still leave you crippled."

"That is the Black Flame Tower. Inside are powerful black flames and many sealed Monster Beasts. You must cultivate inside for ten days. After ten days, if you have cultivated to the Selfless State of Mind, you will pass."

As soon as the Attendant God finished speaking, the trial-takers impatiently rushed forward. Yet some were burned by the black flames before they even made it halfway, their Sea of Souls ruined.

"Looks like those whose Sea of Souls aren't tough enough can't make it here."

Of the several thousand trial-takers, only around a thousand reached the entrance to the first floor of the Black Flame Tower.

"Let's go in together," Shangguan Ye called out.

"Okay!"