Eleventh Layer, Strongest of All Eras

"Zhou Yunyi?"

On the high platform, the old man He Xuan, dressed in the robes of the chief elder of the Xuanyi Academy, slightly furrowed his white eyebrows.

He turned his head and whispered to Elder Liang beside him:

"Elder Liang, who is this boy? I have absolutely no recollection of him."

Elder Liang frowned slightly and replied, "The Zhou Clan First Feather: Zhou Yunyi."

"First Feather?" He Xuan thought carefully, and indeed he had never heard of this name before.

Although the Zhou Clan holds a position in the Ten Directions Immortal Court, they have only produced one Zhou Su, who is known as Peerless Prodigy.

He pondered for a moment, then asked, "How did he fare when he Heaven Ascending Ladder?"

"Seventieth step." Elder Liang's voice was calm, but the words themselves carried a strange impact.

"Seventy steps?!"

Even with He Xuan's composure, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.

This achievement is barely considered entry-level among the disciples recruited by the Wandao Academy, and could even be described as being at the bottom of the pack.

Yet, this very person managed to overpower everyone else and be the first to emerge from the Myriad Dao Book Palace?

This cannot be explained by luck.

Below the platform, whispers spread like a tide.

"Zhou Yunyi? Who is that?"

"Never heard of the Zhou Clan family?"

"Seventy steps to the Heavenly Ladder? Did I hear that right? He's actually the first one to come out?"

"They really hid it well..."

Countless Divine Sense swept over Zhou Yunyi without any politeness, as if trying to see through this seemingly ordinary, even somewhat dull, young man from the inside out.

On the high platform, He Xuan's deep gaze lingered on Zhou Yunyi for a long time.

The latter was still in a daze, his face filled with confusion, wondering, "Who am I? Where am I?"

But to outsiders, this appearance makes him look like he's pretending to be a pig.

"That's impressive," He Xuan exclaimed, his eyes gleaming.

After a moment, He Xuan slowly withdrew his gaze and conveyed his judgment to Elder Liang beside him, as well as to the other elders around him who also showed doubt:

"I'm not afraid of people hiding their talents; I'm afraid of people even fooling me."

"This Zhou Yunyi... we should keep a close eye on him."

At this moment, Zhou Yunyi was completely unaware that he had already been labeled by the First Elder of the Xuanyi Academy as "a man of hidden talent who needs close attention".

He was shivering with anger and cold from being abandoned.

Just as the outside world was in turmoil—

"Boom!!!"

A sudden, loud bang shook the entire Wandao Academy!

On the distant mountaintop, the majestic Myriad Dao Book Palace, symbolizing the boundless Daoist treasures, had its top dome violently blasted through from the inside by an unimaginable force!

Shattered stones and broken restrictive runes scattered and flew everywhere, like a meteor shower sweeping across the sky.

Within the gaping hole in the dome, the destructive torrent was completely unrestrained.

One after Dao Rhyme, Tribulation Light of terrifying light shot out from the academy without ceasing, crashing violently into the celestial array above the Academy, creating ripples that spread out in waves!

Fortunately, this situation did not last long.

Another incredibly intricate array pattern descended from the void, instantly enveloping the entire Dao Palace like a net covering the heavens and the earth.

The array patterns contained the Principle of time, causing everyone who sensed them to feel a sense of unease.

"That's... the Heaven Reversal Array?!" On the high platform, Elder Liang suddenly stood up, his face filled with disbelief. "That brat Qin Hongchen... no, how could the Dean agree to that?"

The name "Reversal of Fortune Formation" is derived from the idea of "reversing the Heaven Reversal Array and bringing back the heavens."

Once activated, its Principle will sweep across a specific area, completely "freezing" the state of all living beings within that area at a particular moment.

After that, no matter how serious their injuries were, or even if they Dead Path, they could instantly return to the state they were in when they were "frozen" before the Law Power was exhausted.

Judging from the effect alone, it's clear that maintaining a formation of this scale requires an enormous amount of resources.

Generally speaking, the Academy only activates this formation during Grand Competition, so that the Prodigy can fight freely without fear of death.

But now... why is it being opened for the Myriad Dao Book Palace trial?

Li Xuan gazed intently at the Dao Palace shrouded in the array, and said meaningfully, "The intensity inside is probably beyond our imagination."

"Without the protection of this formation, we would likely have lost many promising talents."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the surrounding elders all changed.

Just how intense was the battle on the Eleventh Layer of the Book Palace that prompted the Academy to resort to the Heaven Reversal Array?

Let's go back two hours.

A fierce battle is currently taking place on the tenth floor of the Myriad Dao Book Palace.

"Boom--!"

Chu Wujiu, situated within the Heaven and Earth Law, wielded a halberd that tore through the void. His violent killing power surged like a raging torrent, completely shattering the Heaven and Earth Dharma Manifestation of the previous Prodigy's top genius, Yan Yun, turning it into a sky full of flowing fire.

Almost at the same time, not far away, a clear and melodious sword cry resounded, like a dragon's roar echoing through the heavens.

Sword Cultivator Li Xuan, his Green Robe fluttering in the wind, held an ancient longsword that gleamed with an almost blinding cold light.

The Heaven and Earth Law were not invoked.

Because his opponent was also a phantom of a previous generation's Sword Dao Prodigy.

"Sizzle!"

As the final sword strike landed, the illusory figure suddenly disintegrated, turning into countless fragments.

The Destiny Aspect of Killing and Judgment " slowly dissipated, Chu Wujiu landed back on the ground, his body shrouded in a bloody mist of Killing Intent.

He let out a long, triumphant roar, "That felt great!"

At the same time, Li Xuan also sheathed his sword, and the sharp Sword Intent around him slowly subsided, like a precious sword hidden in its case.

He walked to Chu Wujiu's side, and the two looked at each other, both seeing in each other's eyes a burning fighting spirit and a hint of anticipation for the challenges ahead.

Chu Wujiu raised his head proudly, his voice seemingly able to pierce through layers of space, his tone filled with absolute confidence. "Qin Wangchuan, this time, I will definitely be faster than you!"

Although Li Xuan did not speak, his slight nod showed that he shared the same belief.

As soon as they finished speaking, ripples appeared in the space in front of them, slowly forming two doors of light.

The left side leads to the exit, and the right side is engraved with the ancient word "Eleven".

"Why bother with all these fancy tricks? Just have one entrance, that'll do."

Chu Wujiu chuckled and, standing shoulder to shoulder with Li Xuan, strode into the Eleventh Layer without hesitation.

The teleportation light dissipated, and the two appeared in that strange stone plaza.

Directly ahead stands the Golden Ancient Gate, reaching to Tongtian heavens and exuding an ancient Dao Rhyme.

Chu Wujiu looked around at the empty space, a smile playing on his lips, "It seems we really are the first."

His gaze, along with Li Xuan's, fell upon the Golden Ancient Gate, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "Qin Wudao must be inside..."

"I'm not afraid of an undeveloped Desolate Ancient Sacred Body!" Chu Wujiu chuckled softly, brimming with confidence.

"We still need to be careful," Li Xuan said succinctly, but with equal confidence.

The two stepped forward at the same time. Chu Wujiu out a low shout and slammed his palms onto the cold door.

With a deep rumble, he slowly pushed open the heavy Golden Ancient Gate a crack.

Chu Wujiu and Li Xuan, full of vigor, stepped side by side into the gate.

The next second.

"Bang!"

The two figures retreated at ten times the speed they had entered, even frantically slamming the heavy Golden Ancient Gate shut again.

Chu Wujiu's face was filled with bewilderment and disbelief as he rubbed his eyes vigorously.

Li Xuan, standing to the side, maintained his cold demeanor, but his slightly constricted pupils and white knuckles betrayed the intense turmoil within him.

"I must be too tired, my eyes are a little blurry..." Chu Wujiu muttered to himself, and actually sat down cross-legged on the spot. "I'll rest for a while and adjust my state."

Li Xuan sat down silently beside him, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing, but the slight rise and fall of his chest showed that he was far from being as calm as he appeared.

In that fleeting glimpse behind the door, the two saw a monster.

Half an hour later, a light flashed at the entrance of the passage, and three figures appeared one after another.

It was a three-person team consisting of Ji Wuchen, Yan Wujin, and Ye Lingchuan.

They looked somewhat disheveled, but their aura remained strong, clearly indicating that the previous obstacles had not truly stopped them.

Yan Wujin spotted Chu Wujiu sitting by the wall, looking unusually "peaceful".

He immediately burst into laughter.

"Hey, isn't this Chu Wujiu? Why do you look like a dead man? Did Qin Wudao scare you out of your wits?"

Chu Wujiu didn't speak, but simply raised his hand and gestured for him to enter.

Yan Wujin curled his lip and said disdainfully, "Coward." Then he walked straight to the door, pushed open the Golden Ancient Gate, and disappeared inside.

"Qin Wudao! Fight me!"

However, his boastful words came to an abrupt halt the moment he saw that figure.

Yan Wujin stood frozen in place as if under a spell, his mouth slightly open, but the words he was about to say stuck in his throat.

Ji Wuchen and Ye Lingchuan, who were outside the door, sensed something was wrong, exchanged a glance, and quickly stepped inside.

Inside the gate was a large, circular Arena, completely empty on all sides.

But that's not the most crucial point.

A figure was seen floating in the air.

That is--

"Qin Wangchuan...?"

Ye Lingchuan stared intently at the figure in the air, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily, as he forced out the name with difficulty.