Ten Lives Trial: Mortal

No one answered.

Because the battle was so exciting, most people are still reminiscing about it.

Chu Wujiu, of course, needs no further explanation.

The most renowned genius of the Chu Clan, wielding the Heaven-Opening War Halberd, directly confronted the Immortal Body, each strike a gamble with his life.

The youngest prodigy to comprehend his Natal Dharma, Ji Wuchen of the Ji Clan.

He managed to snatch half a breath of time from Qin Wangchuan's sword multiple times.

Li Xuan, the eccentric genius who pioneered the Supernatural Power Sword.

With a mortal body and an Immortal Body, he held his own against an immortal in a head-on sword fight.

If Qin Wangchuan hadn't comprehended the Heaven's Judgment on the spot, this sword fight would have continued indefinitely.

Zhao Lingyun is an even bigger monster.

The blank sheet of paper flew out of the book, hovering in mid-air, and the calligraphy was completed in the blink of an eye—from beginning to end, it took no more than a breath.

You won't know what kind of talisman he drew until the moment the light explodes.

Yun Zexuan, a strategist whose plans were flawless, is a rather intriguing figure.

He didn't make a single move from beginning to end, yet he had everyone's fate on the chessboard.

There is also Ye Lingchuan, the holder of the Immortal Burial Coffin.

The moment the tentacles pierced the ring, the entire earth trembled for him.

The madman Yan Wujin, who combined the Dual Heaven-Earth Method, once turned the entire arena into scorched earth with the flames of the Heaven-Burning Sea-Boiling Wisdom King.

And that white feather— Zhou Yunyi Zhou Clan First Feather.

They moved freely amidst the devastating offensive, as if it were their own backyard.

One monster is already incredibly powerful.

There were seven such monsters in total!

"Seven people..." someone murmured from the edge of the stands, their voice hoarse, "Seven monsters attacked, and he was almost crushed by one person."

The person next to him didn't respond.

They saw it all very clearly.

The breakthroughs of those seven people, their transformations, and every step they took in dire circumstances were all real and tangible.

Even so, their victory was still somewhat humiliating.

In fact, if that final strike hadn't been so exquisite, the ending wouldn't have been like this at all.

"Compared to those seven..."

Someone whispered, their voice carrying an indescribable emotion, "Qin Wangchuan is the real monster."

No one objected.

Because that's the truth.

The seven monsters among monsters, even when combined and giving their all, barely managed to win once.

On the other side, Gu Tianye suddenly smiled.

"Brother?" Gu Yixuan turned her head to look at him, extremely puzzled.

In her view, her brother had always regarded Qin Wangchuan as a goal to be surpassed.

His idol lost; he should be sad.

"Nothing."

Gu Tianye's smile faded, and he glanced back at the arena. There was no need to watch any longer.

He turned and walked towards the outside of the stands.

Gu Yixuan glanced at the figure lying in the rubble one more time before quickly following.

"Let me ask you," Gu Tianye said casually, walking ahead, "When do you think I started to get stronger?"

Gu Yixuan tilted her head and thought for a moment, "After meeting Qin Wangchuan?"

Gu Tianye shook his head.

"No."

He paused.

"It started after I lost."

"Defeated by that woman, I saw that towering mountain."

Gu Yixuan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood.

"Let's make a bet."

Gu Tianye stopped and turned to look at her. Moonlight fell on his face, illuminating his bright eyes. "Qin Wangchuan will become even stronger."

"The next time he appears—"

He paused, as if imagining the scene.

"It will possess an overwhelming sharpness, like an emperor descending from the heavens, suppressing everything."

In the distance, Wang Xuance leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the backs of Chu Wujiu and the others.

A smile played at the corners of his lips, not mocking, but rather amused.

"Seven people, and they fought so miserably."

"If only I were here..."

Seemingly recalling that scene, Wang Xuance shook his head and left.

The other side, corresponding to that.

In the shadows of the stands, a beautiful figure also stood.

Lv Yingxin leaned against a pillar in the corridor, her alluring silhouette outlined by the moonlight.

Her gaze fell on the figure lying in the rubble in the center of the arena, and she whispered to herself, her voice as gentle as if she were soothing a child to sleep.

That's it, my king.

'This is a crucial turning point. From here you will begin to realize—the power is not enough. It must become stronger. Stronger than everyone else.'

Behind him, Xuanye emerged from the shadows.

His white hair swayed slightly in the night breeze, and his overly handsome face remained expressionless.

"Princess."

His voice was soft, but his gaze remained fixed on Qin Wangchuan.

"Letting Qin Wangchuan continue like this is probably not a good idea."

"Shouldn't we think of something?"

Lv Yingxin did not turn back.

"This realm is under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Emperor; if you're courting death, don't drag me down with you."

"Once he sets foot in that Foreign Lands, there are a million ways to kill him."

Her voice was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

Xuanye remained silent for a moment.

These words are impeccable.

Princess have always been like this, always taking each step with perfect judgment, never giving anyone a handle to use against them.

But a sentence inexplicably surfaced in his mind.

It was Qin Wangchuan who said it.

'Lv Yingxin is my slave.'

Xuanye lowered his eyes, his lips twitching slightly.

"You really dare to say that."

He spoke in a low voice, it was unclear whether he was referring to Qin Wangchuan or something else.

In the highest stand, the Dean of the Wandao Academy remained silent.

These older generations don't care about winning or losing; they care about something else entirely.

His gaze fell on the wrecked arena, on the shattered fragments of talismans, on the ground pierced by tentacles, and on the stone walls scorched by flames.

"Supernatural Realm, Supernatural Law..." the dean murmured, "I thought this was the limit, but now a Supernatural Power Sword has evolved."

"It seems there's still room for further exploration of the Supernatural Law that Qin Wangchuan created."

The elder beside him stroked his beard and nodded, his gaze falling on the departing group of young people, and he sighed deeply.

"The younger generation is truly formidable; the younger generation is indeed formidable."

In the pile of rubble.

After watching Chu Wujiu's retreating figure, Li Qingluan looked down at the person on her lap.

I wanted to offer a few words of comfort.

But the moment she looked down, she froze.

Qin Wangchuan had a smile on his lips, his eyes fixed on the distance ahead.

But that gaze did not fall on any of the four people.

He was looking further afield.

Look above the moon, look to the end of the sky.

Li Qingluan suddenly understood.

--I now understand why I fell in love with this person.

He also understood how he differed from Chu Wujiu and the others.

Those people watched his retreating figure, wondering how to catch up with him.

Qin Wangchuan, however, never looked at anyone else's back.

He was looking ahead.

It's a place no one has ever been before.

A strange shiver ran up my tailbone, and goosebumps covered my arms.

I couldn't contain my emotions.

Li Qingluan lowered her head and gently placed her lips on Qin Wangchuan's forehead.

"You will become stronger," she whispered, "Stronger than anyone else."

Qin Wangchuan remained dazed, his gaze still fixed on the horizon.

"Yes."

The voice was very soft, like a murmur, or perhaps an agreement.

"I lost this time."

"But next time, and the time after that, I will win."

"Whether it's seven, ten, or seventy."

"No matter what schemes they devise, what traps they dig, or how many backup plans they prepare."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and slowly clenched it towards the moon.

With fingers clenched and palms loosely held, it's as if the entire sky is grasped in one's hand.

I will win!

"A beautiful and decisive victory."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like nails, driven one by one into the night.

Li Qingluan did not answer.

Who would question a fact?

She simply lowered her head and gently pressed her face against his hair.

The moonlight shone on them, on the four receding figures in the distance, and on the rubble and bloodstains scattered on the ground.

The wind blew across the arena, carrying the stench of blood and the chill of the night dew.

She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat.

One moment, one moment.

Steady and powerful.

'That sounds really nice.'

However, in a place where Li Qingluan could not hear—

A cold, mechanical voice suddenly rang in Qin Wangchuan's mind.

[The conditions for unlocking the Ten Lives Trial have been met.]

The Ten Lives Trial Wheel has been activated.

A wheel with ten markings appeared before his eyes, entirely black with a faint golden light flowing around its edges.

The roulette wheel began to spin, the markings flashing by so fast that the writing on them was no longer legible.

Qin Wangchuan didn't move; he just watched quietly.

The roulette wheel spun slower and slower.

It keeps spinning slower and slower.

Finally, the pointer stopped on two words--

[Mortal]