Second Floor of the Trial Tower.
Xia Ping found himself standing atop a massive mountain. Around him stood a hundred thousand mountains, rolling on without end as far as the eye could see, lush and verdant everywhere.
Yet this mountain range held not a trace of life. It was filled with an aura of dead silence, like a land of utter desolation.
In an instant, a voice rang out. "The second-floor trial begins."
A colossal, ancient sword formation immediately appeared in the sky, its patterns branded into the void as though formed from blades of Sword Qi. Incomparably sharp, they could tear apart space itself.
Before Xia Ping could figure out what was happening, the ancient sword formation began to operate, drawing Geng Metal energy from the depths of the void and swiftly condensing streams upon streams of Sword Qi.
The Sword Qi solidified, as if imbued with the will of sword grandmasters. Pale gold in color, they numbered in the thousands upon thousands, blanketing the area as they hummed and seethed with killing intent.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!
The streams of Sword Qi seemed to possess life and consciousness as they fell from the sky, striking Xia Ping like raindrops. It was like an army of a thousand charging forth, an ambush from all sides—there was nowhere to flee.
These Sword Qi were terrifying beyond measure, like sword grandmasters wielding longswords as they charged in to kill. They formed an unparalleled sword formation, ten thousand swords united as one, erupting with dreadful sharpness.
An ordinary Golden Core Realm cultivator would be crushed into powder in an instant beneath such a sword formation.
"Northern Underworld Body Protection Art: Absorb!"
Xia Ping immediately circulated the Northern Underworld Body Protection Art. Layers of blue energy shields surged from his body, condensing into crystalline