Chapter 14

The clash of twin blades rang without end.

Two figures darted and shifted within a confined space, their blades aimed at deadly vital points!

In an instant, several hundred exchanges had passed, and fierce blade qi carved countless cracks through the void.

Ssh—

A line of blood bloomed across Lu Tian's shoulder.

Qiu Wu seized a flaw in his moves and drew blood with a single slash!

Had he been half a moment slower, that strike would have taken his head.

Having succeeded, Qiu Wu dissolved into green smoke.

Lu Tian shook his head with a soft sigh.

Compared to Qiu Wu, who had immersed himself in the blade for a hundred thousand years, his own ten years of cultivation still fell far short.

No matter how great one's talent, it still required the tempering of time and accumulation of real combat.

To forcibly comprehend the Dao without a foundation?

It was nothing more than a reflection in the mirror, a flower in the water.

That was precisely why Lu Tian had devoured others' Blade Technique experience in the real world, then cultivated bitterly for another ten years before entering the dream world to train—

All of it was to forge a solid foundation in the blade Dao.

Four hundred and sixty-three moves...

Lu Tian murmured softly, every moment of his battle with Qiu Wu replaying endlessly in his mind.

The battle blade traced a dazzling arc through his hand.

He had actually entered a state of sudden enlightenment in an instant!

Three years flowed by.

When Lu Tian opened his eyes, Qiu Wu's phantom appeared before him once more.

This contest lasted a full twenty years.

In the end, it concluded in a draw.

After the battle, Lu Tian immediately threw himself into another round of comprehension.

This battle had allowed him to glimpse even more flaws within the Blade Technique.

Another eighty years passed.

In only thirteen moves, Qiu Wu was defeated beneath his blade.

Eighty years of comprehending the Dao crushed a hundred thousand years of bitter cultivation!

Sage-level comprehension was indeed extraordinary.

Unfortunately, Qiu Wu could no longer bring him any new breakthroughs.

Lu Tian's thoughts spun rapidly.

His figure vanished into the Zero World.

By now, the Zero World had expanded to encompass more than a dozen star systems.

Various Vajra were scattered across the sea of stars, multiplying and thriving.

With abundant resources and sparse races, the universe remained tranquil.

Lu Tian quietly altered the laws of the world, establishing blades as the supreme weapon and causing all living beings to cultivate the blade Dao.

He further endowed the five primordial Vajra—Crimson, Radiance, Azure, Verdant, and Void—with a warlike nature.

Experts of the five races began forging blades one after another, and war suddenly erupted.

The early Blade Techniques were crude.

But the world possessed mysteries of its own.

Amid flames of war that stretched to the heavens, countless exquisite blade arts emerged.

These insights into the blade Dao, born from the lives Lu Tian had imagined, continuously flowed back into him.

Lu Tian still found it insufficient.

He poured all the blade intent he had gained throughout his life into the world, giving rise to several Vajra who were born with an innate understanding of the blade Dao.

The blade civilization of the Zero World advanced by leaps and bounds.

Every second, brand-new insights into the blade Dao surged toward Lu Tian.

This discovery filled him with wild joy!

The Demon Heart Swallowing Heaven Scripture and the Virtual-Real World truly were a match made in heaven!

Through the Demon Heart Swallowing Heaven Scripture, he could draw upon the experiences and insights of countless experts, inject those essences into the Zero World, and nurture new life.

As these beings evolved, they could continue deducing from the experts' experiences as their foundation, bringing him even greater feedback.

Across the entire prehistoric world, it would be difficult to find a more exquisite combination.

Lu Tian could not help laughing aloud.

His Blade Technique improved every second.

Without needing to personally control the Zero World, Lu Tian recreated another version of himself within the dream world!

Of course, this projection did not possess his Blade Technique attainments. It retained only the strength he had possessed while fighting Qiu Wu.

The newborn projection had barely appeared before it unleashed its indestructible Vajra Body.

Lu Tian suppressed his true body's power and fought his Vajra Body self using only Blade Technique.

The might of the Vajra Body was displayed to the fullest.

Lu Tian, using only Blade Technique, was thoroughly defeated by the Vajra Body in less than a quarter of an hour!

Even so, Lu Tian did not abandon the blade Dao.

Though the Vajra Body was powerful, it was more like a transformation skill that increased attributes in an online game. If he could create another peerless Blade Technique, his strength would surely soar.

Wasn't it perfectly reasonable for a Vajra with Three heads and six arms to swing blades at people?

After his defeat, Lu Tian immediately immersed himself in comprehending Blade Technique, pouring all his effort into its study.

Eight hundred years later, he could endure for an hour beneath the Vajra Body's assault.

Another eight hundred years later, relying solely on Blade Technique, he could battle the Vajra Body for three days and three nights.

After another three thousand years, Lu Tian finally defeated his Vajra Body self using Blade Technique alone!

One had to know...

The Vajra Body was more than a thousand times stronger than his true body's flesh!

Otherwise, how could he, at the early Golden Immortal realm, have slain an Origin Law Golden Immortal?

An Origin Law Golden Immortal was an existence capable of fighting a thousand foes alone, battling over a thousand opponents of the same realm!

This proved that his Blade Technique could unleash combat power more than a thousand times greater than his own, allowing him to overcome the Vajra Body!

If he used Blade Technique while in Vajra Body form, then even with such a high foundation, its power could still increase by several hundredfold...

After nearly five thousand years, Lu Tian finally left the dream world in satisfaction.

Of course, he was only satisfied.

With Saint-level comprehension, five thousand years of bitter cultivation, and the Zero World's support...

If he still could not increase his strength by several hundredfold at the Golden Immortal realm, he might as well go home and raise pigs!

After leaving the dream world, Lu Tian spread out his Spiritual Sense and swept across a hundred thousand li of territory.

He found nothing unusual.

Four hundred years had passed, yet the final battle had not begun.

The Crimson Trial spanned an enormous period of time, leaving room for True Immortals, Golden Immortals, and other cultivators to grow...

Lu Tian pondered inwardly.

Now that his Blade Technique had achieved a modest level of success, he needed opponents for real combat practice to test its essence.

Unfortunately, although four hundred years had flashed by in the real world, the Crimson Continent had seen little change.

This realm had been established for selection in the first place.

How could True Immortals and Golden Immortals be opponents for Taiyi Golden Immortals?

Thus, ample time was given in the early stages for them to grow.

The Crimson Continent also held opportunities left behind by Styx, which could allow cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds.

So long as one's foundation was not a problem...

With a Quasi-Saint bestowing an opportunity, even a True Immortal advancing to Taiyi within a thousand years would not be difficult.

The differences between prehistoric experts were vast to begin with.

Jieyin and Zhunti could disregard flaws in one's foundation and help one directly enter the Golden Immortal realm!

Origin Law could even contend against a thousand ordinary peak Golden Immortals!

In this realm...

Anything was possible!

The gap between the strong and weak was immense; even those in the same realm could not be compared.

The Asura of the Blood Sea race alone possessed so many experts, much less prehistoric overlords such as the witch and demon races!

Lu Tian left his cave abode and flew straight toward the alliance war zone.

When he reached the great city, he suddenly sensed something strange.

The number of experts within the city had actually decreased by more than thirty percent!

With the final battle yet to begin, such losses were truly abnormal!

After displaying his token and entering the city, Lu Tian chose a tavern to gather information.

This inquiry piqued his interest.

It turned out that a forbidden land had appeared on the Crimson Continent, drawing many experts there.

A forbidden land...

Lu Tian knew of such things from the memories he had devoured.

They were trial grounds set up by Styx that appeared periodically.

Anyone who emerged alive, regardless of cultivation, could obtain a great opportunity.

Even a True Immortal leaping directly into an Origin Golden Immortal was not difficult!

The forbidden land that had appeared this time was called the Star Burial Sea.

It was said that as soon as this forbidden land emerged, the Crimson Continent expanded by thirty percent, and a new sea of blood appeared.

Stars shone brilliantly beneath the sea, and every star concealed an opportunity. Whoever obtained a top inheritance could soar to the heavens in a single bound.

After learning its location, Lu Tian decided to head to the Star Burial Sea and find experts to test his blade against.

He was not going there to seek treasure. The items Styx could toss out were, at most, ordinary Houtian Spiritual Treasures.

Lu Tian was not exactly wealthy enough to rival a nation, but he had little interest in such trinkets.

With a flicker, he sped directly toward the Star Burial Sea.

At the same time.

Within a palace in the depths of the sea of blood, Styx was drinking tea and Discussing the Dao with Jieyin and Zhunti.

"You two Dao brothers are truly devoted to this disciple. You were even willing to use my hand to arrange layer upon layer of tests for him. Aren't you afraid he'll fall midway?"

His gaze pierced through the boundless sea of blood, and Styx immediately locked onto Lu Tian on the Crimson Continent.

"From the looks of it, he has set his heart on entering the Star Burial Sea. As for whether he can obtain what you hid there, that will depend entirely on his own fortune. I absolutely will not interfere."

"To be frank, your ** foundation is truly **. It seems you were born deficient."

Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions did not change.

Jieyin took a light sip from his tea cup and smiled. "The West is barren and cannot compare to the East. This child sincerely joined our sect, so it is only proper that we put in more thought."

Styx shook his head and laughed.

This Lu Tian was truly fortunate. With two Saints nurturing him with all their strength, even if he could not become a Quasi-Saint in the future, becoming a Grand Unity Golden Immortal was practically guaranteed.

Yet a trace of doubt rose within him—

What was so special about Lu Tian?

Why did Jieyin and Zhunti regard him so highly?

As far as he knew, the Western Teachings ** had more than just this one disciple, yet he had never seen the two put so much care into anyone else.

With a thought, a thread of Spiritual Sense silently extended toward the Crimson Continent.

Lu Tian had no idea that several of the prehistoric world's greatest experts were watching him.

He activated the Cloud-Treading Boots and traveled at full speed, arriving at the shore of the Star Burial Sea in the blink of an eye.

The shore was already crowded with figures.

There were True Immortals who had come to try their luck, swarming like carp crossing a river.

The Golden Immortals stood in groups of two or three in formation, the pressure around them enough to make others keep their distance.

Only Taiyi Golden Immortals were nowhere to be seen—

This newly opened forbidden land would not produce treasures useful to them in the first place.

Such an arrangement was meant to leave the younger generation a path to survival.

Everyone stood silently by the shore, yet not a single person acted rashly.

Seeing this, Lu Tian knew there had to be something unusual, so he found an open space and watched quietly.

Fortunately, he did not have to wait long.

Suddenly, thunder exploded over the Star Burial Sea, hurricane winds rose, and waves ten thousand zhang high surged backward with a roar!

Those towering waves shot straight into the heavens. Not to mention True Immortals—even Golden Immortals caught within them would likely be shattered to pieces!

"The tide is coming!"

Someone nearby cried out softly, and the crowd immediately stirred.

He slowly drew the Moon Washing Blade, restraining the sharp aura of its edge until only blade light as clear as frost and snow remained. Its moon-white blade flowed with a cold radiance through the void, like the moon of the nine heavens falling into the mortal world.

This opportunity had come at just the right time.

Lu Tian pondered inwardly. These people had waited here for so long, yet the anomaly appeared the moment he arrived.

Boom—

The thunderous crash of raging waves striking the shore shook Yunxiao, as if two stars had collided head-on!

In an instant, the entire Star Burial Sea lit up with countless stellar glimmers. The crimson seawater echoed the heavens, while innumerable brilliant points of light flickered in the deep sea like a spilled Milky Way.

A colossal whirlpool over a hundred thousand li in diameter suddenly rose from the sea. Even Lu Tian's Spiritual Sense could not discern its full extent through the rushing currents.

Rainbow streaks tore through the sky as countless Asura Race experts leaped into the vortex. Seeing this, Lu Tian also transformed into a streak of light and plunged in.

The instant he passed through the whirlpool, the surrounding scene changed abruptly.

Though he was clearly deep within a sea of blood, he walked as if on solid ground. The wonders of the Cloud-Treading Boots were fully displayed at this moment.

Lu Tian swept his gaze over the dazzling lights scattered like stars, then sped toward the brightest emerald star.

Sshk—

A blade light cleaved through layer upon layer of water curtains.

Though the Star Burial Sea was filled with opportunities, its killing intent was even greater.

The seawater was densely packed with spiderweb-like spatial rifts. Forget opening a passage—one careless step could send one falling into unknown void space. Even someone as powerful as Lu Tian had to proceed cautiously.

The emerald star's surface rapidly expanded in his vision.

This star, over two hundred thousand kilometers in diameter, was nearly the size of two Jupiters. Viewed from space, towering ancient trees formed forests and fern-like vegetation covered the ground, yet there was not a trace of living creatures.