"Huh? Where are the other two?"

"Could it be that on the final day, everyone’s been separated?"

Xu Yang appeared in a training arena, but neither Blood Ming nor Shi Hu was anywhere to be seen. He couldn’t help guessing—perhaps the last day’s battle was truly a test faced alone.

As soon as the thought formed, one figure after another materialized out of thin air.

Swish swish swish!!

Xu Yang’s face changed dramatically, his throat working in shock.

"Hell!"

"Nine puppet warriors, nine immortal beasts!"

"How the hell am I supposed to fight this?"

He knew on the twenty-eighth day there had been eight immortal beasts, and on the twenty-ninth, eight puppets.

He’d guessed the final day might reach nine!

But never in his wildest dreams had he imagined: nine puppet warriors, nine immortal beasts!

Eighteen in total!

Puppets in the front, immortal beasts behind!

Predatory gazes, murderous intent laid bare!

Cold sweat was already rolling down Xu Yang’s back.

No matter how confident he was, at this moment even his scalp tingled.

"Kill!"

Roar!

A furious shout shook the heavens, roar thundering to the ears!

The immortal beasts charged in a frenzy, wings blotting out the sky, bodies mountain-sized, erupting with waves of violent, surging Evil Qi like a furious ocean.

Meanwhile, the nine puppet warriors, each wielding a Divine Weapon, descended like thunderbolts, each displaying their Divine Techniques, all manner of immortal light coiling through the arena, their slaughter intent surging to heaven!

"Hmm?"

Xu Yang’s pupils contracted, a flash of astonishment glinting in his gaze.

"These immortal beasts and puppets—are only slightly stronger than yesterday!"

"Thank heavens, thank heavens!"

Xu Yang immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Only slightly stronger—that wasn’t so bad.

If their strength had grown as rapidly as on every day before, even using every last trick, he’d hardly be able to withstand it!

But at this level, even with eighteen foes, it wasn’t impossible to resist!

A cold gleam flashed in Xu Yang’s eyes. Surrounded on all sides, he suddenly spun to battle!

Swish!

Blood and Qi boiled within him, his bones shuddered, his physical strength fused with True Essence exploded outward, swirling like a spiral blade around his body, bursting forth with savage ferocity.

BOOM!

The beasts and puppets froze for a split second, then in that instant, tore the storm to shreds, lunging at Xu Yang from above, hideously fierce.

Incredibly fast, their ever-changing moves overwhelmed the senses!

Xu Yang’s face did not change; gripping the Asura Blood Saber, he fearlessly plunged into their midst.

BAM!

Crash!

Sparks flew from clashing weapons, booming waves of force exploded, deafening the ears!

Puppets and immortal beasts crisscrossed, but Xu Yang darted among them like a phantom, his body weaving shadows of black silk, sprinting and weaving through the chaos.

Bursts of explosive noise echoed on and on.

In a fraction of a breath, hundreds of collisions rang out.

One hand wielded his saber; with the other, he shifted between palm and fist, spirit runes forming from thin air, all manner of Divine Techniques unleashed in a blink!

For a moment, not even these eighteen adversaries could suppress Xu Yang.

This was the transformation wrought by this month of relentless, bloody combat.

His battle will was razor-sharp, his techniques honed to perfection, every move as natural as breathing!

Even without powerful Divine Techniques, fists, feet, and saber blades—every motion held the profound force of the universe, hiding terrifying strength within.

But it didn’t last long.

Xu Yang soon found himself being pressed back.

Beasts and puppets formed a deadly ring, crazily shrinking Xu Yang’s space to survive.

Heaven above, earth below, there was nowhere to hide, every inch boxed in by shadowy wings, leviathan bodies, massive claws, flashes of blade and sword raining down—sealing him in tightly.

They closed in, moving as one oppressive battle formation!

Xu Yang had nowhere to run, twisting and weaving in the increasingly narrow space.

Harder and harder!

He could barely take a single step!

Bang!

Space warped—phantom blades and spears hurtled toward him from the front, waves of crushing pressure bearing down!

From his sides and rear the beasts pounced, fists and palms striking together.

Heaven and earth besieged, a net from which there was no escape!

Xu Yang came to an abrupt halt, his eyes surging with battle intent.

"Time to get serious."

BOOM!

Ancient Evil Qi burst through his body.

Crash!

Xu Yang’s body shuddered violently, straining to its limits.

The storming, ancient Evil Qi erupted forth like a tempest let loose.

Indiscriminate attack!

Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth; he let out a muffled groan.

The beasts and puppets reeled as if struck by lightning, all thrown back in retreat.

The ancient Evil Qi held the upper hand.

But for Xu Yang to summon it again—he couldn’t do it.

He moved.

He vanished, reappearing above one of the immortal beasts, saber flashing down.

This slash, collapsing layers of space, soared with killing intent to the clouds.

"Slice!"

Splurt!

The beast was cut clean in two.

Before the saber’s light had faded, Xu Yang threw himself toward the second beast, sweeping his blade in a savage arc.

Splurt!

The second immortal beast fell!

Next was a puppet warrior!

Only fifteen enemies left!

But the remaining fifteen had recovered, giving Xu Yang no chance to strike a killing blow.

Once more, Xu Yang was forced to retreat, giving a chilling smile.

"Lock!"

The River of Spirit appeared.

Eight feet, nine inches!

Heaven Locking intent erupted forth.

Fifteen puppet warriors and immortal beasts froze in unison!

One breath, two, three!

A crimson bolt of lightning tore through.

Splurt splurt splurt!!

Saber energy ripped the air—six puppets, four immortal beasts—demolished in an instant!

Xu Yang appeared at the back of the arena, body trembling, breathing raggedly.

That last saber strike pierced through all, an explosion beyond his limits.

Even with his mighty body, he felt a deep weakness course through him.

Only five foes remained.

Three immortal beasts, three puppet warriors!

Xu Yang whipped around, throwing back his head and letting out a heaven-shaking howl at the encircling foes.

"Kill!"

His fighting spirit boiled, feebleness scoured away, replaced by a demonic, furious will to battle.

Unyielding, unbroken!

The Tripod of Heaven and Earth shook again, faint Evil Qi flooding forth, surging through every bone.

Xu Yang endured the agony, yet grew sharper for it, his blood and flesh calling up even greater strength.

BAM!

Sword and saber clashed, sparks flying in torrents.

At point blank range, Xu Yang grinned, suddenly let go.

The Blood Saber swept in an arc across the empty air.

Xu Yang appeared behind a puppet, both fists thundering out.

Bang bang!!

The puppet was blasted into pieces!

He was like a raging beast, palms twisting to grind, swathes of spirit patterns bursting in a killing strike.

Pivoting, he snatched up the Asura Blood Saber, unleashing Chaotic Void and Collapse Heaven techniques in turn.

The blade swept once more, fists and palms striking as one!

Within the arena, the chaos grew wilder, yet the number of combatants was shrinking by the breath.

Beasts shrieked with murderous fury, and puppets pressed their attack, but all were gradually crushed and eclipsed by the oceanic will to battle!

The force was like flood, fire, thunder, vast as the sea, fierce and unstoppable!

At a certain moment—

Amidst a sky-sundering, ragged roar—

The final puppet warrior was punched into the sky, the Blood Saber hurtling after, its surging blade hacking the foe to pieces, which exploded with a thunderous boom.

BAM!

Xu Yang dropped to one knee, blood dripping down his jaw, gasping wildly, his vision darkening.

Exhausted beyond all measure!

His entire body was exhausted, limbs like lead, utterly spent.

He could barely even hold the Asura Blood Saber, which shrieked and fell to the ground with a clang.

Xu Yang tried to push himself up, but his strength failed—he slumped to the floor, lying flat on his back, staring at the heavens.

"I won!"

Swish swish swish!!

Eighteen orbs of immortal light floating in mid-air shot toward him like lightning, enveloping Xu Yang within.

A low, agonized howl echoed from inside.

Immortal Qi surged, radiance shuddering wildly!

As time passed, the immortal light withdrew, and a mighty aura steadily climbed to its peak, billowing uncontrolled.

Swish!

A streak of radiance coalesced from thin air, shining brilliantly, its form nearly tangible.

Within the dancing glow, spectral chains flickered in and out of sight.

Spirit Mark, full nine feet!

Xu Yang gazed up at the Spirit Mark above, a radiant smile breaking across his face.

These eighteen orbs of immortal light went far beyond before, bestowing upon him a massive transformation.

He was but a hair’s breadth from Ascension!

The Spirit Mark flickered, as though about to shatter heaven and earth, reaching for an even higher realm!

Xu Yang slowly straightened, thought and called the Spirit Mark back to him.

Swish!

His form grew insubstantial, vanishing from sight, returning once again to the White Jade Plaza.

He stood alone.

Xu Yang blinked in surprise: "Even senior Blood Ming hasn’t come out yet?"

He couldn’t help but grow anxious.

And Shi Hu!

That guy—can he make it?