The illusory figure shifted unpredictably; every motion carried an indescribable rhythm, supremely profound.

Xu Yang exhausted all he knew, yet could not put it into words.

He could only say, it was a transformation exceeding all that could be grasped within the Spirit Path.

Unbound, casting off all forms of restraint, acting as the heart desired.

Indeed, a single swing of the blade appeared to hold only one change, but on closer thought, it concealed a multitude of variations—truly astonishing.

Within the Immortal Sect, Xu Yang carefully observed, and an awakening gradually sprouted within his heart.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye!

Xu Yang opened his eyes to see Shi Hu and Chi Xue Ming unable to hide their excitement and delight.

He could not help but ask, "How did you do?"

"Effortless!"

"No problem!"

Hearing this, Xu Yang couldn’t help but laugh.

With such confidence, it seemed there really would be no problem.

To be honest, were he the only one left, it would be rather lonely.

At that, under the youth’s gaze, the assessment began.

Swoosh!

Xu Yang struck first.

Bright Blade Skill.

Though it was a crimson blood blade, when executed, every move was bold and grand, giving off an air of majesty and uprightness.

It clashed sharply with the thick aura of blood fiend upon the blade.

The blade technique was not complex, all being simple, basic movements.

Yet every strike hid profound mysteries, transformations intertwining.

Nine transformations crisscrossed, giving the illusion of myriad changes.

When he finished, he passed, as expected.

A mass of celestial radiance made Xu Yang’s eyes shine brilliantly.

Afterwards came Shi Hu and Chi Xue Ming.

Both passed the assessment as well.

As long as one set foot on the Immortal Bridge and entered the Immortal Sect, barring extreme lack of talent, there was rarely any suspense.

Perhaps only in the final two stages might one fail.

Xu Yang greedily absorbed the Purest Essence Qi.

A speck of inky celestial light in his dantian trembled slightly.

In the surrounding void and darkness, it was nearly imperceptible, like a giant’s heart beating within, stirring ripples unseen.

As he absorbed, these ripples swept through his whole body.

Xu Yang keenly felt his corporeal form growing ever more immaculate and pure, while his foundation steadily climbed.

Time slipped by like wild horses galloping past a crevice.

In a flash, they reached the seventh level.

"I wonder how Xiao Ming is doing. They lack immortal inheritance—if they cannot grasp the Immortal Bridge and Immortal Sect, perhaps they’ve already been eliminated." Shi Hu boasted smugly.

Xu Yang narrowed his eyes and said, "Not necessarily. A Celestial Human at Five Elements Celestial Realm is no simple matter; who dares say they haven’t glimpsed some secrets?"

"Though I have immortal inheritance, I too cannot let my guard down!"

Though Shi Hu found Xu Yang perhaps suspected too much, he did not refute him.

It was better to be cautious, always.

"If it were in the Spirit Realm, I would’ve already broken through to Celestial Human Realm."

"My old friend, tsk tsk, what a pity!"

Chi Xue Ming sighed, feeling helpless for Chi Xue.

Nothing could be done—it was his choice not to come.

"Perhaps there will yet be a chance." Xu Yang smiled slightly.

Swoosh!

The youthful Immortal appeared.

It was time for another assessment.

The three faces grew solemn, all thoroughly prepared.

This seventh tier, still, no problem!

Suddenly.

The White Jade Training Tower shook violently, the youthful Immortal’s complexion changed drastically.

"Damn it, Ancient Immortals invading!"

"They’ve actually breached the front lines and reached here?"

The youth raised his head, oblivious of others, fists clenched, his expression sour to the extreme.

Xu Yang and the others were utterly shocked.

This was a battlefield where once all things perished.

Of course, enemies would be encountered.

But they’d not expected it to come so quickly.

The three-stage training hadn’t even ended yet.

"Ancient Immortals?"

"That’s the second time he’s mentioned Ancient Immortals. The first time was in the Desolate Heaven Sword Sect trial, where the other side colluded with Ancient Immortals and suffered a bloody hunt!"

"What exactly are these Ancient Immortals?"

Xu Yang’s heart was full of suspicion and uncertainty.

"What will happen next?" Shi Hu frowned deeply.

A formidable enemy invades—all will be annihilated.

Then the training surely cannot continue. What of the immortal opportunity?

Xu Yang’s gaze was fixed upon the youth.

The latter abruptly lowered his head and said coldly, "Training ends here. The Ancient Immortals gain momentum; no one can remain uninvolved. The retreat is sealed; at this moment, you cannot escape."

"Fight! Take the bone boat from this place—do not disgrace the name of the Immortal Lord!"

Swoosh!

The youth flung his sleeve and his form collapsed.

At once, the White Jade Training Tower too dissolved inch by inch.

Whoosh—whoosh!!

Masses of surging celestial light roared skyward, rolling furiously toward the three.

Xu Yang was stunned by the sight.

Such a fortuitous chance—who could imagine?

This billowing immortal qi—hundreds of surging masses, each even more astonishing than the final immortal infusion in the Desolate Heaven Sword Sect trial.

Meanwhile, the many Martial Artists from the Warring King Clan and Daluo Vajra Sect who had already been eliminated, alarmed by the commotion, hurried over—each witnessing the scene was left wide-eyed in shock.

"Heavens, so much immortal qi?"

"What happened? Where’s the Training Tower? How is it gone?"

"Quick, with so many immortals’ energy, the three of them can’t possibly absorb it all."

...

Dozens of people rushed over.

Shi Hu gave Xu Yang a look; Xu Yang nodded slightly.

With so much immortal qi, the three of them could not absorb it all in a short time.

Shi Hu turned and shouted, "Make haste and start absorbing the immortal qi!"

Xu Yang was already seated cross-legged, unleashing the Heaven-Devouring Spirit-Eating Skill, circulating the Celestial Refining Divine Scripture.

Within, the inky celestial light churned; the divine cauldron emerged, rapidly expanding.

Every wisp of immortal qi entering his body was swallowed in one gulp by the divine cauldron.

Now, he could only take in as much as possible, first storing it as Purest Essence Qi.

After more than an hour—

All the immortal qi had been divided up entirely.

Among them, Xu Yang and the other two absorbed the most.

The three had climbed the Immortal Bridge and set foot upon the Immortal Path—far beyond what the rest could compare to.

The improvement was nothing short of astonishing.

Xu Yang looked at the divine cauldron brimming with Purest Essence Qi, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

The Training Tower was gone, but the amassed immortal qi was in no way inferior to all that could have been gained after the three training stages.

"Seems this place, though shattered by war, still harbored some unique object gathering up all the remaining immortal qi; otherwise, such an occurrence would not have been possible."

"Xu Yang, my father and the others are here too. You should explain." Shi Hu suddenly muttered.

Xu Yang looked up, and saw Shi Feng and others approaching from afar.

All from the Warring King Clan had gathered.

Seeing his teachers and companions all safe, Xu Yang’s heart finally relaxed.

"Xu Yang, what happened? You three persisted all the way to the end?" Shi Feng hurried over, eyes filled with disbelief.

At this, Xu Yang exclaimed, "Patriarch, could it be your group failed the second training stage?"

An old man gave a wry smile: "At the second stage, as soon as it involved cultivating immortal techniques, everyone failed."

"Except for you three, no one made it through." Shi Feng sighed deeply, his gaze fixed upon Xu Yang.

The three exchanged glances.

Chi Xue Ming and Shi Hu shared a look, both secretly grateful.

"Without Xu Yang, Chi Xue Ming and I probably..."

Xu Yang took a deep breath and said gravely, "To be frank, I once received an inheritance; during the second stage of training I touched upon the Immortal Path. It finally awakened—an immortal inheritance."

...

Half a quarter hour later.

Noise swelled, shock surging like a tide.

All struggled to digest the entirety of Xu Yang’s revelation.

It was truly too astounding.

"A dire enemy invades, training is over!"

"According to what was said, we must take the bone boat to leave and go to the true battlefield."

"I believe, upon the true battlefield, the past will take shape anew—there will be immortal qi there as well!"

"Next, I will share with everyone my knowledge and experience regarding immortal cultivation. If, thereafter, you can obtain any benefit, it will depend upon your own fate."

Having said this, Xu Yang paused and then asked, "Anyone have jade slips? Give me as many as possible."

"Yes, yes, we do!"

"I have some too."

Everyone froze a moment and then were overjoyed, hurriedly producing stacks of blank jade slips.

As they watched Xu Yang inscribe the jade slips, Shi Feng and the others—all their eyes burned with excitement, fervor, and gratitude.

Immortal inheritance!

Though all had failed.

With this knowledge, as long as they possessed enough immortal qi and fate, they too could embark on the immortal path.

The Warring King Clan was now ahead of all other great powers!

No one was more stirred than Shi Feng.

Even in front of his son Shi Hu, he felt an unconscious sense of reverence. It was no exaggeration—he nearly wanted to bow to Xu Yang himself.