Chapter 268: Breaking Through Eight Trials
Chapter 268: Breaking Through Eight Trials
“Don’t believe me? Try it.”
With a step forward, Cheng Lingyu returned to Hu Yuer’s side and grasped her small hand.
Hu Yuer trembled slightly, exclaiming, “You’ve changed. Your aura turned bewitching and irresistibly captivating.”
As a member of the Fox People, Hu Yuer possessed innate sensitivity to shifts in masculine energies and temperament.
Cheng Lingyu frowned. “The change might come from my Soul Domain Avatar.”
The Soul Domain Avatar referred to the perfect merging of a cultivator’s martial souls into a towering soul giant that dominated battles within the Soul Domain.
Through this method, Cheng Lingyu could integrate the traits of the Ten Immortal Souls into his blood soul energy, forming a magnificent guardian giant within his Soul Domain. These traits included their unparalleled ultimate skills – powers beyond Cheng Lingyu’s current cultivation level, yet fully expressible through the avatar.
This fusion naturally altered Cheng Lingyu’s presence, explaining Hu Yuer’s observation and his own realization.
“When will you reach Seven Levels of Soul Martial Arts?”
“Depends on chance. With Luck, it’ll come naturally. Otherwise, it’ll take longer.”
Cheng Lingyu studied the blood lake. Shui Yingyue had reached the fifteenth stone pillar, nearing the island at the center of the lake. Ye Anlan and Yunxiu stood on the fourteenth pillar while other experts progressed unevenly, some already stranded.
“When are we moving? Night approaches.”
After darkness fell, the Blood Moon would rise over the lake, bringing unknown dangers.
Cheng Lingyu laughed. “Delaying might make us prime sacrifice targets.”
Hu Yuer knit her brows. “This place traps people permanently. We must be cautious.”
“Since we’re here, we’ll try. Others expect us to join their game anyway.”
“Fools,” Hu Yuer snorted. “Those hoping to sacrifice you are idiots.”
“Men grow careless when overestimating themselves. Let’s go – time runs short.”
Clutching Hu Yuer’s hand, Cheng Lingyu flew toward the first stone pillar through crashing waves.
The blood lake’s surface churned violently, warping time and space. Even with his Skywing Escape activated, Cheng Lingyu struggled against chaotic turbulence and the supergravity field’s grip – conditions far worse than anticipated.
They soon landed on the first shore-adjacent pillar. Light erupted around them, forming a massive Battle Platform where blood shadows materialized.
Though Shui Yingyue had described this trial, Cheng Lingyu still reviewed details. Their partnership summoned two blood shadows radiating terrifying energy.
Releasing Hu Yuer’s hand, Cheng Lingyu faced the first trial alone. The blood shadows existed between physical and spectral forms, resembling Soul Domain Avatars.
A corrosive blood energy emanated from the shadow, decay spreading through the air. Cheng Lingyu countered with flames from his Burning Sky Technique, sparking a fierce clash.
Hu Yuer’s battle proved simpler. Her Blood Martial Realm cultivation far surpassed Cheng Lingyu’s, making the first trial effortless for her.
Cheng Lingyu was not in a hurry. He started the battle cautiously, testing how much strength he needed to pass the first challenge.
The fight lasted half an hour. The blood shadow’s combat power unexpectedly matched a Blood Weapon Second Level cultivator, surprising Cheng Lingyu.
If the first of eighteen challenges was this difficult, how much harder would the rest be?
Hu Yuer looked serious. Though she passed the first trial easily, she knew the road ahead wouldn’t be smooth.
After clearing the first challenge, they teleported directly to the Second Challenge without needing to cross the blood lake again.
The Second Challenge resembled the first – glowing stone pillars, but the blood shadow’s combat power had risen sharply.
Cheng Lingyu moved faster this time.
His earlier experience taught him spiritual attacks worked better than physical attacks against blood shadows.
Hu Yuer still handled the Second Challenge effortlessly, making Cheng Lingyu wonder if her cultivation level was Blood Martial Third Level or Blood Martial Fourth Level.
Shui Yingyue had reached the sixteenth stone pillar. The Heavenly Palace trio – Yu Feilong, Hua Yuehong, and Li Moru – stood at the fourteenth.
Four other cultivators occupied the thirteenth, eleventh, ninth, and eighth pillars, varying in strength.
Their path had ten people – the most crowded among three routes.
According to Hu Yuer’s observations, the cultivators on eighth and ninth pillars were stuck, unable to advance.
If they reached the eighth challenge, they’d meet these trapped cultivators, likely triggering a fierce fight.
Once started, this path offered no retreat – either break through or perish.
As the saying goes: Know yourself and your enemy, win every battle.
After two challenges, Cheng Lingyu understood blood shadows better, aiding his progress.
Within two hours, they cleared five challenges remarkably fast.
The first five were manageable. Cheng Lingyu used everything he knew, finally summoning his Soul Domain Avatar to defeat the fifth challenge’s blood shadow.
The sixth challenge’s difficulty spiked. Hu Yuer frowned while Cheng Lingyu combined Formation Martial Arts with his cave heaven, unleashing his Immortal Soul for an intense battle.
From first to sixth challenge, Cheng Lingyu kept improving his combat skills. Reaching this point with Soul Martial Sixth Realm cultivation was impressive.
Hu Yuer watched in silent amazement.
The sixth blood shadow rivaled a Blood Martial Third Level cultivator, yet Cheng Lingyu defeated it after hundreds of strikes.
“These battles surpass ten days of training.”
“Progressing through layered challenges tests and hones my overall combat power best.”
Though sixth challenge was tough, Cheng Lingyu felt eager anticipation instead of worry.
The blood shadows manifested from blood energy runes – terrifying fighters vulnerable to spiritual attacks.
Cheng Lingyu’s merged Nine Ring Star Vortex technique, called Divine Thought Kill, included the Destruction of Space Divine Thought Wave – a spiritual ultimate skill letting him defeat stronger enemies.
He deliberately avoided spiritual attacks to train through combat, making challenges harder but more rewarding.
“Night approaches. We must hurry.”
Hu Yuer pulled Cheng Lingyu into the Seventh Gate.
Two blood shadows appeared here wearing blood-red Spirit Armor glowing with sinister runes.
“Spirit Armor!” Hu Yuer gasped.
The low-grade spirit artifact armor multiplied the blood shadows’ combat power.
Hu Yuer struggled while Cheng Lingyu summoned Luo Binghe’s mid-grade spirit artifact – a fish spine.
After half an hour’s grueling fight, Cheng Lingyu barely won. Hu Yuer stayed ahead without weapons, deepening her mystery.
At the Eighth Challenge, twilight faded into nightfall.
A blue-robed cultivator in his twenties eyed them maliciously. Trapped here, he needed sacrifices to proceed.
Cheng Lingyu’s Soul Martial Sixth Realm made him perfect prey.
Having cleared seven challenges, the blue-robed cultivator should easily kill weaker targets.
“You shouldn’t have come, boy.” The cultivator smirked darkly.
“If I hadn’t, you’d have no opportunity,” Cheng Lingyu replied calmly.
“Who are you?” Hu Yuer demanded.
“Lan Feng of Heavenly Blade Sect!” he declared proudly.
“Never heard of it,” Cheng Lingyu shrugged.
“Fool!” Lan Feng snapped.
Hu Yuer remarked, “Heavenly Blade’s minor reputation can’t compare to Lou Ri City.”
“Arrogant! When I kill you…” Lan Feng threatened.
“You can’t,” Cheng Lingyu interrupted.
Lan Feng laughed. “My Blood Martial Third Level can’t kill a Soul Martial Sixth Realm disciple?”