"Boom!"
As the massive arc of the ruler descended, the once-calm surface of the sea instantly erupted with countless pillars of water. The icy chill hidden within was shattered by a blazing surge of flame. The overwhelming force startled even Tianling, who had been observing the scene from the sky—because that final strike from Xiao Yan... its power was already approaching the level of a divine art!
"This little brat... actually created a divine art on his own!"
Even with Tianling's usual calm demeanor, she couldn't help but be shocked. She had noticed Xiao Yan's change in state the moment he entered that strange trance, but at the time, his ruler technique seemed crude and unremarkable. She never expected that in such a short span of time, Xiao Yan would elevate that simple technique all the way to the realm of divine art!
Although there is only a one-character difference between divine techniques and divine arts, the gap between them is vast. Whether in terms of cultivation difficulty or destructive power, they are worlds apart. Not to mention—creating one from scratch! Even Earth Sovereign-level experts can cultivate divine arts, but very few are capable of creating one.
Tianling herself had once harbored the ambition of inventing her own technique, but with her Earth Sovereign strength, the best she managed was merely a perfected divine technique. Yet now, this boy—whose strength wasn't even close to hers, and who had only recently ascended from the lower realm—had accomplished what she couldn't. How could she not be shocked?
After all, anyone who successfully created a divine art did so through countless iterations, referencing the techniques of many masters, refining and evolving step by step. Yet Xiao Yan hadn't even practiced many divine techniques, still relying on battle skills from the lower realm. Despite such a disadvantage, he had achieved the impossible.
If word of this talent were to spread... it would shake the entire Great Thousand World.
As Xiao Yan completed that final strike, his face paled slightly, but the joy in his eyes could not be concealed. He hadn't expected that the ruler technique—after fusing so many elements—would reach such overwhelming strength. In fact, he believed that if he had been able to use that move during his battle with Qin Wan'er, she absolutely would not have been able to withstand it!
The final move, the Flame-Splitting Sea-Devouring Ruler, had been a last-minute inspiration. He remembered how he once trained the technique by slashing waves of water, and his newly evolved ruler technique was intimately tied to the concept of the sea. Although the two once seemed unrelated, he was able to fuse them in that crucial moment, converting all his technique's force into power for the Flame-Splitting Sea-Devouring Ruler. That's what made it so terrifying.
This success also reaffirmed Xiao Yan's resolve to improve the Demon Wrath Nine Absolutes. Skills from the lower realms weren't inherently weaker—it was only due to the limitations of their world that they seemed crude. If he took time to refine and perfect them, he believed that even the Demon Wrath Nine Absolutes would be no weaker than any divine art.
In the days that followed, Xiao Yan continued honing his new ruler technique. The previously troublesome Icebone Serpents had become his perfect training targets. Though this was a new technique, Xiao Yan didn't intend to give it a new name. For simplicity—and perhaps nostalgia—he simply borrowed the names of his old techniques from the Dou Qi Continent.
The defensive form retained the name Sixfold Movement Ruler, and the offensive form continued to be called Flame-Splitting Sea-Devouring Ruler. Although the names were the same, their power was now leagues above what they had once been.
Fifteen days quickly passed.
In the final few days, Xiao Yan lived almost leisurely. With his improved Sixfold Movement Ruler, the Icebone Serpents posed no threat. Even on the final day, when faced with over a hundred Icebone Serpents attacking in unison, he handled them with ease.
After absorbing the energy within the Icebone Serpents, Xiao Yan found his spiritual power reaching a saturated state. He had reached the peak of Sixth Grade Sovereign. With just a short period of focused cultivation afterward, he would be able to break through to Seventh Grade.
Qing Tan's improvement was even more pronounced—she had advanced directly from Second Grade Sovereign to Third Grade. During the last wave of serpent attacks, she even managed to unleash the Ice Crystal Divine Art. Though she had only just begun to master it, it was already an impressive feat, considering how recently she'd obtained the technique.
Once all the serpents were defeated, Tianling descended slowly from the sky. With a wave of her hand, the scene transformed back into the mountain they had originally stood upon.
"You've both expended a great deal of energy. Take time to recuperate—otherwise, there's no way you'll survive the third trial."
Xiao Yan and Qing Tan didn't waste any time talking. They immediately sat down cross-legged and began recovering. Fifteen days of non-stop combat had pushed both of them to their limits. Xiao Yan was holding up fine, but Qing Tan clearly looked exhausted. Had she not advanced her strength midway, she might not have completed the challenge at all.
However, it was only during this recovery that they realized just how beneficial this trial had been. Their meridians had become several times tougher than before. Furthermore, some of the ice-elemental energy in the seawater had seeped into their bodies, which was an incredible tonic for anyone cultivating ice-type spiritual power.
"Thank the heavens I obtained the Eight Ancestral Symbols before coming to the Great Thousand World. Otherwise, I would've been at a real disadvantage here," Xiao Yan thought as he refined the lingering energy in his body. Although it wasn't enough to break through to Seventh Grade, it would save him a significant amount of time.
The two meditated for nearly an entire day before finally completing their recovery. When Xiao Yan opened his eyes again, spiritual energy surged freely through his limbs, and he felt no lingering fatigue.
But when he stood up—he was stunned to find himself surrounded by a boundless, white expanse. Qing Tan and Tianling were nowhere to be seen.
"Could this be... the third trial of the Nine Nether Secret Realm?"
At that exact moment, a similar scene was unfolding for Qing Tan. As she began to realize she was entering the third trial, the space before her twisted violently—and a graceful figure suddenly materialized in front of her.
When Qing Tan saw the face of that figure, she was stunned.
Because the person in front of her… looked exactly like her.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.