Chapter 20: The Altar

In the blink of an eye, it was the last day of the 'three-day period' set by the Great Ruler. Many, like Ji Ning, were recovering their strength in the 'Azure Cloud Realm' so that they could challenge the third layer, the 'Silver Cloud Realm', at their peak. After all, only a few like Ji Ning could sustain prolonged combat; most others relied on divine abilities to unleash their strongest power in short bursts.

On the third day, the World-level prodigies of the twelve palaces began to challenge the Silver Cloud Realm.

"Qinghuan has come out."

"It's Qinghuan."

On the Thirteen Void Thrones, including the Great Ruler, all eyes fell on one of the scenes, which showed Prince Qinghuan challenging the Silver Cloud Realm.

"So fast."

"Truly overwhelming."

"Ruler, every time I see Qinghuan, I regret not being able to recruit him into my Heavenly Gold Palace," sighed the handsome youth in resplendent gold robes. "At the time, I thought he had potential, but he rose from obscurity and was still weak. In the end, the Spacetime Palace got him, and he even became your disciple in name! Watching him challenge the Silver Cloud Realm now, it's clear his strength has increased again."

"Haha, Zheyou, envy won't get you anywhere. Qinghuan is destined to be of our Spacetime Palace," laughed the green-eyed man with disheveled hair and beard.

"Qinghuan's progress is indeed fast," said the Great Ruler, stroking his long white beard.

The Great Ruler's achievements in the Dao of Spacetime were unrivaled across the endless territories. Among the twelve palaces, he had the closest ties with the Spacetime Palace, where occasionally some exceptionally brilliant talents had the chance to receive his inheritance and become his nominal disciples. Prince Qinghuan was one of the Great Ruler's nominal disciples.

The Ruler and the twelve golden-armored mighty ones all watched the scene suspended in midair, where Prince Qinghuan was in the 'Silver Cloud Realm', stepping forward one by one on the altar's steps, continuously defeating puppet after puppet.

"Hummm~~~"

Prince Qinghuan's entire body faintly emitted a golden glow. Manifesting six arms, he swept through everything in his path.

His fist techniques, palm techniques, and finger techniques were all profound and unfathomable, and their power was astonishingly immense. Sometimes extremely fast, sometimes extremely slow, the surrounding flow of time and spatial dimensions constantly shifted, preventing the attacking puppets from fully exerting their strength, while each of Prince Qinghuan's strikes achieved remarkable effects.

Bang bang bang~~~~

He swept through with overwhelming force, even his skin turning golden, like a golden war god. His gaze was icy cold, utterly calm.

"He's already at the six hundredth level," exclaimed Thousand Rivers Daolord. "He just bulldozed his way to the six hundredth level. He definitely has a chance to rival Feng Yi."

Within the Silver Cloud Realm was a massive altar.

The altar had a total of nine hundred levels. Ascending step by step from the bottom, the resistance encountered grew greater with each level. The farther one went, the stronger one's strength was represented.

Currently ranked first was Feng Yi Xinjun, who had reached the six hundred and ninety-second level.

Ranked second was 'Red Snow Daolord' of the Blade Palace, who had reached the six hundred and eightieth level.

Ranked third and fourth were both from the Blade Palace, both above the six hundredth level.

The six hundredth level... represented a threshold of strength. By now, most World-level cultivators had finished their challenges, and only eight had managed to reach the six hundredth level of the Silver Cloud Realm!

"Reaching the six hundredth level so easily does indeed give him a chance to compare with Feng Yi," nodded Woodflower Palace Master, offering his judgment.

"That's hard to say. It might look easy, but perhaps he's already going all out," said Yin Feng Daolord coldly from the side.

"Just watch," said Woodflower Palace Master, glancing at him.

"Hmph." Yin Feng Daolord stared at the scene. On it, Prince Qinghuan was advancing steadily. Starting from the six hundredth level, the puppets grew stronger and more numerous, with as many as twenty or thirty attacking at once. But Prince Qinghuan's mastery over spacetime was unrivaled among all World-level cultivators of the twelve palaces. He could always find openings where none seemed to exist, never having to face more than three puppets at a time.

"Bang bang bang~~~"

"Six hundred and fiftieth level."

"Six hundred and sixtieth, six hundred and seventieth."

Yin Feng Daolord's expression grew darker, for Prince Qinghuan had already eliminated one of their Blade Palace members.

"Six hundred and eightieth level! Still advancing."

"Six hundred and ninetieth level!"

In the scene, Prince Qinghuan's expression grew more solemn, but his eyes held a hint of wild fervor. His entire body radiated golden light, each strike shaking heaven and earth. Even when puppets occasionally struck him, they left no mark.

"His 'Illusion Jade Art' has reached at least the eighth stage," sighed the resplendent gold-robed youth 'Zheyou Daolord' as he watched. "A secret art not particularly profound, yet he has cultivated it to near-perfection. And it's a secret art of the Metal Element... He should have joined my Heavenly Gold Palace."

"He's surpassed."

"He's surpassed Feng Yi."

The further one went, the harder each step became. Prince Qinghuan's expression was extremely grave as he advanced with difficulty, while the puppets tried to stop him.

"Six hundred ninety-nine, seven hundred layers! Broke through seven hundred layers."

"Among our Twelve Palaces, in the World realm, those who have broken through seven hundred layers are only Beta Leo and Dong Xiu. Now Qinghuan has also broken through seven hundred layers."

These mighty beings watched in amazement.

But Prince Qinghuan gritted his teeth, becoming even more frenzied. Deep down, he was not one to easily admit defeat. He still advanced with difficulty. He had achieved great success in the Dao of Space-Time and the Dao of Metal, and had even received personal guidance from the Great Ruler. Under this terrifying pressure, his strength was actually still gradually improving.

"Boom, rumble~~~" Unfortunately, as he climbed step by step, the puppets became more terrifying and more numerous.

"Bang, bang, bang~~~"

He failed to block one move and was almost instantly blasted away, then bound by ropes.

Defeated!

Stopped at layer seven hundred nineteen!

...

This made the mighty beings on the Thirteen Thrones of the Void marvel. They regarded Prince Qinghuan and other most monstrous World realm cultivators almost as equals, because once Prince Qinghuan and the others broke through, they would soon be comparable to Three-Step Dao Lords, and after further cultivation, they could match Four-Step Dao Lords. It was easy for them to become mighty beings in the endless territories.

Now, first: Prince Qinghuan, layer seven hundred nineteen.

Second: Feng Yixin Lord, layer six hundred ninety-two.

Third: Red Snow Blade Lord, layer six hundred eighty.

Fourth: Chi Qi Blade Lord, layer six hundred sixty-eight.

...

In the Azure Cloud Realm of the Dao Lord Cloud Realm, Ji Ning rose and walked directly to the high point of the island. When he reached the highest point,

"Whoosh~~~"

Spatial ripples stirred, and Ji Ning disappeared from the Azure Cloud Realm.

In the Silver Cloud Realm.

There stood an immensely majestic altar, vast and enormous, with a full nine hundred layers of steps.

"What a huge altar." Ji Ning looked up. On the altar, many puppets were moving, and faint rumbling sounds came from afar. "Is there another cultivator challenging? I wonder which one from my Sword Palace it is, perhaps another Sword Lord?"

There were so many puppets on the altar that it could accommodate ten cultivators challenging at the same time.

"Let's go."

Ji Ning held an Eternal Divine Weapon in each hand and walked straight up.

"Roar~~~" Immediately, a pitch-black four-hoofed beast-like puppet with three heads let out a low roar and turned into a streak of light, pouncing at Ji Ning. Its speed was estimated to be three times the speed of light! The length of this step was almost as long as the entire Azure Cloud Realm, but its width was only a million miles. A million miles seemed long, but for mighty beings, it was just a step away.

"Hmph."

Ji Ning looked at the puppet.

Boom~~~~

Immediately, from all over his body, lightning light, water light, and various lights flew out—some dazzling, some obscure, some explosive, some gentle... The seven Dao Divine Thunders were all different, and the seven Dao Divine Waters each had their own characteristics. But now they were all under Ji Ning's control. With a single thought from Ji Ning, the seven Dao Divine Thunders and seven Dao Divine Waters formed a 'Seven Star Two Phase Formation.' A brilliant, strange great formation appeared in midair, directly enveloping the attacking four-hoofed beast puppet.

Bang~~~ Although the four-hoofed beast puppet roared, it was still blasted back a few steps.

Ji Ning, however, easily continued forward and reached the second layer. As he climbed layer by layer, the puppets he encountered became more formidable. Occasionally, there were puppets wielding treasures attacking from a distance. The power of Ji Ning's Dao Divine Thunders and Dao Divine Waters in the 'Seven Star Two Phase Formation' also proved too weak, forcing Ji Ning to engage in swordplay combat.

"Bang, bang, bang."

Ji Ning's sword technique was formidable, sweeping through all obstacles.

Two hundred layers... three hundred layers...

"Hmm?" Ji Ning's ears twitched. "It seems the commotion over there has stopped."

Originally, on the opposite side of the altar, there should have been another cultivator challenging. There had been constant rumbling before, but now there was no sound or fluctuation.

...

"Mu Hua, the Flame Mad Sword Lord of your Sword Palace has also been defeated, defeated at layer five hundred ninety-seven, almost reaching six hundred layers." Yin Feng Dao Lord glanced at the nearby Mu Hua Dao Lord. "Now only that kid who just broke through to Sword Lord remains in your Sword Palace."

Mu Hua Dao Lord ignored Yin Feng Dao Lord's provocation. He also watched one of the images in midair, which showed Ji Ning's challenge.

Now, Ji Ning was the only one from the Sword Palace still challenging; the other six had already failed.