Shi Lang was moving forward while his intent was grating against the pressure from the sword monument. He did not wish to lose, and his intent differed from Lightning Shura. The coercion from the two intents gradually made clouds condense.
The twelve elders were sitting on the top of the monument when they sensed what was happening; they all woke up from their cultivation and looked at the sky. They were surprised that this whole place was suddenly swarming with thunderclouds.
Lei Wang mumbled, "Why did the surroundings change suddenly?"
Grand Elder Long Shan opened his eyes and said, "Hmmm, maybe we should leave and come back another day. This lightning is not ordinary. I wonder if only I sense palpitations while looking at them."
The rest of the elders nodded. Lei Wang also agreed. It was not a small thing for an immortal Emperor to feel fear. What danger have they not braved to reach this place? They all were at least a few hundred years old. If the lightning gave them a terrible feeling, retreating was better.
Today's gains were not shallow, and greed was not good. Thinking this way, the people stood up, bowed to the void, and thanked the seniors' spirits before they descended.
After a few minutes, when they came to a turn, they were shocked to see Shi Lang surrounded by lightning sparks. Long Shan opened his mouth and wanted to save Shi Lang when a snort echoed in the surroundings.
The elders and the Sect Leader Of the Dragon Sword peak froze. An indifferent voice sounded, "It took you so long to discover the reality of this place. Now you wish to meddle in my affairs? Leave. You are only allowed to bring people once a year."
Lei Wang was shocked by the coercion on his body. He was an immortal emperor, yet he could not escape this pressure. How terrifying was this existence? He arched his hands and asked, "Junior greets senior. Please tell the humble one your mighty name."
He wanted to ask who was this entity that restrained him to this level. However, the voice replied with a hint of disdain, "Hmph, even this kid is better than you. In this place, how can someone else walk sideways if not me."
These words set off in the brain of the people like an explosion. They did not know what to say or how to react. The thirteen people stood there like dummies. Suddenly, they heard a lightning streak fall on the ground at the side. They woke from the daze and found that Shi Lang had moved one step forward.
The terran ground his teeth, but being able to move was equivalent to his strength. They were all shocked, but terrible laughter echoed in the surroundings the next minute. The people shivered, and the next movement, they sensed a force enveloping their bodies and forcing them down the monument.
Lei Wang and the people did not get the chance to say anything. The process only lasted a few moments before they were all at the bottom of the monument. The energy binding them vanished. Long Shan exclaimed, "Was it just my imagination, or did you think someone was looking at us from above?"
Lei Wang gulped, saying, "We all are Immortal Emperors, yet this force restrained us like a flock of sheep. There was someone on that monument, and he was absurdly strong."
Long Shan nodded and asked, "What do you think is happening to that kid?"
One of the elders said, "First brother, I think that child is going through a test."
All the elders began to discuss what was going on with Shi Lang.
...
The terran was channeling his sword intent all around his body, and the collision between the two forces caused sparks around Shi Lang. One thing about sword intent, it was not infinite. A practitioner must store it just like they would store the spiritual energy in their dantian. Shi Lang had been channeling the intent for far too long and was almost out of it all.
A phantom condensed out of lightning when he was about to run out of sword intent. Shi Lang could make out from the outline it was a man. The person was not visible, but Shi Lang could tell that this man was the avatar of the Lightning Shura.
The condescending gaze and pride reflecting from this vague outline were enough to tell him. Shi Lang said, "You finally show face."
The phantom snorted and said, "Watch your tone."
Shi Lang smirked; he was weak but would not bow down to this will. The phantom said, "Why not give in? The sword intent I left behind, if you understand it, your strength will rise radically. Why don't you give in?"
The terran raised his head and asked, "Did you ever give up your individuality for fame and power?'
The phantom refuted, "You dare to compare with me? Hmph, all my hard work, and fame was for what? In the end, I was contained inside the eastern barrens. The terrifying Lightning Shura was the overlord of the east until someone from the central plains approached me.
If I had known what things would be like, I would have given up on pursuing individuality. You are going to make the same mistake as I did."
Shi Lang shook his head and said, "You are wrong. First, you do not know me. Second, I am not after individuality. Only the strong can be recognized by this world. I do not intend to join any force, but I plan to develop skills so they think twice when the world forces try to suppress me."
Lightning Shura scoffed, "Fine, have it your way. If you can take ten steps, I will let you go. How about it?"
Shi Lang took a deep breath and said, "Accepted."
Lightning Shura nodded. Shi Lang expected a burst of pressure to expel him from the monument in one shot. However, no such thing happened. He thought, 'He is quite righteous.'
Raksha spoke up, 'Do you need help?'
Shi Lang was surprised and wanted to ask why she was talking when the sword spirit in his soul sea replied, 'This is just a wisp of consciousness. It cannot harm me if I intervene.'
Shi Lang sighed and said, 'I must pass these trials alone. This intent is something I have been developing for my entire life. It also contains a hint of who I was in my past too. I cannot let other people influence it.'
Raksha smiled and said, 'Go on then, show him what you are, Ace.'
Suddenly, Shi Lang froze. Ever since he had come here, he had been humble, treating everyone with respect, not trying to offend people. However, was this the right thing? Forgetting that he was an ascender, his evolved body was better than the humans. He was a Terran, a commoner, and the best Terran in the entire galaxy.
As he recalled his origins, his aura transformed, and his blood circulation improved. He sensed the blood flow, and gradually, his sword intent began to pulsate every time his heart pumped the blood.
His spirit energy and the weapon in his dantian began to tremble with this pulsating sensation. Shi Lang did not know what to do, but he sensed that the effect of the pulsation was repelling the Lightning Shura's intent.
Sharpness could not overwhelm the waves of destruction. Shi Lang took the second step, and the lightning from the thunderclouds fell on the ground again.
Boom!
The ground trembled, and Shi Lang kept moving.
…
Lei Wang and the rest of the elders watched a bolt of lightning crash into the ground, and after a few minutes, another bolt struck the ground. They could not understand what was going on. Long Shan said, "If not for the fact that spiritual sense is being suppressed, I would have checked what Shi Lang was going through."
The sect leader shook his head and said, "None of us should make any moves. The senior does not want that. He allowed the people to come here every year. Next time we will have the core disciples come and pay respects."
The old men nodded, and some of them sighed. Long Shan sighed as well because they were not a match for the power of that spirit. How could they help Shi Lang?
The old man said, "If he makes good progress, then we can relax a little before sending him to that place."
The elders woke up and nodded. One said, "First brother, this time of the year, will there not be a beast tide?"
Long Shan was surprised and said, "Old third, go back to the sect, instruct Bo Qingtan and the rest of the core disciples to take action. We almost forgot."
The third Elder smiled and vanished from his place. It was true, in the excitement of finding the secret of the monument, they forgot the most important task.
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