"Ling Xiaolong, you have passed the first test and have stepped closer to obtaining the treasure left behind by my master, the previous King of Chaos." The red-robed man turned his gaze toward Ye Xiao and spoke, his voice carrying a sense of gravity. He continued, "It is time for you to face the second test. Be prepared, for this trial will be even more challenging than the first."
Ye Xiao looked at the red-robed man, his eyes flickered with the light of determination. He also wanted to obtain what once belonged to the King of Chaos. He wanted to see what level of treasure this King of Chaos has left for him. And since this treasure is something the Lotus of Chaos told Ye Xiao to obtain, it must be something of greater value that will help him in some way to achieve something greater.
"I'm ready," Ye Xiao replied, his voice steady. "I've come this far, and I won't back down from any test."
The red-robed man nodded, acknowledging Ye Xiao's resolve. Showing satisfaction on his middle-aged face, the red-robed man said, "Very well. As you already know, you will face me in combat and defeat me to complete the second test."
"And just as I told you before, for the purpose of this test, I will lower my cultivation to the same level as yours. It wouldn't be fair otherwise."
Ye Xiao nodded. The idea of battling the red-robed man is a bit crazy because this man in front of him is someone who has been waiting here for billions of years, and that is just waiting. Who knows how long he has lived before that and what kind of strength he possesses? His understanding of the manipulation of Chaos Energy and the Rules of Chaos as well as the Profound Truth of those rules are something Ye Xiao could never be close to at his current level.
And so, even with his cultivation lowered, battling and defeating him is a daunting prospect. Yet, the tougher the test, the tougher Ye Xiao's determination became. During his battle with the red-robed man, he will at least grow in many other aspects.
"I accept the challenge. I will fight you and pass this second test."
The red-robed man's expression remained neutral, his eyes searching Ye Xiao's. "Very well. Remember, this battle is not just about strength. It is a test of your skills, strategy, and adaptability."
Ye Xiao nodded, his focus sharpening. "I understand. I will give it my all."
The red-robed man's gaze held a mix of sternness and approval. "That is what I expect from you. Prepare yourself."
As the red-robed man began to radiate an energy that matched Ye Xiao's cultivation level, a sense of anticipation filled the air. Ye Xiao braced himself, his heart pounding with a blend of excitement and nerves. He was about to face the red-robed man in battle, a challenge that would push him to his limits once again.
The red-robed man's voice resonated with a commanding tone. "Begin."
With that single word, the battle commenced. Ye Xiao and the red-robed man clashed, their movements swift and precise. Each strike was met with a counter, each defense met with an offense. It was a dance of skill and strategy, a test of wits and combat prowess.
"Your attacks lack finesse," the red-robed man remarked, his movements fluid as he effortlessly evaded Ye Xiao's strikes.
Ye Xiao gritted his teeth, and said, "I'll adapt and improve then," he replied in an unwavering voice.
However, just a few minutes later, Ye Xiao lost.
In this battle, Ye Xiao was not going to use any of his special abilities or the power of the universe. It is because he is still not sure whether the red-robed man will betray his trust later or not. He could not bring himself to trust anyone because of past events, so, he is not going to show his trump cards if it is not a life and death battle.
Currently, it could be said that Ye Xiao was going through a form of training. So, he has already made up his mind to train his combat prowess instead of trying to defeat the red-robed man and pass the test.
Time means nothing to a cultivator who wants to achieve greatness. Ye Xiao was prepared to lose hundreds of times in order to become stronger and feel closer to the Rule of Chaos.
After his first loss, the battle once again begin.
As the battle raged on, a flurry of strikes, parries, and dodges came along. Ye Xiao's muscles ached, his mind raced, and his heart pounded. He could feel the red-robed man's energy, a formidable force that challenged him at every turn.
And as soon as the battle started, it ended. Ye Xiao lost the second battle as well.
The red-robed man smiled and spoke, "Ling Xiaolong, I see that you are not even trying to win. Are you using me as a sharpener to sharpen your very self?"
Ye Xiao touched his nose in embarrassment because the red-robed man is right. Let's leave aside the use of special abilities and the power of the universe, Ye Xiao was not even using his understanding of Dark Force during the battle.
Currently, the battle between Ye Xiao and the red-robed man was a battle of combat prowess. They were battling with raw strength instead of using flashy moves.
The red-robed did not say anything more to embarrass Ye Xiao further. He only said, "It is ok. I'm happy you think to sharpen your combat prowess instead of fighting to win. I see why this Myriad Plane Dimensions created by my master reacted to you earlier. It seems my master has finally found a worthy person and this place gave its approval first."
"You can fight as many times as you could. Train well and become stronger."
Ye Xiao nodded his head, he could feel the red-robed man's sincerity. A sincere smile also appeared on his face and his defence against the red-robed man lessened a bit.
"Thank you!"
Ye Xiao expressed his gratitude and prepared to start fighting again. In the previous battle, he had suffered some damage. Instead of swallowing pills, he finally used one of his nine special abilities, <Life Recovery> to heal his injuries.
A light flashed that surrounded his body, soon healing him completely. This sight surprised the red-robed man who could not help but say, "I guess the worthy one has to be a special one as well."
Ye Xiao lied without hesitation, saying, "I was born with the blessing of my Land. This is my blessing. No matter what kind of injuries, be it physical, mental, or even soul, I can recover from them all in a few seconds."
"Let's continue our battle!"
The red-robed man nodded and a battle once again started. This battle was fiercer than before, but Ye Xiao's every attack was easily countered by the red-robed man. The gap between them was very big, and this gap came from the experience that the red-robed man has obtained after several billions of years.
It is not something that Ye Xiao could cover in a short period and that is without relying on his special abilities.
As the battle continued, the red-robed man's voice cut through the intensity. "You must think beyond brute force. Use your surroundings, your instincts."
Ye Xiao's mind raced, processing the advice even as he continued to exchange blows with his opponent. He glanced at the terrain, at the patterns in the sand, and suddenly, an idea formed.
With a swift movement, Ye Xiao used the sand to his advantage, creating a distraction that allowed him to land a solid hit on the red-robed man. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and the red-robed man staggered back.
Impressed, the red-robed man nodded. "Well done. You're learning."
Ye Xiao's confidence surged, and a smile appeared on his face. His determination seemed to be fueling his every move as he launched a series of attacks again.
The battle continued, and the battle was fierce and unyielding. Ye Xiao and the red-robed man clashed with a ferocity that echoed their inner resolve. It was a test of strength, skill, and spirit.
Ye Xiao lost many times. He also suffered serious injuries, recovered them, and prepared for battle again.
If he consumed too much energy, he would not devour chaos energy instead circulate the Absolute Darkness Emperor Sutra to recover.
Finally, after hundreds of battles, Ye Xiao also started dealing damage to the red-robed man. Although those damages were just scratches, they were still damages.
As the dust settled and the battle drew to a close, both Ye Xiao and the red-robed man stood, their breaths heavy, their bodies marked with the signs of a hard-fought confrontation.
The red-robed man's gaze held a mixture of respect and approval. "You are amazing, your adaptability is also beyond amazing. Your comprehension is not something even a genius could compare to. It could be said that you are a monstrous genius. But the battle is not over, the test is not over. You will only pass the second test if you defeat me."
"So, let's continue our battle."
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