It took five seconds for the disciples to be transported into a sealed world, in a distant galaxy. The distance was colossal, and doing something like that without consuming an unimaginable amount of resources should have been impossible.
However, each recruit carried a mark from the Heavenly Spirit God, who used his connection to the heavenly laws to move everyone with little effort; this was one of a god’s abilities.
Still, within those five seconds, Ruri managed to send a message through the spatial distortion to her body, which was in hibernation, containing only 10% of her soul. Her body merely survived without being able to move, but it was enough for Almin and everyone else connected to the array to know they had entered the place.
Soon, Alm and Bruno found themselves in the skies of a world wrapped in a scarlet hue.
The sky and land shared the same color, and a subtle, reddish mist permeated the environment. Before they could react, they were taken through space, moving quickly until they were dropped in another distant location.
In just two seconds, they felt the familiar pressure of infernal laws trying to corrode their minds and souls. At that moment, they were released and landed softly on the ground.
’We’ve been brought to the inner region,’ Alm confirmed, looking around.
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They were alone, with no sign of anyone else in a vast area around them. The participants in the test had been transported to random locations.
’This is the most basic test; the infernal laws are attacking without mercy. The disciples must complete the introductory level of the Divine Dao to withstand it,’ Bruno thought as he recalled the introduction they received.
Completing this introductory stage allowed the Heavenly Elemental Spirits to adapt, perfectly mimicking the laws of the environment. This way, the infernal laws would perceive them as part of themselves and stop attacking. The young ones had an extremely limited time to do this; otherwise, they would die under the pressure of these laws.
Alm commented dryly, ’Disciples without talent can only pretend to blend with the law. But elite disciples wouldn’t be foolish enough to settle for just that. Once they disguised themselves, they’d start attracting and absorbing them.’
The idea of the young ones absorbing the infernal laws sounded senseless. After all, they wouldn’t be able to control them in any way. They would merely store them in their elemental rune, which acted like a spatial ring for laws. Releasing them all at once would be an ultimate attack; but they’d have no control, risking severe internal damage.
This only meant one thing. Bruno sighed, realizing why the sect had gathered disciples from everywhere for ten years. Heavenly Elemental Spirits, besides being sinfully used as weapon spirits by cultivators, also served as excellent reservoirs for laws and energy.
It was like having an emergency power battery. The most coveted were those born from the laws of Fire and Lightning, due to their easily usable explosive potential.
Capturing someone born from the fire laws, for instance. They’d be enslaved, and whenever needed, one could use their power without any cost. There was no need to study the fire laws, just harness their raw energy, resulting in devastating power. Then, they’d recover and be used again.
The infernal laws were being manipulated to control an item from the Primordial Chaos. And these young ones could accumulate the laws within them, keeping everything stable.
It was perfect for the heroes to use them. The uncontrollable infernal laws were calm inside them and would be easier to use. These young ones would not only serve as reservoirs for these laws but could also disguise themselves with them for other uses if needed.
’It’s really efficient,’ Alm said coldly. ’That hypocritical, bastard God thinks he’s the defender of his race and attacked us because of Vorion, but he agreed to do something like this... excellent. We need resources. We’re going to destroy this sect and take everything.’
Bruno sighed; both he and Alm knew this was an order from the heroes, not from the Heavenly Spirit God. Under the Queen’s rule, he had no choice; if a hero commanded something, he obeyed without resistance. Still, if this sect was useful to the heroes, it needed to be destroyed.
’Wow, this really feels like that world of the dark cultivators, master. So nostalgic,’ Ruri said, observing everything from inside the inventory. ’I remember almost dying the first time I entered because I was so weak. Master was so shaken and saved me at the last moment...’
She chuckled lightly at the memory: ’Hehehe, that’s when I hugged master really tight, and something different started to grow in me for the first time. I was so young... really thought master would eventually do something wrong to me... but he just tried so hard to take care of me.’
Alm and Bruno just sighed as they walked through the place. They could hear the conversation between the women in the inventory.
Ruri was happily recounting to Liumi all the details of what had happened in the past. How they hid underground and secured first place in that other entry test. It was also where they met Langrum for the first time; she led a harem of men and protected them fiercely.
They scanned their surroundings as they walked. The test would last a month, after all, they had been brought to this sealed world outside of its usual opening, which typically lasted seven days.
According to the Yinblood sect’s records, there should have been Yin beasts and demonic plants everywhere. This sealed world was incredibly dangerous for those with low cultivation, but it seemed that all common dangers had vanished.
On the other hand, the infernal laws around were far denser than described. Sect members endured seven days with some effort, but Alm deduced that if an average Yinblood sect member were here now, they wouldn’t last more than a few minutes.
This clearly showed that all dangers had been removed and turned into a kind of fertilizer, intensifying the density of the infernal laws. All this to make it easier for the young ones to absorb them.
Two days later, they reached the entry barrier to the central region. This was where they hoped to find answers, but crossing it directly now seemed risky. Moving too quickly would attract attention, but they were sure other young recruits would try it soon.
They waited another day until they felt the presence of some figures through their souls. These were young disciples also taking the entrance test, but they seemed to be elites, moving as if they knew exactly where to go.
They watched as these young elites signaled using the infernal laws and crossed into the central region. Within hours, other disciples appeared and passed through the exact same spot. After seeing nearly a dozen pass through, Alm and Bruno didn’t hesitate to follow the same path.
The crossing was swift and smooth. Once they arrived, they noticed that the environment had changed completely. It was no longer a crimson world; it resembled a typical mountainous region on any planet, with grass on the ground and a gentle breeze blowing.
In front of them, scattered around, were hundreds of thousands of young Heavenly Elemental Spirits, with more occasionally appearing. Looking further ahead, an enormous barrier could be seen.
’A high-level formation!’ Ruri exclaimed excitedly as fragments of her soul shot toward the barrier. Now, with a divine soul, she could separate part of her soul and invade the runes to study them quickly.
Alm and Bruno used their celestial souls to get a brief glimpse inside. They were immediately excited, seeing a colossal glacier that emanated the purest laws of water; but they weren’t just any laws – they were at an immortal level.
As they focused on the glacier, they felt a gaze from inside, which noticed them and moved toward them.
’That’s a... an immortal Heavenly Elemental Spirit,’ Bruno stated, surprised. ’It’s sealed in there and very weak.’
Keeping their composure, they advanced, soon noticing looks directed at them from a distance. These weren’t young participants of the test but High Elders of the sect.
Without making any sudden moves, they continued walking casually as more and more test-takers arrived. Alm and Bruno realized they were all elites, geniuses by any standard.
But there were some even beyond that. When particularly notable disciples arrived, three High Elders would approach and greet them. The newcomers bowed respectfully, while the High Elders asked a few questions before standing silently nearby. The young ones then looked at the glacier with growing anticipation.
As more disciples gathered, Alm and Bruno blended into the crowd. In one day, the number of young people had multiplied many times over, making the area densely packed with youths.
Among the crowd, they no longer needed to act so cautiously. They observed and listened closely to the three High Elders.
At that moment, the High Elders were questioning another genius who had just arrived. The questions weren’t particularly important, only addressing Dao mastery and giving some brief advice.
"Go join the others. In five hours, the time limit will be up, and we will open the formation. This is a rare opportunity, so make sure you’re at your peak condition," one of the High Elders instructed.
The young man quickly bowed and joined the other disciples. Every moment, dozens of new participants appeared.
However, the High Elders didn’t address everyone. They only spoke to the most promising geniuses, which made it easier for Alm and Bruno to blend in.
When the time ran out, the High Elders stood up. Tension filled the air.
One of the High Elders announced, "Today, you will receive a unique blessing. Before you stands the sealed immortal Undine, a sinner captured in the sacred war of the past. She holds immense power, and despite being sealed for millions upon millions of years, having her power reduced to a tenth of a millionth of her peak, she is still capable of destroying worlds."
"We will activate the ’Great Formation Suppressing the Gods’ and allow you to absorb her power. How much you can absorb will depend on your own skills and luck. Additionally, I bring good news: this sinner has undergone similar absorptions hundreds of times and is at her limit. After this time, she will disappear completely. Her central rune will be ownerless, and regardless of your elemental origin, this rune can fuse with you. In other words, whoever manages this will have an extremely high chance of achieving immortality in the future."
With these words, excitement swept over the gathered youths.
"Activate the great formation!" the High Elder commanded.
At the command, the other two High Elders gestured, and all the youths were involuntarily pulled toward the glacier.
"AH!"
As soon as they entered, a majestic force erupted. Countless young ones screamed in pain and terror.
Thousands exploded instantly, turning into shards of ice and vanishing within seconds. Witnessing this, terror spread among them all.