It’s really him? The confirmation hit Wu Yuan like a blow, his heart sinking. Not only was Mi Tian, a Supreme Genius of the Immortal Court, present, but so was the mysterious Inconstance.
Renowned as the mightiest genius after Zhu Shan, Inconstance had triumphed over more than ten Supreme Geniuses and even managed to escape from Zhu Shan with his life intact. As self-assured as Wu Yuan was, he couldn’t claim with certainty that he could survive an encounter with Inconstance, let alone defeat him.
His only solace lay in the formidable soul defense treasures possessed by both his true selves, as well as their Apotheosis souls.
I must seek an opportunity! There must be a chance to survive. His body refiner self observed the situation silently, aware that this was a huge crisis—one where a single misstep could lead to the demise of both his true selves, rendering everything meaningless.
My greatest advantage is having two true selves. He mused silently. Even Inconstance and Mi Tian likely don’t know this. Nobody was aware that Ming Jian and Wu Yuan were one and the same, which was Wu Yuan’s best hope for survival.
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"Inconstance!"
“It’s him.” The crowd murmured with recognition. Several of the geniuses had seen him before and were quick to identify him, their faces painted with fear. Even those unfamiliar with his appearance had heard of his formidable reputation.
"And there’s Mi Tian, a Supreme Genius. Quite a few powerhouses from the Immortal Court are here."
"Same goes for the Eldritch Court. They have Wu Yuan, known as the number one genius below the Supreme Geniuses, and Cang Yu, who has mastered Sovereign-level techniques."
"Ming Jian!"
"He’s incredibly powerful too." A sense of despair seeped into the minds of these geniuses. None who entered were particularly weak, but the combined might of the assembled geniuses was overwhelming.
Dubbed a life-or-death treasure ground, the majority would likely perish here, with only a handful emerging alive.
From the instant these geniuses descended upon this barren land, an unseen force clamped down, denying anyone the use of mana.
Then, without warning, an enormous black stele materialized from the void and crashed onto the ground with a resounding boom. The stele's colossal form dominated the landscape, allowing every genius within a hundred thousand li to behold the rows of Dao patterns etched upon it.
These Dao patterns, though cryptic and unfamiliar, conveyed a message that each genius could easily comprehend:
Entering the life-or-death treasure ground is both a curse and a blessing. Here, two trials await you—the Death Trial and the Primordial Trial.
In the Death Trial, only three among you shall survive and proceed to the Primordial Trial.
This trial is a battle royale! You have two paths: slay forty opponents, directly qualifying to advance, or be among the last three standing.
Kill! Kill till your heart’s content! Kill! Kill! Kill!
The content of the patterns was simple, yet the chilling intensity of their message seeped into the hearts of nearly every genius, leaving them unnerved.
There were ninety-seven participants present, yet only three could progress to the so-called Primordial Trial? The Death Trial seemed brutally unforgiving. Furthermore, considering the conditions of the first trial, the Primordial Trial likely promised mortal danger as well. In the end, there was a chance none would leave alive.
Whoosh! The black stele vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, and the invisible force that had been suppressing everyone dissipated. Skepticism dissipated, and the truth settled in: only three would emerge from the Death Trial.
Most must die? Wu Yuan felt his heart harden. I wonder if my two true selves are considered one or two individuals? Are there exceptions to the rules for this?
If I'm counted as one, that's manageable. But if I'm counted as two? Wu Yuan thought with a sigh. If Inconstance takes one spot... then I must overcome the rest, all while ensuring Inconstance doesn't target me specifically. The more Wu Yuan pondered, the more his head throbbed with tension.
"Three survivors?"
"This Megaverse Crossroads isn’t giving me a chance to survive at all.”
“Damn it!" The overwhelming majority of the geniuses wore expressions of hopelessness. Although they longed for life, the stark reality painted a bleak picture of survival.
A deathly silence enveloped them. Among them, formidable individuals from factions like the Immortal Court and Eldritch Court didn’t communicate either.
What good was forming alliances when only three could survive? Even if they lasted until the end, the survivors would likely have to turn on each other.
“Interesting, truly interesting—this is destiny!" A soft voice suddenly echoed through the air, capturing the attention of everyone present. All eyes turned toward Inconstance.
Inconstance's gaze swept across the crowd of prodigies, each one wearing complex expressions. With a serene smile, he remarked, "It seems you're all struggling to make a decision." He paused, letting his words sink in.
"Here's a thought," he continued, his cerulean robes gently swaying, "I often enjoy helping others, so today, let me do you a favor while also thanking you for being my stepping stones." His eyes twinkled as he declared, "I'll launch one indiscriminate attack against all of you.
"If you survive, you'll qualify for the Primordial Trial. If not, you might as well depart early and spare yourselves the hassle of fighting each other. No need to thank me," he added, flashing a radiant smile that seemed genuinely benevolent.
His words sent a ripple of shock through the assembly. An indiscriminate attack? An early departure? Inconstance was still the same as ever.
Then, a thunderous boom shattered the tension. A High Deity clad in black armor erupted into action, transforming into a towering figure ten thousand zhangs tall. With teeth clenched in fury, he charged toward Inconstance, shouting, "Inconstance is the strongest, kill him first!"
This sudden outburst ignited a wave of action.
Boom! Boom! Boom! High Immortals and High Deities sprang into battle, launching a barrage of attacks.
Among the attackers were many prodigies from the Eldritch Court, all directing their fury at Inconstance. Clearly, his words had struck a nerve.
Meanwhile, Wu Yuan's body refiner self and ether body leapt into action, perfectly synchronized with Cang Yu. Together, they targeted Mi Tian, who stood nearby like a looming threat.
Wu Yuan and Cang Yu had a clear strategy: Mi Tian was the real danger here. Attempting to eliminate Inconstance was a nearly insurmountable task. Their true objective was to be among the final three survivors, not necessarily to defeat Inconstance.
As a storm of attacks surged toward him, Inconstance remained unfazed. "Destiny is inconstant, fellow Daoists," he mused, his face adorned with a cryptic smile. "Be grateful for the gifts it bestows."
Silently, waves of mysterious and indescribable power cloaked the majority of participants. This included Wu Yuan's body refiner self, Cang Yu, and Wu Yuan's qi refiner self. Each of them was struck by this soundless assault.
A moment later, these geniuses who had just unleashed their formidable auras felt a flicker of fear, moments before the light within their eyes dimmed completely.
They were dead!
True selves, ether bodies, and mana bodies perished one after another. Even Cang Yu, a peerless genius who had mastered Sovereign-level techniques, briefly resisted before ultimately succumbing.
The invisible wave of power also surged through Wu Yuan's body refiner self and qi refiner self. His qi refiner self, which had already entered a higher dimension, still couldn't evade the onslaught.
Boom! A vast, mysterious spiritual pressure descended upon Wu Yuan's qi refiner self, dwarfing his own power and instinctively invoking overwhelming despair.
In that moment, he felt a despair so profound that it might drive any mortal life to suicidal thoughts. Yet, in a heartbeat, resolve surged within him.
My conviction blazes like the fierce sun, unshakeable! Wu Yuan's spirit roared defiantly.
Rumble~ His twelve Yuan Souls shone brilliantly, while his soul defense artifact, Golden River, activated its full power. Golden chains of light wove around his Yuan Souls, merging his consciousness and Yuan Souls and mind into one.
He vanquished the sudden wave of despair and repelled the insidious attack.
Boom! Concurrently, the Nine Star Lotus Platforms within Wu Yuan's upper dantian of his body refiner self emitted a limitless radiance, fortifying his Yuan Soul against this strange, intangible assault.
It wasn't a direct soul attack but rather bore the characteristic of an illusion, targeting the spirit's deepest vulnerabilities. It didn't destroy by force; it seduced with entrancement.
Wu Yuan's formidable mental resilience and will, coupled with the Apotheosis Yuan Souls in both his true forms, allowed him to withstand the attack entirely.
"Haha, impressive. You’re able to withstand my lethal move. Ming Jian? I'll remember you." A soft voice resonated in Wu Yuan's qi refiner self's consciousness.
Simultaneously, the same gentle voice echoed in his body refiner self's mind. "Wu Yuan, I underestimated you." They both recognized it as Inconstance's voice.
Wu Yuan's true selves endured the wave of power and regained full clarity in an instant.
Hmm? Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed, filled with shock and realization. As he surveyed the vast landscape before him, only fallen figures hovered in the void, their auras still mighty but devoid of life. Among them lay the formidable Cang Yu.
Among nearly a hundred geniuses, almost all had perished. Only four figures remained: Wu Yuan’s body refiner self and ether body, and Mi Tian’s true self and ether body. Inconstance was nowhere to be seen; he seemed to have entered the Primordial Trial after eliminating over forty individuals in one go
Inconstance! Wu Yuan inhaled sharply, a tremor of disbelief running through him. He had never before encountered a High Immortal as fearsome as Inconstance.
Unlike others, such as Zhu Shan, who needed to hunt their targets one by one, Inconstance could annihilate nearly a hundred geniuses with a mere thought, including their true selves.
Amidst the aftermath, Mi Tian, draped in black robes and radiating a powerful aura, fixed his gaze on Wu Yuan, surprise flickering in his voice. "Wu Yuan, you actually survived?"
Wu Yuan responded with a sneer, "And aren't you alive as well?"
Mi Tian's voice lowered, his eyes scanning the emptiness around them. "Besides us two, the only other survivor should be Ming Jian.
“Brother Ming Jian, you can traverse the higher spatial dimensions at will. We cannot kill you. Please, let me and Wu Yuan compete for the third spot. I hope Brother Ming Jian won't interfere.
“This favor, I assure you, will not be forgotten by me or my Immortal Court." His voice carried a majestic echo through the void, yet no response followed.
Silence loomed.
"Then I'll take Brother Ming Jian's silence as agreement," Mi Tian concluded. He turned to Wu Yuan, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Wu Yuan, you didn't fall to Inconstance. Now, you shall fall to me."
"Is that so?" Wu Yuan's lips twisted into a mysterious smile.
Without a sound, two white-robed figures materialized behind Mi Tian's true self and ether body. Instantly, immense waves of sword qi surged forward, encompassing tens of thousands of li, enveloping both Mi Tian and Wu Yuan's body refiner self.
"Ming Jian, you're siding with Wu Yuan? Why?" Mi Tian's eyes flashed with shock.
The white-robed figure replied darkly, "Dead men need not ask questions. Mi Tian, I've never killed a Supreme Genius before. You will be my first. Consider it an honor."
In a tremendous explosion, the vast sword domain erupted. Nine lifebound flying swords, glowing with sharp sword intent, intersected through the void as they aimed directly for Mi Tian.