Chapter 275: The Ultimate Trial

[The Sword Lord's Manuscript was a palm-sized booklet. Its slightly worn edges made it look like any ordinary mortal text, completely devoid of any extraordinary aura.]

[Yet you held it with a solemn expression.]

[The manuscript's cover was entirely blank, bearing no title or text.]

[You gently opened it to the first page.]

["The sword dao of the Human Realm begins with me; the sword cultivators of the Human Realm..."]

[Lines of ancient text met your eyes as you quickly flipped through the pages.]

[A moment later, your expression turned somewhat strange.]

[The first half of the manuscript did indeed record the Sword Lord's daily cultivation.]

[However, it was all unbelievably simple. Creating a complete path of sword cultivation from scratch had taken him a single night. Breaking through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul? He just thought about it for a bit, and it was done.]

[That was until you reached the final few pages.]

["Hm?"]

[Your expression shifted slightly—you felt resistance when trying to turn to the final pages.] [You looked at the Armored Guardian. Worried about destroying the manuscript, you didn't immediately force them open.]

[You informed the Armored Guardian of the issue and asked for a solution.]

[The Armored Guardian remained silent, offering no answer. It clearly knew little about the final pages of the Sword Lord's Manuscript.]

[After a moment of thought, you decided to try infusing your own dharma power.]

[Whoosh—]

[As your dharma power continuously poured into the Sword Lord's Manuscript, faint ripples began to emerge.]

[Feeling reassured, you continued to channel your power.]

[It wasn't until you had infused more than half the dharma power of your Deity Transformation Stage cultivation that the final three pages of the Sword Lord's Manuscript slowly opened.]

['Reading the last three pages requires the dharma power of the Deity Transformation Early Stage?']

[You were secretly alarmed. 'No, not the Deity Transformation Early Stage. The Deity Transformation Middle Stage. I have the enhancement of Surpassing Oneself by Half a Move; both the quality and quantity of my dharma power are equivalent to the Deity Transformation Middle Stage...']

[Every trial-taker in the Ghost Realm Trial Field was required to have a soul age under two hundred years. This dictated that their cultivation bases couldn't be very high—they wouldn't surpass the Core Formation or Early Nascent Soul Stage.]

[Yet the last three pages of the Sword Lord's Manuscript required Deity Transformation Middle Stage dharma power to open?] [In the hundred thousand years since the ancient era, not a single Deity Transformation Middle Stage Heavenly Monarch had been born. Even without the restrictions of the trial field, it was impossible for a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch to participate.]

[You looked at the contents of the final three pages.]

["Before ascending, I leave behind the <Sword Scripture>. Those who cultivate the <Sword Scripture> will roam the world unhindered for a lifetime, yet they shall be my sword slaves. One can rely on the following secret art to condense the Heavenly Sword Seed and control the sword slaves."]

["My Heavenly Sword remains at the Sword Peak. When the Demon Abyss Realm invades once more and a Void Return demon venerable descends upon the Human Realm, the Heavenly Sword will unleash a single strike. I hope it can slay a demon venerable."]

["The vast Human Realm is nothing but a cage. The will of the Demon Abyss Realm once invited me..."]

["Ascension is imminent. If I survive and successfully reach the Upper Realm, I will do my utmost to repair the ascension passage. If I do not survive? Then it was all but a grand dream."]

...

[The final three pages were crucial, resolving many of your lingering doubts.]

[For example, in the sixth simulation, why had the peak master and the Heavenly Monarch of Heavenly Sword Peak followed the iron laws of the <Sword Scripture> so strictly, obeying the Predestined Person?]

[A hundred thousand years had passed. No matter how powerful the Sword Lord had been, his influence shouldn't have reached the present. Furthermore, what existence capable of cultivating to become a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch didn't look down upon the world with disdain?]

[At the time, you had faintly suspected some form of restraint was involved—perhaps the <Sword Scripture>, or something else.]

[Now, after reading the final three pages, you immediately understood the reason.] [It was indeed the <Sword Scripture>. Any sword cultivator who practiced it became a sword slave to the Sword Lord, compelled to completely obey any command he left behind.]

['The <Sword Scripture>...']

[The contents of this inheritance surfaced in your mind. During the previous simulation, as the Predestined Person commanding Heavenly Sword Peak, you had naturally perused this supreme sword dao inheritance.]

[However, your aptitude for the sword dao was truly mediocre. Let alone cultivating the <Sword Scripture>, even getting started was impossible for you.]

['Condensing the Heavenly Sword Seed? Being able to control the sword slaves and command Heavenly Sword Peak isn't a bad alternative at all...']

[Zhou Qing nodded slightly. This saved you a lot of trouble. After all... you were no longer at the Nascent Soul Stage; you didn't meet the requirements to be the Predestined Person.]

[Commanding Heavenly Sword Peak as you had in the sixth simulation would be very difficult to achieve.]

[This wasn't an issue of strength. Even if you possessed the greatest combat prowess in the Human Realm, Heavenly Sword Peak still had the foundation of the Heavenly Sword. Forcefully suppressing and commanding them would be difficult, and doing so could easily provoke a rebellion across the entire Human Realm.]

[Heavenly Sword Peak possessed the highest-grade spiritual vein environment in the Human Realm, so you definitely still had to go there in this simulation. Originally, you had planned to arrange a trade with them. Looking at it now, there was no need; you just had to condense the Heavenly Sword Seed.]

[The Heavenly Sword Seed was different from the Sword Seeds condensed by the past peak masters and Heavenly Monarchs of Heavenly Sword Peak. Even if one wasn't a sword cultivator, as long as their soul essence was powerful enough, they could still condense it.]

...

['The will of the Demon Abyss Realm once invited the Sword Lord...'] [Your heart stirred slightly. You suddenly recalled that at the end of the sixth simulation, as the Demon Abyss Banners were planted all over the Human Realm, the will of the Demon Abyss Realm manifested in the Black-Red Moon suspended in the sky. At that time, the Black-Red Moon was like a giant eye scanning the entire Human Realm, as if searching for something.]

[Back then, you had wondered if the will of the Demon Abyss Realm had gained sentience. Looking at it now, if it had invited the Sword Lord and knew him, the target it was searching for was likely him, or something related to him.]

...

['Did the Sword Lord ascend to the Upper Realm in the end? The ascension passage is broken. Even setting aside the dangers of forcing an ascension, without the passage, one wouldn't even know which direction the Upper Realm is...']

[You thought to yourself. As a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch, you had naturally considered ascending to the Upper Realm as well, but eventually realized the hope was slim—practically impossible to achieve.]

['Looking at it now, a hundred thousand years have passed and the ascension passage still hasn't been repaired. The Sword Lord must already be dead...']

[You thought silently.]

...

[After browsing through the Sword Lord's Manuscript a few more times, you returned it to the Armored Guardian.]

[As for forcefully keeping it? With your current strength, you could manage it, but there was no need.]

[You still needed to pass the first, second, third, and ultimate trials to obtain the subsequent rewards. You weren't going to violate the rules of the Ghost Realm Trial Field.]

[Besides, you had already finished reading the entire manuscript; it was of no further use to you.]

[As for whether it would be seen by later challengers in the trial field... your evaluation of the first half of the Sword Lord's Manuscript was that it was truly average. For anyone other than sword cultivators, it would have almost no effect. The Sword Lord's talent was simply too high. To him, overcoming any shackle or bottleneck was nothing more than thinking for a moment, sleeping for a night, or perhaps sleeping for another night.]

[But did normal cultivators possess such talent and aptitude?]

[As for the final three pages? Requiring Deity Transformation Middle Stage dharma power to open them was a complete fantasy. Other than you, who could possibly meet this condition?]

...

[Watching the Armored Guardian put away the Sword Lord's Manuscript, your gaze fell upon the other two treasures.]

[The Blood of the Heavenly Phoenix.]

[The Myriad Tribulations Soul Stone.]

[You stored away these two treasures. For now, passing all the trials in the Ghost Realm Trial Field was your priority. You would wait until you left before using them.]

["Can we begin the trial?"]

[You looked at the Armored Guardian and asked.]

["Please choose which inheritance trial you will undertake..." the Armored Guardian said immediately.]

[Based on the current aptitude test, your body cultivation talent was no lesser than your dharma cultivation talent. Both were at the Fifth Tier Early Stage, and both surpassed body cultivation Heavenly Monarchs of the same realm.]

["Dharma cultivation," you said directly.]

[According to Dachun's memories, the body cultivation trial required actual combat and consumed a considerable amount of time.]

[In this regard, the dharma cultivation trial was much simpler.]

["Please do not resist, trial-taker."]

[The Armored Guardian promptly brought you to the grounds for the first stage of the dharma cultivation trial.]

[Looking at the silver seal script engraved on the distant stone wall, you immediately turned to the Armored Guardian. "I've already mastered it."]

[You then took the initiative to reveal the corresponding soul aura.]

[The Armored Guardian remained silent for a moment before taking out the Nine-Star Ancient Soul Fruit as a reward, just as usual.]

[You glanced at this soul-path spiritual fruit; it could be refined and absorbed by the Second Nascent Soul.] [Before the Second Nascent Soul transformed into a Second Primordial Spirit, the stronger its foundation, the greater the enhancement it would bring after the successful breakthrough.]

[Next was the second stage of the trial, which required mastering the second layer of the Divine Origin Void Crossing Great Art.]

[Once again, you passed it in an instant.]

[The Armored Guardian woodenly handed you the highest reward of this stage, the Jade of Ten Thousand Souls, and then led you into the third stage of the dharma cultivation trial.]

[The third stage of the dharma cultivation trial involved challenging the preceding trial-takers.]

[Each trial-taker guarded a mountain peak. Defeating one would allow you to take their ranking.]

[The trial-taker ranked first would face continuous challenges from everyone behind them, eventually enduring a group attack.]

[Currently, the third stage had been open for over a century. More than twenty trial-takers were locked in these continuous challenges. Whichever trial-taker seized the first rank would be worn down by the rest, creating an endless cycle...]

[Just like in the previous simulation, you still took only twenty-odd breaths to slaughter your way through all the preceding trial-takers and pass this trial.]

[The only reason it took twenty-odd breaths was that teleporting to each mountain peak wasted the majority of the time.]

[In truth, for these trial-takers, facing a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch was fundamentally no different from facing a Late Nascent Soul Great Cultivator. Both resulted in them being instantly killed.]

... [Hum—]

[The figure of the Armored Guardian appeared not far away. The red light in its eyes surged, and it finally spoke.]

["Detected that the trial-taker has successfully passed the third stage of the trial."]

["Completion time: Twenty breaths."]

["The trial-taker automatically obtains the third and fourth layers of the Divine Origin Void Crossing Great Art."]

["The trial-taker may select three items from the following reward list."]

...

[The Armored Guardian looked at you. Without any nonsense, it waved its right hand, and screens of light materialized before you.]

[Your gaze fell upon the treasures displayed on the light screens.]

[The reward list for the third stage mostly leaned toward treasures usable by dharma cultivators. There was no Heavenly Sword Sheath, nor was there the World-Crossing Immortal Ark.]

[In the sixth simulation, the rewards you chose at this tier were the Primordial Spirit Pill, the Tortoise King Tortoise Shell with Xuanwu bloodline, and the Five Elements Thunder Stone.]

[But now that you were already a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch, you naturally had no use for those three treasures.] [You fell into brief contemplation before looking at the Armored Guardian and stating your choice. "I choose the Yin-Yang Pagoda, the Source Transformation Fruit, and the Ten Thousand Void Armor."]

[Whether it was the Yin-Yang Pagoda or the Ten Thousand Void Armor, both were high-grade Profound Heaven Spirit Treasures—one offensive and one defensive.]

[These two Profound Heaven Spirit Treasures were also the ones that could best bring out your strength. Even in the ancient era, they possessed considerable renown.]

[As for the Source Transformation Fruit... it was a Fifth Tier High Grade spiritual fruit. Whether refined into pills or consumed directly, it offered significant benefits to a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch.]

[In selecting three rewards this time, you definitely prioritized your own needs.]

[Profound Heaven Spirit Treasures suited for yourself.]

[And a spiritual fruit to elevate your cultivation base.]

[These were exactly what you needed.]

["Are you certain, trial-taker?"]

[The Armored Guardian looked at you and asked.]

["I am certain."]

[You nodded slightly.] [The next moment, the Armored Guardian extended its right hand, palm facing upward.]

[Spatial fluctuations emerged, and the three items appeared before you.]

[You swept a glance over them and stowed them away.]

["Open the next stage of the trial."]

[You looked at the Armored Guardian and said directly.]

[The next stage of the trial was also called the fourth-tier trial, or the ultimate trial.]

["The trial-taker must master the third and fourth layers of the Divine Origin Void Crossing Great Art to qualify for opening the ultimate trial."]

[The Armored Guardian reminded.]

[Although your performance up to now had been entirely inconceivable, constantly shattering and refreshing the records of the Ghost Realm Trial Field since the aptitude test...]

[...to the point that certain records even made a puppet like the Armored Guardian feel a sense of disbelief...]

[...the third and fourth layers of the Divine Origin Void Crossing Great Art had only just been handed to you. You couldn't have even looked at them yet, so you naturally wouldn't meet the requirements to open the fourth-stage ultimate trial.]

["Yes, I've already mastered them."] [You nodded slightly, simultaneously revealing the soul aura of the third and fourth layers of the Divine Origin Void Crossing Great Art.]

[The Armored Guardian fell into silence once again.]

[The third and fourth layers had just been handed to you, yet you mastered them in the blink of an eye?]

[The Armored Guardian looked at you, the red light churning deep within its eyes. After confirming that you had authentically mastered the third and fourth layers, it spoke slowly. "The fourth stage of the trial is the ultimate trial of the trial field. Once it is opened, failure means death. I hope the trial-taker will consider carefully whether to open it now..."]

["Open it."]

[You nodded slightly, paying no mind to the Armored Guardian's warning that 'failure means death.']

[With your current strength, you were fully capable of instantly tearing through space, escaping the trial field, and returning to the outside world.]

[Failure means death? That was meant for trial-takers below the Deity Transformation realm. To a Heavenly Monarch like yourself, it posed no threat whatsoever.]