The trial space trembled as countless runes rapidly condensed.
An unprecedented flow of energy intertwined, wiping out vast stretches of space-time and demonic aura.
Yet it was still barely holding on.
“What’s happening?”
Inside the space, the golden figure’s face changed drastically.
As the ‘spirit’ of the trial space, he knew very well the pressure it was under.
It was on the verge of collapse.
It could crumble at any moment.
But how could that be?
This trial space was created by the great Lord Wu Shan.
As an Eternal Lord, the spaces he opened—even casually—were not something beings of the Freedom Three Realms could shake.
That was a fundamental difference in ‘quality.’
“Source Demons?”
“A group of Source Demons?”
The golden figure could only guess in that direction, suspecting perhaps an attack by many Source Demons.
But then he dismissed the thought. Source Demons were indeed powerful, surpassing Children of Eternity.
Yet to shake this trial space? Their power came from the origin of demon calamity, an innate strength.
And with the hidden nature of this trial space, which touched upon the essence of space-time itself, Source Demons couldn’t even locate it.
Even if they did, they couldn’t move it.
As for Demon Gods?
They were occupied suppressing the Eternal Sects at the heart of heaven and earth.
They had no energy, nor any reason, to destroy this trial space.
After all, since Lord Wu Shan foresaw the coming demon calamity, he would have opened far more than just this one trial space.
Lin Yuan had only explored for a few hundred to a thousand years before discovering this one.
Luck did play a role, but it wasn’t purely luck—there were indeed many such spaces.
And apart from Lord Wu Shan, other Eternal Lords had made their own arrangements as well.
The essence of these trial spaces was that of a ‘transfer hub,’ leading to the final place where Lord Wu Shan’s inheritance lay.
There were many such ‘transfer’ spaces across the Source World, their purpose to screen cultivators who reached the threshold of qualification.
Destroying one hub barely affected Lord Wu Shan’s plan.
The inheritance remained, and other hubs remained.
So even if a Demon God abandoned suppressing the central Eternal Sects, they wouldn’t waste time here.
“As expected of a space created by an Eternal Lord.”
Unlike the golden figure’s alarm, Lin Yuan felt a touch of awe.
His true body, using this Yang Primordial Spirit as a Dao marker, had tried to descend directly—yet the countless runes outside barred him.
Or rather, not barred.
If his true body really wanted to force its way in, it could.
But the cost would be this space collapsing completely.
That went against his purpose.
He was here to gain Lord Wu Shan’s inheritance, not destroy this trial space.
“This trial space’s energy fluctuations are only at about the third level of Freedom Realm. Likely something Lord Wu Shan opened casually, yet it’s this formidable?”
Lin Yuan mused silently.
His true body was far beyond the third level of Freedom Realm.
Yet even he couldn’t easily force his way in.
That showed how high the level of rules here ran.
“Runes?”
Lin Yuan glanced at the countless runes encircling the space. Individually they weren’t strong, but together they erupted with power tens of thousands, millions of times greater than their sum.
“Lord Wu Shan…”
Lin Yuan’s anticipation for this Eternal Lord’s inheritance only grew.
“Little one, this trial space may not last much longer.”
The golden figure turned to him, voice solemn: “While you can, destroy this body of yours.”
Though he doubted Source Demons could locate the trial space, he had to assume the worst.
For if one was slain by demons, even if only an avatar, the corruption of demon aura would spread to mind and will, dooming the true body as well.
Thus when faced with an unstoppable demon, the best method was to erase one’s body voluntarily, avoiding contamination.
That was why he urged Lin Yuan to destroy himself—at least he could live.
“Destroy this body?”
Lin Yuan looked at him.
“Don’t worry, if this trial space falls, there are more. Keep moving forward in this direction and you’ll find the next one.”
The golden figure explained.
Lord Wu Shan had created many such spaces. Even if one collapsed, the whole plan wasn’t affected.
With Lin Yuan’s talent, there was a faint hope he might transcend space-time and its rules, passing the trial and becoming this world’s hope.
Naturally the golden figure wanted to preserve such a seedling.
“Senior, you’ve misunderstood.”
Lin Yuan realized at once—his true body’s attempt to descend had alarmed the spirit, making him think it was a powerful Source Demon.
“Misunderstood?”
The golden figure frowned.
He too sensed something off.
The tremors of this space weren’t just visible to him; Lin Yuan as the trial-taker also felt them—yet he showed no fear.
“It was my true body.”
Lin Yuan said, “It tried to descend directly, to spare you the trouble of shifting me around.”
The golden figure froze.
So it wasn’t demons shaking the space, but this youth? A cultivator?
For a moment he couldn’t comprehend it.
A cultivator… this strong?
“If you don’t believe me, my true body is outside.”
Lin Yuan quickly added.
He didn’t want to force his way in and collapse the space—so he’d rather enter normally.
“Wait here.”
The golden figure steadied himself.
Though the claim sounded absurd, as soon as Lin Yuan spoke, the pressure outside subsided.
Perhaps… it was true?
A moment later—
The golden figure vanished.
He reappeared in the valley outside.
There, a young man stood calmly.
His face was identical to the Lin Yuan inside, but his aura was worlds apart.
Using the trial space’s senses, the golden figure faintly perceived the terror before him.
It was as if countless vast worlds were gestating inside this youth.
“Senior.”
Lin Yuan’s true body smiled politely.
“You…”
The golden figure took a deep breath.
At the instant he saw him, he knew—the Lin Yuan outside and the one inside were the same being, causally linked.
“Don’t resist. I’ll bring you in.”
After a long silence, the golden figure finally spoke.
“Alright.”
Lin Yuan nodded.
Buzz—
A ripple of space-time swept through.
Lin Yuan was transferred inside the trial space.
The Yang Primordial Spirit glanced at his true body, then melted into it.
“How could he be this strong?”
The golden figure studied him closely.
First, he was no demon, but a cultivator.
There was a stark difference—like clear water and ink.
If a cultivator absorbed demonic aura, he’d fall, and even then the difference was obvious.
But Lin Yuan’s aura was pure, only unbearably heavy, without the slightest trace of demonhood.
That was why he dared let him in.
He knew now the tremors had come from Lin Yuan’s true body, not demons.
Otherwise, if such a powerful demon had entered, it wouldn’t just destroy a hub—the entire inheritance would be ruined, Lord Wu Shan’s plan undone.
“Which Eternal Child are you?”
The golden figure finally asked.
Children of Eternity were the strongest heirs of the Eternal Sects, nurtured personally by Eternal Lords.
Their strength neared the limit of the Freedom Three Realms—some even reached it, rivaling the champions in the first two paintings here.
“Eternal Child?”
“I’m not one.”
Lin Yuan replied simply.
There was no need to lie; he had no Eternal Sect inheritance to disguise himself with.
“Not an Eternal Child.”
The golden figure wasn’t surprised.
He had only asked in passing; he didn’t truly believe Lin Yuan was one.
If such a monstrous Eternal Child existed, he wouldn’t be here—he’d be under far more refined tutelage, even if also vying for Wu Shan’s inheritance.
“Senior, I’ll try again.”
Lin Yuan said at once.
“Go.”
The golden figure nodded, hope flickering.
With the strength Lin Yuan had just shown, the first two paintings would surely fall before him.
The third? That was uncertain. Modeled after the Lord of Heavenly Light, it was the strongest and most perfect figure Wu Shan had ever painted.
He was eager to see—who was stronger, Lin Yuan or that figure?
Lin Yuan’s passing was beyond doubt. Even if all three paintings attacked together, they couldn’t stop him.
If even he failed, then no cultivator of this world could succeed.
But failing to stop him didn’t necessarily mean weakness.
Far away, millions of miles from the central entrance—
Lin Yuan stepped forward again.
This time, not with his Yang Primordial Spirit.
But with his true body.
Whoosh—
The first painting rippled like water.
The golden-armored youth strode out.
“You again?”
He glanced at Lin Yuan. “I told you, at your level you can’t possibly—”
He broke off mid-sentence, his face shifting.
He sensed the change.
This Lin Yuan was not the same as before.
“You…”
Golden light flickered in his eyes as he studied him. “Interesting. From you… I feel danger?”
Unbelievable. As a peak Freedom lifeform created by Lord Wu Shan, he had no weaknesses, especially in battle-sense. To feel danger meant something.
“This time I’ve come in my true body.”
Lin Yuan said calmly. “And I’ll strike with full strength once.”
He wasn’t here to spar endlessly with the figures, learning their techniques.
The paintings were Wu Shan’s creations. The true inheritance was worth far more than enlightenment here.
“Come then.”
The youth shed all arrogance.
In an instant, countless golden runes surged, forming a massive barrier.
He had no thought of attacking—only defense.
His purpose was to bar anyone from reaching the central entrance.
Before, he struck only because Lin Yuan posed no threat.
But now was different.
Lin Yuan stood in the void, watching him quietly.
Then—
He raised his right hand.
White brilliance bloomed in his palm, forming into a slender sword of light.
In his left hand, the same—but black.
The two blades joined, forming a Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram.
Then it transformed into a Yin-Yang Tai Chi Sword.
The Chaos Yin-Yang Tai Chi could take many forms, not just the diagram.
He usually used the diagram to suppress.
But the sword—it was for destruction.
Holding the Chaos Yin-Yang Tai Chi Sword, Lin Yuan gently swung at the golden-armored youth.
Yin and Yang, Dao’s creation.
As if in the primordial chaos before heaven and earth, a black-and-white sword light flashed.
The golden youth’s endless runes shattered.
He was cleaved in two, his aura dispersing as he returned to the painting.
The sword light carried on.
The second painting’s enchanting woman stepped out. A black line split her brow downward, her form collapsing back into the painting.
The third painting—
“A dream none can wake, and in a dream, ages pass.”
A white-robed man strolled lazily from the canvas, voice drowsy: “You’re the ninth to reach me…”
But before he could finish, a sword of creation’s light was already cutting down at him.
...
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