"The earlier you pass the test, the better. The more Black Demon Orders you obtain, the sooner you will encounter the final test."
"And, only those who obtain five Black Demon Orders are qualified to leave alive," the Great Demon's gaze swept over each strong individual. "If you fail to obtain five Black Demon Orders in the end, you will surely perish."
Then, the Great Demon's figure dissipated.
...The entire space fell completely silent, with tens of thousands of strong individuals gazing at the blazing flames of the alchemy furnaces in front of them.
Everyone felt a heavy pressure.
Even the top-notch strong individuals who obtained two or three Black Demon Orders in the first test were not very confident at this moment.
After all, this was not a test of combat strength.
Although all the strong individuals were isolated in their respective spaces, their communication with each other was not restricted.
"Li Shu Tian Xian."
Wu Yuan transmitted his voice, "In this second test, we can only rely on ourselves. We can't help each other."
"Yes, I understand," Li Shu Tian Xian also transmitted her voice, "According to the information collected by my Moon-Suspending Palace, there are a total of eleven locations for the second test... The content of the test is the same in each location, and it involves the 'Black Demon Secret Book' left by the Black Demon Lord, which can be considered the top-level secrets of alchemy, artifacts, formations, and talismans."
"Ming Jian Dao You, your cultivation time is short, and I'm afraid you haven't delved deeply into these areas. You should study and deduce the 'Black Demon Secret Book' more." Li Shu Tian Xian transmitted her voice.
"Yes, thanks for the reminder," Wu Yuan thought to himself.
With a thought, his divine sense had already penetrated into the three Immortal Scrolls, silently accepting the inheritance messages.
As Li Shu Tian Xian had said.
The three Immortal Scrolls actually originated from the same secret book, the "Black Demon Secret Book".
The entire secret book was divided into five chapters, covering many aspects such as alchemy, artifacts, formations, and more.
These three Immortal Scrolls each contained the first part of one chapter.
"The alchemy techniques are so mysterious and profound," Wu Yuan immersed himself in the inheritance as soon as he accepted it.
Although it was only the first part, it was worth many Star Lords studying for billions of years.
... "Very good."
"I am the Lord of Space, and I have studied formations deeply. Although I am a bit lacking in alchemy and artifacts, as long as I study a little, I believe I can pass the test with confidence." Ancient Longevity Star Lord was full of confidence.
"Ming Jian?"
Ancient Longevity Star Lord glanced at Wu Yuan. "His comprehension of the Dao is very high, but I'm afraid he has never studied alchemy and the like."
... "Alchemy is my specialty. I want to see how difficult this second test is." Snowy Jade Star Lord was extremely eager in her heart. "I have been trapped in this step for endless years."
"My soul is almost decaying."
"The inheritance of the Black Demon Lord is my last chance to become a Star Lord. I must obtain it." Snowy Jade Star Lord was determined.
These Star Lord-level strong individuals had a high comprehension of the Dao, and many of them had practiced for countless years, naturally giving them more confidence.
And this first test gave them some confidence in facing Wu Yuan, this peerless genius.
..."Yes!"
"I have indeed never studied alchemy, artifacts, or talismans."
"But, my comprehension of the Dao is probably the highest among everyone," Wu Yuan also had absolute confidence. "Moreover, I have two main forms... Two main forms can fully comprehend at the same time."
"Whether it's the Dao of Space or the Dao of Creation, I have already condensed the true meaning."
"At the top of the building, as long as I spend some effort to comprehend, my progress will definitely be extremely fast."
He started with the lowest starting point, practically starting from scratch.
But Wu Yuan believed that his progress would be extremely fast.
...The second test, a total of eleven test locations.
Hundreds of thousands of celestial beings and gods began to study the "Black Demon Secret Book" and then checked their test requirements.
"In the realm of the Dao, within a vast hall at the headquarters of the Hundred Profound Palace, thousands of celestial beings and gods gathered together.
These celestial beings and gods were temporarily brought here from various regions of the Hundred Profound Palace by the Star Lords, one by one.
They waited quietly here, with several powerful Star Lords standing on both sides of the temple.
Suddenly.
Whoosh~
A figure covered in black flames appeared in the void. His aura was vast and unfathomable, shrouding the entire temple, even completely overshadowing several Star Lords.
"We pay our respects to the Palace Master." The four Star Lords bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with reverence.
"Palace Master."
"We pay our respects to the Palace Master."
In the eyes of the thousands of celestial beings and gods in the hall, excitement and reverence appeared.
The great Palace Master.
The Hundred Profound Palace has two sovereigns. One is the Sovereign of Misty Flame, who rarely deals with the affairs of the Hundred Profound Palace.
The other is the Hundred Profound Sovereign, also known as the Palace Master of the Hundred Profound Palace, and the entire power is named after his title.
And these celestial beings and gods, in the past, were mostly just ordinary members of the Hundred Profound Palace. Even the few Star Lord-level powerhouses did not have the qualifications to see the Hundred Profound Sovereign.
"I have never seen the Sovereign."
"A billion years! When I was conferred as a Star Lord a billion years ago, I once met the Sovereign along with many other Star Lords, but I have never seen the Sovereign since then."
"This time, the Black Demon inheritance is highly valued even by the Sovereign." The eyes of thousands of Hundred Profound Palace experts were filled with excitement and utmost respect.
For them, they mostly grew up listening to the legends of the Palace Master of the Hundred Profound Palace, just like the people of China grew up listening to the legends of the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns.
"This time, you thirteen hundred people are still in the Black Demon Blood Cave," the Hundred Profound Sovereign's voice was gentle, his face shrouded in blurry black flames.
"This is your great opportunity."
"The Black Demon Sovereign is an extremely powerful sovereign, stronger than me. The inheritance he left behind... is extremely precious. But now, only you have the qualifications to compete for it. This will be your chance to reach the sky in one step." The Hundred Profound Sovereign said slowly.
Thousands of celestial beings and gods listened intently.
"I already know that the second test is a test of alchemy, talismans, artifacts, etc.," the Hundred Profound Sovereign looked down at them. "So, I will specially explain the Dao for you."
"I will explain various Dao methods once every ten years, hoping to help you seize the inheritance." The Hundred Profound Sovereign said slowly.
This time.
Not only these celestial beings and gods, even the four Star Lords were shocked. The Sovereign was going to personally explain the Dao?
How rare!
Over the long years, even if they were direct disciples, most Sovereigns only gave pointers, and rarely explained the Dao in person.
Those thousands of celestial beings and gods were even more excited.
"I hope you don't disappoint my expectations."
"If you obtain the inheritance of the Black Demon Sovereign, you will definitely become a Star Lord, and even have the chance to become a Sovereign." The Hundred Profound Sovereign said, "Today, I will start by explaining the Dao of alchemy..."
"The Sovereign is explaining the Dao in person?"
"This..." These celestial beings and gods listened excitedly, with even more longing in their hearts.
...
During the first test, as it was a test of personal strength, even if the upper echelons of the nine major powers in the Dao Realm received the news, they could only watch.
By the time of the second test, many upper echelons of the Dao Realm had taken action.
Some ordered Star Lords who were proficient in alchemy, artifacts, and talismans to specifically explain and guide the main forms of some Star Lords to help them comprehend the "Black Demon Secret Book" and then proceed to refine it.
While some forces had the Sovereign personally explaining the Dao.
This kind of resource and treatment is something many strong beings in the demonic realm cannot reach.
After all, the strong beings in the demonic realm have few inheritances and even fewer predecessors to guide them.
Therefore, although the number of strong beings from the nine major forces in the Dao Realm seems small, totaling just over ten thousand people, it is less than ten percent of the total.
But at least.
In the eyes of the upper echelons of the nine major forces in the Dao Realm, the Dao Realm strong beings will have an absolute advantage in the second test.
...If it were an ordinary sovereign's inheritance, perhaps the sovereigns of the nine major forces in the Dao Realm would not attach such importance to it.
But the Black Demon Sovereign's involvement is too significant.
Many sovereigns in the Dao Realm who were once hostile to the Black Demon Sovereign have a simple idea: if they cannot stop the emergence of the Black Demon Sovereign's inheritance, then they will try to control the inheritance as much as possible.
...
Wu Yuan's Primordial Qi and Law Bodies were together, unable to use the Space Immortal Realm inside the Black Demon Blood Cave.
Secondly.
Even if he could use the Space Immortal Realm, so what? As a member of the Time Island, there would be no Sovereigns willing to guide him.
Even the closest Sovereign, the Sovereign of Misty Flame, as a member of the Hundred Profound Palace, would probably not lend him a hand.
He can only rely on himself.
But Wu Yuan's advantage is that the consciousness, memory, and perception of his two Primordial Beings are shared.
In the endless distant Qingling Realm.
After understanding the second test, Wu Yuan's Primordial Qi Body left the Xia Mountain World for the Cangfeng Continent to seek an audience with the Sovereign of Quasi-Red.
Inside the God Hall of the Witch Sovereign on the Cangfeng Continent.
"Master, this is the situation." Wu Yuan quickly recounted his experience.
From the earliest acquisition of the Black Demon Star to the emergence of the Black Demon Blood Cave.
He simply omitted the information about the 'Ancestral Tower'.
Finally, Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Master, the disciple is determined to obtain the inheritance of the Black Demon Sovereign, and I hope Master will help me."
"The inheritance of the Black Demon Sovereign?"
"Such an opportunity in the Time and Space Dao Realm?" The Quasi-Red Sovereign was also quite surprised, but then nodded, "It makes sense. There is only one member of the Time Island participating, probably without much attention from the Time and Space Dao Realm or other major forces of the Time and Space Long River."
Before this, the Quasi-Red Sovereign was not aware of this matter.
After all.
The Time and Space Long River is vast and boundless, and similar sovereign inheritances occasionally emerge. The Time and Space Dao Realm is even more closed, so information naturally does not spread easily.
He usually doesn't pay too much attention to it.
"The Black Demon Sovereign is an extremely powerful sovereign. Although I have not seen him, I have heard of him." The Quasi-Red Sovereign said solemnly, "I suspect that before his fall, his strength had reached the level of a Dominate."
"Dominate?" Wu Yuan held his breath.
After experiencing so much, his perspective is higher than before, and he understands the uniqueness of a Dominate.
Among the Sovereigns, only the truly top-notch ones are qualified to be called a Dominate, and they are only one step away from the highest realm.
"Of course, I am just speculating. That Black Demon Sovereign was probably killed by the Lord of Time and Space long ago." The Quasi-Red Sovereign said, "But in any case, this is a great opportunity for you."
"Of course, Master will do everything to assist you."
"Come with me."
The Quasi-Red Sovereign waved his hand, and invisible force carried Wu Yuan out of the temple.
Space changed.
When the surroundings solidified, Wu Yuan realized that he was already in a huge palace.
In the palace, there was a huge alchemy furnace burning with flames.
And around the furnace, there were swirling spatial vortexes, emitting rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
"Where is this?" Wu Yuan was slightly surprised.
"This is the highest-level 'Alchemy Ground' in the entire Witch Realm," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "These spatial vortexes lead to various spirit worlds, nurturing a vast number of spirit medicines and spirit beasts. Whatever raw materials you need, you can quickly obtain them."
"Next."
"I'll be the one to teach you the art of alchemy!" the Quasi-Red Sovereign smiled.
"Master, you?" Wu Yuan was astonished.
"What's wrong? Don't believe me?" The Quasi-Red Sovereign glanced at Wu Yuan. "When it comes to the art of alchemy, in the Witch Realm, I rank second to none. No one dares to claim the first spot."
Wu Yuan was even more surprised.
"In the future, if your alchemy surpasses mine, it's only natural," the Quasi-Red Sovereign's eyes held a hint of expectation. "The Way of Creation is most suitable for alchemy."
"However, your current foundation is still too weak, so you have to take it step by step," the Quasi-Red Sovereign shook his head slightly.
---
PS: Fifth and sixth updates.
Additional updates 3/35, 4/35.
Today, I should be able to work on two more chapters, please vote for a guaranteed monthly ticket! Please vote!
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 437 Far Behind (Eight more, please vote for a guaranteed monthly ticket)
"Foundation poor?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but be stunned, then smiled bitterly, realizing that his foundation in alchemy was indeed very poor.
Equivalent to zero!
"What are the requirements for the test?" Quasi-Red Sovereign asked.
"The requirement for alchemy is to refine ten kinds of Immortal-grade elixirs, any elixir will do, but each elixir must be refined continuously three times," Wu Yuan said directly. "The requirement for artifact-making is to refine ten low-grade Immortal artifacts."
"The requirement for talismans is to draw ten Immortal-grade spirit talismans, regardless of the category."
Alchemy, artifact-making, talisman-making.
All require Wu Yuan to reach the Immortal level.
As for low-grade Immortal artifacts, most of them can only be easily refined by master artifact-makers among the Immortals.
"A single requirement isn't too difficult for you, but asking for three at once is a bit challenging," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "I don't know about the difficulty of other Immortal gods, but if they're all this difficult, then in the place where you are tested, let alone three thousand people passing the test, it will be difficult for even one thousand people to pass the test."
"So difficult?" Wu Yuan was surprised.
You should know that in the place where they were tested, nearly twenty thousand Immortal gods had generally strong strength, so they wouldn't be too weak in other aspects.
It's difficult for even a thousand people to meet the standards in the end?
However, this was said by the Quasi-Red Sovereign.
The persuasiveness was strong.
The only thing Wu Yuan was unsure of was whether the requirements for other Immortal gods were similar to his own.
"Master, wait a moment, I'll inquire," Wu Yuan said, and his Qi-refining body immediately began to inquire with Immortal Li Shu.
Soon!
Wu Yuan obtained a lot of information from Immortal Li Shu.
...In the highest-level alchemy ground in the Azure Peak Witch Realm.
Wu Yuan's body looked at the Quasi-Red Sovereign. "Master, I have inquired clearly. The requirements for other Immortal gods to pass the test are basically the same as mine, requiring them to reach the Immortal level, only the quantity varies."
"In that case, there's no need to be too anxious," the Quasi-Red Sovereign smiled. "Sharpening the knife won't delay the cutting of wood. Let me explain it to you in detail first."
"Yes." Wu Yuan nodded. Although he hadn't studied the methods of alchemy and artifact-making, he understood that it would take more than a year or two to succeed.
It could take as little as a hundred years or as much as a thousand years.
There's no rush for now.
It's better to listen to the master and lay a solid foundation.
"Alchemy, artifact-making, talisman-making, and even formation-making, are essentially the study of the principles of all things," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "However, that's close to the ultimate qualification. Generally, only a Sovereign can say that... For the vast majority of cultivators, the differences between these three paths are huge."
"Those Immortal gods, since they haven't broken through for countless years, it means their talent isn't extremely outstanding."
"They may have very potential in one of the paths, such as alchemy, artifact-making, and so on," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "But for them to excel in two or even three paths simultaneously? The probability of this is very low! One in ten thousand!"
Wu Yuan nodded involuntarily.
Alchemy, artifact-making, talisman-making, formation-making, and so on, are actually no different from comprehending laws.
If you have the corresponding talent, comprehending laws will be twice as effective, and you can quickly understand one path.
Without talent, it's difficult to break through even if you spend a hundred or a thousand times more time.
"So, you don't have to worry about being left behind too quickly," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "Even if you don't get two or three Black Demon Orders, it shouldn't be difficult to pass the second test."
"Yes." Wu Yuan felt relieved.
After all, he was starting from scratch, so Wu Yuan didn't dare to expect too much. Just passing the second test would be enough.
...Wu Yuan and the Quasi-Red Sovereign stood in front of this huge alchemy furnace.
"Disciple, do you know why I said that the Way of Creation is most suitable for alchemy?" the Quasi-Red Sovereign smiled.
Wu Yuan shook his head.
"The so-called elixirs, whether they enhance talent, restore mana, accelerate cultivation, are chronic poisons, or heal injuries... in essence, they all revolve around the words life and death," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "Either they bring life, or they bring death."
"Between life and death lies the way of alchemy."
Wu Yuan was stunned to hear this. It was the first time he had heard such an explanation of alchemy.
"The way of alchemy is to combine countless substances from the heavens and earth, especially 'life substances,' in the hope of producing various miraculous changes, ultimately forming elixirs," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "Through studying alchemy, one will gradually understand the mysteries of the heavens and earth, making it easier to comprehend laws."
"So, if you want to take the first step in alchemy, you must analyze and study all living things in the world."
"The Way of Creation excels in this path," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "Secondly, it's the Law of Life."
Wu Yuan suddenly understood.
So, the Dao is the foundation.
If one comprehends deeply the Way of Creation and the Law of Life, then delving into alchemy will naturally be much easier.
But what is meant by "easier" is only relative.
The Quasi-Red Sovereign, being the number one in alchemy in the witch realm, must have devoted tremendous effort to it.
"Normally, if your future understanding of the Dao reaches the level of the Way of Creation, progress will be slow. I would recommend you to study alchemy, and even the ways of artifact-making and talisman-making to help you progress," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "However, since you have already condensed the true meaning of the Great Dao, and have insights at the level of a Star Sovereign, delving into these minor paths prematurely might also have miraculous effects."
"It won't have a significant impact."
Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. It turns out that the master had a cultivation plan tailored for him.
"Regarding alchemy, I have prepared two training routes for you."
"The first one is expedited," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "It involves specifically selecting ten types of Immortal-grade elixirs. You will learn the corresponding alchemy techniques, sparing no effort, repeatedly attempting and practicing until you gradually become proficient and eventually succeed."
"The advantage is speed. With your insights into the true meaning of creation and comprehension of space and time, it could take as little as several decades or as long as two to three hundred years to succeed."
"The downside is that when you later try to study other elixirs, you will encounter great difficulties because you only know the result but not the reason," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "It won't be of much help when you learn about artifact-making and talisman-making."
"Several decades? Two to three hundred years?" Wu Yuan muttered silently, then continued, "Master, what about the second option?"
"The second option is gradual progression, starting from the most basic elixirs and gradually analyzing the essence of all things in the world with the true meaning of creation, understanding the inherent laws of everything's operation," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "The so-called elixir recipes and alchemy techniques are essentially summaries of rules and have no very special features."
"This kind of cultivation will start slowly, but as you accumulate more, you will become more profound, eventually becoming a true master of alchemy."
"If you analyze the mysteries of all things, then when you later take the tests for artifact-making and talisman-making, it should be quicker," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "It will also be of great help for you to comprehend the Way of Creation in the future."
"The downside is that it's slow, very slow, because it's very difficult to analyze the essence of all things and understand their inherent laws."
"It could take as little as a thousand years or as long as tens of thousands of years, depending largely on your talent," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "And this is based on your insights at the level of a Star Sovereign."
"If you only have insights at the level of an Immortal, then studying for a million years or even tens of thousands of years without much achievement would be normal."
Wu Yuan nodded lightly.
One path, easy at first but difficult later; the other, difficult at first but easy later.
A few breaths passed.
"Have you made up your mind?" the Quasi-Red Sovereign asked.
"Master, I choose the second path," Wu Yuan said solemnly.
"Oh? Explain your reasons," the Quasi-Red Sovereign asked curiously.
"Firstly, I believe in myself. Like you said, my understanding of the Dao is sufficiently high," Wu Yuan said solemnly. "Secondly, the Black Demon Sovereign must have set up this test of inheritance for a reason, presumably not just to allow us to pass the current test by taking shortcuts."
"Researching alchemy, artifact-making, and talisman-making may be related to the final inheritance."
"So, I'd rather go a bit slower but more steadily," Wu Yuan thought to himself. "Of course, if after studying for decades or even hundreds of years, I still make little progress on the second path, I can always switch to the first path later."
"Good."
"Since you've thought it through, let's begin," the Quasi-Red Sovereign said. "You already have the 'Black Demon Codex.' Here, I have another book called the 'Elixir Compendium,' which is an extremely powerful alchemy method I've obtained."
"The two major methods, borrowing from each other, will make your path more stable."
Before long, Wu Yuan received all the information about the "Elixir Compendium" from the master.
Comparing it with the partial information he had received about the "Black Demon Codex," Wu Yuan could perceive the differences between the two.
"The 'Black Demon Codex' emphasizes techniques more. It contains more sophisticated alchemy techniques," Wu Yuan pondered. "While the 'Elixir Compendium' approaches things more from the angle of analyzing all things to understand the way of alchemy."
There's no superiority between the two major methods, just differences in their approaches.
But both are incredibly profound and mysterious.
"Alchemy is also a great Dao," Wu Yuan realized more deeply as he contemplated and comprehended the two major methods. "No wonder countless cultivators are immersed in alchemy. This is also the ultimate Dao. If one comprehends it to the extreme, they might be able to use the heavens and earth as a cauldron, condensing all things in the universe."
That's the ultimate, the legend of alchemy.
Studying the two major methods also gave Wu Yuan a deeper understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the two paths.
"I want both paths."
Wu Yuan's heart was filled with longing. "First, I'll study the mysteries of all things, analyze them... then practice various alchemy techniques to make my alchemy skills more advanced."
...
"To deduce the essence of all things, you must first analyze the essence of life."
"Alchemy mainly involves medicinal herbs."
"So, what you need to do first is to analyze and understand the properties and basic life units of these fifty-five thousand medicinal herbs," the Quasi-Red Sovereign began to explain to Wu Yuan.
No profound mysteries of the Dao are involved.
No rigorous alchemy techniques are practiced.
The first step is to understand the medicinal herbs.
The second step is to analyze them.
"Fifty-five thousand medicinal herbs, collected by the witch realm over countless eons, contain all the basic life units of all living things?" Wu Yuan was shocked to hear this.
"Among these medicinal herbs, there are a total of five million five hundred thousand basic life units. Countless lives are composed of these basic life units?"
"If all the life essences of these medicinal herbs can be analyzed, wouldn't it mean deciphering the essence of the law of life?"
In the Quasi-Red Sovereign's explanation, Wu Yuan realized another side of the law of life.
The origins and foundations of countless lives.
However...
It's easier said than done. Wu Yuan felt the difficulty of it when he started to deduce and comprehend.
Five million five hundred thousand kinds of basic life units, each with subtle differences, combined with each other in countless ways.
It's almost endless.
And even the smallest life, the most common medicinal herb, is composed of trillions of basic life units.
It's incredibly complex.
"This level of insight and observation can only be achieved by Immortal-level and Divine-level beings." Wu Yuan quickly realized this.
Analyzing all things may sound easy, but it's an extremely difficult path to walk, one that ordinary cultivators are simply not qualified to tread.
It requires a powerful spirit at the level of Immortal and Divine.
Otherwise, let alone deducing and comprehending, even memorizing a small part would be impossible.
"Memorize?"
"You can only memorize a part. You must truly understand to be able to combine them." Wu Yuan was amazed and fascinated.
Every tiny basic life unit seems ordinary, but when countless basic life units are combined, they create miraculous changes, imbuing them with infinite possibilities.
This is life!
"The basic units of life, the essence of the evolution of heaven and earth." Wu Yuan immersed himself in it, quickly comprehending.
He had already condensed the so-called origin of creation with his understanding of the Way of Creation, which inherently contained the essence of life's evolution.
So, with a little insight, Wu Yuan's progress was astonishingly rapid.
...
"Basic units of life!"
"While my Qi Refining Avatar cannot use the Way of Creation, it still condenses the true meaning of life and death."
"Moreover, the true meaning of time and space, time and space are the source of all things, and life's essence also contains time and space." Wu Yuan's Qi Refining Avatar was also fully engaged in comprehension.
The two avatars, starting from two different great Dao, complemented each other's understanding, giving rise to many wonderful sparks and inspirations.
Even...
The two avatars no longer focused on comprehending the great Dao, but instead devoted themselves fully to deducing the two great secret methods and the essence of numerous medicinal herbs.
...
"Such a fast rate of comprehension."
"My disciple truly deserves to be called an unparalleled genius who condensed the true meaning of creation early on," the Quasi-Red Sovereign was also amazed.
He had long speculated that Wu Yuan's progress would be rapid, after all, the true meaning of creation is most suitable for dissecting the essence of all things.
But he didn't expect Wu Yuan's progress to be so fast, several times faster than he had anticipated.
"Could it be..."
"My disciple is extremely suitable for this path?" The Quasi-Red Sovereign couldn't help but think.
He didn't realize that Wu Yuan's two avatars complemented each other, especially since the spiritual power of the Qi Refining Avatar surpassed that of ordinary Celestial Immortals, their efficiency was naturally astonishing.
...
In the realm of time and space, within the Black Demon Blood Cave, in the testing ground, countless alchemy furnaces were lined up in rows.
Most of the Celestial Immortals were attempting to refine pills time and time again.
A few powerful individuals were lost in contemplation, including Wu Yuan, whose two avatars were jointly comprehending, a fact unknown to anyone.
More than ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside one of the furnace spaces.
Boom!
The flames surged, and bursts of rich spiritual energy emanated from the furnace, followed by several immortal pills flying out.
"The eighth kind of celestial-grade pill has finally been refined," Lord Gushouxing smiled.
At the same time, he received a reminder that the third furnace of the eighth kind of pill was successful, and he could continue refining the ninth kind of pill.
"I could refine nine kinds of celestial-grade pills before." Lord Gushouxing smiled. "This time, with the Sovereign's special guidance and the 'Black Demon Codex,' I naturally made rapid progress and successively mastered the refining methods of several kinds of pills."
Refining immortal pills is extremely difficult. Even with Lord Gushouxing's high level of alchemy, occasional failures are inevitable.
And every furnace of immortal pills, whether it takes a few months or hundreds of years, is normal.
Lord Gushouxing chose relatively simple celestial-grade pills and still took more than ten years to reach this point.
"Others?"
Lord Gushouxing's gaze swept across the various furnace spaces in the void, taking in the scenes of tens of thousands of Celestial Immortals at a glance.
"In our testing ground, in the path of alchemy, there should be no one faster than me," Lord Gushouxing thought to himself.
Of course, he didn't dare to be too certain.
The second trial had a total of eleven test sites, and perhaps there were others making faster progress in other places.
"Continue," Lord Gushouxing continued refining immortal pills.
...
Time flew by, and several years passed in the blink of an eye.
Wu Yuan's Qi Refining Avatar had been fully engaged in comprehension all this time, while also observing the situations of others.
Especially the top-tier experts like the Red Demon Sovereign, the Snow Yao Sovereign, and Lord Gushouxing, he paid more attention to.
The stronger one's strength and the higher one's understanding of the Way, the stronger they tended to be in various auxiliary methods.
"Out of the 55,000 basic medicinal herbs, I've preliminarily analyzed over 50,000."
Preliminary analysis and perfect analysis are two different concepts.
It's like adding one plus one equals two. Preliminary analysis only requires memorization, while perfect analysis requires proof.
The difference is like heaven and earth.
"I've understood over 100,000 types of basic life units."
"I've deduced many theories about the alchemy methods in the 'Black Demon Codex,' but it's not enough." Wu Yuan felt that he had made great progress in these twenty years.
Though it seemed that his understanding of the Way hadn't significantly improved, in reality, he had reorganized the laws of life from scratch and from another perspective.
Wu Yuan had a premonition that if he were to delve into the understanding of the laws of life in the future, his progress would probably be extremely rapid.
"Not enough."
"The accumulation is far from enough. Even if I try to refine pills now, I estimate that I can only refine pills at the upper Immortal level. To refine pills at the Celestial level? The failure rate would be extremely high." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.
He wasn't satisfied.
But if this news were to spread, it would be shocking enough. After all, twenty years ago, he was just a novice in alchemy.
In just twenty years, he could refine pills at the upper Immortal level, and he had chosen the most difficult path of 'analyzing all things,' the progress speed was unimaginable.
He continued to immerse himself in comprehension.
Especially the Body Refining Avatar, which was in the highest-level alchemy site in the witch world, under the guidance of the Quasi-Red Sovereign, constantly studying and analyzing various medicinal herbs.
There were 55,000 types of medicinal herbs, each with thousands of plants from different life cycles.
Ordinary forces couldn't gather them all, but with the help of the Quasi-Red Sovereign, none of this was a problem.
This was the top-level medicinal herb resource in the entire witch world, supporting Wu Yuan's comprehension and cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, several months passed.
On this day.
Suddenly.
"Hum~" an invisible fluctuation descended, enveloping the entire testing ground, awakening all tens of thousands of Celestial Immortals.
Everyone couldn't help but look over.
"Hmm?"
"What's going on?"
"The Great Demon has appeared."
"Has someone met the requirements of the test?" All the Celestial Immortals were shocked as they looked at the phantom of the Great Demon that had already condensed in the void.
At this moment.
Facing nearly 20,000 cultivators, the Great Demon looked down at them and said lightly, "Twenty years, among you, someone has finally met the requirements of the first trial."
"What?"
"So fast, someone has already refined ten types of Celestial-level pills? Even if they're continuously refining, it shouldn't be possible so quickly."
"So fast."
"Who is it?" Many Celestial Immortals from various factions were extremely shocked. Many of them had only refined one or two types, and a considerable number hadn't even refined a single one.
After all, it was very difficult to suddenly achieve great success in alchemy without any previous experience.
"Gushou!"
The gaze of the Great Demon fell on Lord Gushouxing.
"Senior Demon." Lord Gushouxing was extremely excited and respectfully saluted.
He hadn't expected to be the first to meet the requirements of the alchemy trial.
"Gushou Lord."
"It's him!"
"He's the first to complete it. Didn't he receive three Black Demon Tokens before?" Countless Celestial Immortals were jealous as they stared at Lord Gushouxing.
In the first trial, Lord Gushouxing had performed the best among the group.
In the second trial, was he leading again?
"You have completed the first alchemy requirement. Continue to the second artifact trial," the Great Demon said lightly. "If you successfully complete three trials first, you will receive three Black Demon Tokens."
"Yes." Lord Gushouxing respectfully agreed.
Swish~
The area in front of Lord Gushouxing transformed, forming a super large refining room.
This scene made many Celestial Immortals even more jealous.
"Continue."
"I've only met the first requirement, one step at a time," Lord Gushouxing thought to himself. "Even if I'm not the first to complete the three requirements, I should at least strive for the top ten."
He was self-aware that he was extremely proficient in alchemy, but lacking in many aspects of artifact refining and talisman inscription.
...Bai Xuan Palace Headquarters.
"Gushou, I have been ordered to guide you in your cultivation of artifact refinement," a powerful Star Lord descended to meet Lord Gushouxing.
"Thank you, Star Lord," Lord Gushouxing said repeatedly.
...
For Lord Gushouxing, meeting the first requirement was just the beginning, and time passed.
In less than a month, the second person who met the first requirement emerged. She was only a sixth-level Celestial Immortal named Xiang Fei Tianxian, a powerful figure from the Demon Realm!
"To let a demon realm expert take the lead?" Many powerful figures in the Dao Realm frowned inwardly.
"It's Xiang Fei, the renowned alchemy master from our Demon Realm." Although many Demon Realm experts were jealous, they were also excited.
After that came the third, the fourth, the fifth... year after year, as the test time exceeded thirty years.
In this testing ground, those who met the first requirement emerged like mushrooms after the rain.
Quickly surpassing three hundred.
Powerful figures like the Red Demon Sovereign, the Snow Yao Sovereign, and others all met the requirements.
And when the test time reached eighty years, the number of those who met the first requirement in this testing ground exceeded eight hundred.
Half of them were figures from the Dao Realm, and even Li Shu Celestial Immortal had met the requirements.
Moreover.
When the time reached ninety years, the first person to meet the second requirement finally appeared—Xiang Fei Tianxian.
Although she was only a sixth-level Celestial Immortal, she later surpassed everyone and became the top-ranked figure.
Immediately, the entire testing ground was boiling with excitement among the Celestial Immortals and the Heavenly Gods.
"She's only a sixth-level Celestial Immortal, yet she has surpassed so many Star Lords and ranked first. Are they all starting the third trial now?"
"So fast!"
"This second trial is indeed not just a test of the environment. The Star Lords have a higher understanding of the Dao, which gives them some advantages, but a high understanding of the Dao doesn't necessarily mean high achievements in alchemy, artifact refinement, or talisman inscription."
"Xiang Fei Tianxian is extraordinary." Countless Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Gods were discussing, and even many powerful figures from the Dao Realm remembered the name Xiang Fei Tianxian.
She was a formidable opponent!
However.
When time passed a hundred years and over a thousand Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Gods met the first requirement, many people also noticed an inconspicuous figure.
"Ming Jian!"
"He has the comprehension of a Star Lord, yet he hasn't even met the first requirement for alchemy."
"Really slow."
"This kind of cultivation genius probably has never touched alchemy before, so naturally, his progress is extremely slow."
"Alchemy, artifact refinement, they all require time to accumulate."
"He performed well before, but in this second trial, he might just fall directly." Many people thought so.
The top-notch experts who previously considered Wu Yuan as the biggest threat temporarily put down their guard against him.
...Despite the chaos outside, Wu Yuan's heart remained unwavering, and his two avatars followed the path he had chosen step by step.
In the blink of an eye.
The second trial had lasted for nearly two hundred years.
---
PS: Seventh and eighth updates.
Additional updates 5/35, 6/35.
Please vote for stability! Please vote!
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 438: Accumulation Leads to Success (Two Additional Updates for Monthly Votes)
The first trial was very short-lived, with most participants eliminated after just one battle.
However, the second trial lasted a very long time.
A full two hundred years silently passed by.
Testing alchemy, artifact refinement, and talisman inscription simultaneously, all Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Gods felt the difficulty, even the powerful Star Lords were no exception.
At least, there were eleven testing grounds.
In the testing ground where Wu Yuan was located, so far, no one had been able to complete all three trials.
"Just as Master predicted, if one remains in the Celestial Immortal stage for a long time, they are not truly a genius. Few can excel in all three aspects," Wu Yuan thought to himself.
Although Master Kuachi had predicted that even if this trial lasted for ten thousand years, the nearly twenty thousand Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Gods would not exceed a thousand who could eventually complete all three trials, it involved life and death, so Wu Yuan naturally didn't dare to be careless.
For the past two hundred years, he had been studying and researching while closely monitoring the movements of others.
And the actual results were almost the same as those predicted by Master Kuachi.
"About a hundred years, there was a peak, with over a thousand people meeting the first alchemy requirement. But then the numbers quickly decreased. So far, only about thirteen hundred people have met the first requirement," Wu Yuan thought.
This was normal. In the first hundred years, those who were already accomplished in alchemy naturally made rapid breakthroughs. But for those who were far from meeting the requirements, even millions of years of cultivation couldn't bridge the gap in a short time.
Although the nine major forces of the Dao Realm provided specialized training and guidance for their Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Gods, the Dao Realm experts were few in number, and more than ninety percent of the powerful beings came from the Demon Realm.
The Demon Realm experts didn't have external environments for training.
"Thirty-six people have met the second requirement so far," Wu Yuan's gaze swept across the void. "No one has met the third requirement yet."
No one had passed the second trial yet.
This was why Wu Yuan continued his steady practice without rushing.
"If I follow Master's advice and seek quick success, it will take at least several hundred years in alchemy alone, plus starting from scratch in artifact refinement and talisman inscription... If all three requirements are added up, I would have to start from scratch in each, probably taking a thousand years," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.
A thousand years was quite long compared to his lifespan.
But analyzing the essence of all things, although slow at first, was fundamental. It was a path to understanding all principles.
Once the alchemy requirement was met, studying artifact refinement, talisman inscription, and others would have many similarities.
Moreover, it might also help with the subsequent third and fourth trials. After all, analyzing the essence of all things was a fundamental improvement.
So, from the beginning, Wu Yuan had thought very thoroughly, taking a hundred years to try the second path. If progress remained slow within a hundred years, he would then switch to the first path.
After all!
Even if Wu Yuan initially took the first path, the probability of obtaining three Black Devil Tokens was very low. The best case scenario would be to obtain two Black Devil Tokens.
"Now, out of the fifty-five thousand types of spiritual herbs, the initial analysis is complete," Wu Yuan's body-refining avatar continued to ponder in the highest-level alchemy ground in the Witch Realm.
At first, progress was fast because his understanding of the Dao was extremely high, allowing him to easily grasp familiar life basic units.
However, as he progressed, analyzing and understanding the basic units of life became increasingly difficult.
"In theory, to analyze all the basic units of life, one must comprehend the laws of life," Wu Yuan thought to himself. "Or conversely, if one can analyze all the basic units of life, there is a great chance of comprehending the laws of life."
The two complemented each other.
"The Great Dao of Creation involves the two great laws of life and death, making it more comprehensive," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "But even when analyzing, it's getting harder and harder. I have no hope of comprehending all the basic units of life at once."
"My greatest advantage is still the Great Dao of Time and Space." After two hundred years, Wu Yuan had also realized this.
The collision and understanding of the two Great Daos had astonishing efficiency.
"Ten percent."
"Having analyzed five hundred and fifty thousand types of basic life units, in terms of analyzing the fundamentals of all things and all spirits, I should be considered to have reached the threshold of a Star Lord," Wu Yuan pondered. "With this foundation, studying artifact refinement, talisman inscription, and so on, should quickly reach the level of Celestial Immortal."
"Continue!" Wu Yuan wasn't too anxious.
His goal was to secure at least one Black Devil Token in the second trial and strive to obtain two.
...
"My disciple."
In the alchemy ground, while Wu Yuan's body-refining avatar was fully immersed in comprehension, Lord Kuachi had been standing nearby the whole time.
He suppressed all his breath, not disturbing Wu Yuan.
Initially, Lord Kuachi would occasionally give Wu Yuan some guidance, but as time passed, Wu Yuan no longer needed his guidance. Instead, he independently comprehended and deduced the basic units of life.
Insights gained through independent comprehension were often more solid than those from others' guidance.
"My disciple."
"No wonder he's regarded as one of the top geniuses in the entire history of the Witch Realm," Lord Kuachi couldn't help but marvel. "His progress in cultivation is astounding, reaching such a level of speed."
He was a Lord of Life.
Although he might not surpass some extraordinary beings in various aspects like alchemy and artifact refinement within the Witch Realm, he was at least ranked first in the Azure Peak Witch Realm, which was quite remarkable.
Throughout the long years, he had seen countless so-called geniuses and encountered many extraordinary individuals through extensive readings, including those from previous cycles of the world... Some of these extraordinary individuals were not inferior to Wu Yuan in terms of progress in the Dao.
"But at least."
"In the aspect of analyzing the basic units of life, my disciple should be the first I've seen... I haven't seen any cultivator who's faster than him," Lord Kuachi shook his head slightly.
If it were a Lord of Life who had already comprehended the laws of life and possessed a Lord-level divine soul, they would naturally progress very quickly.
Different cultivation foundations led to different speeds of deduction and comprehension.
But Wu Yuan, who had just reached the level of Heavenly Immortal and Heavenly God, progressed at a terrifying rate in comprehension.
"Faster by a hundred or even a thousand times than many Lords of Life."
"It's not only because the impact of the Dao of Transformation isn't as severe, but it's also related to Wu Yuan's talent... It should also be related to his comprehension of the Dao of Time and Space," Lord Kuachi speculated.
"Is it really so powerful to comprehend two Great Daos at the same time?" Lord Kuachi wondered.
He truly felt that his disciple was extraordinary.
For cultivators, it was already remarkable to condense one true meaning of a Great Dao, let alone two?
Time and space, creation.
The two were closely related, one being the origin of all things, the other the foundation of all spirits.
"However."
"This Black Devil Lord is quite intriguing."
"Why choose cultivators like Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Gods as successors?" Lord Kuachi frowned slightly.
Just like many Lords of the Dao Realm felt something was amiss.
Lord Kuachi also sensed that something was wrong.
"Not to mention selecting the top-notch extraordinary beings," Lord Kuachi whispered, "at least, they should choose Star Lords who are compatible with their own paths."
He couldn't understand the Black Devil Lord's thoughts.
"What did this Black Devil Lord do back then? How could he provoke the arrival of a great existence like the Lord of the Dao, who even sought to obliterate him?" Lord Kuachi shook his head lightly.
He was well aware of the vast difference between Lords and Lords of the Dao.
In theory, those supreme existences wouldn't easily take action against Lords, as they belonged to two different dimensions.
Lords were just the top existences within the cycle of reincarnation, while the supreme existences had transcended beyond, truly free from any constraints.
"However."
"My disciple might already have attracted the attention of the Lord of the Dao," Lord Kuachi pondered. "The Black Devil Lord's inheritance was deliberately left by the Lord of Time and Space. Even if he obtains it, it shouldn't matter."
Lord Kuachi naturally assumed that Wu Yuan had a great chance of obtaining the Black Devil Lord's inheritance.
...Time flew by, and Wu Yuan continued to cultivate.
Occasionally, Lord Kuachi would offer him guidance, but Wu Yuan mainly relied on his own comprehension.
In the blink of an eye, the second trial had lasted for four hundred years.
In the Black Devil's Blood Cave, within the inheritance ground where Wu Yuan was located, countless pill furnaces were lined up, with a practitioner in front of each one.
Of course, among the tens of thousands of pill furnaces, there were also many refining rooms and inscription rooms.
Now, the number of strong individuals who had reached the first requirement had exceeded fifteen hundred.
Those who had reached the second requirement had also surpassed a hundred.
All the strong individuals were either deducing and comprehending or practicing alchemy and refining artifacts.
One day...
"Whoa!" A dazzling light suddenly soared into the sky from one of the sealed spaces, immediately attracting the attention of all the strong individuals.
"Who is it?"
"What's happening?"
"It seems to be where Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal is. Has she achieved the requirement?" Thousands of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods looked over, especially those who had achieved the second requirement, their faces changed drastically.
"Senior Demon has come out."
"Senior Demon." Everyone's expression changed. It's worth noting that except for when Gu Shou Star Lord and Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal were the first to meet the first and second requirements, Senior Demon had appeared only once before, and he hadn't appeared since then.
But now.
This was his third appearance.
"I am very pleased."
Senior Demon looked down at everyone and said slowly, "In the second trial, out of the eleven trial grounds, after four hundred years, someone has finally passed the second trial."
"Xiang Fei, you are outstanding." Senior Demon looked towards her.
"What?"
"The first in all the trial grounds?"
"Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal, a strong being from the Demon Realm?" There was an uproar. Even many strong beings from the Dao Realm, like Gu Shou Star Lord and Xue Yao Star Lord, found it somewhat hard to accept.
They, with higher comprehension of the Dao and better foundations, had been receiving the best cultivation from their respective forces for hundreds of years.
And yet.
They were surpassed by a Celestial Immortal of the Demon Realm who was only at the sixth level? It made them feel incompetent.
"I'm the first one?"
"First one to pass the second trial among all the trial grounds?" Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal had a very ordinary appearance, but she was extremely excited at this moment.
She completely ignored the countless envious and resentful gazes.
"Xiang Fei, I grant you three Black Devil Tokens." The Great Demon looked down at her and said lightly, "At the same time, you also qualify to go to the third trial ground."
"I believe that the second trial ground has brought you great gains and will help you break through quickly in the upcoming trials."
"Strive to obtain five Black Devil Tokens as soon as possible."
"Yes." Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal said solemnly.
She was excited in her heart.
"My comprehension of the Dao progresses slowly, but in the past, I relied entirely on my own research and achieved certain accomplishments in many aspects such as alchemy, artifact forging, and array formations." Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal muttered to herself, "This time, getting the 'Black Devil Secret Tome' truly made me understand the way forward."
Over the hundreds of years, through comprehending the 'Black Devil Secret Tome,' Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal completely tapped into the accumulation of her long years.
Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal believed that even if she ultimately failed to obtain the Black Devil Lord's inheritance, she would still be able to quickly break through to become a Star Lord in the future.
"And, I already have a certain advantage, so naturally, I must strive for it." Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal also had aspirations in her heart, "Although I am only at the sixth level of Celestial Immortal, the Black Devil Lord's inheritance clearly doesn't just test combat power. I still have hope."
Who among those who could cultivate into Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods didn't have aspirations and desires in their hearts?
"I'll also tell all of you."
"The trials are divided into eight levels." The Great Demon's gaze swept over everyone, "The eighth trial is the final inheritance trial."
"In other words, in the first seven trials, you must obtain twelve Black Devil Tokens to qualify for the eighth trial."
"Although, starting from the second trial, there is no time limit."
"But once someone passes the final inheritance trial, those who have not yet obtained five Black Devil Tokens among the remaining individuals will be wiped out." The Great Demon said coldly.
A silence fell.
All the Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods listened, finally understanding all the requirements of the Black Devil Lord's inheritance.
It turned out that there were eight trials in total.
For the first seven trials, one must obtain twelve Black Devil Tokens to qualify for the eighth trial ground.
"Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal, you will enter the third trial ground." The Great Demon said slowly.
He waved his hand.
Buzz~ Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal disappeared in an instant.
Following closely, the Great Demon also disappeared.
...
"Seven trials, at least twelve Black Devil Tokens? Does that mean you must rank among the top in each trial?" Wu Yuan muttered to himself.
This newly received information caught him off guard as well.
Naturally, his plans had to change a bit.
"No."
"If you can get three Black Devil Tokens in each trial, then as long as you pass the first four trials, you can get twelve Black Devil Tokens."
"You can directly go to the eighth trial ground." Wu Yuan realized this.
It wasn't necessarily required to pass all seven trials.
If you were outstanding enough, as long as you excelled in the first four trials, it would suffice.
"I can't delay any longer."
"Now, the body-refining avatar continues to analyze the basic life units, and the qi-refining avatar begins to try alchemy." Wu Yuan's previous leisurely pace was because there were very few people who had reached the first requirement of the second trial, not even two thousand.
He thought there was still plenty of time.
So, wanting to have enough confidence, he rapidly proceeded with the three trials.
But now that he knows all the rules, the situation is different, so naturally he must pass the second trial as quickly as possible.
"The second trial is not favorable for me. Even if I start with the first path, it's hard to compete with figures like Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal."
"But the later trials may not be the same." Wu Yuan thought it would be best to pass the second trial quickly.
However.
Although he had not yet reached his expectations, four hundred years of dedicated research had already taken Wu Yuan very far on the path of 'analyzing all things.'
You should know that previously, Wu Yuan had only practiced for less than thirteen hundred years in total and had already achieved such accomplishments.
Four hundred years!
Moreover, with both avatars fully comprehending while their divine spirits were already extremely strong, one can imagine the achievements.
If Wu Yuan had not chosen to focus on analyzing all things like the body-refining avatar, he might have been able to deduce the true meaning of the Dao of Creation to the fourth level.
"Now."
"There are more than a hundred people who have reached the second requirement."
"I have to strive for it and aim to be among the top hundred to pass the trial and obtain two Black Devil Tokens." After thinking it through, Wu Yuan naturally made changes.
Phew!
After four hundred years of meditation, Wu Yuan's qi-refining avatar finally stood up and came to this huge alchemy furnace.
He began to select the first kind of medicinal material.
...
Wu Yuan's actions did not attract much attention. After more than four hundred years, he still had not reached the first requirement, and most Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods were no longer paying much attention.
Even the many powerful forces in the Dao Realm were not paying much attention to him. They had long concluded that Wu Yuan would spend a very long time on the second trial.
"Wait until Mingjian passes the second trial, I'm afraid the Black Devil Lord's inheritance will be over." This was the consensus among many powerful beings.
"Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal was the first to break through, but she performed quite averagely in the first trial."
"We still have a good chance."
"Go, Gu Ming, if you can obtain three Black Devil Tokens in the second trial, then you will have six Black Devil Tokens, and your advantage will actually be greater than Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal's."
"Understood."
Whether it was the many powerful beings in the Dao Realm or the even larger number of powerful beings from the Demon Realm, they were all competing.
...
In the depths of the Black Devil Blood Cave, there were countless black mists scattered around.
Only in the center, there stood several figures.
These figures had some who were extremely short, like dwarfs, some were burly like giants, and some were even in beast form.
The auras they emitted were also varied, some were extremely cold, some were as hot as stars, and some were eerie and sinister.
A total of nine figures.
The Great Demon was among them.
The standard attire for these figures was to be completely covered in black robes. Except for the Great Demon, it was difficult to see the faces of the others.
In front of them, there was a huge light screen projection. The scenes that appeared on the screen were exactly the images of Wu Yuan trying alchemy.
"So disappointing."
"Four hundred years, and he hasn't even reached the first requirement." The voice of the short figure in the black robe was hoarse.
"Great Demon, is this your chosen successor among the Lords, whom you specifically initiated the inheritance trial for?" The majestic voice of the figure with four hooves sounded, "His foundation in alchemy, artifact forging, and rune formation is indeed poor, but even so, he shouldn't have failed to meet the first requirement for so many years."
"If this continues."
"His chances of passing the eighth trial are pitifully low." The voices of the figures in the black robes were full of dissatisfaction.
"What's the rush!"
"His talent is indeed very high, I believe in him." The Great Demon's gaze swept across the figures, "Besides, remember, the command to initiate the inheritance comes from the Lord."
"Mingjian, he has his uniqueness."
Many figures in black robes fell silent, all staring at the figure in white robes on the light screen, quietly waiting.
They seemed dissatisfied.
But their dissatisfaction stemmed from their high expectations. They were too eager for an extraordinary talent to emerge as the inheritor of the Lord.
The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
"Mingjian? Are you really so poor in alchemy and artifact forging?" The Great Demon stared at the light screen, furrowing his brows slightly.
...
Time passed, just ten years later.
"Wow!"
Another brilliant light shot up into the sky, once again attracting the attention of all the powerful beings.
"Gu Shou has met the third requirement and passed the second trial." The Great Demon appeared again, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "Gu Shou is also the sixth to pass the trial among the eleven trial sites."
"Lord Gu Shou."
"He obtained three Black Devil Tokens in the first trial."
"Now he has obtained three more Black Devil Tokens?"
"Doesn't that mean he already has six Black Devil Tokens? His progress is too fast." Various Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods felt the pressure, especially Snowy Star Lord, and Crimson Devil Star Lord, who were already the top ones.
...
At the headquarters of the Hundred Profound Palace, inside one of the super-large palaces.
Thousands of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods were inside the palace, many of whom were specifically separated into different areas.
In one area, a Star Lord skilled in the Dao of Rune was standing with the original body of Lord Gu Shou.
Over the years, this Star Lord had been focusing on Lord Gu Shou.
"It's a success!"
"Lord Gu Shou."
"He has obtained six Black Devil Tokens." The thousands of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods in the Hundred Profound Palace's trial grounds were shocked to see Lord Gu Shou.
Among them, half of them hadn't even reached the first requirement yet.
Suddenly.
Wow!
A figure enveloped in black flames appeared, his pressure shrouding the entire temple.
"Lord."
"Lord." Many Star Lords and Celestial Immortals in the temple bowed respectfully.
"Gu Shou." The gaze of the Hundred Profound Lord fell on Lord Gu Shou, revealing a hint of a smile, "Very good, you are the first from my Hundred Profound Palace to enter the third trial site."
"You have seized six Black Devil Tokens, and your advantage is very significant. You must strive to enter the eighth trial site as soon as possible."
"Regardless of success or failure in the end, as long as you can enter the eighth trial site, it will prove your potential. I will give you extremely high rewards."
"Yes." Lord Gu Shou replied respectfully.
He was also extremely excited.
The Lord personally promised him, so the probability of him becoming a Star Lord in the future would naturally increase dramatically.
"Fight to the end!"
"This is my chance. I must do my best and strive for the inheritance of the Black Devil Lord," Lord Gu Shou muttered to himself.
His heart was also filled with endless longing.
...Three more years passed.
Buzz~
An inexplicable fluctuation enveloped the sealed space where Wu Yuan was located.
"Congratulations, Mingjian, you have completed the first requirement," a cold voice echoed in Wu Yuan's mind, "Please continue to the second trial."
Whoosh!
Wu Yuan put away the just-finished elixir and immediately followed as the alchemy furnace transformed into a huge artifact forging room.
This scene also caught the attention of some people.
"Mingjian completed the first requirement?"
"His comprehension of the Dao is comparable to that of a Star Lord, but it took him over four hundred years to complete the first requirement? Too slow."
"Indeed too slow." Many Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods couldn't help shaking their heads and stopped paying much attention.
In their eyes, Wu Yuan posed no threat at least in the second trial.
As time passed, more and more people reached the first and second requirements, and even several emerged who met the third requirement and passed the trial!
Among them was Snowy Star Lord, who once again attracted attention.
Because she had also essentially obtained six Black Devil Tokens.
By the time the second trial had lasted for four hundred and eighty years, six people had entered the third trial site.
One day.
Buzz~
Another fluctuation enveloped the sealed space where Wu Yuan was located, and the artifact forging room he was in transformed into a room for inscribing runes.
"Hmm?"
"What? Mingjian reached the second requirement? So fast?" The Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods not far from Wu Yuan were shocked.
"Not so fast. There are now over one hundred and fifty people who have reached the second requirement." Someone was puzzled.
"Do you know? It took him over four hundred years to reach the first requirement, and now, in just a short time, he has reached the second requirement?"
"From completing the first requirement to the second requirement, he only took less than fifty years, the shortest time."
"Shorter than what Xiangfei Tianxian took!"
After more than four hundred years.
The name "Mingjian" once again attracted the attention of countless Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods in the trial grounds because of his rapid progress.
You see.
At the beginning of the second trial, Mingjian was recognized as having the most potential and hope.
..."First, analyze the essence of all things."
"Then ponder the Dao of alchemy, artifact forging, and rune inscriptions. It's really easy." Wu Yuan smiled.
It's like first building a large excavator with raw materials, and then naturally demolishing a small hill, it's fast.
"The Dao of rune inscriptions?"
"Should be able to meet the requirements within fifty years." Wu Yuan immersed himself in the drawing of runes.
---
ps: Two updates! Guaranteed completion!
Seeking votes!!
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 439: Twelve Black Devil Tokens (Four Updates Seeking Votes)
Wu Yuan's sudden burst, reaching the first requirement and then the second in just a few decades, astonished the Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods of various forces.
In a daze, many strong figures from the Dao realm suddenly remembered Wu Yuan's identity.
In the first trial, to seize three Black Devil Tokens.
An upper immortal who had not practiced for less than two thousand years, possessing Dao comprehension comparable to a Star Lord.
"We underestimated Mingjian."
"Originally, he was the biggest threat. For the past few hundred years, it seemed like he hadn't been alchemizing at all, clearly searching for his own path."
"He's still a big threat."
"In this trial ground, he's already ranked in the top two hundred."
"There's a good chance he'll snatch two Black Devil Tokens." Strong figures from various forces exchanged thoughts, and Wu Yuan's threat level rose in their minds once again.
If not for the restriction in the second trial preventing them from fighting each other, many powerful figures from various forces would probably want to besiege Wu Yuan.
---
In the third trial site.
"What? Mingjian reached the second requirement in the second trial site? He's already started drawing runes." Lord Gu Shou, who was pondering hard, couldn't help but show a look of astonishment when he received the news.
He hadn't considered Wu Yuan a major threat before.
After all, when he entered the third trial site after meeting the three requirements, Wu Yuan hadn't even met the first requirement.
"I need to calm down."
"No matter how great his threat is, at least he hasn't caught up to me yet." Lord Gu Shou tried to calm himself down.
His gaze fell on the huge atlas in front of him. "This is my advantage."
"I'm already ranked fourth."
"In this third trial site, there's a chance to directly obtain six Black Devil Tokens and enter the eighth trial site directly." Lord Gu Shou muttered to himself. "I have to work hard."
He cast aside all distractions and continued to ponder and comprehend with all his might.
It wasn't just him.
In the entire third trial site, dozens of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods had expressions of astonishment.
Clearly, they had all received news about "Mingjian".
---
"Mingjian?" Snowy Star Lord remembered the terrifying figure who controlled flying swords and wreaked havoc everywhere.
---
"That white-robed immortal?"
"No wonder he's an unparalleled talent from the outside world, defying common sense." Xiangfei Tianxian also received the news. "He has been cultivating for a short time, and he definitely hadn't studied alchemy, artifact forging, or rune inscriptions before."
"In just a few hundred years, he has reached such heights in these areas." She couldn't help but feel admiration in her heart.
"However."
"I'm currently in first place. In this third trial, I must strive to obtain five Black Devil Tokens." Xiangfei Tianxian muttered to herself.
---
As time passed, perhaps due to the effect of the "Black Devil Scriptures" or perhaps due to the invisible pressure of life and death.
Or perhaps due to the desire for the Lord's inheritance.
In the trial ground where Wu Yuan was located, more and more Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods reached the first requirement, gradually approaching the two thousand mark.
And the number of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods who reached the second requirement also continued to rise, heading towards the two hundred mark.
Wu Yuan was the first among them.
Whoosh!
Chapter 439: Twelve Black Devil Tokens (Four Updates Seeking Votes)
A towering pillar of light appeared, and the Demon Lord once again emerged, attracting the attention of many powerful beings.
"Lord Crimson Demon, congratulations on meeting the requirements. You're the eighth person in this trial site and the seventy-fifth to enter the third trial." The Demon Lord looked down at the red-haired divine god.
"Thank you, senior." Lord Crimson Demon suppressed his excitement.
"The eighth."
"Only the top ten who pass the trial can obtain three Black Devil Tokens."
"He, like Lord Gu Shou and Lady Snowy, has obtained six Black Devil Tokens." Strong figures from various forces quickly exchanged this information.
Although Lord Crimson Demon's breakthrough was slightly slower, obtaining six Black Devil Tokens was enough to prove his astonishing potential.
You see, although there are over seventy Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods in the third trial site, less than twenty have obtained six Black Devil Tokens in the first two trials.
---
"In the third trial site, there are fewer than twenty strong figures from the Dao realm."
"After all, the majority are from the Demon realm." Faced with this situation, the monarchs of the nine major Dao forces also felt helpless.
Despite their efforts to assist and offer guidance, the overwhelming number of Demon realm strong figures among nearly a million Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods meant that there would always be outstanding individuals.
---
Years passed, and soon, the ninth person to meet the third requirement appeared in this trial site.
"It's Divine Tiger God."
"A five-fold divine god actually succeeded? As a lord, I've only completed the first requirement."
"I wonder who will be the tenth." Many Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods exchanged thoughts.
Each person who passed the second trial made the remaining strong figures aware of the gap, especially those who had yet to complete the first requirement in alchemy. They were almost desperate, instinctively wanting to give up due to the huge gap.
---
In the Black Devil Blood Cave, a mysterious place filled with black mist, nine figures in black robes stared at the scene in the light screen.
The rune chamber was completely sealed, so they couldn't see the specific situation inside.
"The ninth successful person has emerged in this trial site. It won't be long before the tenth." The short figure in the black robe said solemnly. "Could it be that the chosen ones can't even make it into the top tier?"
"Don't be too demanding."
"Mingjian, continuously meeting the first and second requirements, has surprised us. His progress has been very fast."
"Yes, you're right."
"Nine Demons, don't demand too much. Although Mingjian's Dao comprehension is high, he has only been cultivating for less than two thousand years. It's already remarkable that he caught up so quickly." One by one, the figures in black robes spoke, as they had been closely monitoring Wu Yuan's movements.
As for the other participants? Although they also paid some attention, they didn't care too much.
"It's not that my expectations are high."
"But he has a chance to inherit the lordship." The short figure in the black robe said solemnly. "Once he becomes the heir to the lordship, we will all serve him."
"Only the powerful are qualified to be my masters." The short figure in the black robe said coldly.
Upon hearing this, many elders in black robes showed a hint of helplessness.
They understood the logic, but they were more rational. They believed that the probability of Wu Yuan becoming the tenth was very low.
After all!
Wu Yuan spent the shortest time from meeting the first requirement to meeting the second requirement, but he took too long at the beginning.
Suddenly.
"He's done it." The silent Demon Lord suddenly spoke.
He had been listening to the arguments of many black-robed figures, but had never spoken before.
As the controller of the entire Black Devil Blood Cave, the Demon Lord was the only one who could understand the movements of each participant at any time.
"What's happened?"
"Could it be... Mingjian?" Many black-robed figures were full of astonishment, even the short figure known as the 'Nine Demons' was shocked.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Instantly, the gazes of these black-robed figures all fell on the huge light screen projection in the distance.
At this moment.
"A towering pillar of light!" A towering pillar of light appeared in the projection on the light screen.
---
In the trial site where Wu Yuan was located, tens of thousands of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods were originally constantly attempting alchemy, refining artifacts, or drawing runes.
With the emergence of a towering pillar of light, it immediately attracted the attention of over ninety percent of the powerful beings. After so many times, they already understood that this kind of light meant that another powerful being had met the third requirement.
"Who is it?"
"The tenth person will get the last three Black Devil Tokens. Even if you pass the second trial later, you'll only get two Black Devil Tokens."
"Lacking one Black Devil Token means you'll have to work harder to have any hope of making up for it later." Many Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods were thinking.
However, when their gazes reached the source of the pillar of light, almost everyone's face showed an expression of disbelief.
"Is it him?"
"How is that possible!"
"Mingjian? He actually met the third requirement? How long did it take him to meet the second requirement?"
"It's impossible!" Almost all the Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods in the trial site were stunned. Even the strong figures from the Hanging Moon Palace, such as Lady Lishu, who were close to Wu Yuan, found it hard to believe.
It's too shocking!
Yes, Mingjian's talent and Dao comprehension are indeed very high, but it took him over four hundred years to meet the first requirement.
Almost everyone thought that for Mingjian to meet the third requirement, he would need at least six hundred years.
Even if he met the third requirement in six hundred years, it would still be extremely astonishing. After all, even the fastest Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal took over three hundred years from meeting the first requirement to meeting the third requirement.
But in the end.
Mingjian succeeded in just over a hundred years.
"Too fast."
"The tenth."
"A hundred years, from quickly breaking through the first requirement to the third? How could he progress so quickly?"
"I can't figure it out." The vast majority of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods couldn't understand it, but no matter what, the towering pillar of light rising into the sky was undeniable.
"Mingjian," he is the tenth to pass the second trial in this test site.
"Mingjian." The Demon Lord looked down at Wu Yuan as he emerged from the Rune Chamber.
Wu Yuan bowed slightly.
"Very good, you are the tenth in this test site, and the ninety-sixth to enter the third trial." The Demon Lord said slowly, paying no attention to the complex gazes of tens of thousands of Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods.
"You are eligible to receive three Black Devil Tokens."
Swish!
With a wave of his hand, the Demon Lord made three black tokens float above Wu Yuan.
The tokens were ordinary, but their significance was significant.
"Thank you, senior." Wu Yuan reached out and grabbed the three Black Devil Tokens, storing them in his storage treasure.
In his heart, however, he was quite calm. Although the progress in the last paths of Artifact Dao and Rune Dao was fast, it was within his expectations.
Having analyzed the essence of all things for hundreds of years, Wu Yuan had such confidence.
"The more you comprehend, the more you realize that drawing runes, refining artifacts, and alchemy all lead to the same path." Wu Yuan thought to himself.
These paths, if traced back to their origins, are the same.
Although Wu Yuan's Dao comprehension was far from the level of a lord, his path of analyzing the essence of all things was the same path that many powerful lords took when they started learning Alchemy Dao, Artifact Dao, Rune Dao, and Formation Arrays from scratch.
One Dao encompasses all, and all Dao enlightens one.
"Go to the third trial." The Demon Lord glanced at Wu Yuan. "You have fallen behind for a long time. I hope you can catch up in the third trial."
"Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.
Swish!
Wu Yuan disappeared on the spot.
The Demon Lord's last words also surprised many Celestial Immortals and Divine Gods. Previously, not many of those who passed the inheritance received special instructions from the Demon Lord.
Obviously.
The Demon Lord has great expectations for Wu Yuan.
---
"Mingjian has entered the third trial."
"So fast."
"Rising from behind, I thought he would be trapped in the second trial, but he caught up so quickly."
"He truly is an unprecedented genius in the Dao Realm." The lords of the nine major forces in the Dao Realm received the news for the first time. Apart from sighing and feeling emotional, they also felt quite helpless.
Wu Yuan, as the only Upper Celestial Immortal, already seemed very special.
With the talent he displayed, it seemed only natural for him to receive the Black Devil inheritance.
"We still have to give it a try."
"There is still hope." The lords of many forces in the Dao Realm were unwilling to give up, still giving orders.
In their view, at least Wu Yuan was not in the lead yet.
---
Inside the Black Devil Blood Cave, in the third trial area.
"Here?" Wu Yuan swept his gaze around, it was an endless void.
In the void, there were wide passages, each of them hundreds of miles wide, nearly a hundred of them in total.
The passages were paved with rocks, stretching for tens of thousands of miles at a glance, and on both sides of each passage stood large stone walls.
"Lord Gushou? Lady Xueyao?"
"Xiang Fei Celestial Immortal?" Wu Yuan's gaze swept through the void, and he recognized some familiar figures.
But there were more unfamiliar figures.
Everyone was standing on one of the passages, seemingly contemplating the different stone walls.
"Ninety-five people?"
"I'm the ninety-sixth?" Wu Yuan instantly understood. "There were fifty-five trial sites in the first trial."
"In the second trial, there were eleven trial sites."
"But in the third trial, there's only this one trial site left." Wu Yuan already understood. "These ninety-five people are all the participants who reached the third trial site."
However.
What could this third trial be?
"Mingjian."
"He's here."
"It's actually him?" Many participants on various passages also noticed the addition of another participant. Even those more familiar, like Lady Xueyao and Celestial Xiangfei, showed surprise.
They never expected Wu Yuan to be the first to break through.
"He's Mingjian?"
"And he also got six Black Devil Tokens?" Most participants were seeing Wu Yuan for the first time and looked wary.
Although they hadn't seen him before, they had heard of Wu Yuan's name.
As an Upper Celestial Immortal, erupting with the peak strength of a Lord was enough to shock and alarm any Celestial Immortal or Divine God.
Moreover, Wu Yuan's achievement of obtaining six Black Devil Tokens in the previous two trials was quite remarkable.
Buzz~
Countless dots of light converged to form the figure of the Demon Lord, and his gaze fell on Wu Yuan.
"Demon Lord, senior." Wu Yuan respectfully said.
"The third trial has a time limit of a thousand years." The Demon Lord said directly, his voice indifferent. "Do you see the passage under your feet?"
Wu Yuan nodded.
"Each participant occupies a passage." The Demon Lord said slowly. "Each passage is divided into six major regions, each region is ten thousand miles long."
"At the same time, each region has two hundred stone wall Dao patterns, one hundred complete and one hundred incomplete."
"What you need to do is to refer to the complete Dao patterns and then complete the incomplete ones in each region."
"As long as you complete ten in each region, you can proceed to the next one."
"For each region you pass, you will receive a Black Devil Token; if you can pass all six regions within a thousand years, you will receive six Black Devil Tokens." The Demon Lord looked at Wu Yuan. "Do you understand what I mean?"
Wu Yuan already understood.
In the third trial, the highest reward is not three Black Devil Tokens, but six!
"I already have six Black Devil Tokens."
"If I can get another six Black Devil Tokens in the third trial, it will be equivalent to twelve Black Devil Tokens." Wu Yuan felt excited in his heart. He didn't expect to have this advantage.
If he advanced with the strongest posture all the way, he would directly enter the eighth trial site at the end of the third trial.
And contact the final inheritance.
"Before you, only seven of the ninety-five participants have temporarily entered the second region. All the others are trapped in the first region." The Demon Lord said lightly. "The further you advance in the six regions, the harder it will be."
"It depends on your ability to reach which step within a thousand years."
"If you can't even break through the first region within a thousand years, then that's it."
"Yes." Wu Yuan nodded.
Whoosh~ The Demon Lord's shadow dissipated into countless dots of light, leaving only Wu Yuan at the entrance of the passage.
"Twelve Black Devil Tokens."
"Calm down!"
Wu Yuan tried hard to calm himself down. "Since there are seven trials, it means that in the eyes of the Black Devil Lord, most people cannot quickly obtain twelve Black Devil Tokens."
"Moreover."
"People like Celestial Xiangfei and Lord Gushou have been here for over a hundred years and are still stuck in the second region."
"And the further you advance, the harder it gets." Wu Yuan thought to himself, "This third trial is definitely not simple."
Swish!
Wu Yuan took a step forward and flew into the first region, immediately feeling an invisible pressure.
At the same time, he was reminded that if he couldn't complete ten incomplete stone wall Dao patterns, he wouldn't be able to leave this area.
"Stone wall Dao patterns." Wu Yuan's gaze fell on one of the stone wall Dao patterns.
"This?" He was completely stunned.
Because.
The stone wall Dao pattern in front of him was engraved with countless Dao patterns, giving Wu Yuan an extremely familiar feeling.
The invisible fluctuations of the Dao spread out.
"The Origin of Nature Diagram?" Wu Yuan couldn't believe it.
Although he couldn't display the true meaning of creation with his Qi Refining Avatar, he only had one consciousness, so Wu Yuan naturally recognized it, he just couldn't display it.
Moreover.
His Qi Refining Avatar could easily display the true meaning of life and death.
In the Land of Immortality, Wu Yuan's Qi Refining Avatar had also spent hundreds of years pondering the essence of all things and spirits.
How could he be wrong?
"No, there are slight differences." Wu Yuan quickly realized, "This is not a complete creation Dao pattern... but it contains some mysteries related to the essence of all things."
The two are related but not completely subordinate.
However, Wu Yuan had also comprehended deeply the mysteries of the essence of all things, because for over five hundred years in the second trial, his two avatars had been analyzing the mysteries of the essence of all things and spirits.
"I guessed right!"
"Sure enough, when I chose to analyze all things in the second trial site, it turned out to be useful." Wu Yuan felt excited. "If I had only aimed to pass the second trial, perhaps it wouldn't have been so helpful to me now."
"Let's take a look at the other stone wall Dao patterns."
Quickly.
Wu Yuan began to look at the other complete stone wall Dao patterns, quickly noticing the differences and categorizing them.
Then, he began to look at the one hundred incomplete stone wall Dao patterns.
"One hundred stone wall Dao patterns."
"Ten of them involve the Great Dao of creation, but the mysteries contained are very shallow."
"Ten involve the Great Dao of time and space."
With Wu Yuan's comprehension of the Dao, he could naturally easily distinguish between these two Great Dao.
"In addition, eighty stone wall Dao patterns seem to involve other profound Great Dao, which are very profound but do not belong to my path..." Wu Yuan classified them, already understanding the purpose of the third trial.
"This trial is to select those who have the talent to directly comprehend the Great Dao." Wu Yuan thought to himself, "If you can achieve high achievements in alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman making in the second trial, usually you won't lack in analyzing all things and spirits. You have the opportunity to embark on different Great Dao paths based on your own foundation."
"Analyzing all things and spirits is fundamental."
This kind of test method was indeed ingenious, beyond Wu Yuan's imagination and understanding.
"And what is called completing the stone wall Dao pattern."
"In fact, it is to choose one of the Great Dao, comprehend the complete stone wall Dao pattern, and then thoroughly understand it." Wu Yuan's gaze fell on the distant incomplete stone wall Dao pattern. "Finally, imprint your own comprehension on the incomplete stone wall Dao pattern."
Imprinting Dao patterns may seem simple.
But just like a secret technique, you must understand it before you can use it, and the external form is not important.
Understanding the essence and mysteries contained within the Dao patterns is the key!