"I have nine blades."
In the thick fog, the sound of footsteps echoed faintly, each step seemingly treading upon the threads of time itself.
At that moment,
time slowed down—
Then came to a complete halt!
A man emerged from the haze. He wore a wide-brimmed hat, and a gray robe, and carried a long blade at his waist. His stubbled face was cold and indifferent.
Despite being thousands of meters away,
his piercing gaze was locked on Lucian.
He ignored the towering walls, the defensive towers, the heroes, and the troops as if the entire world had faded away, leaving only Lucian in his sights.
This was no poetic metaphor, but a terrifying reality.
With an eerie calmness, his voice echoed across the vast battlefield, reaching Lucian's ears.
"Come... taste my blades."
Without further ado, the man began walking forward.
Step by step, his movements were slow yet deliberate.
As he moved, he drew his blade.
"First blade—Sever Wind and Rain!"
The man's voice was soft, yet carried the weight of an unstoppable force.
A blinding slash tore through the air, cutting apart every trap and mist in its path. It left a clear, straight corridor that the man calmly stepped into.
His hand gripped the hilt once more.
Lucian, frozen in place, felt an overwhelming sense of dread.
A mysterious, oppressive force had locked him in time.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't speak.
Even his thoughts felt muffled as if drowning in an endless abyss.
Everything was frozen—
The wind, the fog, the world itself.
The only thing Lucian could sense was the faint pulse of the Lord's Heart, offering him the option to abandon the trial and return to Earth.
But with mere seconds left on the clock, would he retreat?
"Second Blade—End Sin and Crime!"
The man's calm voice sounded again, and another slash carved through the air.
This time, the blade's arc roared like thunder, shattering the traps and cutting deep into the walls.
"Third blade—Rend Mountains and Rivers!"
A third strike fell.
The towering walls trembled and collapsed under its power.
"Fourth blade—Banish Ghosts and Gods!"
A fourth blade descended, and the women of the Moon Palace dissolved into wisps of ethereal mist.
"Fifth blade—Destiny's End!"
The fifth slash was merciless, reducing all forty defensive towers to rubble.
"Sixth blade—Shatter the World!"
This time, the blade's light split the territory in two, sending cracks rippling through the earth for miles.
Lucian's heart burned with rage as he watched the carnage.
The man's relentless strikes devastated the land he had fought so hard to build.
Then came the seventh blade.
It wasn't aimed at the walls or buildings—but at Lin Daiyu.
Her delicate figure remained frozen, her clear, bright eyes staring at Lucian. Though her lips moved slightly, she couldn't speak, and Lucian couldn't hear her.
The blade's light was merciless, descending with the power to obliterate everything in its path.
"No! Move! MOVE!"
Lucian's heart screamed, his veins boiling with desperation.
Yet no matter how he struggled, his body remained paralyzed.
In his panic, a sudden clarity pierced through the chaos in his mind.
The swordsmanship of this opponent wasn't just raw strength. It was imbued with intent—a will so potent it could freeze time itself.
And the key to breaking free wasn't brute force.
It was willpower.
Lucian's eyes turned red as he poured every ounce of his resolve into breaking free.
In that split second, he felt a time fracture.
Lin Daiyu's frozen figure moved.
She smiled faintly at Lucian, a serene expression masking the fierce determination in her eyes.
All of her strength surged into one final strike, her spiritual essence burning like a raging inferno.
The blade's light descended.
With the agility of a dragon, Lin Daiyu leaped into the air, narrowly evading the strike.
Her long hair turned snow-white in an instant, and her once vibrant body withered to skin and bones. Yet her swordsmanship was unparalleled.
"Eighth blade—"
The man's voice faltered.
Before he could finish, Lin Daiyu's blade pierced through his chest, silencing him forever.
Blood gushed from the swordsman's wound as he collapsed to his knees.
"I..."
"...was still too weak."
With a sigh, his life slipped away.
Time resumed.
Lucian gasped for air, his heart pounding like a drum.
Tears streamed down Qin Keqing's face as she trembled uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Jia Yingchun stood petrified, her eyes wide with terror.
The once proud territory lay in ruins—
Walls crumbled, towers shattered, and countless structures reduced to rubble.
Finally, a familiar voice echoed in Lucian's mind.
"Battle complete!"
"Beginning settlement!"
[Battle Settlement]
Enemy: Nine Absolute Blades – Chen Hao.
Rating: SSS
Basic Rewards:
1 Void Origin Stone
1 Legendary Title
Bonus Rewards (SSS):
50,000 Void Crystals
50,000 Void Origin Stones
10 Free Attribute Points
[Tavern] Territory Building
[Barracks] Territory Building
Territory Expansion Decree (usable within 24 hours)
"It's over," Lucian muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
He glanced at the wreckage surrounding him and shook his head.
The trial had ended in devastation, but the [Hall of Heroes] remained intact, ensuring that fallen troops could be revived.
The 10th-level Hall of Heroes provided 10 revival slots, enabling Lucian to bring back his most trusted fighters immediately.
As the sounds of hammers and construction filled the air, Lucian sat amidst the ruins, catching his breath.
Then, a faint voice echoed in his mind—neither male nor female, yet undeniably clear.
[You have successfully passed the Newcomer's Trial.]
[You will now receive the Void's recognition.]
[You have 24 hours to remain in the Endless Void.]
Lucian closed his eyes, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Though his trial was over, he wasn't ready to leave just yet.
Far away, a beautiful figure wandered in the distance.
Lucian couldn't leave without saying goodbye.