Zhaang Ye and Situ Houtu each brought out their ultimate skills. In just three short Hours, they had advanced to within four zhang of the Puppet.

The Long Spear in the Puppet’s hands was unparalleled in power, its reach extending to three zhang.

If they advanced any further from this distance, they would have to face the Puppet’s Long Spear.

The Puppet’s ranged attacks were already incredibly fierce, but its Long Spear was at least ten times more powerful. This immense power, combined with that wisp of Death Qi, made it formidable to the extreme. Even with the strength of Situ Houtu and Zhaang Ye, the slightest touch would mean their bodies would instantly explode, killing them.

At this point, even someone as powerful as Situ Houtu was forced to be cautious.

Although his Cultivation was profound, it had its limits. Faced with the Puppet’s relentless attacks, even the deepest reserves of True Qi would eventually run out.

Situ Houtu cautiously blocked one of the Puppet’s strikes and retreated beyond the fifteen-zhang mark.

Though his entire body was exhausted and his internal organs had even sustained minor injuries, Situ Houtu felt a surge of joy. By now, he had grasped over seventy percent of the Puppet’s Combat Skill and had a general idea of its flaws. He was confident that with another half a day of probing, he could fully comprehend the Puppet’s Combat Skill, find its weakness, and successfully pass the trial.

He subconsciously glanced over at Zhaang Ye, and was momentarily stunned.

He saw that Zhaang Ye, to his surprise, hadn’t taken a break and was still fighting the Puppet.

’This kid... his stamina is incredible! And what a wondrous Saber Technique!’ Situ Houtu watched for a moment. Seeing Zhaang Ye wield his Saber Technique as if he were tireless, he couldn’t help but gasp.

Zhaang Ye’s incredible stamina surprised Situ Houtu, but the Saber Technique he was using was even more astonishing.

In his twenties, Situ Houtu had already cultivated to the Fifth Layer Peak of the Martial Arts, just a hair’s breadth away from the Martial Arts Sixth Layer. His natural talent and Comprehension were both outstanding among his peers. Even though he could only watch Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique from a distance, he could still recognize its extraordinary nature. He had a faint feeling that if Zhaang Ye were to fully unleash this Saber Technique, its power would likely be no less than his own Heaven Burial Shovel Technique!

A grave look appeared in Situ Houtu’s eyes. ’This kid... who knows where he got a Saber Technique like that! I obtained my Heaven Burial Shovel Technique only through a stroke of luck and after exerting great effort. I can’t believe this kid’s Comprehension and luck are no worse than mine. To have obtained such a formidable Saber Technique at his age!’

A sense of crisis welled up from the depths of Situ Houtu’s heart. He took a deep breath, retrieved an Elixir from his robes, and swallowed it. ’There are still two Hours until dark,’ he thought. ’I must completely grasp the Puppet’s Combat Skill within that time and break through in one fell swoop! I have to get past it before that kid does!’

His mind made up, Situ Houtu frantically circulated his True Qi, rapidly dissolving the Elixir’s Medicinal Power to replenish his reserves. Gritting his teeth, he raised his Cyan Light Shovel and charged forward, once again launching an attack on the Puppet.

While Situ Houtu fought through gritted teeth, Zhaang Ye was finding the battle more and more exhilarating.

The Death Qi emitted by the Puppet contained a trace of Barbaric Qi. The Dragon Elephant Power within Zhaang Ye’s body seemed to be particularly drawn to this wisp of Barbaric Qi. As his Dragon Elephant Skill circulated, Zhaang Ye felt the Barbaric Qi being slowly devoured and fused into his Dragon Elephant Power.

As the fusion progressed, Zhaang Ye felt the Dragon Elephant Power in his body grow increasingly abundant. His skin began to faintly radiate a golden light, and his bones started to emit a metallic ringing. He felt on the verge of breaking through to the Middle Stage of the 5th Layer at any moment!

As he fought, both his Dragon Elephant Skill and his Saber Technique grew more and more refined.

Although Zhaang Ye had created the Mountain-Breaking Slash himself, he had not yet cultivated the Saber Technique to the Minor Achievement stage. Now, in his battle against this formidable Puppet, he could use Mountain-Breaking Slash to his heart’s content, honing the technique with every strike.

With each repetition, Zhaang Ye felt his Rotating Power and Dissolving Power coordinating with increasing elegance. The Saber Technique he unleashed grew more powerful, more fluid, and more and more like a Space Storm! 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Zhaang Ye had already been stuck in front of this third Puppet for two whole days. During that time, a few other youths with impressive Body Techniques had successively arrived and begun their second attempt at the trial.

On another small path, a thousand zhang away from Zhaang Ye, a sinister-looking youth had just passed the second gate. The moment he passed, he saw Zhaang Ye and Situ Houtu locked in a frenzied assault. He was utterly dumbfounded by the sight of their performance.

This sinister, gloomy youth was none other than Jiang Ailiang.

Zhaang Ye’s Cloud Stepping Technique was best suited for use in dense woods. When Zhaang Ye used it with his full strength, even Jiang Ailiang’s Floating Light and Shadow Step Technique could not keep up. However, while Jiang Ailiang’s speed was somewhat slower than Zhaang Ye’s, the gap wasn’t enormous. By the time Zhaang Ye had passed the second gate, Jiang Ailiang had passed the first.

Now, Zhaang Ye had been held up at the third gate for two days. During this time, Jiang Ailiang had finally defeated the second Puppet and passed the second gate.

He couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill at having defeated two powerful Puppets and passed two gates in just two days. However, that excitement vanished without a trace the moment he witnessed the spectacle put on by Zhaang Ye and Situ Houtu.

Jiang Ailiang had long heard of Situ Houtu’s abilities, so he wouldn’t have been too surprised no matter how incredible his performance was. What shocked him was Zhaang Ye—specifically, Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique!

The Saber Technique Zhaang Ye was currently displaying was both domineering and agile. It could unleash incredibly sharp attacks, yet he could also retract his blade with ease to execute all manner of evasive maneuvers. A Saber Technique like this was beyond Jiang Ailiang’s wildest imagination!

What made Jiang Ailiang’s face pale even more was that Zhaang Ye had been battling this formidable Puppet for so long not only without needing rest, but he seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment. It looked as if he could keep fighting for three days and three nights without issue!

What terrifying strength!

’To have lasted this long without a break... This kid’s Saber Technique is incredible, and his stamina is bottomless!’ Jiang Ailiang sucked in a breath, his gaze hardening with resolve. ’If that kid can do it, then so can I! I will break past this third Puppet within two days and prove myself superior to all the other geniuses!’

With this thought, a powerful battle intent surged in Jiang Ailiang’s eyes. He advanced step by step until he was just beyond fifteen zhang from the third Puppet. He took a deep breath, and his figure suddenly lunged forward.

Jiang Ailiang had seen Situ Houtu and Zhaang Ye fight, so he knew the third Puppet was powerful, but he had ultimately still underestimated its strength. While his lunging figure was still in midair, he heard a sharp CRACK! Two hazy gray beams shot out of the Puppet’s eyes and instantly locked onto him.

Before Jiang Ailiang could react, a simple, ancient-looking Long Spear appeared in the Puppet’s hand. It swung!

With that single swing, a terrifying force instantly shot through the air, hurtling directly toward him.

Jiang Ailiang was startled. ’It can attack from more than fifteen zhang away?’ he thought. But Jiang Ailiang was, after all, a veteran of countless battles. Though surprised, he was not panicked. The Short Sword in his hand flashed out. Driven by his Linghan Ice Sealing Technique, his blade unleashed a hazy Sword Qi that viciously sliced into the incoming force.

CRACK!

Jiang Ailiang’s strike was by no means trivial; he had sliced the Puppet’s attack in two. But at that very moment, he suddenly felt a faint wisp of Death Qi travel from his Short Sword, up to his wrist, along his arm, into his body, and seep into his Meridians!

’It’s Death Qi!’ Jiang Ailiang’s expression changed drastically.

’Death Qi mixed with Barbaric Qi!’ Jiang Ailiang’s face fell completely.

The Cultivation Technique he practiced, the Linghan Ice Sealing Technique, caused an excess of yin energy to build up in his body over time. This imbalance of yin and yang gave Jiang Ailiang a perpetually gloomy aura and a deathly pale complexion.

Having practiced the Linghan Ice Sealing Technique, his body was already overflowing with yin energy. Death Qi was a power of extremely heavy yin, and if it invaded his body, his own True Qi could spiral out of control. This would lead to a chaotic flow of True Qi and the reversal of his Meridians—the consequences were unimaginable!

Death Qi alone was enough to startle Jiang Ailiang, but this was Death Qi that also contained a trace of Barbaric Qi! Death Qi was tenacious enough on its own; Death Qi infused with Barbaric Qi was even more so!

Horrified, Jiang Ailiang instantly dropped down and flashed back beyond the fifteen-zhang mark. He retreated so quickly and in such a panic that, despite his powerful skills, he stumbled on the narrow path and nearly tumbled into the bottomless Abyss.

Pfft—

Before Jiang Ailiang could even get to his feet, he heard a soft laugh drift over from a distance.

Jiang Ailiang looked over and saw that the one who had laughed was, of all people, his fiancée, Feng Tongming.

As it turned out, Feng Tongming was a sliver more powerful than Jiang Ailiang and had passed the second gate even faster than he had. After watching Zhaang Ye and Situ Houtu fight, she understood how formidable the third Puppet was. Thus, she wasn’t in a rush to act, choosing instead to quietly observe Situ Houtu’s and Zhaang Ye’s Combat Skills.

She hadn’t expected that while she was observing the fight, Jiang Ailiang would be sent flying backward by the Puppet in such a sorry state. The sight was so pathetic that she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Hearing his own fiancée laugh at him, Jiang Ailiang was so furious he nearly choked. He spat out two mouthfuls of blood and swore viciously in his heart, ’This woman... just you wait until my Linghan Ice Sealing Technique reaches the Great Success stage. I’ll come find you for some "dual cultivation," and I swear I’ll make you suffer!’

After that thought, Jiang Ailiang quickly sat down cross-legged, circulating his True Qi and desperately trying to force the Death Qi out of his body. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)