Lin Xuan mobilized the Elemental Power in his body, circulating it frantically. His entire aura surged outwards, channeling through the Dragon Cloud Rod in his hand, poised to erupt at any moment.
He knew this would be a grueling fight. He had no intention of relying on the statue or the Soul Pearl; he wanted to see for himself what his true limits were.
Although both of those items belonged to him, he was determined to see what level his own power could reach. He wouldn’t depend on external aids, only on the Martial Technique he had spent years cultivating!
"Hold out for the time it takes one incense stick to burn, and you will pass," a voice announced from all around.
’So I just need to last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn?’ Lin Xuan now understood the condition for passing.
The moment he officially stepped into the room, the red Iron Man sprang to life. It stomped its foot and charged toward him at extreme speed, gliding over with an unidentifiable Body Technique.
Its movements were fluid and unpredictable, just like a living person’s! In the blink of an eye, the Iron Man was at his side, its greatsaber swinging in a horizontal slash aimed at his waist. The speed was explosive and sudden.
Lin Xuan’s pupils contracted. He swiftly raised his Dragon Cloud Rod to block to the side. CLANG! The impact sent him stumbling back several steps, the webbing between his thumb and forefinger numb. The force behind that blow was easily over a thousand pounds.
’This is too big of a jump!’ Lin Xuan was inwardly shocked. ’Both its speed and power have increased dramatically, and it can even use Martial Techniques. No wonder they set the reward threshold at the Fourth Layer. This thing is on par with the Eighth Layer of Body Refining Stage!’
And it wasn’t just an ordinary opponent at the Eighth Layer of Body Refining Stage, either. Its power was terrifying, but with his current abilities, he could still manage.
He had barely steadied himself when the red Iron Man charged again, with virtually no pause. Employing an elegant Body Technique, its greatsaber began to emit a startling red glow. The ambient temperature shot up. WHOOSH! Flame erupted from the blade as it swung viciously down on him, the razor-sharp edge radiating an astonishing heat.
"Cloud-Entering Form!"
Lin Xuan didn’t dodge. He had already prepared his ultimate Cloud-Entering Form and thrust it forward fiercely. A startling Qi Force coiled around the Dragon Cloud Rod as its ultimate power erupted once more.
CLANG!
A violent shockwave reverberated from the two clashing weapons. The fierce impact sent both combatants staggering back several steps. In a direct exchange of blows, they were evenly matched.
But the Iron Man didn’t pause for a moment. It lunged at him again, requiring no time to recover before launching its next assault. Its attacks were relentless.
Not to be outdone, Lin Xuan gripped his Dragon Cloud Rod tightly, the light in his eyes unwavering. A wondrous change came over his aura, as if he and the rod had fused into one, achieving the Realm of the Unity of Heaven and Man.
"Cloud-Entering Form!"
It was the Cloud-Entering Form again, but this time, it seemed subtly different, yet also much the same. However, this simple thrust was the culmination of his countless hours of effort.
For years, this single move was the only Martial Technique he had been able to practice!
The perfected Cloud-Entering Form seemed to answer his call. With this one thrust, it was as if the world itself had frozen—at least, that was the scene in Lin Xuan’s eyes. The Iron Man’s descending saber froze in mid-air. It had no expression, only a chilling stillness.
In reality, the world hadn’t frozen at all. His speed was simply too great!
DONG!
The ultimate Cloud-Entering Form became a Qi Dragon that bored into the Iron Man’s body. A terrifying vibration, like the striking of a great Copper Bell, produced a deafening sound. The Iron Man was blasted into the wall, a deep crater forming in its chest. Its back bulged outward, nearly pierced through by the force of his rod!
The power of this ultimate strike was immense; even Lin Xuan himself was astounded after unleashing it. The force far surpassed his usual output, nearly doubling its power.
’What’s going on?’ Lin Xuan was shocked.
Had any expert been present, they would have been utterly dumbfounded. This was the Realm of the Unity of Heaven and Man—a perfect fusion with one’s weapon that dramatically increased one’s power. To achieve such a state with only a Body Refining Stage Cultivation was a feat few could ever claim!
The Iron Man, slammed against the wall, felt no pain. The dent in its chest slowly began to repair itself. Without a moment’s hesitation, it charged at him once more!
"Again!" Lin Xuan roared, thrusting forward with his Cloud-Entering Form. The Realm of the Unity of Heaven and Man came to him on command. To his eyes, the Iron Man’s speed slowed to a crawl, allowing him to effortlessly strike its chest again, deepening the crater even further.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE.
By now the great door had opened, signaling that the time for one incense stick to burn had passed. The Iron Man, however, did not cease its assault. Its attacks remained terrifying, but for Lin Xuan, they no longer posed any real danger.
At this point, all Lin Xuan wanted was to completely demolish the Iron Man, not climb the stairs!
「Outside the Cloud Ascension Tower.」
After roughly the time it took for two incense sticks to burn, a bright light flashed, and Huang Ming appeared before the crowd, his face pale. He had emerged from the Fifth Layer, which meant he had failed its trial.
"The Fifth Layer is truly difficult to handle, so much stronger than the Fourth Layer..." Huang Ming hurriedly took out an Elixir Pill and swallowed it, his complexion improving slightly. He glanced around, then looked back toward the Cloud Ascension Tower and sneered. ’As I thought, he’s still stuck on the Fourth Layer. When it comes to real combat, I’m the winner!’
"Yes, Young Master, you are truly powerful! It’s been the time for two incense sticks, and that Lin Yunlong still hasn’t passed the Fourth Layer! Taking this long... even if he does pass, he’ll likely be instantly defeated on the Fifth Layer!" his attendant immediately chimed in, eager to flatter.
"Of course," Huang Ming snorted. To him, it was only natural.
He couldn’t wait to see the look on Lin Xuan’s face, like that of a stray dog, and to give him a good scolding. So what if he’d won in the Illusion Array? Only victory in the Cloud Ascension Tower was a true measure of strength!
In the blink of an eye, the time it took a third incense stick to burn passed. Lin Xuan was still on the Fourth Layer, and the crowd below had already begun to voice their criticisms.
"He still hasn’t passed after all this time. Could he have died on the Fourth Layer?"
"Yeah, he rushed through the first few floors so quickly, but now he’s stuck on the Fourth. I bet he burned through too much Elemental Power and got overconfident!"
...
Once again, public opinion was completely one-sided. To not have passed after so much time meant he was either barely hanging on or already dead.
"If he had completely lost the ability to fight, he would have been teleported out. That includes if he died," Elder Chen explained, his expression also souring.
’Coming out heavily injured would be as good as being crippled. The recovery time would be far too long, basically a death sentence for his future. If he’s dead, then there’s nothing to be said. What a waste of talent. While not the most exceptional, he was still more outstanding than most. He might have even become a Steward one day.’
"So that means he’s just desperately holding on?" Huang Ming sneered. ’This is all about saving face. If he can’t even pass the Fourth Layer, how can he live up to his earlier performance?’
’But even if he passes, so what? Would he have any strength left for another fight?’
Meanwhile, an astonishing scene was unfolding inside the Cloud Ascension Tower.
DONG!
A loud crash echoed as a rod, wreathed in astonishing Qi Force, pierced through the Iron Man, pinning it firmly in mid-air!
Lin Xuan held the Dragon Cloud Rod aloft, with the Iron Man impaled upon it. After a furious assault, he had finally run it through. He was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked, but his eyes blazed with an unyielding will to fight!
The impaled Iron Man had actually stopped moving. It hung lifelessly on the Dragon Cloud Rod, all signs of animation gone.
’Huh? Has the time for an incense stick already passed?’ Lin Xuan finally noticed that the entrance to the staircase had opened. He had been so absorbed in the fight that he’d lost all track of time. It wasn’t until he pierced the Iron Man that he realized he had already cleared the trial!
As he lowered the Iron Man to the ground, a deep voice echoed in his ears: "You have defeated the Red Venerable. Do you wish to attempt the Asura trial?"
"What? The Asura trial?"
Lin Xuan was stunned, having no idea what that meant.