Chapter 671

Chapter 671: Breaking Through Successively

"Just as the Ancestor of the Sword Path said, I could only use the second turn now. As for the final third turn, the Sea of Heavenly Fire, even if I forced it out with full strength, it’d definitely damage my body. Without absolute confidence, it’s better not to risk using it casually like the Born as a Sword technique."

Holding twenty-eight blazing flames in his palm, Ye Yun pondered the Fire Flame Triad in his sea of consciousness. The urge to test the first two turns—Human Fire Stream and Earth Fire River—grew stronger. After all, he’d painstakingly obtained this supreme Immortal artifact; letting it gather dust would be wasteful.

"Enough. Once I merge this array into the Deceptive Array, I’ll push further upward." Closing his fist, the glow in his palm snuffed out. Ye Yun scanned the surrounding darkness coldly, Fire Spirit Qi radiating from his soul.

With a flick of his sleeve, ten zhang of molten lava erupted—a violent coalescence of Fire Spirit Qi. Ye Yun didn’t hesitate to channel the surging energy within him, flames morphing into crimson magma that roared forward.

"Only the Sea of Heavenly Fire remains unused. No need to rush—my current state can’t handle it anyway. After going all out earlier, my Fire Spirit Qi’s down to thirty percent."

Satisfied, Ye Yun watched the darkness in his mind glow scarlet under the lava’s glare. He chuckled, "I wonder if unleashing the Sea of Heavenly Fire later will erase this darkness completely."

"Don’t entertain such reckless ideas. This is just one star in an endless night," the Ancestor of the Sword Path grumbled, eyeing the flames dancing in Ye Yun’s pupils. "Try that sacrificial lifespan gambit, and I’ll seal your Fire Spirit Qi myself."

"Relax, it was just a joke." Ye Yun knew his current experiment—simulating the Fire Flame Triad’s first two turns by channeling Fire Spirit Qi through his meridians like an array—was merely internal. The real danger lay in unleashing it fully, which would reduce this peaceful space to ashes.

More importantly, if he scorched this place, the Deceptive Array’s spirit might permanently ban him from trials. That’d leave him truly helpless.

Shaking off distractions, Ye Yun checked Jin An’s meridians—now mostly repaired by the Ancestor’s soul power. His gaze shifted to Golden Ling’er, sweating through her cultivation. A wisp of purple Immortal aura shot from his fingertips into her body.

As the energy took effect, Golden Ling’er’s tense expression eased. Her true qi swelled as she refined the gift.

The Ancestor raised an eyebrow. "Seven top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones wasted on an outsider? Since when did you become so generous?"

Ye Yun opened his eyes, fiery glints flashing. "Since when have I ever been stingy?"

"Don’t play dumb. You know my thoughts." The Ancestor glanced at the black stone tablet’s intricate patterns, nostalgia flickering in his eyes.

"Almost at Nascent Soul stage’s first-layer perfection." Ye Yun watched Golden Ling’er’s overflowing true qi. "She’s endured all night."

"With neither of you keeping her company, grinding through cultivation beats boredom," the Ancestor snorted. "Lazy as she is, this keeps her busy."

"Once she wakes, have Ling’er watch Jin An. I’ll conquer the tablet’s illusions next." Ye Yun nodded as Golden Ling’er stirred. "Handle any issues with Jin An."

"Consider it done. He’s half my disciple anyway." The Ancestor paused. "But charging in alone? Remember—no using Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique to refill spiritual power there."

"You noticed that trap?" Ye Yun grinned. "They limit recovery, not strength. I’ve got workarounds."

"Then go claim those heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Maybe they’ll have soul-nourishing items."

"Count on it." Ye Yun pressed his palm to the stone tablet. As his true qi flowed in, the engravings lit up. Dizziness hit, but he steadied himself, imprinting both Purple Shadow Divine Sword and Fire Dragon Whip into the trial space.

Watching Ye Yun enter with all his artifacts, the Ancestor muttered, "Fool. The Deceptive Array’s spirit won’t go easy now."

But Ye Yun had chosen this path. He’d either prepared thoroughly or embraced recklessness.

"Third layer?"

Ye Yun crushed yellow sand underfoot, grinning at the desert’s blistering heat. "Definitely a wasteland."

The cold trial voice resumed as ground bulges shifted. Ye Yun tensed—enemies lurked below.

The sand beneath him collapsed, ensnaring his legs. He yanked free with a true qi burst, then teleported skyward via spatial laws. Below, the dunes churned violently—something manipulated the sand.

"Annoying." Ice Spirit Qi erupted from Ye Yun’s feet, freezing the area. Seconds later, ice shattered as seven giant limbless worms burst forth—mouths ringed with fangs, bodies oozing putrid fluid.

"Disgusting." Eschewing his sword, Ye Yun summoned flames. "Fire Flame Triad: Human Fire Stream!"

Crimson lava engulfed the worms. Their bloated forms writhed, spewing acrid smoke as they burned.

"Everything here reeks when charred." Ye Yun scowled at the stench.

As the lava cooled, silence returned. The trial voice stayed mute.

"Cheating the system? Solo challengers probably face one worm, not seven." Ye Yun scooped sand, plotting. Delays risked missing the Xumi Treasure’s first-layer opening—the real prize.

"Next layer!"

The world dissolved. Suddenly, Ye Yun stood on a lake. Preempting the trial voice, he slammed the Purple Shadow Divine Sword into the water. Ice Spirit Qi flash-froze the surface.

"Strike first, gain the upper hand." As Ye Yun dried his robes with controlled flames, the skies darkened—something slithered through storm clouds above.