Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi

Chapter 290 210: The Truth of the Divine Palace? (2)

Elder Yuanxu was startled and quickly went over to shake him awake.

Bai Hong Sword Immortal gradually regained consciousness, but his complexion was still frighteningly pale, like someone suffering from a severe illness, as he shakily stood up.

Even though his magical power mechanism and spirit soul aura were as strong as before, he seemed to have suffered an invisible heavy blow, leaving him looking sickly.

"His spiritual will has suffered severe damage!"

Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts, their movements becoming slow.

Noticing the hesitation and indecision all around, Zhang Yao stepped forward and flicked his sleeve:

"I'll do it."

With this statement, everyone's gaze immediately locked onto him.

Zhang Yao sat in front of the Star Map Stele, his gaze on the complex star map engraved on it, while concurrently investing his divine thought into it.

"Boom!"

In an instant, the world spun!

Zhang Yao felt dizzy and disoriented, finding himself within an ancient and vast starry sky.

All around him were stars, star wheels, and star discs as large as carts; in the distance, there were fascinating spectacles of spinning black holes, collapsing nebulae, and inverted star rivers.

For a moment:

Immersed in the cosmic expanse, Zhang Yao felt his body being kneaded like dough, chilled, scorched, flattened, torn, expanded... In an instant, countless sensations surged through his heart.

Dull pain, numbness, comfort, sourness, swelling, bone-piercing agony... In an instant, countless feelings roiled inside, threatening to destroy his sanity.

Zhang Yao could not utter a sound, only silently roaring and howling, holding onto the faint clarity in his mind.

This was a pure contest of willpower, with no shortcuts; strong is strong, weak is weak, and being slightly off could lead to shattering, eternally falling into purgatory.

Under the extreme torment of the mind, Zhang Yao almost lost track of time.

No idea how much time had passed:

Just when Zhang Yao could hardly hold on, starburst exploded around him, cosmos and stars all vanished, dissolving into nothingness.

"Huff!"

Zhang Yao suddenly opened his eyes, gasping heavily, finally realizing he was still seated in front of the stele.

The previously dazzling Star Map Stele now appeared ordinary, no longer triggering any reaction upon his gaze.

"..."

Silently rising, Zhang Yao felt as though the brief trial had transformed his spiritual will once again.

"The trials within the Jade Divine Palace might not just be for selection but also cultivation."

"No wonder Elder Haihe suspected this place could have been a selection ground for a super sect of the ancient era..."

He suddenly understood.

When Zhang Yao reached the ancient green jade gate beside Three Evils Daoist, the remaining people gained confidence and began attempting the trials.

However, the outcome was disappointing—

Of the seven remaining Golden Core masters, many had prepared thoroughly in advance, yet they all failed miserably at the fifth level of the trials.

In the end:

Only Zhang Yao, Three Evils Daoist, and the always silent, sword-box-bearing young swordsman succeeded in passing the Star Map Stele challenge.

"Hmm?"

Feeling a bit surprised, Zhang Yao took another look at the young swordsman, then suddenly turned to ask:

"What is this fellow cultivator's background?"

Three Evils Daoist hesitated briefly, then replied:

"His name is 'You Quan,' from Gui Kingdom, an artifact cultivator."

"Artifact cultivator?"

Zhang Yao understood.

Artifact cultivation emphasizes entrusting life to treasure, merging person and treasure, using the power of magical treasures to refine one's own profound method, with many intricacies.

During the ancient era, it was a glorious school, even appearing to challenge the orthodox Qi Refining Dao, illustrating its prosperity.

The now very popular method of lifebound magical treasure refinement was originally pioneered by artifact cultivators; later, they branched into various subtypes, the sword cultivator branch being the most famed, hailed as the top kill force among cultivators of the same rank.

Yet after the Ancient Great Destruction, artifact cultivation has been in decline for many years, now even rarer than soul cultivation or pill cultivation.

"Artifact cultivators have considerable combat prowess, coupled with steadfast hearts, making them not to be underestimated."

Zhang Yao silently memorized the young swordsman, beginning to truly regard him seriously in his heart.

"Everyone."

Three Evils Daoist suddenly spoke, glancing at the sullen-faced Man Tian Sheng, Elder Haihe, and others in the hall, he said:

"It seems your preparations are insufficient; you can only stop here."

At this remark:

Zhang Yao sighed, not saying more, while You Quan remained expressionless and indifferent.

"Damn it!"

Man Tian Sheng was somewhat agitated, stamping his feet impatiently, yet he was at a loss for what to do.

Watching helplessly as the Ancient Spiritual Treasure slipped away was a very uncomfortable feeling, especially when he couldn't resist the rules of the Jade Divine Palace.

"Could it be that we really need to join forces with the Three Evils Daoist and the others and battle as soon as we leave the Divine Palace?"

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.

Before coming to the Divine Palace, he was brimming with confidence, but after witnessing Elder Qingxu's skills, he had lost every bit of that confidence.

Yet, if he were to just withdraw, giving up this heaven-sent opportunity for nothing, he would feel extremely unwilling.

"This..."

Haihe Ancestor was just about to say something, when Fairy Feiyin suddenly spoke:

"Everyone need not worry, I have a solution."

"What?"

The words elicited astonishment from everyone.

"You have a solution?"

Elder Yuanxu was the first to react, questioning:

"What possible solution could you have? Such arrogance!"

"You were invited by Dawn Light, is that correct? But you're just at the Early Stage Golden Core, not Golden Core Perfection or a Nascent Soul Old Monster!"

"Exactly!"

Bai Hong Sword Immortal chimed in to echo:

"Not just us, even if a Nascent Soul Old Monster came, they might not be able to find a loophole in this Jade Divine Palace."

Fairy Feiyin's expression remained unchanged, she replied calmly:

"Of course, I cannot find a loophole in the Jade Divine Palace Array, but what if a back door was already left within the Divine Palace?"

Her words instantly silenced the crowd.

"Hmm?"

Zhang Yao narrowed his eyes, glanced at Fairy Feiyin, and then at Fairy Xia Guang, his gaze slightly flickering.

Three Evils Daoist raised an eyebrow, while Bai Hong Sword Immortal and Elder Yuanxu looked at her with skepticism, unable to resist asking:

"What do you mean? Have you discovered a back door here?"

"Yes."

Fairy Feiyin maintained her composure as she spoke:

"Perhaps you are all unaware, but I am born of demon cultivation, with Demon Race blood flowing within me."

Upon hearing this, Three Evils Daoist and Bai Hong Sword Immortal showed little reaction, while Man Tian Sheng muttered a couple of words without further comment.

Most cultivators have a rather ambivalent attitude towards demon cultivators, especially after achieving the Golden Core Realm, they have formed their own opinions and no longer resort to rash violence.

Seeing no intense reaction from them, Fairy Feiyin continued:

"Actually, when I first entered the Jade Divine Palace, I received an additional message."

"The message said this place is an external Beifu of the Longevity Alliance from the Ancient Era, dedicated to nurturing newly arrived prodigies and young talents."

"In the Longevity Alliance, humans and demons coexist and are treated equally, but after all, the two races are not one and each harbors their own intentions. The overseer of this external Beifu was one of the high-ranking figures in the alliance, a Divinity Transformation Great Demon..."

With these words, the Golden Core cultivators immediately understood.

"You mean to say..."

Three Evils Daoist slowly spoke:

"Here, on the surface, the Trial Takers of both the human and demon races are treated equally; but secretly, a back door was left for the demon race Trial Takers?"

"And you, bearing the Demon Race bloodline, were thus recognized as a demon race and learned of this secret, able to utilize the back door here?"

"Correct."

Fairy Feiyin nodded, stating:

"I can utilize the pre-arranged back door here to bring everyone together to the sixth trial, but there won't be any rewards."

"The sixth trial tests insight, such a mysterious and profound thing should be simpler than testing spiritual will."

At this point, her tone carried a hint of temptation:

"Everyone should know, the rewards within the Jade Divine Palace grow more generous with each trial."

"If everyone can pass the sixth trial, the losses of the fifth trial won't really matter."

Upon hearing this, Man Tian Sheng, Bai Hong Sword Immortal, and Elder Yuanxu exchanged glances, each seeing their mutual eagerness.

Originally, having failed, they were awaiting expulsion from the Divine Palace, but now they still had the chance to proceed to the sixth trial, which was indeed a great gain.

"What about the price?"

Three Evils Daoist suddenly asked, his gaze fixed on her:

"What price do you need to pay to utilize this back door?"