Too strong!
This was Ye Chen's understanding of the first level's guardian. Even though he had long known the Human Sovereign Trial was no simple matter, the guardian he faced in the first level was absurdly powerful.
Although it was only at the Xiantian level, Ye Chen strongly suspected the guardian was, like himself, an invincible existence who had suppressed their cultivation to Xiantian, possessing similarly terrifyingly astonishing combat awareness. Even someone as powerful as him found it difficult to gain much of an upper hand.
It was an unbelievable scene, yet it was happening right before his eyes.
At this moment, Ye Chen finally understood. Although the guardian was only at the third level of Xiantian, it was likely a truly invincible existence within the same realm, possessing the utmost limits in both spiritual sense and physical body.
To pass the trial, one must be the same.
Truly worthy of being the Human Sovereign Trial. It seemed simple, but successfully challenging a guardian who was an invincible peer was truly more difficult than ascending to heaven.
Naturally, this was the Human Sovereign Trial, the ultimate trial prepared for the Human Sovereign. Otherwise, how could it be so simple? It was a tempering, one that could hone the challenger's strength to become even more invincible, polished, and natural.
But Ye Chen was unafraid. On the contrary, his blood boiled with excitement, his entire body's blood energy seeming to steam as a surging fighting spirit arose.
He was powerful, his combat awareness terrifyingly astonishing. Although he was only at Xiantian, his experience and instinctual awareness could not be stripped away.
He stepped out with the Reverse Void Eight Steps, one step after another. This was a terrifying movement technique of the Xiantian pinnacle, and he executed it to its utmost limit. Even at just Xiantian, it could absolutely rival a Demigod, nearly transforming him into a phantom soaring into the sky.
But the guardian also possessed a similar extreme-speed movement technique, not much inferior to the Reverse Void Eight Steps. It too transformed into phantoms soaring upward, continuously clashing and striking at Ye Chen.
Moreover, the opponent's True Yuan was used with incredible proficiency and ease. Despite being only at the third level of Xiantian, its True Yuan surged, manifesting four weapons of war which it grasped, instantly slicing through the air to attack and kill Ye Chen.
Naturally, Ye Chen would not willingly admit defeat. He stepped out with the Reverse Void Eight Steps, his body transforming into a stream of light, crisscrossing this martial arts arena.
Furthermore, he engaged in close-quarters combat, employing terrifying fighting skills he was familiar with. Using Xiantian True Yuan as support and physical attacks as the main force, his moves were extremely fierce and fearsome.
Every part of his body—fingers, palms, wrists, arms, shoulders, back, chest, thighs, knees, soles of his feet—could become his strongest weapon. Even his head could be used the same way.
Often, he would merely use his Xiantian True Yuan to block the opponent's Xiantian manifestation attacks, then attack with every part of his body simultaneously. His moves were fierce and lethal, absolutely a fearsome and terrifying hand.
An ordinary Xiantian expert encountering this would likely be killed within a single exchange.
Yes, this was Ye Chen's terrifying combat skill, developed by him to its extreme, practically allowing him to rampage invincibly.
Boom—
When his right elbow struck, it was blocked by the guardian's left hand. But in that instant, his forearm suddenly struck the guardian's chest at an eerie angle. A faint sound of bone cracking was heard, and then the guardian was sent flying backward, blood trickling from the corner of its mouth.
Joint Techniques!
That's right, Ye Chen's Joint Techniques were miraculous, a mastery born from reaching a profound level of control over his physical body. In the blink of an eye, he shifted from a stalemate to holding a slight advantage.
Seizing this momentum, Ye Chen launched a frenzied assault. While divine abilities and dao techniques were difficult to unleash at the Xiantian realm, Xiantian martial skills were still quite astonishing, and in Ye Chen's hands, they were executed with unparalleled proficiency. He attacked in rage, striking out wildly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
Although the black-clad guardian was very powerful, it was completely overpowered by Ye Chen. A small advantage among experts of this level could be widened into an insurmountable gap in an instant.
Especially in the hands of a close-quarters invincible Battle Saint like Ye Chen, it was even more astonishing.
He and the black-clad guardian almost transformed into two streams of light attacking each other, continuously exchanging blows. Each punch and kick reached the utmost limit of speed for this realm, and their combat awareness operated astonishingly, seeking to decipher the other's combat trajectory.
However, although the guardian was powerful, it was ultimately a guardian conjured by the Human Sovereign Pagoda, lacking true autonomous consciousness. In the end, Ye Chen managed to decipher its combat trajectory.
After the five hundred and thirty-seventh exchange, Ye Chen suddenly unleashed a furious, all-out strike, soaring through the air and tearing the guardian in two, bathing in blood and madness.
After the battle concluded, even Ye Chen's mouth was severely wounded, his right chest completely pierced through, dripping with blood. Half a lung had been torn out. He gasped for breath, covered in sweat.
This battle, seemingly just a Xiantian-level fight, was extremely perilous throughout.
Because it was a battle between invincible peers. If not for Ye Chen possessing autonomous consciousness while the guardian was merely a conjuration of the Human Sovereign Pagoda, facing a guardian with similar autonomous consciousness would likely have required over a thousand exchanges to achieve victory.
"First level trial challenge successful. Reward: Sweet Heaven Dew!"
The indifferent, emotionless voice sounded again. Above, a dazzlingly bright light shone, and a hazy liquid light sphere the size of a baby's fist descended. It was precisely the Sweet Heaven Dew.
It must be said, the rewards for successfully passing levels in the Human Sovereign Trial were truly generous. The first level offered Sweet Heaven Dew, a marvelous treasure with unimaginable benefits for the physical body. It could maximize physical strengthening, heal injuries, and also had a powerful nourishing effect on the spirit.
In the outside world, this would be a treasure not exchanged for even ten thousand catties of gold.
It was just a pity that this only applied to those below the Divine Transformation Realm. For Ye Chen, it didn't even have the slightest effect.
But it was better than nothing. Ye Chen stored it away. Even if useless to himself, it could be used in other ways.
After the battle, Ye Chen did not immediately proceed to the next level. Instead, he sat cross-legged here, silently contemplating the numerous combat experiences from the previous battle.
Although it was just a Xiantian-level battle, it provided Ye Chen with significant inspiration. In many aspects, it involved the mastery and various subtle applications of power, as well as the delicate control and command over foundational strength. In a way, he benefited quite substantially.
After contemplating for a full half-day, Ye Chen arrived at the next level. He pushed open the fifty-thousand-catty stone door and entered the second level.
The guardian faced in the second level was not the black-clad guardian, but an exceptionally burly and majestic giant, towering like an iron pagoda. One could feel the powerful muscular strength of this brawny giant.
Seventh level of Xiantian!
This was the realm of the second level's guardian. Of course, in terms of true strength, it was likely also an invincible peer, fully capable of unleashing power surpassing its current rank, even enough to slay a Xiantian pinnacle expert.
Ye Chen did not doubt this point.
Simultaneously, from the source power taken by the Human Sovereign Pagoda's rule power, a wisp descended, merging into his body. In an instant, his cultivation rose, also reaching the seventh level of Xiantian.
The battle begins!