The black mist figure continued, “If you pass the ultimate test here, you can become a Skyfire Lieutenant and gain the qualification to be summoned to the ancestral land by the Skyfire Temple. Going to the ancestral land means escaping the punishment of the Heavenly Dao rules, which is invaluable for you. But achieving such qualification is, for you, as difficult as ascending to the heavens.”
“In this continent, throughout this epoch, only one person has truly been summoned to the ancestral land.”
“By the way, Captain, how many years is an epoch?” Lin Yun couldn’t help but ask.
Lin Yun had heard Palace Master Mo mention epochs before, but he hadn’t inquired further at the time.
Though eager to start the advanced test and see if he could pass, Lin Yun was even more curious about these secrets.
“One epoch is one million years,” the black mist figure replied.
“So, this world is reset every million years?” Lin Yun’s eyes narrowed.
“You could say that. The destruction of one epoch marks the birth of the next. Destruction and creation go hand in hand,” the black mist figure said.
He continued, “In this cycle of epoch destruction, countless heroes and powerhouses who reached the pinnacle of this world have tried to escape such a fate. Yet their grand ambitions were crushed under the wheels of destiny and time, reduced to ashes.”
Hearing this, Lin Yun felt a surge of emotions.
“Captain, how many years have passed in this epoch?” Lin Yun asked.
“Seven hundred and thirty thousand years.” Human civilisation in this epoch was already quite mature, but this also meant the end of the epoch was not far off.
“Seven hundred and thirty thousand years?” Lin Yun murmured.
Conversations with Palace Master Mo or the black mist figure greatly expanded Lin Yun’s knowledge.
Being young, he knew little of the world’s secrets. Most ordinary humans and even immortals in this world were unaware of these truths.
Only by reaching such a high and powerful level was Lin Yun gradually learning the secrets behind this world.
Many things were unknown even to his master, who could only speculate based on tens of thousands of years of experience.
When chatting with Palace Master Mo, Lin Yun had wondered how someone under a hundred thousand years old knew so much. Now it made sense. As a Skyfire Leader, Mo must have learned much from the black mist figure.
Calculating the time, Lin Yun realised this epoch had twenty-seven thousand years left, a long time by his standards.
“Facing epoch destruction and the Heavenly Dao rules, even immortals are insignificant,” Lin Yun sighed.
Even immortals were mere pawns, manipulated invisibly, unable to break free, like ants before the Heavenly Dao.
“You’ve asked a lot. Are you still doing the advanced test or not?” the black mist figure asked.
“Of course! I have to!” Lin Yun nodded with a smile.
For Lin Yun now, thinking too much was pointless.
Not to mention epoch destruction, the current threat from the demon clan was already a headache.
“Let’s get started then. You need to knock me out of the circle to win, so make your move,” the black mist figure said.
“Captain, no offence!”
Lin Yun drew his origin-level sword, his vast inner energy bursting forth, transformed by the Ultimate Dragon Technique into powerful dragon qi.
“This guy is really starting the advanced test!”
“With the Captain in the ring, this’ll be a show.”
“Do you think he has a chance to win?”
“He has many tricks, and they’re strong, but beating the Captain? No way!”
The four silver-armoured stone statues stepped out of the circle, adopting a spectator’s stance, discussing and speculating.
In the arena.
“Sky Source Sword Art, Tidal Form!”
“Dragon Claw!”
Lin Yun’s sword surged toward the black mist figure, his arm covered in dragon scales, physical strength, divine sense, and other techniques fully unleashed.
“Far from enough!”
The black mist figure shook his head, raising a hand. A mass of black mist coiled, forming a whip that lashed at Lin Yun’s incoming sword.
Crack!
The whip struck the sword, producing a deafening sound, ripples tearing through space.
Lin Yun’s strike was effortlessly blocked by the black mist figure.
And the black mist figure showed no intent to attack, merely waiting for Lin Yun’s moves.
“Again!”
Dragon Emperor Bone, activate!
Lin Yun’s Dragon Emperor Bone glowed brilliantly, a resonant dragon roar echoing within.
His sword, carrying earth-shaking momentum, struck again, far fiercer under the bone’s enhancement.
Facing this onslaught, the black mist figure swung his black mist whip again.
Crack!
With a sharp, piercing sound, Lin Yun’s attack was blocked once more.
“Truly formidable,” Lin Yun’s eyes narrowed.
He had easily passed the intermediate test with such an outburst.
Now, this attack couldn’t shake the black mist figure.
The advanced test was indeed far more difficult.
And since Lin Yun was at the Myriad Things realm, the black mist figure was suppressing his strength.
If even Lin Yun found it tough, no wonder so few passed this test.
“So, Lin Yun, as I said, you can’t pass the advanced test. Go train more. Passing two tests in one go to become a Skyfire Guard is already impressive,” the black mist figure said.
“Since I’ve started the advanced test, how can I give up easily?” Lin Yun replied.
With that, he formed a hand seal.
Heaven-Slaying Seal!
Five blood-red seals formed at Lin Yun’s chest, his aura surging noticeably.
“He still has more cards?”
The watching silver-armoured statues, sensing Lin Yun’s aura change, were visibly shocked.
Lin Yun had already used so many powerful techniques, making them think he had exhausted his arsenal. That he had more left was utterly astonishing.
