To outsiders, it’s all just a spectacle, but insiders see the intricacies. Lin Yun could discern the subtleties of most sword techniques, though some aspects still puzzled him.
Of course, this required a strong foundation. Without it, one could only flounder blindly. Thus, the benefits of such an opportunity varied from person to person. Some might gain profound insights, while others might take away little.
…
Meanwhile, outside the divine palace.
Palace Master Mo Bai and Elder Rong Zhen had been waiting for a full day.
“It’s been a whole day since Lin Yun went in. Why hasn’t he come out yet?” Mo Bai asked, puzzled.
“Indeed. By now, the beginner’s test should be long over, shouldn’t it? Could he be attempting the intermediate test?” Elder Rong Zhen said.
They had expected Lin Yun to finish the test quickly and emerge, so they waited for him here.
“Let’s go in and check,” Mo Bai said, heading toward the divine palace.
As the Heavenly Fire Leader, Mo Bai had the authority to enter the palace, and Elder Rong Zhen, a Heavenly Fire Guard, was similarly permitted.
In the divine palace’s grand hall.
“Captain Mo Bai!” Several silver-armoured statues greeted and saluted upon seeing him.
“Where’s Lin Yun?” Mo Bai asked, looking at the statues.
“Captain Mo Bai, Lin Yun has passed the intermediate test and is now in the Thousand Mechanism Chamber, comprehending sword techniques,” one of the statues replied.
“What? Lin Yun passed the intermediate test?”
Mo Bai and Elder Rong Zhen were both stunned.
They had hoped Lin Yun could pass the beginner’s test, confident in his ability to do so, but they hadn’t dared to dream of him passing the intermediate test.
After all, Lin Yun was still in the Myriad Things Realm. Even with adjusted difficulty, the intermediate test remained incredibly challenging for someone of his level.
After a moment of shock, Mo Bai grinned, “This guy’s got some skills. Passing the intermediate test? That’s beyond my expectations.”
“Captain Mo Bai, this guy’s got plenty of tricks. He passed the intermediate test with ease and even humiliated me,” the statue Lin Yun had previously defeated said helplessly.
“Really? Haha, that’s interesting,” Mo Bai laughed.
Elder Rong Zhen, stroking his beard with a smile, said, “This guy’s something special. Not even in the Sovereign Realm yet, and he’s already a Heavenly Fire Guard.”
He, Elder Rong Zhen, was also just a Heavenly Fire Guard.
“Indeed. Not even in the Sovereign Realm, yet so monstrous. If he reaches the Sovereign Realm, his potential is limitless,” Mo Bai said with a sigh.
At that moment, a black mist appeared, and the black mist figure materialised.
“Mo Bai, Lin Yun also attempted the advanced test, though he failed,” the black mist figure said.
“He challenged the advanced test?” Mo Bai and Rong Zhen were taken aback.
They knew the advanced test’s difficulty well. Elder Rong Zhen still couldn’t overcome it, and Mo Bai himself had been stuck at that stage for a long time before succeeding.
“This guy’s got guts to try, but the advanced test is just too tough. How could he have any chance?” Rong Zhen sighed.
“You’re wrong there, Rong Zhen. His chances were at least better than yours. Though he didn’t pass, his final attack actually posed a threat to me,” the black mist figure said.
“What?!”
Mo Bai and Rong Zhen were shocked again.
This was yet another surprise.
They had initially hoped Lin Yun could just pass the beginner’s test and take his time from there.
Yet, he had come close to passing the advanced test?
This made Mo Bai and Rong Zhen feel somewhat inadequate. After all, Lin Yun had been cultivating for far less time than they had.
“This guy keeps surprising me,” Mo Bai said with a sigh.
“He’s got dragon clan secrets and techniques, something we can’t even dream of matching,” Rong Zhen said.
…
Back in the Thousand Mechanism Chamber, within the Sword Chamber space.
Lin Yun continued to observe, learn, and comprehend.
One day, two days, three days…
As time passed, the further Lin Yun progressed, the more awestruck he felt. The revelations were even transformative.
A month later.
“This approach could fundamentally change the way sword techniques are used,” Lin Yun said, marvelling after finishing one pillar.
Just then, his communication bracelet relayed a message from Mo Qing.
“Lin Yun, I’ve broken through to the Myriad Things Realm,” Mo Qing’s joyful voice echoed in Lin Yun’s mind.
“Really? That’s great!” Lin Yun replied via the bracelet, genuinely happy for Mo Qing.
Mo Qing’s breakthrough to the Myriad Things Realm meant he had passed a test in the Human Emperor’s ruins, gained a reward, and used the opportunity to break through his bottleneck.
“Mo Qing, I’m in secluded cultivation right now. Once I’m done, I’ll come find you and help you advance your realm!” Lin Yun transmitted.
Lin Yun knew that after Mo Qing’s breakthrough to the first stage of the Myriad Things Realm, he could make significant progress again.
This was definitely good news.
“Lin Yun, you’re in seclusion? I won’t disturb you then. Let me know when you’re out,” Mo Qing’s crisp voice came through again.
“Alright, we’ll meet then!” Lin Yun replied.
After ending the communication with Mo Qing, Lin Yun resumed his observation and comprehension.
During this time, no one else contacted him except Mo Qing.
Lin Yun had previously told Emperor Fire Cloud to notify him if the Heavenly Demon went to battle and he was needed.
…
Time flew by. When Lin Yun finished the last pillar, three months had passed since he entered.
At this point, Lin Yun felt that the Human Emperor’s Heavenly Origin Sword Art was likely created by building on his own swordsmanship foundation, combined with insights from these pillars.
“I finally understand why Palace Master Mo didn’t bother with the Human Emperor’s ruins,” Lin Yun murmured.
Since Palace Master Mo must have entered the Thousand Mechanism Chamber, he likely had his own insights and didn’t need the Human Emperor’s secret inheritance. Besides, Mo might not even use a sword, making his cultivation path different from the Human Emperor’s.
Of course, these were just Lin Yun’s speculations.
As for Lin Yun himself, after three months of studying the pillars, he clearly felt he had gained countless new insights.
This made him eager to apply these gains and insights to his own practice.
