Whoosh!
The Chengying Sword transformed into a streak of light, trailing faint crimson flames as it pierced toward the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator.
The cultivator suddenly raised his head and unleashed a punch, his fist glowing with searing energy that materialized into a solid strike, colliding head-on with the Chengying Sword.
Clang!
The sword recoiled. Though undamaged, Han Yi's eyes widened in shock as a surge of alarm flashed through his mind.
Undeterred, he recalled the Chengying Sword and unleashed his four Wind Demon Daggers, sending them darting wildly through the air to transform the space around the cultivator into a deadly formation.
Clang, clang, clang...
Despite its imposing, mechanical frame and Heavenly Crafting, the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator proved surprisingly agile, its reactions more than twice as swift as Han Yi's. Forged from some unknown material, it showed no fear of the Wind Demon Daggers, meeting their strikes head-on with its bare fists and holding its ground without faltering.
From a distance, Han Yi abruptly activated his Spirit Void Finger technique at full power. Channeling twenty percent of his mana, he used it to bind the cultivator in place, preventing its escape while continuing to control the daggers.
Han Yi unleashed eighty percent of his mana, channeling it into a frenzied barrage of Spirit Void Fingers. The spiritual rain of finger strikes pierced the air like arrows, with hundreds of them exploding forth in a single breath, nearly depleting his entire mana reserve.
Abandoning the Wind Demon Dagger, he poured his remaining mana into the Chengying Sword, executing the Li Fire Sword Manual. The blade sliced through the air with such speed that the sonic boom only registered moments before impact.
Whoosh!
A terrifying storm of spirit energy erupted around the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator.
Boom!
A bronze-hued fist punched through the chaotic energy, colliding head-on with the Chengying Sword's full-powered strike.
The fist's owner recoiled seven or eight meters.
The Chengying Sword, however, was sent flying backward with even greater force. Han Yi, his divine sense still linked to the blade, felt the backlash like a physical blow. A metallic sweetness flooded his throat as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Stumbling backward, Han Yi reached the edge of the plaza and collapsed into a seated position.
Second test failed. Remaining attempts: eight.
As the spiritual tempest subsided, Han Yi stared in horror at the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator, now seven or eight meters away.
The cultivator's yellow battle robe had been torn to shreds, revealing a completely black, metallic torso. Devoid of flesh or blood, the construct was a true masterpiece of Heavenly Crafting, its material and construction utterly foreign.
The cultivator's black exterior was crisscrossed with scratches from the Wind Demon Dagger and marred by the charred marks of the Spirit Void Finger.
One arm remained jet-black, matching the torso, while the other had turned bronze—the one that had clashed directly with the Chengying Sword.
"Incredible, utterly incredible," Han Yi muttered. "He's too strong."
"This body can withstand the Chengying Sword, the Wind Demon Dagger, and the Spirit Void Finger. Defensively, it's practically invincible below the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Moreover, the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator demonstrated instantaneous Fire Attribute Spells earlier, a technique he didn't use in the second test, proving he was still holding back."
"This trial is insane! Do they expect me to reach the Foundation Establishment stage just to stand a chance against him?"
Han Yi's expression darkened with frustration.
After partially recovering his mana, he gently beckoned, retrieving the scattered daggers and the Chengying Sword that had been blasted away.
Inspecting them, he breathed a sigh of relief to find both blades undamaged.
"My skills are still too weak, and my tactics too limited. I must address these shortcomings once I leave this place," Han Yi resolved inwardly, then resumed his cultivation.
Seven days later, his mana was fully restored.
"Again!"
Han Yi lunged forward once more, the Wind Demon Dagger transforming into a deadly formation to ensnare the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator.
This time, he didn't use the Spirit Void Finger.
Instead, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes as a Spirit Talisman materialized in his hand—the Yin Thunder Talisman.
This was his last one. He had used one of the two he had purchased earlier on a Robber Cultivator outside Daofu City.
Having held back his full strength in the first attempt, Han Yi now unleashed his trump card: this talisman.
Mana surged into it, and a dark light flickered. The Yin Thunder Talisman ignited spontaneously, burning to ashes in an instant. Han Yi thrust his hand forward, pointing at the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator. The cultivator's previously dull, lifeless eyes suddenly blazed with a crimson light.
Han Yi's heart skipped a beat.
The next moment, the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator, his eyes now glowing crimson, opened his mouth and spat out a breath of scarlet energy.
The breath transformed mid-air, coalescing into a shimmering illusion of an Immortal Mountain taller than a man. The illusion unfurled like a painted scroll, its details blossoming across the air.
Almost the instant Han Yi activated the Yin Thunder Talisman and pointed it, the phantom Immortal Mountain materialized, blocking his path.
Boom!
A thunderous roar shattered the void as the illusory Immortal Mountain, formed from the cultivator's transformed breath, crumbled into dust.
Han Yi never imagined the Yin Thunder Talisman could be blocked, let alone in such an unprecedented manner. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
Having already committed to the attack, he wouldn't waste this opportunity.
The Chengying Sword materialized once more.
Clang!
Bang...
Ten breaths later:
"Third test failed. Remaining attempts: seven."
Han Yi retreated to the edge of the plaza, gasping for breath.
Before the bronze gate, the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator stood motionless, its body now riddled with even more scratches. Yet Han Yi saw no way to breach its defenses.
Perhaps even ten more attacks using this tactic wouldn't pierce its defenses, Han Yi thought. He dared not take that risk.
Nine days later, fully recovered and focused, Han Yi retrieved a Magic Artifact from his Storage Pouch.
It was a golden, shuttle-shaped artifact that could be held in the palm of his hand when dormant: the Top-Grade Magic Artifact, Golden Light Shuttle.
This time, Han Yi intended to use this artifact he had never employed before.
Refining a Top-Grade Magic Artifact was no easy task, but since he only needed to use it once, complete refinement wasn't necessary.
In just half a month, he completed the basic refinement process, granting him rudimentary control over the artifact.
Han Yi's eyes narrowed with grim focus as he gripped the Golden Light Shuttle. Activating the Light Body Technique, he closed the ten-meter gap with blinding speed. Without hesitation, he unleashed the golden artifact.
With a flash of light, the Golden Light Shuttle sprang to life. Transforming from stillness to motion, it carved a golden streak through the air, shattering the silence with a thunderous sonic boom.
Whoosh!
The Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator, now only ten meters away, snapped his head up. The crimson light in his eyes reignited as he roared ferociously and leaped forward.
This was the first time Han Yi had witnessed the cultivator's roar or seen him take the offensive. A chill ran down his spine.
In the next instant, the airborne Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator braced his arms in a defensive stance, intercepting the Golden Light Shuttle as it streaked toward him in a golden blur.
Then, a deafening explosion shook the plaza.
The Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator was blasted backward by the impact, crashing heavily onto the square.
But the cultivator's desperate block had halved the shuttle's speed. For the Golden Light Shuttle, speed was synonymous with destructive force.
Before the dust settled, the Yellow Turban Immortal Cultivator had already sprung back to his feet, unleashing a furious barrage of punches. Each blow was faster than the last, creating a storm of fist shadows in the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The descending Golden Light Shuttle clashed with the storm of fists, scattering golden flames of spirit energy as it continued its downward trajectory.