Han Jue's arrival didn't cause much of a stir in the dimly lit chamber.
Aside from the cultivator who had spoken initially, the others merely glanced in his direction before returning their attention to the tense standoff. Their wariness of each other far outweighed any curiosity about a newcomer.
Han Jue's Six Eyes scanned the chamber methodically, cataloging every detail. His gaze settled on an intricate mechanism embedded in the stone wall, surrounded by elegant script carved directly into the ancient stone.
"Three Void Emperor Tokens grant access to the first level of the Void Emperor Treasury. To enter the second level, a total of eighteen Void Emperor Tokens are required," Han Jue read softly, finally understanding the source of tension between the five cultivators already present.
Six people, eighteen tokens needed for the second level. The mathematics were straightforward, not everyone would advance beyond the first floor.
"Now that we're all here, how about we go in first?" The speaker was a well-dressed Domain Lord with fair skin and refined features, clearly someone from a prominent family background. His ornate robes practically screamed wealth and status.
"Agreed," said a second-stage World Master, his voice measured and controlled.
"Yes."
"Fine."
The remaining two first-stage World Masters voiced their assent, though their hands remained near their weapons.
All five cultivators turned their attention to Han Jue, waiting for his response.
Han Jue nodded slightly, keeping his expression neutral. Better to observe the situation inside before making any decisive moves.
The second-stage World Master wearing a black mask approached the mechanism. He produced three Void Emperor Tokens from his world ring, their silver surfaces catching the dim light as he inserted them into the designated slots.
"Rumble, "
A thunderous grinding echoed through the chamber as a massive crack appeared in the stone wall. The opening revealed not a simple vault, but something far more complex, an entire transformed world sealed within.
The six cultivators surged forward simultaneously, none willing to lag behind or show weakness. In situations like these, falling behind often proved fatal.
Han Jue's eyes widened slightly as he passed through the threshold. "What... is this?"
The first floor of the Void Emperor Treasury wasn't a traditional vault at all. Instead, it was a colossal plantation spanning over 100,000 kilometers in diameter, an entire world preserved within a World Master's inner world!
Countless medicinal herbs covered the landscape in organized sections, their energy fluctuations revealing extraordinary properties. From the auras alone, Han Jue could identify Domain Lord-level spiritual herbs, rare cultivation resources, and even several plant-type life forms with Domain Lord strength serving as guardians.
This was a treasure trove beyond imagination.
"Hmph." A dark-red-skinned World Master with a volatile temperament took immediate action, his massive form radiating barely contained aggression. He moved toward the nearest guardian, a thorny vine creature, and obliterated it with a single devastating strike.
The ease with which he destroyed a Domain Lord-level plant spoke volumes about his combat capabilities.
"These things are worthless," the red-skinned cultivator sneered, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. "We should decide the winner quickly and advance to the second level. You're all here for the Sacred Flames anyway, right?"
His aggressive gaze swept across the group before settling on Han Jue and the young Domain Lord. "You two are too weak. Just withdraw now. This isn't a place for insignificant cultivators to get involved."
Being underestimated again.
Han Jue felt a familiar surge of annoyance. The Cloud Sea Sword materialized silently in his hand, its secret patterns already beginning to glow faintly as he prepared for inevitable conflict.
"Do you know my name?" The young Domain Lord asked calmly, his composure unshaken by the threat.
"Who gives a damn about your name?" The red-skinned World Master laughed contemptuously. "Names mean nothing here."
"That colored jade pendant..." The second-stage World Master who wore the black mask had been observing carefully. His eyes suddenly widened in recognition. "Are you from the Yaoguang family? That bloodline is extremely rare, with only two males in this generation. The eldest son now commands the Yaoguang Guards as a high-level World Master... Are you the Yaoguang family's second son?"
The atmosphere shifted immediately. The Yaoguang family name carried significant weight, they controlled an entire main city and commanded resources beyond what most cultivators could imagine.
"I prefer being addressed as City Lord," the young man said quietly, his voice carrying an edge of steel beneath the polite words.
"Your brother and I crossed paths once before." The masked World Master took a measured breath before bowing respectfully. "In that case, I'll withdraw from this competition. Please inform Lord Yaoguang that I meant no disrespect."
He produced three Void Emperor Tokens from his world ring and presented them with both hands to the second son of Yaoguang. Without waiting for a response, he turned and departed through the entrance, his footsteps echoing in the vast chamber.
The second son of Yaoguang accepted the tokens with a satisfied nod, then turned his calculating gaze toward the remaining competitors.
The two first-stage World Masters exchanged glances but stood their ground. Their expressions showed no fear, as established World Masters, they could find opportunities in any main city across the Land of Order. The Yaoguang family's influence, while considerable, wasn't absolute enough to make them abandon such a prize.
"Boy, so what if you're from the Yaoguang family?" The dark-red-skinned World Master's smile twisted into something predatory. "I can kill you here and escape to other divine kingdoms. Who would ever prove what happened in this sealed treasury?"
"Boom!"
Before anyone could respond, the red-skinned World Master exploded into action!
The other two first-stage World Masters had clearly coordinated beforehand. One immediately joined the assault on the Yaoguang family's second son, while his companion turned toward Han Jue with obvious intent.
"You don't seriously think I'm the weakest here, do you?" Han Jue's grip tightened on the Cloud Sea Sword as he met the approaching World Master's eyes. The Six Eyes ability activated fully, breaking down every detail of his opponent's movements, energy flow, and technique structure.
The World Master didn't bother responding verbally, his actions made his assessment painfully clear. He launched a straightforward attack, his heavy hammer descending with crushing force meant to end the fight immediately.
Whoosh!
Han Jue's expression darkened with genuine anger. Despite possessing strength that dominated even the most powerful Domain Lords, the fundamental gap between a first-stage World Master and a peak Domain Lord remained vast. His opponent's body had undergone the transformation to World Master, granting enhanced durability, recovery, and power that simple technique couldn't easily overcome.
But that didn't mean Han Jue was helpless.
Sword Shattering Form!
The Cloud Sea Sword's secret patterns flared to life, dramatically amplifying its attack power. The blade hummed with spatial law fluctuations as reality itself seemed to bend around the weapon.
Dividing the Sea!
The technique that had once devastated Domain Lord opponents now struggled against World Master-level defenses. Han Jue's blade connected with his opponent's protective energy field, creating explosive sparks but failing to penetrate completely.
"Clang!"
The World Master's heavy hammer descended toward Han Jue's head with devastating force, only to achieve absolutely nothing.
"How is that possible?!" The World Master's eyes widened in shock as his full-strength blow simply stopped against Han Jue's skull, as if he'd struck invincible metal rather than flesh.
Han Jue's Six Eyes bloodline granted him far more than enhanced perception, it fundamentally altered his physical structure, creating defenses that defied conventional logic.
What a perfect opening.
The World Masters of the Seven Flames Palace simply weren't on the same level as World Masters from the greater universe. Their secret techniques, their law comprehension, even their combat experience, all of it paled in comparison to what cultivators trained in the wider cosmos possessed.
The techniques this World Master had learned throughout his entire life wouldn't match what some talented Domain Lords knew in the universe proper!
His understanding of fundamental laws lagged pathetically far behind Han Jue's comprehension.
Han Jue focused his consciousness through the Six Eyes, perceiving reality at a level his opponent couldn't comprehend. He spotted a critical flaw in the World Master's technique, a momentary gap in his defense created by overcommitting to the failed hammer strike.
Strike!
In an instant, the Cloud Sea Sword found its mark. The World Master's shocked expression froze as he realized he'd been mortally wounded by someone he'd dismissed as insignificant.
Such was the overwhelming advantage granted to those who mastered the teachings of the Ice Peak Lord.
Han Jue pressed his advantage relentlessly. Each thrust of the Cloud Sea Sword generated clouds of spatial mist as the fundamental laws of space manifested physically. Reality tore and fragmented around his blade, each strike accompanied by spatial fluctuations that bypassed conventional defenses.
"Pfft!"
The World Master coughed blood violently, his body involuntarily retreating at tremendous speed. Horror filled his eyes as he stared at Han Jue, the supposedly "weak" Domain Lord who had just devastated him in close combat.
"Hand over your Void Emperor Tokens, and I'll spare your life," Han Jue stated coldly, the Cloud Sea Sword pointing directly at his defeated opponent.
The World Master didn't dare refuse. With trembling hands, he extracted three Void Emperor Tokens from his world ring and threw them toward Han Jue before fleeing toward the treasury entrance at maximum speed, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
Only four combatants remained in the vast medicinal garden!
The Yaoguang family's second son fought with surprising ferocity, engaging in a fierce battle against the dark-red World Master. Even under the combined assault of two World Master-level opponents, he held his ground admirably, though his defensive posture suggested he was gradually being overwhelmed.
Han Jue took a deep breath, centering himself for what came next.
After reaching Universe level in the Ice Wasteland Sword Technique, he'd gained access to the remaining four advanced sword forms. With Han Jue's current aptitude and comprehension, mastering these techniques hadn't posed significant difficulty.
These four techniques were: Phantom Frost, Ice Mirror, Ice Wasteland World, and Winter Frost.
Mastering Ice Wasteland World would grant invincibility among Domain Lords and the capability to threaten weaker World Masters.
Furthermore,
Han Jue's grip tightened on the Cloud Sea Sword's handle.
With his absolute maximum effort, he could barely activate the Cloud Sea Sword's third secret pattern!
"Ice Wasteland World!"
Vast quantities of frost erupted outward in an expanding sphere, instantly enveloping the surrounding space. The temperature plummeted as the three combatants still engaged in battle suddenly found their movements drastically slowed.
Countless "snowflakes" materialized throughout an area spanning thousands of kilometers. Upon closer inspection, these weren't snowflakes at all, each one consisted of silvery-white sword energy condensed into intricate crystalline patterns.
Tens of thousands of snowflake-shaped sword energies filled the space, each individual formation carrying power comparable to a full-strength attack from a peak Domain Lord!
This level of secret technique instantly consumed Han Jue's entire energy reserves. His vision swam as dizziness threatened to overwhelm him.
He forced his hand into his world ring, retrieving a Life Fruit, one of the Star-Eating Grass's precious rations that Han Jue had appropriated for emergency use.
After swallowing the Life Fruit, vitality surged through his body. The crushing exhaustion receded substantially as the treasure's concentrated life energy replenished his depleted reserves.
Meanwhile, the three cultivators trapped within Ice Wasteland World weren't so fortunate.
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