"A nice logic," Gu Qingcheng replied as she crossed her arms over her chest. A faint smile played on her beautiful face upon seeing the carefree composure of the young man before her."But do not take this year's Heavenly Sword Sect selection lightly. I heard the examining elders brought an ancient artifact to test soul resilience—not just one's cultivation realm."Wang Chen merely chuckled softly. "Soul or body, it makes no difference to me. Let's go; the night sky is beginning to recede."The two began stepping out of the quiet valley that had just served as a silent witness to the slaughter of the five Liu Clan elders. Following the rocky footpath amidst the lush trees, they moved at a leisurely pace, enjoying the night breeze carrying the scent of damp earth.In just a short half-hour walk, the grand silhouette of Eastern Cloud City's majestic walls began to stretch out in the distance. Massive torches burned brightly along the fortress defenses, radiating a majestic aura from one

Until suddenly...Clink! Clink! Clink!Wang Chen reached into the pocket of his dusty robe. With casual, indifferent movements, he tossed five silver Spatial Rings—engraved with the crest of the Liu Clan, which he had already emptied—right into the lap of Liu Yan, who was sitting trembling on the marble floor.Seeing the five spatial rings belonging to the elite Elders of his clan completely stripped of even a trace of Essence Qi, Liu Yan's breathing grew frantically wild. Every joint in his body locked tight in uncontainable horror!"Here, I'm returning the Spatial Rings belonging to your clan's ill-fated Elders," Wang Chen chuckled with amusement, looking down at Liu Yan like a god playing with a tiny worm.Wang Chen bent his body slightly lower, tilting his head as he whispered words that sent a freezing chill straight into Liu Yan's ear."And while we're at it, I have a sweet message for your honorable father, the Patriarch..."Wang Chen paused, then lightly tapped Liu Yan's shoul

Wang Chen nodded calmly, not a single ripple of panic on his handsome face. A subtle, meaningful smile slowly carved into the corner of his lips as he gazed back into Ye Kong's arrogant eyes."So that's how it is... You feel threatened by wild rumors about me," Wang Chen whispered in a flat yet piercing tone.He turned his body completely to face the ancient black crystal orb standing proudly atop the stone pillar. Slowly, he raised both hands from beneath the dusty sleeves of his robe."Fine then, if that's your reason," Wang Chen said, glancing at Ye Kong from the corner of his eye. "In that case, open your eyes wide, Ye Kong! Open them wide and watch every single second... so that later you won't accuse me of using cheap tricks or black magic when you see the result!"Ye Kong narrowed his eyes sharply, crossing his arms as he let out a mock laugh. "Just do it, Brat! Let's see how big your blabbering really is!"TAP!Without a moment's hesitation, Wang Chen's right palm landed squar

Wang Chen murmured with a short sigh. He shook his head gently, feeling a slight sense of disappointment.In the eyes of the tens of thousands of participants and cultivation experts present, the golden kanji carvings on the Ancient Stele Wall were manifestations of the Laws of Nature—terribly complex and exceptionally difficult to penetrate. Yet to Wang Chen, whose Ancient Divine Soul memories were perfectly fused into his consciousness, those carvings were no different than ordinary sentences. He didn't need to break a sweat or immerse himself in deep meditation; he only needed... to read them.Meanwhile, time passed rapidly. Two tense, burning hours slipped by.BZZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZZT!The blue radiance above Ye Kong's head suddenly exploded with immense force! One by one, symbols of comprehension ignited with breathtaking brilliance.Second Level!Third Level!Until finally... the Fourth Level of Dao Comprehension blazed brightly, radiating a wave of frost aura that froze

Elder Gu took a deep breath, his voice booming once more to fill every corner of the arena, shattering the suffocating silence."The second round is no place for the whining of a coward who refuses to acknowledge another's superiority! This stele never lies. Wang Chen's Dao comprehension is purely the result of his own genius and success!"Ye Kong slumped weakly. His face, smeared with blood and dust, was a picture of utter misery. Roars of frustration and shame consumed his mind, yet the pressure radiating from Elder Gu locked his jaws tight.Without wasting another moment, Elder Gu turned around and swept his gaze across the entire stage."The second round of the Dao Comprehension Test shall resume! All remaining candidates who have yet to step forward, pour your soul consciousness into the Ancient Inscription Stele at once!"His voice roused the remaining participants from their daze. Though still trembling under the lingering aura of Wang Chen's Law of Life and Death, the young ge