More importantly, the protection of the Earth Bodhisattva Orb caused the earth attribute creatures to tremble beneath the earth. None dared approach the intimidatingly radiant treasure.
Though Jiang Chen hadnât unleashed its terrifying earth pulse yet, the orbâs natural power was enough to scare many organisms into submission. In this way, he passed through the gravitational cave with leisure.
In fact, he didnât take much longer than he had in the fourth cave. In terms of ease, the fifth surpassed its predecessor.
Everyone was astonished when Jiang Chen emerged. The elders whoâd expected him to fail were paralyzed with shock. Though there had been an emotional component in their prediction of his failure, they really hadnât wanted him to pass the trial.
Even if he were to pass, he shouldâve been exhausted by the ordeal. How could he still be so energetic and laid-back?
Reality had overturned their expectations. It was a bit hard for them to accept this.
âGood work, brother.â After a brief period of recovery, Yan Qingsang had recovered enough of his vitality to cheer Jiang Chen on.
He too was impressed at the ease with which Jiang Chen had passed five trials. Before his brother had exposed his identity, Yan Qingsang had thought that he was only capable in pill dao and ancient jade. Only afterwards had the Yan genius begun to take an interest in his brotherâs martial dao talent as well, culminating in his current respect.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
But what heâd just seen clued him into a new truth. This young man from the human domain had martial dao talent that far surpassed his own. Even someone as proud as Yan Qingsang had to defer to his incredible skill for teaching and altering the martial dao of others.
Maybe Huangâerâs fate really will change through his efforts? A pleasant daydream popped into Yan Qingsangâs head. He absolutely didnât mind if Jiang Chen could cut Xiahou Zong down. In fact, he would celebrate with every fiber of his soul.
However, Xiahou Zong was supposedly the foremost genius of Eternal Divine Nation. It wouldnât be easy to kill him in the first place.
Even so, a seed had been planted in Yan Qingsangâs heart. At the very least, though it felt like most couldnât defeat Xiahou Zong â himself included â the same wasnât necessarily true for Jiang Chen.
Good luck, Jiang Chen. Yan Qingsang cheered for his friend from the bottom of his heart. If you can defeat Xiahou Zong and save Huangâer, Iâll drink myself under the table at your wedding!
This was the first time he was seriously considering this possibility. He would be more than pleased if this were to pass.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen had entered a trance-like state that completely ignored all outside interference. He dashed into the sixth cave in the blink of an eye.
The sixth cave was the cave of illusions. It brimmed with hallucinations, delusions, and other fantastical images. Someone that entered the cave wouldnât be privy to that information though. What their eyes and ears could sense seemed all too real.
As soon as Jiang Chen entered the sixth cave, he cast his consciousness all around him to examine his surroundings.
A limitless ocean was before him with no apparent end. Skeletons and debris was scattered about on the nearby coastline.
âHmm? What is this place?â The Nine Winding Caves had sent him to a variety of locations, but an ocean was a first.
Suddenly, a voice boomed forth from the void.
âLost one, nothing can get across this ocean. Look at what drifts upon it â all cultivators who have attempted to force their way past.â The voice was completely detached, uncaring about all things in the world. A closer glance revealed that it came from a man on the coast, a fishing rod in the waters. He was perfectly still, as if he had been sitting there for dozens of millennia.
Jiang Chen blinked. He glanced at the watery domain. A slight breeze picked up on the relatively calm waters, sending ripples across its surface. Corpses and bones were revealed by the movement of the waves, seemingly fated to spend eternity adrift.
âLost one?â He blinked. âAre you talking about me?â
âIs there another human around here? Human, I will ask one question of you. You have studied martial dao all your life, but do you know what sacred place is on the other side of the ocean?â
âNo idea.â Jiang Chen didnât want to fall into anotherâs tempo. He resorted to disinterest to curb further conversation.
Pacing nearer to the coast, he began to observe every detail of this place with his consciousness. The ocean was rather misty and mysterious.
âStop here, young man. The world of martial dao has no room for delusion. If you donât even know whatâs on the other side, how do you have the courage to venture on?
âThe limit of martial dao is in these waters. Turn back to safety.â
Jiang Chen burst out into laughter. âWhat gives you the pluck to say that this is the limit of martial dao?â
He didnât particularly hate the voice, but the bold statements it was making seemed patently absurd. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration dawned. Maybe this was another kind of test!
He abruptly raised both arms, charging up a powerful attack which he hurled at the empty space in front of him.
âFalse phantasm, begone!â No matter what he perceived all around him, Jiang Chenâs goal was singular and clear. He didnât want to be defeated by any of the caves.
Every detail within this sixth cave was designed to entrance. The environment almost had a natural ability to induce him into thinking a certain way. But Jiang Chen would have none of it.
Even if this sixth cave had a guardian, what right did he have to say that these waters represented the limit of martial dao?
Heâd never heard of such a ridiculous thing. Therefore, he felt this had to be a deception. A closer sweep with his consciousness revealed no signatures of life whatsoever.
Abruptly, Jiang Chen realized that heâd been fooled.
His potent strike caused the space all around him to collapse into nothingness, the projected images and other sensory mirages disappearing into the ether.
Was that it?
As he walked out of the sixth cave, Jiang Chen was somewhat incredulous. He hadnât expected the sixth trial to be so civil and polite. It was all too unbelievable.
âThe sixth cave was a realm of illusions. Nothing in there was real.â Jiang Chen calmed down as soon as he came out. Careful consideration revealed the truth to him.
The name of the cave was the Illusory World. It had no offensive power whatsoever. All of its effects were involved in creating hallucination and apparition to guide peopleâs thoughts.
Someone who didnât possess an iron will would be easily led astray, and lose himself in thought and in the cave. He wouldnât find the exit no matter what direction he went in then.
Jiang Chen had used his extremely keen perception and decisiveness to cleverly pass the sixth trial.
This piece of news spread through the sacred land like wildfire. Elders who hadnât come to the hall to watch the evaluation streamed out of their residences one by one, coming to the Nine Winding Caves to spectate the exciting proceedings.
The hubbub instantly increased near the caves.
That someone had passed the sixth cave was known to basically everybody by now. Someone who did so would be a personal disciple of a sacred land master. Even if Jiang Chen didnât continue on, he would receive that lofty standard of treatment.
But the young man was dissatisfied with his achievement. He felt that he could press on forward.
âWhat, is that kid still not satisfied? He wants to challenge the seventh too? Where does his courage come from? Doesnât he know that the difficulty will only shoot up again from here?â
âHaha, maybe heâs overconfident? The seventh cave will endanger his life.â
âNever mind. Young people have their own ambitions. Perhaps Shao Yuan is going for the fame!â
âDonât say that. This young man is still full of vigor despite passing six trials. His potential hasnât entirely manifested yet.â
âHe might very well surprise us yet again with the seventh cave.â
âYes, just like what heâs done so far. Iâm not sure I would be surprised if he did, really.â
Beginning from the third cave, everyone had realized that the young man had extraordinary promise. As expected, he had passed through cave after cave with perfect cadence; and now, he was past the sixth!
The difficulty of the trials was common knowledge. The fifth and the sixth caves especially caused even the most powerful of geniuses to stumble if unprepared. But this outsider with an unassuming appearance had surpassed many whoâd been born within the sacred land!
Passing six trials was already third place in terms of overall achievement. Many had managed to attain this result, of course, but few could claim to have done so in recent years. And yet, someone had crashed through all six of his trials today with incredible ease. This revelation shook the entire Eternal Sacred Land.
The three primes behind closed doors were stunned as well.
âHe passed the cave of illusions? The young genius that Ziju Min recommended is rather remarkable.â
âA pillar of the sacred land, to be sure.â The will of the primes praised the pill sovereignâs find and character.
Ziju Min was exceptionally pleased to hear it. But he was more curious whether the young man could succeed in his challenge against the seventh cave too. He sincerely hoped that the young genius could work a miracle.