Chapter 1426: First Test Question

To describe Xu Yang's realm and growth as "defying heaven" would still fall far short of capturing his extraordinary brilliance.

"Alright, A-Yang, you can now represent your three teammates and complete the first test I've given you. Use your current power to shatter the soul statue that has appeared in your spiritual world. Remember my words: you only have one chance. If you fail, the four of you may be trapped forever in the Moonless Heaven. Therefore, you must put your full effort into this next strike."

The Sword Immortal's voice resonated in Xu Yang's mind once more. Xu Yang, of course, knew the immense significance of this trial; failure was simply not an option.

In an instant, an infinite array of invisible sword energies, summoned by his formidable mental power, converged, forming an unparalleled and colossal spiritual sword ray. Peering through the light barrier, Xiao Hua and his two companions were utterly astonished. The sheer, terrifying pressure emanating from this colossal sword ray, once it had converged, drew in every corner of the Moonless Heaven. It made Xu Yang's three companions feel as though they were trapped in purgatory. The desperate torment and suffocating sensation were unlike anything Xiao Hua and the others had ever experienced, yet this was merely an instinctive emanation of Xu Yang's concentrated power. It was clear that with his current strength, if he were to casually direct this terrifying spiritual pressure at an opponent, that person's soul would likely shatter from fear before Xu Yang even struck.

Silently, Xu Yang unleashed the colossal spiritual sword ray he had forged, directing it toward the elder within his soul realm. Simultaneously, the spiritual illusion made no attempt to retaliate; its previously blurry form and outline simply grew sharper. At that moment, Xu Yang finally saw clearly that this spiritual outline possessed a face identical to his own. In fact, this mental construct represented a barrier and a constraint that Xu Yang needed to overcome. Its existence could also be described as an "inner demon." In other words, only by shattering this self-imposed restraint with his own power could Xu Yang truly advance to an entirely new spiritual realm.

After perfectly shattering the outline, Xu Yang truly felt a monumental shift within his soul realm. The illusion fragmented into countless starlike points of light, adorning his once-dark spiritual world and simultaneously making it feel vast and brilliantly clear. Xu Yang's soul essence had originally been colorless, but now, having ascended to a new level, his boundless spiritual world was adorned with vibrant colors, starlight shimmering like the descent of an eternal night. For Xu Yang, this kind of advancement was something an ordinary cultivator would scarcely experience even once in millions of years.

After Xu Yang achieved this unprecedented breakthrough in his spiritual realm, he soon realized that the Sword Immortal, Yun Wangji, had also entered his soul space and observed all the transformations within.

"Excellent. I can confidently say that you are likely the only person in all of history to reach such a realm."

Xu Yang remained composed and couldn't help but speak softly. "Senior, I wonder what direction I should take next?"

The Sword Immortal chuckled. "I'm afraid I can't offer you any guidance, because even I haven't reached such a realm. The fact that you can manifest an eternal sword ray, centered on spiritual energy and completely independent of spatial laws, means you've reached the same level as I have. However, my sword was defeated by Fenghuo Wuji in the final battle, causing a rift in my path that prevents me from ever attaining a supreme realm unmatched throughout history. But you, having never suffered a single defeat, can continue to advance.

"Once you complete this task and receive your new mission, returning to the Great World, you will encounter even more formidable enemies, truly worthy of being challenged by your sword. Perhaps your subsequent journey will lead you to a new realm, one that even I scarcely dare to imagine. From this point forward, you must explore and contemplate on your own. Is there an even mightier sword realm beyond the foundation of the Eternal Sword Dao? That will depend entirely on your comprehension and creativity.

"However, I once hypothesized that the sword ray you've now forged can become eternal. As long as your spiritual energy endures, the sword's momentum and the condensation of its innate energy will be generated without end. Yet this is merely a product derived from your individual spiritual energy. If you could find a way to gather the spiritual energy of many more people and integrate it into your sword path, the power of the resulting sword ray would undoubtedly advance even further. However, as for how to achieve this, I currently have no answer for you; you must continue to explore it yourself. I believe you can find the solution and accomplish what I've hypothesized. Because this catastrophe on Yingzhou Continent was the ultimate demonstration of your personal influence and charisma. You managed, single-handedly and without any external assistance, to rally the strongest cultivators across the entire Yingzhou Continent to obey your commands. Such leadership quality is truly invaluable. The Great World will also require such influence from you. Your next task, therefore, is to master the complete laws of space and time through your cultivation."

Upon hearing the Sword Immortal's words, Xu Yang and his companions all wore expressions of confusion.

"Senior, are the laws of space and time truly that vital? Since my sword dao is now eternal and can completely disregard their limitations, why do I still need to master the complete laws themselves?"

The Sword Immortal chuckled, shaking his head. "You misunderstand. While it's true that within the Moonless Heaven, the effects of space-time laws can be ignored, you will eventually return to the Great World—the very world that birthed your lives. It's now unknown what era it has reached. Perhaps tens of thousands of years have passed, or even hundreds of thousands or millions. To return to your original timeline, you must possess a complete understanding of the laws of space and time. Only then, with the aid of the Samsara Mirror, can it be accomplished. Do you truly believe that old man at the End of the Desolation alone can help the four of you return to the Great World's original timeline? If that old fellow truly possessed such power, I wouldn't have imprisoned him at the End of the Desolation to serve as a mere station coachman."

Upon reflection, Xu Yang couldn't help but offer a wry smile. "Indeed, we've been away for far too long. We can only wonder what our world has become."