Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

’If they really wanted to kill me, that red light that bound me just now could have done it.’

’This Illusion Array is probably a trial.’

’It was set up thousands of years ago by a powerful expert with a Life-taking Bone. It shouldn’t exist just for the sake of killing... Of course, if I can’t pass the trial, I’ll die, or go mad like that Yan Soul Guard.’

In a flash, Lu Chao’s mind raced. ’If this isn’t a trial, why go through all this trouble?’

There was no time to overthink. The surrounding walking corpses were already charging, all of them powerful beings at the Peak and Creation Realms.

’These walking corpses, and all the other monsters and ghouls I’ve seen... are they people who got trapped here over thousands of years and couldn’t get out? Or were they captured from the outside and refined by the Array Master?’

’Or are they just illusions created by the Illusion Array, things that don’t even exist?’

At this moment, Lu Chao still couldn’t tell if anything he was seeing was real or fake.

It was like the Forbidden Land of the Azure Flame Sect, where the soldiers in the Illusion Realm were all fake, created from the Array Master’s power.

Again, it was impossible to distinguish truth from illusion.

He couldn’t worry about it anymore. Lu Chao began to slaughter them...

He was already at the Peak Ninth Layer. He was the former Great Martial Emperor Star, possessing immense power in large-scale battles. He bore the unfathomable Life-taking Star-devouring Bone and had powerful combat techniques at his disposal.

So even when facing existences at the Creation Realm, Lu Chao was fearless.

He fought on, relentlessly...

But the more frenziedly Lu Chao killed, the more walking corpses appeared, swarming him from all directions.

KILL, KILL, KILL...

Time flowed on. Lu Chao had no idea how many he had killed.

But the number of walking corpses around him didn’t decrease at all. In fact, the more he killed, the more there were. This made Lu Chao clench his fists...

’I can’t kill them all. There’s just no end to them.’

’If this Illusion Array is just a trial, then there must be another way out. I’ll just pick a direction and fight my way through.’

With this thought, Lu Chao immediately leaped high into the air, no longer fighting these things where he stood.

He avoided them when he could, constantly using the surrounding terrain to press forward.

Around him, it was still the Nether Spring Mountain Range...

Even though he couldn’t see clearly, he could sense mountains, rocks, and trees. He kept dodging and breaking through.

Of course, he couldn’t avoid fighting entirely. He killed, dodged, and charged his way forward.

Time continued to pass...

The environment was perpetually dark, making it impossible to distinguish day from night. Lu Chao had completely lost track of how many he’d killed, how far he’d charged, and how much time had passed.

In short, the walking corpses seemed endless, appearing without cease.

No matter where Lu Chao went, they were there, frantically trying to surround and capture him.

Fortunately, the walking corpses weren’t getting any stronger. They remained around the Peak Realm and Creation Realm, with the strongest not exceeding the Creation Realm Fifth Layer. This prevented Lu Chao from being completely overwhelmed by a gap in cultivation level.

Perhaps the Illusion Array was creating enemies with a strength corresponding to his own realm.

’I have to fight my way out. I must get out.’

Again, he didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly heard the sounds of another battle up ahead...

A glint flashed in his eyes. Lu Chao thought to himself, ’That’s the sound of the Yan Soul Guards. Did some of them make it here too?’

’Getting here proves they broke free from the first red light and passed the first stage.’

With that thought, Lu Chao charged toward the sound of battle.

And sure enough, he saw...

A dozen or so Yan Soul Guards were fighting furiously against the surrounding walking corpses. Some were fighting while others rested under protection. A few would form a defensive circle, desperately holding the line, while a few others sat cross-legged to rest and cultivate.

They were clearly taking turns. Once a few were exhausted, they would rest, and those who were sufficiently recovered would take their place in the slaughter.

The Yan Soul Guards were also holding on for dear life.

But just as Lu Chao approached, one of the Yan Soul Guards suddenly shouted, ”I can’t take it anymore! Let’s just give up! There’s no hope at all, we’re definitely going to die here... It’s been three days! Three whole days!”

Lu Chao froze at the Yan Soul Guard’s words.

He had actually been fighting for three full days, killing nonstop for that long.

Lu Chao had no mind to keep track of time, but since some of the Yan Soul Guards could take breaks, they were able to count the days.

”There’s no way out of the Nether Spring Mountain Range! We’ll die even if we keep fighting.”

”This place is so dark and bizarre, with endless walking corpses besieging us... I really can’t take it. I don’t want to hold on anymore.”

As he spoke, a terrifying aura of despair spread through the dozen or so Yan Soul Guards. Desperation was written in their eyes; the endless, hopeless situation was too much.

It was utterly soul-crushing.

”I don’t want to hold on anymore. I’ll go on ahead.”

The Yan Soul Guard who had spoken had completely lost the will to live. He ignored the others’ attempts to stop him and charged madly into the horde of walking corpses. He was quickly surrounded, and his Heavenly Destiny Bone was gouged right out.

Then...

The scene that Lu Chao had witnessed three days ago replayed itself. The Heavenly Destiny Bone was absorbed by the surrounding creatures before returning to the Yan Soul Guard’s body.

Finally, that Yan Soul Guard went completely mad, melting into the crowd of walking corpses and disappearing from sight.

It was unknown if he would become one of the walking corpses or what would happen to him.

The remaining dozen or so Yan Soul Guards watched this unfold, their spirits breaking even further. They all started to think that dying might be for the best.

But just then, someone suddenly looked up and shouted, ”Lu... Lu Chao, you brat...”

One of the Yan Soul Guards had finally noticed Lu Chao’s arrival. Instantly, all of the Yan Soul Guards were shaken, as if they had received a jolt.

Lu Chao was still being besieged from all sides, so he didn’t answer...

He only gave the Yan Soul Guards a brief, indifferent glance before continuing to fight his way into the distance. No one knew what would happen next, and Lu Chao was in no mood to waste time with them.

He muttered to himself...

’Darkness, endless walking corpses, an unknown and terrifying abyss, the desperate legends of the Nether Spring Mountain Range... it’s enough to make anyone break down and wish for death. But compared to when my soul was trapped inside the Life-taking Bone, this is nothing.’

’At least now I have a Sword in my hand. At least I can feel that I’m still alive.’

As he thought this, Lu Chao’s gaze grew even more resolute...

Not long after, Lu Chao discovered that the Yan Soul Guards were following him, matching his pace. It seemed they were using him as a stimulus for their fragile nerves, as if it were the only way they could keep themselves going.

Lu Chao still paid them no mind...

Time ticked by. The Yan Soul Guards behind him continued to keep track of the days. Another three days had passed.

Lu Chao and the others had been fighting for a total of six days. Even he was feeling utterly exhausted.

Of the Yan Soul Guards behind him, only six were left. They looked like walking corpses themselves, ready to die at any moment.

Despair continued to spread...

Suddenly... SPLASH!

The sound of flowing water came from up ahead. The utterly exhausted Lu Chao’s eyes widened slightly. He sprinted forward and saw a river, its water glowing with a faint yellow light.

Lu Chao trembled slightly and said in a hushed voice, ”If I cross this river, will I pass the trial?”