The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Breaking Through the Earth Array Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Breaking Through the Earth Array Huo Chunyang’s meaning was clear to Jing Yan.

Failing the trial was a minor issue, but dying while attempting it would be a loss too great.

“City Lord, my current realm is the extreme limit of the Innate Middle Stage,” Jing Yan said, his eyes slightly narrowed.

He wasn’t offended by the straightforwardness of Huo Chunyang’s words because he knew they were meant for his own good.

How could Jing Yan not understand?

“Innate Middle Stage limit?” Huo Chunyang was slightly surprised.

Just a few months ago, Jing Yan was at the Early Innate Cultivation.

That is to say, in less than a year, Jing Yan had improved by one realm and even reached the extreme limit of the Innate Middle Stage.

Just one small step more and he would be in the Late Innate!

“Yes, and now, ordinary Innate Peak Martial Artists are no match for me,” Jing Yan said without the need to hide his strength from Huo Chunyang.

“Therefore, although the Heaven Array is difficult, even if I’m unable to pass it, keeping myself alive within it should not be a problem!

It’s a rare opportunity, so, of course, I must try!”

“Good!”

“Just do it!

Jing Yan, you must strive to obtain the Golden Order.

I want to see what kind of faces those people will make when you get the Golden Order.

Haha…” Huo Chunyang was initially stunned when he heard Jing Yan’s estimate of his own combat power.

However, he then burst into laughter, clapping his hands.

“Jing Yan, I really didn’t expect your strength to become so terrifying.

With your combat power, once you step into the Innate Peak Realm, you’ll be able to fight against Dao Spirit Realm experts.

Even I may not be able to defeat you when you have Innate Peak Cultivation,” Huo Chunyang squinted into slits.

“…” Jing Yan was speechless.

“You must get your hands on the Heaven Array Golden Order.

By then, that old bastard Shang Qu will probably be green with envy.

With the Golden Order, you’ll not only invalidate the Sealing Orders from the Three Major Academies but will also stir the Chief Masters of the academies.

I believe, the Dean of Divine Wind Academy will not let old bastard Shang Qu off easily,” Huo Chunyang continued, his eyes shining.

“Is it that outrageous?” Jing Yan was also astonished.

He knew the Golden Order was hard to seize, but he never imagined that obtaining it would cause such a commotion.

“Outrageous?

Not at all!

Jing Yan, you still don’t realize the value of the Golden Order.

You should know that within Lanqu County City, it has been over thirty years since anyone managed to obtain a Golden Order.

Moreover, you should realize, you’re only eighteen years old, eighteen…

From what I know, in the last hundred years, only two martial artists have ever seized a Golden Order, and they were both more than twenty-five years old when taking the assessment.”

“Think about it!”

“If you manage to obtain a Golden Order, that means your talent would be considered the highest in Lanqu County City for the last century.

At least publicly, your talent would be the highest.”

“Could the Chief Masters of the Three Major Academies not be alarmed?” Huo Chunyang grew more and more excited as he spoke.

The next morning, Jing Yan left Juhua Restaurant and headed for the Prince Manor.

Today, there were fewer martial artists entering Prince Manor compared to yesterday.

Only those who had passed the Human Formation were qualified to enter Prince Manor today, while those who were eliminated had no such privilege.

At the entrance to the Prince Manor, Armored Guards checked the Passing Bronze Tokens of the martial artists who wanted to enter.

“There’s Jing Yan again!”

“He seemed to have passed the Human Formation yesterday!”

“Yes, he indeed passed the Human Formation, but since he’s been banned by the Three Major Academies, what’s the point in passing the assessment?

I really don’t know why he’s still here.”

“Maybe he just wants to watch the excitement!”

In the square, some martial artists who had arrived before Jing Yan saw him and looked at him with strange glances, whispering amongst themselves.

Jing Yan heard many of these voices too, but he just sneered and didn’t bother to acknowledge or respond.

After a while, figures like the Outer Court Directors of the Three Major Academies arrived again at the high platform.

Jing Yan noticed that the high platform today seemed to have even more people than yesterday.

The number of martial artists in the square had decreased; yesterday there were more than ten thousand martial artists participating in the assessment, while today there were only around two thousand people present.

Unlike yesterday, they were not divided into different areas but were standing around casually.

“Jing Yan, what are you doing here?” Cang Long asked loudly with a smile from the high platform.

“Do you still delude yourself with thoughts of joining the Three Major Academies?”

“You’ve lost that privilege.

With your arrogant and disrespectful attitude, forget about joining the Three Major Academies in this lifetime.

I think you’d better roll back to Donglin City earlier.”

“Haha…”

Laughter rang out from the high platform.

Jing Yan stared at the high platform, but his anger began to subside.

“Cang Long, whether I come or not, it has nothing to do with you.

This is Prince Manor, not your home.

If it were your home, I wouldn’t go even if you asked,” Jing Yan scoffed, his retort tinged with mockery.

“You…” Cang Long’s face turned cold.

“What you?

Look at what you’re saying.

People who don’t know any better might even think you’re the Prince,” Jing Yan directly interrupted what Cang Long was about to say.

“Damn!

You little brat!” cursed Cang Long inwardly.

“Kid, if you have the guts, break through the Earth Array today!” Cang Long barked.

“Laughable, if I’m so ordinary, where did you come from?

Speaking of not knowing one’s place, you old rabbit-snot, you really don’t understand superiority or inferiority, perhaps it’s time I taught you a lesson!” Jing Yan shook his head.

Cang Long was slightly taken aback, as were the others, and for a moment, they didn’t comprehend the meaning of Jing Yan’s words.

However, soon after, Cang Long understood, and he erupted into a furious rage.

“You’re courting death!” Cang Long hysterically roared.

“Shh, the Lord Chief is coming.”

At this moment, someone lowly whispered a reminder beside Cang Long.

Cang Long had no choice but to forcibly suppress his anger, yet his eyes still blazed with flames, and he glared at Jing Yan with ferocity.

The veins on his forehead were bulging, nearly going berserk on the spot.

After Mu Liantian arrived, he cast an intentional yet casual glance at Cang Long.

Cang Long felt a slight chill through his body, sensing that something was amiss, but when he looked at Mu Liantian, Mu Liantian had already turned around, facing the vast square below.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Earth Array challenge is about to begin!”

“Now, any martial artist interested in breaking through the Earth Array, please step forward.” Mu Liantian said with a gentle smile on his face.

Nobody noticed that Mu Liantian’s gaze lingered on Jing Yan for a moment longer.

“Martial artists attempting the Earth Array, please step out.

If no decision is made within ten breaths, it will be considered a forfeiture!” Mu Liantian continued.

“Whoosh!” Jing Yan glanced around and then swiftly moved forward.

Instantly, over a thousand gazes landed on Jing Yan.

“What is this kid trying to do?”

“I paid attention to him yesterday.

He barely succeeded in the Human Formation at the last moment.

And now, he actually wants to challenge the Earth Array?”

“Don’t you get it?

He’s been banned by the Three Major Academies.

Even if he gets through the Human Formation, he can’t join any of them.”

Someone seemed to see through Jing Yan’s intentions and said so, prompting nods of realization from the others.

Jing Yan was the first to stand out and decide to challenge the Earth Array.

After him, one after another, many figures also stepped forward.

Ten breaths later, a total of two hundred martial artists had stepped out from the crowd.

Yesterday, two thousand seven hundred and sixty-six martial artists passed the Human Formation, but now, only a mere two hundred chose to continue with the challenge, not even one-tenth of those who passed.

This showed that the vast majority of martial artists had no confidence in breaking through the Earth Array.

And among these willing to challenge the Earth Array, more than half were members of the major families from Lanqu County City.

They probably wanted to take a chance, as even if they failed and lost the opportunity to train at the Three Major Academies, they could still obtain immense cultivation resources within their own families.

The ordinary status of a disciple from the Three Major Academies didn’t hold much appeal for these individuals.

With an Earth Array Silver Token, entrance to the Three Major Academies meant obtaining a very high status, incomparable to that of ordinary disciples.

Of course, the strength of these individuals was undoubtedly extremely formidable.

Jing Yan casually glanced over and could tell that the majority of those preparing to challenge the Earth Array were at the Innate Middle Stage and Innate Late Stage of cultivation.

Without sufficient confidence, indeed, no one would dare to rashly challenge the Earth Array.

“Now, you have one chance to forfeit!

If you’re sure you want to try the Earth Array, then you must understand that there is a certain danger within.

That is to say, you may encounter fatal dangers inside the Earth Array,” Mu Liantian said to Jing Yan and the other roughly two hundred martial artists ready to attempt the challenge.

The Human Formation had no danger.

The Earth Array had a certain danger.

As for the Heaven Array, it was fraught with peril; even Innate Peak martial artists were likely to die within it.

“Is no one forfeiting?” Mu Liantian squinted at Jing Yan and the others.

Indeed, no one chose to give up at this moment.

Having stood out, they were all prepared.

Before they came forward, they knew what it meant to challenge the Earth Array and were aware of the potential dangers it contained.

“Very well, let’s begin!”

“Open the Earth Array!” Mu Liantian waved his hand.

The Formation appeared the same as yesterday’s.

However, the same Formation had different forms.

This Formation should have three forms: the Human Formation, Earth Array, and Heaven Array.

The Human Formation was activated yesterday, and today it was the turn of the Earth Array.

The Big Array became enshrouded in mist again, and several dark entrances emerged in front of the Formation.

“You have two hours to pass.

If you cannot pass after two hours, you will be automatically teleported out,” said Mu Liantian.

“Begin entering now!”

With only about two hundred martial artists trying the challenge, there was no need to queue deliberately.

In just a few breaths, all two hundred martial artists could fully enter the Earth Array.