The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 273: Chapter 273 Where is Jing Yan?

Chapter 273: Chapter 273 Where is Jing Yan?

Jing Yan leisurely approached one of the entrances of the Earth Array, his actions relaxed and unhurried, even offering a smile to the spectators and the high platform as he strolled as if walking in a leisurely garden.

The spectators really didn’t know what to say.

Most of them probably thought that Jing Yan was putting on too much of a show.

This was the Earth Array, not the Human Formation from yesterday.

The difficulty of the Earth Array was many times greater than that of the Human Formation, infinitely harder.

Among the over ten thousand martial artists who participated in the assessment, more than two thousand had passed the Human Formation.

However, among these two thousand, only about two hundred dared to challenge the Earth Array.

It was unknown how many of these two hundred could eventually get through the Earth Array.

Passing the Earth Array was extremely difficult, tremendously so.

Shang Qu and others squinted their eyes as they focused on Jing Yan.

They didn’t believe Jing Yan could pass through the Earth Array; even when he passed the Human Formation yesterday, it was barely in the nick of time, during the very last moments.

Today, facing the Earth Array, there was absolutely no chance for Jing Yan to get through.

As for what Gao Jie and Qing Mo said about Jing Yan possessing combat power comparable to a Late-stage Innate Martial Artist, perhaps what they said was true, but Jing Yan might have regressed recently in strength.

After all, there was a precedent for this!

If he truly had the combat power of a Late-stage Innate Martial Artist, then he wouldn’t have taken so long in the Human Formation.

Therefore, there was only one explanation, Jing Yan’s strength had regressed.

This possibility was very high!

Even the Outer Court Deacon of Dao Yi Academy, Qing Mo, who always thought highly of Jing Yan, couldn’t help but think that Jing Yan might have regressed in strength.

“Swish!”

Jing Yan entered the Earth Array.

The scene before him changed instantly.

“Still this kind of passage?” Jing Yan glanced around, squinting his eyes.

More than two years ago, he participated in the assessment, entering only the Human Formation and not the Earth Array since he had no strength to face it back then.

Therefore, he didn’t understand the Earth Array.

Now it seemed, the structure of the Earth Array was similar to that of the Human Formation.

“The pressure is much greater!”

“Compared to the Human Formation, the pressure brought about by the Mysterious Energy in this Earth Array is several times greater.”

“For a regular Early Innate Realm martial artist, there’s a high chance of passing the Human Formation within half an hour’s time.

But for this Earth Array, if an Early Innate Realm martial artist were to enter, it would probably be tremendously difficult to advance even an inch,” Jing Yan subconsciously compared the difference between the Human Formation and the Earth Array.

Jing Yan stepped forward while operating the Sky Vaulting First Divine Skill.

As in the Human Formation, Jing Yan could still absorb the Mysterious Energy from the space.

However, this time, instead of standing still, Jing Yan walked while absorbing the energy.

The time limit for passing through the Earth Array was two hours.

But since the resistance within the Earth Array was so great, even when activating the Sky Wings, Jing Yan couldn’t guarantee his speed.

Jing Yan’s goal was to pass through the Heaven Array and seize the Golden Order.

Regardless, his first priority was to ensure he could get through the Earth Array.

“Huh!”

As Jing Yan was walking, a sudden premonition of danger surged within him, and he instantly tensed.

At that moment, a cluster of blue flames abruptly appeared in the space.

The blue flames manifested and violently enveloped Jing Yan, a terrifying aura spreading out.

Jing Yan dared not be negligent, swiftly invoking his Primordial Energy; he drew the Skyfire Sword rapidly, unleashing Sword Intent, and a Red Sword Light blasted out.

Struck by the Red Sword Light, the blue flames instantly dispersed, turning into palm-sized blue flames.

“Hmm?” Jing Yan frowned again.

The dispersed blue flames did not vanish in the space but reconvened into a vast expanse of blue flames within the time of a breath, continuing to envelope Jing Yan.

These blue flames did not have the temperature of ordinary flames, but to Jing Yan, they felt extremely dangerous.

He sensed that if he were completely covered by this cluster of blue flames, he might face the risk of death.

The fatal danger within the Earth Array might just come from this type of blue flame.

Seeing the fierce blue flames lunging at him, Jing Yan didn’t hesitate and again launched a Red Sword Light.

Just like the previous time, the blue flames dispersed under the Sword Light but did not disappear.

This time, Jing Yan did not wait in place but activated the Sky Wings and flashed through.

After Jing Yan passed through the blue flames and appeared in front, the blue flames that hadn’t regathered yet finally began to fade.

Seeing this, Jing Yan finally let out a sigh of relief.

If the blue flames had continuously pursued him relentlessly, although it wouldn’t pose too great a threat to him, comfortably absorbing the Mysterious Energy within the Earth Array would have been impossible.

Continue forward!

After half an hour, Jing Yan was fairly certain that other than the more intense pressure from the Mysterious Energy compared to the Human Formation, only the blue flames that appeared sporadically posed any real trouble.

However, once he became familiar with the attack methods of the blue flames, such danger didn’t amount to much for Jing Yan anymore.

Time slowly passed, and the limit of two hours was fast approaching.

Outside, whether it was the martial artists on the square or the people on the high platform, everyone was staring at the exit of the Earth Array.

Passing through the Earth Array earned one a Silver Pass Token.

The martial artists who could secure a Silver Token were absolutely the targets of fierce competition by the Three Major Academies.

The attitude of the Three Major Academies toward martial artists who passed the Human Formation was somewhat lukewarm; these martial artists held a Passing Bronze Token and could freely choose any academy to join.

Yet, for these academies to take the initiative to contact them was rather unlikely.

But if it was a martial artist who had secured a Silver Pass Token, then the attitude of the Three Major Academies turned eager.

Generally speaking, martial artists who, before the age of thirty, had obtained a Silver Pass Token, were almost guaranteed to become Dao Spirit Realm powerhouses in the future.

Such martial artists with potential naturally deserved the Three Major Academies to lower their stances and actively seek them out.

“Someone has passed!”

A voice rang out across the square.

At the exit of the Earth Array, a figure had emerged; it was a man about twenty-five years old, clad in a golden robe.

After passing through the Earth Array, he stood still, his gaze proudly sweeping around.

A stir also arose on the high platform.

“It’s Cai Yang from the Cai Family!” someone whispered.

“Elder Cai, congratulations, congratulations!

A member of the Cai Family is the first to pass through the Earth Array!” someone said, congratulating one of the Cai Family elders who had come to the Prince Manor.

The Cai Family elder’s face blossomed with a smile, and even his wrinkles smoothed out.

Passing through the Earth Array was definitely no small feat.

Thus, even the families of Lanqu County City couldn’t help but feel excited and joyous.

“Shared joy, shared joy!” Elder Cai repeatedly responded to the congratulatory voices around him.

“Someone from the Wen Family has passed too!” Another loud voice declared.

“Elder Wen, I told you before, didn’t I?

Let Wen Yuan join our Divine Wind Academy,” Shang Qu said with a smile to an elder of the Wen Family.

Wen Yuan, a member of the Wen Family, was the second martial artist among all those who entered the Earth Array to pass and secure a Silver Token.

“Very well,” the Wen Family elder said, wafting his hand lightly.

“Dean Shang Qu, that’s not very upright of you!

Even if you want Wen Yuan to join the Divine Wind Academy, you shouldn’t do it right in front of us.

You’re treating us like air!” Huang Luo, the Outer Court Director of the Dao Yi Academy, glared at Shang Qu.

“What I discuss with Elder Wen has nothing to do with you.

Besides, I mentioned this to Elder Wen a few days ago, and he said he would prioritize our Divine Wind Academy for letting Wen Yuan join,” Shang Qu humphed.

“That’s totally improper!” Huang Luo shook his head repeatedly, “Elder Wen, you can’t play favorites like this.

You mustn’t influence Wen Duan in choosing which academy to join.

No, I must talk to Wen Yuan later.

If he agrees to join our Red Lotus Academy, we will definitely train him as a priority student.”

Huang Luo then turned to the Wen Family elder.

“Are you being reasonable?

Is our Dao Yi Academy somehow inferior to your Red Lotus Academy, or Divine Wind Academy?” Shu Ling, the Outer Court Director of Dao Yi Academy, also joined in angrily.

Although she was a woman, this was definitely not a time for politeness or restraint.

For martial artists who had won a Silver Token, one must do whatever possible to secure them.

“Elder Cai, you did promise me before that Cai Yang would join Dao Yi Academy.

You wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?” Shu Ling asked the Cai Family elder with a smile.

“Hehe…

I’m not entirely sure about that.

Cai Yang is one of the finest young members of our Cai Family, and I can’t simply dictate his mind.

The choice of which academy to join must ultimately be his own,” Elder Cai said with a smile, waving his hand.

“No, Cai Yang must join our Dao Yi Academy,” Shu Ling said, gritting her teeth.

While this debate over recruitment continued, the third martial artist who had passed through the Earth Array also emerged.

This was a member of the Lu Family, also one of the noble families of Lanqu County City.

Naturally, another uproar of recruitment ensued.

Every martial artist who managed to secure a Silver Token was a target for the Three Major Acadacies.

To absorb these martial artists into their institutions, each academy promised extremely generous conditions.

Next came the fourth, fifth, sixth…

As the two-hour deadline slowly drew to a close, the number of martial artists who had passed through the Earth Array continued to grow.

However, of the total 204 martial artists who had entered the Earth Array, only about a dozen had succeeded so far.

“Just sixty breaths left.”

Mu Liantian, watching the entire Earth Array, voiced out.

Mu Liantian’s face showed no emotion, but his heart couldn’t help but experience fluctuations.

Where was Jing Yan?

Where was Jing Yan who had entered the Earth Array?

Mu Liantian was extremely puzzled; although he had never seen Jing Yan engage in combat, his daughter Mu Yunfei had mentioned that Jing Yan was capable of fighting on equal terms with Late-stage Innate Martial Artists.

With such strength, wasn’t passing through the Earth Array supposed to be easy?

But where was Jing Yan?