Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Over the past year, most of the matches between the three ended in a draw.

Yan Chiheng's lightning strikes are the strongest, but they don't last long.

Fang Yue's speed is unmatched, and his single-point attacks are unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

Lin Zhao is the most well-rounded, with excellent attack, attrition, and defense capabilities, and no obvious weaknesses, like an increasingly difficult to chew tortoise shell.

As for Xu Chuan... well, isn't it common sense that there are only three of the Four Heavenly Kings?

His Water Abyss Spirit Body is unique in defense and endurance, but in terms of attack, it is "ordinary" compared to the other three.

He tried to reach the fourth floor of the Cloud Tower many times, but failed each time.

However, Lin Zhao and the others would not look down on Xu Chuan because of this. The path of cultivation is long and everyone has their own opportunities. Xu Chuan's resilience should not be underestimated either.

Just one month before the exam, Xu Chuan solemnly summoned the three of them to the villa.

"We have news," Xu Chuan said, lowering his voice as he set up a soundproof barrier. "This time, the sect... released information about the second major exam ahead of schedule."

Lin Zhao's heart stirred.

In the last major exam, I didn't even realize until the very end that I would be facing a third-tier monster.

This time it's a whole month early? That's unusual.

"The target of this mission," Xu Chuan's voice was hoarse, "is a third-tier Core Formation sect in the desolate region, more than 100,000 miles away."

The desolate region refers to the vast "gaps" between the 138 core domains of Yunzhou.

The 138 core areas are the most suitable places for life to survive, and contain a large number of spiritual veins.

These spiritual veins are stable and will not decay for thousands or even tens of thousands of years; they are the foundation of the sect.

In the desolate region... spiritual veins are like streams in the wilderness. Sometimes a third-order spiritual vein will emerge here, but it may inexplicably dry up and migrate after a few decades or even just a few years.

The living environment there is harsh, and spiritual energy is scarce, making it unsuitable for human habitation.

As a result, it became a paradise for losers, fugitives, and plunderers... The law of the jungle was the only rule there.

They not only fight amongst themselves, but also occasionally unite to form a massive "Robbery Cultivator Alliance," swarming across various regions like locusts, burning, killing, looting, and seizing people and resources.

For sects in various regions, the cultivators of the Desolate Region are mortal enemies for generations.

"The sect really thinks highly of us." Yan Chiheng forced a smile, but there was no real joy in it.

"Can a Core Formation sect, even with only one Core Formation cultivator in charge, be compared to a third-tier demon beast?"

Cultivators possess magical treasures, wisdom, and an endless array of methods.

It's simply impossible to set up an array at close range. How many lives will be lost in this war to annihilate the sect?

Fang Yue crossed his arms, his voice calm to the point of being cruel:

"Don't expect any support. This time, there won't be any Tier 3 spirit boats, offensive magic weapons, or Tier 3 formations like the one last time."

The sect's meaning is clear: everything depends on ourselves now.

"So," Lin Zhao concluded slowly, his voice not loud, but it drew the attention of the other three.

"The sect wants us to organize an expedition spanning over 100,000 miles across a desolate land, without any support."

"annihilate a third-tier sect possessing a complete protective array and a Core Formation cultivator. Only those who complete this mission can be considered true disciples of the sect."

Silence prevailed.

"……no way."

Xu Chuan finally broke the silence, "The sect's mission has been assigned; it's time to act. For the next month... everyone, get ready to go."

The four dispersed, carrying with them an unprecedented sense of heaviness.

Lin Zhao returned to his room and looked at the remaining 20,000 points on his sect token.

I originally intended to keep it as a backup, but now it seems like that's just wishful thinking.

He used his divine sense to repeatedly select from the exchange list in the Qiankun Palace.

His gaze finally settled on a magical artifact called the "Eight Desolate Ancient Seal".

This is an ancient seal, dark red in color and resembling stone but not quite. The sect describes it as being able to draw upon and gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a certain range, unleashing a strike as heavy as a mountain.

The principle sounds similar to the forbidden technique "Five Emperors Seal" in his "True Secret of the Five Elements Returning to the Void".

However, they are on different levels—the Five Emperors Seal forcibly summons and controls spiritual energy, making it extremely domineering.

The Eight Desolate Ancient Seals guide and gather, and are more like an amplification.

An idea took shape in Lin Zhao's mind: if he used the first half of the "Five Emperors Seal"—that method of forcibly controlling the surrounding spiritual energy—

Could we activate this Eight Desolate Ancient Seal artifact? Could we unleash a strike approaching a forbidden technique?

More importantly, he thought of that almost unsolvable problem—the "Golden Core Domain" of a Core Formation True Person.

Under the influence of the Dharma Domain, Foundation Establishment cultivators are unable to draw upon external spiritual energy, causing their strength to plummet.

This is an absolute suppression of realm. But the domineering nature of the "Five Emperors Seal" lies in its control of spiritual power, which, to some extent, is precisely aimed at the confrontation and plunder of this kind of "domain"!

Of course, with his current early Foundation Establishment cultivation, it would be nothing short of a pipe dream to try and use the Five Emperors Seal to tear apart and suppress the complete domain of a Core Formation True Person.

But... what if he's not the only one?

This mission involved tens of thousands of sect disciples, including nearly two thousand Foundation Establishment disciples.

There are nearly seventy top talents who have passed through the fourth level of the Cloud Tower!

Among these people, there are quite a few who cultivate fourth-order techniques and possess methods similar to the Five Emperors Seal.

It's not impossible for dozens of top geniuses to unleash their power simultaneously, tearing apart the domain of a Core Formation cultivator...

Behind these prodigies were two thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators.

It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious.

He used over 10,000 points to obtain an "Eight Desolate Ancient Seal".

In the days that followed, he devoted a great deal of time to using the ancient seal, repeatedly studying and analyzing it.

Finally, he successfully used the Five Emperors Seal technique to unleash a powerful attack from the Eight Desolate Ancient Seal.

Unfortunately, the Five Emperors Seal was too domineering, and the Eight Desolate Ancient Seal, which unleashed this attack, suffered considerable damage.

However, Lin Zhao is already a second-tier weapon refiner, so as long as he doesn't use it continuously, repairing it shouldn't be a big problem.

Xu Chuan then took the place of the three of them and participated in the pre-battle meeting organized by Pei Yue.

It's a mess

This wasn't the first major test; back then, everyone still had expectations for the future, and the sects were there to back them up.

Now everyone's future paths are almost set, and the sect's training is about to end.

Currently, there are still nearly 8,000 disciples in the sect who have not yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage. This is their last chance to achieve it, and no one will give up.

Even Pei Yue, who held the highest prestige, could not suppress all the voices.

In the end, only a rough plan was barely achieved: to reach the objective and join forces to break the sect's great formation.

After the formation was broken, each relied on their own abilities, either pursuing and killing Foundation Establishment cultivators, or... participating in the siege of Core Formation cultivators.

"A disorganized mess."

Upon learning this, Lin Zhao simply sighed softly.

But that's the reality, with the sects' intentional or unintentional indulgence.

Storm is coming.

This is pressure, but also a catalyst.

In the last month before departure

Every day, spiritual energy vortexes rise into the sky as people successfully establish their foundation, sometimes even more than ten a day!