I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Further away, within sight, all the bronze warrior statues began to glow red in their eyes, one after another "awakening"! A rough count revealed no fewer than twenty pairs! That is, at least forty bronze guardians at the late Nascent Soul stage!

They didn't all rush forward immediately. Instead, like a well-trained army, the first pair charged forward, followed by the second, third, and so on, maintaining a certain formation as they pressed towards Qin Yuan! The heavy footsteps converged into a unified roar, causing the floor of the corridor to tremble slightly!

"A trial...?" Qin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. This bronze corridor was clearly another test, and even more dangerous than the previous Trial of Strength. Facing the onslaught of more than forty late-stage Nascent Soul guardians, even a true early-stage Void Refinement cultivator would likely have to put in considerable effort.

But he showed no fear; instead, a surge of pride rose within him. Perfect, he could hone his skills through battle!

Instead of retreating, he strode forward to meet the first pair of charging bronze guards!

The first pair of guards, one wielding a giant axe and the other a heavy hammer, moved clumsily but possessed terrifying strength. The two heavy weapons created a fierce wind, blocking Qin Yuan's space to dodge from the left and right, and slammed down hard!

Qin Yuan swayed slightly, but instead of retreating, he advanced, cutting in through the gap between the two weapons' attacks! Just as the giant axe and the heavy hammer were about to close in, he threw out both fists at once, his left fist slamming into the side of the giant axe and his right fist smashing into the handle of the heavy hammer!

"Clang! Clang!"

Two deafening explosions! The massive bodies of the guards were jolted awake, their attacks momentarily halted! Qin Yuan pressed his advantage, leaping into the air and unleashing a flurry of kicks that struck the helmets of both guards like a windmill!

"Bang! Bang!"

The helmet dented, and a crimson light flashed violently! The two guards staggered backward, and Qin Yuan had already landed. His figure was as fast as lightning. He circled behind the guard with the axe and delivered a powerful elbow strike to the joint of his armor at the back of his chest!

"Crack!" The armor shattered, and the guard collapsed to the ground, the red light in his eyes quickly dimming.

Another guard wielding a hammer roared and swung it around! Qin Yuan ducked to avoid it, then closed in, his right hand's five fingers pressed together like a knife, glowing with a pale silver starlight, and plunged fiercely into the gap in the guard's chest and abdominal armor!

"Thud!" His arm went all the way down to his elbow! The guard froze, the red light went out, and he collapsed with a thud.

The first pair of guards was dealt with in just a few breaths. But more guards were already closing in! The second pair, the third pair... a total of eight pairs, sixteen guards, had formed an encirclement, trapping Qin Yuan in the center! The heavy footsteps and the sound of weapons cutting through the air intertwined into a deathly symphony!

Despite being surrounded, Qin Yuan remained unfazed. He took a deep breath, unleashing the full power of his "Undying Body of the Universe Stars," his bones and muscles resonating, a faint silver starlight flickering across his body. He held nothing back, integrating his newly acquired understanding of power into the battle.

Facing spears thrusting from all directions, swords slashing down, and giant hammers crashing down, he moved like a ghost, weaving through the gaps between the weapons. Every movement was precise to the millimeter, and every strike was concise and effective! Fists, palms, fingers, elbows, knees, legs... his entire body became a weapon!

"Boom!" A single punch deflected three spears that were thrusting at him simultaneously.

"Crack!" With a single palm strike, a battle blade that was cleaving down from above was snapped in two, and the edge of the palm then sliced ​​across the neck of the guard holding the blade.

"Bang!" He dodged the giant hammer by sidestepping it, and his shoulder slammed into the chest of the guard holding the hammer, sending him flying backward and crashing into another guard behind him.

"Swoosh!" With fingers pointing like a sword, a pale golden finger strike pierced the forehead of a guard who was attempting a sneak attack.

He moved like a tiger among sheep, or a whirlwind sweeping away fallen leaves; wherever he went, bronze fragments flew and the red light faded continuously! The guards at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm were like clay chickens and earthenware dogs before him, posing little threat. His combat skills, enhanced by his understanding of power, became increasingly natural, his use of power reaching a pinnacle of subtlety, maximizing the effect of every ounce of strength.

But the number of guards was simply too great, and they seemed tireless and fearless of death. One group would fall, only to be replaced immediately by others. Even more troublesome was that these guards seemed to know simple coordination, their attacks flowing seamlessly together, putting considerable pressure on Qin Yuan. His protective aura was constantly being shattered, and shallow wounds began to appear on his body. His blue robe was torn, revealing skin beneath that shimmered with a pale silver sheen.

The battle lasted for about half an incense stick's time. At Qin Yuan's feet lay the remains of more than twenty guards. He also felt his spiritual energy and physical strength rapidly depleting, his blood churning. The remaining dozen or so guards continued their relentless, fearless attack.

"We can't continue this entanglement," Qin Yuan realized. The corridor stretched on endlessly, and the guards seemed inexhaustible; he had to break through quickly!

His eyes sharpened, and the first level of the "Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique" within his body quietly activated, burning approximately thirty years of stored cultivation! His aura surged instantly, and his strength and speed reached a new level!

"break!"

With a low shout, his figure transformed into a blur that was difficult to see with the naked eye, forcefully smashing through the blockade of the three guards in front of him. His fists pounded like drums, continuously striking the chests of the fourth and fifth guards blocking his way!

"Bang! Bang!"

The armor on the chests of the two guards was completely dented, and their massive bodies flew backward like cannonballs, knocking several guards behind them to the ground!

The gap opened! Without hesitation, Qin Yuan pushed his speed to the limit, bursting out of the gap like a streak of azure lightning and speeding towards the depths of the corridor!

The remaining guards roared and turned to give chase, but they were no match for Qin Yuan, who was burning his cultivation, and were quickly left behind.

Qin Yuan ran wildly, with new guards constantly "awakening" from both sides to join the chase, but he was too fast, and often he had already passed the guards just as they started moving.

After running for about fifteen minutes, the end of the corridor finally appeared ahead—another tightly closed bronze gate. Above the gate was carved a huge battle axe pattern that looked as if it were outlined in blood, exuding a chilling and ferocious aura.

Before this massive gate, several figures were already waiting, or rather, blocked from view.

Qin Yuan slowed down and got a clear view of the scene ahead.

Before the giant gate stood five people. Three of them were Mu Changchun, the Holy Son of the Qingmu Sect, Mu Wanqiu, the Holy Daughter, and a core disciple of the Qingmu Sect. The other two were two rogue cultivators dressed in black robes, exuding a cold aura, both at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

At this moment, Mu Changchun and his sister stood with their backs to the massive bronze gate, their expressions grave, confronting the two black-robed cultivators. The Qingmu Sect disciple lay on the ground, his breath weak, clearly seriously injured. The two black-robed cultivators wore sinister smiles, their eyes scanning Mu Wanqiu's exquisite face with hostility.

"Saint Mu, Saint Mu, why be so stubborn?" The black-robed cultivator with a scar on his cheek on the left sneered. "Hand over the 'Life-Creating Pill' you obtained in the 'Green Wood Garden,' and let Saint Mu entertain us brothers for a bit, then we'll spare your lives, how about it?"