Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

Unlike Xia Jin, Jian Wuhen and Venerable Miaodi did not encounter the so-called Thunder Beast.

Venerable Miaodi was fine; his journey was smooth, and the lightning in the thick fog could not break through his protective Buddha light.

However, Jian Wuhen was rather unlucky. He had only been in this place for half an hour when he had to stop.

Three figures could be vaguely seen standing in the thick fog ahead.

Jian Wuhen narrowed his eyes and stared intently. When he saw the faces of the three people clearly, his eyebrows twitched slightly.

Of the three, he recognized two of them; they were the two from the Apocalypse Continent who had passed the test together that day.

One was a man carrying a long black gun, and the other was a man with a missing right arm.

In front of the two of them stood another figure.

He was a tall, middle-aged man who was blind in one eye. He had his hands behind his back and was looking down at Jian Wuhen with a condescending gaze.

Seemingly in a show of defiance, he unleashed his aura without any attempt to conceal it, revealing himself to be at the ninth level of the Divine Realm.

"Master Cao, this is the kid."

The man carrying the black spear pointed at Jian Wuhen not far away, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "This kid is also from the Eastern Xuan Continent. Brother Li of Tianmen died at the hands of those people from the Eastern Xuan Continent. Let's take this opportunity to kill them! Avenge Brother Li!"

"Oh?" The middle-aged man, referred to as "Master Cao," glanced at Jian Wuhen, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A person from the Eastern Xuan Continent? That Li Chen actually perished at the hands of these people; it's a disgrace!"

His indifferent expression clearly showed that he didn't take Jian Wuhen seriously.

Jian Wuhen naturally heard the conversation between the two people opposite him, and his heart stirred slightly.

Tianmen? Brother Li?

A name flashed through his mind: Li Chen.

Back in the Eastern Xuan Continent, that guy who tried to steal Brother Xia's treasure was reportedly crushed into dust by Brother Xia with a single palm strike.

Judging from their posture, it seems they want to pin the blame on me.

Having guessed their intentions, Jian Wuhen sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm. "Gentlemen, the rules of the temple forbid fellow disciples from harming each other. Do you intend to attack me here?"

"Listen to what this guy is saying! Hahahaha!"

Upon hearing Jian Wuhen's question, the three people opposite him burst into laughter.

"A newbie is a newbie; they don't know anything!"

The man known as "Master Cao" stopped laughing, a cold glint in his eyes: "That's right, the temple does have this rule. But this is a trial by fire."

"During the Thunder Pool Trial, it's perfectly normal for one or two people to die. Whether they're struck by lightning, killed by thunder beasts, or... accidentally fall to their deaths, who would suspect us? After all, the dead can't speak!"

"So, you've made up your mind to make a move?" Jian Wuhen's lips curled up slightly, his tone even carrying a hint of amusement.

"That's good! Just obediently accept your death, that way you'll avoid suffering!"

The man carrying the black spear could no longer contain himself. He took a step forward, and the black spear was instantly unleashed.

This shot was swift and ruthless, clearly intended to kill instantly.

A hint of mockery flashed in Jian Wuhen's eyes.

If it were him in the past, he would have avoided the brunt of that shot, or even turned and fled.

But he is no longer the same person he used to be.

"Ding!"

A crisp metallic clang rang out.

The black spear was immediately blocked. Jian Wuhen had already drawn his sword at some point and casually used the tip of the sword to suppress his opponent.

"What? How is this possible!" The man's pupils shrank, and his face showed shock.

Even though he didn't use his full strength, his shot still had about 90% of its power.

"So, you still think I'm the same person I was before? You're wrong!"

A smile appeared on Jian Wuhen's face, and as he spoke, the iron sword in his hand moved again.

One sword.

Just one sword strike.

Everyone only saw a flash of sword light, and the black spear shattered inch by inch, starting from the tip. The sword's momentum didn't stop, and it struck the man's chest directly.

"puff!"

The man spat out a mouthful of blood, flew backward, and crashed heavily to the ground.

"You... how could your strength be...?"

The man stared wide-eyed at Jian Wuhen, his face filled with disbelief. He simply couldn't understand how someone far inferior to himself could possess such terrifying strength in just half a month.

The man with the missing right arm also changed his expression and subconsciously took a step back, holding a long knife he had somehow acquired in front of his chest.

"It's no use! I didn't want to bother with you guys, but you've messed with me. So get ready to go down and reunite with Li Chen!" Jian Wuhen shook his head with a smile.

But no one saw Jian Wuhen's next move clearly.

Another sword strike.

The sword was not aimed at the opponent, but rather struck at them.

The sword struck the one-armed man's shoulder, and with a "crack," his shoulder blade shattered instantly. He fell beside the man with the black gun, also losing his fighting ability.

Two swords.

Just two sword strikes.

The two cultivators at the sixth level of the Divine Realm collapsed to the ground like clay chickens and earthen dogs, unable to get up.

"You two are really useless!! You couldn't even withstand two casual sword strikes from me."

Jian Wuhen's taunt immediately made the face of the man next to him, known as "Master Cao," turn extremely gloomy.

He narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Jian Wuhen, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

"I never expected that a newcomer like you would have such strength."

Jian Wuhen wiped a rust stain off his sword, looking at him with a half-smile: "What, scared? Regretting sticking up for these two?"

"Scared?" Master Cao patted his muscular arms and sneered, "You only beat the two of them, that's not enough to scare me."

"However, your strength is indeed extraordinary. Therefore, I will give you a chance today."

"Follow me. As long as you are willing to follow me, I guarantee you will pass the Thunder Pool Trial smoothly this time, and in the future, no one in the temple will dare to make things difficult for you."

Upon hearing this, Jian Wuhen was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! You, who haven't even stepped into the Creation Realm, dare to spout such nonsense?"

"Who gave you the nerve?"

Jian Wuhen's arrogant words immediately infuriated Master Cao.

A murderous glint flashed in his eyes, and his aura surged instantly, unleashing his full power as a ninth-level Divine Realm cultivator.

The surrounding mist was impacted by this aura and dispersed in all directions.

"So what if you haven't reached the Creation Realm? There are plenty of powerful individuals from my Heavenly Revelation Continent, but dealing with you doesn't even require their intervention. I alone am enough!!"

He took a step forward, his hands forming claws, aiming straight for Jian Wuhen's throat. He used all his strength in this attack, determined to kill this arrogant newcomer on the spot.

A hint of disdain flashed in Jian Wuhen's eyes. After obtaining that ancient scroll made of animal hide, not only did it allow his cultivation to advance to the ninth level of the Divine Realm, but it also brought him one step away from the Creation Realm.

This greatly improved his swordsmanship.

He neither dodged nor avoided, but directly unleashed a sword strike.

This sword strike had no fancy moves, no dazzling sword light, only the simplest and most direct strike.

"Bang!"

The sword and claws clashed with a muffled thud.

Master Cao's expression changed drastically in an instant. He felt a terrifying force emanating from the sword, making his hands go numb. This sword strike had caused him a hidden loss.

"How is that possible?!"

Before he could think any further, Jian Wuhen's second sword strike came down.

This sword strike was faster and more ruthless.

Master Cao barely managed to raise his hand to block, but was forced back three steps by the force of the sword.

The third sword strike.

This sword strike was executed flawlessly, without reservation.

With a flash of sword light, Master Cao's defenses crumbled instantly. A shocking sword wound appeared on his chest, from which blood flowed continuously.

Three swords.

Only three swords.

He was defeated.