A Brutal Trial Ground

The Darknorth Immortal Gorge was mostly nothing like a gorge in truth.

The whole region was a massive forbidden zone protected by a huge formation. This trial ground was a gargantuan paradise existing in another space-time as the immortal realm; for those who had sufficient strength, it was simply the perfect place to thrive and grow stronger.

Amidst a boundless sea of clouds were countless floating celestial mountains. These mountains were covered with all sorts of spirit trees and flowers as well as numerous heavenly treasures. Among these many celestial mountains was an exquisite jade structure that was slowly travelling about.

This was the Celestial Emperor Bridge. It was the only means to travel between the floating mountains as the protective formation prohibited flight for anyone below the Immortal Emperor realm once they went past a maximum altitude.

But these floating mountains did not matter much for the many ascendants partaking into the Immortal Ascension Selection. Why?

This was because each of those floating mountains contained the legacy of an immortal and obviously wouldn't be that easily open to outsiders. In addition, only immortals were permitted to tread on these mountains and the bridge.

A group of such immortals had just came.

At this time, within a palace connected to nine floating mountains, sunlight was falling down in its greatest glory. A banquet was of order for 100 peak stage immortal kings. They were all Marquises of the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty as well as city lords of major cities within the Dynasty territories.

Some were extremely old like the Netherworld Marquis whilst others were fairly young like Yi Dong, the Redcloud Marquis.

Inside the humongous banquet hall, there were tens of dark floating obelisks made up of meteor crystals that were projecting screens of immortal light. They were used to broadcast the trial of the many ascendants as the Marquises ate and discussed.

Amongst that crowd of Marquises were a group of three that were particularly astounding seating at a glorious table by themselves. Obviously they were more than old acquaintances, they were friends.

They were the only three Immortal Kings who could slay Immortal Emperors — The Redcloud Marquis Yi Dong, Netherworld Marquis Lin Ming & Heavenspan Marquis Gu Lingfei (A/N: Female).

"I heard there are quite a few extremely powerful prodigies in this batch. Let's hope they won't disappoint us too much." The old man Netherworld crossed his arms in front of his chest as he spoke with a smile.

"My junior brother is the one overseeing this first round. He isn't a friendly one so he most likely omitted to tell them various details about the many enchantments that the protective formation imposes onto those within the Gorge." The Heavenspan Marquis said with a soft smirk painted on her face.

"Yes, I remember. The formation would temporarily restrict some of the ascendants' powers. Their condensed constellations as well as their various innate techniques would all be locked down, unable to be used. What they can call upon is only their original strength, augmented by the power of their astral souls. It was cumbersome to deal with some challenges encountered during my time participating in the selection because of that." Yi Dong answered as he thought about events that happened many millennials ago.

"Astral souls and Bloodline powers won't be bound as that's a sign of one's innate talent. But constellations are a different case. There's a huge difference in terms of comprehension comparing even a seven-level and nine-level ascendant. The disparity is too vast and so constellations could easily unfairly tip the balance resulting in an inequality of strength. Hence, it must be restricted." All while gulping down several sips of alcohol, Netherworld Marquis explained.

"In that same spirit innate techniques would be restricted because there might be some who cultivated powerful immortal-ranked techniques before while the others haven't. This wouldn't be a fair test of talent if the lower-talent participants could use powerful techniques to overwhelm high-talent participants. All things considered innate techniques are ultimately something external to the participants." It was Heavenspan who made the remark.

"I concur that allowing everyone to keep their original cultivation base is already unfair enough." Redcloud was busy eating the many delicacies and conveyed his words with his immortal sense.

Redcloud could only imagine the surprise of his city's 1,000 chosen as they can't use the immortal-ranked techniques he bestowed upon them as rewards. He couldn't help but chuckle.

As the trio continued their discussion, the many participants were finally transported into the Gorge. The trial had begun in that sacred ground of cultivation.

𝛀 𝛀 𝛀 𝛀 𝛀 𝛀

The Darknorth Immortal Gorge was so vast that its boundaries couldn't be seen. There were countless peaks in the area and all of them belonged to the Immortal Gorge Mountain Range. As seen previously, it was currently enveloped by a screen of light that seemed akin to a supremely terrifying great formation. Shimmering runes could be seen flowing around the light screen, exuding an air of mysteriousness that weaved unique law energy, permeating the air within the lightscreen.

This sacred ground of cultivation and trials could be used by the disciples of the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty. Its aim was to force the disciples to "Forget oneself, regaining one's strength through re-comprehension."

Abruptly, spatial fluctuations enveloped a spot as someone appeared inside the Darknorth Immortal Gorge.

Ji Bolin was standing there alone with no one in his surroundings. The energy from the law enchantments bore down on him, tunnelling through his body and it felt like a gigantic hand of law was rewriting everything.

After a moment, he felt a strange resonance with the energy in the atmosphere connecting them with something akin to an unbreakable thread as well as the towering strength within him dwindling.

He no longer had access to eight of the nine floors of his Yuanfu; his body was still extremely powerful but he couldn't truly exert neither the strength of a hundred demonic beasts nor the durability of a 5th ranked divine weapon.

Before he could effectively process what happened, he was targeted.

A resplendent astral light flashed as someone sneaked on him at alarming speed. The opponent's astral soul manifested behind his back. It was a fearsome looking reptilian beast and a pair of bat-like wings also formed on his opponent's back the instant the avian beast astral soul manifested. A baleful aura erupted out as he sped towards Ji Bolin, while launching an attack.

A terrifying pressure burst out, his attack was akin to a talon swipe by a fearsome avian demonic beast.

That person didn't bore any medallion so it was clear that he was one of the many prisoners that the examiner warned them about.

Ji Bolin blasted out a chop with his hands, unconsciously utilising his sword-type innate techniques. But at the instant before his energy erupted outwards, a marvellous law energy directly interrupted it. No gigantic sword slashes were formed and so he reflexively tried to pull out his constellation but the same thing happened.

It doesn't take a genius to understand that his constellations and techniques had been sealed by the power of the law enchantments in the area.

"BANG!" That fearsome talon swipe smashed over as Ji Bolin was sent flying through the forest. Bloody wounds opened on his arms and chest because of the aftermath of that attack.

"Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!" Bolin spit out several coughs of blood as he regained his foothold.

Not only was his opponent at the Eighth level of Celestial Phenomenon but they attacked using the power of their astral soul while he executed an innate technique out of habit, without borrowing the power from his astral soul and was thus forced back.

"I am too careless." Ji Bolin thought, his eyes turned cold as he summoned his astral souls.

Two of his astral souls manifested as he focused. They were the Archaic Demon Sovereign Astral Soul and Ancient Sword Astral Soul. Instantly, his physique expanded to three zhang and the aura exuding from him sharpened by several folds.

"Hmph, you are merely a fourth level ascendant. Die!!!" His opponent manifested another astral soul.

It was a demonic being with three heads and six arms, causing his already covered in scales physique to transform once more and expand even larger as a cruel smile painted his lips. These two astral souls from his opponent were from the 5th and 6th heavenly layer.

The astral souls possessed by these prisoners were so good, this was no good news. They were definitely something geniuses from ordinary particle worlds cannot compare.

A severe glint of light flickered in Ji Bolin's eyes. The Archaic Demon Sovereign astral soul behind him seemed to become enraged at the thought that a lower demon dared to challenge him. Shimmering crimson light flowed around him as baleful qi transformed into fearsome demonic dragons.

Ji Bolin pointed to the prisoner as the four demonic dragon projection dived with their maw opened to devour him.

However, his opponent employed a bloodline power further augmenting his strength. In the immortal realms, many cultivators possessed a bloodline power, some of them ordinary but there are also some truly unique ones.

Four of his arms grabbed a demonic dragon each as the remaining free two arms swung down cutting down their heads consecutively.

Ji Bolin summoned more demonic dragons as vanguards whilst closing the distance. The prisoner occupied by them failed to react in time to his punch, an uppercut to the chin. The prisoner's chin broke so badly, it was so gruesomely mangled that a piece of his tongue fell off alongside a few teeth as his lower face caved upwards.

But to astral cultivators this was nothing but superficial wounds.

Ji Bolin ordered his ancient astral soul to merge with his right arm. A humongous amount of sword qi was released by the astral soul as his already demonised arm transformed to a sword-hand. A vertical chop and the left side of the prisoner was gone, his three arms were already flying as blood poured out madly from his side.

Only now did the prisoner acknowledge the precarious situation he was in. He had chosen to disregard the fact that this youngster pulled out two violet-gold astral souls as he felt that a fourth level ascendant could pose no threat to him.

Awakened he immediately released his three other astral souls; an axe, a sword and a sabre. All were from the 4th heavenly layer. He also rang a divine treasure bell which was meant to alarm his group.

Ji Bolin was now in great danger.

Ji Bolin summoned a third astral soul and miles upon miles of forest was immediately frozen, the prisoner was no exception. However, this wouldn't be able to hold him for long but it was already more than enough as Ji Bolin's demonised sword-arm had already smashed through his head and cleaved him into twain.

"SWISSSSSH!!!" This heaven sizzling sound was all Ji Bolin could hear before one arrow pierced through his throat, another one severed his sword-arm and a last one pierced through his liver.

He wasn't able to activate his divine armour in time for maximum effect as he was caught off-guard.

Ji Bolin's three zhang tall body was thrown backwards with huge violence, the frozen vegetation broke into million pieces whenever he hit them and impressive craters appeared whenever his body bounced off the frozen ground.

Deep terror flash within Bolin's eyes. If he hadn't already demonised his fearsome physique alongside wearing a peak 5th rank armour then that arrow would have severed his head. As he flew sideways through the forest due to the impact, he saw several prisoners chasing after him. Their leader was at the ninth level of the celestial phenomenon realm and clearly using an arrow type innate technique.

Bolin released all of his astral souls and under their blessing recovered at astounding speed yet his arm didn't regrow right away. He employed his engulfing type attribute to remove the rotting attribute astral energy plaguing his wounds and with his remaining arm sent several sword beams of qi.

Under the effect of surrealism then the distance between the sword beams and the several pursuers shrank abruptly. They were caught off guard by the rare attribute's effect so much so that several of them couldn't block or dodge. Like broken kites they fell, their body forward and detached heads backwards.

Ji Bolin then fled. He summoned his peak 5th rank sword from his Yuanfu and a beam of sword light manifested as he rode upon it, shuttling through the distance. He channelled his various attributes in the sword to reach immense speed and successfully flew away.

Several destructive arrows were launched after him but they could never reach him as if there was an infinite distance between them and him. This was surrealism.

After losing the prisoners, Bolin took great care to retract his aura and be as discreet as possible to avoid such mishaps again.

No longer in his transformed state, Ji Bolin stared at the gaping hole in his throat closing at visible speed. It would not be possible for him to regrow his arm that easily though unless he uses some type of immortal-rank art.

Ji Bolin's eyes were gleaming with terrifying cold light. He won't forget this little band of bandits. He will have his revenge but for now let see what surprise the gorge had in reserve for him.

It was time to explore that mountain range.

𝛀 𝛀 𝛀 𝛀 𝛀 𝛀

Later following his escape, Ji Bolin arrived below a precipice.

The cliff walls around it were smooth and glossy and there were many stone platforms below it. Each and every stone platform seemed to be covered by many footprints that were extremely messy and it appeared as though many people had once comprehended the innate techniques inscribed on the cliff walls from these platforms.

Turning his gaze onto the cliff walls, many pictures were engraved there. Numerous pictures of a dragon appeared in various forms, extremely vivid and realistic as though the beast was truly alive. From the bottom to the top, the dragon walked on the ground, then water and clouds before riding the wind and soaring through the skies. Ultimately, it matured and became the sovereign of the skies and heavens.

"This is a movement technique." He instantly understood.

This movement technique must have been engraved onto the walls by a senior from the Dynasty long ago. His eyes flickered as he imprinted the pictures into his memories. After which, he began cultivation, seemingly transforming into the majestic dragon himself. Each form and movement was flowing in synchronisation within his mind.

After the time it took for an incense to finish burning, Ji Bolin soared up into the air once more. This time, he didn't step upon his sword beam but was rather like a ferocious dragon, riding the clouds to soar through the air. His proficiency with the skill was such that there was even the image of a regal dragon superimposed on him, it felt like he was a dragon itself.

This technique was left behind by those who came before and it was an immortal-ranked one. Those who were proficient in wind and space would be the most suitable to cultivate this and when one cultivates this to the absolute limits, they would be able to take the form of a True Dragon, soaring through the skies travelling a thousand miles with a flap of their limbs.

However, Ji Bolin didn't remain behind to cultivate this technique. Although this art was powerful, it wasn't suited to him. The true essence of cultivating immortal arts was that one had to find a suitable one so they can comprehend it fully and even then, a suitable immortal-ranked technique would already take up a large amount of time. Hence, he left directly after he spent enough time to cultivate the True Dragon movement technique at the Celestial Phenomenon level.

Ji Bolin soared through the air and met quite a demonic beasts on his way. They all attacked him and some were killed without warning. He didn't slow down when he couldn't kill them either and although they wanted to pursue him after seeing him, they realised that his speed was far too quick for them.

Ji Bolin was able to comprehend a movement technique in such a short amount of time, his comprehension ability was definitely extremely terrifying.

"Sword art." Ji Bolin who was speeding through the air inside a valley abruptly halted when he sensed a stone wall below him was actually emanating a fearsome sword qi. Then it didn't take long for him to spot a participant already in cultivation there. She was seated atop the corpses of at least several dozens of prisoners.

Even though she spotted him, she didn't act. Ji Bolin immediately understood that comprehending the sword art was of greater importance to her now than fighting a one-armed ascendant and thus landed to the opposite side of her.

The first one to comprehend the sword art would surely wake up from their cultivation and kill the other. It was a game of comprehension ability which would by all means lead to the death of one of them.

Unknown to the two, many ascendants had already died to the prisoners, demonic beast or other contestants. The mountains were already soaked in the blood of countless of these elite celestial phenomenon ascendants.