Lin Xun’s cultivation had improved tremendously after his closed-door cultivation. He had reached the perfect realm of the Human Dipper Stage and his strength had also soared.
If Lin Xun encountered Huang Jianchen again, he was confident that he could easily defeat him without needing to resort to Star-Gather!
However, Lin Xun also didn’t feel particularly threatened when he faced Huang Jianchen in the arena.
The blade that finally defeated Huang Jianchen only contained a third of the essence of Star-Gather and wasn't the true Star-Gather!
As for how powerful Lin Xun was now, even he didn’t know himself. But he was certain that he wouldn’t be afraid of facing Earth Dipper cultivators.
He silently checked the changes within his body and then inhaled deeply. He restrained his qi and restored his body to its usual tranquil and calm state.
He also withdrew the convergence arrays in his room.
Although he had only been in closed-door cultivation for one month, he had consumed a huge amount of materials. He had used up all the cloud dipper violet soul pills and he had consumed ten pieces of high-grade aeth stones every day to operate the convergence array.
In total, Lin Xun had spent 6,000 gold coins in that one month!
This was a tremendous expense unimaginable to ordinary cultivators. Even the children of wealthy families could hardly spend such a huge amount on cultivation in one month.However, it couldn’t be helped. Lin Xun possessed the Storm Grinder, which was akin to a bottomless pit. i It brought him a solid cultivation foundation, but it also consumed resources far more than those of his peers!
Everything had pros and cons. Since Lin Xun had heaven-defying powers, he also needed more resources for his cultivation.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to travel far along the cultivation path without sufficient resources to support him, regardless of how talented he was or how outstanding his foundation was.
Even the cleverest housewife couldn’t cook a meal without any rice.
……
As Lin Xun walked out of his room, Xue Jin lifted his head and glanced at him. He muttered, “What a monster!”
Lin Xun smiled. “Why do you say that?”
Xue Jin said irritably, “I have been cultivating for a long time, but I have never seen anyone at the Human Dipper stage be able to train for one month without eating or drinking. Cultivators who had attempted to do so had lost their minds in the process or exploded to death. When has someone like you cultivate for an entire month and look like nothing had happened? Not only that, but your cultivation level has also improved once again. Are you not a monster?”
Lin Xun nodded and said seriously, “Old Jin, if you want to praise me in the future, just say it directly. You don’t need to beat around the bush.”
Xue Jin held his breath, holding in his anger. Then, he rolled his eyes and said, “Kid, you are becoming more and more shameless. Are you not afraid of karma?”
Lin Xun thought for a moment and smiled. “It’s fine. There are many shameless people in the world. I’m not the worst one.”
Xue Jin couldn’t argue with Lin Xun and so he changed the subject. “Tell me, are you planning to attend the Stone Cauldron Alms anniversary celebration? It’s getting late. You’ll still make it if you leave now.”
Lin Xun shook his head. “I have no interest in it. I have already asked Chu Feng to attend on my behalf. I came to find you about something else.”
Xue Jin sighed, “I know, the more familiar someone is with you, the more impolite you are to them. You’re acting so natural even if you want to ask a favor from me. Do you think I should keep a distance from you in the future?”
Lin Xun smiled. “That’s fine, but if that’s the case, it will be difficult for me to help you make a rune armament. After all, you’re going to draw a line with me. Even if I want to help you, there’s nothing I can do…”
Before he finished his sentence, Xue Jin grumbled, “Little brat, stop talking nonsense. Quickly tell me what you want from me?“
Lin Xun immediately said seriously, “I may still need to go into closed-door cultivation. It will take at least one day but I don’t know how long it will take. I only hope that you can make sure that no one bothers me during that period.”
Xue Jin was a little puzzled. “What’s the difference between this and your one month of closed-door cultivation?”
“It’s not the same. If I don’t have your protection this time, there will be serious consequences if an accident happens.”
Xue Jin narrowed his eyes as he realized that Lin Xun’s closed-door cultivation this time wasn’t just simply for cultivation.
“Fine!” Xue Jin agreed after a thought.
Lin Xun breathed a sigh of relief.
That day was the day that the third level of the Great Azure Cloud Path would open. Lin Xun knew that he would lose his ability to perceive the outside world once he entered the Omega Secret Realm. If someone were to disturb him during that period, his life could be in fatal danger.
In the past, Lin Xun didn’t need to worry about any danger because he had entered the Omega Secret Realm in safe places such as Feiyun Village and Blood Kill Camp.
It was different now. He had many enemies in Haze City. They might be afraid of him and not dare to come and attack him, but what if such a thing happened?
Therefore, Lin Xun asked Xue Jin for help.
……
Lin Xun returned to his room and sat down cross-legged on the bed. He cleared his mind and quietly sensed the Omega Door suspended in his mind-sea.
Only after an unknown period did Lin Xun feel his mind-sea swaying. He fell into a trance-like state and a familiar feeling flooded his body.
In a split second, Lin Xun had appeared in a mysterious space again.
The perfectly straight Great Azure Cloud Path extended into the distance where the mysterious and towering Omega Door stood.
As Lin Xun stood on the Great Azure Cloud Path, he surveyed the surroundings. He couldn't help but sigh emotionally. It had already been an entire year since he challenged the second level…
Soon, a cryptic undulation swept over and silently scanned Lin Xun’s body. Then, a cold, clear and emotionless voice reverberated throughout the space.
“Dao Seeker, the third level of the Great Azure Cloud Path is called Hundred Battles. You have three chances to pass. If you fail, you will have to wait seven days before you can challenge the level again. If you fail all three attempts, you will be disqualified and the Omega Secret Realm will return to a sealed state.”
“I understand.” Lin Xun nodded. Having been in the Omega Secret Realm many times, he was very familiar with the voice.
“The challenge begins.”
As the voice rang out, a dazzling shaft of light descended upon the Great Azure Cloud Path and completely drowned Lin Xun’s figure.
“Enter the Hundred Battle Secret Realm and fight against one hundred secret realm experts!”
“If you are still standing after one hundred battles, you will pass without a reward!”
“If you win all one hundred battles, you will pass and receive a reward!”
“If you fail during the one hundred battles, you fail the level!”
The ice-cold voice continued to ring, stating the rules for the third level of the Great Azure Cloud Path.
Lin Xun found that he was standing in a huge arena suspended in nothingness. He scanned around and saw that there was not a thing in sight.
Many sculptures stood in the arena, each one a different shape. Some were humans, some were demons, devils, ghosts and spirits. Some were strange creatures that Lin Xun had never seen nor heard of before!
There was a skeleton with wings and an eye between its eyebrows!
There was a giant covered with black scales standing on a tortoise and had snakes hanging around his ears!
There was an ox-headed human with golden skin. He was equipped with heavy armor and sitting astride an unknown beast.
Each one was bizarre. It was as though the representative of each ancient creature had traveled through time and appeared before him.
Lin Xun shuddered inwardly as he swept a glance over the statutes. The sculptures were too peculiar and mysterious. He had never heard of such creatures existing in the world.
Many legends from ancient times had circulated throughout the empire. Many of them had mentioned gods, demons and devils but Lin Xun couldn’t connect those legends with the statues in front of him!
They were too mysterious but also too frightening. It was difficult to imagine what the background and origin of the creatures were, let alone why they appeared in the secret realm in the form of statues.
The ice-cold voice mentioned that I have to fight against secret realm experts in Hundred Battles. Could it be that those so-called secret realm experts are related to those statues?
Lin Xun felt uneasy.
“Dao Seeker, you have one hundred opportunities to fight. If you can’t survive to the end, it will be considered a failure.”
“A failed battle equals death. After the resurrection, you have a quarter of an hour to adjust yourself.”
The cold and empty voice rang again, elaborating the rules of the challenge.
Lin Xun stood there in puzzlement. There are three attempts to challenge the level and for each attempt, there are one hundred opportunities to fight!?
What a strange challenge!
Lin Xun was most baffled that he had the chance to resurrect after he died in battle. How shocking is that!?
However, the Omega Secret Realm is a mysterious place where everything before me is cast from some mysteriously terrifying power. The so-called death and resurrection must be illusionary and not true death and resurrection!
Otherwise, it would have completely broken the laws of heaven and earth.
Lin Xun carefully reviewed the rules and found it strange that he could successfully pass even if he lost one hundred battles. It didn’t make sense to him.
If that’s the case, I can still pass if I can resurrect after losing one hundred times!
But immediately, Lin Xun frowned. It won’t be this simple. There are only three chances to pass the level and each chance consists of one hundred opportunities to fight. If it was that easy, the conditions for passing the level wouldn't be so complicated.
Before Lin Xun could make sense of the rules, a statue with a human head, a snake body and four limbs produced a strange wave of energy in the right corner of the arena. Immediately, it started to flake and peel off. It was coming to life!