Continue!
Upon hearing this, everyone held their breath again, their gazes fixed on the screen projection. The sensations brought by Li Xuan were too overwhelming.
After absorbing the法则之力 (law power) from these twenty-nine stages, Li Xuan clearly felt the spiritual energy within him boiling like cold water brought to a boil.
The transformed spiritual energy made Li Xuan feel an unprecedented surge of power. Li Xuan had the feeling that the might of his current punch could probably kill a peak Dao Yuan realm expert. After obtaining such benefits, how could Li Xuan give up so easily?
Boom!
As Li Xuan's words fell, the space he was in immediately changed. A scene of red light flashing all over the sky appeared, an entirely red world.
The ground was blood-red, the mountains were blood-red, and even the river water was a bloody red hue.
Seeing this, Li Xuan felt a sense of oppression. While raising his vigilance, Li Xuan quickly scanned his surroundings. As his gaze swept, a figure slowly emerged from thin air.
"How can these eyes be so terrifying?" Looking at the eyes of the guardian phantom, Li Xuan's soul trembled inexplicably. It felt as if he were staring into an abyss, filled with boundless fear.
Sensing this, Li Xuan hurriedly averted his gaze from the guardian phantom. After taking a deep breath, he finally stabilized his state of mind.
At this moment, the guardian phantom glanced at him and then waved its hand, and a barrier that seemed like a solid entity instantly appeared around Li Xuan. Li Xuan frowned slightly at this, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
Because this barrier seemed to pose no threat. But this was set by the guardian phantom, so it couldn't be that simple.
As if sensing Li Xuan's doubt, the guardian phantom slowly raised its head to look at Li Xuan.
The next moment, to Li Xuan's utter shock, it opened its mouth and said, "Since Old Ancestor, you are the first disciple to reach this stage. You will have the honor of knowing my name. My name is Hao Xuan."
"As a challenger, if you can defeat me, you will obtain the 法则之力 left by Old Ancestor."
"You can speak? Wait, the 法则之力 you just mentioned, is it those things that merged into my body after I passed each stage before?" Li Xuan was astonished, clearly not expecting the guardian phantom to be able to speak.
However, after hearing Hao Xuan's words, Li Xuan vaguely sensed that Hao Xuan's existence seemed to be related to Old Ancestor Cang Xuan.
"Old Ancestor bestowed me a body and a name, so naturally I can act like a normal person. As for your question, it is indeed so. Every stage you have overcome contains the insights of the 法则之力 left by Old Ancestor."
"The 法则之力 is of great benefit to you. You will understand when you can cultivate a 法域. Now, begin the challenge," Hao Xuan said in a cold, emotionless voice.
Upon hearing this, Li Xuan clasped his fists and bowed to Hao Xuan, saying, "Please bestow your guidance, senior."
As Li Xuan's words fell, Hao Xuan nodded slightly. Then, with another wave of his hand, the barrier around them instantly disappeared.
At this moment, those watching at Shang Qing Palace could once again see Li Xuan and the guardian phantom Hao Xuan in the screen projection.
It was evident that Hao Xuan had shielded the conversation between him and Li Xuan. As for the upcoming challenge, there was naturally no need to conceal it further.
"Dian Cang Technique, Silent Annihilation!"
As the barrier dispersed, Hao Xuan made the first move. With a single word, the blood-red color from all directions of heaven and earth instantly surged forth.
In just an instant, a blood-red drop of blood condensed. As soon as the blood drop formed, a terrifying aura emanated from heaven and earth. Then, with lightning speed, it shot directly towards Li Xuan, carrying an eerie red glow.
Seeing this, Li Xuan's eyes narrowed, and he switched his divine sword to Shi Jian.
"Stacked Sword Technique!"
"One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws!"
A sword cry resounded, and the next moment, Shi Jian also soared towards the blood drop.
The two beams of light collided, yet they produced no sound at all, as if frozen. After a brief silence, Shi Jian vibrated once more and returned to Li Xuan's hand.
The next moment, the blood drop suddenly intensified its bloody radiance again.
"How is this possible!" Li Xuan's eyes were filled with shock as his single sword had no effect.
Although he knew Hao Xuan was not easy to deal with, he hadn't expected him to be so powerful.
It was worth noting that Li Xuan had used his full strength this time, and a strong sense of frustration immediately arose.
However, Hao Xuan completely ignored the stunned Li Xuan at this moment. The blood drop shot towards Li Xuan again. And this time, its might was clearly even greater than before.
Puff!
Before the blood drop arrived, an invisible force had already enveloped Li Xuan. The invisible force, as if controlled by someone, made it impossible for Li Xuan to move. In an instant, Li Xuan felt his qi and blood churning, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Bang!
At the same time, the blood drop fiercely struck Li Xuan's chest. The overwhelming pressure surged like a tide, immediately smashing Li Xuan down from mid-air to the ground. With a bang, Li Xuan disappeared amidst the swirling dust.
"My heavens, this guardian phantom is too strong!"
"Will Senior Brother Li Xuan be alright? Senior Brother Li Xuan seemed to have coughed blood even before being hit!"
"Is this Purgatory trial so terrifying that even someone as strong as Senior Brother Li Xuan cannot pass the thirtieth stage?"
"..."
As Li Xuan disappeared, the Xuan Sect disciples who had come to watch were all shocked. After witnessing Hao Xuan's methods, many disciples felt a trace of fear in their hearts.
With such strength, even if they trained for several more decades, they might not be able to succeed in challenging him.
"Eldest Senior Brother, why is the guardian phantom of this stage so powerful?" Fu Yao Jin and the others, who were also watching, exchanged solemn glances and then looked at Yue Ming Chi.
After all, Yue Ming Chi was the foremost among the Xuan Sect's Saint Sons and the personal disciple of the Xuan Sect's Sect Master, Xuan Yi Xian. He naturally had more information than they did.
Yue Ming Chi took a deep breath and said in a tone of slight reverence, "According to Master, the guardian phantoms of these thirty stages are, in a sense, their junior brothers. When Old Ancestor founded this Purgatory Hall, he left a drop of his blood within it."
"As time passed, this drop of blood, under the effect of the Purgatory Hall's formations, gradually gained sentience. Later, when Old Ancestor discovered this, he fashioned a body for it and named it Hao Xuan. After so many years, the strength of Uncle-Master Hao Xuan is likely no less than that of a mid-stage Dao Yi realm expert."
"It's actually transformed from a drop of Old Ancestor's blood, no wonder it has such immense power! And that Dian Cang Technique he just used seems to be something only Old Ancestor could use. But if that's the case, won't Junior Brother Li Xuan be unable to win?"
Wan Yu Quan exclaimed in shock and then looked at the screen projection with some worry.
"The Dian Cang Technique is an attack method that draws upon the power of heaven and earth. With the might of heaven and earth, how can mortals possibly defeat it? Even if this Uncle-Master Hao Xuan doesn't possess Old Ancestor's methods, this Dian Cang Technique likely carries thirty to forty percent of Old Ancestor's power."
"It will be difficult for Junior Brother Li Xuan to win," Yue Ming Chi said with a bitter smile and shook his head.
At this moment, Xuan Yi Xian and the others in the void also showed solemn expressions as they watched Hao Xuan perform the Dian Cang Technique. Clearly, this Dian Cang Technique was no ordinary skill, and seeing it again was akin to seeing Old Ancestor Cang Xuan.
"If Hao Xuan were willing to leave the Purgatory Hall, how could our Xuan Sect have been bullied by that Holy Sect for so many years? I wonder when our Old Ancestor will return." Looking at Hao Xuan in the screen projection, Xuan Yi Xian said with a trace of reminiscence in his eyes.
Leng Fei Hong and the others fell silent. Their gazes, fixed on Hao Xuan's appearance, showed complex emotions.
"Back then, Old Ancestor taught us the Dian Cang Technique, but we were unable to grasp its profound mysteries. Even now, we only have a slight understanding of the Dian Cang Technique. Seeing Hao Xuan perform the Dian Cang Technique, it likely possesses forty percent of Old Ancestor's power."
After a moment, Leng Fei Hong also sighed.
"Hao Xuan is formed from a drop of Old Ancestor's own blood, so it's natural that he can comprehend Old Ancestor's Dian Cang Technique. This Dian Cang Technique, even Saint Tai Xu, who shared the same master as Old Ancestor, couldn't learn it. For us to have a slight comprehension is already not disgracing our sect."
"However, looking at the situation, Junior Brother Li Xuan should have no strength left to fight." Xuan Yi Xian said with a bitter smile.
Leng Fei Hong and the others slowly nodded. The Dian Cang Technique was the peerless divine art of Old Ancestor Cang Xuan. Even if Hao Xuan's Dian Cang Technique only possessed forty percent of Old Ancestor Cang Xuan's power, it was still not something Li Xuan, with his early-stage Rong Dao strength, could withstand.
In the thirtieth stage of the Purgatory Hall, after Li Xuan fell into the depths of the earth below, Hao Xuan did not make another move. The blood-red flashing blood drop now floated before Hao Xuan.
If it hadn't erupted with such terrifying power before, it would have been mistaken for mere decoration. But now, no one would dare to underestimate it.
In the large pit, Li Xuan's face was pale, and his aura was extremely weak.
"This bloodline..." At this moment, Hao Xuan seemed to sense something and glanced at Li Xuan in the pit, a thoughtful expression flashing in his eyes. Then, a smile appeared on his emotionless face.
Boom!
The next moment, the blood drop moved and once again struck the pit where Li Xuan was.
"Holy shit, Young Master, you're so miserable!"
As the voice of the Heavenly Dao Brush sounded, the blood drop arrived instantly.