'So this is the Sword Technique for the 2nd Layer? It's not that hard at all.'
Yang Xiao had no idea what was happening in the outside world, nor that Xuan Tianzhan had already comprehended the Mystical Technique of the third move. At this moment, he was on the 2nd Layer of the three-story Inheritance Tower.
Receiving the inheritance.
Compared to the first time he had received the inheritance for the Celestial Desolation Swordsmanship, this felt exceptionally easy.
Originally, it had taken him nearly three days to barely grasp the first technique, Nine Hundred Life and Death. But now, Yang Xiao understood it with a single glance.
'Three Thousand Transformations! This technique is named for the three thousand changes that can occur in the blink of an eye, the ultimate Dao of transformation. Tsk tsk, the Northern Wilderness Sword God was truly formidable. Unfortunately, compared to Nine Hundred Life and Death, this technique is even less suited to my path!'
Therefore, he could only discard it.
Yang Xiao had made his decision.
However, before discarding it.
He still had to pass the test first.
So, he stood before the same figure of light—one that appeared at times as a kind-eyed old man, at others as a stern middle-aged man, and at others still as a sharp-witted youth.
Yang Xiao first demonstrated the technique.
Three Thousand Transformations.
Instantly, the figure of light judged that he had passed.
However, what even Yang Xiao failed to notice was that when it saw him comprehend Three Thousand Transformations in a mere instant, the figure's eyes flickered with a subtle change.
But this change vanished in a flash.
It went completely unnoticed.
As was customary, the test followed.
Yang Xiao once again passed with ease.
This time, his reward was once again the Desolate Divine Fruit.
Two of them, to be exact.
'Now I have seven Desolate Divine Fruits on hand.'
It should have been eight, but he had used one outside. Still, with seven Desolate Divine Fruits in his possession, he was very satisfied and confident. At the very least, he wouldn't be any slower than Xuan Tianzhan.
'I've wasted enough time. Next, I'll clear the Third Layer, then take the Celestial Cyan Snake to the 2nd Layer of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion. I hope I don't waste too much time along the way.'
With a thought, Yang Xiao ascended to the Third Layer.
He had used one Desolate Divine Fruit to fully comprehend the first three levels of the Time Secret Pattern.
The Sword Technique of the Third Layer...
...would surely be no challenge for him.
And with seven Desolate Divine Fruits, plus the chance to get more after clearing the trial and passing the test...
Yang Xiao had complete confidence...
...that he could clear the Inheritance Tower in the shortest time possible.
Right now, the most time-consuming part was finding the location of each Inheritance Tower.
'The Celestial Cyan Snake is a creature from the 2nd Layer. Since it knows the secrets of the Desolate Divine Fruit Tree and the Inheritance Tower, it should also know where the 2nd Layer's Inheritance Tower is. As long as I take it with me, finding the tower on the next level shouldn't be hard. The most difficult part will be the Third Layer.'
A glint flashed in Yang Xiao's eyes.
He had already stepped onto the Third Layer.
With practiced ease, he inserted the Inheritance Sword Order into the altar.
To receive the inheritance.
And this third technique...
...just as he had expected...
...he learned it with ease.
'All Ages Extinguished? This is actually a Sword Technique that uses the flow of time to consume Life Power. How very profound.'
Yang Xiao's eyes lit up.
He was finally impressed.
If Nine Hundred Life and Death and Three Thousand Transformations were just preliminary applications of the Time Secret Pattern...
...then this All Ages Extinguished was different.
With a single slash...
...even a lifespan of ten thousand years...
...would be extinguished.
Likewise.
Just like Nine Hundred Life and Death and Three Thousand Transformations, it could be used on an opponent, or on oneself.
If used on oneself...
...it was a way to unleash a most terrifying strike by sacrificing one's own lifespan.
In its most powerful state, one could condense ten thousand years of life into this single strike. Once unleashed, it would be truly world-shaking, a battle to the death.
It was a Bursting Secret Technique.
'Many Bursting Secret Techniques require time to gather power. The longer the gathering time, the more terrifying and horrifying the burst. This All Ages Extinguished allows one to gather power for ten thousand years. Truly terrifying.'
The flow of time.
Although it's different in every space...
...for a living individual, it is always the same.
Take this Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion.
The flow of time on the 1st Layer is ten times slower than the outside world.
Ten days in the outside world is one hundred days inside.
But living here for one hundred days still consumes one hundred days of one's lifespan, not ten.
By the same logic.
Although All Ages Extinguished could make the time one spent gathering power for the Secret Technique incredibly long...
...it couldn't stop the consumption of one's lifespan.
'Perhaps only by mastering the Time Secret Pattern to a very high level could this be compensated for. Just like the Desolate Divine Fruit, which can freeze time. Even if a thousand years pass for the physical body, it's but an instant, with no loss of Life Force.'
Yang Xiao suddenly had a flash of insight.
He grew even more expectant about the subsequent levels of the Time Secret Pattern.
And likewise.
Having already reached Triple Perfection in his comprehension of the Time Secret Pattern outside...
...he learned the Mystical Technique of the third move with ease.
So, after receiving the inheritance...
...he began to demonstrate it.
Then he took the test.
Passing with ease.
He had three more Desolate Divine Fruits in hand.
At this point, he had ten Desolate Divine Fruits.
It was enough to let him comprehend for a thousand years in a spiritual space.
'A thousand years should be enough, right?'
In one hundred years, he had comprehended the first three levels of the Time Secret Pattern and, on the side, had also cultivated the first three levels of the Greater Yang Secret Pattern to the Perfection Level.
Now he had a thousand years.
What stage of comprehension could he reach?
Yang Xiao's heart was filled with anticipation.
He took out the Inheritance Sword Order.
And just at that moment.
A silvery-white brilliance flashed from the Sword Order.
A message came through.
'I can use this Sword Order to step into the 2nd Layer at any time? And I can even bring other living beings with me, but no more than three?'
Yang Xiao's expression grew even more excited.
He had just been worrying about how to enter the 2nd Layer.
Now it seemed...
...the rumor about entering the next level after clearing the first three was true after all.
'Time to find the Celestial Cyan Snake.'
With a thought, Yang Xiao exited the Inheritance Tower.
Without the slightest hesitation...
...he tore open the void...
...leaving the valley that was the Thousand-Winged Serpent Eagle's territory.
He had already traveled this path once.
Naturally, the way was familiar.
However.
Just as Yang Xiao was about to repeatedly use Void Shifting to return to the valley he came from as quickly as possible...
A terrifying...
...powerful, and domineering aura...
...instantly appeared behind him.
Its speed...
...was so incredible that Yang Xiao almost couldn't react.
Fortunately.
His Spiritual Level, which was at the Void Observation Realm, kicked in.
With a flash of his body...
...he dodged the attack.
At the same time, without turning or even looking back...
...he tore open the void...
...and shifted away.
But the moment he reappeared...
...that aura...
...was upon him again.
This time...
...it appeared right before his eyes...
...allowing him to see clearly who had come.
'The Thousand-Winged Serpent Eagle!'
Yang Xiao's expression...
...changed drastically in an instant.
He had never imagined...
...that this creature he had previously cursed as a stupid bird would be so fast.
Now…
...he was afraid he was the real stupid bird!
'Damn it!'
Cursing inwardly, Yang Xiao once again used Void Shifting, using all his strength to shift even farther away.
Unfortunately.
This time.
It still only took an instant.
The Thousand-Winged Serpent Eagle descended again.
It had a thousand wings on its back. With a gentle flap, it could cross thousands of miles in an instant.
The moment Yang Xiao's aura appeared...
...it could appear instantly.
And so, even though Yang Xiao used all his strength to shift a thousand li away, the moment he appeared, he was locked onto again. With a flap of its thousand wings, it flew over.
A vicious light flashed in its eyes.
Waving its giant claws, it screeched menacingly, "Brat! You dare ignore this King? Let's see how you die now!"
Its mountain-sized claws reached for Yang Xiao.