One night passed, and Li Xuan still hadn't decided whether to stay or leave. After all, to enter the central region, he had to pass through the Land of Heavenly Chasm. And this Heavenly Chasm City was the closest settlement to the Land of Heavenly Chasm.
But if he stayed in Heavenly Chasm City, Li Xuan wouldn't be able to rapidly improve his strength. Although fighting was not forbidden in Heavenly Chasm City, everyone was very restrained. It was like a stagnant pool, not easily stirred to waves.
Boom!
As dawn broke, a rumbling sound echoed through the sky. Li Xuan's heart stirred upon hearing it, and he immediately looked in the direction of the sound.
Sensing the change in the heavens and earth, Li Xuan was somewhat surprised.
Someone had broken through to the Sovereign Realm!
The next moment, Li Xuan moved and rushed over. In Heavenly Chasm City, once someone broke through to the Sovereign Realm, they would qualify to enter the central region. Now that someone had broken through, the next step would naturally be to charge towards the Land of Heavenly Chasm.
As Li Xuan left the inn, many powerhouses were already rushing towards the breakthrough location. Li Xuan glanced, and it happened to be in the western part of the city. Fortunately, it wasn't a forbidden area in the western part of the city.
"Within a hundred zhang, no entry!"
As Li Xuan entered the western part of the city, a deep voice emanated from the forbidden area. Li Xuan's expression became serious. The guardian of the western part of the city, Fan Libai, indeed possessed Sovereign Realm strength.
As Fan Libai's voice fell, all the powerhouses who had come to the western part of the city stopped outside the hundred zhang area.
"I never thought it would be Gongsun Qiu who broke through!"
As a figure appeared, someone familiar recognized his identity.
"Looking at this, Gongsun Qiu has made up his mind to venture into the Land of Heavenly Chasm."
"That's for sure. Isn't the purpose of us coming to Heavenly Chasm City for this very moment?"
"Let's go, let's go, let's quickly go to the Land of Heavenly Chasm and secure a good spot."
"..."
As everyone began to discuss, Li Xuan glanced at Gongsun Qiu with some surprise and then followed the crowd towards the Land of Heavenly Chasm.
Soon, half an hour later, everyone had arrived at the Land of Heavenly Chasm.
Excitement was something humans enjoyed watching. No matter how powerful these individuals already were, that spark of excitement still remained. It was human nature, hard to eradicate. Of course, with increased strength, this nature might change.
The reason everyone gathered at the Land of Heavenly Chasm to watch Gongsun Qiu's attempt was to see how a Sovereign Realm cultivator like Gongsun Qiu would pass through. Firstly, it was to witness the methods of a Sovereign Realm powerhouse and deepen their own understanding, and secondly, it was to bear witness. After all, past experiences served as lessons for the future.
Everyone came to Heavenly Chasm City for the day when they would break through to the Sovereign Realm and pass through the Land of Heavenly Chasm. This was also a way for everyone to show Gongsun Qiu respect.
The strong deserved basic respect.
"Here he comes!"
Someone shouted, and the next moment, Gongsun Qiu arrived in front of the giant stone of the Land of Heavenly Chasm.
Gongsun Qiu cupped his fists, bowed to everyone, and then his gaze fell directly on the giant stone. The next moment, a meteor hammer appeared in his hand.
"Open!"
As Gongsun Qiu let out a fierce roar, a terrifying pressure instantly permeated the air. Endless spiritual energy was injected into the meteor hammer, which was then violently swung towards the giant stone.
Crack!
The meteor hammer struck the giant stone, and a crisp sound rang out. A crack slowly appeared. As Gongsun Qiu's power continued to surge, the crack widened. After a full fifteen minutes, even Gongsun Qiu's face was somewhat pale.
Watching this scene, Li Xuan finally understood. No wonder only those at the Sovereign Realm could pass through the Land of Heavenly Chasm. Without such strength, it was impossible to endure.
Another five minutes passed, and the giant stone split into two, revealing a meter-wide passage through which one person could walk. Li Xuan looked up but couldn't see the end of the passage.
"Everyone, I'll see you in the central region!" Seeing the passage appear, Gongsun Qiu let out a breath of relief and then moved to enter.
After Gongsun Qiu entered, the giant stone immediately closed. But strangely, the giant stone was now somewhat transparent, allowing everyone to see Gongsun Qiu's figure. Only when Gongsun Qiu's figure receded further did the giant stone become dark and smooth.
"Little master, this seems quite similar to your 'One Sword Opens Heaven' sect." The Heavenly Dao Brush's voice echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. The "One Sword Opens Heaven" that Elder Dan Wuxie had taught him perfectly matched the scene before him. The giant stone of the Land of Heavenly Chasm was like the gate of heaven. For Li Xuan to pass, he had to split it with a single sword.
Li Xuan even had a feeling that Elder Dan Wuxie might have comprehended "One Sword Opens Heaven" right here.
Dan Wuxie: "..."
"Little master, why don't you go up and try?" The Heavenly Dao Brush's voice sounded in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan smiled wryly and shook his head. When Gongsun Qiu had made his move just now, Li Xuan could feel that Gongsun Qiu had exerted his full strength. Such control over power and the application of heavenly forces were not something Li Xuan could achieve at this moment.
The gap between them was clearly understood by Li Xuan through this observation. Even if Li Xuan went all out, he might not be able to split the giant stone. Moreover, with so many people present, Li Xuan would be too embarrassed to fail.
"Everyone, let's head back," someone said, and then figures turned and rushed back towards Heavenly Chasm City.
Li Xuan glanced at the giant stone and then turned to walk back to Heavenly Chasm City.
A few minutes later, Li Xuan frowned, and his gaze turned sharp.
"Little master, it seems you've entered an illusion array!" the Heavenly Dao Brush exclaimed.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. If Li Xuan were not a sword cultivator with a mind as firm as rock, he might not have even noticed this. However, the illusion array did not have a significant impact on Li Xuan. Instead, Li Xuan was somewhat curious about who was behind it.
Seeing the same forest and trees, Li Xuan did not immediately break the illusion array. As he stepped on the rustling leaves, Li Xuan's spiritual sense spread out in all directions.
Soon, Li Xuan withdrew his spiritual sense. For at that moment, Xu Shaoyang's figure had appeared before him.
"You did all this to ambush me?" Li Xuan looked at Xu Shaoyang and said with a smile.
A trace of surprise flashed in Xu Shaoyang's eyes, and then he nodded slowly. "I've often heard that sword cultivators can discern illusions and are unafraid of illusion arrays. I didn't expect it to be true. However, the main purpose of my illusion array was to conceal my actions."
Li Xuan looked around and said, "So, you intend to attack me?"
Xu Shaoyang nodded with a smile. "A person favored by destiny, blessed with great fortune. Beings like you are, if not necessary, I truly wouldn't want to provoke. But there's no other way. Who told me my lifespan is nearing its end, and you just happened to appear before me."
"Little master, be careful. This old fellow likely wants to seize your luck!" the Heavenly Dao Brush hurriedly warned.
Li Xuan was stunned. This so-called luck could be fought over?
"Little master, not to mention that luck can be contested, some powerful physiques are also coveted by those with ulterior motives. Many ill-intentioned individuals, before promising youths with exceptional potential and talent have grown up, will kill them or even possess them. I didn't expect this old fellow to have the same intention." the Heavenly Dao Brush explained.
Li Xuan understood, but he was puzzled why Xu Shaoyang would only make a move now.
However, Li Xuan quickly realized and then smiled slightly at Xu Shaoyang. "You didn't attack me within Heavenly Chasm City because you were afraid of being discovered by Fan Libai and Guan Zeyang, right?"
Xu Shaoyang's surprise deepened, but his expression turned somewhat colder. "As expected, you're smart. But the smarter you are, the sooner you die. Kid, don't blame me."
Xu Shaoyang finished speaking and disappeared. The next moment, he struck Li Xuan's chest with a palm.
But the next moment, Xu Shaoyang's eyes narrowed. His palm had passed through Li Xuan's body. And Li Xuan's body then slowly dissipated.
An afterimage!
Li Xuan's figure reappeared. Looking at the grim-faced Xu Shaoyang, he shook his head slightly. "If you didn't have a certain level of confidence, do you think I would have waited for you in this illusion array?"
"To be honest, I happen to have some understanding of illusions myself."
"Illusion Realm, descend!"
...