As the two stepped into the sixth level, thunderous drums roared in their ears.
Their figures appeared on a vast and desolate battlefield.
Across this land, countless enemies charged toward them, humans, beasts, titans, ghosts, stone-giants, races of every kind.
Each one radiated overwhelming strength, seemingly unstoppable.
Xu Zimo wielded his Shadow Tyrant saber, while Mo Tianming’s hands burst with brilliant green light as he dove into the enemy ranks.
In an instant, the tide of enemies was split apart like a flood being torn open.
From the sixth to the ninth level, the trials were similar, each stage took place on this vast battlefield, but the enemies grew increasingly powerful and numerous.
Even the gravity in the space increased by several magnitudes.
Thunder would occasionally fall from the skies, and blazing firestorms would sweep across the land.
A single mistake could lead to complete annihilation.
Xu Zimo and Mo Tianming fought a bloody path to the ninth level. At that point, they were like war gods, surrounded by an ocean of slaughter.
Covered head to toe in blood, they looked like living demons.
Breathing heavily, Mo Tianming glanced at Xu Zimo.
The two then stepped together into the tenth level.
Outside the tower, the city of Heavenly Dao was in a complete uproar.
Everyone stood beneath the Heavenly Dao Tower, watching in awe.
In past generations, just one person reaching the tenth level was enough to cause a sensation.
This time, two people had entered together, meaning there was a chance two might pass at once.
“How likely is it they’ll make it through?” someone asked excitedly.
“Just reaching the tenth floor means they’re freakishly gifted. The real question is, what is the trial on the tenth floor?” someone nearby said with a shake of the head.
Among the examiners from the academy, an elderly man let out a long breath and smiled. “This era… it looks like it’s going to be spectacular.”
…
Inside the tenth floor of the Heavenly Dao Tower,
A world wrapped in starlight.
As the two arrived, the sight before them left them momentarily stunned.
The night sky was blanketed in stars, so close they felt tangible. A great river of stars flowed from east to west like a galactic waterfall.
Glittering light. A falling galaxy.
In the distance, beneath the stars, stood a single figure.
That figure felt like it had merged with the world itself. He was the sky. He was the stars.
He wore a blue robe and stood out like a beacon among the constellations.
As Xu Zimo and Mo Tianming approached, the figure slowly turned around.
“Stellar Emperor!” Mo Tianming exclaimed in shock as the man faced them.
Xu Zimo looked up and saw the long-haired man, his hair casually flowing behind him. He had a high nose, sharp brows, star-like eyes.
Especially those starry eyes, they seemed to truly contain galaxies.
Starlight surged around him in waves.
“Seems someone still remembers me,” the man smiled when Mo Tianming called out his imperial title.
“As you can see, I am the examiner of the tenth trial.”
Stellar Emperor, an ancient and legendary figure.
He was entirely a product of Heavenly Dao Academy.
It was said he had once been a beggar, who accidentally passed an academy trial and thus began a heaven-defying journey.
He crushed not only the younger generation of the academy, but even ancestors of previous eras.
Eventually, he bore the mantle of Heaven's Will.
But he remained one of the most low-key emperors ever.
He never created a lineage or faction. After bearing Heaven's Will, he stayed at the academy as a teacher.
He left all his knowledge behind and eventually ascended to the Outer Heavens.
…
“How does the Grand Emperor plan to test us?” Mo Tianming asked curiously.
“Very simple. Defeat me,” Stellar Emperor said with a smile.
Mo Tianming froze. To face an emperor head-on, they were still a step short of that.
After all, they were only at the God Meridian realm.
“No need to panic,” Stellar Emperor said, still smiling. “The version of me standing here is just a shadow I left behind before I bore Heaven's Will. So in some ways, we’re on the same level.”
“Which one of you wants to go first?” he asked.
“I will,” Mo Tianming said, glancing at Xu Zimo.
He stepped forward, green spiritforce swirling around him.
The aura formed raging winds that howled through the space.
With a spin, Mo Tianming vanished from view.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Stellar Emperor.
The wind howled, slashing toward the emperor.
Stellar Emperor’s expression turned serious, he clearly didn’t dare to underestimate this attack.
He raised his right hand, and endless starlight gathered in his palm.
Boom! Their collision exploded in midair.
Both retreated three steps, an even match.
“Not bad! Again!” Stellar Emperor laughed loudly.
The starlight around him intensified.
The Milky Way fell around him, and his power surged even higher.
With a punch, the stars burst forth in a dazzling light.
“Kunpeng’s Nine Steps!” Mo Tianming shouted coldly.
Tornadoes whipped up around him, stirring dust into the sky.
A piercing bird cry echoed faintly.
Countless afterimages of Mo Tianming swirled around Stellar Emperor, launching attacks from all sides.
Starlight and gale-force winds exploded.
The two figures separated once again.
“One final move to decide the winner,” Stellar Emperor said with a grin. “If we keep trading small blows, we’ll be here all day.”
“Agreed,” Mo Tianming nodded.
He raised his right hand, and a green orb formed in his palm.
This orb radiated primal, wild power.
It locked into his palm and surged forward with unstoppable force.
Stellar Emperor smiled and raised his own right fist.
He reached toward the sky, drawing the entire starry sky’s energy into himself.
“Battle!” Mo Tianming shouted.
Their fists collided.
At that moment, a shockwave erupted, and space itself was torn apart like fragile paper.
Unimaginable power surged between them.
Behind both fighters, massive true Heaven's Will phantoms appeared.
Behind Stellar Emperor was a sea of stars.
Behind Mo Tianming was a massive creature’s shadow.
It was green, its form vague and indistinct, hiding its true nature.
As the two remained locked in a deadlock, a strange, mysterious energy suddenly burst from within Mo Tianming.
Stellar Emperor was blown backward.