When the second round of rain ended, Chen Xiao had already entered the God-Slaying Sword Array for more than ten minutes.
Thus, the Ziwei Dao Master felt both joy and sorrow.
The joy stemmed from the fact that Chen Xiao had endured for over ten minutes in the God-Slaying Sword Array, an array that even the three sect masters couldn't withstand for five minutes, and he showed no signs of faltering.
The sorrow arose because ten minutes had passed, and even if Chen Xiao wanted to retreat and surrender now, he couldn't.
He was either alive or dead... there were no other options, and no way back.
Compared to the first round of rain, the interval between the second round was even shorter.
Chen Xiao felt as if only a dozen seconds had passed before thunder rumbled again in the sky.
The sword rain began to fall again!
"Hold on, you must hold on!"
The Ziwei Dao Master silently prayed for Chen Xiao in her heart.
Chen Xiao took a deep breath, raised his head, and shouted, "Come on, let me see what you've got!"
His muscles tensed, and veins bulged on his forehead.
Come on, come on, let the storm rage even fiercer!
The Seven Gods seemed to sense Chen Xiao's determination. Their tattered robes fluttered as if moved by the wind.
From the moment they decided to follow Chen Xiao, they had been prepared for battle!
Uncharacteristically, the seven deities raised their heads, gazing at the torrential sword rain descending from the sky, their eyes filled with resolve and determination!
However, at this very moment, Chen Xiao recalled them.
Good steel should be used on the blade. After the brief rest and refinement, Chen Xiao's Canglan Sacred Body had recovered by half.
Moreover, there was good news for Chen Xiao.
He had broken through!
The eighth level of the Nine Revolutions Canglan Art! Just one step away from the complete mastery of the Nine Revolutions Canglan Art!
As he entered the eighth level, his Canglan Sacred Body could now withstand more sword rain than before.
The reason he could break through to the eighth level in such a short time was partly due to the sword rain he had just absorbed, but it wasn't the decisive factor.
The crucial element was the soul crystal of the Earth Demon. After refining it, he had already touched the threshold of the eighth level, needing only the final push.
And this torrential sword rain from the sky was that final push!
Rustle, rustle, rustle—
Rustle, rustle, rustle—
The sword rain drizzled, becoming more dense and ethereal.
It had transformed from the gentle spring rain that nourishes things without being noticed, into a summer shower.
Accompanied by rolling thunder, streaks of sword rain struck Chen Xiao's body.
Then, what followed was like rapid raindrops hitting a pond and merging into it.
Five minutes passed with ease.
Chen Xiao's Canglan Sacred Body was still not saturated.
Outside the God-Slaying Sword Array, the faces of the three sect masters showed shock and disbelief.
When Chen Xiao recalled the Seven Gods, everyone was puzzled, surprised, and shocked… thinking Chen Xiao was being overconfident.
But when they saw what was happening before their eyes, they realized they were wrong.
And terribly wrong.
"What, what is happening? He seems to have become even stronger than before?"
Duan Yanzhuo said incredulously.
The Ziwei Dao Master nodded, her delicate face filled with excitement. "If I'm not mistaken, he just broke through!"
"Broke, broke through?"
Duan Yanzhuo's eyes widened like saucers, and he no longer knew what to think.
Yun Lan, on the other hand, wore a wry smile, his expression unreadable, neither happy nor sad.
"I never expected that at such a critical juncture, and in such a short time, he could actually break through… Junior Sister Ziwei, it seems you were right. This kid's growth rate is truly astonishing. If we were just walking, he's already riding a rocket!"
Hearing this, the Ziwei Dao Master felt even more proud and sweet.
However, she also knew that it wasn't time to celebrate yet.
"Only fifteen minutes have passed, not even half the time. He still has a very difficult road ahead."
Chen Xiao, relying on his Canglan Sacred Body and the Seven Gods, successfully held on until the half-hour mark.
At this point, there was no pause between the rainfalls.
There were only successive, even more brutal downpours.
Relentless.
Chen Xiao's Canglan Sacred Body was once again saturated, and Chen Xiao himself had reached a critical point.
The robes of the Seven God manifestations were tattered, with only the hoods stubbornly covering their faces.
Their bodies were covered in dense scars, something unimaginable to the three sect masters.
If their manifestations had suffered such damage, they would have abandoned them long ago and ceased communicating with them, meaning their Dao would have scattered.
Yet, these Seven Gods seemed determined to advance and retreat with Chen Xiao.
Using their divine bodies to shield Chen Xiao from the storm.
"This kid, what kind of virtue does he possess!"
Yun Lan gritted his teeth, unsure if it was jealousy, envy, or reverence.
"I'm convinced! Truly, I'm convinced!"
Duan Yanzhuo said, shaking his head.
The Ziwei Dao Master had lost her usual aloofness and calm. Her heart was clenched into a ball, and it showed on her face.
She looked no different from a worried young wife concerned for her husband.
"Seniors, you have done your best. Chen Xiao will never forget your great kindness!"
Chen Xiao looked up at the Seven Gods and cupped his hands.
The Seven Gods did not respond, but their aura intensified.
Although they didn't speak, everyone could tell that they were fighting to the death to buy Chen Xiao the last bit of time.
However, in the next second, with a series of puffs, the seven divine statues turned into wisps of white smoke and vanished into nothingness.
It was Chen Xiao who had recalled them.
"Damn it, what is this kid doing?"
Duan Yanzhuo exclaimed excitedly.
"Sentimental fool. Even at this point, he still wants to protect the Seven Gods. But doing so is meaningless, because the Seven Gods followed him, and as long as he dies, they will also perish."
Yun Lan said with a frown.
The Ziwei Dao Master didn't know why Chen Xiao was doing this, but her reaction was not as intense as the other two.
She chose to understand.
"If he could watch others sacrifice themselves for him and remain unmoved, then he wouldn't be himself… If he were that kind of person, he wouldn't be doing these things for the common people in the sky, would he?"
The Ziwei Dao Master said softly.
"That's the logic, but it also depends on the specific situation. He's clearly unable to hold on any longer, and by recalling the Seven Gods, only death awaits him."
Yun Lan shook his head, unsure if it was out of concern or dissatisfaction.
The Ziwei Dao Master, however, smiled faintly. "I believe he must have another way!"
She had once read in a romance novel from the mortal world that loving someone meant unconditionally trusting and supporting them.
Before, she had never understood this feeling and thought only fools would act that way.
And now, she realized she was that fool…