Five days is neither long nor short.
With the experience gained from condensing Rune Seals in the previous stage, condensing eighteen Rune Seals wasn't difficult for Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor.
In fact, the two of them had exceeded the requirements. By the time the fifth day arrived, Chen Xiao had condensed thirty-two Rune Seals, and Little Fairy Doctor had condensed twenty-four.
With the Rune Seal count meeting the standard, the next step was to activate the eighteen Rune Seals according to the formation diagram.
The moment the formation was completed, just as the introduction stated, the area around them spanning several dozen feet seemed to form a special field, madly absorbing the ice and fire energies of the space.
Immediately, a wave of fire erupted from the ground, while from high above, ice spikes continuously shot down like arrows.
Being within it was like experiencing both ice and fire.
A Dou Qi barrier materialized around the two, blocking the fire waves and ice spikes. This gave them a more direct understanding of the Flame Ice Array's power.
"This formation wouldn't threaten someone at the Dou Zong level. It might be a bit tricky for Dou Wangs or Dou Huangs," Little Fairy Doctor commented.
Chen Xiao casually dispelled the formation and chuckled, "As expected. We're just getting started, and we can't set up overly complex formations. In reality, this Flame Ice Array for our practice, having this much power, already exceeds expectations."
"So, have we passed the second trial then?"
"We should have."
Chen Xiao sensed his surroundings but detected no other activity.
"Let's continue deeper."
Just as the two thought they would proceed as before, venturing a distance before encountering the third trial, an unexpected change occurred.
The surrounding mist surged, the world spun, and the scenery shifted.
Following this, an extreme wave of heat accompanied by a dazzling white light washed over them.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor instinctively closed their eyes and circulated their Dou Qi to resist the heatwave. When they adapted slightly and opened their eyes, they saw a cold white flame burning intensely.
"Bone Spirit Cold Flame!"
Seeing this Heavenly Flame again, Chen Xiao instantly realized the problem and his gaze shot towards the outer perimeter.
The colossal palace of terrifying scale, two thrones facing each other, the massive disk supporting the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, and the incredibly conspicuous chains...
This was precisely the grand hall his consciousness had glimpsed before!
Little Fairy Doctor looked at Chen Xiao, and he nodded slightly. Their understanding was deep enough that no words were needed.
"Is the trial over?"
"No, it seems to have been interrupted."
A trial left by a top-tier expert would never allow someone to reach the end so easily.
Rather than believing they had completed the trial, Chen Xiao was more inclined to believe that someone had brought them here.
Just as Chen Xiao finished speaking, two figures quietly appeared on the thrones facing each other within the hall.
They were utterly silent, without even the slightest spatial fluctuation, which meant Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor hadn't detected them at first. It wasn't until they felt the intense scrutiny of their gazes that they became aware of their presence.
Little Fairy Doctor stepped forward, unleashing the aura of a Dou Zun expert without reservation, her gaze warily assessing these two figures she had heard of.
Chen Xiao's expression also turned serious, and he quietly took Little Fairy Doctor's hand, ready to flee at any moment.
"No need to be nervous. It was I who interrupted your trial."
Observing the shift in their expressions, the woman on the left spoke.
Judging by her appearance, she was the previous Saintess Xuanyin of the Dream Realm.
Hearing this, Chen Xiao's heart was filled with doubt.
The last time his consciousness had infiltrated this place, she had explicitly stated that it was against the rules.
But now, after following the rules and undergoing the trial, she had interrupted it. Why?
Furthermore, it was truly unexpected that this Saintess possessed such authority.
"The inheritance in this place has a total of nine trials. Apart from the first three trials, which are basic introductions, the remaining six trials, even with your talent in formation arrays, all require a significant amount of time to accumulate. Both I and Saintess Qiwu spent nearly twenty years before obtaining the inheritance."
"Since you participated in the trial, you were meant to go through this process. Unfortunately, there is no more time now."
Seeing the increasing confusion in Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor's eyes, Saintess Xuanyin chuckled lightly and said helplessly, "Because outside, someone has discovered this small world, and her strength is quite good. For her age to reach High-level Dou Zun, her background must be extraordinary. She cannot break through this realm, but she might attract some experts who could cause the situation to spiral out of control."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor immediately understood.
Qing Lin!
It had to be that girl, following their tracks and discovering the spatial node they left behind!
It wasn't surprising that Saintess Xuanyin would misunderstand. Qing Lin's strength and age were indeed enough to spark imagination.
A High-level Dou Zun so young would be considered an outstanding individual even among ancient races. Forces without substantial backing could not possibly cultivate such a talent.
With this thought, Chen Xiao let out a wry smile.
He hadn't expected that a brief separation from Qing Lin would have such an unforeseen effect.
Otherwise, as Saintess Xuanyin had said, following the rules and accepting the trial would take decades, which was simply unacceptable for them.
"If the trial has been interrupted, does that mean we also have no chance at this inheritance?"
Chen Xiao had many questions swirling in his mind, but for now, he was more concerned with tangible benefits.
Ever since he confirmed that the powerful individual had inherited the legacy of a spirit array master from the Great Thousand World, he had been eagerly anticipating this inheritance.
If he missed out on it, he would inevitably feel a sense of regret.
"No, you still have a chance. As I said, Qiwu and I have obtained the inheritance. In other words, we can also bestow it upon you," Saintess Xuanyin replied, shaking her head.
However, while she made it sound simple, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor were not so naive.
"What do you need us to do, or rather, what price do we have to pay?"
Pies don't fall from the sky for no reason. If they do, it's usually someone else's bait.
Chen Xiao didn't know much about this inheritance, but he could already see its preciousness. The fact that the other party was willing to give it away was a major problem in itself.
After a moment of silence, Saintess Xuanyin answered, "I want you to lead the White Tribe out of the False Heaven!"
"Can we do that with our current strength?"
"No, but if you add my ten thousand years of accumulated power and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, there's a high probability we can succeed!"
Seeing Saintess Xuanyin's confident expression, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor were both slightly taken aback, feeling increasingly confused.
This Saintess was only a figure from the last few decades. How could she have ten thousand years of accumulation?
Just then, Saintess Qiwu from the other side sighed softly, drawing the attention of the three.
"Bai Long, your communication skills are too poor. Let me explain."
Meeting the bewildered gazes of Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor, Saintess Qiwu explained, "You're confused because you don't understand his identity. I'll give you a brief introduction, and you'll understand quickly."
"You didn't mishear. This person is not the Saintess Xuanyin you know. Xuanyin failed the trial and perished in the sixth stage. He is the White Dragon Honored One from ten thousand years ago, and the current High Priest of the Dream Realm."
Upon hearing these names, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor were both shocked.
They had already sensed that the High Priest was not as simple as he appeared, but they hadn't expected such a secret.
Suddenly, Chen Xiao thought of the Heavenly Wind Soul Scripture, and a realization dawned on him.
The Heavenly Wind Soul Scripture contained many secret techniques, including a soul-splitting technique.
This secret technique could split the soul into two, creating a clone. The two were connected in mind and were essentially the same person, but to others, they appeared as two completely different individuals. Their talents were different, their appearances were different, and even their personalities could be disguised. As long as they didn't expose themselves, no one could detect it.
However, this secret technique also had a significant drawback: once the soul was split, one could never advance to the Dou Sheng level.
Yet, even so, it could still be of unexpected use to specific people at specific times.
Xuanyin... no, White Dragon Honored One did not argue. Instead, he candidly nodded in agreement and continued from Saintess Qiwu's topic.
"More than ten thousand years ago, I entered here first and obtained the inheritance by passing the trial. This is also the fundamental reason why I was able to quickly make a name for myself."
"From the inheritance of that senior, I learned the truth of this world for the first time. The millions of people in the Dream Realm were living so ignorantly. Except for a very small number of people, the rest did not know that there was a world beyond the heavens until their death."
"If this state could have continued indefinitely, it would have been fine. However, from the senior's last words, I learned a devastating piece of news: this small world was not being stabilized, and it would eventually break and emerge into the outside world. Even if the Dream Realm were fortunate enough to produce a few Dou Saints during this period, they would absolutely not be able to stop this trend."
"Because this world's resources are limited, and the energy and opportunities that the great array periodically absorbs from the outside world by luck are not enough to support the birth of many powerful individuals. As time goes by, it will become increasingly difficult for the Dream Realm to produce powerful individuals, and their strength will only weaken."
"It was also at that time that I made a decision: I wanted to break this barrier! At the very least, whether my tribesmen leave or stay, they should have the right to choose their future!"
"To achieve this, I did many, many things. I named this world the False Heaven, and I secretly controlled the great array that permeated the Dream Realm, constantly trying to break the situation."
"However, after countless attempts, the effect I achieved was minimal. I could only take the opportunity to open a very brief gap when the great array periodically absorbed energy from the outside world."
"However, this also gave me hope, enough for me to spread the news of the False Heaven and also to attract some beings near the gaps."
"From then on, I began to prepare for the White Tribe's emergence. The White Tribe, which had been living in peace and contentment, could not withstand any hardship. Emerging in this state would only make them prey in the eyes of various forces. Going out would be equivalent to seeking death."
"Therefore, I wanted to create a crisis for them. I lured a peak seventh-tier Magical Beast from the outside world to carry out killings. When they were at their most desperate, I would then kill it, instilling in them a sense of crisis and also earning me great prestige!"
"After that, I split my soul into two. One half hid in the shadows, accumulating power, while the other half acted as the High Priest outside. When the physical body decayed, I would seize a new body and continue to serve as the High Priest, nurturing generation after generation of Saintesses."
"When they gained the ability, I would tell them the truth as I understood it. Without exception, they all made the same choice: they entered here to participate in the trial, attempting to become the one who would carry the burden."
"Unfortunately, reality was still too cruel. After Qiwu and I, their level had dropped by a notch. None of them succeeded after arriving here."
As Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor listened, their hearts grew increasingly alarmed. This White Dragon Honored One was truly difficult to judge.
This person could not be defined by traditional good or evil. He was more like a madman who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals...
"One half of your soul is on the successive High Priests. To facilitate your actions, constantly seizing new bodies can be considered understandable, but why did the other half of your soul occupy Saintess Xuanyin's body?" Little Fairy Doctor asked, frowning.
The thought of an old man who had lived for ten thousand years residing within that delicate body made Little Fairy Doctor feel disgusted.
White Dragon Honored One could sense Little Fairy Doctor's aversion but remained unfazed.
"Because my physical body had long since decayed. After using the secret technique, my cultivation would be forever stopped at the peak of the Nine Revolutions Dou Zun. My lifespan was simply not enough to support such a long time. Even with all my efforts, I could only let my soul detach."
"But without a body, no matter how hard I tried to maintain it, my soul would continue to weaken. You haven't experienced the power of time, so it's hard for you to understand. If I hadn't borrowed bodies to be reborn, I would probably be like Qiwu now, with only a remnant soul left in the world. In such a state, how could I manage the overall situation?"
"Moreover, including Xuanyin, we had met with each of them before they perished. The matter of borrowing bodies was all agreed upon."
Listening to White Dragon Honored One's explanation, the two turned their gaze to Saintess Qiwu.
They hadn't noticed it before, but this Saintess was already in a state of remnant soul.
"Senior Qiwu, you couldn't advance to Dou Sheng?"
Saintess Qiwu shook her head. "The Dou Sheng level is just too difficult. Even for the major Emperor Clans, who highly value their Dou Di bloodlines, the assistance it provides is minuscule. Apart from a very select few, most find it hard to break through to the Dou Sheng level."
"My talent isn't as good as White Dragon's, and I didn't have that heaven-defying opportunity in the Dream Realm. Dou Zun peak is already my limit. If it weren't for the replenishment of soul origin, my residual soul would have long since dissipated."
"I understand your suspicion towards White Dragon, and that's perfectly normal. When I first learned that countless people had died because of him, I found it hard to accept. I even fought him to the death. However, it's undeniable that while his methods are extreme, they do have some effect."
"Under the pressure he imposed, the Dream Realm remains as it is now. One can only imagine what it would be like without this pressure. If the White Tribe in that state were to emerge, their emergence day would likely be their day of annihilation."
No one can be certain about what hasn't happened.
Compared to that, the words "soul origin" were what caught Chen Xiao's attention more.
"When I broke through in the Holy City, what I absorbed was actually soul origin..."
"Don't worry about it. Your soul had already reached Mortal Realm Peak. Breaking through only required a catalyst. After you began cultivating the higher-grade Heavenly Wind Soul Scripture, that itself became a catalyst. Even if I hadn't given you that wisp of origin that day, your breakthrough to the Spirit Realm wouldn't have taken too long."
"As for those soul origins, there's no need to pay them any mind. Every race has its black sheep, and the White Tribe is no exception. All I could do was maximize their value, nothing more."
Chen Xiao nodded slowly. Perhaps it was because he had learned too much all at once. Now that he discovered this White Dragon Honored One was also involved with soul origins, his heart remained unfazed.
"You mentioned earlier that there's a high probability of breaking the Dream Realm. What should I do?"
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Read 999+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------