Chapter 255: Wushi Holds Back, Formless Immortal Traces

The moment Zhou Chen opened his eyes, a green light flashed, illuminating the Void Realm like a bolt of lightning in an instant.

A half-bloomed Azure Lotus phantom instantly condensed on the sword blade, entwined with countless lightning runes. If Zhou Chen observed closely, he would find that these were actually the Lightning Tribulation Inscriptions he had absorbed from the Ancient Thunder Dragon Heavenly Tribulation when he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Sizzle!

As the Inscriptions pulsed, a low, growl-like hiss echoed through the world, and blue electric arcs tore cracks into the Void Realm.

Whoosh.

An arc of light fell from the void; as the sword struck, it seemed intent on severing the shackles of heaven and earth.

"He actually gained enlightenment during battle? To comprehend the Law of Sword Dao with a Quasi-Emperor cultivation—good lad, not bad, truly not bad!"

Wushi looked at Zhou Chen, a flash of surprise and gratification appearing in his eyes.

Wushi laughed heartily, "Excellent!"

He neither dodged nor blocked, allowing the sword strike to descend upon him.

The sword light fell, and the figure of Great Emperor Wushi dissolved into points of light.

[Challenge Successful! Rank promoted to 39.]

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Zhou Chen bowed toward the dissipating points of light.

It was clear that Great Emperor Wushi had not resisted or interfered at the end; he had intentionally allowed him to break through so that Zhou Chen could obtain a better reward.

Rankings were meaningless to an existence such as him.

"Continue the challenge."

Zhou Chen took a deep breath and looked at the next name on the stone stele.

[Rank 36 — Kong]

"Kong?!"

Zhou Chen's pupils constricted.

He was all too familiar with this name, though he didn't know if it was the same person.

Back in the Taichu Holy Land's Primal Beginning Exquisite Pagoda, it was this Kong who had nearly beaten him into a state of paralysis.

A familiar figure slowly emerged within the void.

It was a young man dressed in gray robes, his eyes deep and profound, with eerie fluctuations surrounding his body.

"It really is you."

Zhou Chen's pupils shook violently.

"We meet again."

Kong smiled, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes as he looked at Zhou Chen. "Come, junior, let us see if you have made any progress."

Zhou Chen's internal alarm bells rang at the highest level. Great Emperor Wushi was already so strong; the Kong before him was likely even more unfathomable.

The one he met in the Primal Beginning Exquisite Pagoda was only Kong in his youth. Now, facing a grown Kong, he was likely countless times stronger; Zhou Chen didn't have much confidence.

Back at Burial God Ridge, Kong's phantom had only the strength of the First Layer of Emperor Realm, yet it had nearly killed him.

"Still."

Kong lightly raised his left hand, and the surrounding space instantly distorted.

Zhou Chen felt as if the entire world were flipping—up became down, and left became right.

"Space Law?!"

Zhou Chen was greatly shocked and immediately activated the Azure Lotus Sword Scripture.

However, Kong's Space Law was too bizarre. Before his attacks could even touch Kong, they were swallowed by the space itself.

"It's useless."

Kong smiled and said, "Within my spatial Domain, your attacks will never reach me."

"Damn it!"

Zhou Chen gritted his teeth, continuously attempting various Moves.

But all were neutralized by the Space Law.

Time passed minute by minute, and Zhou Chen grew increasingly anxious.

The one-hour mark was approaching.

If he couldn't defeat Kong, he would be teleported out and lose the chance to continue the challenge. Stopping here left Zhou Chen feeling somewhat unwilling.

"What to do… what to do…"

Cold sweat poured down Zhou Chen's forehead as his mind raced frantically.

Just then, Kong suddenly stopped and said to Zhou Chen, "Alright, kid, I've played enough. Don't go challenging those ranked higher than me for now. They aren't as easy to talk to as I am; people will die."

Seeing the incredibly serious expression on Kong's face, Zhou Chen couldn't help but be shocked.

Just what kind of existences were they to make even Kong so solemn?

"Senior Kong, is there actually a danger to one's life when challenging the chaos heaven tablet?"

Zhou Chen asked humbly.

Kong glanced at Zhou Chen but still explained patiently, "When it involves the level of Laws, insufficient cultivation can turn you into an idiot at best, or result in your death and the dissipation of your Dao at worst. I advise you to challenge it again when you are stronger. That is all I have to say."

Following this, Kong's figure gradually vanished.

[Time up. Challenge ended.]

[Challenge failed! Rank remains at 39.]

Zhou Chen gasped for breath. He wasn't injured anywhere, so he naturally realized Kong had been protecting him, and his eyes were full of gratitude.

That being said, the pressure Kong exerted was simply too great.

Even when the sixth Move of the Azure Lotus Sword Scripture was unleashed, it couldn't threaten Kong in the slightest.

This was suppression coming from the level of Laws.

However, the gains this time were immense; his rank had reached 39th!

He had fought his way from rank 6,761 all the way to 39th. To improve so quickly in one go was something only a few people throughout history had ever achieved.

[Congratulations to challenger Zhou Chen for obtaining the reward for rank 39—Immortal Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique "Formless Immortal Traces".]

A golden light flew out and merged into Zhou Chen's body.

[Ding! Host has intercepted Ying Feng's chaos heaven tablet challenge Opportunity, triggering a ten-thousand-fold return. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Flame Dao Lotus!]

"Formless Immortal Traces? Flame Dao Lotus?!"

Zhou Chen was instantly overjoyed upon hearing the notification. The Flame Dao Lotus was the final auxiliary material he needed to break through to the Imperial Rank, and he had obtained it in this manner.

"Formless Immortal Traces" was a movement-type technique. Zhou Chen only needed one glance to realize it was incredibly profound and would be difficult to master quickly.

However, it was obvious that the Imperial Rank Top-Grade "Taiyi Golden Light Step" was like a raw recruit compared to "Formless Immortal Traces"; the two were not even in the same dimension.

Before Zhou Chen could react, the void suddenly began to distort, teleporting him out of the stone stele space.

King Mings Immortal Mansion.

Zhou Chen's figure appeared out of thin air, giving Miao Dandan and Elder Xuan a fright.

The two of them had also participated in the chaos heaven tablet ranking, but they had come out very quickly.

Miao Dandan received a reward for a rank over 80,000, and Elder Xuan received one for a rank over 70,000. They had been waiting here for Zhou Chen to appear.

"Master!"

Miao Dandan immediately lunged forward. Seeing what looked like bloodstains on Zhou Chen's clothes, tears instantly welled up. "You're injured!"

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Zhou Chen smiled, patting Miao Dandan's head and giving her a reassuring look.

Miao Dandan carefully inspected Zhou Chen and found that he wasn't actually wounded, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief.

Not long after the three of them left, noisy sounds came from the distance.

The leader was none other than Ying Feng. Although his wrist was still wrapped in bandages, his Aura remained arrogant.

"It's right here!"

Ying Feng held an old map and said excitedly, "Family ancient records state that the chaos heaven tablet is located within these ruins!"

"Young Lord, the chaos heaven tablet is a massive Opportunity!"

A Ying Family Disciple said excitedly, "If we can challenge it successfully, our Ying Family's strength will rise to another level!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Search!"

Ying Feng waved his hand.

The group immediately scattered to search the ruins.

Half an hour later, a Ying Family Disciple suddenly cried out.

"Found it! Young Lord, over here!"

In the center of the ruins, a giant stone stele rose from the ground.

The stone stele was pitch black, emitting an ancient and vast Aura. It was densely carved with countless names, each one shining with golden light.