Chapter 562: Chapter 0557 Approaching the End

With the opening hours of Sky Sea Mountain growing longer, only a few individuals were challenging the gates each day.

Most had already exhausted their abilities and reached the highest gate they could. They spent the remaining time cultivating.

However, the challenge of Chang Guangling still caught the attention of many.

He had already made a name for himself as a Silver Emblem Holy Guard and now, with a breakthrough in his cultivation, becoming a Golden Emblem Holy Guard was absolutely no problem. The only question was whether he could pass the fifth gate on his first attempt.

If he succeeded, it would prove his immense potential, and he might even become one of the best among the Golden Emblem Holy Guards.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chang Guangling, bearing the imposing force of Sky Sea Mountain, ascended step by step.

“It’s not easy at all.”

When Chang Guangling reached the front of the first ancient temple, his back was already soaked with sweat.

As he stepped into the temple, the Array activated, and an ordinary man wielding a long spear appeared before Chang Guangling.

Immediately, Chang Guangling took out a dark red Fangtian Hua Ji and fiercely slashed it, sending out a dark, bloody glow.

Whoosh!

The ordinary man thrust his spear with the speed of thunder, like a white lightning bolt, instantly piercing through the bloody darkness.

Then, the ordinary man thrust his spear again, sending out three spear shadows of white light from the front, left, and right toward Chang Guangling.

Chang Guangling prepared to counterattack.

But suddenly, a low and urgent shrill came from inside the temple, causing Chang Guangling to lose his senses for a moment.

“Not good, it’s a sonic disturbance.”

Chang Guangling regained his clairty, only to see the ordinary man’s killing move was already upon him, and he rapidly retreated.

“Blood Halberd Fangs.”

Chang Guangling released a towering surge of bloody qi, swinging the Fangtian Hua Ji violently.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Around his body, thick, thorn-like bloody lights raged wildly.

As the three spear shadows approached, Chang Guangling shattered them.

Following that, five bloody thorns lashed out towards the ordinary man.

“Die.”

Chang Guangling unleashed one attack after another with fierce aggression, the temple filled with surging bloody qi.

Yet as he attacked his opponent, the sonic disturbance descended again; even though Chang Guangling was prepared, he still suffered a significant impact.

And the ordinary man was not an insignificant opponent; he could use combat techniques.

At this moment, the ordinary man swept out with a spear, and within the shocking white spear glow, a dragon shadow seemed to flash through, the attack terrifying.

“Blood Secret Bead.”

Seeing this, Chang Guangling spat out a mouthful of blood, the blood condensing True Yuan and blood qi into a dark red blood crystal bead, shooting outwards.

Outside, the crowd watched the intense battle inside the temple.

“Such strong power; he just broke through and can already fight on par with the Gatekeeper. If Chang Guangling consolidates for some time and prepares well, the chances of him breaking through the fifth gate are very high.”

“That’s right, even if Chang Guangling doesn’t succeed this time, he is likely to succeed on his next try.”

Several Golden and Silver Emblem Holy Guards rated Chang Guangling highly.

“Before the trial at Sky Sea Mountain ends, I also must break through the fifth gate,” Qian Guang clenched his fist and said.

He was also among the spectators, having recently become a Golden Emblem Holy Guard. He had attempted the fifth gate once before but failed.

The battle in the temple continued for a while, and gradually, Chang Guangling began to falter, falling into a disadvantage.

Chang Guangling was a practitioner of Blood Cultivation, which would give him an edge against human or Demon Beasts foes, but against an opponent conjured by the Array, his advantage of Blood Cultivation was nullified.

“It’s going to be a loss.”

Someone said.

“But Brother Chang is still to be esteemed, he has already fought the Guardian for more than one hundred eighty moves,” another person sighed.

In the next moment, Chang Guangling’s form flew out, landing on the stone steps outside. He clutched at a wound on his body and immediately spurted out a mouthful of blood.

“Next time, I will tear you to pieces and break through the fifth gate,” Chang Guangling said fiercely.

But as he looked up, he suddenly saw a familiar silhouette on the stone steps behind the temple.

“Chen… Yu!”

Chang Guangling was momentarily dumbfounded.

How could Chen Yu be there? He had been searching and waiting for Chen Yu in this area for a long time, all to challenge him.

But it seemed as if Chen Yu was not here at all, but rather on a higher level!

That area was supposed to be for Holy Guards who had passed the fifth gate!

“Could he really have… passed the fifth gate?” Chang Guangling thought of this, his mouth agape, his eyes wide.

It seemed impossible. Chang Guangling found it hard to believe, feeling agitated.

Just then, Chen Yu suddenly turned around, glanced back and caught sight of Chang Guangling lying on the ground.

Their eyes met, and Chang Guangling immediately regained consciousness, rage surging up, spewing another large mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale, nearly fainting.

“Chang Guangling?” Chen Yu recognized him. He had been in seclusion for several months and had just come out to check the situation and learn about any major recent events.

But why was Chang Guangling spitting blood upon seeing him? Surely he wasn’t that excited.

“How could he be there? Did he pass the fifth gate? How could this be possible?” Chang Guangling’s gaze was bewildered, mumbling to himself as he limped away.

“Brother Chang, how are your wounds?”

“You have already fought with the fifth gate’s guardian for over a hundred moves. Even though you were defeated, you still did honorably. Next time, you will definitely pass. There’s no need to be so disheartened.”

People watched Chang Guangling’s spiritless demeanor, feeling somewhat puzzled.

“Chen Yu?” Someone heard the name from Chang Guangling’s mouth.

He suddenly looked up and also saw Chen Yu behind the fifth gate.

“Is that really Chen Yu? When did he pass the fifth gate?” The person suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Previously, Deng Kuan and Qian Guang had purposefully elevated Chen Yu’s status, further amplified by the title of the number one Silver Emblem Holy Guard. Chen Yu’s reputation gradually spread.

Especially when rumors suddenly surfaced that Chen Yu had passed the fifth challenge and that Chang Guangling was seeking to challenge him… Chen Yu’s name became known to even more people.

“So, the previous rumors were true. Chen Yu had passed the fifth challenge long ago. It’s unbelievable.”

Several people exclaimed in surprise, constantly expressing their astonishment.

“This is impossible…”

Qian Guang was even more shocked than the others, standing still in disbelief.

He himself had not passed the fifth challenge, yet Chen Yu had succeeded!

He had been preparing to seek revenge on Chen Yu, only to find out that Chen Yu had now surpassed him!

Chen Yu then came out to gather some information and subsequently continued his seclusion.

And the news that Chen Yu, at the peak of the Middle Stage of Guiyuan Realm, had passed the fifth challenge, spread thoroughly.

Chen Yu became famous in one stroke!

As for Chang Guangling, after returning to his cave dwelling, he fell into a coma for some time and later appeared listless.

One day, when Deng Kuan came out of seclusion to stroll around and heard the topics being discussed by others, he was dumbfounded.

He had boosted Chen Yu twice with the real intention of plotting his demise, but each time, he ended up elevating Chen Yu instead, and those unaware of his intentions thought that Deng Kuan actually had a good relationship with Chen Yu.

That he, a mere Silver Emblem Holy Guard whom he looked down upon, could now stand shoulder to shoulder with him, Deng Kuan felt a strong sense of humiliation.

“Can’t you just… let me succeed in my scheme once?”

Deng Kuan felt somewhat helpless in his heart, but more so, he was furious!

“Since Chen Yu has passed the fifth challenge, his strength must be on par with mine now. I can only let Shen Han go and teach this kid a lesson.”

Deng Kuan pondered within.

As time passed, the Sky Sea Mountain trial was left with merely the last month remaining.

Late at night, a man with a bright face and a somewhat malevolent smile climbed upward.

This person was Situ Lin Yu, who was also a talented individual in this Sky Sea Mountain trial. However, due to Chen Yu’s rapidly rising fame, his brilliance was overshadowed.

He walked effortlessly toward the ancient temple of the fifth challenge and soon reached it.

Buzz!

The Array activated, and an ordinary man holding a folding fan appeared in front of him.

“It turns out to be the same weapon as mine.”

Situ Lin Yu gave a faint smile.

Just then, black mist surged within the ancient temple, instantly filling the entire space.

Visibility was obscured in the black mist, and Spiritual Sense was also weakened.

“Mist interference.”

A sly smile curved the corners of Situ Lin Yu’s mouth as he suddenly spread his arms, releasing a sinister gray mist that surged forth, unleashing several fierce ghosts and the Evil Spirits he nurtured.

With the ghosts and Evil Spirits dispersing, they provided Situ Lin Yu with visibility.

Thus, the mist interference became virtually ineffective.

Situ Lin Yu’s silvery-gray folding fan swept across, and a dim fan-shaped light wave silently and swiftly swept forward.

Suddenly, two figures appeared outside the ancient temple.

“It’s so late, yet someone is attempting the challenge.”

One of the men said.

As the trial began, more people came to challenge, but the number dwindled over time.

At most, the number of challengers would increase in the last ten days, but not by much.

“Ah, he probably doesn’t have much confidence to pass, so he’s attempting it at night,” remarked another indifferently.

However, suddenly, in a certain area above Sky Sea Mountain, a powerful aura fluctuated, alerting many, including several Sky Sea Realm elders.

“This is… the residual will of the Sky Sea Realm!”

A Black-bearded Elder immediately exclaimed.

“Who is it that could stir the power of the deceased Sky Sea Realm’s will?”

Another elder couldn’t help but speak.

After the Sky Sea Realm experts died, their power took a long time to dissipate, and some cultivators who switched to the Soul Path still had some will remaining after death.

Many Sky Sea Realm experts were buried on this Sky Sea Mountain.

Swoosh!

A dark shadow darted out, swooping downward, entering the ancient temple of the fifth challenge.

“This young man is astonishing in the Path of Evil Spirits, thus attracting that will… such fortune is truly incredible.”

The Black-bearded Elder, after observing the situation inside the fifth challenge’s ancient temple, exclaimed in amazement.

The residual will of the Sky Sea Realm was attracted by things it found familiar.

Right now, what attracted this residual will were Situ Lin Yu’s powerful secret techniques and profound conceptual understanding.

Presumably, the residual will’s owner in life must have also been a practitioner of this path.

Inside the ancient temple.

Situ Lin Yu had already defeated the challenger.

With a hint of a smile, he gazed at the black shadow that suddenly appeared before him, “It doesn’t seem very strong!”

“If it were at a higher level, it might attract a more powerful residual will…”

Situ Lin Yu sighed, waving his sleeve to collect the residual will power, then took a cup of Grade Five Sky Sea Holy Liquid and disappeared into the night.

Below the fifth challenge, the two Holy Guards were still stunned.

“Did I see that correctly? That person actually invoked the will power of a deceased Sky Sea Realm expert!”

“A demon indeed, this person having obtained the residual will of a Sky Sea Realm expert is bound to soar to great heights!”

“By the way, who was that person? Why don’t I recognize him?”

…

Ten days later, Chen Yu opened his eyes, the robust demonic aura around gradually dissipated and converged within his body.

It had been half a year since he was on the brink of breaking through to the peak of the Middle Stage of the Guiyuan Realm.

In such a superior environment as Sky Sea Mountain, his cultivation initially had extraordinary effects, and Chen Yu firmly consolidated his skills and made significant progress in strength.

“The Sky Sea Mountain trial is almost over.”

Chen Yu sighed.

This trip to Sky Sea Mountain had brought him considerable gains, to the extent that he felt reluctant and hoped that the mountain would remain open so that he could challenge higher levels and obtain more precious Sky Sea Holy Liquid as his strength grew.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t up to Chen Yu to decide.

The next opening of Sky Sea Mountain would take twenty years!

“I wonder how difficult this sixth challenge is?”

Chen Yu suddenly said.