Advent of Immortal Truth

Crack.  

After the main hall endured this strike, a fissure suddenly burst open on its surface.  

As soon as the crack appeared, it rapidly spread, extending almost from the base to the roof!  

This time, the cultivators inside the Secret Pavilion of Opportunity also felt the impact.  

The pavilion trembled violently, shaking the ground as if an earthquake had struck.  

After the tremors subsided, the stunned cultivators, still reeling from shock, discovered that the restrictions suppressing them had significantly weakened.  

"My connection with the outside world has been restored quite a bit."  

"Although the restrictions are still in place, my cultivation has risen back to the Foundation Establishment level!"  

"Not only that, but I can also use the items I carry with me now."  

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was cornered by the fire whip, shrinking inside its shell and enduring the relentless lashes.  

It had become even weaker.  

As the guardian spirit of the palace, it was deeply connected to the Lava Immortal Palace—since the palace had suffered such a heavy blow, it was bound to be affected as well.  

Yet, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was ecstatic!  

It realized that it could now send messages in secret to all the cultivators participating in the hall trial.  

It immediately sent a message to Meng Chong, warning him of the drastic changes—Yang Chanyu was about to regain her combat strength, reaching the Foundation Establishment level, and he needed to retreat at once.  

Meng Chong’s heart tightened, and he instinctively chose to comply.  

Yang Chanyu snorted coldly, somewhat unwilling. "Running so fast! Should I just chase him down and kill him?"  

Sun Lingtong shook his head. "Not good!"  

"Something drastic must have happened outside—perhaps the beast tide has already breached the inner circle of the palace."  

"The Lava Immortal Palace is like an exhausted bow, showing its decline."  

"As the restrictions gradually fail, our advantage is actually diminishing rapidly. We must find Ning Zhuo quickly!"  

Sun Lingtong was deeply concerned.  

His cultivation had recovered to the Foundation Establishment stage, but even with Yang Chanyu, the two of them together would only hold a slight advantage over Meng Chong, not an overwhelming one.  

Meng Chong had already developed his Wild Sprint Thunderclap technique to an impressive degree. With his innate talent, he was capable of battling beyond his level.  

"If the situation continues to worsen and Golden Core-level combat becomes possible again, then Meng Chong will no longer be a threat."  

"Xiao Zhuo, oh Xiao Zhuo, where are you?"  

"With the restrictions weakening, can you sense me?"  

Sun Lingtong bore the Life Hanging by a Thread connection that Ning Zhuo had planted on him.  

As if hearing Sun Lingtong’s call, Ning Zhuo suddenly halted inside one of the Secret Pavilions of Opportunity, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "The restrictions have weakened?"  

He secretly activated Life Hanging by a Thread, and suddenly, his senses heightened, allowing him to detect Sun Lingtong's location.  

"Perfect!" He immediately quickened his pace, locked onto the direction, and pushed open the door.  

---  

"Cough, cough, cough."  

Zheng Jianlian half-knelt on the ground, bent over, coughing up mouthfuls of fresh blood.  

Three cultivators had him completely surrounded.  

The surrounding mechanical traps had been thoroughly destroyed by them, leaving Zheng Jianlian with no means to utilize them.  

He had attempted to retreat multiple times, but every trick he tried was either anticipated or neutralized.  

Booklord had vast knowledge, Song Fuli had an arsenal of methods, and the Golden Core direct disciple of Purple Heaven Pavilion was a main attacker. He displayed his innate talent, the Violet Lightning Force—every movement carried the power of violet lightning, making Zheng Jianlian’s situation unbearable.  

The upheaval affected this battle as well.  

The cultivators all sensed the weakening of the restrictions, and they regained a portion of their strength, their cultivation now only suppressed to the Foundation Establishment stage.  

"Is this a change in the third round of the hall trial? Or is the Lava Immortal Palace unable to hold on anymore?"  

"The situation outside must be dire."  

"Let's finish him quickly and determine the Palace Master's position. If we delay too long and the palace suffers too much damage, then even if we win, its value will be greatly diminished."  

The three communicated via voice transmission.  

The Golden Core direct disciple of Purple Heaven Pavilion launched a decisive strike!  

His violet lightning was fierce and domineering, blasting forward—only for Zheng Jianlian to block it.  

This shocked the three cultivators.  

As the dust settled, Zheng Jianlian remained extremely weak, still half-kneeling on the ground. However, in front of him, an enormous mechanical serpent had suddenly appeared.  

"Hehehe… hahaha!" Zheng Jianlian, his hair disheveled, slowly lifted his head.  

His bloodshot eyes were filled with fanaticism and obsession as he gazed at the mechanical serpent. "Finally… I can be with you again."  

"Night Rain Demon Soldier!" The expressions of Booklord and the others changed instantly.  

Back in Huoshi Immortal City, during the Golden Core melee, this very mechanical scythe had instantly slain the direct disciple of Taiqing Palace, its ferocity unmatched.  

None of them had expected that Zheng Jianlian, despite being only at the Foundation Establishment stage, could wield this mechanical scythe!  

For them, with their cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage, wielding a magic treasure was nearly impossible. Even if they barely managed, they would only be able to unleash a fraction of its power—so much so that using a magical artifact would be more effective in actual combat.  

"Die! You're all going to die!!" Zheng Jianlian shrieked, his face contorted with hatred and madness.  

The mechanical serpent let out a piercing hiss and suddenly vanished from its original position.  

"Careful!" Booklord warned urgently.  

But in the next moment, the mechanical serpent was already in front of the Purple Heaven Pavilion’s Golden Core direct disciple.  

With a single bite, it clamped down on his arm.  

With a light squeeze—crack!—the mechanical serpent bit off his entire arm.  

The Purple Heaven Pavilion cultivator retreated frantically!  

Blood gushed profusely from the severed limb!!  

His face was filled with terror. "Be careful! This is no ordinary Night Rain Demon Soldier!"  

Zheng Jianlian threw his head back in laughter. "Hahaha! Kill them all!"  

The mechanical serpent lunged at Booklord.  

Booklord's expression was grim. "I'll hold it off!"  

"Alright!" Song Fuli charged straight at Zheng Jianlian.  

---  

Inside the Lava Immortal Palace, the main hall.  

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit continuously transmitted messages to Meng Chong, guiding him along the safest route.  

Before long, Meng Chong pushed open a door—only to see, directly across from the Secret Pavilion, the last remaining Golden Core cultivator of the Meng Family also stepping through a doorway at the same time.  

"Young Master Meng Chong! I finally found you!!"  

The Meng Family’s Golden Core cultivator was overjoyed upon seeing Meng Chong.  

Meng Chong nodded at him, growing increasingly convinced that the messages were reliable.  

"Tell me quickly—where are those two from the No Void Sect?" Meng Chong asked.  

The Meng Family’s Golden Core cultivator looked confused. "Huh?"  

Meng Chong waved him off. "I'm not asking you."  

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit hesitated briefly, rapidly weighing its options.  

It certainly wanted to weaken Ning Zhuo’s forces and ultimately eliminate him. Clearly, dealing with Sun Yang and his companion from the No Void Sect in advance would greatly weaken Ning Zhuo's side.  

"But… with just Meng Chong and the Meng Family’s Golden Core cultivator against Ning Zhuo and Sun Yang, do they really have the advantage?"  

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was uncertain.  

Although it could transmit messages, this was already the limit of its ability—it still couldn’t lie or reveal the trial participants' detailed information.  

So, it simply continued guiding Meng Chong along the safest path.  

Meng Chong, however, believed that by following the messages, he would soon catch up with Sun Yang and his companion. Overjoyed, he charged ahead.  

"Young Master, wait for me!" The Meng Family’s Golden Core cultivator chased after him.  

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit looked worried.  

Because it realized—Ning Zhuo was rapidly approaching Sun Lingtong and Yang Chanyu.  

"Damn! Is it the Life Hanging by a Thread connection?"  

Gritting its teeth, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit sent a message to Zhu Xuanji.  

Zhu Xuanji heard it and his expression changed slightly. "Choose the left door? This message seems suspicious."  

"But whatever—I'll see what trick lies ahead!"  

Confident in his abilities, Zhu Xuanji followed the message, quickening his pace, charging through several Secret Pavilions of Opportunity, and then—he saw…

"Sun Lingtong, Yang Chanyu!"  

Zhu Xuanji took a deep breath and chuckled. "Very well, very well."  

Sun Lingtong cursed. "What kind of rotten luck is this?"  

Yang Chanyu narrowed her eyes. "Lord Zhu, aren't you being a bit too confident? Even with the restrictions weakened, we all have Foundation Establishment-level combat strength. There are two of us and only one of you."  

As she spoke, she transmitted a message to Sun Lingtong. "What do we do now?"  

Sun Lingtong curled his lips. "What else? We retreat."  

---  

"Brother Ning, it's your turn to choose the door next. Which one do you think we should take?"  

Zheng Shuanggou smiled as he asked.  

A battle had just concluded.  

Ning Jiufan and Zheng Shuanggou had joined forces to slay the Crimson Flame Demon Beast guarding the area.  

A Foundation Establishment-level demon beast would have posed a challenge to Zheng Shuanggou and Ning Jiufan.  

But with the restrictions weakening, the two cultivators had suddenly regained their Foundation Establishment cultivation, instantly turning the tide of battle.  

Ning Jiufan was in the process of dismantling the Crimson Flame Demon Beast, carefully harvesting its hide, tendons, bones, and blood.  

He kept a portion for himself and gave the rest to Zheng Shuanggou.  

After they had encountered each other, they had chosen to travel together.  

As Ning Jiufan sorted through the spoils, he spoke, "It doesn't really matter which door we pick. Hmm, that door straight ahead looks decent. Let's go with that one."  

Zheng Shuanggou nodded. "Alright."  

Before he had even finished speaking, the door in front of them was suddenly flung open.  

Meng Chong charged in with fighting spirit surging, and behind him, the Meng Family's Golden Core cultivator was struggling to keep up.  

The two groups locked eyes.  

After a brief moment of silence, both sides immediately reacted, preparing for battle.  

Zheng Shuanggou and Ning Jiufan versus Meng Chong and the Meng Family Golden Core cultivator!  

---  

Ning Zhuo moved forward at an increasing pace.  

"Something's wrong!"  

As he maintained his sensing ability, he realized that Sun Lingtong's position had remained stationary for a while now.  

With the restrictions weakening, cultivators had regained some of their strength.  

The Secret Pavilions of Opportunity had become significantly less challenging in comparison.  

"Boss Sun shouldn't be stuck in place for this long. It’s very likely he's encountered a formidable enemy!"  

"I need to reach him as soon as possible."  

"Hang in there, Boss!"  

---  

With the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's transmissions, two battles had begun.  

Meanwhile, the earlier battle had reached its conclusion.  

Booklord, panting heavily and covered in blood, lay on the ground, with only his upper body remaining.  

His gaze was locked onto the mechanical serpent.  

The mechanical serpent was swallowing.  

What it was swallowing was none other than the lower half of Booklord’s body!  

"To think I’d lose… to a mere weapon!"  

Booklord’s face was filled with melancholy as he shook his head.  

Weakly, he spoke. "I concede."  

In the next instant, a teleportation light circle appeared out of thin air, swiftly engulfing him.  

Zheng Jianlian hunched his back and turned to Song Fuli. "Now, only you remain."  

"Hehehe… Hahaha!"  

"Serpent, devour him!"  

"Damn it!"  

Severely wounded, Song Fuli’s expression tensed as the mechanical serpent lunged at him.  

With a sudden push of his palms, he unleashed a thick mist.  

The mechanical serpent crashed into the mist, missing its target.  

Its entire body became entangled in soft, elastic strands of cloud silk.  

The mechanical serpent thrashed wildly, snapping the strands one by one until it quickly broke free.  

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Song Fuli fled in desperation, crashing through a doorway into another Secret Pavilion.  

"You can't escape! Serpent, after him!! Hahaha!"  

Zheng Jianlian's earlier despondency vanished, replaced by a glowing expression of triumph.  

Now able to use his own tools, he had consumed numerous pills, healing most of his injuries.  

Thus, this battle temporarily came to an end.  

News of the fight spread to the other cultivators—  

"Zheng Jianlian has defeated Booklord, the Purple Heaven Pavilion’s Golden Core direct disciple, and Song Fuli. Booklord and the Purple Heaven Pavilion’s Golden Core direct disciple have been eliminated!"