Chen Tian's eyes slowly opened over the sea. A year had passed, and he had finally comprehended the mastery of water element. However, it was not yet enough to control the entire ocean's water elements. He needed to make his mastery even more formidable. Chen Tian extended his palm, and the system's voice appeared in his mind: 'Ding, congratulations to the player for mastering water element abilities.'
An attractive force emanated from Chen Tian's palm, drawing the seawater beneath him. A sapphire-blue water sphere materialized in his hand, continuously growing as more ocean water poured into it. When Chen Tian felt he could no longer hold on, he pushed his hands forward, launching the water sphere into the sky. For the ocean, this amount of water element was insufficient to decrease its volume; the ocean remained the ocean. Chen Tian began to gather ocean water again.
Time flew by like a shuttle. The sea surface began to recede, and soon a massive pit appeared in the ocean. Chen Tian stood on dry land, the ocean for miles around having been drained. He raised his palm high, and for a moment, the ocean transformed into a sky-piercing water curtain that shot towards the heavens. The surrounding sea turned into land. Chen Tian flickered, instantly appearing in a mystical space. A ethereal voice echoed: 'Congratulations, you have passed the first trial. Do you wish to enter the second trial?'
'Ding, congratulations to the host for passing the first trial of the Water Trial, and achieving absolute mastery of water element abilities.'
'Enter the second trial!'
Chen Tian hesitated not at all. He was determined to clear the Water Trial, as it was a mission with ample rewards that would aid his strength and fusion progress. Chen Tian's figure vanished from the space, and when he reappeared, he was on land. In the center of the land, a sapphire-blue crystal was embedded. Just as Chen Tian was about to make a move, a dangerous interface popped up. Chen Tian looked, and his expression turned grim.
He then transmitted his thoughts to the other side: "Shengtianyi, what has happened?"
"Chen Tian, it's not good! The Evil Spirit Clan has begun invading the Cultivation World. A seal has been broken, and now the entire Cultivation World is plunged into war. Some factions have even joined the Evil Spirit Clan."
"How is this possible? The seal cannot be broken before its time unless the node... Shengtianyi, tell me, has the node died?"
"Yes, Chen Tian, but not your disciple. It is the node sealing the Central Region."
"Damn it."
Chen Tian's face contorted with rage. The death of a node and the forced breaking of a seal meant the Cultivation World was the first world to be invaded by the Evil Spirit Clan. Chen Tian gravely instructed Shengtianyi, "No matter what, you must stop the encroachment of the Evil Spirit Clan. For whatever reason, you must hold on. I will return immediately to help you."
"Alright, I understand. Qingyao and I will try our best to hold on until you arrive. We will wait for you at the sect. Currently, there are still some forces resisting the Evil Spirit Clan, but they are too cunning. It seems they have a way to eliminate us completely."
"Disseminate information about the Evil Spirit Clan to all factions in the Cultivation World and urge them to fight together. I am in trials. Once I complete them, I will return to assist you."
Chen Tian was anxious, his words tumbling out rapidly. He was overwhelmed. If the Cultivation World fell after the seal was broken, the passage between the Cultivation World and the mortal realm would open, posing a crisis for Earth. Chen Tian regretted not protecting all the nodes earlier. Searching for nodes had been too time-consuming, and he had not paid much attention. After this was over, he vowed to protect the nodes to prevent seals from being broken.
Chen Tian ended his conversation with Shengtianyi, and a voice echoed from the void: 'Second trial: manipulate water elements to complete transformations. There are three hundred million types of transformations above. Time limit: two days!'
Numerous transformation options appeared on Chen Tian's interface, totaling three hundred million. Completing all of them in two days was impossible, even with absolute mastery of water element abilities. This second trial was a test of pushing beyond one's limits. Chen Tian was undeterred and began manipulating the water elements. In his hand, one transformation was completed in a second: weapons, humanoid forms, living beings, animals, objects – rapid conversions. Sweat beaded on Chen Tian's forehead. The crystal on the ground emitted light, but Chen Tian paid no attention, his entire focus on the water elements.
A full day passed, and Chen Tian had only completed a thousand transformations. With one day remaining, he looked at the remaining transformations, each more difficult than the last. What should he do?
'Time's up. Do you wish to retry?'
Chen Tian had not completed the trial when time ran out. He did not answer but searched for a way to complete the three hundred million transformations. It was too many; even at maximum speed, he had only completed one hundred million transformations in two days, with two hundred million more to go.
Chen Tian looked at the surrounding land and the sapphire crystal. A flash of inspiration struck him. Yes, Chen Tian could do it that way.
Chen Tian opened his palm, and countless seawater flowed onto the land. As the water increased, the ocean appeared at Chen Tian's feet.
Outside, Poseidon Aristo nodded with satisfaction, "He has finally discovered it. The connection between this trial and the first one. It seems the second trial will be easy for him."
Within the trial space, Chen Tian stood on the ocean, his hands spread wide, eyes closed. His mental power and divine sense split into three identical Chen Tian figures: the Chen Tian of the Cultivation World, the Chen Tian of the Divine Realm, and the Chen Tian of the Huaxia Origin. All three simultaneously unleashed their mastery of water elements, and the ocean's water began to transform.
Transformations occurred rapidly. The ocean water was boundless. Chen Tian saved time by not having to control the water elements, drawing directly from the source. Furthermore, with the combined effort of the three, they could complete six transformations per second, several times faster than before.
After a period of adaptation, Chen Tian split into three figures, who then looked at each other. Chen Tian said, "Begin the trial!"
The trial commenced. The three Chen Tian figures simultaneously practiced water element mastery. The seawater receded. After a day and a half, Chen Tian completed three hundred million transformations and reappeared in the ethereal space.
'Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the second trial of the Water Trial and receiving the reward: Water Element Variant Body.'
'Does the trial participant wish to enter the third trial?'
'Enter.'
Having come this far, how could Chen Tian give up? Although he didn't know how many trials there were, Chen Tian feared nothing and would clear them all. No game could stump him, not years ago, and certainly not now.
Chen Tian's figure appeared in an ocean. This time, he did not stand on the water but was submerged in it. Water currents swirled around him, shredding his body. Chen Tian was accustomed to this; the Fire Trial and Earth Trial had similar stages. Chen Tian endured immense pain as his flesh and blood were stripped away, dissolving into countless water droplets.
Soon, only Chen Tian's bones remained. His consciousness slipped into a coma, but his subconscious allowed his bones to emit a sapphire glow. The surrounding water entered his bones, and flesh reformed, growing anew. He was reborn.
His body was surrounded by water, and a sapphire water barrier appeared around Chen Tian. He opened his eyes, and the system's voice sounded in his mind: 'Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining Absolute Water Element Immunity and Water Element Rebirth abilities.'
Chen Tian looked at the surrounding ocean with a sense of familiarity. With absolute water element immunity, he could now navigate the ocean with ease, no longer needing the help of the Ocean Tear. He could wander freely in the fourth-tier world alone.
"But why haven't I been teleported out? According to reason, this trial should be completed by now!"
Chen Tian became confused. If he wasn't being teleported out, perhaps there was another condition for this trial.
Chen Tian began to walk through the ocean. This trial was definitely different from the previous ones; there might be some hidden secrets. Chen Tian wandered through the ocean, sensing the world around him. A faint aura appeared, and Chen Tian moved towards it, arriving before a cave.
'Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering a mission: Kill the boss inside the cave to complete the trial.'
Chen Tian heard the system's voice in his mind. So that's it, this trial required killing a boss.
Chen Tian stepped into the cave. Before he could fully enter, a terrifying sound wave emanated from within, knocking Chen Tian back. Chen Tian stabilized himself. He couldn't enter the cave; the boss inside was too powerful, its roar alone forcing him to retreat.
"It seems this will be difficult."
Chen Tian pondered. He didn't know what the boss inside looked like, but he knew he had to defeat it, or the trial would not be completed.
Chen Tian stepped towards the cave again. The roar erupted, and Chen Tian's body was covered by a shield as he advanced. The sound waves struck the shield, causing it to crack. Chen Tian's eyes widened in fear. The shield repaired itself, and a water pillar appeared before Chen Tian. He thrust out his palm, launching a water sphere. Explosions echoed as water elements collided, causing the entire cave to shake.
The walls collapsed. Chen Tian sensed something emerging from within. Chen Tian retreated rapidly, a terrifying sense of death washing over him. He exited the cave, and a creature swam out from within.
Before him was a colossal water dragon, its body composed entirely of water elements. It was a true water dragon, resembling the mythical dragons, but covered in sapphire-blue water, seemingly lacking a physical body.
Chen Tian's divine pupils provided information, and his expression turned grim. These attributes, these abilities, these characteristics – was this a joke?
How could he fight this?
"System, are you sure this creature is defeatable by me?"
Chen Tian doubtfully asked the system. Even hundreds of Chen Tian would not be a match for this water dragon. Now, facing it one-on-one, Chen Tian had no confidence. This creature's attributes were too heaven-defying. No, even dragon species didn't have such god-tier attributes.