In the outer region of the Mad Sea, Chen Tian returned. He observed the speed of the currents, waiting as Ming Tian had instructed. Ming Tian had told him that in a few hours of Golden Country time, the currents would slow down for only three moments. Once those three moments passed, the currents would become fierce again. Currently, the outer area of the Mad Sea was swarming with countless players. The Mad Sea was known to hold many treasures, and many players wanted to seize this opportunity to acquire some valuable items.
The Mad Sea was not just a region; it was a treasure trove. Its design incorporated countless treasures and opportunities that players could obtain. Presently, players were waiting for the moment the currents would slow down, allowing them to enter and search for their fortunes. This was akin to the Spirit Realm in the Divine Realm or the secret realms in the cultivation world, where cultivators sought breakthroughs and opportunities to grow stronger. Such places existed everywhere.
Chen Tian closed his eyes. He was indifferent to the other treasures within the Mad Sea. His sole focus was on a particular fragment. Only he could reach the center of the Mad Sea; other players were merely exploring the periphery. Chen Tian waited patiently. Several moments passed, and the water current flowed as slowly as a snail. The surrounding players transformed into streaks of light, rushing into the current. Some players remained still, while others wore mocking expressions.
"Ahhh!"
Screams echoed. A player named Shou Yuan mocked, "These newbies don't know that when the current slows down, the previous flow will turn into massive water blades, invisibly taking lives. Fortunately, those water blades are gone now. Let's go in."
"Charge!"
Figures plunged into the current. Chen Tian, of course, knew about the water blades; Ming Tian had told him everything. Chen Tian's form became ethereal, and his golden-red light exploded at maximum speed, instantly outpacing all other players. A wave of astonishment swept through the players. Such speed! They couldn't keep up.
However, some players noticed that Chen Tian's figure was not exploring the outer regions but heading deeper. Some players shook their heads, while others sneered. Chen Tian's actions were suicidal. Even with the currents slowed, the core region was not a place ordinary players could enter. The currents there were three times as strong as the outer regions. Normally, they were more than ten times the speed of the outer whirlpools, a domain no ordinary player could tread.
Chen Tian forged ahead, golden-red wings unfurling behind him. Golden feathers were engulfed in fiery flames. The gold element cut through the surrounding water, and the fire element evaporated water droplets. Chen Tian's Water Spirit Flame was acquired after his Fire Element Mastery was sealed. The Water Spirit Flame could be used, but it required Chen Tian's mental power to drive it, not his Fire Element Mastery.
But for Chen Tian now, his mental power was immense. Driving a little spiritual fire was more than enough. Chen Tian advanced for some time, his speed slowing. Chen Tian pulled up the map interface. The fragment was still three thousand meters away. These three thousand meters were the hardest to traverse. The slowed currents also affected Chen Tian's speed. His entire body was obstructed by the water, taking one step forward and being pushed back. Even with both gold and fire elements unleashed, he could barely advance a few steps.
"Damn it, the current and vortex here are three times stronger than the outside. Can't I reach it?"
Chen Tian sighed. At this rate, he couldn't move forward at all. What should he do?
Suddenly, a sapphire glow emanated from Chen Tian's backpack, enveloping him in a blue orb of light. Chen Tian was momentarily stunned. What was happening?
Chen Tian was encased in the orb, and the water flow had no effect on it. Chen Tian advanced rapidly. He hadn't even understood the situation before he was suddenly transported to the central area. Before Chen Tian's eyes lay a black fragment, incomplete and appearing to be part of a sword body, etched with strange patterns. A surge of emotions welled up within him. With a wave of his arm, he directly stored the fragment in his backpack.
"Ding! Host's materials detected are complete. Do you wish to fuse the fragment and forge a more powerful life weapon?"
"Yes!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for consuming gold threads, silver threads, and nameless metal to fuse the fragment, forging a life weapon: The Fate Dual Blades, one left-hand saber."
"Ding! Do you wish to fuse the Fate Dual Blades with your self-made weapon to produce a powerful effect?"
"Fuse!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the self-made weapon: Fate Sky Dragon Blade. Attribute abilities to be defined by the host. Characteristics are fixed."
Chen Tian opened the attribute interface for the Fate Sky Dragon Blade.
Fate Sky Dragon Blade (Left-Hand Saber)
Quality: God-King Grade
Attributes: Undefined
Abilities: Undefined
Characteristics: Sever all fate and natural order in the world.
Restriction: Host must travel to the Sacred God Realm to use.
Chen Tian didn't look at it further. He knew this weapon was incredibly powerful. Severing all fate and natural order in the world meant this weapon transcended the limitations of the universe. Beneath chaos lay all things, and all things were governed by fate and natural order. Fate dictated the direction of an individual and a world, while natural order comprised heavenly principles and world theories. All these revolved around the world. Once fate and principles were severed, the world and the universe would collapse.
Chen Tian never imagined his life weapon would become like this. However, he couldn't use it for now. As Chen Tian was about to leave, a blue light erupted beneath his feet, drawing his attention. He looked down to see a massive five-pointed star pattern appearing before him. Chen Tian was surprised. This was a place for the Five Elements Trial.
At a corner of the Five Elements Trial, a tear-shaped pattern appeared. Above the depression floated a drop of blue tear crystal. Chen Tian immediately exclaimed, "So that's it. It seems this item is the key to initiating the trial. But why is it in the third layer of the world? It looks like it's the Water Trial."
Chen Tian placed it into the pattern. The five-pointed star emitted a sapphire glow, and Chen Tian's figure was enveloped by the light and vanished from the star. In a surreal space, Chen Tian opened his eyes and looked around. He saw an underwater palace, an oceanic world, magnificent architecture, and a grand gate. On the gate, a plaque read: "Sea God Palace."
Chen Tian entered. This trial was different from the previous ones; no electronic voice sounded, indicating he hadn't triggered the trial requirements. Chen Tian approached the gate of the Sea God Palace. The gate seemed to have a consciousness of its own and opened automatically. Chen Tian felt no fear. No matter who was before him, Chen Tian would overcome it. There was no game he couldn't conquer.
He entered the palace, and the gate closed behind him. Light gradually filled the entire palace, illuminating it instantly. A figure sat on the central ocean throne. It was a being with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish.
Wearing a sapphire crown and wielding a trident, the being exuded an aura of majesty. A pair of sapphire crystal eyes fixed on Chen Tian. A powerful voice emerged from him: "Trial-taker, welcome. I am Arytos, the Water God, the divine being who governs the oceans and water elements of the universe. If you pass the Water Trial, you will undergo my Ocean Trial and become the next Ocean Deity. Trial-taker, do you have confidence?"
Chen Tian heard this and asked in confusion, "Isn't it just the Water Trial? I remember the other elemental god trials weren't this direct."
"Hahaha, it's because you possess my token, this very item. You can directly obtain permission for the Ocean Trial. Of course, I am merely a wisp of energy; my true form perished long ago. I have been waiting to find a successor until now."
Chen Tian looked at the item in Sea God Arytos's hand and understood. The Ocean Tear Crystal he had obtained was, unexpectedly, the token for the Sea God Trial. Chen Tian truly had incredible luck!
"I accept the trial. Rest assured, your legacy will be perfectly inherited by me."
"Ha! The lad is quite confident. Let us begin. We start with the Water Trial. After you complete it, I will initiate the Ocean Trial."
"I will send you into the trial space first."
Arytos waved his arm, and Chen Tian was enveloped in a water bubble, disappearing from the palace hall. Arytos mused, "I wonder if he can pass all the elemental trials. My King! We await your arrival in that place. Release us, and please strengthen yourself quickly."
Chen Tian's figure arrived in a surreal space. A voice echoed within the space, and Chen Tian knew the trial had begun directly. In an instant, he found himself on the surface of a vast ocean.
"First stage: Control all the water elements of the ocean, gather the water elements in the sky, and turn the ocean into land. Time limit: Three years."
Chen Tian stood on the ocean's surface, his expression turning grim. How could he do this? Chen Tian did not possess Water Element Mastery. To gather the entire ocean and send it into the sky, turning the ocean into land? This area spanned tens of thousands of miles, all seawater. How long would this take?
"Forget it, three years should be enough for me to comprehend Water Element Mastery. I'll take it slow. This is the first stage. I dread to think how difficult the subsequent stages will be."
Chen Tian couldn't imagine it. The trials were becoming increasingly difficult. If Chen Tian didn't grow stronger, he wouldn't be able to pass. Chen Tian closed his eyes, sensing the surrounding ocean. He touched the sea surface with his feet. Strangely, Chen Tian's body did not sink into the water; he stood on the surface as calmly as still water.
Time trickled by. One year passed in the blink of an eye. Chen Tian opened his eyes, spreading his arms. The seawater on the surface gathered at his fingertips, forming a small water sphere.
"No, although I've grasped a tiny bit, this doesn't count as Water Element Mastery. I'm merely manipulating some water elements."
Chen Tian had wasted a year and hadn't truly comprehended Water Element Mastery, though he had a nascent form. Chen Tian closed his eyes again, meditating. This time, he had to succeed. Two years remained for the trial.
In the Sea God Palace, Water God Arytos watched Chen Tian's progress and nodded. Comprehending a nascent form of Water Element Mastery in one year, and at the highest level, was impressive. With two years left, this stage posed no difficulty for Chen Tian.