Chen Tian's strike pierced through Long Motian's colossal body, draining his life force bit by bit. Long Motian gazed at Chen Tian with unconcealed reluctance, never imagining he would perish at the hands of a creature from a low-level world.
After unleashing his attack, Chen Tian's body went limp. The surrounding space began to repel him, and just as he was about to be expelled into the void, a green light bloomed from within space, engulfing his entire form. Chen Tian's injuries slowly healed, his energy gradually replenished, and he fully recovered.
A dark aura emanated from Chen Tian's body, converging to form Xie Ou beside him. Without a moment's hesitation, Chen Tian struck decisively. A beam of light flashed, and the weakened Xie Ou was defenseless against Chen Tian's assault. Chen Tian had long planned how to deal with Xie Ou. Now was the moment. Fusion would leave both parties in a state of weakness, and Chen Tian intended to eliminate Xie Ou while he was vulnerable. Originally, this would have required some effort, but now it was unnecessary. The green light had fully restored Chen Tian to peak condition. Before Xie Ou could even react, his entire body was enveloped by the light, followed by a resounding explosion.
Xie Ou perished on the spot, and dark rain began to fall. Chen Tian stepped forward, his Divine Steps guiding him towards the green light. He felt an inexplicable draw to it, a sense that this light was what he truly desired. Just as he was about to get closer, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Human, congratulations on completing all the trials. You have earned my acknowledgment."
"Who are you?"
"Kid, I am the Wood Spirit Mirror you've been searching for. You have passed the second and third trials and gained my recognition."
Chen Tian questioned, "But I've only completed the second trial!"
He was certain he had only gone through the second trial. When had he completed the third? Chen Tian didn't even know what the third trial entailed.
"The third trial was to kill an outsider. The highest level of the God Strike Secret Realm connects to a sealing space where Long Motian was imprisoned. The second trial required the challenger to pass all the assessments within the God Strike Secret Realm to enter the sealing space. The third trial was to kill Long Motian. You have accomplished this. As for this place, it is not the God Strike Secret Realm, but since you killed Long Motian, the objective of the assessment is considered complete."
A profound voice emerged from the green light. Chen Tian calmly asked, "Can you tell me what happened in the tomb? Why did the Evil Spirit race appear there? And why were people from the Holy God Realm present? Who sealed Long Motian?"
Chen Tian had too many questions. Long Motian, as an arrival from the Holy God Realm, who had sealed him? The city he had seen before was undoubtedly more complex than he imagined.
"Kid, I cannot tell you. You are too weak, too weak to know any information. Become stronger first."
Chen Tian's face darkened. He was still considered weak?
"Kid, I know what you're thinking. This universe is not as simple as you imagine. There are countless universes, and one day you will understand."
"Very well, I shall pledge allegiance to you now. I will send you back to your world. Time has stopped in this realm; you do not belong here."
"System, is it time?"
"Yes, host. The time has come. If not for being in this special space, you would have already been expelled from this world."
Chen Tian remained silent. He was not a native of this world, and he was destined to leave when his time was up. Chen Tian asked from the depths of his heart, "Then, System, what about my mission?"
"Ding! Host, please rest assured. This system will merge this world into the system space. When players appear in the game world, they will be placed within the game world and integrated into it, becoming a layer or a region. As long as the host reaches the required level and travels to this world, the mission will be triggered again, and the host can continue to complete it."
Chen Tian couldn't help but sigh, marveling at the system's power and ingenuity.
"Come, rest assured, I will save this world."
Chen Tian's resolute words were spoken, and the green light merged into his body. Chen Tian's internal being was bathed in the green light. The Wood Spirit Mirror's final words echoed, "Kid, I didn't expect you to...!"
Before Chen Tian could hear the rest, the voice vanished. Chen Tian's figure flickered, his entire body appearing as if shattering glass.
In the second layer of the Epoch of Time, on a peak within the Wind and Thunder Secret Realm, a vortex formed in the sky. A divine lightning bolt descended, striking the ground with a deafening roar. The earth shattered, dust billowed, and debris flew. A deep pit appeared. Within the pit, Chen Tian's left fist met the ground.
"Ding! Switching to game mode panel!"
"Switching complete. Host, your game interface has undergone significant changes. Please check."
Chen Tian heard the system's voice in his mind and conjured the interface with his hands, then dismissed it with a wave.
Chen Tian sensed the surrounding energy and scenery, then leisurely walked away from the peak, descending the mountain.
With every step, a massive footprint that created a deep pit appeared beneath Chen Tian's feet. On the mountainside, Chen Tian exhaled, saying indifferently, "It took three days to finally master the power within. Accustomed to the gravity and suppression of that world, I couldn't control my strength properly upon returning to the Divine Spirit Realm."
Chen Tian took a step, and space warped, covering a thousand miles in an instant.
The Azure Sea, a level ninety-nine leveling area in the second layer world. It was an endless ocean, seemingly without boundaries. Chen Tian walked on the surface of the sea, conjured his interface map, and said, "Passing through the Azure Sea marks the edge of the second layer. Once I complete the Four Seasons Kingdom quest and return to the third layer, my level should break through, and I should be able to enter the fourth layer world."
"Am I forgetting something?"
Chen Tian felt as if he had forgotten something. After thinking carefully, he slapped his head, "Damn it, Pang Yuan and Bing Tianning!"
"System, System, where is Bing Tianning? Was he teleported out?"
Chen Tian asked in panic. The system replied calmly, "Rest assured, host. Bing Tianning is not affected by world expulsion. He is not a biological being; his entire body is mechanical. Furthermore, he has fused his body with the metal of that world for reinforcement, so he is not subject to the repulsion."
"Then how can I summon him?"
"Ding! Summoning is not affected. After this system update, the host can open the summoning gate regardless of world distance, and Bing Tianning will be the first to arrive."
Huh?
Chen Tian was speechless. You're amazing, truly incredible. Then why was I panicking here?
He took a step, and the sea surface calmed. His figure disappeared. When Chen Tian left, the entire ocean churned with turbulent waves.
Chen Tian had traveled nearly half the distance across the Azure Sea but still couldn't see its edge. He looked at the map and roared, "Heavens! How vast is this place?"
Chen Tian had been walking for almost a day and hadn't reached the end. He had only covered half the distance. How large was this Azure Sea? It was truly bewildering.