Within the Heavenly Emperor's Illusionary Realm, Wu Wang sat on a cloud, gazing up at the azure sky.

Ten to twelve hours had passed since Elder Shen Nong had transformed him into an old man.

Is this the training ground left by Emperor Fu Xi?

Indeed, it was truly remarkable. With just the round plate in his hand and a few simple commands, he could drastically alter the terrain within a radius of hundreds of miles. The once endless dense forest could be transformed into a testing ground where deserts, hills, ravines, plains, and various other topographies coexisted.

Beyond the words 'quite remarkable,' Wu Wang truly did not know how to describe it.

The only drawback was that it was somewhat taxing on the Pavilion Masters.

In a corner of the Illusionary Realm, seven or eight elderly men and women sat or lay about, each panting heavily and dripping with sweat; the faces of those with slightly weaker cultivation levels were already pale.

The Pavilion Master of the Four Seas Pavilion, that thin old man, said with a trembling voice, "When Your Majesty's Artifact Spirit commands people, that's not quite how it should be done!"

"When was the last time I was this tired? That must have been tens of thousands of years ago..."

"My waist, HISS! Why is Your Majesty's Artifact Spirit even more mischievous than Your Majesty himself? A single terrain can be changed seven or eight times in an instant. Doesn't he know this hugely drains Divine Thought?"

"Alas, it is indeed worthy of being a staff in Your Majesty's hands; blue surpasses indigo."

Above the clouds, Wu Wang listened to the complaints from the several high-ranking individuals from the Human Domain through the Eight Trigrams Disk in his hand and simply smiled faintly.

This was only the beginning.

Later, he would surely write down the entire experience of this trial in a Jade Talisman for his father-in-law. If the effect was good this time, would he need to worry about the Illusionary Realm not opening new maps in the future?

Earlier, he had communicated with those Pavilion Masters through this Eight Trigrams Disk, claiming to be the Artifact Spirit of an item belonging to Elder Shen Nong. He stated he was assigned to execute the upcoming trials and had halted the original ones.

The auspicious moment had arrived.

Wu Wang snapped his fingers. The Eight Trigrams Disk, the size of a large bowl, hovered in front of him. Qian one, Dui two, Li three, Zhen four, Xun five, Kan six, Gen seven, Kun eight—the trigrams on it lit up with Immortal Light, revealing a projection of the trial land.

[Shut the gates!]

A multi-colored grand Formation appeared within the Illusionary Realm.

[Release the geniuses!]

The Eight Trigrams Disk vibrated gently, and beams of light illuminated various parts of the Illusionary Realm. These beams extinguished quickly, leaving figures standing below.

One thousand two hundred prodigies from the Human Domain appeared here. Their cultivation levels were suppressed to the pinnacle of the Condensation Establishment Realm, their Spiritual Sense confined to ten yards around their bodies, and all their storage magic treasures were sealed.

Essentially, this land forbade the use of Heaven and Earth's Dao spells.

The 'young' men and women, already aware of the rules, immediately looked vigilantly to their left and right.

Wu Wang did not forcefully conceal their appearances and auras. This trial was to select the bearer of the Yan Emperor's Decree; connections, leadership, influence, and so on, were all part of one's own strength.

Of course, should anyone use forces from outside the Illusionary Realm to threaten or coerce others, divine justice would descend upon them.

He raised his hand and pointed it at the center of the Eight Trigrams Disk, his mind already issuing a command.

Within the Illusionary Realm, clusters of clouds materialized from nothingness, condensing into the silhouette of an old man—naturally reflecting Wu Wang's current aged appearance, altered by Shen Nong.

In the grand hall outside the Illusionary Realm, exquisite dishes and fine wines were laid out before the various Sects of Immortals and Demons. Above the central round stage, clusters of clouds slowly rose, and within them, Cloud Mirrors emerged, the scenes swiftly panning across each location.

The gathered Immortals and Demons lost all interest in casual conversation and food, focusing solely on searching for the whereabouts of their respective disciples.

Wu Wang let out a silent chuckle in his heart. He closed his eyes to concentrate and slowly lifted his left hand, in unison with the cloud-formed Dharma body projected in the Illusionary Realm and now visible to the masters from all Sects in the Human Domain. He formed a sword finger and held it vertically before him.

Then, that old and somewhat peculiar voice echoed simultaneously inside and outside the Illusionary Realm:

"The heavens and earth possess great beauty, the four seasons follow clear laws, and all things have their reasons for existence.

"Born from the void, evolved from the spirit of heaven and earth, I am a staff in the hands of the Human Domain's Human Emperor Shen Nong. Blessed by Shen Nong, I have evolved into the Five Elements Thunder Honored One. Today, I preside over this Illusionary Realm's trial.

"This trial is named 'Sole Sovereignty,' and ultimately, only one person may stand within the Barrier. The specific rules have been communicated to you all.

"Now, rest for one hour to adapt to your current Mana. After that, your Life Charms shall be revealed.

"If a Life Charm shatters, you will voluntarily withdraw from the Illusionary Realm; this is considered a loss of qualification.

"This trial will be conducted three times. During the first two, your cultivation realm will be sealed, and your storage magic treasures will be sealed. The final round will be unrestricted, with the only requirement being that you stop upon making contact and do not harm anyone's life.

"The reward for being the last one standing in each round is this."

As he spoke, the Dharma body slowly opened its right hand, revealing three wooden tokens. The tokens gently rotated, showcasing the character 'Flame'.

"Yan Emperor's Decree!"

"It's His Majesty's Yan Emperor's Decree!"

"Sole Sovereignty, the Yan Emperor's Decree! This means three candidates for Human Emperor are about to be born!"

In the great hall, all the experts suddenly stood up.

Inside the Illusionary Realm, although many Cultivators were somewhat puzzled, a few were already ablaze with fighting spirit, their expressions looking as if they could devour someone.

Wu Wang said, "Everyone, prepare yourselves."

The Dharma body dissolved into mist and collapsed, and the illusory images of the three Yan Emperor's Decrees also vanished.

Wu Wang's thoughts flickered, and the Eight Trigrams Disk in front of him flashed through a series of images.

In a corner of the illusion, Ji Mo's eyes shone brightly. He immediately sat cross-legged on the spot, beginning to adapt to the Mana flowing within him like a gentle stream.

Not far from Ji Mo, a burly man set his gaze upon him and began throwing punches and stretching his legs, coordinating the mere fraction of strength remaining in his body.

In a region covered with yellow sand, Ling Xiaolan slightly furrowed her brow.

Although she wanted to sit down immediately, she hesitated. Eventually, she removed her cloth boots, carefully arranged them into a makeshift cushion on the ground, and then sat cross-legged barefoot, propping up a thin Barrier of Mana.

Despite the Mana consumption, this was the limit of what she could endure.

Well done.

The two disciples from the Annihilation Sect weren't worth much attention. Although their cultivation levels were decent and they had experience in duels, they were still a notch below the Human Domain's prodigies, who were carefully nurtured by the major forces.

If they survive to the final three rounds, I'll add chicken legs to their offerings when they return.

Three trials, three opportunities; out of twelve hundred people, only three winners in the end.

But these three winners were merely holders of the Yan Emperor's Decree, not possessing any extraordinary status.

The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion would soon release a message to the public, announcing that the Human Domain already had a certain number of Yan Emperor's Decree holders.

This is the true trial of the Human Emperor.

「Four hours ago.」

Wu Wang, having finished arranging matters for the Illusionary Realm, had returned to the riverside to meet with the Human Emperor.

"Directly announce that the ultimate reward for this event is the Yan Emperor's Decree?"

Wu Wang looked at Shen Nong with some surprise and said softly, "Isn't this like putting a target on their backs for the Foreign Gods?"

Shen Nong replied indifferently, "If one cannot even withstand an invasion from the Foreign Gods, then one is unfit to bear the heavy responsibilities of the Human Domain."

Wu Wang fell silent for a moment, then said, "But Senior, if these three Yan Emperor's Decrees are acquired by three individuals, it's not just about facing invasions from the Foreign Gods; they themselves will become lambs to the slaughter for the major forces."

"The Human Domain seemingly operates under your command, Your Majesty, largely because you possess absolute power and can suppress everything.

"But in truth, the Human Domain's operations are inseparable from the support of many factions.

"The military families on the frontiers have become entrenched aristocratic houses. The Four Seas Pavilion and Benevolent Emperor Pavilion have their own internal spheres of influence. The large Sects form secret alliances, and entities like the Ten Evils Hall harbor insidious intentions.

"Senior... Your Majesty, do you truly intend to use three Yan Emperor's Decrees to ignite this fire within the Human Domain?"

Shen Nong smiled with narrowed eyes, sizing up Wu Wang. "You understand all of this, don't you, youngster?"

"What do I understand?" Wu Wang sighed. "I just want to provide a stable environment for Little Jingwei to grow up in."

Shen Nong glared and raised his staff as if to strike, but Wu Wang quickly darted away, only to return shortly thereafter, looking somewhat crestfallen.

"Wu Wang, you should understand me." The old senior heaved a slight sigh. "I have extended my life for a thousand years, all for the purpose of cultivating a successor, to ensure the Human Domain has someone to carry on after me, so it does not decline on my watch."

"This person must not only completely master the Dao of Fire and achieve a breakthrough in Dao rules but also possess the decisiveness to command ages and the skill to pacify various powers. More importantly, they must have the ability to survive amidst the pressures from all sides."

"Grasping the Yan Emperor's Decree is only the first step. Only by withstanding this pressure can one set foot on the true path of the Human Emperor."

"There isn't much time left for this old man to waste. It is time to make a decision."

「The recollection of his conversation with his father-in-law slowly faded.」

Wu Wang gazed at the Eight Trigrams Disk before him, his expression gradually turning solemn.

Decision.

If that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless today!

One hour flashed by. Wu Wang's hands formed hand seals, his fingers quickly tapping on the Eight Trigrams Disk in front of him.

Light flickered in various places throughout the Illusionary Realm.

Ji Mo, who was meditating, immediately stood up and looked at the four items that appeared before him: a Jade Talisman representing his life, a wooden sword with simple restrictive seals carved on it, a thick stack of yellow paper Talismans, and a porcelain bottle floating silently in the air.

At the same time, a faint voice echoed between heaven and earth: "Begin."

Without any hesitation, Ji Mo bolted forward, grabbing the wooden sword, seizing the Talismans, and clenching the porcelain bottle in his teeth. The Jade Talisman adhered itself to his chest, and his body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow!

Not far away, a burly man had already grabbed a porcelain bottle. With a roar, he crushed the stack of Talismans with a single punch and lunged forward fiercely.

Body Cultivator!

Ji Mo leaped and flipped, the wooden sword in his hand emanating glows of fire as several head-sized fireballs hurtled towards the burly man.

The firelight reflected on his chiseled face; only calmness remained in his eyes.

"Trying to run!"

The burly man roared angrily, raising his left arm to shield himself, smashing the fireballs one by one, a ferocious grin spreading across his face.

BOOM!

Suddenly, firelight erupted from the side. Several Talismans, unknowingly affixed to nearby tree trunks, exploded simultaneously, blasting streams of golden sand, ice spikes, and fire serpents that swept the burly man off his feet!

A faint smile touched Ji Mo's lips, but before it could fully bloom, just as his body, sent flying, was about to hit the ground, a piercing screech sounded from the side, and Sword Qi shot towards him!

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the Yellow Sparrow behind!

Ji Mo's Spiritual Sense swept over the area. The Divine Light in his eyes flickered as he forcibly arched his body backward, yet he was still grazed by the Sword Qi.

Slapping the ground with one hand, he spun around. Ji Mo's wooden sword once again sparked with firelight, this time scattering a volley of fire arrows into the air as he dashed towards the denser part of the forest.

The desert expanse was filled with swirling yellow sand.

Seven or eight figures besieged one person. Sword shadows flew, earth spikes erupted everywhere, and spells of the five elements flashed incessantly!

The one being besieged, lotuses blooming beneath her feet, her long hair and veil fluttering, was none other than Ling Xiaolan.

Ling Xiaolan moved as swiftly as a phantom, almost skimming the ground as she flew. Outnumbered, she was still not at a disadvantage. Her sword tip had already shattered the Jade Tags on two opponents' chests; her breath was steady, showing no hint of weariness.

Panning out hundreds of miles, by a waterfall and a pool, a young man dressed in white like snow stepped in a plum blossom pattern. With sword fingers extended, his wooden sword whistled sharply as it darted through the nearby woods, and from time to time, the sound of Life Charms shattering would ring out.

Back at Ji Mo's location, merely ten miles away, a girl in a peacock dress smirked coldly at the man before her.

She was about to stomp on the man's face and grind it under her foot when a huge rock flying from the side struck her down. She fell into a pool of blood, and then her body was pulled away by a beam of light...

Scene after scene, place after place.

Wu Wang watched with great relish, his blood inadvertently starting to boil with excitement.

Shouldn't I be among them, fighting valiantly, slaughtering enemies, and competing against the favored geniuses of this era, only to emerge astonishingly victorious in the end?

He really wanted to join the fray, to test himself against the young leading figures of the South Wilderness.

Throughout the entire Trial Illusion Realm, chaotic battles raged ceaselessly, with fierce fighting erupting everywhere.

However, a small number of people chose to hide, quietly biding their time.

Wu Wang lightly tapped the Eight Trigrams Disk. A slowly expanding screen of light appeared between heaven and earth, revealing to all Cultivators the first area to which the Barrier would shrink.

Cultivators within the second ring breathed a sigh of relief, while those outside it tensed up.

That plain voice once again resounded within and outside the Illusionary Realm: "The Barrier will shrink after one stick of incense burns down."

The situation in the Illusionary Realm changed rapidly. Most combatants chose to disengage from their duels, while some, caught up in the heat of the moment, continued to fight relentlessly.

Outside the Illusionary Realm, in the grand hall, dead silence reigned.

The masters of the Human Domain, whether sitting or standing, were mostly congregated in groups of a few to several dozen, watching the scroll-like scenes projected by the central cloud column.

They had roamed the Human Domain for many years; what kind of spectacle hadn't they seen?

Actually, they truly had never seen anything like this.

Battles involving thousands, even tens of thousands, frequently erupted on the Human Domain's frontiers. However, such a spectacle of over a thousand individuals, each fighting for themselves, was truly magnificent.

Especially since most participants in this battle were the finest disciples brought by their respective families, representing a congregation of the Human Domain's top talents from the past century. The clash of wits and strategies, the collision of spells and combat techniques, made these young Cultivators exceptionally dazzling.

Many old masters even had the sudden realization that their own disciples were not only talented in cultivation but could also be so crafty—able to avoid most duels by simply dropping to the ground, conserving strength, and waiting for the inner circle.

In another grand hall, the Shennong Family patriarch watched the rapidly scrolling scenes on the Cloud Mirror with a smile, having already spotted a few promising young ones who caught his eye.

This trial needs to be ramped up; bring in the talents from the previous and even earlier generations for some training!

A few ministers in ornate robes hurried over to his side.

"Your Majesty, did you summon us?"

"Come, look quickly! See which talents are worth cultivating," Shennong said with a smile. "This trial is really good."

"Your Majesty, how did your beard get broken?"

"Ah, my beard is broken... HA HA HA HA! Doesn't it make me look much younger? HA HA HA HA HA!"

Shennong laughed heartily a few times, then raised his hand to give himself a new beard style and joined the eminent ministers in watching the battles and discussing them.

The atmosphere in the hall quickly became lively.

Inside the Illusionary Realm, the Barrier shrank again and again. Disciples were continuously sent out, stomping their feet in frustration and sighing in the grand hall.

In the ever-narrowing areas, more and more experts gathered. Individual duels became increasingly rare, while sudden battles involving dozens of people erupted frequently after periods of calm.

The Shennong Family patriarch, his face wreathed in smiles, exclaimed with admiration, "Who says the Human Domain has no successors? Who says this generation is a lost one? There are plenty of talents to be found!"

The few important ministers echoed his words enthusiastically.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, the patriarch's eyelid twitched. He tapped a point on the Cloud Mirror before him, and an identical scene appeared at the top of the cloud column in the neighboring hall.

"Everyone, look at this Artifact Spirit of mine. How is its spiritual acuity, eh?"

The ministers focused their gaze. Many experts and disciples in the grand hall were also drawn to the scene at the top of the cloud column.

There, the white-haired old man, who had previously manifested before everyone, stood upon the clouds before an Eight Trigrams Disk.

At his side, figures condensed from mist banged gongs, beat drums, and played flutes and panpipes. The old man himself snapped his fingers, gently swaying his old hips. As his beard and hair fluttered from side to side, his left foot subtly tapped to the rhythm.

The lively drumbeat drifted out from the image. This catchy and novel rhythm drew every gaze in the grand hall towards the old man.

Some Fairy Immortal PFFT! into laughter, and most of the eliminated young Cultivators showed hints of smiles.

This was indeed:

Thousands vying for the Emperor's Decree in a deadly fray,

While an old Artifact Spirit sways to a lighthearted song.

However, as these people were smiling, they suddenly saw the old Artifact Spirit raise a hand and tap his fingers on the Eight Trigrams Disk before him.

RUMBLE!

The Illusionary Realm's heaven and earth trembled. Boundless thunderbolts crashed down, engulfing all Cultivators, whether they were hiding or engaged in fierce battle.

After the lightning, nearly half of the Cultivators were directly ejected from the Illusionary Realm.

Among the remaining Cultivators, several figures simultaneously rushed towards the final, now revealed, circle of the Barrier.

And among these people, Ji Mo, charred black from head to toe, had a look of utter astonishment in his eyes.

The lightning that struck me just now… why didn't it hurt that much…?

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