Lake Heart Island.

Standing atop the lake, draped with dense and terrifying thunderclouds, it was like a lonely forbidden land.

The island was covered with a lush black forest, where tall and fierce branches intertwined, forming an impassable natural barrier.

The piercing wind blew through the woods, emitting a cold and profound howling sound.

The trees exuded an ancient and evil aura, as if coming from the depths of Hell.

The island was shrouded in thick gloom and a desolate sense of deathly stillness.

A heavy and silent atmosphere enveloped the entire island, causing unease in one's heart.

The lake water was dark and murky, like a bottomless abyss swallowing all light and hope.

Occasionally, lightning tore through the sky, flashing terrifying and eerie light in the darkness.

Standing on the shore, Qi Xiu and his companions looked from afar at Lake Heart Island opposite them. The grim and cold island, shaped like a Demon Cave, evoked a visceral sense of repulsion.

"Shenxiao Sect really has a variety of tricks up its sleeve," one of them remarked.

Tightening his clothes, Zhu Mo's expression was somber. The island gave him a bad feeling, emitting a strong sense of danger.

In the midst of their talk, the lake's surface rippled. A large ship slowly sailed from the middle of the lake, with a burly man dressed in fur coats, built like a bear and sporting a gnarled beard, standing at the bow.

THUMP—

A mild vibration marked the ship's arrival at the shore.

The bear-like man extended his hand and spoke in a muffled voice.

"Earthly Seal."

Exchanging glances, Qi Xiu and his companions took out their respective Earthly Seals and handed them to the man.

Without even looking at the Earthly Seals, the man stepped aside and said, "Get on the ship."

As they boarded the ferrying ship, Qi Xiu immediately felt the ship's deck expand significantly under his feet.

According to the ship's original size, the deck could barely have fit them all. But after they all boarded, they found that they occupied less than one-fifth of the deck space.

"Is it 'Universe at Will'? 'Mt. Sumeru in a mustard seed'? 'A stone's throw away'?"

Amazed, Zhu Mo touched the deck beneath his feet and then lay flat on it, trying to explore the mystery of the deck's Universe Space transformation.

"Hold tight, we're setting sail."

The ship's captain grabbed the helm, and the calm lake surface suddenly began to churn with towering waves.

Thunder sounded immediately after, as if heaven and earth were issuing a warning.

However, the tumultuous waves were not solely the work of natural forces.

Among the cresting waves, one could vaguely see dark and terrifying figures swiftly moving through the waters.

Their twisted forms emitted a spine-chilling aura.

It seemed they were chasing something within the lake, hissing and growling in a way that chilled one to the bone. The waves surged violently, tossing countless sprays and foam that twinkled with an eerie light under the sun.

"They're all aberrations."

Standing at the edge of the boat, Yan Baizhe's posture was as straight as a javelin, unaffected by the severe tossing.

His eyes were blood red as he watched the churning lake.

"You mean..."

Coming to the edge as well, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes, which were swirling with a purple gleam. His face darkened when he saw what lay beneath the water.

On the dark and murky lake bed were hundreds of hideous aberrations.

These horrific, undead-like creatures were staring up at their ship with cold, cruel eyes.

If not for some force restraining them, or perhaps something on the ship they dreaded, the aberrations might have already attacked, tearing the ship apart and completely devouring its passengers.

"It seems we can't avoid playing this round," Qi Xiu retracted his gaze and muttered softly as he adjusted his sleeves.

Compared to the first round of the examination, if one encountered mortal danger, one could simply run out of the test area, abandoning the test to save one's life. But this second round was set on Lake Heart Island. Without this ship to ferry them, faced with an entire lakebed of terrifying aberrations, even the thought of escape was likely futile.

The ship hurtled through the stormy waves for about a quarter of an hour.

The giant waves that seemed ready to flip the ship finally subsided.

By then, they had already reached the side of the peculiar Lake Heart Island.

"Please disembark," the captain stated.

The ship docked at an empty, cold, and damp wharf. The captain, sparing with his words, spoke once and said no more.

He simply watched indifferently as Qi Xiu and his group, urged by his silence, disembarked.

There's always a way through when you reach the mountain, and a ship will right itself when it reaches the bridge.

Without further ado, Qi Xiu and his group filed off the mysterious ship. Only Zhu Mo, when passing by the captain, drew near with an air of secrecy.

"Old senior, what kind of Formation is set up on this ship? Could you tell me? I see that there are one hundred and forty-four silver nails embedded on the surface of the deck, which doesn't align with the 'Mt. Sumeru in a mustard seed' Skill System and Methodology that accommodates worlds within a thought. Yet, it closely resembles the lost 'A stone's throw away' technique. I'm saying..."

"Please disembark."

It seemed Zhu Mo had tested the captain's patience with his questions, as the captain repeated himself, this time with a clearly irked tone.

"If you won't tell, then don't. What's with the attitude?"

After being scolded, Zhu Mo snorted and turned his head to get off the boat, muttering to himself, "I bet it's 'A stone's throw away'; you can't fool me, old Zhu…"

Behind him, hearing Zhu Mo's grumbling, the boat captain's deep, heavy eyes revealed a faint, unusual glint.

Getting off the boat, he stepped onto the shore. A straight dirt path led directly to the center of Lake Heart Island.

On the muddy, beaten path, there were several footprints, very fresh, probably from someone who had just passed by.

"Someone got here earlier than us?" Seeing the footprints on the path, Zhu Mo raised an eyebrow. "These footprints are just showing off, aren't they? As if flying straight here on Escape Light wasn't enough."

While speaking, Zhu Mo assumed a standard diving posture, about to activate the Earth Walking Skill!

SPLAT—

Unprepared, he crashed headfirst into the ground, mud splashing everywhere, creating a small pit where he landed.

Sitting on the ground, Zhu Mo looked around in astonishment, his face dumbfounded. Had it not been for the protection of True Gang Protective Body, his handsome face would have been ruined.

"Now you get why the others walked, huh?" Smiling, Qi Xiu pulled Zhu Mo to his feet and looked around at the dense black ancient trees.

Actually, ever since they had boarded that large boat, he had discovered that he was unable to summon the Escape Light. The black ancient trees on this Lake Heart Island seemed to possess some sort of Divine Marvel that suppressed and confined any operation of Escape Skill. The range covered the entire Lake Heart Island, including the entire lake surface. Therefore, not only was it impossible to fly with Escape Light on this island, it was also impossible to fly off Lake Heart Island with Escape Light.

"They've made up their minds to trap us here, huh." Rolling his eyes and standing up, Zhu Mo moved to smooth out the large pit he had created.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it. Even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, we must break through," Yan Baizhe declared. He raised his spear, mounted on his wolf. Behind him, the legion of wolf riders exuded a formidable aura, their postures ramrod straight.

Hailing from the desolate Northwest, a region often called a Demon Cave, the Temperament and willpower of the Daliang wolf riders were considered unparalleled among their peers. Fear and hesitation had long been absent from their dictionary.

After crossing the straight dirt path, a circular plaza with white tiers of steps appeared before them.

Scattered across the steps of the plaza were more than a dozen people.

Sensing Qi Xiu and his party's arrival, these people turned their heads in unison. Sharp and heavy gazes were immediately cast their way.

These people had all arrived before Qi Xiu and his group, having deduced that the Earthly Seal lay hidden within an aberration and had successfully slain the aberration to retrieve the Earthly Seal. Both their strength and wisdom were extraordinary.

Ignoring their gazes, Qi Xiu and his group found an open spot to sit down.

The life-and-death struggles in the woods, the contests and strategizing, were completely separated by the pitch-black lake water.

Sitting on this white-tiered plaza, the candidates were surprisingly quiet, each sitting in meditation with their eyes closed, not uttering a word, as if they were all waiting for something.

As time continued to pass, one after another, candidates who had successfully gathered both the Heavenly Seal and Earthly Seal crossed the pitch-black waters by boat, walked over the dirt path, and arrived at the tiered plaza.

The fifteen days gradually dwindled away.

「On the last night, at midnight,」

That grand and resonant voice, filled with rumbling Thunder sound, powerful enough to awe heaven and earth, once again sounded.

[The first round of assessment officially ends. Those who did not qualify may leave on their own!]

[The second round of assessment begins!]

[All candidates prepare to receive the Dharma Gate—Palm Thunder!]

RUMBLE—

One after another, blazing white, serpentine lightning bolts descended from the Sky Dome, each carrying a Cang Fa Fei Cui that faintly glowed with Lei Mang, landing in the hands of all the candidates present.

"Palm Thunder?" Looking down at the Cang Fa Fei Cui in his palm where the lightning circulated, Qi Xiu was slightly astonished.

"The content is correct; it is indeed a Thunder Dao Skill. Shenxiao Sect is so generous, giving away such a precious Thunder Dao Skill to us like this."

As if he had mastered some special technique, Zhu Mo carefully rubbed the Cang Fa Fei Cui in his hand for a while and then determined that the Dharma Gate contained within was genuine.

And there were not a few candidates who reacted the same as Zhu Mo.

Thunder Dao Skills were notoriously rare and scarce. Apart from Shenxiao Sect, very few circulated outside, and most were incomplete texts.

This Palm Thunder, although not considered a profoundly esoteric gem among Thunder Dao Skills, was exceptionally pure Thunder Magic! If released outside, it could provoke countless cultivators to fight over it.

[The second round of assessment: cultivate Palm Thunder within one year!]

The grand voice echoed, revealing the content of the second round of the assessment.

"One year?"

Discussions arose, and the candidates all frowned deeply, their expressions somber.

The Thunder Dao Skill was famously difficult to learn and practice!

Mastering Palm Thunder in one year. Was it possible?

…

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