"Alright. I'd hoped we could go together, but it looks like that's impossible," Yi Tianyun said, feeling rather helpless. Evidently, they couldn't proceed with the same trial.
"Don't worry. Those next two stages won't be a problem for me. Why are you concerned?" Domain Lord Liuli smiled. "Don't forget that I'm still a half-step Heavenly Venerable and a Domain Lord. If I can't manage this, I'd have no business holding that position."
"True. Sister Liuli definitely won't be stumped," Yi Tianyun said with a grin.
Although they couldn't undertake the trial side by side, he believed Domain Lord Liuli would surely pass. If someone of her level couldn't, it would be a disgrace to the title "Domain Lord."
After a brief chat, Domain Lord Liuli walked away, moving forward rather than lingering. Before, she had merely been meditating here, hoping Yi Tianyun would show up. Without that to wait for, she had no reason to delay.
When she was gone, Yi Tianyun turned to the Venerable Spirit and asked, "Senior Venerable Spirit, if I enter that area and try to force my way into someone else's space, will I be kicked out?"
"You can't possibly force yourself into another space," the Venerable Spirit said, still wearing a faint, self-assured smile. Everything here was under his control.
"But if I manage to get in anyway?" Yi Tianyun pressed, narrowing his eyes.
"As I said, you cannot forcibly enter another's space," the Venerable Spirit repeated in a calm yet decisive tone. "But were you to succeed, hypothetically, we wouldn't remove you. You'd be free to move around that space. As for the dangers…we'd offer no protection."
The Venerable Spirit's confidence in his master's barriers was absolute. As the artifact spirit, he possessed intelligence, personality, and judgment. He clearly didn't believe that even someone who passed the 'nine deaths, one life' stage could break through those seals.
"Understood, Senior Venerable Spirit. Thank you for the warning," Yi Tianyun replied with a smile.
He moved forward, expecting to reach the region Domain Lord Liuli had entered. Once inside, they'd be separated by the space divisions, unable to meet.
He wasn't too concerned about that, though. He mainly wanted to test whether he could breach those separations, ideally, he hoped to team up with her again. He also wanted to see whether his Void Bloodline might have such capabilities.
After walking down a long passage, Yi Tianyun arrived at a gate of light. Stepping through it, he found himself in a world of golden mountains, returning to a realm awash in gilded tones.
All around was simple, mountain after mountain, dotted with golden forests. Even the ground itself was golden, formed from Illusory Metal Power. It was a pure gold world.
Yet it seemed peaceful, no apparent danger. He wandered about; nothing threatened him. Everything felt so calm, like walking in his own backyard.
"Since I've been recognized, I guess there's no trial here. After leveling up so much and overcoming those intense battles, they figure they don't need to throw more hazards at me."
He recalled what the Venerable Spirit had said: if he tried intruding on someone else's zone, he'd face their layers of trials. Staying in his own area meant it remained extremely safe, with no danger at all.
Hence, this realm was now a paradise for cultivating Illusory Metal Power, no threats whatsoever. That was why the Venerable Spirit let him freely choose a location. In these safe spots, he could absorb as much as he wished without peril.
"Let's see if I can bypass the barrier and link up with Sister Liuli for her trial. If we tackle it together, the rewards might be even better."
Yi Tianyun hoped both of them could achieve their goals, maximizing profits. Since merely mastering the third layer would grant him direct discipleship, he wasn't in a rush. Better to ensure Domain Lord Liuli passed as well.
Exploring the infinite expanse, he found no flaws or gaps; it was perfectly integrated. His spiritual sense picked up no vulnerabilities.
"Figures, if it were so easy to spot a crack, the Venerable Spirit wouldn't have a job."
He attempted to enter the void, only to find himself stuck, blocked by the space's sealing power.
"Can't get in. Yep…a sealed dimension."
He wasn't surprised. If it were that simple, there'd be no point in the tower's setup.
"In that case, I'll try upgrading my Void Bloodline. It's quite potent already."
The Void Bloodline specialized in stealth and infiltration. It was arguably even better than an invisibility skill: not only could it hide you, it let you slip into the void, dodging most attacks. Truly a top-tier defensive/offensive bloodline.
As for upgrading the Kunpeng Bloodline, that could wait. Right now, he wanted to see if a higher Void Bloodline level would let him breach this sealed environment. If yes, that would be invaluable for escaping future imprisonments.
"Upgrade Void Bloodline!"
Immediately, he spent 3000 compressed Crazy Points. A large portion of his total vanished in an instant.
Had he not slain so many Evil Spirit Race members before, he wouldn't have enough to do this.
Ding! Void Bloodline upgraded to Level 2! Effect increased tenfold! Grants passage into stronger voids and greater protection against stronger attacks (scaled by your cultivation). Next level requires 8000 compressed Crazy Points!
While he lost a lot, the results were substantial. He could feel the surge in his void power.
"Alright, let's go!"
He attempted to slip in once more. This time, he actually tore through the sealed space, disappearing into the void's interior. Even the Heavenly Venerable's barrier, facilitated by the artifact spirit, couldn't bar him.
Inside, it felt wholly different: he was in some kind of layer. Gazing out, he saw dozens of overlapping spaces, each containing cultivators going through their respective trials.
Clearly, he could now move between them, stepping directly into their zones!
"This Void Bloodline is incredible!" he murmured, amazed.