Chapter 329: The Twelve Great Super Powers

"Should be... pretty impressive, right?"

You could feel Elder Gu Qing's astonishment and asked, "Did I break the record?"

"Broken!"

Gu Qing exclaimed excitedly, "Before you, the highest record was 9,900 meters, but that record is far from 10,000 meters."

"It can't even compare to 10,001 meters."

"Congratulations, Shu! You have perfectly passed the first stage of the Seed Trial!"

You were not particularly excited.

In your mind, this was all expected; everything must be taken to the extreme to catch up with the strongest elder of the first Jing Tu.

Your goal has always been only her.

"By the way! Didn't you select a pure world spirit instrument suitable for yourself?" Gu Qing asked.

"I already have one."

You shook your head, pulled out the pure world spirit instrument you first obtained, and said, "So I refused them."

Li Tongxuan let out a wail at once, "People are more annoying than the dead! Shu, you're too demonic; training in the same team with you is just bad luck."

Gu Qing was stunned, "This..."

He gave a bitter smile, seemed ready to lecture you, but ultimately chose to stay silent.

The first stage of the Seed Trial ends here.

You, Li Tongxuan, and Duan Xiao Rou successfully passed the first stage.

The other four companions were eliminated and could not take part in the subsequent trials.

You had previously thought you would fight side by side with them for a long time, but your friendship abruptly ended.

It seemed that the people around you came and went in a hurry.

Very few can stay by your side continuously.

Shifu Zhu Yao, Elder Yan Jin, Sister Fu Yan, Captain Gu Yan of the Flame Squad, Sister Xia Tao…

You were happy whenever you were with each of them.

You treated them sincerely.

You shed tears for them; every feeling came from the heart, with no hint of false affection.

But they would soon slip away from your side.

The first time you entered the Dark Spirit Shadow World to explore, the entire Flame Squad chose self‑sacrifice to protect you.

Sister Xia Tao's final farewell made you sob uncontrollably.

Thinking of it now still brings sadness, but it has faded a lot.

You remembered a sentence Sister Fu Yan once told you.

She said, "The strong are always lonely; when you stand at the highest point, perhaps no one can continue to stay by your side."

"What are you thinking?"

Gu Qing's voice pulled you back from your thoughts; he patted your shoulder and said, "Go back and rest well for a few days, digest your insights, and after half a month the second stage of the trial will begin."

Gu Qing prepared a private residence for you.

During the half‑month rest, many elders came to see you.

Eight Domains Commander, Patrol Guard, four Hall Masters, and five Fa Zhi Zhang Lao all visited and praised you highly.

Half a month later.

The second stage of the Seed Trial begins.

Elder Gu Qing still presides over the trial.

The second stage tests the ability to explore the Dark Shadow World, but not in a squad formation; it is undertaken individually.

Throughout the process, a deacon of the Enforcement Group will accompany you, recording everything with a Retaining Image Stone.

The elder council will grade the 'seed' based on the performance recorded in the Retaining Image Stone.

Only a passing grade allows entry to the third stage.

Before departure, Elder Gu Qing talked with you at length.

He asked, "Shu, do you know why the second Jing Tu and the first Jing Tu are stronger than the other seven great Jing Tu?"

"I know."

You had read in a book, "Because the first Jing Tu and the second Jing Tu were jointly forged by the predecessors of the ancient era."

"The other seven great Jing Tu were opened later, based on the foundations of the first and second Jing Tu."

"It should be like that, right?"

You saw it in a book and didn't know whether it was true.

Gu Qing nodded, "That's one reason, but there's another very important reason."

You were curious, "What reason?"

Gu Qing said, "Because the second Jing Tu and the first Jing Tu have twelve special passages leading to the most unique place in the Dark Shadow World."

"The most unique place in the Dark Shadow World? Where is that?"

Your interest was piqued.

Gu Qing explained, "Before the Dark Shadow World was assimilated, there were twelve super powers, the strongest and most transcendent entities of that era."

Gu Qing continued, "Many strong ones of the twelve great super powers perished, yet many cultivation resources remain sealed there."

"Even though we have explored many times, the vast ruins of the twelve great super powers are still a massive Treasure Vault to us."

Gu Qing told you some stories from that era.

"The twelve great super powers?"

Lin Chuan was surprised, "There's also a newly risen super power?"

His doubt was swiftly resolved within the dream Reincarnation.

The twelfth super power that Gu Qing mentioned was precisely the Spirit Clan after reuniting with the Dragon Clan.

That wasn't too surprising.

After all, both the Spirit Clan and the Dragon Clan have solid foundations, but they lack a great Immortal to sit as a guardian; once Ye Xue breaks through, the vacancy can be filled.

Yet this wasn't something to get excited about.

"Did Xue'er really die in battle?"

"Or was she assimilated by the Black Mist?"

Too many riddles require the continued progress of the dream Reincarnation to obtain answers.

……

【The story Gu Qing recounted left you stunned.】

【You can further appreciate the might of An Ying Zhu.】

【According to Elder Gu Qing's description, the An Ying Zhu at the decisive battle had become so powerful that it could, in a single thought, corrupt and assimilate the great power of the 'True God' realm.】

【In other words, if the severely wounded An Ying Zhu awakens again, it could annihilate the Jiu Da Jing Tu worlds in an instant.】

【No one knows when it will revive.】

【"Alright."】

【After speaking at length, Gu Qing sighed, "Just treat these as stories; they are still far from you."】

【"When you surpass me in something, then worry about these matters."】

The second trial officially began.

【Thirteen participants joined this stage; they were all previous failures, but have once again earned the approval of the Jing Tu Elders and returned.】

【Gu Qing said, "Jing Tu's cultivation of geniuses may be harsh, but it never buries any talent."】

【"Failure is not frightening; as long as you can stand up again, higher peaks will always welcome you!"】

【Having said that, Gu Qing laid out hundreds of scrolls of maps before you.】

【He let you freely choose a passage, select the An Ying region you wish to explore, a component also testing your abilities.】

Your eyes flicked over the scroll after scroll of maps.

When you looked at one name, your heart couldn't help but jump.

Its name was—Qingyun Prefecture, Great Yan Imperial Dynasty.