In the forest.
After Evan Lin cut down all the trees in front of him, the view opened up completely. Now he just had to walk straight ahead.
Evan made his way deeper in and soon saw a lake.
The lake shimmered with a green glow. It was stagnant water, with the occasional fish darting through. On the surface, a few withered lotus flowers drifted, and right at the center of this dead water stood a sword platform.
At a glance, the sword platform looked ancient and weathered, covered with green moss.
A longsword was driven diagonally into the platform, surrounded by thick black chains. One end of the chains was fastened to the hilt, the other buried deep in the stone stele below.
“Is this the Mu Family Ancient Sword?”
Evan looked across the lake. The ancient sword seemed to have been dormant here for ages, its blade giving off no aura or presence at all.
Without hesitating, Evan strode forward, stepping onto the green lake. Each step sent ripples gathering beneath his feet, forming a supporting force that held him above the water.
Walking on water!
If any Vajra Realm expert saw this, they’d be left speechless.
Even most Mystic Arts Adepts would sigh with shame at the sight.
Water itself is powerless, and for Evan to walk on it takes incredible skill and strength. Just this technique alone would instantly crush most so-called experts.
Once Evan reached the sword platform, he looked forward.
The ancient sword before him had its blade sunk into the platform, barely a few inches of edge visible, and the hilt was plain and undecorated—aside from its age, there was nothing special about it.
Evan reached out and gripped the hilt, applying a bit of force.
On his first try, the sword didn’t move at all—it was as steady as a boulder.
Interesting.
Evan was slightly surprised.
Although he’d only gripped the sword casually, the force was enough to lift a huge rock.
But even as Evan poured his strength into the sword, he didn’t feel the slightest sign that it was loosening.
Since that’s the case, why not break the chains first?
Evan reached out, ready to snap the chains binding the ancient sword. But just as his hand touched the links, the calm green water around him suddenly began to boil.
Boom!
The lake water surged upward, forming massive pillars that sealed Evan and the sword platform inside. All around him were walls of green water.
Beneath the lake, there were vast fields of white bones.
Outside the forest, people saw a column of water shoot into the sky and stared in awe, some confused and not understanding what was happening.
At that moment, Bob Moore shook his head, while Drake Yu’s expression turned cold.
“The third trial, Sword in the Stele—can you make it out alive?”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Drake Yu’s lips curled into a cold smile.
Melissa Mu looked deeply worried, while Victor Moore stared silently at the scene.
Bella Xiao raised her DSLR, wanting to snap a shot, but ultimately held back.
Inside the green water walls, Evan remained calm as he looked at the ancient sword and spoke: “I’ve long heard this sword has a spirit. Looks like it’s true. Now that you’ve appeared, why keep hiding? What’s the point?”
“Do I really have to invite you out?”
Evan snorted.
But aside from the water walls, nothing else stirred.
Even the ancient sword on the platform didn’t show the slightest sign of movement.
Seeing this, Evan lifted his foot and kicked straight at the sword’s hilt.
His kick was fierce, slicing through the air with a roar like a raging dragon, the power terrifying—as if he meant to snap the sword’s hilt in one blow!
Roar!
Just as Evan’s kick was about to land on the hilt, a furious roar echoed out.
From within the hilt, a cold flash shot out—a blue-robed swordsman wielding sword-light rushed at Evan head-on!
Boom!
The swordsman’s sword-light collided with Evan’s kick, shattering countless water and stone around them with a thunderous roar.
But that swordsman, who’d flown out from the hilt, was shattered by Evan’s kick and vanished instantly.
As soon as the blue-robed swordsman disappeared, more figures of varying appearance surged out from the hilt.
There were white-robed swordsmen, flashy young scholars, ragged Daoists, and bald monks!
Countless light-shadows burst out from the hilt, each nearly solid and radiating overwhelming power—many were Vajra Realm experts, and some even surpassed that level.
“No matter how strong you were in life, if your soul was captured by this sword after death, it’s truly pathetic.”
Evan swatted them away one-handed, no matter how many appeared.
But the ancient sword standing on the platform was still as steady as a mountain.
“I thought there was only a sword spirit, but it seems this sword is truly impressive.”
Evan’s eyes grew more satisfied.
Ordinary magic artifacts are useless to Evan.
The lifelike projections were clearly the souls of those slain by the sword, now trapped within it.
Any one of them could have been a region-shaking powerhouse in life.
The phantoms kept erupting from the sword, making the green water walls boil.
The sword seemed to sense danger—its hilt trembled, and the chains rattled, ringing like clashing metal.
The green water finally collapsed downward, as if trying to drown the youth who dared invade and seize the sword.
Anything the boiling green water touched was instantly dissolved.
It was like a wave in a frenzy.
But before the water could touch Evan, it froze solid three inches above his head and wouldn’t fall.
“Too bad—I’ve already mastered water-spirit arts, so I can command ordinary water at will. Trying to kill me with corpse water shows some intelligence, but it’s pointless.”
Evan shook his head and pointed a finger at the hilt.
Under Evan’s gesture, all the phantoms shattered and were forcibly sealed back into the hilt.
The sword let out a mournful cry, trembling as if in pain; the hilt and chains rattled as if trying to break free.
At that moment, the sky and wind changed color.
Outside, the spectators’ faces turned pale.
Even Drake Yu’s eyes flashed with intense killing intent.