Chapter 3259: Entering the Heavenly Pool Palace’s Estate
The purple-clad young man and white-clad woman in front of Lei Ying were even stronger than a Six Combos Celestial Lord, and yet, they were not even 300 years old. Moreover, the Six Combos Celestial Lord they defeated was a disciple of the Heavenly Pool Palace. Although he was not a prodigy, he was still stronger than most ordinary Six Combos Celestial Lords. Even then, he was no match for the duo. In the Heavenly Pool Palace, there were less than 20 people with such capabilities under the age of 300. Therefore, she was suspicious of the duo. After all, with their strength, they should be highly coveted by other heaven-grade forces. It would be easy for the duo to join a heaven-grade force of their choosing.
After Lei Ying stopped them from leaving, Duan Ling Tian said solemnly, “Senior, we choose the Heavenly Pool Palace because we’re aware of the connection between the Heavenly Pool Palace and the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven… Otherwise, we would have gone to another heaven-grade force.”
In the end, Lei Ying said, “As long as you perform well in the Heavenly Pool Palace, I’ll introduce you to the Heavenly Emperor when he visits our Heavenly Pool Palace.”
Although Lei Ying had suspected the duo’s identities earlier, after further thoughts, she felt she had no reason to reject them regardless of their identities since they did not break any rules when they participated in the test.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er returned to their original spots at the side and watched the various groups defend against and withstand the attacks from the Celestial Emperors and Celestial Lords of the Heavenly Pool Palace. Eventually, some participants could no longer withstand the onslaught of attacks and vomited blood, causing them to be eliminated.
After some time had passed, only 1,000 people remained out of 6,000 people.
At the same time, the Celestial Emperors and Celestial Lords of the Heavenly Pool Palace also stopped their onslaught of attacks and retreated back to Lei Ying’s side.
Lei Ying glanced at the remaining participants as she said, “All of you have passed the first test. The second test will take place here as well, and everyone will still be divided into ten groups.”
While Lei Ying was talking, Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er returned to stand with the others from their group. Their group members enthusiastically greeted them when they returned. After all, even fools would be able to tell the duo would definitely be accepted into the Heavenly Pool Palace.
“They’ve achieved so much at such a young age. The Heavenly Pool Palace will definitely place great importance on them once they join the palace. How envious!”
“What’s there to be envious about when we’re nowhere near as capable as they are? In any case, I’m convinced by their abilities.”
“They’re not even 300 years old, and yet, they’re so strong. Even in the Heavenly Pool Palace, there are only a few people under the age of 300 who are as talented as them.”
“All of you are missing a point. Both of them came to participate in the disciple selection of the Heavenly Pool Palace. This means they were sectless cultivators with no amazing resources like those in heaven-grade forces are provided with!”
“They must have come across some fortuitous encounters.”
“Even if that’s the case, their innate talents and comprehension skills are monstrously high.”
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian nodded slightly in response to the greetings he received.
As for Huan’er, she did not even deign to look at those people.
After a while, the second test started.
The second test was to break out of an Attack Formation. The first 500 people to break out of the Formation would qualify for the third test.
Many of the participants’ expressions turned gloomy when they heard Lei Ying announced the second test.
Meanwhile, those who were eliminated but stayed back to watch felt relieved at this moment.
“They’re going to eliminate half of the participants during the second test?”
“Out of 1,000 people, only 500 people will advance to the next round. Even if I manage to pass the first few rounds, I doubt I’ll be able to make it all the way to the end.”
“The Merciless Celestial Emperor really lives up to her title and reputation. It seems like less than 100 people would be chosen this time to join the Heavenly Pool Palace.”
“In any case, compared to the first test, the second test is more direct. The stronger ones will definitely finish the test faster.”
Lei Ying arranged and divided 40 of her people into groups of four. A group of examiners would surround each group of participants from all four corners. It was obvious the examiners were going to join forces to cast the Attack Formation.
“Let’s begin,” Lei Ying said indifferently.
The examiners in charge of their respective groups of participants began to cast the Attack Formations. Different energies surged and raged like the sea before they merged and swept toward the 1,000 participants who had been divided according to their ages.
“You may begin.”
As soon as Lei Ying finished speaking, 998 people out of 1,000 people charged out immediately, attempting to break out of the Formation. However, as time passed, no one had succeeded yet.
Up until now, Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er had not made their moves.
Lei Ying was still confused by Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s inaction when she suddenly saw Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er disappearing into thin air. When the duo reappeared, they were standing not far away from her.
‘The Teleportation Profundity?’ Lei Ying narrowed her eyes. Although the four people in charge of casting the Formation for Duan Ling Tian’s group were only Celestial Lords, the laws they comprehended were strong. Unless one of them had comprehended the law of space’s Teleportation Profundity to the mastery stage, it was impossible to teleport out of the Formation cast by the Celestial Lords. In other words, she had no doubt one of them had comprehended the Teleportation Profundity to the mastery stage.
After a while, Lei Ying looked at Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er nonchalantly and said, “Both of you have violated the rules. You must break out of the Formation on your own; you can’t help another person. Which one of you used the Teleportation Profundity? I’ll have to send the other person who didn’t use the Teleportation Profundity back into the Formation to retake the test.”
In fact, with Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s performances so far, they should have directly been accepted into the Heavenly Pool Palace. However, Lei Ying wanted to see their performance so the duo had to continue with the tests.
Upon hearing Lei Ying’s words, Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er exchanged a look. Then, without saying a word, Huan’er teleported back into the Formation before she teleported out again. Following that, before Lei Ying could even react, Duan Ling Tian also teleported back into the Formation and teleported out again.
‘Both of them comprehended the Teleportation Profundity to the mastery stage?’ Lei Ying was in shock. Not even in her wildest dreams did she expect such an outcome.
Similarly, the group of the Heavenly Pool Palace disciples was also in shock and disbelief when they saw Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s performances.
“I really didn’t expect we’ll be able to see not one, but two, monstrous talents during this selection!”
“When I was their age, I didn’t even possess 10% of their capabilities.”
“Me too.”
Needless to say, Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er were both the first to pass the second test.
Although Lei Ying and the other members of the Heavenly Pool Palace were not surprised the duo had passed the test, they were shocked by the way the duo had left the Formation.
After 15 minutes had passed, one participant finally broke out of the Formation.
During this time, Duan Ling Tian observed the ten Attack Formations and discovered each Formation had different levels of intensity. Naturally, the Formation for those under the age of 100 was the weakest while the Formation for those between 900 to 1,000 years old was the strongest.
Soon after, Duan Ling Tian shifted his attention to the participants in the 900 to 1,000 age group. He muttered under his breath, “Five Elemental Celestial Lords, Six Combos Celestial Lords… There are even Seven Stars Celestial Lords.”
The strongest people from the group of people between the ages of 900 to 1,000 were Seven Stars Celestial Lords. However, the third person who broke out of the Formation, after Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er, among this group of people was a Six Combos Celestial Lord.
This Six Combos Celestial Lord was a young man dressed in green robes. His appearance and bearing were extraordinary. However, the faint smile on his face froze immediately as soon as he saw Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er.
‘They broke out of the Formation so quickly?’ The green-clad young man thought to himself with a shocked expression on his face. However, when he recalled the duo’s performances during the first test, he was no longer shocked. He thought to himself, clearly trying to console himself, ‘Based on their performances during the first test, it’s only natural that the second test is easy for them as well. Moreover, the level of intensity of their group’s Formation isn’t even one-third as intense as the Formation for my group.’
However, the green-clad young man seemed to have conveniently forgotten the fact that Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er were not even 300 years old while he was more than 900 years old.
Lei Ying looked at the young man and said lightly, “You performed well.” Then, she asked, “What’s your name?”
“Pavilion Master Lei, my name is Jun Hao Xuan,” the green-clad young man replied with a smile.
Then, Lei Ying only nodded in response before she shifted her attention back to the other participants.
After another 15 minutes, the fourth person came out.
Following that, more and more people began to come out from the Formations.
After about an hour, there were more than 200 participants who had successfully broken out of the Attack Formations.
After another moment, the 500th and final person finally broke out of the Attack Formation.
With these, the 40 examiners who cast the Formations retreated to their positions.
Meanwhile, those who failed to break out of the Formations wore a gloomy expression on their faces.
“I failed.”
“I was almost there… I was so close to leaving the Formation.”
“I was only a breath away from leaving the Formation before that person did!”
Although many of the participants felt unwilling about being eliminated, there was nothing they could do about it. Those who failed the two tests outside of the Heavenly Pool Palace could not even enter the Heavenly Pool Palace’s estate.
Subsequently, an announcement rang in the air.
“The 500 participants who passed the second test may follow me into the Heavenly Pool Palace’s estate.”
Led by Lei Ying, Duan Ling Tian, Huan’er, and the other participants made their way to the Heavenly Pool Palace’s estate.
On the other hand, the members of the Heavenly Pool Palace remained outside to evacuate those who might linger around.
Meanwhile, after passing through the clouds, Duan Ling Tian finally had a good look at the Heavenly Pool Palace’s estate. The estate consisted of quite a few floating islands above a vast lake that was covered in a layer of thin mist. The lush greeneries on the islands looked like a utopia from afar.
Soon enough, Duan Ling Tian and the other participants followed Lei Ying and landed on one of the 16 floating islands.