Chapter 278: Once-in-Three-Millennia

Chapter 278: Once-in-Three-Millennia

Ning Xiaochuan arrived at the twelfth level of the Heavenly Bridge, where he encountered the twelfth White-robed Figure guarding the pass.

The White-robed Figure stood at the center of the bridge, hands clasped behind his back, with dense Martial Arts Profound Qi circulating within his body. Though merely a Soul Shadow, his physical form was so condensed that it was indistinguishable from a real person.

"Defeat me, and you succeed. Be killed by me, and you fail. Begin," the White-robed Figure declared.

Ning Xiaochuan was well-versed in the rules of the Heavenly Bridge and wasted no time with unnecessary words. He charged forward instantly, unleashing dozens of Sword Qi strikes.

In the previous eleven levels, Ning Xiaochuan had breezed through with a single Sword Qi strike, unstoppable. Only at the eleventh level had he encountered brief resistance, but even then, he had defeated the guardian in just over ten moves with effortless ease.

However, upon facing the twelfth White-robed Figure, Ning Xiaochuan immediately sensed a significant increase in difficulty.

The strength of the twelfth guardian was at least four times greater than that of the eleventh.

"Roar!"

The White-robed Figure's body became enveloped in White Light, rapidly expanding until it stood over ten meters tall, transforming into a two-headed giant lizard.

From the left head of the lizard, eight Ice Swords shot out, arranging themselves in a circular formation like an array, trapping Ning Xiaochuan within.

Ning Xiaochuan leaped into the air, but the lizard's tail swept toward him like a massive steel whip, carrying a chilling aura.

Unable to dodge, Ning Xiaochuan struck the tail with his palm, releasing a surge of dense Electric Current.

"Boom!"

The giant lizard reverted to the White-robed Figure, who then moved at extreme speed, transforming into a streak of white light as he closed the distance and slashed downward with his palm.

Ning Xiaochuan's reflexes were equally sharp. He twisted his body mid-air, kicked off the ground to propel himself three meters upward, and condensed a massive Profound Qi Sword between his hands. Channeling all his strength, he brought the sword down in a devastating slash.

The White-robed Figure crossed his arms, forming a circular barrier of light. Within it, sixty-four white spheres materialized, arranged in an array formation.

"Bang!"

The Profound Qi Sword struck the barrier, sending ripples of energy cascading outward, but it failed to shatter the defense.

Ning Xiaochuan reacted swiftly, summoning Annihilation Qi from within his body. With a flick of his finger, he unleashed an "Annihilation Sword Wave," striking the center of the barrier.

The barrier shattered.

The Annihilation Sword Wave pierced through, obliterating the White-robed Figure's head.

"Whoosh—"

The White-robed Figure's body dissolved into countless specks of light, coalescing into a radiant pillar that shot skyward.

"Congratulations on passing the twelfth level of the Heavenly Bridge. Your talent has reached at least the 'Once-in-1500-Years' level, which is truly remarkable. I hope you continue to push forward and conquer the thirteenth level," the White-robed Figure's voice echoed from within the pillar.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "If I pass the thirteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge, what level of talent would that signify?"

"Young man, focus on the challenge first. If you succeed, you will naturally learn the answer. But even if you fail, possessing 'Once-in-1500-Years' talent is already extraordinary. You would stand above most, no matter where you go in this world," the White-robed Figure replied.

Ning Xiaochuan walked past the pillar, advancing toward the thirteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge.

Many Martial Artists at the Ninth Level of the Transcendent Realm cannot even pass the eleventh level of the Heavenly Bridge, which shows that the further one progresses, the greater the difficulty becomes. As for whether he could pass the thirteenth level, Ning Xiaochuan had no confidence at all.

"Defeat me, and you succeed. Be killed by me, and you fail. Begin," the White-robed Figure guarding the thirteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge declared.

His strength was four times greater than that of the White-robed Figure on the twelfth level.

The White-robed Figure stood in place, a blue light radiating behind him as the phantom of a Blue Divine Bird materialized, its body as large as a small mountain.

The phantom of the Blue Divine Bird loomed behind the White-robed Figure, its sharp gaze fixed intently on Ning Xiaochuan.

The aura emanating from the White-robed Figure was already formidable, but after summoning the Blue Divine Bird's phantom, it became even more terrifying, locking down the entire thirteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge.

Ning Xiaochuan felt his heart nearly stop under the pressure. If he faced the White-robed Figure in his current state, he would be instantly annihilated.

"Annihilation Sword Soul!"

Ning Xiaochuan pressed his palms together, and a blinding light erupted from between them, enveloping his body.

Between heaven and earth, strands of mysterious energy traversed the gaps of Space and Time, converging behind Ning Xiaochuan and coalescing into the towering phantom of a female demoness—27 meters tall, majestic and divine, with hair stretching 9,000 meters. Though her form was that of a gentle woman, her aura dominated the heavens, as if all deities in the world must bow before her.

The manifestation of a wisp of the Annihilation Path Founder's Sword Soul finally allowed Ning Xiaochuan to break free from the White-robed Figure's suppression. Wielding the power of the Sword Soul, he swung his blade toward the White-robed Figure.

The Heavenly Bridge was a relic left behind by the Heavenly Emperor, and the world within it was completely isolated from the outside. Ning Xiaochuan could unleash all his techniques without fear of being discovered.

The White-robed Figure showed no emotion. Even under the overwhelming pressure of the Annihilation Path Founder, he did not so much as frown. With a wave of his arm, hundreds of feathers shot forth like Mystic Artifact swords.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Ning Xiaochuan dared not let his guard down, continuously slashing with the Annihilation Sword Soul to clash against the feathers, shattering them into wisps of smoke.

The White-robed Figure on the thirteenth level possessed terrifying Martial Path cultivation. Ning Xiaochuan unleashed over twenty strikes of the Annihilation Sword Soul, yet none managed to force him back.

It was worth noting that Ning Xiaochuan's combat prowess was unrivaled within the same cultivation realm. This could only mean the White-robed Figure's Martial Path cultivation far surpassed his own.

Instead of retreating, the White-robed Figure advanced, shattering Ning Xiaochuan's Annihilation Sword Soul strikes one after another. Golden light flared around his fist as he shattered the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi Ning Xiaochuan had erected, driving his punch straight toward Ning Xiaochuan's heart.

This punch was nothing short of peerless, carrying enough force to topple a mountain.

Ning Xiaochuan clearly saw the phantom of a divine bird surging around the White-robed Figure's fist.

"Demonic Sword!"

Seven blood-red streams of energy erupted from Ning Xiaochuan's heart, coalescing into a sword brimming with demonic might.

"Swish!"

With a single swing of the Demonic Sword, a bloody gash appeared on the White-robed Figure's fist, and all the force behind his punch was shattered.

In the next instant, the White-robed Figure's arm split cleanly in two, the cut so precise that even the bone was evenly severed.

Ning Xiaochuan raised the Demonic Sword, appearing like the incarnation of a demon god as he leaped into the air and kicked the White-robed Figure away. The Demonic Sword slashed out once more, unleashing a crimson wave of sword light.

"Pfft!"

The White-robed Figure was cleaved in half at the waist.

Standing beside the corpse of the White-robed Figure, Ning Xiaochuan held his sword horizontally, his eyes brimming with a killing intent capable of annihilating all living things.

Anyone who knew Ning Xiaochuan would surely think they had mistaken his identity if they saw the look in his eyes at this moment.

The corpse of the White-robed Figure dissolved into specks of light, coalescing into the thirteenth radiant pillar.

"Congratulations on passing the Thirteenth Level of the Heavenly Bridge. You now possess 'Once-in-Three-Millennia' talent, making you the most exceptional Martial Artist to challenge the Heavenly Bridge since the Heavenly Emperor."

Ning Xiaochuan retracted the Demonic Sword into his body, his gaze gradually returning to normal, though the murderous thoughts in his mind remained, as if he desired to slaughter every living being he encountered.

This was the thought of "annihilating all existence."

"Is this the true essence of the Annihilation Path? Annihilation..." Ning Xiaochuan shuddered slightly, feeling as though his cultivation of the Annihilation Path was leading him step by step into an abyss of darkness.

Every time he used the Demonic Sword, Ning Xiaochuan's mind would be flooded with overwhelming negative emotions, requiring significant time to suppress and dispel.

While restraining the negativity within him, Ning Xiaochuan proceeded toward the Fourteenth Level of the Heavenly Bridge.

The White-robed Figure on the Fourteenth Level fixed Ning Xiaochuan with a deep gaze and said, "Young man, your talent is remarkable, but your cultivation realm is insufficient. You cannot possibly pass this level. If I were to strike, half a move would be enough to kill you. The Yulan Empire has finally produced a 'Once-in-Three-Millennia' genius—I do not wish to see you perish on the Heavenly Bridge. Turn back."

Ning Xiaochuan could also sense the immense power of the White-robed Figure, whose aura even surpassed that of a Martial Venerable. He was far from being a match for him at present.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "If I were to defeat you, what level of talent would that signify?"

"You cannot defeat me now," the White-robed Figure replied.

"What if I could?"

The White-robed Figure said, "If you could defeat me before reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm, you would at least possess 'Once-in-Five-Millennia' talent. The lower your cultivation realm when you pass the Fourteenth Level of the Heavenly Bridge, the higher your innate talent. At your current realm, only someone with 'Once-in-Seven-Millennia' talent could possibly succeed. However, your current talent is only at the 'Once-in-Three-Thousand-Two-Hundred-Years' level."

Ning Xiaochuan knew that with his current strength, passing the Fourteenth Level was impossible. He thought to himself, It seems I must wait until my cultivation grows stronger before attempting this level again.

Possessing 'Once-in-Three-Thousand-Two-Hundred-Years' talent was already extraordinary, comparable to the young sages of the Divine Age.

However, Ning Xiaochuan was only at the Fifth Level of the Transcendent Realm, meaning he still had vast room for improvement.

Ning Xiaochuan declared, "Before reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm, I will return to challenge this level—and when I do, I will surely slay you."

"It is good for a young man to have such confidence," the White-robed Figure remarked.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "If I were to pass the Fifteenth Level of the Heavenly Bridge before reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm, what level of talent would that signify?"

The White-robed Figure said, "No one below the Earthly Venerable Realm can pass the fifteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge. This is the rule set by the Heavenly Emperor for the Heavenly Bridge, and it is also the limit of the Heavenly Bridge. No one can break this limit."

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "What if I pass it?"

The White-robed Figure paused and replied, "The Heavenly Bridge can only test Martial Artists with talent below the 'Once-in-Ten-Millennia' level. If you can pass the fifteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge before reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm and break the limit of the Heavenly Bridge, it means you possess at least 'Once-in-Ten-Millennia' talent. However, given the resource level of the Yulan Empire, it is impossible to support you in reaching the 'Once-in-Ten-Millennia' level. The 'Once-in-Five-Millennia' level should already be the limit."

For a Martial Artist to improve their physique and talent, post-natal cultivation resources are extremely important.

After all, the Yulan Empire is only a Fifth-Grade Civilization. Being able to support the birth of a 'Once-in-Five-Millennia' genius is already the limit of the civilization.