Upon seeing the utterly insignificant Sky Port Treasure Sword, the Black New Moon, the former Dragon narrowed his brows slightly, his eyes filled with anger.
This tiny black crescent intends to stop him, claiming the might of a Heavenly Sword.
Is this an underestimation of him?
At that moment, Yang Tian’s calm and clear voice reached his ears.
"Its potential is ruined, yet it lacks flexibility."
Potential? What does that mean?
Before the former Long Quan could grasp Yang Tian’s words, he saw the Black New Moon from Yang Tian soaring like a swift swallow, deftly avoiding the sharp sword qi of Tian Gu. Immediately afterward, it struck at thirty-six locations, targeting weak points in Tian Gu’s swordsmanship.
Witnessing this scene, the former Dragon suddenly found himself amidst immense turmoil. It was as if the sword qi surrounding him was an ominous trap, leaving no room for escape—yet the unstoppable Black New Moon pressed on relentlessly.
In that instant, the seemingly overwhelming plow, numerous swords, and the striking marks of the Black New Moon fractured into faint shards of light, dissipating into the air.
"You... How did you know where the weakest points in my thirty-six formidable swords were?"
Seeing his beloved exclusive technique dismantled so easily by Yang Tian, Long Quan’s face contorted as he asked the now-unstoppable Yang Tian.
"You told me," Yang Tian responded lightly.
"I told you? Impossible!"
The former Dragon soldier roared indignantly.
Yet Yang Tian maintained his composure and replied evenly, "Since ancient times, the number of Heavenly Burial swords has been capped at thirty-six. Your particular swordsmanship clearly derives from that tradition—you certainly conveyed this information yourself!"
The former Dragon soldier was dumbstruck, speechless, with only frustration simmering in his heart: What the hell is this?
Shortly thereafter, as the remnants of the original Dragon withdrew from the battle, Long Xiao and Juan Liuzhou quickly fled in separate directions.
"Teacher! Mr. Yang, he..."
Standing outside the Lingtian Pagoda, Long Hou noticed the doors of the pagoda suddenly creak open. His master, the former Long Hou, along with four Dragon Clan elders, emerged slowly. Filled with curiosity, Long Hou immediately posed a question.
But before he could finish speaking, the former Long Hou beamed and cut him short: "Ascend!"
Long Hao paused, then exclaimed in astonishment, "Teacher, do you mean that Mr. Yang endured the pressure of slaughter, and in reality..." Could I be mistaken?"
"This is stronger than victory."
His previous teacher, Long Xiao, chuckled. He was about to elaborate further but noticed that Long Zhi, the former Dragon, coldly scoffed, shrugged helplessly, and refrained from speaking.
Though Long Hou couldn’t decipher the deeper story, he knew that the group of Dragon Clan elders preferred to stay tight-lipped. Thus, he held back from pressing any further.
Still, the former Dragon suddenly sighed deeply, gazing solemnly at the top of the tower as he spoke, "But even if he passes this barrier, it doesn’t mean he can uncover the map!"
Long Hao furrowed his brows upon hearing his teacher’s statement. "Teacher, wasn’t this appointed by the heavens? Did you set up checkpoints above?"
"Us? No, you’re mistaken. Not us—it’s the Array itself!" laughed the former Dragon vociferously.
Arrays aren’t living beings. How could they establish checkpoints?
The more Long Hou thought about it, the more baffled he became. Yet all five elders of the Dragon Clan wore cryptic smiles, offering no explanations, collectively gazing at the celestial tower above.
Because the third layer of the Lingtian Pagoda had lit up, indicating Yang Tian had officially entered the third level.
Inside the third level of the Lingtian Pagoda.
Yang Tian advanced step by step, yet his thoughts churned relentlessly.
Clearly, from the former Long Hou’s earlier expressions, Yang Tian understood: none other than him had ever heard this sound before.
He feared no one else had ever heard such a sound either. Were it not for this, the former Long Hao would have revealed everything without reserve. He’d never stop talking!
Thus, Yang Tian found himself pondering deeply.
What was this voice telling him?
What was its purpose?
Why was he the only one who could hear it?
Just as Yang Tian sought answers, he suddenly felt an intensified pressure weigh heavily on his shoulders. Though this force was merely twice that of the second layer, it was still bearable for Yang Tian—but it swiftly dispersed his earlier contemplations.
"Haha, it seems the second-tier confrontation was just the beginning. Looking upon the Immortal Sword Array truly doesn’t feel comfortable, does it?"
Sensing the mounting pressure on his shoulders, Yang Tian chuckled softly. Immediately, his divine sense unfurled.
Within this divine perception, faint beams emanated from atop the pagoda. While their glow was minor, their penetration was immensely powerful, radiating across all eighteen levels and permeating every space within.
The only distinction was that each level differed in the degree of light encompassing it.
The lower the level, the less enveloping light there was. The closer to the array, the broader the scope of light!
With divine insight, Yang Tian suddenly revealed a look of epiphany.
The Swordman Swordsmanship, hailed as the ancient first and most formidable array, was itself an unparalleled Magic Treasure. For ages, it had been imbued with the essence of Jianxian, Jixian, Jianxian, and Ju Xian—as well as their unrelenting intent to kill!
Thus, the closer one drew to the array, the heavier the suppression that killing intent imposed.
Under such suppression, immense pressure would weigh upon anyone approaching the array.
Only by enduring this pressure could one approach the map!
Understanding this, Yang Tian’s entire figure seemed electrified. Drawing a sharp breath, his energy unfurled from his body, promptly dispersing the weight on his shoulders as he pressed onward to the fourth level.
In an instant, the illuminated tiers of the Lingtian Pagoda began to shine level by level.
Fourth level, fifth level, sixth level... thirteenth level!
Standing below, watching the scene unfold, Long Xiao and the other Dragon Clan members turned from initial indifference to furrowed brows and disbelief, until their faces froze in astonished gapes!
"He climbed to the thirteenth level in one go!"
The former Long Hou exclaimed in shock upon witnessing this.
Standing alongside him, Long Hou, equally dumbstruck, posed a question: "Teacher, isn’t this a simple tower? Why do you and the others seem so stunned?"
Before Long Hou could answer, the Dragon Martyr grinned and countered, "Child, according to you, this is merely a tall tower? Why couldn’t you enter?"
"Because my cultivation hasn’t yet reached the natural state."
Long Hou blurted out without hesitation.
"Truly worthy of being the ancient first array!"
Having entered the thirteenth level of the Lingtian Pagoda, Yang Tian—at the late-stage Nascent Soul—was visibly tired but also driven.
For a starter like Yang Tian, the pressure increasing layer by layer had remained almost negligible.
Yet upon reaching the tenth tier, the suppression of killing intent had risen to a divine level—and now at the thirteenth tier, it directly reached the late-stage divine realm.
Moreover, the pressures rooted within the ancient Magic Weapon were not only physical but also spiritual, which kept Yang Tian entirely on edge!
After all, this was merely the thirteenth level—five layers still remained ahead.
If figures like Sutton or the Great Emperor were here, they’d likely fret over whether their spirits might collapse entirely, unable to continue advancing.
But Yang Tian understood: if he wished to refine his path to surpass the demons and ancestors, he had to keep climbing, pressing forward until he arrived at the core of the frontlines.
Thus, Yang Tian exhaled deeply, throwing off his fatigued air, and proceeded up toward the fourteenth level.
As Yang Tian stepped forth, his brows abruptly furrowed. For this layer’s pressure was unlike any before—it surged instantly to divine heights!