A thunderbolt as thick as a barrel struck down from the sky, carrying the laws of heaven and earth, descending with overwhelming force.
Such divine might would mean instant death for anyone below the Divine Transformation Stage, leaving no room for resistance.
However, as the thunderbolt descended, it suddenly split into three, reducing its power by more than half, and struck towards the three people below.
Xu Hei took a hit on the head. The lightning, which could have turned him to ashes, only knocked him to the ground, leaving him charred and his hair burnt off.
Han Te and Luo Bai fared even worse, being blasted into the ground, their heads bleeding and bodies shattered, with Han Te losing an arm.
"We're not dead, we did it!"
Joy surged in the hearts of all three.
However, after the lightning split, the power of the laws disappeared entirely, not just reduced, but completely gone.
This further confirmed Xu Hei's suspicion that the mastermind's intention was not to kill one person at each stage, but to have them find the correct solution.
Unfortunately, Xu Hei knew very well the nature of those from the outer battlefield.
Finding a solution was easier said than done.
Moreover, even if someone found the solution, if any of the three hesitated for even a moment when entering together, the consequences would be disastrous!
When the divine laws descended, all would perish.
The first stage was likely similar, requiring everyone to sacrifice simultaneously, with no one going a step faster or slower.
If anyone hesitated, the first to shed blood would become the sole sacrifice, dying instantly, while the others would survive.
Xu Hei didn't know if anyone in history had noticed this in the first stage and made it to the end without losing anyone.
Xu Hei was convinced that their team of three would not lose a single member!
After a long time, the thunder tribulation disappeared.
At the center of the formation, a bridge appeared, extending infinitely into the depths of the void.
Xu Hei looked at the bridge before him, then at his two severely injured companions, and sighed. It was better to heal first.
After three stages, almost every team had lost three members, with some suffering even more casualties during conflicts.
Teams with fewer than three members were completely wiped out.
In the center of the Void Realm.
This was the core area of the Void Realm, with a vast black plain connecting every checkpoint.
The plain was expansive and dimly lit, with numerous tombstones standing in various places. The inscriptions on the tombstones had long weathered away, leaving the owners unknown, exuding an ancient and timeless aura.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared on the plain, and a figure emerged.
This person was ghastly green, with black aura emanating from their head, carrying a large coffin, and covered in corpse spots. It was the first to cross the bridge, the Three Corpses Daoist, Gu Yunsong.
Upon arriving on the plain, Gu Yunsong immediately sensed that this place was different from the previous checkpoints.
The space was stable, the Spiritual Qi was normal, there were no flashy formations, and the sense of impending doom was gone.
Gu Yunsong realized that this must be the final location of the Void Realm.
"Is there no one else here? Am I the first to pass?" Gu Yunsong's eyes flickered.
He had spent less than an hour passing the three stages, with the last bridge taking the longest.
He considered setting traps to ambush those who came after, but his attention was quickly drawn to the tombstones on the plain.
"So many tombstones, could this be the burial ground of great powers from the upper realm?" Gu Yunsong looked around.
There were rumors of inheritances from great powers of the upper realm in the Void Realm. If the rumors were true, this burial ground was the most likely place.
The Ancient Tomb Sect had always studied cemeteries, so Gu Yunsong approached a tombstone, formed a seal with his hands, and pressed it onto the tombstone, infusing a strange rune into it.
This was the Dragon-seeking Art of the Ancient Tomb Sect, used to locate the tomb owner based on the tombstone.
As the seal entered, Gu Yunsong's face suddenly turned pale, and he was thrown back as if struck by lightning, with a trace of black liquid seeping from his mouth.
"So strong! Even after so many years, it's still impossible to deduce." Gu Yunsong's expression was uncertain.
He had only wanted to see if the tomb owner was still there, but was met with such a heavy blow, indicating that this place was not to be desecrated.
After a brief contemplation, he released a zombie, which walked to the tombstone and struck it hard.
Not a single movement.
"Attacking the tombstone doesn't provoke a counterattack, but trying to deduce the tomb owner causes injury. It's quite peculiar, and perhaps it can be exploited." Gu Yunsong mused.
Being the first to arrive, he needed to quickly study this place and make the most of his advantage.
Moments later, another flash of light appeared on the plain, and someone else was transported there. A figure with a rosy complexion and pale skin, neither male nor female, arrived.
It was the Heart-Devouring Demon, Xiong Yan.
Seeing it was Xiong Yan, Gu Yunsong dismissed the thought of killing, as the other's strength was comparable to his own, making it unwise.
"Oh? Someone got here even faster than me." Xiong Yan glanced at Gu Yunsong, licked his lips, and smiled, "Congratulations, Daoist Gu, for taking the lead. With Brother Gu's skills, it's well-deserved."
He cupped his fists, silently cursing the Yin-Yang Twin Fiends for ruining his plans, delaying him for a long time, and forcing him to waste a Primordial Blood Pearl.
Otherwise, the first place would have been his.
Gu Yunsong merely snorted coldly, ignoring him.
Xiong Yan also noticed the numerous tombstones and, with a glint in his eyes, smiled, "Daoist Gu, studying these tombstones is pointless. Why don't we join forces to ambush and eliminate our competitors? That's the best strategy!"
Gu Yunsong initially intended to refuse, but then he recalled the mysterious nature of the tombstones and smiled, "Alright, I was thinking the same."
On an isolated island altar.
The Nine-Headed Worm, Hai Teng, and Xiong Dabao lay on the altar, their faces pale and breathing weak, their blood having stained all the troughs red.
A portal also appeared on the altar, leading to the next stage.
They had rested for three whole days before they could finally open their eyes.
Xiong Dabao weakly lifted his head to look at his two companions.
The Nine-Headed Worm and Hai Teng also awoke simultaneously.
The three demons exchanged glances, then sat cross-legged and took a pill each.
Previously, they had engaged in a chaotic battle as agreed, but their strengths were evenly matched, and no matter how they fought, they couldn't determine a winner.
Perhaps it was fate, but after the draw, they decided to sacrifice together.
The result was clear: each lost a third of their life force, opening the door to the next stage.
Though they survived, they were left half-dead, requiring a long time to recover.
"Surviving is good, heaven always leaves a way out, we made the right bet!" The Nine-Headed Worm's eyes were resolute.
They didn't know what they would face next, but as long as they were alive, there was hope.