"Wasn't there supposed to be an assessment? This humble Zong Shou wishes to test whether this Minor Heaven Sword Formation truly lives up to its reputation—"

The moment the words fell, the entire drill ground fell into sudden silence. Not only were Yin Yang and Chu Xue stunned, but the youths gathered before the Dao Palace gates were struck dumb. Even Liang Miaozhi was momentarily taken aback.

After a long pause, a loud burst of laughter echoed. A figure soared into the air and landed upon the Bright Sword Platform. It was the elder surnamed Lin, whom Huang Yi had just addressed as Martial Uncle-Grandfather. He smiled toward Zong Shou: "Little child, though you are small, your words are bold. Interesting. But since you know our sect's rules, you must also know that once one steps onto this Bright Sword Platform, life and death are irrelevant, and the sect assumes no responsibility? Unless you can withstand it for over a hundred breaths without using any true qi or spirit arts—"

Zong Shou nodded slightly, holding the Pine Grain Wind Sword inverted in his hand. Without the slightest hesitation, he walked toward the center of the stone platform as if on familiar ground: "No need for pleasantries. Your Lingyun Sect's rules are clear to me, Zong Shou!"

How could he not know? In his past life, ever since learning of the Bright Sword and Heavenly Talisman Platforms here, he had specifically created an alternate account character to challenge them daily.

Others avoided this stone platform as if it were a plague. He, however, treated the Minor Heaven Sword Formation and its accompanying runic array as a whetstone to hone his swordsmanship and his art of talisman drawing.

He still remembered it clearly: a total of two thousand, three hundred, and seventy-two attempts, spanning three hundred and sixty-five days and nights.

When the Minor Heaven Sword Formation was finally broken, his swordsmanship finally reached its peak.

In just three short years, Sword Emperor Tan Qiu burst onto the scene in God Emperor.

The elder did not show anger upon hearing this. He nodded: "Good that you know! Since the Ancient Desolation Opportunity concluded, thirteen thousand, seven hundred people from the Eastern Lin Cloud Continent have attempted to challenge the Minor Heaven Sword Formation in our sect. From the Xuanwu Grandmasters down to those just beginning their cultivation, not a single one succeeded, and three thousand perished on this platform. Fewer people have dared to challenge this formation recently. In the four hundred years I, Lin Fei, have witnessed, there have been only three. Though you possess a dual-meridian body and cannot cultivate, daring to step onto this platform is praiseworthy courage—"

Chu Xue below the stage gasped instantly, instinctively wanting to step forward. But Yin Yang pulled her back: "No need to worry. Xue'er, you have seen the Marquis's swordsmanship. It is extraordinary. Sustaining it for a hundred breaths should not be difficult."

Chu Xue was slightly reassured, but when she turned to look, she saw Yin Yang’s expression was also deeply grave, etched with worry.

Liang Miaozhi, standing not far away, let out a cold sneer: "Challenging the Minor Heaven Sword Formation? Truly seeking death!"

Lin Fei stopped mid-sentence as he noticed a flicker of impatience cross Zong Shou's face. He smiled awkwardly and stopped speaking. He cast a talisman that transformed into over a dozen points of spiritual light, penetrating the wooden figures the size of actual people.

Red light instantly shone from the eyes of the eighteen puppets. A creaking sound echoed throughout their bodies, as if ancient, decrepit machinery was being reactivated after hundreds or thousands of years.

Zong Shou had just reached the center of the platform, holding his sword diagonally. The developers of the God Emperor game claimed they had perfectly recreated this sword formation in the virtual world, perhaps even surpassing it. But the real Minor Heaven Sword Formation and the game’s imitation were, after all, somewhat different. Having seen countless advertisements from unscrupulous merchants, he was long past being surprised.

He wondered if he could actually withstand it?

The puppets moved sluggishly for a moment, until the sounds of all their joints vanished. Then, with an incredibly synchronized forward step, they emitted a sudden, sharp crackle of sound.

This was followed by several more steps in unison, advancing rapidly. Eighteen gleaming swords shot out, their cold light piercing the air!

Zong Shou smiled faintly and took three steps to the left. Immediately, the eighteen puppets shifted positions in response. Every movement, every step, was rigid and standardized, precise to the extreme, utterly unwavering. Then, a total of nine long swords struck inward from all directions.

Even though he had witnessed this countless times in his previous life, Zong Shou still let out a silent gasp of admiration; there was truly no opening to exploit.

This sword formation was undoubtedly supremely exquisite. The eighteen sword puppets supported each other, their coordination achieving a subtle perfection.

If living people were controlling them, they might possess greater power, but they absolutely could not achieve such seamless perfection.

However, this feeling was slightly different from the sword formation he was familiar with.

With no intention of meeting force head-on, Zong Shou stepped again, two paces to the right. He barely brushed past the blades' edges as he flashed out of the small circle. His figure then moved within the sword array like a butterfly weaving through flowers—slightly cornered, yet incredibly nimble.

Su Chuxue below the stage involuntarily clutched her clothes tightly.

Lin Fei, who had seemed asleep since activating the array, opened his eyes again with a sharp exclamation of surprise.

"These footwork drills are quite good; he certainly has some foundation—"

After a moment of thought, a look of deeper confusion appeared on his face. No matter how good the footwork, it shouldn't allow one to move so freely within the puppet sword array. The Minor Heaven Sword Formation was not static.

Unless this person's innate combat talent and intuition were frighteningly strong. Or perhaps his own mastery of the Way of the Sword was incredibly profound!

But either of those possibilities, in a mere thirteen-year-old boy, was too sensational to believe.

The discussions and laughter before the Dao Palace gates had gradually quieted down. Everyone was now looking intently at the stone platform.

The battle, which they expected to end in just a few exchanges, had not concluded even now.

The figure they had mocked still stood firm on the platform. His face, reaching the peak of handsomeness, held a faint smile that involuntarily charmed the observer.

"Indeed, quite good! In that case, this person is not truly incompetent, and his talent should be extraordinary. What a pity. It's because his bloodline is impure, possessing dual meridians; no matter how great the talent, it is useless!"

"It has been forty-eight breaths! If he continues to evade this easily, never mind a hundred breaths, even four hundred breaths might pass with ease—"

Yet, some still looked on with scorn: "Pass easily? Is the fame of the Lingyun Sect's Minor Heaven Sword Formation truly for show? My ancestor once challenged it with the cultivation of a Xuanwu Master and was defeated at four hundred and twenty breaths. His current ease in moving is because the true killing moves have not yet begun!"

Among the crowd, a boy of about fourteen years old stared unblinkingly at Zong Shou's feet on the platform, his eyes flickering with an almost fervent heat.

Beside him stood a girl of the same age, youthful and charming. She suddenly turned sideways and smiled: "Feibai, you always claim to be a martial fanatic, declaring yourself the unmatched talent of the Eastern Lin Cloud Continent for the next decade. But in my view, this Zong Shou might be even stronger than you. Want to make a bet? Guess how long he can last?"

"No bet!"

The boy resolutely shook his head, then looked at Zong Shou's right hand. "I heard that a Celestial level expert made a move a thousand years ago but could only fight this sword formation to a draw. However, this person hasn't even used his sword yet. It's hard to guess—"

That Pine Grain Wind Sword had remained motionless from beginning to end! In the boy's eyes, this sword was like a venomous snake hidden in the grass—extremely dangerous. It was dormant, but when it moved, its strike would be fatal.

The girl's gaze sharpened, and then she shook her head: "No bet, then. But I bet that Liang Miaozhi is regretting this intensely. Though I cannot see through Zong Shou, I know he is holding back significant power. Four hundred breaths should be no challenge. I heard this person is very close to the Master of the Zong Clan, helping him in countless ways, openly and secretly. But this time, our future Senior Brother is likely to lose a great deal of face!"

Saying this, the girl actually laughed with malicious glee.