One day passed in the blink of an eye.
The aura of the Red Tai Sui once again enveloped the cave, its gaze following their every move.
It first fixed its eyes on Nangong Yu and said coldly, "Eating five chi in a day—children consume more than you. Choose a Tai Sui exactly five chi tall to take with you. Remember: you may take less, but not more."
"…" Nangong Yu felt deeply humiliated but was powerless to reply.
The Red Tai Sui then turned its gaze to Wang Baole and said, "Eating three zhang in a day—boy, are you livestock?"
Wang Baole grinned: "You flatter me, Senior. I've been able to eat a lot since I was young."
"Hmph!" The Red Tai Sui snorted. "Glutton, pick quickly."
Wang Baole scratched his head. This old creature was truly capricious—eat too little and he mocks you, eat too much and he mocks you as well.
He soon selected a three-zhang-tall White Flesh Tai Sui.
Once they had both chosen, the Red Tai Sui said, "Very well; this trial ends here. You may leave."
At its words, a powerful wind swept through the cave, and Wang Baole and Nangong Yu were blown outside.
Wang Baole looked back at the familiar cave but found he could no longer locate the one where the Tai Sui resided.
"What a pity."
Nangong Yu smiled: "Young Lord Wang, it's not truly a pity. At least we now know there's a Tai Sui here and we know the trial's duration. Reporting this back to our sect will be a great merit."
Wang Baole nodded: "Having eaten so much Tai Sui flesh, my cultivation can barely contain it. Miss Nangong, please use your formation to protect me while I break through to the True Fate Realm here."
"All right!" Nangong Yu saw no danger nearby; this truly was a fine place to breakthrough.
…
Inside the Trial Tower
Day after day, Cao Youqian practiced without cease; this Trial Tower perfectly compensated for his lack of comprehension.
In under seven days he completed the one hundred elementary martial techniques.
The hundred elementary techniques were at last perfected.
Cao Youqian murmured to himself and then took the Taiji Visualization Diagram from his storage ring.
Once mysterious, the diagram now revealed a glimmer of profundity.
In his mind appeared Senior Sister Qin and Xiao Pang practicing Taijiquan. He set aside the diagram and began performing Taijiquan.
With each sequence, his understanding of the diagram deepened.
Days passed, and after dozens of days, Cao Youqian finally grasped the intent of Taijiquan and discerned the idea of fusion within Taiji from the diagram.
"So Master intended for me to use Taiji's principle of fusion to integrate all these fist techniques into the Extreme Dao Divine Fist."
With that thought, he suddenly unleashed a punch imbued with over a hundred martial intents. As the blow struck, all nine levels of the Trial Tower trembled violently.
"Damn it, kid, are you trying to tear my Trial Tower down?" The Tower Spirit, Ta Ling, couldn't help cursing, thinking: This guy really is a simple-minded musclehead—who practices fists like this?
After delivering the punch, Cao Youqian smiled: "Senior, forgive me. I was merely impetuous and wanted to test my fist."
"Wait. Your fist technique seems complete, but having practiced so many martial arts, do you truly believe you can perfect this overwhelmingly forceful fist method?" Ta Ling asked curiously.
Cao Youqian smiled: "In the outside world, I'd likely need ten more years to perfect it, but here I'm confident I can master it before I exit."
"How do you plan to do that?" Ta Ling inquired.
"By fusion."
Cao Youqian slowly uttered the word.
"Fusion?" Ta Ling's expression was one of curiosity. "If you were a genius of exceptional comprehension, I might believe you could merge all those techniques, but you are not."
"You're right, Senior; my comprehension is only average. Yet I have an unparalleled Master who long ago devised a method for me. Senior, do you recognize this diagram?"
Cao Youqian displayed the diagram before Ta Ling.
Though Ta Ling had noticed him studying a diagram days ago, it paid it no mind—after all, in the Tianxu Sect it was invincible, and no technique impressed it.
Now Cao Youqian willingly showed it, and it examined the diagram with a critical eye.
At a glance, Ta Ling was astonished and exclaimed, "This… this diagram was drawn by your Master?"
"Yes."
Cao Youqian heard the surprise in Ta Ling's voice and allowed a small smile to curl at his lips.
"Marvelous, simply marvelous. I never imagined that on Xuantian Continent an ordinary mortal could create a visualization diagram merging the Yin-Yang Great Dao into one."
Ta Ling sighed in admiration. "Truly amazing. Your Master is an extraordinary existence."
Cao Youqian laughed. "My Master is no mere mortal."
This time Ta Ling did not contradict him. "Boy, let me see how far you can grow. In the days that remain, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
"Thank you, Senior!"
Cao Youqian then resumed his cultivation.
Time passed without notice. Eighty-one days flew by.
On this day, Cao Youqian finally fused the hundred martial techniques completely into the Extreme Dao Divine Fist.
Sensing the change in his aura, Ta Ling spoke from the ninth level of the Trial Tower, "Boy, have you succeeded?"
Cao Youqian nodded. "Yes, I have."
"Quick, strike me a blow so I can see." Ta Ling conjured a massive bronze figure with his spiritual power.
"Senior, please safeguard the Trial Tower."
Without another word, Cao Youqian unleashed his fist. "Extreme Dao Divine Fist!"
As the punch landed, a secondary afterimage of force streaked behind it—a phantom imbued with world-destroying power that alone sent shivers through the spirit.
Boom!
With a single strike, the bronze figure crumbled to dust and vanished.
"Your martial intent has solidified into form—a sure sign of completion. When your intent fully materializes you will have perfected the Extreme Dao Divine Fist. Only then can you truly embark on your own path of fist cultivation."
Ta Ling's voice echoed slowly through the ninth level.
Cao Youqian murmured, "Materialize my intent… I look forward to seeing what form it will take."
"Your trial has ended. I will now teleport you out." Ta Ling declared.
"Wait, Senior."
Amid Ta Ling's puzzled gaze, Cao Youqian donned his black robe.
Ta Ling couldn't help but tease, "You're already so powerful—why the need for subterfuge?"
Cao Youqian smiled. "Senior, you're too old to understand the joy we young people find in donning a cloak."
Ta Ling stared in bafflement, then sent him forth from the Trial Tower.
When Cao Youqian emerged, every onlooker's eyes brimmed with worship and envy.
"May I ask your name, fellow cultivator?" the Fourteenth Prince of the Northern Abyss Holy Court stepped forward.
He had left the Trial Tower many days ago, but upon hearing that someone had cleared the ninth level, he remained to recruit them.
Cao Youqian replied coolly, "Names are but labels. Others call me 'Overlord Fist.' What does Your Highness require?"
The prince blinked. Could this really be the Sacred Land's prodigy? Though puzzled, he said, "Nothing in particular—merely wishing to make your acquaintance."
"Fine by me. From now on you're my friend. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
With a curt farewell, Cao Youqian vanished, leaving the Fourteenth Prince staring after him, thinking, This fellow is far too curt.
Unaware of the prince's thoughts—and unconcerned even if he were—Cao Youqian only had one desire in mind: to find Senior Brother Xiao and test his fist, to see if he could stand his ground.
Xiao Chen had been the talk of the Taixu Secret Realm lately. Wherever he and Liu Yuer went, all others fled—none could match their prowess.
After suffering defeats, the prodigies of the Ten Sacred Lands avoided Xiao Chen, and having obtained treasures, they retreated into seclusion.
After consecutive gains of treasures and legacies, Xiao Chen decided to enter seclusion for a time, to perfect his sword intent…
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