Volume One: The King's Mandate Chapter Sixty-Nine: Beyond the Ninefold Heavens

In the minds of people, "nine" represents the utmost; whether in cultivation methods or rankings, nine is revered as the highest. The Iron Dynasty followed this tradition, dividing its territory into nine provinces for governance.

But now, within Liu Xiaoyi’s dantian, a most discordant scene had emerged: eight seeds clustered quietly together, while two others—one taller, one shorter—swayed gently with his breath, their generated and absorbed magical power multiplying several times over. This delighted Liu Xiaoyi beyond measure.

"Thank you, Elder Tree Spirit, for your gift!" Liu Xiaoyi bowed deeply to the Divine Tree, then followed the hollow it opened and stepped out onto the path. After only a few steps, he tried jumping, and to his surprise soared several yards into the air, landing slowly.

He now possessed a hint of flight, this leap surpassing the bounds of lightweight martial arts, imbued with a mysterious quality. Liu Xiaoyi was unaware of the many astonished onlookers outside; he hopped about, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Is the Divine Tree’s gift to him this extraordinary agility? I wonder how much true energy it consumes," some among the crowd speculated.

Those familiar with this trial had received gifts from the Divine Tree before, but most were trivial, rarely so practical as this method.

"He jumps so high; if he wants to escape in a fight, few could catch up," some disciples, envious, began grumbling inwardly.

Liu Xiaoyi knew nothing of these things, intent only on pressing forward, calculating how many trials remained.

The strangeness of the Heavenly King Path did not end there. The trees lining the road, if cut with a sword, would not only remain undamaged but rebound the force back twice as strong. Thankfully, he dodged in time, or he would have made a fool of himself.

As he walked, the sound of flowing water ahead caught his attention; Liu Xiaoyi perked up, realizing he had reached the territory of the third trial.

A small creek, about nine yards wide, blocked the way. Its flow was gentle. Near the bank, someone was removing their trousers and urinating into the stream.

The man clearly hadn’t expected anyone to arrive suddenly; when he turned, he hadn’t pulled up his pants, so not only Liu Xiaoyi, but everyone present, saw him clearly.

"Hey! Didn’t expect him to be so fair-skinned!"

"Hahaha! Senior Brother, who always preaches about righteousness, now pees into the stream—why doesn’t he comment on that!"

Meng Qiaoqiao’s face flushed to her neck, hands covering her eyes, unable to look up.

Liu Xiaoyi didn’t recognize the man—a burly fellow with thick brows, honest features, bare-chested and otherwise unclad except for a pair of wet shorts pushed down at his waist.

The man scrutinized Liu Xiaoyi, noting his Heavenly King Path attire, but did not know him.

"Who are you? When did the Heavenly King Path start recruiting newcomers?" he asked.

"I’m not sure. Are you from the sect too? When is the Heavenly King Path open?" Liu Xiaoyi asked, equally puzzled.

The two stared at each other, bewildered, until the burly man spoke first: "I’m Zhang Yi, Senior Brother of the Heavenly King Path. I didn’t leave after coming last time—by my reckoning, the date hasn’t arrived yet."

"You’re the Senior Brother? How often is the Heavenly King Path opened?" Seeing the Senior Brother’s primitive attire, Liu Xiaoyi couldn’t help but laugh.

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The conduct of reputable sects was always strict, especially in choosing a Senior Brother—they were selected from countless candidates. How could such a character be the result?

The man was about to respond when he suddenly remembered something, hurriedly pulling up his pants, his face reddening: "I nearly forgot—every Heavenly King Path trial is broadcast live. If any of you dares to laugh, I’ll strip you and tie you up before throwing you out!"

The latter part was directed at the air. As Senior Brother, he knew well that thousands of spectators outside were laughing uproariously; only the obedient disciples would immediately fall silent.

They knew that the kindly Senior Brother always kept his word—when he completed the trial, those who mocked him would surely face his gentle revenge.

"Senior Brother... you really are quite fair-skinned," Liu Xiaoyi said, unwittingly striking another comedic note. The disciples could not help but laugh aloud, filling the square with harmony.

Even the members of the Mountain Moving Sect joined in, the previous tense atmosphere vanishing, ignited by the Senior Brother’s openness.

"Enough, let’s talk business. The third trial is just ahead—shall we try it?" Zhang Yi asked.

He had lingered here for years, mastering the first four trials, but was stuck at the final one, unable to fathom its secret.

So he stayed, as nothing here threatened his life, living like a primitive man, keeping his clothes safe to avoid damage.

He had no idea what year it was outside, but Zhang Yi didn’t mind—alone, he was content, loving riddles and unable to let go of the Heavenly King Path’s secrets, which Liu Xiaoyi happened upon.

"I’ll certainly attempt the trial, but since you just urinated here, I think it best to wait," Liu Xiaoyi stood reluctantly at the bank, watching the stream flow. Though it showed no color, the thought unsettled him.

He had seen it himself, making it hard to erase the impression; even years later, he could not forget Zhang Yi’s actions.

"Hurry up—after dark, there’ll be trouble in the water. The big fish bite painfully," Zhang Yi soon urged.

Liu Xiaoyi had no intention of undressing and jumped straight in. Instantly, he felt something was wrong!

No wonder Zhang Yi wore so little; as soon as Liu Xiaoyi entered the water, his weight increased sharply, pulling him deep beneath the surface.

From outside, the creek seemed narrow, but below was a bottomless pit, endless darkness. Anxious, Liu Xiaoyi unleashed his magical power, and with a whoosh, shot up from the depths, leaping a yard above the surface, startling Zhang Yi.

"You call yourself Senior Brother! Why didn’t you warn me about the water?" Liu Xiaoyi complained.

Zhang Yi laughed: "Normal water would never appear in the Heavenly King Path. It not only increases weight, but is poisonous!"

No sooner had he spoken than Liu Xiaoyi noticed his skin turning green, showing signs of poisoning. Fortunately, his abundant magical power allowed him to expel the toxins quickly.

"Head to the upstream bank—I’ll wait for you there," Zhang Yi said, striding onto the water’s surface and running upstream, as if weight was no issue.

This meant Liu Xiaoyi was still swimming in his wash water; the thought disgusted him further. He removed his clothes, stored them in his spatial pouch, and swam upstream.

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From within the water, it was not just nine yards wide—it seemed endless, with no bank in sight. The stream was bitterly cold, and every so often he had to propel himself upward or risk sinking indefinitely.

His magical power and true energy drained rapidly; it was impossible to reach the bank by force. Gritting his teeth, Liu Xiaoyi held his breath and invoked the Thousand-Pound Drop, accelerating downward.

While he still had strength, he wanted to see what lay beneath!

A quarter hour passed, still no end in sight, darkness enveloping everything, not even a hand visible before his face.

"Could I be wrong? I distinctly sensed faint magical fluctuations below." Since gaining two spiritual roots, his perception of magical power had sharpened. That subtle fluctuation compelled Liu Xiaoyi to investigate.

The deeper he sank, the more his heart thudded with apprehension. The water’s temperature rose steadily, forcing him to deploy the black-and-white chess piece array to shield himself.

Was someone fighting below? The magical power was not actively released, but triggered and clashed by another force, splashing upward. Even the stray energy was so great it astonished Liu Xiaoyi.

When his feet touched the soft sandy bed, the chill was bone-deep, while his upper body was immersed in boiling water, the contrasting sensations nearly making him faint.

Within the underwater space rested a massive stone coffin. Around it, seabed plants grew rampant, undisturbed by the extremes of cold and heat, flourishing healthily. Had Liu Xiaoyi not stood face-to-face, he would never have noticed the coffin’s presence.

What kind of figure could rest eternally within the Heavenly King Path? Four sacred beasts guarded the entrance, with successive trials to overcome—yet someone dwelt here, an enigma beyond comprehension.

The trouble was, Liu Xiaoyi had paid no attention and brushed aside the obstructing vines to examine the coffin more closely. Accidentally touching the lid, the stone coffin erupted from within, shattering the chess piece array and dispersing his protective shield.

Before he could react, a pitch-black hand reached out and pulled him inside.

In an instant, the scattered stones restored themselves, forming an intact coffin lid hidden beneath dense vegetation.

"It's over, it's over—I must have disturbed an extraordinary elder! Forgive me, forgive me!" Liu Xiaoyi, though skeptical, could not deny the terrifying reality of the sensation.

Inside the coffin was another world; once within, Liu Xiaoyi found himself at the heart of a magnificent palace, standing atop a six-pointed star array, unable to advance or retreat, forced to search the dim glow for its master.

"Is anyone here? Which elder summoned me? I am Liu Xiaoyi—a junior, offering my respects."

Liu Xiaoyi inquired softly, fearing that if the resident high master was displeased, he might twist off his head and keep him as a living companion—after all, he was dwelling in a coffin, and perhaps lacked just such company.

"Have you eaten yet, Elder? I have some excellent pastries here—perhaps we could share a bite?" The silence persisted, so Liu Xiaoyi asked again.

From behind him, a clear, bell-like laugh rang out, sending chills down Liu Xiaoyi’s spine and raising every hair in terror.