Chapter 2040 — Reaching the End of the Second Trial

Yuan had also realized that the sea creatures only appeared when he advanced, each encounter seemingly triggered by crossing an invisible threshold. This meant he could have paused between battles, taken breaks, and prepared for each wave.

But he chose not to, and for the past two days, he had moved without rest, facing each encounter head-on with unwavering resolve, as if testing the limits of both the trial and himself.

Yuan’s performance was nothing short of astonishing, leaving the spectators speechless, many with their mouths agape, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

When they watched the Heavenly Son and the other participants undergo their trials, the sheer difficulty was palpable. Every clash and every movement carried the weight of struggle.

But when they turned their gaze to Yuan, it was a different story entirely. He moved with such ease and speed that the trial itself seemed beneath him, almost as if he was mocking the efforts of every other participant.

"You know, watching him... it reminds me of the Faceless Sword Emperor’s qualification," remarked one of the Sword Emperors, eyes fixed on the display.

Thanks to recorded archives of past trials, anyone with access could study them, and none were more watched or revered than the Faceless Sword Emperor’s, a trial he had dominated with unmatched grace and power.

"Are we witnessing the birth of a second Faceless Sword Emperor?" someone else murmured, the question lingering in the air like a prophecy waiting to be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, the moment Tian Yuexing stepped into the area for the second trial, he began walking forward without hesitation, wasting no time to observe his surroundings.

There was no room for delay in his mind. He knew he was already behind, and every second counted if he hoped to catch up to Yuan.

While his actions could be seen as reckless, Tian Yuexing was confident in his own abilities.

When the first sea creature attacked a few steps later, Tian Yuexing defeated it with a single strike.

’I don’t know how you managed to get ahead of me, but it won’t last!’ Tian Yuexing thought to himself, determination flaring in his eyes as he pressed forward.

But just a few steps later, his thoughts were abruptly cut off. His instincts flared like lightning, screaming danger. Without thinking, he raised his sword in front of him, just in time to somewhat block the invisible sword.

However, his reaction was just a moment too slow. Though he managed to intercept part of the strike, the invisible sword still slipped through his guard, slicing into his left arm and leaving a deep, bleeding gash.

Tian Yuexing gritted his teeth in frustration, his eyes narrowing at the wound.

The wound on his arm was minor, something he could easily ignore, but the fact that he’d been struck at all, and by such a simple trick, gnawed at his pride. He couldn’t accept making such a blunder—not with so many people watching.

Seconds later, Tian Yuexing sensed the invisible sword circling back for a second strike.

This time, fully alert and focused, he met it head-on. With a precise swing infused with his Supreme Sword Aura, he shattered the blade cleanly, redeeming his earlier mistake in a single, decisive motion.

After overcoming the first encounter, Tian Yuexing didn’t immediately charge forward to chase after Yuan.

Instead, he stood still, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The weight of his earlier misstep lingered, and he knew rushing in recklessly would only lead to more mistakes.

"What the heck am I doing? There’s no need to rush or panic. I’ll definitely catch up and reclaim my rank. It’s only natural and a matter of time," he muttered to himself.

When he opened his eyes, they were filled with confidence and renewed focus, and he continued forward with immense concentration, no longer paying attention to Yuan being ahead.

Time passed swiftly, and Yuan had now entered his fourth day within the second trial.

Having advanced without pause, the difficulty had escalated dramatically; each encounter now unleashed thousands of sea creatures upon him at once, their numbers swelling like tidal waves with every step he took.

However, despite the overwhelming numbers, Yuan dispatched them all within moments, effortlessly cutting them down with his Limitless Sword Domain.

After days of honing his control to an even higher level, his manipulation of sword auras had become as natural as breathing. With each step forward, he moved calmly and gracefully, and what was meant to be a grueling trial now appeared more like a leisurely stroll through the park.

To the spectators, it was no longer just impressive—it was surreal.

"How long do you think he’ll be able to keep up this pace?" the Holy Sword Maiden’s father asked aloud, his gaze fixed on the image of Yuan effortlessly advancing the trial.

"Well," the Holy Sword King’s father replied, arms crossed in thought, "the first and second trials follow the same general structure, but the second is far more brutal in scale. He might breeze through this... but the real challenge begins in the later trials when everything changes. That’s when we’ll see if he can keep his pace."

By the end of the fourth day, Yuan finally caught sight of the path’s end in the distance, and just as he expected, it opened into another vast arena, its wide, circular expanse radiated an ominous stillness.

As Yuan stepped into the center of the arena, the stillness shattered. The calm water began to tremble, and a deep, resonating ripple spread outward across the surface.

Moments later, several glowing orbs appeared just beneath the water, pulsing with an eerie light. Then, with a thunderous roar and a violent surge, a colossal sea creature with many tentacles erupted from the depths like a volcanic explosion, water cascading from its body as it loomed high above Yuan.

"This is..."

Behind his mask, Yuan’s eyes widened in surprise the moment he laid eyes on the squid-like creature. He had encountered this beast before, and the sight of it stirred some unpleasant memories.