Baby with Daoist Monarch System

Section 451, Fourth Space Trials Completed

It has completely absorbed, digested, and integrated all rewards from the twelve trials of the Fourth Space—those core law fragments known as ”Initial Tier True Intent Fragments” and ”Taichu Undying Body”.

His body is no longer the flesh and blood of the once prodigious youth Xu Ran.

It has transformed into an entirely new existence.

A faint gray metallic sheen flows across the surface of his skin, muscle lines smooth and resilient, as if forged from the most ancient Star Steel.

His bones emit a low resonance, each piece containing the power to shatter mountains and split seas.

The energy circulation within his body has completely changed, no longer familiar spiritual power or True Essence to cultivators, but a purer, colder, more corrosive gray Source.

He stands there, without breathing, without heartbeat, without any signs of human life.

Yet the pressure he exudes is more terrifying than any cultivator in the Inquiry Realm, or even higher realms.

It’s a suppression emanating from the essence of life, an aura that transcends existing Cosmic Laws.

[Fourth Space Trials Completed.]

[Container Score: Perfect.]

[Opening Fifth Space.]

A cold, mechanical voice resounded again, this time not echoing in space, but directly resonating deep in Xu Ran’s ”consciousness”, like an indelible imprint.

As the voice fell, gray points of light swirling around Xu Ran quickly converged to form a massive, rotating gray vortex beneath his feet.

In the depths of the vortex is a denser, deeper darkness, as though leading to the universe’s most ancient, secret Abyss.

Xu Ran’s body, as if pulled by an invisible force, slowly sinks into the vortex.

The mark on his forehead shines brightly, as if celebrating, anticipating.

What awaits him in the Fifth Space?

Is it the refinement of even more extreme power?

Is it the baptism by even more twisted laws?

Or is it... a deeper level of ”calibration”?

...

Southern Celestial Star Cosmos, Celestial Fall Battlefield.

Yu Kong cautiously navigates through shattered earth and collapsed buildings.

Every inch of this land is fraught with danger, with residual law fragments like sharp blades, ubiquitous spatial cracks like giant mouths ready to devour, and terrifying entities leftover from ancient wars.

They might be powerful Demon Beasts, lingering Heroic Spirits, or twisted mutant plants, all holding uncompromising hostility towards any intruders.

But Yu Kong is no longer the immature youth who first entered the Celestial Fall Battlefield.

The core area’s experiences, especially the resonance with the Dark Gold Armor and the initial comprehension of the ”Guardian” intent, significantly enhanced his mindset and Dao resonance.

He no longer seeks strength for its own sake; his cultivation now has a deeper purpose.

Guardian.

These two words have been deeply imprinted onto his soul.

Walking among the ruins, he’s no longer just alert to surrounding dangers; he starts trying to ”feel” the past glory and sorrow of this land.

He can sense the remnants of life weeping, hear the collapsing laws wailing, listen to the whispers of departed Heroic Spirits.

He picks up a broken stone tablet, on which ancient words are inscribed, though now blurred.

He tries to comprehend, to reconstruct that dust-covered history.

He vaguely feels that the Celestial Fall Battlefield might not just be an ancient battlefield; it may have intricate connections with the ”Guardian” intent represented by the Dark Gold Armor and the ”darkness” mentioned in broken information.

His cultivation steadily advances, his understanding of Dao continuously deepens.

The feeling of imminent breakthrough becomes stronger, yet he continues to suppress it, knowing that what he lacks is not power, but an opportunity to integrate all his insights and truly form his ”Guardian” path.

”Guardian... is not just protecting the weak, but also combating darkness... to prevent tragedies from repeating...”

He stops before a collapsed Divine Temple, gazing at the kneeling statues as if hearing the prayers of ancient beings.

Suddenly, he senses a cold, malevolent aura emanating from the depths of the earth.

It’s a completely different aura from the battlefield’s inherent deathly atmosphere, purer and more corrosive.

He immediately becomes alert, his presence merging into surrounding shadows like a phantom.

The ground begins to tremble; cracks spread like webs.

Gray mist seeps from the fissures, carrying a nauseating stench.

A figure slowly emerges from the underground.

It’s a humanoid creature, its body covered with a layer of gray crust, joints adorned with sharp bone spikes.

Its face is indistinct, with only two shining gray hollows for eyes.

Though its aura isn’t exceptionally strong, merely at the Early Stage of Inquiry Realm, it carries a chilling malevolence.

”Hehe... fresh prey...” the creature cackled, its voice like metal scraping.

Yu Kong’s pupils narrowed.

This creature’s aura is somewhat similar to the residual malevolent waves he sensed in the core area, but more solid, more targeted.

”What are you?” Yu Kong’s voice was low, yet carrying an undetectable edge.

”I... am the Awakened...” the gray creature bared sharp teeth, ”The great will... is awakening... we... will cleanse all filth...”