Once Spear Intent is condensed, it starts off as an illusion.But soon, through continuous tempering, the Spear Intent gradually grows. And as it grows, once it reaches nine feet in height, it must be refined by thunder—it must be sent into the Heavenly Thunder Layer (Tiangang Lei) for Lightning Tempering. If it can't withstand the lightning's baptism, the True Martial Rune of the spear path will collapse, suffering severe damage. Even if it survives, it will be crippled, unable to further evolve or grow.
However, if it endures the lightning tribulation, the illusion will become real—the Spear Intent will become sharper and more terrifying. This process is known as "One Tribulation Martial Intent". If it is Spear Intent, it's called One-Tribulation Spear Intent; if it is Sword Intent, then One-Tribulation Sword Intent.
This tribulation must be undergone nine times—passing through the ninth level of the Heavenly Thunder Layer.Once all nine are completed, the True Martial Rune transforms into full reality. The Martial Intent it manifests will become substantial—no longer mere will, but a real, material force.That level of Spear or Sword Intent is the genuine article.
This process is dangerous—failure at any point severs the path forward.
Each tribulation marks a gap as vast as heaven and earth.
Right now, Yi Tianxing's Spear Intent was just a faint illusion—far from reaching the nine-foot height needed for tribulation. In fact, even gaining an extra inch was a massive breakthrough.
"Kill!!"
Though it takes time to describe, all of this happened in an instant.The Spear Intent had already formed.
Around him, the Weak Water surged once more.
Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed coldly. He swung his battle spear again.
With this strike, the jade-white radiance reappeared on the battle spear. The white jade star glowed faintly, as Spear Intent, bolstered by his terrifying physical strength, exploded outward and tore the Weak Water apart again.
With each swing, his understanding of Spear Intent deepened.
Even if only slightly, the Jade Fragment Spear Intent within his Martial Rune strengthened bit by bit.
Sensing that growth, Yi Tianxing became even more excited, swinging his spear again and again.Within the Weak Water River, the Spear Intent surged in all directions.
Unknowingly, when he swung once more, the waters ahead had vanished.
He stepped out of the Weak Water River, crossing to the opposite bank.
"Did he really just cross the Weak Water River?!"
"Incredible! Who is he? He's insanely strong!"
The cultivators on the other side gasped in shock.This scene was unbelievable.He'd truly passed through the riverbed, completely submerged in Weak Water.There was no luck involved—just pure strength.
Everyone knew it—this was real power.Luck had nothing to do with it.
"Kill!"
"If someone succeeded, why should we cower? Even if we die, let it be in this river. If we fear it now, it'll haunt us as a heart demon forever!"
"Charge! Even if I die, let it be in the Weak Water River!"
One by one, the cultivators let out wild roars.
Everyone who had survived to this point was a heroic figure—none wanted to be outdone.To retreat now would be disgraceful.
Plop!Immediately, some imitated the middle-aged swordsman and Yi Tianxing, carving paths through the Weak Water with their weapons.Others had their own methods.
One used a crossbow with a rope tied to the bolt, aiming to pull himself across.
Someone else used a Water-Avoiding Pearl, diving into the river. The water parted around them, forming a hollow tunnel.
…
What the others did behind him, Yi Tianxing didn't care.
What mattered most—he was already across.
Being first was a huge advantage.
"Jinpeng, let's move forward. While the others are still stuck behind, we need to seize this opportunity. Others have already gone ahead—we can't fall behind," said Yi Tianxing, standing on Jinpeng's back.
Thanks to the Green Emperor, Jinpeng wasn't suffering under the Weak Water's pressure.It still had plenty of energy.
"Right! We're going for first place. If we reach the finish line first, the treasures will be ours!" said the Green Emperor, visibly excited.
It hadn't seen the Golden Retriever emerge from the water—likely drowned.
Even though the Green Emperor hadn't killed it personally, death was death.Now, the only thing that mattered was helping Yi Tianxing win.
The Green Emperor radiated confidence.Its front legs were now fully covered in green fur, surging with strength.That power made its ego swell to new heights.
Howl!!
Jinpeng let out a high-pitched screech and soared into the sky with a flap of its golden wings, carrying Yi Tianxing and the Green Emperor forward in a streak of golden light.
The Weak Water River had blocked most cultivators.Only a few remained in the race.
"With fewer competitors left, the contest will become even more brutal. To win, anything goes. We must widen the gap while we still can," Yi Tianxing murmured, his eyes serious.
From what he'd gathered, the racecourse included Three Disasters and Nine Calamities.The Wind Disaster and Weak Water River were just one disaster and one calamity.That meant two more disasters, and eight more calamities remained.
Each could be fatal.One cultivator might be trapped, while another breezed through.
That was how the gap in rankings formed.
If he had the lead now, he had to hold on to it.
Jinpeng sped forward—but several silhouettes were still ahead. Others followed behind.
In his view, the leader was the middle-aged man riding a giant eagle, wielding an iron sword with sword intent swirling around him.
Next was a woman in a red robe, riding a Wind God Winged Dragon, moving like the wind.
Yi Tianxing was in third.
Behind him, Xiang Yu was riding his Tyrant Dragon, charging forward with overwhelming momentum.
Liu Bang, Yao Yue, and several Western cultivators had also somehow crossed the Weak Water.
The river had created a major distance between competitors.Now, depending on their mounts, some closed the gap while others fell behind.
Before long, the road ahead suddenly cracked open.A huge chasm appeared.
It was like the road had collapsed, leaving a massive ravine over 3,000 meters wide.It split the land like two separate continents.
Beneath was void—a dark abyss.
One couldn't see the bottom.Anyone who fell would surely die—even cultivators.
"The road ahead is broken."
Yi Tianxing had already spotted the cliff. The other side was too far—almost impossible to see.
This was a heavenly barrier. There was no bridge, only empty space.
Howl!!Ahead, the giant eagle flapped its wings, carrying the middle-aged swordsman over the chasm.
Underneath, white clouds formed a bridge of mist—a Cloud Bridge spanning the canyon.
Here, flying was possible—unlike above the Weak Water, where even the air was blocked.
"We can fly! Jinpeng, take us across!"Yi Tianxing immediately decided.
This gave an enormous advantage to those with flying mounts.
At least, this chasm was no longer a threat.
"This is unfair! They have flying mounts—we don't! Are we just supposed to sit here and watch?!" a Western cultivator roared in frustration.
"Coward."Xiang Yu snorted coldly.
His Tyrant Dragon charged forward without hesitation—straight toward the cliff.
Boom!
The dragon rushed into the abyss—but didn't fall.
Instead, it stepped onto a cloud—the Cloud Bridge beneath its feet.
It wasn't an illusion.Though the clouds looked light as feathers, they supported the Tyrant Dragon's immense weight.
This was a true Cloud Bridge—a road of clouds strong enough for heavy mounts.
The dragon charged across, chest high, each step full of unstoppable force—yet the clouds held.
In a flash, it vanished into the cloud sea.
"So the clouds are the path."
A Western knight slapped his mount—a demonic wolf—and charged forward.
The first step landed safely—solid and real.But after barely a hundred meters—
Crack!
The wolf's foot sank into nothingness.It and its rider plummeted into the void.
"Ah! Why?! Why did we fall?!"A shrill scream echoed from the canyon.
"Fool."Xiang Yu scoffed from atop his dragon.
If one observed carefully, they'd see—the Tyrant Dragon's path wasn't a straight line. It veered left and right.Each step was deliberate, chosen with purpose.