9: Purple Thunder Sword

The moment the Starship tore through the thick clouds, Lin Yuan's heart felt as if it were clenched by an invisible giant hand!

What he saw overturned his perception of the world—the entire magnificent Cangqiong Academy was actually floating above the sea of clouds tens of thousands of meters high, like the dwelling of a deity!

Countless massive anti-gravity engines flickered with deep blue light, appearing and disappearing among the swirling clouds, emitting a low hum like that of an ancient behemoth.

But what made the Soul tremble most was the breathtakingly towering complex in the center of the Academy: Nine inverted black pyramid colleges, like nine demon swords stabbing toward the earth, guarded the colossal heaven-reaching pagoda at the center, which pierced the clouds as if it meant to punch a hole through the very firmament!

The spire was hidden in the higher-altitude gale winds and the ionosphere, radiating a mysterious, dangerous, and boundless aura.

"That is the symbol of the Academy, the 'heaven-reaching pagoda'." Zhou Qingxue's cool voice rarely carried such warmth as she looked toward the unattainable spire. "Legend says... the secret to becoming a God is hidden at the top."

"Hmph—" Lu Mingchuan scoffed impolitely, leaning lazily against the porthole. "Little Junior Sister is fooling the newcomers again. That broken pagoda? Heh, it's the top 'Genius' graveyard on Blue Star! Forget you, even our esteemed Dean only dares to hover around the periphery. Inside? You can't even find the bone fragments of those who enter!"

The Starship landed smoothly on the glittering silver platform of the Equipment College. The moment the hatch slid open, the simple S-Rank Badge on Lin Yuan's chest suddenly became scalding hot like a branding iron! A cold, bone-chilling blue scanning beam instantly enveloped him from head to toe.

[Identity Confirmed: S-Rank Special Recruit - Lin Yuan]

[combat power Assessment: 54 (Extremely Abnormal)]

[Mental Energy Assessment: 102 (First Heaven - Un-transcended Awakening - Extremely Abnormal)]

[Highest Priority Command: Proceed to the Dean's Office immediately!]

The cold mechanical voice echoed in the empty docking area, carrying unquestionable authority.

"Yo ho! The old man is panicking now!" Lu Mingchuan whistled loudly, wearing an amused expression. "Junior Sister Qingxue, hurry up and take your 'precious darling' to see your uncle!"

A faint, almost imperceptible blush rose on Zhou Qingxue's fair cheeks. She glared fiercely at Lu Mingchuan, but the tips of her ears secretly turned crimson, and her voice remained cool: "Follow me."

Walking through the Academy corridor filled with futuristic technology, both sides were lined with dazzling Holy Lands for Cultivation:

[Star Body Forging Chamber] - The gravity parameters jumped wildly, reaching a maximum of 50 times! Through the observation window, faint figures could be seen moving slowly under the terrifying gravity, their muscles bulging like coiling Dragons.

[Spiritual Energy Tide Pool] - Spiritual Qi, so dense it had liquefied, churned with colorful radiance, reaching a concentration of 300% compared to the outside world! Just by approaching it, Lin Yuan felt his pores open, and the power within his body stirred restlessly.

[Space-Time Cultivation Pod] - The streamlined silver-white pod stood silently, its hatch engraved with profound time runes. The internal annotation stating that the flow of time was halved meant that one day of Cultivation for others was two days here!

In front of every facility, students cast glances that were either curious, scrutinizing, or subtly jealous.

When the unique dark gold S-Badge on Lin Yuan's chest came into view, suppressed gasps and whispers spread rapidly like stones dropped into a lake:

"Look quickly! This year's S-Rank?!"

"Hiss... He finally showed up! I wonder what his combat power is?"

"If 'Crazy Lu' personally went to pick him up... he must be a monster!"

The heavy alloy door of the Dean's Office slid open silently, and an immense pressure of Spiritual Energy, vast as the abyssal starry sky, rushed out, nearly stopping Lin Yuan's breath!

Behind the desk sat an elegant middle-aged man dressed in a plain white robe. His features were seven parts similar to Zhou Qingxue's, yet contained unfathomable power.

"Student Lin Yuan greets Dean Zhou." Lin Yuan suppressed the agitation in his heart and bowed respectfully.

Zhou Xingchen—Dean of the Equipment Branch of Cangqiong Academy, a Peak expert of the Spirit Refining Realm, Nine Heavens—slowly put down the holographic star map in his hand. His gaze was sharp as an X-ray capable of piercing the Void Realm, instantly sweeping over Lin Yuan's entire body, as if even the Primordial Purple Qi flowing within him could not hide.

"A Limit Breaker!" Zhou Xingchen's voice was not loud, yet it burst like thunder in the quiet room. "And... he actually forcibly Awakened his Mental Energy during the Reserve Martial Artist stage, and has even stabilized it at the Second Heaven Realm!" He lightly tapped his finger on the desk, and a dazzling light screen instantly projected in front of everyone:

[Suggested Rank Assessment: SSS-Rank]

[Basis 1: Achieving 500+ combat power during the Reserve Martial Artist stage (Breaking Historical Record)]

[Basis 2: Awakening Mental Energy and Breaking Through the First Heaven without Transcendence]

[Special Note: Highly Recommend Initiating the Nine Heavens Trial]

"Holy Hell! Old Zhou, are you crazy?!" Lu Mingchuan sprang up from the sofa, his eyes nearly popping out. "SSS-Rank?! That hasn't appeared in over a hundred years! And the Nine Heavens Trial? Are you trying to kill him?!"

"Noisy." Zhou Xingchen flicked his finger, and an invisible Restriction instantly sealed Lu Mingchuan's mouth, leaving the latter only able to stare wide-eyed.

He turned to Lin Yuan and pushed over a crystal card glowing with deep purple light: "Here are twenty thousand Academy credits. Go to the Martial Skill Repository and choose two Heaven-Grade Cultivation Techniques. All other resources will be supplied without limit until you run out of funds."

He paused, his gaze solemn as an abyss: "In one month, you must participate in the Nine Heavens Trial. If you can come out alive..." A flicker of indescribable light crossed Zhou Xingchen's eyes, "the Academy will unlock a 'Great Opportunity' for you."

The Martial Skill Repository was a massive, pitch-black cube suspended in mid-air. At the entrance, there was only a scruffy old man dozing off, his beard nearly dragging on the ground.

When Lin Yuan presented the purple crystal card symbolizing unlimited authority, the old man's cloudy eyelids lifted slightly, revealing a flash of piercing light that seemed capable of seeing through past and present lives.

"Heaven-Grade Section, top floor." The hoarse voice sounded like sandpaper rubbing. "Kid, remember, don't choose the strongest, choose the one that suits you best."

The elevator ascended silently. Zhou Qingxue explained in a low voice: "Heaven-Grade Martial Skills all possess spirits; they will actively choose their master."

The Heaven-Grade Section was surprisingly simple and spacious, containing only nine ancient, cyan stone platforms. Suspended above each platform was a warm Jade Slip emitting light of a different attribute. The moment Lin Yuan stepped into the area—

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Three of the Jade Slips seemed like Vicious Beasts roused from slumber, bursting forth with blinding light, intensely vibrating, and emitting a humming sound of desire. The entire space trembled because of them!

"Three scrolls resonating?!" Zhou Qingxue cried out in shock, her cool face showing unbelievable astonishment for the first time. "Back then... I barely managed to stir one..."

The first Jade Slip, crimson like blood, transformed into a fiery meteor and actively shot towards Lin Yuan. The light unfolded:

The Heavenfire Scorching Plains Art (Heaven-Grade Low Grade)

Burning the Heaven and boiling the sea, scorching cities with fierce flames! A large-scale destructive fire-element Martial Skill!

Exchange Requirement: 4000 Academy credits

Immediately following, the second Jade Slip, deep blue like cold jade from the deep sea, refused to be outdone, summoning the phantom of monstrous waves:

Crushing Wave Stacking Force (Heaven-Grade Medium Grade)

Nine layers of stacking waves, breaking ten thousand jun of force! A water-element extreme burst technique, three times amplification!

Exchange Requirement: 4500 Academy credits

Just as Lin Yuan's gaze lingered between the two peerless Martial Skills—

Boom!

The third deep purple Jade Slip suddenly erupted with thunder that pierced the Nine Heavens! Blinding Purple Lightning instantly filled the entire space, and the violent True Intent of Thunder made the air crackle! It aggressively pushed aside the previous two and hovered right before Lin Yuan's glabella!

Purple Heaven Startling Thunder Sword (Heaven-Grade High Grade)

Drawing down the Divine Thunder of the Nine Heavens, forging the Supreme Sword Dao! Contains a trace of the True Intent of Thunder Origin!

Exchange Requirement: 5000 Academy credits

"Choose it!" Zhou Qingxue grabbed Lin Yuan's wrist almost without thinking, her voice carrying an unprecedented urgency. "True Intent of Thunder! This is a Heaven-Defying Opportunity that you might never encounter again! Miss it, and you'll regret it forever!"

The choice in the Movement Technique Section was full of surprises—in the enormous area, the only one that produced a faint resonance with Lin Yuan was a dark, cracked, and incomplete gray Jade Slip:

Sky Wandering Steps (Incomplete Scroll - Rank Unknown)

Estimated Original Rank: Heaven-Grade High Grade

Current Completion: 73%

Special Effect: Walking on Air (Briefly)

Exchange Requirement: 3000 Academy credits (Incomplete Scroll carries extremely high risk)

"This..." Zhou Qingxue frowned, just about to caution him that the risk was too great, but she saw an astonishing light burst forth in Lin Yuan's eyes, and he swiped the card without hesitation!

The Jade Slip felt cold to the touch, but the dormant Primordial Purple Qi within his body instantly boiled and cheered, and the Data Panel clearly displayed:

[Detected complementable Cultivation Technique: Sky Wandering Steps]

[Completion requires consumption of: 50 evolution points]

"Let's go, exchange resources!" Lin Yuan no longer hesitated, opening the Points Manifest and tapping rapidly:

Star Dew × 10 (3000 points/drop) - Each drop contains Star Essence, violently boosting base combat power by 20 points!

Spiritual Marrow Fluid × 10 (5000 points/bottle) - A top-tier treasure for nourishing the Divine Soul and accelerating Mental Energy Transcendence!

Star Body Forging Chamber - Fifty Times Gravity Monthly Pass (1000 points) - A place of Hellish refinement!

High Purity Spiritual Energy Crystals × Massive Quantity (2000 points) - Essential "fuel" for Cultivation!

Remaining Points: 2000 (Reserve)

"You..." Zhou Qingxue stared at the "Madman's Shopping List," which was enough to leave any senior student dumbfounded, especially those ten drops of Star Dew. "The energy contained in Star Dew is extremely violent. It's the limit for an ordinary Martial Artist to refine one drop a week, yet you..."

Lin Yuan curved his lips into a confident arc and offered no explanation. With the Primordial Purple Qi within him, how could his refinement efficiency be compared to that of ordinary people?

The door to the Star Body Forging Chamber was tightly shut. Fifty times gravity pressed down like an invisible mountain, making every bone groan. Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, surrounded by massive piles of High Purity Spiritual Energy Crystals emitting thick mist. The two Heaven-Grade Jade Slips were pressed against his forehead, and a vast, ocean-like stream of information surged madly into his Sea of Consciousness.

[Purple Heaven Startling Thunder Sword: Beginner (1%)]

[Sky Wandering Steps: Beginner (1%)]

"evolution points, allocate them now!" Lin Yuan roared internally.

Sixteen precious evolution points instantly poured into the two newly acquired peerless Martial Skills. In that instant, countless profound insights, exquisite methods of force circulation, the trajectory of thunder, and the rhythm of walking on air flooded his mind like a divine revelation!

[Purple Heaven Startling Thunder Sword Mastery soared → Proficient (15%)]

[Sky Wandering Steps Mastery soared → Proficient (12%)]

The first drop of Star Dew entered his mouth! Energy as violent as a supernova instantly exploded inside his body! A tearing pain erupted in his Meridians!

Just as the energy was about to spiral out of control, the dormant Primordial Purple Qi slightly rotated. The Star Essence, which would have been enough to burst an ordinary Martial Artist, instantly became docile like a stream, efficiently absorbed and refined, integrating into his limbs and bones. Every cell cheered!

[combat power +20 → 566!]

Six days later. In the fifty-times gravity field, a figure moved as fast as a phantom. The Cold Star Sword in his hand no longer shone with faint starlight, but was wrapped in dazzling purple electric arcs!

His sword moves became increasingly fierce and ruthless. Every swing brought forth a cracking sound that tore the air and leaping electric snakes!

Even more astonishingly, his figure could occasionally hover briefly and turn mid-air in a bizarre fashion, as if stepping on invisible stairs—this was the sign of Minor Achievement in Sky Wandering Steps!

Twentieth day of Cultivation. In the center of the gravity chamber, Lin Yuan stood quietly.

The lightning around him was no longer scattered light, but had condensed into a nearly tangible purple armor of thunder, crackling and radiating a destructive aura. The values on the Data Panel were enough to make any so-called Genius despair:

[combat power: 1600]

[Mental Energy: 300]

[evolution points: 725]

[Purple Heaven Startling Thunder Sword]: Major Achievement (6%)

[Sky Wandering Steps]: Major Achievement (4%)

[Mountain Crushing Fist]: Perfection (99%)

[Remaining Points: 2000]

[Nine Heavens Trial Countdown: 3 days!]

As the last wisp of stray Purple Lightning merged into his body like a tired bird returning to its nest, Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, brilliant starlight and domineering Purple Lightning intertwined and rotated, captivating the Soul.

"Hoo..." Exhaling a mouthful of turbid Qi carrying faint arcs of lightning, Lin Yuan clenched his fists, feeling the terrifying power surging within his body—power far surpassing what he had twenty days ago. "It's time... to properly 'prepare' for that so-called 'Nine Heavens Trial'."

"Nine Heavens Trial?" Beside the crystal wall, Zhou Qingxue's slender fingers tapped unconsciously, an unyielding solemnity covering her exquisite face. "I know very little about it. It is the Academy's highest and most brutal trial. Throughout the millennia, only three recorded individuals have passed it."

Lin Yuan, having just finished his Fifty-Times Gravity Limit Training, was steaming with heat, his muscle fibers still vibrating at high frequency. He looked at Zhou Qingxue, his gaze sharp: "Even you don't know the specifics?"

Zhou Qingxue shook her head, her silver hair swaying like a waterfall. "Great Uncle is extremely secretive about it. However..." As if she suddenly remembered something, a faint light shone in her ice-blue eyes, "Senior Brother Lu... he is one of those three successful candidates!"

"Lu Mingchuan?!" Lin Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted. That Senior Brother, who was always joking around and never serious, was actually one of the three peerless Prodigies of the millennium?

"Drip—" Lin Yuan connected Lu Mingchuan's communication without hesitation.

"Oh? Little Junior Brother misses his Senior Brother?" A holographic projection popped up. Lu Mingchuan was sporting a messy, bird's nest haircut, his face smudged with oil stains, and the background was filled with the noisy clang of metal. "Perfect timing! Come find me at the 'Star Realm Equipment Design Institute'! I've sent you the coordinates! I have something good!"

The Star Realm Equipment Design Institute was located in the northwest corner of the Academy, its massive hemispherical building resembling an inverted silver bowl. The moment Lin Yuan stepped into the main hall, his breath caught again!

Before him was a galaxy of equipment! Hundreds of transparent energy display cases hovered in the air, showcasing knives, swords, gauntlets, battle armor, firearms... all different shapes and sizes, shimmering with brilliant light!

From the lowest Rank White Glow (+5 combat power), to Green Luster (+10), Blue Radiance (+20), Purple Haze (+50), Gold Splendor (+200), and finally to the few cases at the very top that emitted heart-stopping bloody light (+500), they formed a shocking rainbow of combat power equipment!

"New Student Benefit: Present your student ID to receive one basic white equipment item free of charge." A cold mechanical voice prompted.

Lin Yuan involuntarily walked toward a blood-red display case. Inside, a longsword lay silently, its body completely crimson, as if molten lava flowed within the blade. A ferocious Dragon head was inlaid on the guard. The adjacent light screen displayed:

[Blazing Dragon Roar - Red Grade]

combat power Boost: +500 (Requires Base combat power ≥ 2000)

Attributes:

Attack includes 'Dragon Flame Burn': Continuously erodes the target's vitality and Spiritual Qi!

Dragon Might Deterrence: Suppresses Low-Rank Yao Beasts/those with weak will!

Exchange Requirement: 50,000 Academy credits or completion of 3 S-Rank High-Risk Missions

"Taken a liking to this big guy?" A playful voice sounded from behind. Lu Mingchuan had appeared without Lin Yuan noticing, tossing a gear that flashed with dangerous purple light in his hand.

"Good taste! Too bad, your current small physique would be sucked dry the moment you pick it up. 2000 combat power is the threshold; not a single point less will do!" He pursed his lips, signaling Lin Yuan to look at the conspicuous red marking.

"Come with me, I'll show you something truly good." Lu Mingchuan turned and walked toward a hidden passage inscribed with complex energy circuits.

At the end of the passage was a massive metal gate covered in profound runes. Lu Mingchuan pressed his palm into the groove on the door.

Buzz—!

Blue light scanned across, the runes lit up sequentially, and the giant door silently slid open to both sides, revealing a space several times larger than its exterior—clearly utilizing top-tier Spatial Folding Technology.

"Welcome to the 'Mingchuan' Cutting-Edge Research and Manufacturing Institute!" Lu Mingchuan spread his arms, his face displaying undisguised pride. "The exclusive playground of this Genius!"

In the core of the institute, on a floating workbench, an unfinished longsword was bathing in intense purple electric arcs.

The entire sword body displayed a translucent purple crystal texture, with countless fine thunder patterns moving like living things. Dozens of holographic screens floated around, streaming dizzyingly complex data and energy flows like waterfalls.

"This is..." The moment Lin Yuan stepped in, the Primordial Purple Qi in his Dantian suddenly trembled violently, as if it had produced a resonance with the sword blank originating from the Origin!

"A 'small gift' for you." Lu Mingchuan snapped his fingers, and a mechanical arm nearby flexibly handed over a cup of liquid bubbling with strange blue-purple air. "'Overclocked Thought Potion'. Drink it. You won't be able to understand what comes next if your brain speed isn't fast enough."

The liquid was icy cold upon entry, then transformed into a violent, refreshing torrent that rushed straight into his mind! In an instant, Lin Yuan felt his thought speed soar several times over!

The trajectories of dust floating in the air were clearly visible, the faint sounds of precision machinery operating in the next room roared like thunder in his ears, and even every electric spark jumping on the workbench seemed to slow down!

"Hiss... this effect..." Lin Yuan was shocked.

"Basic operation, no need to praise." Lu Mingchuan had returned to the workbench, his hands blurring into afterimages as he rapidly operated in the Void Realm.

Various rare metals, energy crystal cores, and biological Materials were precisely combined, embedded, and smelted in his hands, as if endowed with life.

His movements contained an indescribable rhythm and the beauty of the Law. "Watch closely! How much you comprehend depends on your own fortune!"

Lin Yuan was completely focused, and the Primordial Purple Qi also seemed to be assisting in analyzing the profound mysteries contained within those movements. The Data Panel quietly updated:

[Comprehended Life Skill: Equipment Manufacturing (Elementary)]

[Currently Manufacturable: Basic White Equipment (Requires corresponding Materials)]

"Success—!" Lu Mingchuan roared!

Boom-Crack—!!!

A purple pillar of lightning suddenly erupted from the workbench, piercing the heavens and earth! The violent energy impact caused the entire institute's energy shield to fluctuate violently!

After the dazzling thunder light slowly dissipated, a flawless purple crystal longsword quietly hovered in the air. The blade was crystal clear, and inside, it seemed to Seal a violent sea of thunder, with countless tiny purple electric snakes happily swimming and leaping across the sword's surface.

[Purple Lightning - Red Grade (Unbound)]

combat power Boost: +500 (Requires Base combat power ≥ 2000)

Attributes:

Attack includes 'Purple Lightning Paralysis': Strongly interferes with nerves and Spiritual Qi circulation!

Lightning Cultivation Technique Compatibility +30%: Cultivating lightning Cultivation Techniques yields twice the result with half the effort, and power greatly increases!

Perfectly compatible with Lightning Attribute Spiritual Qi!

Lu Mingchuan casually grabbed the priceless Red Grade longsword and tossed it over.

"This... is too valuable! Senior Brother!" Lin Yuan subconsciously caught it. It was slightly heavy in his hand, and the hilt sent a comfortable tingling sensation, blending perfectly with the lightning power inside his body. He could clearly feel the destructive power contained within the blade; this was definitely the top-tier killing weapon he had ever seen!

"Take it!" Lu Mingchuan waved his hand, completely unconcerned. "The Materials were all charged to the Academy's public account, so no heartache! Besides..." He winked teasingly, "You are my designated Little Junior Brother! But..."

Changing the subject, he pointed at the halo circulating on the sword body. "2000 combat power is the hard threshold. If you don't meet it, this treasure is just a stick for poking fires in your hands. So, fight hard, kid!"

Lin Yuan nodded heavily, gripping the "Purple Lightning" tightly. This gift was not only a weapon but also a weighty acknowledgment and a goal that must be achieved!

"Senior Brother, regarding the Nine Heavens Trial..."

The playful smile vanished instantly from Lu Mingchuan's face. His eyes narrowed, and with a wave of his hand, he deployed a powerful force field that distorted light and sound, ensuring that the following words could not possibly be leaked.

"Nine Heavens Trial?" Lu Mingchuan's voice deepened, carrying an unprecedented solemnity, and even... a trace of subtle lingering fear.

"That's not a trial ground at all... that's the heaven-reaching pagoda selecting its 'food' or, rather, its 'Legacy Holder'! Can't pass? Heh, there's only one result—death! Annihilation of body and Soul! You won't even have a chance at Reincarnation!"

Lin Yuan's heart trembled violently, and a chill rushed straight up his spine to the back of his head!

"Back then... I purely got lucky!" Lu Mingchuan gave a self-deprecating smile, but his eyes were sharp as knives. "My talent happened to match the core requirement of one of the stages, and I barely managed to struggle my way out! The other stages? I didn't even have the courage to try! Every stage is a bloody path paved with the bones of peerless Geniuses!"

"Since that damned pagoda crashed onto Blue Star a millennium ago, how many astonishingly talented people have rushed into it one after another? Guess what? Those who came out alive and whose names could still be remembered don't exceed three fingers! Moreover..."

He lowered his voice, carrying a fear that bordered on reverence. "The current universally recognized strongest person on Blue Star only passed two types of trials back then! After that... no one has ever seen him step half a pace into the heaven-reaching pagoda again!"

Lin Yuan's throat felt dry. Senior Brother's description instantly turned the towering heaven-reaching pagoda into a Primeval Gigantic Beast that chose people to devour in his eyes!

"Why... does the Academy still insist on opening this kind of trial?" Lin Yuan's voice was a little hoarse.

Lu Mingchuan showed a mysterious yet infinitely desolate smile: "Because... every 'survivor' who crawls out of there has, to some extent, touched the tip of the iceberg of that forbidden secret—about why the heaven-reaching pagoda descended, about what is at the top of the pagoda, and about... the truth of this world!"

Lin Yuan wanted to press further, but Lu Mingchuan had already waved his hand, retracting the sound-isolating force field and returning to his cynical appearance. "As for the rest, we'll talk once you, kid, manage to crawl out of there alive! Now..."

He pointed to the giant clock on the wall, which was displaying a pulsating scarlet countdown. "You have ten days left! Go Cultivate!"

Leaving the Equipment Design Institute filled with shock and heavy pressure, Lin Yuan's communicator suddenly vibrated, and a top-level authorization message from Zhou Xingchen popped up:

[SSS-Rank Seed Sequence Authority - Phase One Reward Activated]

[Authority: Space-Time Cultivation Pod - Double Flow Rate - 10 days Usage Rights (Value: 100,000 Academy credits)]

[—Zhou Xingchen]

[Note: Remaining core Authority and resources will be unlocked and issued after you pass the 'Nine Heavens Trial'.]

"A Space-Time Cultivation Pod worth ten thousand Academy credits a day..." Lin Yuan gasped, looking down at the longsword "Purple Lightning" in his hand, which was jumping with dangerous purple electricity, then looking up at the colossal heaven-reaching pagoda in the center of the Academy, which seemed to connect the Realms of Gods and Devils.

The Nine Heavens Trial... the secret of the heaven-reaching pagoda... the truth of the world... a flame mixed with fear, excitement, and infinite fighting spirit burned fiercely in his eyes, where Purple Lightning and starlight intertwined!