169: Two years and nine months

"This... how can this Golden Giant be so strong?"

Looking at the Golden Giant before him, Lin Yi's eyes were filled with shock.

"Even if its combat power isn't as high as King Lie's, it's definitely a significant notch above the 'Dragon-Subduing Arhat' Monk Kong Wen, who is ranked first on the Heaven Ranking."

"At this rate, I probably won't even last a hundred Moves against it! And this is only at twenty percent of its combat power!"

"If it were at one hundred percent, how strong would it be? King Lie probably wouldn't even last a single Move! My Xiantian Golden Core Realm trial actually requires me to defeat such a monster?"

Thinking of this, Lin Yi's heart was filled with shock and an immense sense of heaviness.

Once combat power reaches the level of the top three on the Heaven Ranking, the difficulty of increasing it even by a sliver is extremely high.

For other Innate Golden Cores, unless they are like King Lie who achieved Major Achievement in a Saint-level Martial Art, increasing their strength by even twenty or thirty percent is harder than reaching the heavens, let alone doubling it.

Lin Yi's situation was somewhat special, as his cultivation was only at the Xiantian Golden Core Realm level.

But even so, Lin Yi estimated that once he raised his cultivation to the Peak Xiantian Golden Core Realm and the Peak Mortal Shedding Realm, his combat power would only double, making him comparable to King Lie.

If he wanted to improve further after that, he would have to rely on Saint-level Martial Arts.

For example, if he reached Major Achievement in a Saint-level Martial Art, with the King of Battle talent stacking, his Martial Arts Techniques Realm would be enough to rival Perfection in a Saint-level Martial Art. His combat power could then increase nearly twofold on top of being comparable to King Lie.

But even so, Lin Yi's combat power would only be around eighty or ninety percent of this Golden Giant's.

To defeat it, he would likely need to Cultivate a Saint-level Martial Art to a level of Major Achievement approaching Perfection.

Major Achievement approaching Perfection in a Saint-level Martial Art—what a profound level of Martial Arts Techniques that was!

Even among Martial Saints, it was estimated that more than half of those experts hadn't reached it, yet Lin Yi was merely at the Xiantian Golden Core Realm.

Even with his world-shaking talent, multiple mystic purple rank talents, and the brilliant gold rank talent 'Human World Blade God' in his possession, reaching such a level would likely take several years or even a decade!

"Fine!"

At this thought, Lin Yi's gaze sharpened.

"If it takes ten years, then ten years it is. I'm only eighteen right now anyway!"

"Even if ten years pass, I'll only be twenty-eight."

"At twenty-eight, I'll defeat this Golden Giant and then Breakthrough to Innate Golden Core. At that time, I'll still be a Prodigy in the history of the Nine Provinces second only to the Martial God."

"And for the sake of the treasures from the Martial Emperors Relic Palace's Xiantian Golden Core Realm trial, even if it takes ten years, it's worth it!"

With his mind set, Lin Yi continued to exchange blows with the Golden Giant.

Immediately... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Series of massive explosions and the clashing of metal rang out within the vast golden palace.

Terrifying fists tore through layers of air waves, and cold saber light sliced through layers of the Void Realm.

Inside the golden palace, before this Golden Giant, Lin Yi was like a flea before an adult, constantly dodging while repeatedly clashing and fighting with it.

On the battlefield, as Lin Yi was sent flying time and again and brutally ravaged by the Golden Giant,

during this process, Lin Yi's mind completely quieted down. He cast aside all distracting thoughts and immersed himself fully in martial arts.

And at this time, his talents also began to slowly activate.

——————

【Talent: Human World Blade God】

【Rank: brilliant gold rank】

【Introduction: Divine and enlightened, existing within a single blade. Heart and blade reflect each other, understanding the ultimate Dao.

You are the ultimate manifestation of talent in the path of the blade within the human world. You are... You possess three great supernatural abilities in the Dao of the Blade.

1. ... 3. Heaven and Earth as Teacher: Your understanding of the blade has transcended specific Moves. Your heart feels, your intent directs; mountains, rivers, the myriad states of the Mortal World can all become sources of inspiration and simulation blueprints for your creation of techniques.

Walking through heaven and earth and taking nature as your teacher will cause your state of mind to begin transforming, your will to increase greatly, and your efficiency in practicing saber techniques and comprehending the Dao to increase drastically once more!

You are the ultimate answer to the path of the blade in the human world...】

——————

【Talent: Ten Thousand Grinds Forge Edge】

【Rank: mystic purple rank】

【Introduction: Calamity fires forge iron, a thousand hammers make steel. External pressure and internal tempering, the divine edge is hidden within.

When your will and body endure external pressure and damage, a singular "forging reaction" occurs, transforming the grinding itself into nourishment for tempering your edge.

In every battle or trial, any physical, energy, or mental pressure or adversity applied to you will be passively guided and transformed by your will, then accumulated into strands of potential. It is as if steel is being constantly hammered and forged, slowly accumulating and hiding its edge within.

Until at a certain moment, all edges and all potential erupt at once! Releasing incredible and infinite energy!

You are a walking tempered divine edge; all manner of calamities that befall you are but whetstones to sharpen your blade!】

——————

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Inside the Martial Emperors Relic Palace, as Lin Yi fought time and again, his two great talents erupted together with fierce momentum.

At this moment, under the effect of the third supernatural ability of the "Human World Blade God" talent, "Heaven and Earth as Teacher,"

in Lin Yi's eyes, the Golden Giant's fists—no, the entire Golden Giant, and even the constantly trembling ground beneath his feet—seemed to turn into strands of tiny saber light.

Strands of tiny saber light formed the ground, formed the Golden Giant, and formed its fists!

Every vibration and every tremor contained infinite mysteries and emitted infinite saber rhythms, guiding Lin Yi to take step after step toward Major Achievement in the Circulation of Stars Saber Canon.

At the same time, under the effect of the talent "Ten Thousand Grinds Forge Edge," at regular intervals, the miraculous energy accumulated by "Ten Thousand Grinds Forge Edge" would instantly erupt in Lin Yi's mind.

Although the energy intensity couldn't compare to when he was being hunted by King Lie, it still caused Lin Yi's Comprehension Ability to increase greatly and his level of insight to advance significantly... 【Martial Art: Circulation of Stars Saber Canon (Minor Achievement, 9%)】

【Martial Art: Circulation of Stars Saber Canon (Minor Achievement, 29%)】

【Martial Art: Circulation of Stars Saber Canon (Minor Achievement, 48%)】

【Martial Art: Circulation of Stars Saber Canon (Minor Achievement, 66%)】

...Under the repeated grinding, Lin Yi's Martial Arts Techniques Realm soared.

At the same time, his cultivation was also growing rapidly under the magic of time.

And so, in the blink of an eye, two years and nine months had passed.