The golden axe-spears leveled at Frank’s chest were forty feet long and forged from condensed ancient sun-essence.
Each axe-spear blade radiated a crushing aura of First Epoch martial intent. A spiritual pressure so huge that even a Ninth-Tier Great Saint would have been forced to their knees. Their nascent souls shook before the judgment of the ancient guardians.
“MORTAL DUST!” the Chief Sovereign Phantom boomed, his one-hundred-foot golden avatar lighting up the cave like an artificial sun. “YOU STAND BEFORE THE GATES OF THE WORLD CORE! TO CROSS THIS THRESHOLD WITHOUT PROVING YOUR SOVEREIGN HERITAGE IS TO COMMIT TREASON AGAINST THE FABRIC OF HEAVEN!”
The six golden phantoms flanking him raised their weapons all at once, their voices merging into a thunderous chorus that echoed off the mantle rock:
“SUBMIT TO THE SOVEREIGN SAGE MASTER TRIAL! SOLVE THE THREE UNSOLVABLE PARADOXES OF CREATION INSCRIBED UPON THE SACRED STELE, OR SUFFER DISSOLUTION INTO FORMLESS ASH!”
A massive stone stele of semi-clear white jade rose from the center of the dark rock floor.
It was twenty feet tall, five feet thick. Then it covered in fine, detailed, swirling First Epoch runes that pulsed with blinding nine-colored sky light.
For three hundred thousand years, thirty ages of Saint-tier grandmasters, sect founders, and immortal emperors had dropped into this deep gap to try the trial. Every single one had emerged with their hair bleached white, their Dao-hearts shattered. Their spirit veins withered by the backward equations of heaven and earth.
