Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

"Look, this is the way to the third layer, but unfortunately, the other half of the Sacred Relic has long been lost."

The Formless Heavenly Demon stepped forward and pressed its hand into the void.

"Gate!"

The Gate of Heaven reemerged.

The gate opened.

A staircase extending upwards appeared on the other side.

The half-statue was about to take a step when it suddenly exclaimed:

"It's you!"

The Formless Heavenly Demon emitted a glow, transforming into a line of glowing text: "Do you know who I am?"

"No, I don't know who you are, but I know what you have—"

The half-statue continued excitedly:

"Over tens of thousands of years, in the Immortal Country, only a handful of people have attained 'Connecting', and among these few, only one or two have mastered 'Heaven'—"

"'Connecting' allows your strongest ability to gain the attribute of 'space-time continuity';"

"'Heaven' enables you to transform the Heart Demon into a Formless Heavenly Demon on the basis of the Supreme Forgetting Love Feathering Ascension Scripture!"

"—You are one of our own!"

Shen Ye was somewhat surprised.

The half-statue knew quite a lot.

"Can you help me with anything?" Shen Ye made the Formless Heavenly Demon write the question in glowing text.

"Of course! I will guide you through the entire trial of the Sacred Relic, which will help you grow stronger step by step."

The half-statue announced excitedly.

Shen Ye suddenly realized a problem.

During the initial trial, he had enhanced his Strength by the First Layer of the Law Domain.

But now it was the Formless Heavenly Demon participating in the trial.

Success in the trial wouldn't enhance his own Strength but would only increase the strength of the Formless Heavenly Demon.

As if knowing what he was thinking, the half-statue hummed:

"It's fine, I will first take your Formless Heavenly Demon through the trial, so you will have an idea."

"Next time you come in person, it will be even easier for you to pass."

The Formless Heavenly Demon wrote a single word:

"Good."

It followed the half-statue back to the plaza.

—Since Shen Ye wasn't personally taking part in the trial, the Formless Heavenly Demon, as a newcomer, had to start from the first trial.

"The trial of the first layer, in the absence of other Penglai disciples, I will summon an Ancient Divine Beast, its name is Calamity Fight."

"Its Strength is somewhat suppressed."

"You must overcome it."

The half-statue spoke and triggered the first trial.

The void opened.

A beast as tall as three men dropped down.

It was a black-maned dog, its body enwreathed with blazing fire.

Upon its arrival, it first scanned the surroundings warily, then fell into a puzzled stupor.

Where was the enemy?

—The Formless Heavenly Demon was undetectable.

Calamity Fight ran back and forth across the plaza, but could never find the Formless Heavenly Demon.

However, Shen Ye also encountered a dilemma.

The Formless Heavenly Demon only had a third of his own Strength!

How was he supposed to fight?

He pondered for a few moments, then a plan formed in his mind.

In an instant.

The Formless Heavenly Demon silently practiced the Supreme Forgetting Love Feathering Ascension Scripture, and its Spiritual Power began to stir.

Whoosh—

A faint golden brilliance circulated endlessly around the Formless Heavenly Demon.

Flame Spirit Divine Light!

This was refined Spiritual Power, which could triple the power of all its attacks.

With this in place.

The attack level of the Formless Heavenly Demon was now on par with Shen Ye.

The Heavenly Demon faced Calamity Fight and walked over.

The beast named Calamity Fight remained oblivious, still wandering around, vigilant of every movement on the plaza.

The Heavenly Demon ran alongside it, casually pulling out the Spring Rain Blade, and silently channeled all its Spiritual Power—

A flash of cold light!

Calamity Fight let out a thunderous roar, its chest soaked with blood and badly wounded.

In that instant.

It erupted in ferocity and no longer cared where its enemy was, immediately releasing a powerful wide-area Flame Technique.

Would Shen Ye let it have its way?

He controlled the Formless Heavenly Demon, holding the Spring Rain Blade high without expression, and uttered softly:

"Ying ying ying."

The pale golden label "Group Favorite" activated!

"Whenever an entity targets you, by merely chanting your exclusive Spell, their anger/kill intent/malice will dissipate like smoke and clouds, leaving them unable to trouble you for at least five minutes."

Calamity Fight's anger vanished instantly.

It lay down on the ground calmly and serenely, lowering its head to look at the blood on its chest, too bewildered to know what to do next.

The Formless Heavenly Demon's hand, holding the Spring Rain Blade, slashed down with full force!

Blood splattered!

Calamity Fight roared, ready to strike—

"Ying ying ying."

Calamity Fight immediately stopped, its demeanor serene and tranquil, its confused eyes staring into the void, looking even somewhat adorable.

The blade fell again—

Blood sprayed!

Calamity Fight burned with anger, its mouth full of sharp teeth revealed, ready to breathe fire.

"Ying ying ying."

The Heavenly Demon said it lightly.

Calamity Fight closed its mouth, becoming cute again.

The final slash!

The half-statue's voice overpowered Calamity Fight's screams:

"Congratulations!"

"You have passed the first layer of the trial!"