This place is also known as the wealthiest spot in the Star Domain.
"How... how did it become like this?"
Zhou Yan's eyes widened as he looked at a colossal altar in the center of the plaza.
Above the altar, lanterns resembling orbs, emitting an eerie red glow, hung suspended. At their center stood a young girl clad in a purple robe.
Her form was slender and delicate, her face breathtakingly beautiful, yet she exuded an air of aloofness, as if pushing everyone away, a stark contrast to her surroundings.
At this moment, she held a crystal-clear bead radiating a faint green light between her fingers.
This bead seemed capable of absorbing anything in existence, drawing in the last wisp of Zhou Yan's soul fire.
Moreover, this soul fire was absorbed completely, without any resistance whatsoever.
"What is this thing!"
Zhou Yan inwardly lamented.
"The treasures here are all rare gems of the Star Domain! If you can benefit from them, it will be extremely helpful for breaking through to the Divine Venerable realm, or even higher!"
The owner of the voice seemed pleased with the scene, chuckling, "However, if you wish to obtain these treasures, you must first pass the third trial."
"The third trial?"
Hearing the voice, Zhou Yan's brow furrowed, a hint of confusion on his face.
He hadn't encountered this trial before and thus was unaware of how precious these treasures truly were.
"That's right! Every three hundred years, a Genius Trial is held here. The content of the third trial is – kill yourself! You must understand that the body you possess now was exchanged for someone else's life. If you lose this competition, reclaiming it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven."
The voice continued to explain, "Of course, although the Genius Trial here carries the risk of death, the rewards are also exceptionally generous. If you win, you will gain endless resources!"
"And if you lose the competition, you will also receive corresponding punishment!"
By the end, the voice's tone had grown increasingly cold.
Hearing the voice's words, Zhou Yan couldn't help but gasp.
He never imagined that the trial here would be to kill himself!
"If... if I win, will I receive a reward?"
He swallowed and asked in a low voice.
"Of course! If you win, you will possess all the resources and treasures of the entire Star Domain."
The voice continued.
Zhou Yan gasped again at this statement, never imagining he stood to gain so much.
But upon further thought, something felt amiss. The voice's tone was too calm.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
This question flashed through Zhou Yan's mind.
"Heh heh, for no particular reason! I just hope you don't disappoint me!"
The voice replied.
"Don't worry! I won't disappoint you."
With that, Zhou Yan sped forward, his current urgency being to improve his strength.
After all, he was merely a cultivator who had just crossed the Divine Emperor realm, not yet a true powerhouse.
To become a true powerhouse, one needed sufficient resources.
Zhou Yan propelled himself forward, his figure blurring, and soon arrived beneath the altar.
"Buzz buzz~"
The orbs suspended above the altar emitted a faint red glow, as if welcoming Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan's gaze fell upon the orbs, a cold smile playing on his lips. He knew he had reached a dead end.
"Since I've come this far, I can only fight with all I have."
He thought to himself, then took a deep breath and slowly ascended the altar.
"Whoosh!"
As Zhou Yan stepped onto the altar, his body suddenly jolted, and an immense, boundless pressure descended upon him.
"So powerful!"
Zhou Yan exclaimed inwardly.
Although he had prepared himself, he couldn't help but tremble under the pressure.
The clothes on his body instantly ripped apart, disintegrating into fragments.
"Hiss~"
Streams of red light, like blood, seeped into his body through his skin.
These red lights, like venomous snakes, relentlessly eroded Zhou Yan's body.
"Ah!"
Zhou Yan let out a pained cry, but soon, the expression of pain on his face gradually solidified.
The power within his body also began to surge.
"This feeling... it seems a little familiar."
Zhou Yan mused inwardly, but he didn't dwell on it.
At this moment, he was fully immersed in this state of cultivation.
...
"Boom!"
At another location, after Zhou Yan entered the divine hall, the massive door closed.
A thick, dark mist permeated the hall.
Within this mist, a shadowy figure could faintly be seen seated on the ground.
Around the shadowy figure, countless veins surfaced, resembling wriggling earthworms.
"This bloodline power seems to have a very strong connection to me. I wonder what kind of bloodline this is!"
Zhou Yan murmured.
Although he hadn't seen the shadowy figure, he felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Just then, the eyes of the shadowy figure suddenly opened.
Two sharp beams of light shot out like blades, causing the surrounding dark mist to recede.
Seeing this, Zhou Yan's heart pounded.
The shadowy figure was a living being.
And it was a ferocious beast.
He had never encountered such a creature before.
This beast was as black as ink, its species indistinguishable, but its aura emanated a powerful sense of threat.
"Roar!"
The living black beast opened its mouth and roared, and then, black storms surged outwards, forming a vortex that enveloped Zhou Yan, dragging him in fiercely.
"Ah!"
Zhou Yan let out a roar, his eyes filled with terror.
He hadn't expected the black storm to contain such terrifying power, as if it were trying to tear him apart.
Zhou Yan struggled incessantly, but the strength within the black winds was too formidable. He was no match for it, and could only be continuously torn apart, falling towards the center of the vortex.
Zhou Yan felt as if he were falling into the primordial chaos of the universe. The power incessantly pulled at him, leaving him utterly helpless.
"Damn it!"
"How could such a thing happen!"
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth and roared.
This power was too terrifying. If he couldn't channel this power out, he would fall into a complete coma.
"What on earth is this place?"
Zhou Yan was filled with confusion, not knowing what this place truly was.