Chapter 129
Chapter 129: Fifteen Layers
As the two drew closer, Wang Jie finally saw clearly.
Inside the entrance was not solid ground, but a pitch-black cliff. When he kicked a stone down, there was no sound.
Miao Tai explained, “Lord, just jump down. You can stop on whichever layer you want to. Every layer is separated by a vast distance because each one is an entire world. The Sword Mastery Heaven is home to the most creatures on the ground, while below it lies the Fifteen Layers.”
“Which layers have you been to?”
“Regrettably, I have only visited the first, second, third, seventh, and eighth layers. I managed to pass through the first, second, and seventh layers with ease, but not the others.”
Wang Jie wasn’t surprised. Miao Tai had mentioned that each layer corresponds to a different realm.
The first six layers correspond to the Ten Seals. Miao Tai had entered those layers while at the Ten Seal level, but passing through each layer had varying degrees of difficulty.
The first layer was the simplest. The creatures there had a general battle power of 3,000. A regular Ten Seal cultivator could easily pass through by being cautious, and even someone slightly stronger could pass through without effort.
However, the second layer required 7,000 battle power to pass. Without that strength, one couldn’t make it through.
Miao Tai had reached the Star Breaking realm, and he wasn’t weak at the Ten Seal level, so passing through was not surprising. But the third layer was different. It required 15,000 battle power.
A typical Star Breaking realm cultivator only had 10,000 battle power. Miao Tai’s power was around 10,000, but to pass the third layer, one needed 15,000, meaning even Star Breaking realm and Full Star realm cultivators could not enter.
How many Ten Seal cultivators could reach such power?
Miao Tai looked at the third layer bitterly. “Even if I went there now, I wouldn’t be able to pass.”
The seventh layer marked the initial threshold of the Star Breaking realm. Both Ten Seal and Star Breaking cultivators could enter. With just 10,000 battle power, Miao Tai could pass. However, the eighth layer required 50,000 battle power to get through, which was no ordinary feat.
A typical Full Star realm cultivator only had 50,000 battle power.
This was the Fifteen Layers, which intrigued Wang Jie.
If the third layer required 15,000 battle power, what about the fourth layer? Miao Tai didn’t know. There were many rumors—some said it required 20,000, others said 30,000. The real answer might only be known by the Black White Heaven. Even the Four Alliances wouldn’t know because no such powerful Ten Seal cultivator existed in the Lock Path Interval.
Since Miao Tai was here, he would continue to challenge the seventh layer or hunt creatures on the surface.
Many had died here in the past, and there were often valuable items found.
As for Wang Jie, he was determined to challenge the Fifteen Layers, starting from the first.
Although the first layer posed no difficulty, it could still be explored, and perhaps there was a suitable environment for his cultivation.
Out of caution, he waited for Miao Tai to jump first before following.
Leaping down, he found himself in a state of weightlessness as his body plummeted rapidly. Steep mountain walls flanked him, with occasional bloodstains appearing along the way.
Soon, a platform appeared below, and Wang Jie landed smoothly. In front of him was the entrance to the first layer. It appeared similar to the surface entrance, but light radiated from within, and the air was much fresher.
Wang Jie stepped forward, entering the first layer. Just like the entrance, there was a cliff, and from the distant sky, countless mutant vines hung down. The earth stretched endlessly, and flying creatures constantly soared by. In the far distance, a river flowed upward into the sky, passing overhead as if the entire world had turned upside down.
This was the first layer.
A roar rang out, and a gust of wind swept toward him. Wang Jie casually waved his hand, unleashing a great force that swept across one direction, instantly slaying the creature.
Standing at the edge of the cliff, he gazed at the vast expanse. This was a world that seemed untouched by human hands.
Few came here every year.
The Four Alliances, plus the Lone Peak Gorge, sent only seventy people in total.
In this vast world, seventy people arriving each year didn’t even make a ripple.
Wang Jie activated his battle power detector, setting it to alert him if the power exceeded 10,000, then stood at the edge of the cliff and jumped down. Below him was a giant flying bird. Sensing his approach, it immediately turned to flee. But Wang Jie, using his spatial abilities, quickly reached it, grabbing its talons. No matter how it struggled, it could not escape. Wang Jie mounted it and delivered a punch.
It immediately quieted.
Passing through each layer was simple. From the entrance, one could head straight to the end. Due to the curvature of each layer’s ground, when one reached the end, a gust of wind would blow them toward the nearest entrance of the next layer. This same wind would also carry them to the topmost entrance of the Fifteen Layers. Miao Tai was unsure how to obtain rewards in each layer, but it seemed not every successful pass resulted in a reward.
Wang Jie speculated that the method of passing might be a factor. For instance, if one bypassed a creature with 3,000 battle power in the first layer, they could still technically pass, but that wouldn’t count as a true pass. There wouldn’t be any rewards for that.
As for Miao Tai’s method, Wang Jie didn’t concern himself with it. He was straightforward and clear about his own way.
The bird soared high in the sky as Wang Jie released his Lock Force. For the time being, he was the only one in this world, with all other creatures being merely prey. He relished this feeling of unparalleled freedom. The thrill was so intense he almost wanted to shout out.
On the ground, countless creatures charged toward him, launching various attacks, but Wang Jie easily blocked them.
Up ahead, a dark swarm of bizarre flying creatures approached. Wang Jie stood up slowly, raised his hand, and gripped his sword. A horizontal slash.
The sword cleaved through the heavens, splitting the visible world in two. The flying creatures were mostly annihilated, with the remainder fleeing in panic. Meanwhile, the creatures on the ground stopped in their tracks, trembling.
Wang Jie laughed loudly, stepping on the bird as he flew farther.
It took two full days before he reached the end of this world. Once he did, he had passed this layer. He looked back at the land, wondering if he would receive a reward.
Just as he was thinking this, a ring dropped from the inverted river above, falling straight toward him.
He reached out and caught it. A storage ring? An unowned storage ring? Could this be the reward? The ring was ordinary, not as large as the one he had bought, but it was still decent. Many Lock Force cultivators didn’t even have a storage ring.
He kicked the bird aside. “Let’s go.”
The bird happily turned and ran.
The whirlwind swept his body along the underground river, heading back toward the direction he came from. Wang Jie could move, but at this point, it was wiser to remain still. The wind’s speed was clearly much faster than the bird’s. It only took half a day to return to the entrance of the first layer. If he hadn’t stayed still, the wind would have blown him to the ground.
He recognized the spot as the place where he had dropped a stone earlier, confirming it was the first layer’s entrance.
Jumping down here would lead to the second layer.
It was amazing. The wind was imperceptible from the entrance, yet it was always present.
Wang Jie leaped again, reaching a passage similar to the one at the entrance of the first layer. Following the passage, he entered the second layer.
In this layer, 7,000 battle power was enough to pass. To Wang Jie, it was no different from the first. He charged forward recklessly, ultimately earning a reward of 5,000 Star Stones.
It, too, had fallen from above.
Next up was the third layer.
This layer was different. It had the restriction of Ten Seal cultivation, but one needed 15,000 battle power to pass.
How many Ten Seal cultivators could face off against a Star Breaking realm cultivator? The Star Breaking realm started at 10,000 battle power, and 15,000 battle power could easily surpass Miao Tai.
Even Wang Jie, who had fought Shu Mu Night in their third battle, could hardly reach that level.
So, no one had passed this third layer.
But Wang Jie? He grabbed a mount and dashed forward without hesitation. Halfway through, a giant winged creature blocked his path.
A Star Breaking realm beast, with 15,000 battle power. The detector beeped constantly.
As expected, a Star Breaking realm creature was in his way.
His mount struggled fiercely, trying to escape, but Wang Jie looked ahead, pointed to the right, and unleashed his Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger. The beast was pierced through, blood splattering across the sky.
With that strike, the world fell silent.
Looking up, something did indeed fall from the sky—a storage ring. He checked it, and it was a decent ring, not smaller than the one he bought, but this one contained a large number of cataclysm materials—materials comparable to those held by the Frost Radiance Sect’s alchemists. There was a lot of it.
Beneath the materials lay a jade stone.
Wang Jie’s eyes lit up. This kind of jade was typically used to record techniques or martial skills. He picked it up and checked it.
Rainbow Fusion Force.
It could enhance one’s imprint to a light black color.
It was a good item, though it was no longer useful to him.
Techniques that could enhance imprints to a light black color were rare, like the Silver Radiance Art from the Silver Radiance Empire or the Frost Radiance Moon from the Frost Radiance Sect. They were hard to come by in Star Link.
It made sense that this was the reward for passing the third layer. Otherwise, it would be too stingy.
When he arrived at Sword Mastery Heaven, Wang Jie had heard of two things that drew people here: first, the numerous cataclysmic creatures on the Fifteen Layers, meaning countless cataclysm materials, and second, the techniques that could enhance imprints to a light black color.
Now, he had acquired the technique.
He would find a chance to sell it.
Next up was the fourth layer.
The third layer hadn’t been passed yet, and the fourth layer was even more of a mystery. There were only speculations about it, with no confirmed answers.
Today, Wang Jie was here.
The first three layers were forests and grasslands with typical climates, but the fourth layer was a gravity zone. This surprised Wang Jie, as gravity meant he could train with the Yellow Bean technique.
Just as he was about to enter, he heard someone doing exercises.
After finishing his exercises, he felt refreshed and proceeded.
Upon entering, Wang Jie understood why there were only speculations about the fourth layer. He had thought that even if he couldn’t pass, exploring the area would still be worthwhile. But upon entering, he realized that the gravity here was 50 times normal right at the entrance.
What did this mean?
Only Star Breaking realm cultivators could withstand that gravity; ordinary Ten Seal cultivators couldn’t. And that was just the starting point.
Most likely, many had fallen in the gravity zone.
Wang Jie naturally entered, standing at the edge of a cliff. There were no flying creatures to be seen, and the ground was dark. The creatures here were all black, with thick legs, suggesting they were very fierce. Every creature had a ferocious appearance.
Unable to find flying creatures, Wang Jie settled on one that looked like a bull. He gave it a good beating, and it finally became obedient. He then controlled it and directed it toward the distance.
Along the way, various creatures attacked, but Wang Jie easily dealt with them.
After traveling about a third of the way, the gravity suddenly increased to 80 times normal. The creature he was riding collapsed under the pressure, its organs exploding.
Wang Jie walked through the 80-times gravity zone. This kind of gravity was unbearable for most creatures, as they were all Ten Seal level.