As time passed, True Monarch Tian Hua was the first to awaken from the illusion, aside from Zhang Fan, taking only seven breaths of time.
After more than ten breaths, powerful figures such as Dao Zun, Wen Hou, and Si Kong Xia slowly emerged from the illusion.
"The first trial is over!"
The ethereal voice of the golden light artifact spirit echoed in the hall. Those still immersed in the illusion froze, then stiffened and fell, their breaths gradually dissipating.
"They're dead?"
Dao Zun and the others were suddenly shocked. The artifact spirit's abilities far surpassed their imaginations, easily trapping Golden Core realm cultivators in illusions and directly destroying their souls.
Generally, artifact spirits are not aggressive, as without a master's control, they cannot detach from their spiritual treasures.
Just like a peerless divine sword, no matter how sharp it is, without a master's manipulation, the artifact spirit can hardly use the sword to harm anyone, as it is always trapped within the sword and cannot move the sword body itself.
Although they had entered the interior of the Golden Light Immortal Mansion, without a master, the power the artifact spirit could wield was extremely limited. To have annihilated three peak Golden Core realm experts merely by engulfing them in an illusion was indeed incredible.
"Congratulations, you have passed the first round of trials."
The golden light artifact spirit's face showed no emotion. It swept its gaze over everyone, neither happy nor sad, and said, "The second trial tests your Dao."
With that, Golden Light waved its sleeve, and eight passages appeared in the hall. The entrances to the passages were shrouded in a misty golden light, making it impossible for anyone to see what lay within.
"These are the passages to the second level of the Golden Light Immortal Mansion, and also the passages into the 'Dao Discussion Array.' Only by passing the Dao Discussion Array will you be qualified to enter the second level."
"Dao Discussion Array?"
The words of the Golden Light artifact spirit caused the expressions of everyone present, except for Zhang Fan, to change drastically. They had considered many possible trials, but had never imagined that True Immortal Zi Wu would set up a Dao Discussion Array in this immortal mansion.
The 'Dao Discussion Array' is a type of formation, but it differs fundamentally from any other known formation.
A complete Dao Discussion Array has one hundred and eight levels. Legend has it that only by cultivating a grand Dao to perfection can one possibly traverse all one hundred and eight levels.
However, the heavens and earth's Dao are so vast. Let alone a group of second-tier Golden Core realm cultivators like them, even first-tier Golden Core realm cultivators only have a mere glimpse into the grand Dao.
True Monarch Tian Hua and Dao Zun's ability to condense high-grade second-tier Golden Cores signifies that they had comprehended the true meaning of six Daos during their Golden Core formation stage. Although their comprehension of the grand Dao would gradually deepen and they would comprehend more true meanings of the Dao after forming their cores, they were all quite panicked at the prospect of traversing the Dao Discussion Array.
"I wonder what the requirement is for True Immortal Zi Wu for us to pass the Dao Discussion Array?" Dao Zun slightly bowed, looking up at the Golden Light artifact spirit, and asked.
The other cultivators also stared at Golden Light nervously. Failure to pass the Dao Discussion Array meant failing the trial, and they already knew the consequences of failure, which involved their lives, hence their extreme concern.
"Eleven levels."
Golden Light's voice was a bit deeper, clearly indicating that it also considered this a heavy number.
The expressions of Dao Zun and the others indeed became somewhat grim. Even True Monarch Tian Hua's face was solemn at this moment.
The one hundred and eight levels of the Dao Discussion Array, with every nine levels serving as a hurdle. If it were within nine levels, Dao Zun and the others might have some confidence, but eleven levels truly made one despair.
Zhang Fan looked at it all with a calm expression. After they finished asking, he spoke, "Can we begin now?"
The Golden Light artifact spirit looked at Zhang Fan with a glint of curiosity in its eyes. This youth, who had not yet condensed his Golden Core, was so calm in the face of the Dao Discussion Array, making it difficult for the artifact spirit to fathom him.
"Anytime."
The Golden Light artifact spirit nodded and added, "If you fail to pass eleven levels of the Dao Discussion Array within three days, you will be eliminated!"
Zhang Fan's gaze was calm as he looked at Dao Zun, True Monarch Tian Hua, and the others, then stepped into the misty golden light passage. His surroundings seemed to transform as a world filled with sword energy appeared before his eyes.
This was the marvel of the Dao Discussion Array. It would manifest a world of Dao according to the Dao the cultivator primarily cultivated. Traversing the Dao Discussion Array was not just a test, but also an opportunity.
Within the Dao Discussion Array, cultivators could better comprehend the Dao they practiced, discover their flaws, and only by continuously mending their flaws could they progress further.
Of course, for Zhang Fan, this Dao Discussion Array held little significance. How could a mere Dao Discussion Array evolve the Dao he cultivated himself?
Strands of sword energy lunged towards Zhang Fan. Some sword energies were incredibly swift, some were ethereal and invisible, while others carried immense, heavy might.
If one were to resist these sword energies with ordinary means, it would be possible to block them. However, they would persist within the Dao Discussion Array, attacking endlessly until the entrant's death!
The only way to break the formation was to unleash sword energies with a similar artistic conception, engaging in a counter-attack to completely obliterate them.
Zhang Fan gently pointed his finger in the air, and streams of sword energy gushed from his fingertips. Although each stream of sword energy was incredibly weak, it was all-encompassing. In just a few breaths, all the sword energies that darted within the Dao Discussion Array were annihilated.
Zhang Fan stepped into the golden light passage. Dao Zun, True Monarch Tian Hua, Wen Hou, Si Kong Xia, and the others exchanged glances. Daring not to hesitate, they all stepped into the golden light passage.
As Dao Zun entered the Dao Discussion Array, he was immediately enveloped in a world filled with blade energy. None of them had traversed the Dao Discussion Array before, but they had read books about it and naturally knew how to break it.
Facing the blade energy that resembled wind blades, he vigorously swung his Snow Spirit Blade, constantly slashing and hacking. The blade energy within the Dao Discussion Array gradually decreased until it finally disappeared completely.
"Hoo!"
Just as Dao Zun was about to relax, blade energy began to regenerate within the array, causing him to feel a tightness in his chest, as if death were beckoning.
To pass eleven levels of the Dao Discussion Array was indeed extremely difficult for a group of second-tier Golden Core realm cultivators like Dao Zun and the others. Zhang Fan estimated that it would be a great feat if two out of the eight of them could pass.
Zhang Fan moved through the Dao Discussion Array as if strolling in a leisurely garden. In less than half a day, he had passed eleven levels of the Dao Discussion Array and entered the second level of the immortal mansion.
"You haven't even condensed your Golden Core, yet your comprehension of the Sword Dao is so profound. Perhaps even some Nascent Soul cultivators are not your equal. How exactly did you cultivate?"
The Golden Light artifact spirit had already been waiting on the second level. It could clearly see the images of all the entrants and naturally knew how effortlessly this young man had passed the eleven levels of the Dao Discussion Array.