Looking ahead, on the east side of this third-layer space, a stone platform several meters high had risen. In the center of the platform, a black longsword was embedded, with nothing else around it. As for the original crowd, they had all been gathered by that spatial fluctuation to the open area on the west side, a full two thousand meters away from the eastern stone platform.
"Kid, heaven helps me! You dared to kill Junior Brother Ye—now pay with your life!" A sharp shout rang out. Duan Feichen sneered coldly, ready to strike at Lin Xuan.
But then, Duan Feichen felt his body suddenly grow heavy, and his surging spiritual power instantly stagnated, unable to flow smoothly. On the field, it wasn't just Duan Feichen—everyone experienced the same sensation. Many stumbled, unable to keep their footing, and fell to the ground, crashing into sizable pits, looking utterly disheveled.
"What's going on?" "Why does my body suddenly feel so heavy, like it's been filled with lead?" "The spiritual power in my dantian seems dead, completely unable to circulate!" "..."
The crowd buzzed with discussion and groans of pain. Lin Xuan, however, remained expressionless, though a hint of seriousness crept in. He sensed an even more peculiar fluctuation in the surroundings.
"Is this... a gravity field?" He hadn't expected to encounter a gravity field in this world. Lin Xuan's eyes flickered, his expression turning solemn. Yet, though this gravity field had appeared abruptly and packed considerable power, it seemed limited to the Spirit Opening realm. Because his *Golden Scale Elephant Art* had reached the initial mastery level, his physical strength had already surpassed the Spirit Opening realm—many in the Spirit Yuan realm might not even compare. Aside from a slight surprise, he felt nothing at all.
Around him, Chen Hanshuang, Liu Qianyu, Sun Yuwen, and others all stumbled. Though they steadied themselves without serious harm, they felt their blood stagnate and spiritual power sluggish, their faces shifting slightly. The other mid-to-late Spirit Opening realm disciples fared far worse. Seeing Lin Xun still calm and unmoved, as if nothing had happened, the crowd was deeply shaken, marveling inwardly. No wonder he had slain Ye Li with a single sword strike—his strength was indeed far beyond theirs.
Not far away, Duan Feichen was also watching Lin Xuan. He snorted, "Putting on airs!" But inside, he was uncertain whether Lin Xuan was faking it. In this situation, Lin Xuan might even be more at ease than he was. Unable to unleash his full power, Duan Feichen had to shelve his plan to kill Lin Xuan for now, saving it for later.
Lin Xuan sensed Duan Feichen's gaze and looked back, a faint glint in his eyes. This was within copying range. Such an opportunity couldn't be missed. With a thought—
"Ding, consumed 200,000 energy points, copy successful. Obtained [Mystic Grade Cultivation Talent]." "Ding, consumed 100,000 energy points, copy successful. Obtained [Spirit Grade Speed Talent]." "Ding, consumed 100,000 energy points, copy successful. Obtained [Spirit Grade Gale Attribute Talent]." "..."
In an instant, he copied all the valuable items from Duan Feichen—essentially just various talents and the Wind Shadow Sword. As for martial arts and insights, he far surpassed Duan Feichen, so he had no interest in those. Then, he chose to use them. A warm current like a stream surged through his body.
"Ding, congratulations, host's cultivation talent has improved!" "Ding, congratulations, host's speed attribute talent has improved!" "..."
As the cool voice sounded and faded, the copied items were all fused and absorbed. In just a few breaths, Lin Xuan felt his strength increase significantly and nodded in satisfaction. He then turned his gaze to the stone platform ahead and the black longsword on it.
The crowd also snapped back to reality. Though the sudden gravity field had caught them off guard, it hadn't caused lasting harm. They quickly refocused, their eyes fixed on the eastern stone platform.
"What is that? This is the third layer—shouldn't it be the last of this puppet secret realm?" "Not sure, but that black sword looks like a high-grade treasure." "..."
"Do you think it could be the inheritance of this puppet secret realm? Getting the sword might mean getting the inheritance, or maybe the inheritance is inside the sword?"
The crowd buzzed with speculation. When the last remark fell, the field fell silent. Everyone here was at least at the Spirit Opening realm, core disciples of major powers—no fools, but sharp as tacks. Realizing the implication, they exchanged glances without a word and, as if by unspoken agreement, dashed toward the eastern stone platform.
"Charge!" "This inheritance is mine—no one take it!" "Block me, and you die!" "..."
Many even started fighting to hinder others, plunging the field into chaos. Behind them, Lin Xuan stood still, unmoved. Chen Hanshuang, Sun Yuwen, Liu Qianyu, and other top disciples from Cangyuan Nation were eager to join, but seeing Lin Xuan inactive, they suppressed their impulses and waited. Not far away, Duan Feichen and several Wind Flame Valley disciples also held back, sneering coldly.
Sure enough, before long, as the frontrunners neared the thousand-meter mark from the platform, they felt as if a mountain of ten thousand tons had crashed down on them. They stumbled and fell, groaning in pain. Some weaker ones were injured on the spot, spitting blood.
Then— Rumble!
Another terrifying roar echoed. The ground trembled again, this time far more violently than before. Everyone on the field lost their balance and fell, except for Lin Xuan and Duan Feichen, who remained standing. Lin Xuan, in particular, stayed calm and motionless, as if feeling nothing. Many who were watching him were once again awed, their hearts pounding. Duan Feichen, after stumbling and steadying himself, saw Lin Xuan's composure and grew even more grim-faced. He snorted but said nothing, his wariness deepening.
Lin Xuan ignored them, shifting his gaze forward. Within a three-hundred-meter radius of the stone platform, spatial fluctuations spread, and then a host of puppets appeared. Some were black iron, some bronze, and a few made of neither metal nor silver. But without exception, they stood like decorations, completely still. Their positions were chaotic, as if guards placed randomly with no discernible pattern—strange and bizarre.
Lin Xuan scanned them. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.