Wu Yang faced the ten wooden dummies that were in the early stage Core Formation Realm.

He learned their attack patterns and movements by dashing around the arena and dodging their strikes with ease.

He only needed the time of an incense stick to burn to master their rhythm and avoid their blows with minimal effort.

He felt a surge of confidence as he moved fluidly among them.

He thought to himself, "This can't be the real challenge of this test. But I doubt anyone else can match my battle prowess, except for Wu Feng. Maybe he is still stuck in the second test or struggling with the third one."

He decided to end the first round quickly and unleashed his Sealed Flame Sword.

He slashed through the wooden dummies one by one, sending them back to the array formation on the ground.

He passed the first round and felt his Qi restored and his vitality renewed.

He activated the array formation again and watched as ten new puppets rose from it. They had the same appearance as before, but their cultivation was at the middle stage Core Formation Realm.

He wasted no time and engaged them in combat, observing their patterns and looking for weaknesses.

Wu Yang felt a pleasant surprise as he noticed that the puppets had the same attack patterns and movements as before, only faster due to their higher cultivation level.

He thought, "I could easily defeat them even if I lowered my cultivation to the early stage Core Formation, now that I know their moves."

He continued to fight with the puppets until he could dodge their attacks and predict their movements effortlessly.

Wu Yang decided that he was ready for the third round.

He quickly dispatched the ten puppets with his sword and passed the second round. He felt his Qi replenished and his vitality renewed.

He activated the array formation once more and saw ten new puppets emerge from it.

They looked identical to the previous ones, but their cultivation was at the late stage Core Formation Realm.

Wu Yang didn't hesitate and unleashed his Burning Blaze Step technique, a greater Earth Grade technique that he had mastered to a high degree.

He became a fiery meteor and soared around the arena, leaving a trail of flames behind him.

He swiftly slashed through one puppet and moved on to the next.

The other nine puppets tried to encircle him, but he was not afraid.

He used his Burning Blaze Step technique again, this time enhanced by the Crimson Blaze Dao Mark. His speed increased even more.

He dodged the attacks of five puppets and cut off the limbs and joints of two more, disabling them.

He thought, "I can't use the Crimson Blaze Dao Mark for too long, or I'll run out of Qi."

He continued to dash around the arena, and in less than an incense stick's time, he finished off all the remaining puppets.

Wu Yang was happy that he passed the third test, as he was the first one to do so.

But he was also curious. What happened to Wu Feng? Did he fail the Fire Element Trial?

He shrugged and thought, "That's strange, but oh well."

As soon as all the puppets were defeated, the blazing fire surrounding the circular arena extinguished, and he was marveled to see a giant pond that seemed to be brimming with spiritual energy.

The pond was surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowers, creating a contrast with the barren land outside. The water was clear and sparkling, reflecting the sunlight that shone through the gaps in the dome.

He noticed that the pond was divided into four sections by four stone bridges that connected to a small island in the center. On each section, there were different kinds of treasures floating on the surface or submerged in the water. He could sense their powerful auras from afar.

There were also five lesser Earth Grade Refined Treasures, four middle Earth Grade Refined Treasures, three greater Earth Grade Refined Treasures, and one supreme Earth Grade Soulbound Treasure.

On the north section, there were five lesser Earth Grade Refined Treasures: a silver sword, a jade flute, a bronze mirror, a black bow, and a white fan. They were all emitting faint glows of different colors.

On the east section, there were four middle Earth Grade Refined Treasures: a golden spear, a purple robe, a blue ring, a red necklace. They were all radiating bright lights that dazzled his eyes.

On the south section, there were three greater Earth Grade Refined Treasures: a green staff, a yellow shield, and an orange hammer. They were all releasing strong waves of energy that made him feel pressure.

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On the west section, there was one supreme Earth Grade Soulbound Treasure: a black halberd. It was shining like a star and pulsating with life force. He felt a strange connection with it as if it was calling him.

On the tiny island at the center of the pond, a stone pedestal stood proudly, bearing a scroll. Around its base, hundreds of pills were scattered, each containing a different kind of power.

Wu Yang felt a surge of excitement as he gazed at the treasures around him. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Supreme Earth Grade Pills! These are priceless treasures that even the Extreme Jade Sword Sect would treasure and store in their vault."

"Besides, there are no Earth Grade Alchemists who can refine greater Earth Grade Pills on the Jiaolong Continent."

"Also, only few Earth Grade Weapon Refiners can create supreme Earth Grade treasures."

Wu Yang thought to himself, "If I can follow Wu Li and get this kind of luck, I will go with him wherever he goes."

Wu Yang scanned the seven supreme Earth Grade Pills and looked at the labels on their bottles.

He read them out loud, "Heavenly Fire Cleansing Pill, Divine Thunder Pill, Origin Insight Pill, Nine Transformations Pill, Dragon Blood Pill, Ocean Soul Pill, and Dream Lotus Pill."

"I only know the effects of the Heavenly Fire Cleansing Pill and the Dream Lotus Pill. The other five pills are a mystery to me."

Wu Yang grumbled as he blamed the person who named these pills, "Who came up with these vague names? Why can't they just tell me what they do? Or at least, give me some hints or instructions."

"The Heavenly Fire Cleansing Pill is of High Quality and can purify a Core Formation cultivator's body and soul, and enhance their Qi and Golden Core."

"The Dream Lotus Pill is of High Quality and is able to induce a lucid dream that lasts some years and only one day will pass in the real world, regardless of cultivation level. While in the lucid dream, one can train their techniques."

The pills' quality is split into: Low, Medium, High, Superior, Flawless.

Wu Yang grabbed the technique and was shocked to see that it had the same name as his own, Extreme Sun Sutra.

He scanned the technique and was amazed. "This is a better version of my Extreme Sun Sutra. Mine is only a greater Earth Grade technique, but this one is a supreme Earth Grade technique."

"The Dao Marks are also different. They can help me condense nine Dao Marks."

Wu Yang shook his head. This technique didn't have a sequence of Dao Marks, so he didn't think very highly of it.

"Why does it matter? I will cultivate this technique since it's better and I will stick to the nine Dao Marks that I already chose."

Wu Yang then turned his attention to the Refined Treasures and the Soulbound Treasure.

One of the Refined Treasures was a Spatial Ring. He put it on his index finger.

"I will make this Spatial Ring mine in the lucid dream."

He walked towards the pond and felt the rich Qi that filled it.

"I can't absorb it all. It would take me years to drain this pond."

Wu Yang shrugged and decided to start cultivating.

He dived into the pond and swallowed the Heavenly Fire Cleansing Pill and the Dream Lotus Pill.

On the other side of the Secret Realm…

Wu Li had obtained the inheritances of the Azure Dragon Pavilion and the Metal Pavilion. The Azure Dragon Pavilion inheritance took him more than half a day, while the Metal Pavilion inheritance was faster and easier since there was less competition.

Lin Xiaoqing, who was with Wu Li, had also acquired the inheritance of the Water Pavilion without much trouble. She had learned a supreme Earth Grade technique called Profound Moon Sutra.

"Brother Li, we can't waste any more time. We have to head to the Central Region as soon as possible. That's where the special inheritances will appear."

Wu Li agreed, "You're right. The Inner Elders who left their consciousness in the trials told me that my Divine Lightning Physique can evolve if I get the special inheritance."

Lin Xiaoqing said, "The same goes for me. The Inner Elder in the Water Element Trial said that I can find the complete version of the Profound Moon Sutra technique in the special inheritance."

"Me too. My Divine Metal Sutra technique is also incomplete. I need to find the special inheritance related to the Five Elements."

They both wondered, "What about the special inheritance related to the Four Divine Beasts? What secrets does it hold?"

Meanwhile...

Ye Sha was also on his way to the Central Region.

He recalled how the two Inner Elders of the Black Tortoise Pavilion and the Wood Pavilion had looked at him. They looked at Ye Sha as if they were looking at their future disciple.

He had been smart enough to realize that the Azure Profound Star Sect had a way to preserve their Elders' wills for a long time, so he had kept a low profile and hid his own strength, in order to not reveal the fact that he was cultivating a devilish technique.

"Damn that Emperor Crimson Face brat. He stopped me from obtaining the Fire Pavilion inheritance. The treasures I got are decent, but the techniques are nothing special."

But then Ye Sha's expression changed to one of caution, "Wait… I think I heard somewhere that if you combine the five techniques of the Five Elements Pavilions with a secret method, you can cultivate them all at the same time. The technique is called… Cycle of Five Elements Sutra!"

In the lucid dream, Wu Yang was cultivating…

A month had passed and Wu Yang was advancing to the late stage of the Core Formation Realm and forming his second Dao Mark.

He was using the upgraded version of the Extreme Sun Sutra, which boosted his fighting power.

Bang! Bang!

Loud noises came from Wu Yang's Dantian, as he shaped the Scarlet Flame Dao Mark.

His body and soul became stronger, and his Qi became more pure and dense because of the Heavenly Fire Cleansing Pill.

His Golden Core in his Dantian looked more impressive, as it increased in size, also because of the Heavenly Fire Cleansing Pill.

Before he drank the Heaven Shaking Wine, his Golden Core was as big as a fist. After he drank the wine, it doubled in size.

Now, it was a majestic fifty centimeters across.

"Although I just broke through to the late stage Core Formation Realm, I can easily defeat perfection stage Core Formation cultivators! This is unbelievable!"

Wu Yang thought about the six years he spent in the Extreme Jade Sword Sect, cultivating hard.

He sighed, "I was stuck for so long! With my talent, I can do it, but I will be over 100 years old by the time I form the nine Dao Marks."

Wu Yang silently practiced the Extreme Sun Sutra. He hoped to reach the perfection stage of the Core Formation Realm.

He wondered, "Did anyone else get the Dream Lotus Pill? Would they also have constant breakthroughs?"

But he quickly dismissed it. "I doubt they would use the Dream Lotus Pill in the Secret Realm. Their cultivation must be higher than the Core Formation Realm, so they wouldn't waste such a valuable pill on some techniques."

"Except for Wu Li, and maybe Wu Feng, but I'm not sure about him since he didn't get the Fire Pavilion inheritance, I don't think there's anyone who is really in the Core Formation Realm who got a Great Ocean inheritance."

"The people who have their cultivation suppressed to the Core Formation Realm must be very strong since they have practiced the same techniques for longer."

"Wu Li probably didn't use the pill either since it's more useful in later stages of cultivation."

Wu Yang sighed, "It's no use. If I die in this Secret Realm, my cultivation speed will be slower in the Golden Soul Restoration Lamp."