Ever since Yang Yan, He Yi'er, and Yue Qinglan, as well as that woman standing tall above the Nine Heavens, had connections,

he had been gaining deeper, more transparent insights into the Space Dao and the Dao of Time.

He became increasingly proficient in utilizing the Innate Dao Skill, "Near and Far."

With each step, the distance he crossed grew farther.

With one step from the South Continent to the Central Continent, he stepped once again.

With another step, he crossed an unknown number of miles.

Raising his leg once more, he arrived at the center of the Central Continent, standing before the Sole Heavenly Sect.

His sudden arrival startled the two guarding disciples at the entrance of the Sole Heavenly Sect.

By the time they calmed themselves, Yang Yan had already entered the Sole Heavenly Sect, and they hadn't even glimpsed his silhouette.

"Did someone just go in?" one of the disciples asked.

The other disciple wore a puzzled expression as well.

"I didn't see clearly!"

"Then no one did!"

"Yes."

As the two spoke, Yang Yan had already reached the front of the Sole Heavenly Sect's main hall.

"Where is the Sect Master of the Sole Heavenly Sect?" Yang Yan shouted.

His voice resounded throughout the entire Sole Heavenly Sect, attracting the attention of many disciples.

"Is that... Yang Yan?"

"Why has he returned? Hasn't he completed the ascension task test?"

"I've heard his task was extremely difficult. Why come back so early? Does he want to switch tasks or tests?"

At this moment, a figure appeared inside the Sole Heavenly Sect's main hall, who was none other than the Sect Master of the Sole Heavenly Sect.

"Yang Yan?" He looked a bit surprised upon seeing Yang Yan.

*This person!*

*Wasn't he supposed to go to the South Continent and be killed?*

"It is I!" Yang Yan replied with a carefree demeanor, hands clasped behind his back.

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master nodded.

"I understand it's you. What is it? Why have you returned?"

*For what purpose?*

"Of course, I came back because I completed the task test!" Yang Yan stated.

*What?*

The face of the Sole Heavenly Sect Master changed color.

"You completed the task? Do you know how much time has passed?"

He was the one who assigned the ascension task tests, most aware of how difficult the task allocated to Yang Yan was!

Not to mention that only two days had passed, even ten days or half a month,

Yang Yan shouldn't have been able to complete the task easily!

Moreover, they had set up a trap at the edge of the South Continent,

just waiting for Yang Yan to come and then eliminate him!

*How could he have completed the task?*

"I don't care how much time has passed; the task is completed, so I've returned!" Yang Yan said as he took out the scroll recording the ascension task test.

With a wave of his hand, he tossed it towards the Sole Heavenly Sect Master.

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master caught it effortlessly. He didn't need to look at the scroll that Yang Yan tossed.

He knew very well what Yang Yan's task test was!

"Where is the Demon God Pearl?" he asked.

Yang Yan raised his hand, and it appeared in his palm.

It was none other than the Demon God Pearl!

"Here it is!"

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't need to hold it to know,

just by sensing the aura, that the pearl in Yang Yan's hand was the Demon God Pearl!

*Indeed!*

"How did you obtain the Demon God Pearl so quickly?" he asked.

Yang Yan held the Demon God Pearl in his hand.

"It's not your concern how I obtained the Demon God Pearl; just confirm whether the one in my hand is the Demon God Pearl!" he said calmly.

He showed no politeness to the Sole Heavenly Sect Master!

Being courteous to someone who wanted to harm you was the greatest cruelty to oneself!

"Bring it over for me to see, and the gains from the task test need to be submitted!" the Sole Heavenly Sect Master said coldly.

Yang Yan put away the Demon God Pearl.

"With your cultivation, do you need to hold it to see it?

As for submission, why should I submit what I obtained to you?"

Even if he were to feed the Demon God Pearl to a dog, he wouldn't give it to the Sole Heavenly Sect Master.

Besides, if he handed the Demon God Pearl to the Sect Master, who knows if he'd try some dirty tricks?

Like breaking the Demon God Pearl or tampering with it!

Then, if the Sect Master denied it and turned against Yang Yan,

with the Sect Master's shamelessness, he would not hesitate to do such things!

"You are too unruly..." the Sole Heavenly Sect Master said sternly.

*Indeed!*

The submission was just something he mentioned intentionally.

The goal was to intimidate Yang Yan and acquire the Demon God Pearl.

Afterward, he intended to do something to prevent Yang Yan from completing the task.

However, Yang Yan outright ignored him, which made him very displeased!

"Stop with the formalities, acknowledge whether the Demon God Pearl in my hand is genuine!" Yang Yan said sternly.

"Don't try anything else with me, don't think I don't know about your actions!

I show you respect by speaking courteously!"

His voice grew increasingly cold, carrying a threat!

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master took a deep breath. What kind of status did he have, when had he ever been threatened face-to-face by someone?

Yet, recalling Yang Yan's identity, he suppressed his anger.

Moreover, he sensed something off in Yang Yan's words, causing him to reconsider.

"Does he know about the ambush in the South Continent?"

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master paused before speaking.

"I just sensed it by the aura; the one in your hand is indeed the Demon God Pearl!"

"Since it's the Demon God Pearl, how about my task test?"

"It is completed, and you are the first to return and complete the task test in this Heaven Ascending Qualification Battle!

Next, you may take priority in drawing a number plate!" the Sole Heavenly Sect Master said.

He opened a void and took out a golden box.

"Reach in and draw a number plate!"

Yang Yan approached, seeing through the golden box.

Inside the box were floating jade tokens inscribed with numbers!

From one to ten thousand!

There were no other mechanisms!

He reached into the golden box and drew out a jade token.

On the token was inscribed, one!

Holding this jade token, a golden number materialized before Yang Yan's eyes!

Ten!

"Yang Yan, you are number one; your opponent will be the cultivator who draws the number ten token!" the Sole Heavenly Sect Master said.

*The person who draws the number ten jade token?*

Yang Yan realized that this draw was also about luck!

If he drew well, the next person could draw the number ten, and he would be able to battle them.

If the draw was poor, a thousand people might not be able to draw the number ten jade token!

"And this draw for the Number Jade Plate allows for tricks from the Sole Heavenly Sect!" Yang Yan considered, watching the Sect Master.

With the golden box in their hands, what couldn't they do if they wanted to?

"I still have trouble ahead!"

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master put away the golden box.

"In all previous Heaven Ascending Qualification Battles, the earliest returning cultivators started returning only on the third day!

Yang Yan, you've returned too early!

So next, you'll need to wait for a day!" the Sole Heavenly Sect Master stated.

"Alright, you may roam freely!"

His figure vanished, and Yang Yan slowly left.

In the depths of the hall, the expression of the Sole Heavenly Sect Master was particularly grim.

In his hand appeared a number token, engraved with ten!

This was also the token of Yang Yan's supposed opponent!

"The first return, Yang Yan, even if you return first,

I will have you be the last to step onto the Heavenly Ladder!" The Sole Heavenly Sect Master placed the token inscribed with ten into his storage bag, not putting it back in the golden box, then showed a puzzled expression!

"The Demon God Pearls only exist in the South Continent; Yang Yan couldn't have not gone.

If he went to the South Continent, how could he return unscathed?

No, I need to gather fellow Daoists to contact the strong ones heading to the South Continent!"

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