Everyone was stunned by the Water Dragon's words. How could this unknown young man before them possess even greater talent than Lucian?
The Water Dragon's judgment was never wrong—which meant this kid…
At this thought, all eyes instantly focused on Kael. Arjun's jaw dropped so wide he could have fit an egg in his mouth.
"The Water Dragon claims Brother Idris's talent is extraordinary. The Water Dragon is a figure of such stature, yet even he makes such a declaration… Does this mean Brother Idris's talent truly is…!" Arjun's own conclusion startled him.
A trace of dark fury flashed across Lucian's face as he glanced at Kael. Recognizing him as the one who had competed against him in the Water Dragon's treasury, his gaze grew even more hostile.
Kael, however, remained calm. He had long known of his extraordinary gifts—though the human-skin mask covering his face concealed his true age. Otherwise, it would have caused an uproar.
"Young man, your talent is peerless. But the path of magic is not one where talent alone can lead you to the." The Water Dragon sighed faintly, as if lost in reminiscence.
"As for the rest of you…" The Water Dragon raised its head, sweeping its gaze over every cultivator present. "You all seek my legacy. Yet only one among you may inherit it. That will depend on your own capabilities."
Kael's heart stirred. He had known the Water Dragon's legacy wouldn't be so easily obtained—it seemed the final trial was yet to come.
"This Idris seems to have won the Water Dragon's favor. We absolutely cannot let him obtain the legacy! If necessary, we must join forces to eliminate him!" Black Armor No. 1's eyes gleamed with cold malice. In truth, he wished he could kill Kael right now. But with the Water Dragon's inheritance at stake, he had to prioritize.
Compared to the legacy, Kael was merely a minor threat—especially since their side had four ninth-rank experts!
The other Black Armor warriors all nodded in silent agreement.
The Water Dragon looked down from above and said indifferently, "I have laid down a magic formation here, known as the Chrono-Light Array. This formation best tests your potential. All of you may attempt it. The first to reach me by passing through the Chrono-Light Array shall inherit my legacy!"
The Chrono-Light Array!
So, the Water Dragon had prepared this long ago!
Kael was astonished. The Water Dragon was a figure from three thousand years ago, yet it had foreseen events millennia into the future and even set up the Chrono-Light Array, waiting for descendants to inherit its legacy. Truly formidable.
Everyone stared at the Water Dragon, holding their breath. For a moment, the scene was so silent that the drop of a needle could be heard.
With a wave of its hand, the Water Dragon instantly enveloped its surroundings in a unique radiance—dazzling like the stars!
Indeed, the light resembled starlight, engulfing everyone present. Gasps of amazement rose from the crowd.
"Beneath our feet—"
"What is this—?"
Kael also glanced down and was shocked to find the ground beneath him shimmering with countless stars, exuding an endless glow. He felt as though he were adrift in a sea of stars, wandering through the cosmos.
At the same time, he sensed an immense pressure weighing down on his body, making even a single step forward feel agonizingly difficult.
"So this is the Chrono-Light Array!" Kael couldn't help but admire the Water Dragon's prowess.
He understood that this formation had been set up precisely to test them. Within it, every movement was excruciating, as if bound by invisible shackles.
Only those with unwavering resolve and immense potential could move freely—let alone reach the Water Dragon's side!
The easier it was to traverse the Chrono-Light Array, the greater one's latent potential. Strength was irrelevant here. In other words, even a tenth-rank powerhouse might struggle to take a single step!
Every cultivator present felt as though a mountain were pressing down on their backs. Moving was pure torment. Reaching the Water Dragon seemed impossible—even advancing ten meters would be a miracle.
Yet the Water Dragon stood at least a hundred meters away!
Despite this, the cultivators remained eager to try. After all, such a monumental opportunity lay before them—whoever reached the Water Dragon first would inherit its legacy!
Some had already begun moving.
Arjun gritted his teeth. "Damn it, I'll give it a shot too. I refuse to believe I don't stand a chance!" Having witnessed Lucian's overwhelming strength and the Water Dragon's apparent favoritism toward Kael, he felt provoked into action.
The moment Arjun took his first step, his body stiffened as if petrified. An oppressive weight bore down on him, making even breathing a struggle.
"Hell, moving really is impossible!" he cursed. Beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead after just one step—proof of the sheer difficulty.
Others fared even worse. Most could barely manage a few steps before their faces flushed red, gasping for air as sweat drenched their robes.
With pioneers leading the way, nearly everyone soon began advancing through the Chrono-Light Array.
Yet a handful remained on the sidelines, observing calmly as if waiting to discern a pattern that might ease their passage.
"Lucian is moving too!"
A cry rose from the crowd.
Lucian had finally acted! After a period of observation, he too stepped into the formation.
Compared to the tortoise-like pace of the others, Lucian's initial movements were startlingly swift. In just a few strides, he began overtaking those who had started before him.
Arjun, who had initially been among the frontrunners, now watched helplessly as Lucian closed the gap.
"So fast!" The crowd murmured in awe, their gazes tinged with reverence.
No wonder the Water Dragon had singled out Lucian. This man truly lived up to his reputation as a figure on the Continent's Windcloud Ranking—exceptional in every way.
Kael took a deep breath. Just as Lucian gained momentum, he too stepped forward.
The instant he moved, resistance clamped down on him like a vise. But to Kael, this was negligible. With a determined clench of his jaw, he steadied his posture and broke into a rapid stride.
"Heavens! That's the kid the Water Dragon praised earlier!"
"What's going on with him? How is he moving so fast?!"
"He's even quicker than Lucian! Just who is this guy?!"
Those with sharp eyes had already noticed Kael's movements, and their shock was palpable. Compared to the average cultivator's sluggish pace, Kael moved like a monster!
No one knew where this sudden dark horse had come from—his performance was nothing short of absurd.
Even Arjun, glancing back by chance, was stunned by Kael's speed.
Swift as the wind!
That was the only way to describe it. Kael's strides devoured the distance between him and the others as if he were flying.
Yet Kael's calm expression belied the strain he felt. This was a formation laid by the Water Dragon—how could it be so easily overcome?
He, too, bore immense pressure, his forehead glistening with sweat as he forced himself forward.
Lucian was no different. His robes clung to his drenched back. To outsiders, both he and Kael seemed to traverse the Chrono-Light Array effortlessly, but the truth was far grimmer—they were gritting their teeth through sheer willpower.
"Look! Even that tenth-rank powerhouse is—"
Some in the crowd had been observing others, such as the white-bearded elder of the tenth rank.
All eyes turned, and gasps erupted.
The venerable expert's movements were agonizingly slow—far worse than even the average cultivator's!
"Just as the Water Dragon said," someone whispered. "That old man's strength may be immense, but his potential is exhausted. No wonder he can barely move here!"
Another tenth-rank powerhouse performed moderately, neither fast nor slow, maintaining a middling position.
As for the Black Armor warriors, all four advanced through the formation with surprising speed, their progress edging them into the leading ranks!
"Incredible! That kid's about to overtake Lucian!"
Another cry rang out as the crowd watched the unfolding drama, their awe mounting.