This is a game of finding joy amidst suffering discovered after 4,000 blades.

All attacks in the Land of Blades are not random strikes, but appear as if someone is genuinely using techniques to strike.

Zhou Leng quietly gazed at the weapons ahead, allowing them to fall upon him, his expression calm.

Gradually, the number of weapons increased, and before long, his entire body became a mutilated mess, and his eyes turned blind.

Yet even so, Zhou Leng could still sense the incoming swords with his mind.

As if a blind person had acquired immense sensory abilities.

Before long, with a crunching sound, the bone-only Zhou Leng fell to the ground.

Bones scattered everywhere.

The will still existed.

Arm bone crushed, leg bone broken, skull cracked...

The unbearable pain tormented Zhou Leng.

But Zhou Leng's heart remained as calm as a still well.

The sound of weapons resounded across the battlefield.

9000... 9500... 9900...

One weapon following another.

Suddenly, a peculiar Great Hammer descended from the sky.

The surface of the hammer was carved with blood-red cloud patterns, surrounded entirely by thunderfire, crashing down.

Clearly very small, yet like a star falling.

Boom!

With a loud explosion, Zhou Leng was shattered to pieces, ground into countless tiny particles.

Boom...

Zhou Leng felt his whole body explode, and in the Will World, the Mountain of Will suddenly shattered, turning into tiny particles.

Mind shaken.

Could the Mountain of Will really shatter?

The Thunderfire Divine Hammer descended above the Mountain of Will, smashing the crystal-like powder.

Boom!

The power of the Divine Hammer, the power of thunderfire, exploded.

Everything went black in front of Zhou Leng's eyes, and he fainted.

Upon opening his eyes, Zhou Leng felt his whole body tingling, his body losing control.

At that instant, Zhou Leng wondered if he was truly dead.

When the Thunderfire Divine Hammer descended, he indeed experienced the despair of death.

Closer to death than ever before.

As his body gradually regained control, Zhou Leng breathed a sigh of relief and entered the Will World.

Everything was as usual; the Sea Suppressing remnant map was there, the Ancient River Sect's Star Disc was there, the Divine Communication Order was there, and the flower gifted by the Elf Teacher was there.

The Mountain of Will was also there.

At first glance, it seemed unchanged.

Upon closer inspection, the Mountain of Will was brighter, purer, and more transparent.

As if forged by the Divine Hammer and refined by thunderfire.

"So that's it..."

That Thunderfire Divine Hammer was indeed the last of the ten thousand strikes.

Meanwhile, a message from the Gate of Purgatory floated back into his memory.

Successfully passing the first layer of the Gate of Purgatory, and after ascending to Divinity, he could enter again for even tougher trials.

"Indeed..."

"The second layer."

Zhou Leng, fully spirited, entered directly.

Black and white alternated before him, he stood in a valley.

Animal roars echoed from all directions.

On the edge of the valley, pairs of variously-sized, differently-colored eyes lit up.

Several shadows rushed forward, and upon closer inspection, the figures became discernible.

Wolves, leopards, tigers, snakes, lions, eagles...

Unlike ordinary beasts, these animals had a staggering presence, with a peculiar killing and ferocious intent in their eyes that could paralyze an average person with a glance.

Zhou Leng's attitude remained indifferent; this second layer likely involved being torn apart by beasts.

This damage, naturally, was slightly stronger than cold weapons.

But ultimately, it was merely a larger version of the Land of Blades.

In Zhou Leng's mind, the name of the second layer emerged.

Insect Beast Valley.

An ominous feeling arose in his heart.

The beast pack charged forward, continuously tearing, slapping, and devouring.

Soon, Zhou Leng was entirely consumed, even his bones chewed to shreds, entering the beasts' bellies.

In the next instant, Zhou Leng's body was restored.

The beasts began their second feast.

After 999 feasts, Zhou Leng finally felt a faint fatigue but mostly boredom.

Upon the thousandth revival, the beasts retreated.

Rustle...

A dense swarm of insects, like a black flesh carpet, swept in from all directions.

Various insects seen and known in daily life converged into an army, swarming onto Zhou Leng.

Some gnawed on his skin, others crawled through his nostrils, eyes, and ears...

The indescribable sensation struck Zhou Leng.

Nausea, goosebumps, panic, vomiting, disgust, and other feelings far beyond pain infinitely persisted.

Even pain was overshadowed by these complex sensations.

In no time, Zhou Leng gave up.

The Gate of Purgatory reversed, ejecting Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng felt itchy and tingling all over, goosebumps trembling lightly.

Finally understanding what Purgatory means.

Pain was merely the first door of Purgatory.

Being devoured by myriad beasts was nothing.

But in the sea of insects, feeling them crawl into his body, the sensation was entirely different.

Zhou Leng exhaled lightly.

To take a break was already not bad; there was no need to push himself so hard, let alone not go back...

Zhou Leng lay for a while, sighing.

Thought for a long time, then realized the issue.

These complex, multiple nauseating feelings affect the spirit far beyond pain.

The fear and disgust towards insects were ingrained in genes, culture, and life, present everywhere.

It had become instinct.

Zhou Leng wanted to empty his mind, completely forget, but insect images kept appearing in his head.

The powerful Rock Realm Mountain of Will surprisingly had no effect.

Zhou Leng silently pondered, understanding faintly after a long time.

Instinct.

The Insect Beast Valley tests not the ability to endure pain, but the ability to combat instinct.

Just like that deep-sea fear during the Celestial Tier Trial, knowing he wouldn't die, just failing and leaving, yet unable to endure that fear.

If a martial artist cannot overcome instincts, achievements would be limited.

Forever just a beast controlled by instincts and desires, at most a fusion between human and beast, not a person completely surpassing beasts.

Zhou Leng's mind recalled the heroes who sacrificed during the old era, and the celebrated figures passed down during the Martial Arts Era.

If it were those brave heroes, would they be scared?

They wouldn't fear.

Zhou Leng's gaze changed slightly.

Unexpectedly, his answer was so swift and certain.

The pain those heroes endured appeared very ordinary, merely facing death, hunger, torture, burning.

However, their spirit and will far surpassed ordinary people and beasts, reaching the human limit.

If they entered the Insect Beast Valley, they might just smile indifferently.

Zhou Leng then understood the difference between himself and heroes.

Not the strength of will, not the strength of endurance, but the strong mentality that disregards all obstacles for ideals.

That immortal belief that ideals will be realized.

Right now, he couldn't achieve it.

But he has grasped the direction.

Zhou Leng silently comforted himself.

Try again later, if truly wanting to cultivate, just enter the fourth layer Red Lotus Fire Purgatory; however...

Zhou Leng glanced at the Gate of Purgatory, muttering lowly with disbelief: "The third layer."

A moment later, the Gate of Purgatory reversed, ejecting Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng's face flushed, then paled, looking at the Gate of Purgatory with an extremely complex expression.

Fear, yet desire, pain, yet pleasure... various impossible to coexist emotions flickered in his eyes.

"So cruel... almost didn't want to come back..."

Zhou Leng deeply realized his insignificance in the infinite universe.

"Better forget the second and third layers for now, next time just enter the Red Lotus Fire Purgatory; even dying from pain is better than the second and third layers..."

Zhou Leng silently walked to Mammoth Lake, trying to empty his mind, but still couldn't forget the nausea from the second layer and the madness from the third layer.

Zhou Leng shouted for Xiaoba and Huang, no response.

Headed straight for the Orange Blossom Fruit Forest, summoned the Black Bone Tiger.

"Come!"

Zhou Leng shouted at a Middle Period Life Force Black Bone Tiger.

The Black Bone Tiger growled slightly, with a small amount of disdain and displeasure, rushed straight over.

Other Black Bone Tigers chuckled, especially the Body Refining Stage little Black Bone Tiger, laughed the happiest.

Beat this furless fierce ape hard!

Zhou Leng took a deep breath, eliminating all distractions, eyes turning cold, viewing the Black Bone Tiger as an enemy, attacking with full force.

A punch collided against the tiger's paw.

With a loud crash, both man and tiger retreated simultaneously.

The Black Bone Tiger retreated three large steps, and Zhou Leng retreated over ten steps, finally bumping into a tree.

"Again!"

Zhou Leng completely let loose, wanting to use a hearty battle to dispel the mental scars caused by the two layers of the Gate of Purgatory in his mind.

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