In the world within the painting, the meaning behind each sword strike gradually became clear to Jiang Yan.
At the very beginning, every sword the figure swung represented the embodiment of a single law.
Each movement was pure and absolute—time, space, metal, fire, lightning—every law stood alone, flawless in its own domain.
But starting from the tenth sword, the nature of the strikes changed.
Each sword thereafter was no longer governed by a single law.
Instead, two laws fused together, intertwining seamlessly within one strike.
Then came three.
Then four.
The fusion deepened with every swing, the sword intent growing heavier, denser, and more terrifying. The world itself trembled under the increasing pressure.
By the time the final sword approached, the figure's ambition was unmistakable.
He intended to completely integrate the two upper laws and the eight lower laws, forging them into a single, perfect strike—the strongest sword imaginable.
A sword that could represent the very origin of chaos.
Yet—
He failed.
The two upper laws and eight lower laws could not be fully unified. The fusion collapsed at the final moment, and everything shattered back into nothingness.
The world reset.
The sword marks vanished.
The figure raised his sword once more and began again.
Jiang Yan's gaze burned with understanding.
"So that's it…"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Then let me finish that last sword for you."
Unlike the figure in the painting, Jiang Yan had already stepped onto a path that others could not tread.
With the Law Pagoda as his foundation, he had already achieved what countless geniuses across endless epochs had failed to do—
the initial fusion of two upper laws and eight lower laws.
Of course, that fusion was still unstable.
Violently unstable, even.
But it existed.
And that alone placed him far beyond ordinary cultivators.
At that moment—
"Half an hour is up!"
The black-robed reception envoy's voice echoed through the corridor.
The geniuses jolted back to reality.
"What? Already?"
"So fast?!"
Many of them looked stunned. They had been so deeply immersed in the paintings that they had completely lost track of time.
"Now," the envoy said calmly,
"tell me which Chaos Monument you have chosen."
His gaze instinctively settled on Jiang Yan.
Everyone understood—
Jiang Yan would speak first.
"I choose the Cosmic Chaos Monument."
Jiang Yan's voice was calm but resolute.
The moment his words fell—
"I also choose the Cosmic Chaos Monument."
Bolan spoke immediately afterward, his tone cold and unwavering.
The crowd stirred.
Soon, one genius after another announced their decisions.
"I choose the Giant Axe Chaos Monument!"
"I choose the Nine Universes Chaos Monument!"
"I choose the Light and Shadow Chaos Monument!"
Voices echoed continuously.
Luo Feng, just like in the original trajectory, chose the Nine Universes Chaos Monument.
Ai Chen and Hong both selected the Dark Chaos Monument.
Thor chose the Dragon Chaos Monument.
"Very well."
The black-robed reception envoy nodded.
"I have submitted all of your choices."
"Now, follow me."
With that, he turned and headed in a specific direction.
Jiang Yan and the others followed closely behind.
At the same time—
Deep within Chaos City, inside a grand hall.
A figure clad in black robes sat at the head seat, as though bathed in dark flames.
It was Star Prison Demon Lord.
Below him sat three figures.
Demon Prison Venerable.
Golden Emperor Venerable.
And Red Kite.
"Teacher," Demon Prison Venerable said after receiving the information, sighing softly,
"Junior Brother really did choose the Cosmic Chaos Monument."
He shook his head slightly.
"To comprehend the Cosmic Chaos Monument, one must clearly distinguish priorities—whether time or space serves as the core."
"If Junior Brother insists on cultivating both simultaneously… his ambition may backfire."
Golden Emperor Venerable spoke gravely.
"Dual cultivation of time and space… immortality is nearly impossible."
Demon Prison Venerable nodded.
Before immortality, countless geniuses had attempted the same path across endless epochs.
And without exception—
They all shared the same fate.
Forever stuck at the Realm Lord stage.
Their lifespan exhausted, they eventually fell into oblivion.
Dual cultivation of time and space was indeed terrifying.
It allowed one to challenge enemies across major realms—even to kill far stronger opponents.
But it also became an insurmountable chasm when attempting to break through to immortality.
The difficulty multiplied exponentially.
Even Star Prison Demon Lord—an ancient being who had lived through untold epochs—had never once seen someone succeed on this path.
Without immortality, all brilliance was ultimately meaningless.
"So," Demon Prison Venerable asked hesitantly,
"should we remind Junior Brother?"
Star Prison Demon Lord waved his hand dismissively and chuckled.
"No need."
"Geniuses possess pride—especially Jiang Yan."
"He's had too smooth a journey so far."
"Only when he encounters real obstacles will he understand that excessive ambition can be dangerous."
"Some setbacks… will temper his edge."
Golden Emperor Venerable nodded in agreement.
Only Red Kite remained silent.
In her heart, she couldn't help but wonder—
Will he really encounter a setback?
Time and time again, Jiang Yan had shattered her understanding of what was possible.
She genuinely felt that even dual cultivation of time and space might not be enough to stop him from stepping into immortality.
"Red Kite."
Star Prison Demon Lord suddenly looked toward her.
"Yes, Teacher," Red Kite replied respectfully.
He smiled faintly.
"You should be able to pass the twentieth level of the Heaven-Connecting Bridge now, correct?"
Meanwhile—
The thousand geniuses followed the black-robed reception envoy to a vast open training ground within the City Lord's Mansion.
The area stretched for dozens of kilometers in both length and width.
Smiling, the envoy announced:
"Among the fifty-two Chaos Monument cultivation chambers, twelve are currently occupied."
"The remaining forty chambers are vacant."
"I will now announce the monuments corresponding to the empty chambers."
"Those who chose them—remain here and enter from the left."
He pointed toward the left side and began reciting names.
"Cosmic Chaos Monument.
Heart-Scar Chaos Monument.
Dark Universe Monument. …"
When Jiang Yan heard Cosmic Chaos Monument was vacant, he smiled faintly.
At least he wouldn't need to wait.
Soon, all forty vacant monuments were announced.
"Damn," Luo Feng sighed.
"The Nine Universes Chaos Monument is occupied."
Rong Jun shook his head as well.
"My luck's worse. The Giant Axe Chaos Monument is taken too. But that's expected—it's always the most popular."
The Giant Axe Chaos Monument, created by the founder of the Giant Axe Arena, naturally attracted countless cultivators.
"Those who chose the monuments I just announced, follow me."
"The rest of you may temporarily cultivate on the City Lord Mansion's walls. When your turn comes, I will notify you."
After speaking, the black-robed envoy led Jiang Yan and the others into the left passage.
They entered a long corridor.
On both sides stood rows of cultivation chambers, each sealed by a bronze door.
On every door, cosmic common script was engraved—
"Giant Axe."
"Cosmic."
"Nine Universes."
Before each bronze door stood an identical three-eyed elder.
The geniuses were stunned.
Jiang Yan, however, understood.
These fifty-two identical elders were merely avatars of a single existence.
"This is the entrance to the fifty-two Chaos Monument cultivation chambers," the black-robed envoy announced.
Then he turned respectfully toward the three-eyed elder and bowed.
"Lord Kandri."