Just as Chu Feng was still pondering, an incredibly deep and powerful voice resonated throughout.
"Congratulations on passing the preliminary assessment. Since you have come here, you must undergo lightning tempering."
"Each time you succeed in the tempering, a step will be forged within that passage. The strength of the step will depend on the intensity of the tempering you endure."
"When the steps fill the entire passage, you may enter it and climb upward."
"Only by sitting upon the throne can you obtain the power of the Divine Era."
"Should the tempering be imperfect, not only will the steps shatter, but they will also fail to extend to the top."
"At that point, you will have failed."
"Failure, at least, means you can leave."
"However, the prerequisite is that you can hold on until the final failure."
"Because the upcoming tempering may very well cost you your life."
"So now, I give you one last chance to choose."
"If you choose to give up now, you may leave unharmed. But the price is the destruction of the key that brought you here, and you will never set foot in the Divine Era for the rest of your life."
"Young one, make your choice now."
As that voice resonated, the entire world trembled. It was a voice from beyond the world itself, containing boundless power.
It was hard not to imagine that it might be the very essence of the Divine Era.
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"Senior, may I ask what kind of power truly resides within the Divine Era?"
"Can that power enhance my cultivation?"
Chu Feng asked.
Because based on his previous understanding, the power of the Divine Era was meant to strengthen one's bloodline.
But Chu Feng's bloodline was already powerful enough. He personally felt there was no need to strengthen it.
Compared to his bloodline, he was more concerned with whether his cultivation could be raised.
After all, he was desperate to step into the Heavenly God Realm—and preferably not as a first-rank Heavenly God, but as a second-rank, or even a third-rank Heavenly God.
Only then could he stand against Jie Tianran and resolve the crisis at hand.
Otherwise, even if he obtained the power of the Era of Gods and his bloodline was further strengthened, it would only make his combat power slightly stronger.
If his cultivation remained unchanged, it would still be impossible to turn the tide of the current battle.
"Give me your choice — do you accept the challenge, or leave?"
That voice rang out once more, offering no answer to Chu Feng's question and instead revealing a hint of impatience.
Seeing that he would get nothing by asking, Chu Feng made his decision without hesitation: "Junior accepts the challenge."
Rumble, rumble, rumble—
The moment Chu Feng finished speaking, blue lightning appeared in the sky above.
At first there were only a few bolts, but the sheer oppressive force they carried was enough to send a chill down Chu Feng's spine.
Every single bolt contained a devastating aura, one that was arguably even more terrifying than the pressure of the Nine-Colored Lightning during his breakthrough.
Yet in the blink of an eye, those thick blue bolts of lightning had multiplied into a dense, impenetrable mass, truly blotting out the void above.
"Chu Feng, this lightning doesn't look particularly flashy, but it's far from simple. Can you withstand it?"
"Why not give up?"
"There must be other ways to deal with Jie Tianran — there's no need to risk your life."
Even Eggy had begun to panic at the sight. In terms of sheer intimidation, this blue lightning was even more fearsome than the Nine-Colored Lightning.
"There's no turning back once the arrow has left the bow. I've already passed the point of retreat."
"However, the more formidable this tempering is, the more I feel it's a good sign."
"If it were too weak, it would fall short of my expectations for the Era of Gods."
Unlike Eggy's worry, Chu Feng was brimming with confidence.
BOOM—
As if sensing Chu Feng's confidence, a bolt of lightning suddenly came crashing down, striking him squarely.
Chu Feng's robes were reduced to ash in an instant.
And Chu Feng himself was slammed to the ground, his entire body torn open with skin splitting and flesh ripping apart. The pain was so excruciating that he couldn't even cry out, and his body stiffened from the agony.
Indeed, this lightning was nothing like the Nine-Colored Lightning.