This magic formation required only seven people to operate, but that didn't mean the extra members were useless.
This third trial was simply too dangerous. It was best to have backup participants.
Even though they could not afford a backup for every one of the seven Laws, having at least some was better than none.
The ten of them kept experimenting, and after seventy years, the formation finally functioned properly.
"I'll test the power of the formation first," Ignis said.
He left behind a divine clone inside the formation and then flew out.
Although his offensive power wasn't as terrifying as the Amethyst shards in the cave, he was more than qualified to test the formation's effects.
At the very least, he could assess the defensive capability of the magic formation.
Ignis wielded his Sovereign artifact and launched his strongest attack.
After his strength had increased a hundredfold, his ultimate technique far exceeded that of an ordinary Paragon.
Inside the formation, seven divine clones—each infused with a different Law—simultaneously released their full divine power.
Each held a suitable Sovereign artifact aligned with their respective Laws.
The formation rose, and a massive seven-colored barrier appeared.
Ignis' strike, "Heavenfall," carried with it a tremendous illusionary divine sword and smashed into the barrier.
The barrier trembled under the blow but managed to hold.
Everyone was thrilled.
However, Ignis quickly doused their excitement.
"Not enough. I can tell this formation is only ten times stronger than my ultimate move. Do you all know how much stronger a Sovereign's full-force strike is compared to a Paragon?"
Everyone fell silent.
Very few truly understood the gap between Paragon and Sovereign.
After all, if a Sovereign wanted to kill a Paragon, as long as the latter didn't hide in a material plane, death was almost certain.
In the eyes of Sovereigns, Paragons were still ants.
"When the Sovereign sparks descended, I once participated in a battle to seize one—but I failed. One lucky fellow became a Sovereign, and with just one strike, he annihilated a horde of powerful Shuras. Fortunately, Lord Uhtred stepped in and saved me.
It was during that battle that I underwent soul mutation. From that experience, I estimate even a Lesser Sovereign is a million times stronger than a Paragon."
Everyone was stunned. No wonder Sovereigns still regarded Paragons as mere insects.
"We need to keep researching. I think we shouldn't operate the formation as a fused whole of all seven Laws. We should divide the control—for example, Light and Darkness should be treated as equals."
Ignis seemed to have thought of something.
"Do you all know the Four Divine Beast Sovereigns?"
"Of course. All four were Lesser Sovereigns, but when they joined forces, their divine ability could even threaten Sovereign Rulers."
Not all Highgods knew of this but with the recent changes, conversations sparked throughout the Higher Planes and Elemental Planes revealed many things that only a few key figures knew.
"Exactly. Water, Wind, Fire, and Earth are one group; Light and Darkness are another; and Lightning stands alone. Let us structure the formation accordingly—Water, Wind, Fire, and Earth at the top, Light and Darkness on the sides, and Lightning at the bottom."
Ignis suddenly realized something critical.
The three magi began refining the magic formation again.
Outside the Amethyst Mountains, all the Sovereigns watched closely.
"My lord, do you think they'll succeed?"
"Possibly. But if they do, those Lesser Sovereigns will be in for some sleepless nights," Sadius chuckled.
"If seven Highgods working together can take on a Sovereign's full-force strike, then the era where Sovereigns see Highgods as ants might be coming to an end."
"It might not stop there. Perhaps we'll see a resurgence of groups like the Four Divine Beasts. If the seven Law-based Sovereign Rulers joined forces, even the Four Edict Rulers would not be able to match them."
"You're dreaming. This group can pull this off because they're soul mutates. Without soul mutation, this formation couldn't have been created. Do you think seven same-level soul mutates could emerge among the Sovereigns?"
Only then did Beirut realize the harsh truth.
Just moments ago, he was fantasizing about standing toe-to-toe with Sovereign Rulers.
After all, he still had a Lesser Sovereign spark of the Water Law.
And with Redbud already possessing a Lesser Sovereign clone of the Earth Law, they only needed to recruit three more to form a group surpassing the Four Divine Beasts.
But Sadius' remark instantly crushed his hopes.
"Forget it," Beirut thought. "I've got my backer—I won't dwell on fantasies."
Back in the mountain, the ten spent another ten years and finally completed the optimized formation.
After several tests, Ignis gave his approval.
"Everyone, I must tell you—based on the length of the Amethyst Cavern, this formation won't be completely safe."
"So…some of us will definitely have to sacrifice ourselves."
Everyone fell silent. No one wanted to be that person who gave up their life for others.
"We have ten people, but the formation only requires seven. I can even serve as two due to having divine clones of both Darkness and Fire," Ignis added.
"So, to ensure seven remain alive, the divine clones of the rest must be prepared to sacrifice themselves when necessary."
"Don't worry, I'll be the first. My Fire Law clone will be the first to go."
Everyone turned their gaze toward the three additional soul-mutates of Destruction and Earth.
They were the ones most likely to be sacrificed. The formation required all seven Laws to be maintained.
Each person had to keep their original body and Destruction clone intact, or they'd never become an Overgod even if they passed the trial.
Thus, if danger arose, a few would have to give up their divine clones.
Seeing Ignis lead by example, the three agreed—it was the only way forward.
Soon, seven Law-based clones flew out and formed the great array.
The others hid behind the barrier.
The seven controlled the barrier as it flew into the Amethyst Cavern.
As soon as it touched the high-speed Amethyst blasts, terrifying impact rocked the formation.
Yet it held. The amethysts failed to shatter it.
Everyone rejoiced. The formation had blocked the attacks—they might actually make it through this trial.
"Don't get careless. The Amethyst Cavern's eruptions vary in strength. This is just a normal outburst. We don't know if the formation can endure a real eruption."
Everyone nodded and focused on guiding the formation deeper into the cave.
Outside the mountains, all the Sovereigns kept their eyes on the ten within.
Only Orloff remained seemingly calm, though his mind raced with new plans.
Seven soul-mutates, each of a different Law, had created a formation capable of withstanding a Sovereign's non-will-empowered strike.
Orloff still had many soul-mutates under him.
For each Law, he could form at least two squads—that was two formations.
"If I can enslave these soul-mutates and make them Sovereigns…" a voice whispered in Orloff's heart.
"Augustus, that thought is madness! Have you forgotten the pact among Sovereigns?"
"Hmph. Orloff, if you hadn't been obsessed with transcending this universe, we'd have conquered all the planes long ago."
"What's the point of conquest? Even a frog that beats all others still knows nothing of the world outside its well."
"This Plane War—if you win another for the Fate Edict plane, that'll make ten straight. Don't tell me you're not interested in the Power of Will granted afterward?"
Orloff indeed had little interest in winning ten straight.
So what if his strength increased tenfold—would that shatter the universe?
He had realized that mere strength wasn't the key to breaking free of the universe.
After all, even Power of Will was just a reward from the natural laws of this world.
If the laws could grant one unit of Will, they could grant ten or a hundred.
Even a hundred Plane War victories would never grant true transcendence.
Orloff believed he hadn't erred in his path of researching innate divine abilities.
Perhaps, through them, he'd find a way to break free of the cosmos.
Sadius, of course, knew Orloff had taken a wrong path—but he couldn't say so.
To do so would violate the laws of the universe.
Inside the Amethyst Cavern, the team pressed deeper.
Continuously burning Sovereign power, they advanced safely for quite some distance.
Suddenly, the Amethysts flying out of the cave grew massive—and far faster.
The formation trembled.
Ignis knew: it was time to sacrifice clones.
"I'll go first."
The formation shifted. Of the first four—Water, Wind, Fire, and Earth— Ignis' Fire clone took the frontmost position.
Another's Fire clone stood by as backup—if Ignis' was destroyed, he'd replace it to keep the formation stable.
Then it would be the Earth soul-mutates turn to lead the front.
All they could do was endure until this surge of amethyst blasts ended.
The terrifying Amethysts slammed into the barrier.
It shook violently.
At the front of the formation, Ignis' Fire clone directly faced the barrage.
He could only pray the crystals weren't too extreme.
But fate was unkind.
A high-speed crystal pierced the barrier and struck Ignis.
He raised his divine sword to block—but the powerful divine artifact shattered instantly.
He had no choice.
Even after breaking his weapon, the crystal struck his body.
Fortunately, he wore a damaged material-defense Sovereign artifact—this time, it held up.
But it was now even more ruined.
Everyone cheered when Ignis survived.
"Senior Ignis, take my divine artifact!"
Someone handed him another weapon.
Compared to a divine artifact, one's life was more valuable.
Ignis accepted it without hesitation.
Though the weapon hadn't been unbound by the owner, it was still enough to block the amethyst crystals.
Soon after, another eruption came.
One after another, Ignis used his comrades' divine artifacts to hold off the attacks.
"If I'd known, I would've collected the others' divine artifacts beforehand," Ignis muttered with a wry smile.
Of the original thirty-six trial participants, only ten had made it this far.
At least twenty-six divine artifacts remained.
Though Sovereigns usually reclaimed their emissaries' artifacts, in this situation—where the weapons were being used to resist the trial's final danger—they likely wouldn't complain even if some got damaged.
Under the onslaught, divine artifacts broke one by one.
And yet, they made it.
Without losing a single divine clone, they reached the end of the Amethyst Cavern.
At that moment, the Amethysts stopped erupting.
Everyone burst into cheers.
Luoshen flew over.
"Congratulations! You've passed the third trial. Ahead lies a teleportation gate. Once you pass through it, you'll reach the fourth and final trial."
Everyone stared at the gate, which resembled a planar teleportation array.
"Let's go together," Ignis said. "No matter who becomes an Overgod, we are friends now—aren't we?"
They nodded and stepped into the portal together.
They emerged into a large plaza.
At its far end stood a mansion.
"Isn't that the soul-defense Sovereign artifact mansion Zijing spent so long refining? The final trial will be held there?"
Outside the mountains, many Sovereigns recognized the mansion.
"Sadius, who's going to be the final guardian? You?"
"Uncle, Lord Linley, Zijing—just watch. This battle will be interesting."
Just then, someone flew out from the mansion.
"A Midgod?"
"It's Linley—the son of the Overgod. The guardians of the first two trials were his siblings."
Since he was also the Overgod's child, the ten contestants all greeted him respectfully.
"Greetings, my lord."
"I am the final guardian," Linley said calmly. "Your task is simple—defeat me in single combat, and you become an Overgod."
In his hand was a sword as thin as a cicada's wing—the Mirage Sword.
It had since become a Sovereign artifact.
Linley also wore soul-defense and material-defense Sovereign artifacts.
Though only a Midgod, even top-tier Shuras might not be able to touch him.
The ten challengers, whose divine artifacts had all been destroyed by amethysts, now had only Highgod artifacts to rely on.
Even so, they were confident.
"I'll go first and test his strength."
A soul-mutate of Destruction and Wind Laws flew forward.
There was only one slot for the Overgod of Destruction.
If he passed this final trial, no one else would get the chance.
Others wanted to compete for the first match but weren't fast enough. He seized the opportunity.
Ignis also had considered going first, but something felt off—he decided to wait and observe.
"Netherworld's Brighton challenges the gatekeeper!"
"Then let's begin."
Brighton charged in with a Destruction Highgod scythe.
Before receiving a Sovereign artifact, this Highgod scythe had always been his main weapon—and the one he was most familiar with.
He immediately unleashed his most powerful fusion technique of four profound mysteries.
Among the group, his fusion level was one of the highest.
His Wind Law fusion rivaled others' triple fusions.
Aside from Ignis, the others had barely reached dual-fusion when becoming Highgods.
With dual-fusion divine power, Brighton had already reached a level comparable to a Seven-Star Fiend.
After infusing large amounts of divinity essence into his fused divine power, Brighton's strength rose tenfold—now rivaling a Shura.
He believed he had the qualifications to challenge this Midgod who relied on a full set of Sovereign artifacts.
Just a Midgod—did having a full set of Sovereign artifacts really make him invincible?
He would defeat the guardian and claim the position of Overgod.
His Destruction scythe slashed at Linley.
Linley swung his sword.
The paper-thin blade tore open a spatial rift.
As soon as Brighton's high-tier scythe touched the rift—it split in two.
His right arm was sliced open, and his material-defense artifact failed to protect him.
Everyone was stunned.
"How is this possible?!"