C85 To Give You Divine Artifact Materials!!

At that moment, the Mage Tower lay in ruins, with only the Elf Tear remaining aloft, suspended in the air as if time itself had stopped.

The collapse of the Mage Tower was sudden and harrowing, with debris raining down upon the onlookers.

Consequently, nearly no one managed to evade the tumbling structures unscathed. Floating above the chaos, aside from Chen Guo, were just three mentors.

Foremost among them was Yim Chixia.

The sword control skill of the Mountain Shu Sect, while not on par with certain flying magic arts, was nonetheless the pinnacle of flight spells at the Mortal level.

It was swift and steady, but mastery demanded a deep comprehension of the sect's swordsmanship.

Chen Guo had mastered the sword control skill to perfection, and coupled with the Flying Thunder God Art, he remained unaffected by the tower's downfall.

Yim Chixia, as Chen Guo's entry-level mentor who had taught him the sword control skill, was not about to be bested.

Several trial challengers had also acquired the sword control skill, but lacked the prowess to wield it flawlessly amidst the turmoil. They were left to weave through the debris as they plummeted, relying on their nascent skill.

The other two mentors who stayed afloat were Zhang Taiyi and Xiao Han.

Zhang Taiyi, a cultivator of the immortal path, hailed from Dragon Tiger Mountain, which boasted its own aerial technique, Cloud Riding.

At that moment, Zhang Taiyi rode a leisurely cloud, trailing behind Yim Chixia.

Inevitably, when compared to Yim Chixia's sword control skill, Dragon Tiger Mountain's Cloud Riding, though imbued with more mystique, lagged in speed but compensated with its stability.

Ancestor Xu Bodhisattva had once remarked that Sun Wukong's initial attempts at Cloud Riding were more akin to "Climbing the Clouds," a description that aptly fit Zhang Taiyi's current method.

Xiao Han, a Dou Qi Master, had reached the esteemed Dou Zong rank. A Dou Zong could not only transform Dou Qi into a steed but also into wings, soaring at will.

Bearing two wings formed from Dou Qi, Xiao Han flew with steady grace.

The other mentors, lacking the ability to fly or possessing unreliable flying skills, failed to remain aloft.

Take the Martial Taoist Wang Chao, for instance. His martial prowess was formidable, but he lacked the capacity for flight. His impressive leaping ability could mimic the Hulk's, creating an illusion of flight, yet true flight was beyond his reach.

Then there's Kelly, the sharpshooter, who certainly couldn't fly, or else she wouldn't have plummeted from the Heavenly Realm.

Chen Guo, with his Flying Thunder God Art and a couple of other skills, vanquished the Demon Commander in an instant, leaving the airborne mentors utterly astonished.

"Your strength is so formidable, perhaps even greater than my own. Have you been concealing your true power?" Yim Chixia's eyes bulged in disbelief.

"This young one is full of surprises," remarked Zhang Taiyi. "It's unfortunate he has no destiny with my Dragon Tiger Mountain."

Xiao Han commented, "You possess a bit of the same shamelessness I had in my youth, adept at playing the fool to catch the wise."

Chen Guo approached the mentors, scratching his head, "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind. The one who stands above the rest is the target of envy. I preferred to keep my true strength hidden. After all, one can never see into another's heart, and I'm not truly invincible, so caution is necessary."

Yim Chixia nodded in understanding, "To grasp the value of staying under the radar at such a young age shows far more wisdom than I had back in my brash days, when my arrogance made me many enemies."

"Therefore, I ask you three mentors to keep my defeat of the Demon Commander a secret. I'd rather not have that become common knowledge," Chen Guo requested. "I prefer to develop discreetly, keeping a low profile."

"Given the circumstances, I will keep your secret," Yim Chixia agreed. "After all, you are a disciple of whom I'm quite proud."

"I'm not one to gossip," stated Zhang Taiyi.

Xiao Han remarked, "I'm not one for gossip."

The three mentors hailed from distinct Middle Worlds. This time, some sent avatars, others their true selves. Their mission was twofold: to thwart the Evil Energy Army's quest for the Elf Tear, and to scout for prodigies among the ten billion new trial challengers in the Little World.

The latter goal was paramount. With their worlds embroiled in tumultuous wars, fresh recruits were essential to replenish their ranks. Broadly speaking, their entire faction was in dire need of new blood.

By taking these unknown trial challengers under their wing and imparting skills, they were laying the groundwork for the future. They imprinted their mark on these individuals, ensuring that once they matured, they could be called upon to serve and join their ranks.

Chen Guo's talent and might had been observed firsthand, earning their unwavering belief in his potential. They were convinced that this young man had the capacity to achieve great heights.

Their expectations for Chen Guo's future were significant, so concealing some information from him was a trivial matter.

"Many thanks to the mentors," Chen Guo expressed with a grateful smile.

"Since you're the slayer of the Demon Commander, the Elf Tear belongs to you. It's beyond your use now, but once you grow stronger, it will serve to craft a divine artifact," Yim Chixia explained, taking the Elf Tear into his hand. It swiftly contracted to the size of a chicken egg, its crystalline form gleaming with iridescent hues.

He then passed the Elf Tear to Chen Guo.

"I'm not sure I'm worthy of this..." Chen Guo demurred, yet his hands were decisive, snatching the Elf Tear and stashing it in his spatial pocket as though fearing Yim Chixia might reconsider.

The Elf Tear, coveted by the Evil Energy Army, was not something Chen Guo could modestly decline.

It was the stuff of divine artifacts!

Though unaware of the full extent of a divine artifact's power, he knew it to be immensely formidable. The Elf Tear would undoubtedly prove invaluable in the future, and Chen Guo wouldn't dream of turning it down.

"Bringing the Elf Tear into the Middle World would come at an exorbitant cost, not to mention it's indestructible. That's why we've resolved to entrust it to the mightiest warrior for safekeeping. It's the surest way to thwart any schemes the Evil Energy Army might hatch to seize it again..." Yim Chixia explained. "Among all the warriors, you are the most formidable, Chen Guo. The Elf Tear is rightfully yours."

"Haha, I'll guard it with my life," Chen Guo responded with a hearty laugh.

The common folk were genuinely overjoyed!