The spiral staircase descending downward was deep and long, its icy metal surface reflecting a faint light in the gloom, as if leading to the lair of some ancient behemoth. A murderous aura, almost solidified, accompanied by increasingly clear beast roars and the clashing of weapons, continuously assailed Silas's senses.
As he went deeper, the surrounding pressure grew exponentially, silently proclaiming the danger level of the upcoming trial.
Finally, the staircase ended. The view suddenly opened up into a circular plaza over a hundred meters in diameter. The ground was paved with an unknown black metal, engraved with intricate ancient patterns that faintly shimmered with energy. The moment Silas stepped onto the plaza, the walls around him suddenly lit up with a soft, even glow, illuminating the entire space as bright as day.
"Third Trial: Combat."
"Defeat all appearing opponents.The longer you last, the higher the evaluation. Death or voluntary surrender ends the trial."
The familiar,indifferent voice echoed through the empty plaza, carrying an undeniable authority.
As soon as the voice faded, a blinding white light suddenly shone in the center of the plaza. Energy rapidly gathered and condensed, finally forming a wolf-type magical beast covered in dark blue scales. Its body was agile, fangs bared, its cold pupils flashing with a bloodthirsty glow, its aura clearly at the peak of First Rank.
"Shadow Wolf..." Silas immediately recognized this beast known for its speed and stealth. Before, he would have needed some effort to deal with it, but now...
The Shadow Wolf growled, its limbs suddenly exerting force, its entire body turning into a blue lightning bolt as it pounced, so fast it left afterimages in the air.
Silas's footsteps didn't move an inch, only his wrist turned lightly, the spear thrusting out as if it had a life of its own. This thrust seemed plain and unremarkable, yet it accurately predicted the Shadow Wolf's trajectory, the spear tip unerringly aiming for its brow.
Pfft!
With a soft sound, the Shadow Wolf's form dissipated accordingly, turning into points of light and disappearing.
"Too weak." Silas shook his head slightly. After opening ten apertures, he felt the spiritual energy flow within his body was smoother and more natural, and his recovery speed had increased by twenty percent. The energy consumed by that last strike had almost recovered by half in the time it took to breathe.
Suddenly, white lights flashed consecutively on the plaza. This time, three Shadow Wolves appeared simultaneously, pouncing from three different directions, sealing off all his escape routes.
Silas finally moved. Employing the Drifting Leaf Step, his figure drifted unpredictably across the plaza, like a leaf in the wind, always managing to avoid the wolves' tearing claws at the last moment. The spear in his hand became a deadly black light, every thrust inevitably accompanied by the dissipation of a Shadow Wolf.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three soft sounds rang out almost simultaneously. The three Shadow Wolves turned into light and vanished one after another. The entire process took only three breaths.
Next, five Shadow Wolves appeared at once. They clearly knew how to cooperate, some attacking head-on, others harassing from the sides, and some waiting for an opportunity to ambush, forming a fairly tight encirclement.
Silas was still handling them with ease. Opening ten apertures brought not only an increase in spiritual energy recovery speed but, more importantly, his total spiritual energy storage had also increased by about twenty percent. This allowed him to deal with this level of encirclement more calmly. The spear danced in his hands, sometimes like a venomous snake striking, sometimes like a storm, resolving and destroying the five Shadow Wolves' attacks one by one.
After the last Shadow Wolf dissipated, the plaza fell into brief silence. Silas could sense that the next opponent would be completely different.
Sure enough, this time the gathering of light was noticeably slower, and what formed was no longer a wolf type, but a black-clothed martial artist holding twin blades. He was entirely clad in black tight-fitting clothes, only a pair of cold, merciless eyes visible, the aura he emitted making Silas's eyes narrow.
Second Rank, initial stage!
The black-clothed martial artist didn't speak, his twin blades crossed in front of him, his whole body transforming into a black whirlwind as he charged straight at Silas. Before the blades even arrived, their sharp energy rushed at his face, scraping his cheeks painfully.
"Well then!" Silas was surprised but pleased. He could finally get a bit serious.
He no longer held back, pushing the Drifting Leaf Step to its limit, his figure moving like a ghost as he circled to the martial artist's side, his spear striking like a venomous snake straight at the gap in his ribs. However, Second Rank was still Second Rank; the black-clothed martial artist reacted extremely quickly, his twin blades returning to defend, accurately blocking the spear.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing echoed sharply in the empty plaza. Silas felt a great force transmitted through the spear, his arm slightly numb, but instead of retreating, he advanced, the spear tip shaking, transforming into several points of cold light, enveloping all the vital points of the black-clothed martial artist.
Serpent's Bite!
The black-clothed martial artist's twin blades danced imperviously, blocking most of the attacks, but his shoulder was still grazed by the spear tip. Though no blood flowed out, his form clearly dimmed a bit.
Silas, seizing the advantage, pressed on relentlessly. His spear was like a dragon, his attacks coming in wave after wave. He keenly realized that after opening the apertures, not only was his spiritual energy more abundant, but his control over his strength had also become more refined. Every spear thrust had more efficient spiritual energy circulation, and its power had increased by thirty percent.
During the battle, Silas's understanding of spear technique was also deepening. The Art of the Forgotten Spear, which had originally reached the peak of the Microcosmic level and touched the Momentum stage, began to show new changes in this life-and-death struggle. Each of his thrusts was no longer confined to fixed moves, but adjusted according to the battle situation, sometimes fierce, sometimes soft, perfectly blending the cunning of Serpent's Bite with the ferocity of Hundred Beasts' Roar.
After thirty exchanges, Silas keenly caught a tiny flaw during the black-clothed martial artist's blade transition. The spear, like a venomous snake, passed through the net of blades, accurately piercing the martial artist's heart.
The figure dissipated accordingly.
Next, three Second Rank initial stage black-clothed martial artists appeared simultaneously.
This time, Silas truly felt pressure. The three same-rank martial artists cooperated seamlessly, their attacks continuous, the blade light forming a deadly net. He had to use the Drifting Leaf Step and his spear technique to their utmost, weaving through the dense blade light, searching for every fleeting opportunity.
Shred!
His sleeve was torn by blade energy, Silas narrowly avoiding a vital spot. His eyes grew calmer, his brain operating at high speed, calculating the movement trajectories and attack habits of each enemy.
After twenty exchanges, he finally found an opportunity. The moment all three attacked simultaneously, his body suddenly dropped low, the spear sweeping out along the ground, forcing one of them to retreat, instantly creating a gap in the originally perfect encirclement.
"Now!"
Silas's body burst upward, the spear thrusting out like lightning, straight at the retreating martial artist's throat.
Pfft!
One black-clothed martial artist had his throat pierced and dissipated. With the gap opened, the remaining two could no longer form an effective encirclement and were soon defeated one after the other.
Without giving him any chance to catch his breath, the light flashed again. This time, it was three Second Rank initial stage martial artists and five First Rank peak Shadow Wolves appearing simultaneously!
The situation instantly became extremely chaotic. The martial artists led the attack, their blade light sharp; the Shadow Wolves harassed, their claws and teeth锋利. They cooperated flawlessly, causing Silas to truly get wounded for the first time - a deep, bone-deep gash on his arm from a tricky blade energy.
But his eyes remained as calm as ice. The ten apertures within his body were like ten tiny whirlpools, continuously drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, converting it into pure spiritual power, supporting his high-intensity combat. He could feel that under the pressure of life and death, his understanding of spear technique was improving at an astonishing rate. Those originally theoretical insights were gradually transforming into real combat power in actual battle.
"Can't get bogged down! Must break this situation!" Silas's mind raced, his body suddenly accelerating, no longer caring about the Shadow Wolves' harassment, the spear pointing straight at one of the black-clothed martial artists. This was trading injury for a kill!
Shred! A bloody wound was torn open on his back by a Shadow Wolf's claw, a burning pain spreading. But his spear also simultaneously pierced that martial artist's head.
The pressure decreased sharply. Although the remaining enemies still had numerical superiority, they were no longer a serious threat. After another half moment, the plaza returned to calm once more. Silas leaned on his spear, breathing slightly heavily, four or five new wounds added to his body, blood staining his robes, but none were fatal.
"Not over yet?" He looked up towards the center of the plaza, his eyes showing both weariness and anticipation.
The light gathered again. This time, what appeared was a burly man holding a heavy sword. The strength of his aura made Silas's pupils contract sharply. There really wasn't even a moment's rest; the difficulty of this trial was no joke, which made Silas all the more curious about what the inheritance rewards were.
Second Rank, middle stage!
At the same time, two Second Rank initial stage martial artists and three First Rank peak Shadow Wolves also appeared at the edge of the plaza.
"Finally... time to get serious." Silas licked his somewhat dry lips, the fighting spirit in his eyes soaring like flames. He knew the real test was just beginning.
At the same time, in other trial spaces, the other trial-takers were also undergoing their own bitter battles.
In Karen's trial ground, this stern young man fought bare-handed, each punch carrying terrifying, mountain-shattering force. When facing three Second Rank initial stage martial artists, the faint shadow of a giant bear appeared behind him. With an earth-shaking roar, he punched out with both fists, the violent air wave actually forcing all three martial artists back simultaneously.
"Strength acceptable, combat instinct excellent." In the void, the relic spirit commented indifferently.
In Lyna's trial ground, her figure drifted like a ghost, moving freely between her opponents. Her dagger was like a venomous snake hidden in the shadows, always delivering a fatal strike from the most unexpected angle. Facing a single Second Rank middle stage martial artist, she was actually able to hold her own for dozens of exchanges without defeat, relying on her exquisite movement and assassination techniques.
Agility outstanding, adept at utilizing environment and timing. Heart Nature: Superior.
Buck's trial ground was a different scene. This burly youth relied entirely on powerful defense and strength. He stood firm on the field like a rock, unmoved no matter how his opponents attacked. When five First Rank peak Shadow Wolves simultaneously pounced on him and bit, his muscles bulged, a powerful air wave erupting from him, actually sending all the Shadow Wolves flying.
"Foundation solid, defensive power astonishing. However, technique somewhat lacking."
The other trial-takers who had passed the first two trials performed differently. Some were in dire straits when the first Second Rank initial stage opponent appeared; some barely held on until besieged by three Second Rank initial stage opponents before having to admit defeat and withdraw. Those who could face Second Rank opponents like Silas, Karen, and the others were very few.
In Silas's trial ground, the battle had reached a fever pitch.
The heavy sword-wielding man's strength was immense, each chop carrying the sound of wind and thunder, the black heavy sword drawing a dull whistle through the air. Silas didn't dare block head-on, could only rely on the Drifting Leaf Step to constantly dodge. The heavy sword chopped into the ground, sending up a shower of sparks, leaving deep gashes.
Coupled with the harassment from the two other martial artists and the Shadow Wolves, Silas was in a tough fight. The wounds on his body kept increasing, the most serious one on his left shoulder grazed by the heavy sword, a burning pain spreading, his bones feeling like they were about to crack.
But his eyes remained sharp, his brain operating at high speed, calculating the movement trajectories and attack habits of every enemy. Under the pressure of life and death, his spear technique was visibly improving. The spear technique that had originally touched the Momentum stage was truly beginning to show the rudimentary form of "momentum". Every spear thrust carried a unique rhythm, as if integrating with the rhythm of the entire battlefield.
"Must deal with the minions first!" Silas hardened his heart, spotted an opportunity, took a wolf claw to his back, the skin tearing open, blood flowing freely. But he used this chance to thrust his spear out like lightning, accurately piercing a Second Rank initial stage martial artist's throat.
The next moment, the heavy sword came down with the force of a landslide! The sword wind was sharp, scraping Silas's face painfully. He had no time to dodge, had to block horizontally with his spear.
BANG——!
A huge impact sound deafened the ears. Silas felt an irresistible tremendous force, his whole body sent flying like a kite with its string cut, slamming heavily into the wall at the edge of the plaza.
Pfft—— A sweet taste rose in his throat, a mouthful of blood he couldn't hold back sprayed out, drawing a bleakly vivid arc in the air.
"Cough cough..." He leaned on his spear, struggling to stand, the energy and blood within him churning uncontrollably, his internal organs feeling like they had shifted. If not for his body being further tempered after opening the ten apertures, that last strike would have been enough to make him lose his fighting ability.
The heavy sword man came charging again with heavy steps, each step making the ground tremble slightly. The other martial artist and the Shadow Wolf also closed in from the flanks, sealing off all his retreat routes.
A desperate situation!
Yet a trace of madness flashed in Silas's eyes. Not only did he not retreat, he actively charged towards the heavy sword man!
The moment before they were about to collide, his footwork suddenly changed, his body twisting at an impossible angle, narrowly avoiding the heavy sword's direct chop. At the same time, the spear bent as if boneless, thrusting from an extremely tricky angle towards the man's armpit – the weak point in the heavy armor's defense!
This thrust contained his complete understanding of the Art of the Forgotten Spear, and even more, it mobilized the vast spiritual power output simultaneously from all ten apertures within his body! The spear tip drew a perfect arc in the air, carrying a certain profound rhythm, as if this was exactly how the thrust should be made.
Serpent's Bite – at this moment, it reached its ultimate sublimation!
Pfft!
The spear tip pierced through without any obstruction, right up to the hilt!
The heavy sword man's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt, looking down in disbelief at the spear shaft in his chest, his form then beginning to dissipate.
The remaining martial artist and Shadow Wolf, before Silas's self-transcending spear thrust, were no longer a threat. Moments later, only Silas remained standing on the plaza. He was covered in blood, barely able to stand while leaning on his spear, but his eyes were frighteningly bright, as if stars were shimmering within them.
At that moment, a great light shone throughout the plaza, the energy that was about to form a new opponent slowly dissipated. The indifferent voice sounded again, but this time, there seemed to be a barely perceptible fluctuation in it:
"Combat trial, concluded."
"Evaluation:One in Ten Thousand."
"Such combat power and potential,exquisite spear technique, breakthrough in the heat of battle, even in my homeland, would qualify you to compete for a position as a Personal Disciple, or even a Core Disciple..."
"Never thought that from shallow waters,a flood dragon could truly emerge."
As the voice faded, before Silas could carefully ponder the meaning of these words, a soft light enveloped him. At the same time, all those still in the trial or who had completed the trial were similarly enveloped by light.
…
Outside the mine, in front of the light gate, beams of light flashed, figures thrown out one by one. They were the trial-takers who had entered the relic.
It was already early morning the next day, the rising sun just casting its golden light on everyone. Nearly a full day had passed since they entered the relic. Many collapsed to the ground as soon as they emerged, gasping for breath, clearly exhausted. Even Karen, Lyna, and the others were pale, unable to hide their fatigue.
Silas was among the last to be teleported out. His appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention. It was unavoidable; his injuries and the strong smell of blood were too conspicuous, his torn clothes soaked with blood, his face pale as paper, but those eyes were unusually bright.
"Finn!" Elder Balor was the first to appear before him, his sharp gaze sweeping over his wounds, a flash of surprise in his eyes. "What happened inside? What did you obtain?"
Silas suppressed the weakness within him, maintaining Finn's persona, speaking with a slightly "agitated" tone: "Elder, inside... the trial was too difficult! The final combat trial, the opponents got stronger with each round... I fought with all my might, almost died in there, and barely managed to hold on."
"You passed?" Elder Balor pressed, a note of urgency in his voice.
"Should have... passed, I think." Silas said "uncertainly". "That final voice said my evaluation was 'One in Ten Thousand'."
A glint flashed in Elder Balor's eyes, and he immediately lowered his voice: "What about the technique? The cultivation technique you obtained in the second trial, did you bring it out?"
Silas sneered inwardly, but on his face showed the perfect amount of "chagrin": "That jade slip... after I passed the second trial, it became ordinary. I wanted to bring it out, but the moment I left the relic, it... it just disappeared."
"What?!" Elder Balor's face darkened, an invisible pressure radiating from him. "What did you say? Disappeared?"
People from other families nearby also pricked up their ears, especially those whose own disciples had also participated in the trial.
Just then, other trial-takers also confirmed Silas's statement.
"Yes, Elder, my jade slip disappeared too."
"Me too,I clearly had it on me, but it was gone when I came out."
"But I remember the technique content."
Everyone chimed in. It turned out that all the trial-takers had brought the jade slips with them, but without exception, the slips had mysteriously disappeared upon leaving the relic.
Elder Balor's expression eased slightly, but he still looked urgently at Silas: "In that case, immediately, write down the technique content you remember!" He commanded, while his gaze warningly swept the surroundings, indicating this was the Wood family's gain.
Silas had already made his calculations. He didn't refuse, but began "honestly" reciting the opening part of the Starlight Guidance Art, about how to sense stellar power and impact the first aperture, the "Bubbling Spring" point. The content he recited was basically correct, but he made extremely subtle modifications to a few key details of energy circulation. These modifications were extremely ingenious; without a deep understanding of the nature of energy, it was impossible to detect the problems within – at best, cultivation would be slow, with twice the effort for half the results; at worst, it could cause spiritual energy disorder, damaging the foundation.
Listening to Silas's recitation, Elder Balor and the other elders secretly listening from other families all became extremely solemn and excited. Although it was only the opening, they could see the whole from a small part, realizing the extraordinary value of this technique.
"Indeed... indeed a completely different path!" The Ironrock family's Elder Stonefist murmured, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Must obtain the complete technique!" Lady Leandra of the Windspire family unconsciously stilled her feathered fan, her eyes filled with determination.
Just as everyone was immersed in the shock brought by the technique, the huge light gate rippled again, a message transmitting into everyone's mind:
"Subsequent trials paused, rest for three days."
"Those who have passed the first three trials may continue the subsequent trials in three days."
"Those who failed may not enter again."
It turned out that the relic spirit, having seen a genius like Silas, wanted to attract more geniuses, hence pausing the trials.
This news immediately caused a stir among the higher-ups of the various forces.
Commander Rex was the first to react, his voice carrying a trace of excitement: "So, this relic is always open! Those who enter first have the advantage!"
A glint flashed in Elder Balor's eyes as he immediately grasped the key point: "If us old folks go in, relying on years of experience and strength, we can definitely pass the earlier trials faster! We might even be able to directly reach the final core inheritance!"
Moreover, this technique was so hard to obtain; it seemed the family needed to send more people. This was the thought in the minds of all the families present.
This idea spread like wildfire among the higher-ups of the major forces. Soon, the leaders of the six great families and the City Lord's mansion gathered together and, after brief discussion, reached a consensus.
Presided over by Elder Balor, Commander Rex, and others, they jointly announced: During the period when the elders enter the trial, no one else is allowed to enter the relic! This decision immediately caused an uproar, especially among the independent cultivators and smaller families, but under the combined suppression of the six major forces and the City Lord's mansion, although there were widespread complaints, no one dared to openly oppose.
Silas coldly watched all this happen. Elder Balor took him aside and commanded in an unquestionable tone: "Finn, these three days, rest well, and at the same time, completely write out the technique you remember. When I come out of the relic, I want to see the complete technique."
"Yes, Elder." Silas replied respectfully, lowering his head to hide the coldness in his eyes.
He knew that these elders personally entering the relic would inevitably cause new variables.
Three days had passed.
During these three days, many members from the great families arrived at the mine. With the efforts of the many people, the various techniques were gradually pieced together. But not everyone was gifted enough to remember the techniques at a glance, so the pieced-together techniques had many errors. Seeing this, Silas also obtained a fragmented version of the Starlight Guidance Art to use as a hand-in.