Chapter 215
Chapter 215
Inside the trial space…
After the phantom from the first stage dissipated, the enormous damage number appeared belatedly.
Even without the thirty-twofold multiplier, Zhou Ming could have cleared the first stage with ease. Still, that explosive damage number was a beautiful sight.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Stage Two of the [Talent Trial] has begun!]
After the Demonized Tiger was killed, a savage-looking hyena appeared in Zhou Ming’s field of vision. It was enormous and radiated menace.
After his previous experience, Zhou Ming was not surprised.
The Talent Trial contained seven stages. Each cleared stage raised the rank of the Talent one could obtain by a single tier.
The trial space only granted challengers a brief rest after Stage Five.
The instant the hyena phantom appeared, it pounced at Zhou Ming and attacked.
Zhou Ming found the right moment and brought down the Ask-the-Heavens Sword.
Another vast surge of power instantly multiplied the strength of his basic attack.
Slash!
-702,557!
The hyena met the same end as the tiger.
One sword killed it outright.
The damage was clearly lower this time because he had only triggered the sixteenfold multiplier. Even so, instantly killing the Stage Two phantom posed no problem.
“A god-tier skill. This is unquestionably a god-tier skill!”
Zhou Ming was immensely satisfied.
Sever the Void truly deserved to be an Exclusive Special Skill found only on a Sacred Weapon. Whether crushing the weak or fighting an expert, it could deliver an enormous surprise.
The phantoms in Stage Three and Stage Four were both wild monsters. Zhou Ming passed them calmly and effortlessly.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Begin Stage Five of the [Talent Trial] immediately?]
“Yes!”
Zhou Ming pressed his advantage.
The first four stages had placed him under almost no pressure. He cleared them in barely a minute.
Swoosh!
After the challenger confirmed his choice, the projection of a man in purple armor appeared.
The man was tall, with a high nose and thin lips, a typically white appearance. Electricity coiled around his body, and his sharp pupils made him seem exceptionally dangerous.
[Purple-Robed Duke · Bob] (King-Grade Boss)
Level: 152
HP: 343,200
Attack: 18,240-18,240
Defense: 9,120-9,120
Skills: [Power of Thunder], [Lightning Combo], [Super Lightning Speed], [Super Shadow Flash], [Five Thunderbolts], [Wrathful Thunder Blade], [Forbidden · Rolling Heavenly Thunder]
Description: A Purple-Robed Duke of the Great Britain Region. Exceptionally powerful and of extremely high status, he is a renowned noble elite.
…
“You!”
The instant Bob saw Zhou Ming, his pupils contracted sharply. “What is going on?!”
As one of the gods, he had encountered Zhouyou Shijie countless times on the battlefield and knew his fame all too well.
Yet seeing him here still surpassed Bob’s wildest expectations.
If he remembered correctly, Zhouyou Shijie had cleared this trial at just over Level 30 and obtained the infamous Talent Sovereign’s Descent.
“Since you’re a god-tier expert and know who I am, I’ll ask you one question while we’re here!” Zhou Ming wasted no words. “Will you be my friend or my enemy?”
Bob’s expression darkened. He drew a purple sword and charged. “Don’t assume you’ll be the one laughing at the end. Countless heaven-blessed prodigies have died before reaching the throne!”
“Remember, I gave you a chance!”
Zhou Ming’s tone was indifferent. Before Bob could approach, he condensed Heavenrend’s massive sword and smashed it straight down.
Flames surged across it, radiating terrifying heat.
Its guaranteed-hit property left Bob no choice but to resist head-on.
Power of Thunder!
Wrathful Thunder Blade!
BOOM!!
Bob resisted with all his strength, his face turning crimson under the pressure. Only after being forced to his knees did he barely withstand the unenhanced massive sword of Heavenrend.
-320,600! (Critical Damage)
His opponent was lucky enough not to trigger Sever the Void’s massive damage. Even so, he was merely putting up a last-ditch struggle.
Zhou Ming seized the opportunity to close in and finish him off with a swift, clean slash.
Pinned in place and unable to move, Bob could only wait helplessly for death, disbelief written all over his face.
The gods should have joined forces long ago!
This man was truly… absurdly powerful!
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have cleared Stage Five!]
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Would you like to continue challenging Stage Six of the [Talent Trial]? (Note: You may choose to forfeit.)]
…
“Continue!”
Zhou Ming’s fighting spirit soared.
Today, he was determined to claim his second SSS-Rank Talent!
“How was he able to enter the Talent Trial again?!”
“A second chance to choose a Talent? I’ve never even heard of such an opportunity, yet he somehow got one?”
“With two Talents, Zhouyou Shijie won’t merely be invincible among his peers. He might even…”
…
Anyone who reached Stage Five was bound to draw the scrutiny of god-tier powerhouses.
When they saw who the challenger was, every last one of them was stunned.
This was downright unnatural!
Two classes and two Talents!
Zhouyou Shijie’s advantages in every respect had already reached an unprecedented level!
“Someone’s watching!”
Qianying’s voice sounded beside his ear.
“It doesn’t matter!”
Zhou Ming paid them no mind. He declared loudly, “I just love the feeling of all of you watching me seize opportunity after opportunity while being powerless to take any of them from me!”
Unlike before, when he had needed Qianying’s protection at every turn, he could now clearly sense the many gazes lingering beyond the trial space.
Clearly, although there was still some distance between him and the god tier, it was no longer the unbridgeable gulf it had once been.
“Outrageous!”
Zhou Ming’s undisguised taunt instantly sent the gods and demons into a fury. They wanted nothing more than to devour him alive.
Zhou Ming, however, had no interest in entertaining them. He focused on the approaching sixth stage.
…
Just then, ripples spread through the space like a stone striking the surface of a lake.
Whoosh!
Before the challenger even appeared, flames came roaring in.
The billowing inferno blazed brilliantly within the pure-white space.
Scorching heat swept across the entire field, leaving nowhere to hide. Although it dealt no damage to Zhouyou Shijie, his expression gradually turned strange.
And he was not the only one!
The many god-tier powerhouses watching from outside were all struck dumb as well.
Familiar!
Everything was just too damn familiar!
Could his opponent be…?
Swoosh!
A fiery-red figure crossed through space and revealed his true appearance.
He was a burly man in red robes, imposing and handsome, with an overwhelming aura. A fiery-red sword rested in his hand, and his arrogant expression brought tremendous pressure with it.
[Flame Sovereign · Gu Ming] (???)
The moment his projection arrived, before he could even speak, the familiar man before him made his expression freeze.
Zhou Ming: “…”
Gu Ming: “…”
…
When enemies met, the atmosphere became especially heated.
Neither had spoken, yet the murderous intent between them was already palpable.
Everything made perfect sense, yet was completely unexpected.
Gu Ming was still being suppressed by Ning Wushen at Star-Moon Lake, so he had no idea who his opponent would be. That was why he had agreed to serve as a gatekeeper in exchange for the system reward.
“Submit!”
After a moment, Zhou Ming broke the silence first. His commanding voice echoed through the trial space. “I am the sovereign of flame!”
“DIE!!”
Gu Ming’s face turned ashen as he charged at Zhou Ming in a rage.
…