Chapter 216
Chapter 216
Shrrrk…
A purely physical sword qi tore through the air with Gu Ming’s slash.
Once bitten, twice shy!
Against someone who hard-countered him, he would not make the same mistake as last time and use fire-element skills.
Clang!
Zhou Ming blocked it effortlessly, then swung his sword and engaged him in close combat.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades crossed in a blur of sword shadows, neither giving an inch. Yet every observer could see that in a battle at the same tier, Zhou Ming held the absolute upper hand.
“Why isn’t Zhouyou Shijie using any skills?” a god-tier powerhouse asked in confusion.
Another spectator soon supplied the answer. “Maybe… he doesn’t want this to end too quickly?”
A gatekeeper could not simply surrender unless they were certain they could not win!
That meant they could neither throw the fight nor retreat unscathed.
Boom!
After seven or eight successive sword exchanges, Zhou Ming suddenly felt tremendous power surge through his body. He immediately stopped using his blade and lashed out with a kick instead.
This kick carried thirty-two times the damage!
Thud!
Right in the face!
Gu Ming flew backward like a kite with its string cut and slammed heavily into the invisible wall, the blow leaving him dazed and disoriented.
Zhou Ming’s face remained expressionless. “Same tier, purely physical combat. I haven’t taken advantage of you in any way. Is this really all you’re capable of?”
He had no intention of winning through his immunity to the fire element.
Against Gu Ming, he wanted to make every blow hurt.
“Don’t celebrate too soon!”
Gu Ming’s eyes nearly spat fire. He immediately raised his left hand and aimed it at Zhou Ming.
Swish, swish, swish!
A peculiar force erupted from his palm, forming a tremendous suction that seemed intent on stripping something from Zhou Ming’s body.
“Hm?”
Zhou Ming frowned slightly and charged at once.
“Drain him!”
A vicious grin spread across Gu Ming’s face.
After the lesson he had learned last time, how could he possibly have come unprepared?
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Flame Sovereign · Gu Ming has used [Forbidden · Elemental Plunder], plundering the enemy’s highest Elemental Resistance and gaining 50% of its effect for 30 minutes!]
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Because Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie’s Fire Affinity has no upper limit, his Fire Resistance cannot be reduced!]
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Flame Sovereign · Gu Ming’s Fire Resistance has increased by 50%. Current: 90%!]
…
“…”
The trial space abruptly fell silent.
The grin on Gu Ming’s face froze instantly.
Two seconds… five seconds…
Thud!
Right in the face!
Once again, Gu Ming was beaten into the ground.
In a battle at the same level, even a Saint-tier powerhouse specializing in the fire element could not withstand Zhou Ming’s mastery of both magic and martial combat.
After suffering one devastating blow after another, Gu Ming’s HP plummeted. His eyes blazed with murderous intent as he roared, “I swear I will take your head!”
“Then come and try!”
Zhou Ming smashed a fist into his forehead, crushing it. Blood coated his knuckles as killing intent surged around him. “Let’s see which one of us takes the other’s head!”
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have cleared Stage Six!]
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Would you like to continue challenging Stage Seven of the [Talent Trial]? (Note: You may choose to forfeit.)]
…
“Continue!”
Zhou Ming answered without hesitation.
As soon as he made his choice, a man in a gray cloak appeared before him. The man’s face was impossible to make out, his body wreathed in eerie black mist. A sinister chill surrounded him, enough to make anyone’s skin crawl.
[???] (???)
“!!”
Zhou Ming’s heart lurched, and he instantly went on high alert.
Anyone whose name he could not see like this was no ordinary figure!
“Who is this man? Why does the mere sight of him send a chill through my entire body?!”
“Perhaps he was some great figure from history who has long since returned to dust!”
The gods were equally bewildered and uncertain.
“Heh heh heh…”
For no apparent reason, the man stared at Zhou Ming and let out a hoarse, eerie chuckle. It came completely out of nowhere.
“What amuses you, Senior?” Zhou Ming had no intention of offending a powerhouse of unknown origin, so he asked with great courtesy.
“Nothing!”
The man’s tone was loaded with meaning. “I don’t usually laugh, but… I’ve been in a rather good mood lately!”
Zhou Ming fell into thought.
He had been in a good mood lately!
That single statement was enough to prove that he was still alive. Zhou Ming simply did not know whether the man was somewhere on the Destiny Continent or in another world like the Light Domain or Fire Domain.
“In a battle at the same tier, I may not be your match.” The mysterious man turned and began to leave almost as soon as he had arrived. “Farewell!”
“Please wait, Senior!”
Zhou Ming tried to stop him, but his projection had already dispersed.
Zhou Ming: “…”
He had ignored the rules and forced his way out.
Who in the world was this man?
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have successfully cleared every stage of the Talent Trial and may now choose a corresponding Talent Rank!]
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Congratulations! You may choose an S-Rank to SSS-Rank Talent! (Note: Every available Talent is closely related to your class, skills, and combat style.)]
…
In the end, Stage Seven concluded hastily before the fight even began.
As for the gatekeeper’s identity, he was far too mysterious. No one knew who he was.
Swish, swish, swish!
With Zhou Ming’s second Talent Trial complete, energy spheres once again appeared throughout the pure-white space. They floated around him in midair, waiting to be chosen.
He took a deep breath, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and focused on the task at hand.
Whatever that was about could wait!
He only had thirty minutes to choose a Talent, so he had to hurry!
With that in mind, he reached toward the nearby energy spheres in eager anticipation. The moment his hand brushed over them, their details appeared before him.
[Scorch] (S-Rank): All of your attacks inflict a burning effect that deals fire-element damage equal to 50% of your Attack every second. Lasts until the end of combat.
[Flowing Flame] (SS-Rank): Your fire-element damage increases by 80%, and the area of effect of group-attack skills increases by 50%.
[Sword Demon] (SS-Rank): The strength of all attack skills increases by 20%.
…
All kinds of Talents appeared before Zhou Ming, some so tempting that a single glance made his heart race.
“Stay calm. It has to be SSS-Rank!”
Zhou Ming remained unmoved.
He still remembered that the larger an energy sphere was, the more powerful its effect would be.
He raised his gaze and carefully scanned his surroundings. It did not take long for him to lock onto an exceptionally large, fiery-red energy sphere.
[Flame Emperor] (SSS-Rank): The overall strength of your fire-element attack skills increases by 40%.
“Hiss!”
Zhou Ming’s heart surged with excitement, and he could not help drawing a sharp breath.
Damn!
This was completely broken!
An increase in overall strength was in an entirely different league from a simple damage bonus. It truly meant that every skill hit as though he had cast it 1.4 times. Add Ask the Heavens’ innate 30% on top of that, and his skills would reach a terrifying 170% strength!
Zhou Ming took the [Flame Emperor] Talent in hand. Barring any surprises, this would probably be his choice…
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a stream of crimson-gold light caught Zhou Ming’s attention.
“This is…”
Zhou Ming hurried over, brushed his hand across it, and examined the Talent’s effect.
“!!!!!”
He froze on the spot as though struck by lightning. Even [Flame Emperor], which had tempted him so powerfully just moments ago, suddenly lost all its appeal.
…