Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Within the pure white space, Zhou Ming’s Talent Trial officially began.
“A lot of people are watching you,” Qianying warned him. “Every one of them is quite powerful.”
“Is that so?”
Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes. “I guess I have quite the presence.”
He understood perfectly well why. A Talent was a crucial part of anyone’s combat power, and after offending both major factions, countless people were waiting for him to fall flat on his face and become a laughingstock.
Whoosh!
Around a dozen seconds later, a massive boar appeared before him. Spikes jutted from its back as it snorted and charged with savage force.
[Boar] (Normal Monster)
Level: 31
HP: 1,000
Attack: 62-62
Defense: 31-31
Skill: [Pig Charge]
Description: A pig has two holes in its nose.
…
At the same time, although Zhou Ming had muted all other information, a chime related specifically to his Talent rang in his ears.
“Ding!”
[Stage One of the Talent Trial has begun!]
“The Talent Trial has multiple stages,” Qianying patiently explained. “The more you clear, the better your chances of obtaining a high-rank Talent.”
Zhou Ming nodded in understanding.
Facing the onrushing boar, he swung the Blackwind Sword and dispatched it with three easy strikes.
-427!
-427!
-427!
Equipment provided none of its original stat bonuses inside the Talent Trial, but even so, his status panel remained outrageous.
[Zhouyou Shijie] (Flame Demon Lord)
Level: 31
HP: 3,050
Attack: 458-458
Defense: 290-290
Skills: [Warlord] [Fallen Sword] [Rending Slash] [Greater Fireball] [Demonic Flame Armor]
Fame: 3,240
Luck: 2
Talent: Activating
Elemental Resistance: Metal 0% / Wood 0% / Water 0% / Fire 100% / Earth 0% / Wind 0% / Lightning 0% / Light 0% / Dark 0%
…
The advantages conferred by all his accumulated permanent stat boosts and free attribute points were now on full display.
Once the boar died and dissolved into motes of white light, a demonized lion appeared before him. Its stats were clearly higher than the boar’s.
“Ding!”
[Stage Two of the Talent Trial has begun!]
The lion had a violent temperament. The moment it appeared, it lunged viciously at the intruder.
Zhou Ming carved through it as easily as chopping vegetables. The instant it died, an undead swordsman took its place.
“Keh-heh-heh!”
The undead rasped harshly and charged with a rusted iron sword in hand.
The pressure had risen.
Zhou Ming stopped holding back. He raised his left hand and activated Blazing Heaven Sword, finishing off the undead while the suppression effect held it in place.
Even the fourth stage that followed failed to pose a real challenge.
“He has some ability!”
“What’s the rush? The real show hasn’t even started.”
“By my judgment, this child might truly have a chance at an SS-Rank Talent!”
…
The god-tier experts on the Destiny Continent could not interfere directly, but peering across the barrier of space to watch the trial was hardly difficult for them.
Each formed their own opinion of Zhou Ming’s performance.
“Starting with the fifth stage, the difficulty will spike drastically every time. You must not let your guard down,” Qianying warned solemnly. “I fell at the seventh stage myself.”
“The seventh stage…”
Something stirred in Zhou Ming’s heart.
Destiny had seven ranks in total, from D to SSS. Did that mean clearing all seven stages would allow him to touch an SSS-Rank Talent?
The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately pushed it aside and focused on the battle ahead.
If he couldn’t even reach the seventh stage, everything else was empty talk.
“Ding!”
[Begin Stage Five of the Talent Trial immediately?]
Unlike the previous stages, the system thoughtfully asked for the participant’s consent this time, providing him with a moment to breathe.
Only after confirming that all his skill cooldowns had ended did Zhou Ming agree.
“Yes!”
Whoosh!
The next second, a young woman clad in yellow armor appeared before him. She had bright eyes, pearly teeth, and a fresh, delicate beauty, but the armor encasing her body was extraordinarily thick.
A humanoid monster?
Zhou Ming didn’t dare grow careless. He immediately cast Inspect.
[Heart of Stone · Renee] (Radiant Boss)
Level: 31
HP: 2,550
Attack: 302-302
Defense: 315-315
Skills: [Rock Armor] [Defensive Power] [Adamant Guardian] [Shatterstone Wave] [Super Toughness]
Description: A heavily armored young woman who specializes in defense.
…
“I didn’t think the Talent Trial would summon me again!” Renee cracked her knuckles, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Ready to face judgment?”
She could communicate?
Zhou Ming was surprised. “Are you a real person?”
“Of course!”
Renee proudly puffed out her modest chest. “I’m a genius who once cleared the fifth stage!”
“The later stages of the Talent Trial no longer use mindless creatures exclusively,” Qianying explained. “It is common for them to summon former participants who cleared the fifth stage but fell at the sixth.”
“So that’s how it works!” Zhou Ming nodded. “Come on, then!”
“Don’t mind if I do!”
The moment combat began, Renee rapidly activated her skills. Golden radiance spread over her body as rock armor covered her and a barrier formed around her.
“Ding!”
[Heart of Stone · Renee has used Rock Armor. Defense +30% for 3 minutes!]
“Ding!”
[Heart of Stone · Renee has used Defensive Power. Damage Reduction +20% and Defense +20% for 3 minutes!]
“Ding!”
[Heart of Stone · Renee has used Adamant Guardian. HP +1,000 and Defense +100 for 3 minutes!]
…
Zhou Ming could already see the challenge in this stage. “Every ability you have is stacked into defense?”
He hadn’t even attacked yet, and she had already wrapped herself in layer after layer of defensive skills. The maneuver was honestly rather impressive.
Even worse, after sealing herself inside all those shells, her defense was too high for even his 458 Attack to penetrate.
“Come on!”
Renee looked positively delighted, as though she relished battle. “Beat me to death!”
“Why should I go over there?” Zhou Ming shot back. “You come here!”
“You think I’m afraid of you?”
Renee charged toward Zhou Ming at full speed.
Ten seconds later…
The distance between them had shrunk from ten meters to five.
“I can’t do it. I can’t walk anymore!”
Panting heavily, Renee simply stopped to rest on the spot.
Zhou Ming: “…”
This heavily armored girl was far too heavy!
“Her mind was probably still quite immature when she activated her Talent Trial,” Qianying observed. “And she isn’t human. She should be a rock of some kind, which is why she moves so slowly.”
She had sprung out of a rock?
Zhou Ming was taken aback.
“Don’t get smug!” Renee flushed with embarrassment when she saw the strange look he was giving her. “You can’t break my defense. Once time runs out, a draw counts as my victory!”
“I’m merely looking for your weakness.”
Zhou Ming pointed the Blackwind Sword at her.
Was he about to attack?
Renee instantly braced herself.
Boom!
A fireball abruptly formed before the sword’s tip, then screamed across the distance and smashed into Renee’s barrier, scattering into a shower of sparks.
-1!
“I didn’t expect you to have a ranged attack!” Renee giggled. “But the damage you deal probably can’t even outpace my regeneration!”
Zhou Ming said nothing and made no further move to attack.
Three minutes later, all the defensive skills surrounding Renee faded away.
“How about now?” Zhou Ming asked as he rushed forward with his sword.
Without her skill enhancements, his Attack could easily penetrate her Defense.
Rock Armor… Defensive Power… Adamant Guardian…
Renee immediately wrapped herself in her shields again.
Clang!
-1!
Zhou Ming’s blade struck her with a crisp metallic ring.
“My skills have exactly three-minute cooldowns!” Renee immediately counterattacked, but Zhou Ming slipped aside and evaded the blow.
“What a remarkable stone!”
“No one could have expected such an oddball to appear in the fifth stage!”
“I wonder whether this young woman still exists on the Destiny Continent today…”
…
The many god-tier experts watched with open amusement.
Anyone would despair in the face of such absurd defense.
…