Chapter 463 - 460: A Drastic Increase in Difficulty

Chapter 463: Chapter 460: A Drastic Increase in Difficulty

The first trial ended, and of the several hundred people, only a little over two hundred remained.

In the great hall, the young people who had passed the trial were standing or sitting, talking in low voices.

Fang Han stood to one side of the hall, his gaze fixed on the end of the passage.

The wall there was beginning to change.

The originally smooth, flat surface of the wall suddenly rippled, like the surface of water after a stone is thrown in.

The ripples spread, and the wall gradually became transparent before disappearing completely, revealing another passage behind it.

Luminous Pearls were embedded in the walls and ceiling, brightly illuminating the entire passage.

In the center of the passage, three Metal Puppets stood in a triangular formation.

The one in the center resembled a Fierce Tiger Puppet, dark gold in color and nearly ten feet long. Its limbs were thick and powerful, its sharp claws glinted with a cold light, and its eyes were scarlet red.

The one on the left resembled a Giant Bear Puppet. It stood upright, almost ten feet tall, and was entirely jet-black. Its arms were as thick as tree trunks, and the ten claws on its paws glowed with an eerie blue light.

The one on the right resembled a giant python puppet, coiled on the ground. It was as thick as a water bucket and entirely silver-white. Its vertical pupils were an eerie green, and its forked tongue flickered, emitting a faint hissing sound.

Three puppets, three pairs of eyes, all staring coldly at the crowd before the passage.

They didn’t release any aura, but their bodies forged from metal and mysterious power, along with the indifferent light in their eyes, made many in the hall look grim.

"I heard that for the second trial, each of the three puppets has strength comparable to an ordinary Middle Stage of Fourth Grade Martial Artist."

A young man who knew a fair bit about the Ancient Ruins spoke in a low voice, a hint of fear in his tone.

"Middle Stage of Fourth Grade..."

Someone sucked in a sharp breath.

For those on the Celestial Pride List, an ordinary Middle Stage of Fourth Grade Martial Artist wasn’t too difficult to handle.

But facing three of them at once, all coordinating perfectly, increased the difficulty exponentially.

What was even more troublesome was that the puppets’ bodies were indestructible. Even Upper Three Grades Martial Artists would find it difficult to damage them.

Trying to pass by launching a surprise attack to destroy one of them first and relieve the pressure was completely impossible.

"The people from the Celestial Essence Sect are making a move."

Someone whispered.

Everyone’s gaze simultaneously shifted toward the twelve members of the Celestial Essence Sect.

Twelve figures in moon-white robes were slowly walking toward the newly revealed passage.

Leading them was still that elegant young man, Bai Yan.

He walked with his hands behind his back, calmly sizing up the three puppets in the passage. His expression was unchanged, and his steps were unhurried.

The moment he stepped into the passage, all three puppets moved at once.

The Fierce Tiger Puppet kicked off the ground, its massive metal body transforming into a streak of dark gold lightning as it lunged at Bai Yan.

The Giant Bear Puppet took great strides, the ground trembling slightly with each step. Its palms slammed down with the Momentum of Mountain-Splitting Stone-Shattering.

The giant python puppet coiled and then shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, its massive metal jaws snapping at Bai Yan’s midsection.

The three puppets attacked from three directions simultaneously, their coordination perfect, sealing off all room to evade.

Bai Yan’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t even draw his sword.

His body swayed slightly, and by a hair’s breadth, he slipped through the gap between the Fierce Tiger Puppet and the Giant Bear Puppet.

At the same time, his right hand shot out, striking the giant python puppet on its head.

CLANG—!

Amidst the dull clang of metal, the giant python puppet’s forward momentum was brought to a dead stop, its head knocked to one side.

Without breaking stride, Bai Yan passed through the puppets’ encirclement and reached the other end of the passage.

From entering to passing through, it had only taken a few breaths’ time.

The second Celestial Essence Sect disciple, the beautiful Xu Qing, stepped into the passage.

She drew her sword, its light flashing like a bolt of white silk. She exchanged several blows with the Fierce Tiger Puppet and the Giant Bear Puppet.

Just before the giant python puppet could lunge, she darted forward and passed through the passage.

The third, the fourth, the fifth...

One by one, the twelve disciples of the Celestial Essence Sect entered the passage.

Without exception, all of them passed with ease.

A low murmur of discussion rose in the hall.

"Twelve people, and all of them passed the second trial... and it still looked easy!"

"Is this the power of an Overlord-level Influence?"

Amidst the discussion, after the Celestial Essence Sect, the prodigies from the other commanderies began their attempts.

A disciple from a Taishun Commandery faction was the first to enter the passage.

He drew his sword and fought the Fierce Tiger Puppet for more than ten moves. Under the pincer attack of the Giant Bear Puppet and the giant python puppet, he was hard-pressed and sustained several wounds.

After finally managing to force the three puppets back, he dashed toward the other end of the passage with all his might.

Just as he was about to reach it, the giant python puppet’s tail swept out and viciously struck his side.

BANG—!

He was sent flying sideways, crashing heavily at the entrance of the passage.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale as a sheet.

A golden barrier materialized out of thin air, enveloped him, and transported him out of the Ancient Ruins.

At the same time, a Jade Bottle appeared in his hand, inscribed with the three words "Celestial Essence Pill"—this was the reward for passing the first trial.

"It’s a Celestial Essence Pill."

A knowledgeable young man whispered.

"An Elixir more valuable than the Earth Essence Pill..."

The Celestial Essence Pill was a Cultivation Elixir even more precious than the Earth Essence Pill.

It was an extremely valuable Elixir, even for Upper Three Grades Martial Artists.

The second, the third, the fourth...

Figure after figure stepped into the passage. Some passed, some did not.

Even those who passed were mostly in a sorry state, covered in injuries.

As the failures were sent out of the Ancient Ruins by the golden barrier, a Jade Bottle containing a Celestial Essence Pill appeared in each of their hands.

Fang Han’s gaze fell on the Elixirs the failures had received.

’These Ancient Ruins are just as the Sect said,’ he thought. ’They were used by some ancient influence to test its disciples.’

’Rewards are given based on the number of trials passed, and it’s not very dangerous.’

’Even if you fail a trial, you only get injured. You don’t die.’

"Let’s go."

He withdrew his gaze and walked toward the passage.

Luo Yuntian, Yun Muyao, Kuang Tu, Chen Wuhen, Su Yuwei, and Mo Chen followed close behind him.

The moment they stepped into the passage, all three puppets moved at once.

The Fierce Tiger Puppet lunged straight at Fang Han, the Giant Bear Puppet slammed its palms down from the left, and the giant python puppet shot out from the right.

Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged as he placed his right hand on his sword hilt.

SHING—

The Cloud Splitting Sword was unsheathed.

A flash of sword light.

No one even saw how he drew his sword before they heard three loud clangs.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The three charging puppets were sent flying backward as if struck by a giant hammer, slamming heavily into the passage walls.

Just one strike.

These three Metal Puppets, whose strength was comparable to Middle Stage of Fourth Grade Martial Artists, were knocked away like three pieces of scrap metal.

CLACK, CLACK—

Fang Han sheathed his sword and walked on without stopping, passing through the passage.

From entering to passing through, it had only taken a few breaths’ time.

Luo Yuntian was the second to enter the passage.

He drew his sword, its light steady, and exchanged several blows with the three puppets.

Seizing an opening, he forced back the Fierce Tiger Puppet with a single strike and dashed forward, passing through the passage before the Giant Bear Puppet and giant python puppet could lunge.

He passed, and with considerable ease.

Yun Muyao was the third to enter the passage.

Her Swordsmanship was chilling, the light of her blade radiating a frosty air. She exchanged over ten blows with the three puppets, using the icy energy to slow their movements and pass through the passage.

She passed. Though not as easily as Luo Yuntian, it wasn’t too difficult for her.

Kuang Tu was the fourth to enter the passage.

His great blade left its sheath, its light like a bolt of silk as he fought the three puppets for dozens of moves.

The Fierce Tiger Puppet swiped a claw across his shoulder, leaving five shallow, bloody marks.

The Giant Bear Puppet struck his back with a palm, making his blood and qi churn.

But he endured the injuries, forced back the giant python puppet with a single slash, and strode through the passage with great momentum.

He passed, but with great difficulty.

Chen Wuhen was the fifth to enter the passage.

With his folding fan closed, his figure flickered about, continuously dodging under the puppets’ pincer attack.

The Fierce Tiger Puppet’s claws grazed his side, leaving a bloody streak.

The giant python puppet’s tail swept across his left leg, causing him to stumble.

But he eventually seized an opportunity, slipped through a gap between the three puppets, and reached the other end of the passage.

He passed, also with great difficulty.

Su Yuwei was the sixth to enter the passage.

Her expression was grim as she drew her sword to fight the three puppets.

After a little over ten moves, she was struck on the shoulder by the Fierce Tiger Puppet’s claw and sent flying backward.

She spat out a mouthful of blood, her face pale as a sheet.

She had failed the trial. A golden barrier materialized, enveloped her, and sent her outside the Ancient Ruins.

At the same time, a Jade Bottle containing a Celestial Essence Pill appeared in her hand.

Mo Chen was the seventh to enter the passage.

His expression was cold, his Swordsmanship sharp, as he battled the three puppets.

He sustained several wounds but gritted his teeth and persevered.

However, just as he was about to pass through the passage, the giant python puppet’s tail swept out and viciously struck his side.

BANG—!

He was sent flying sideways, crashing heavily at the entrance of the passage.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale as a sheet.

The golden barrier appeared, enveloping him and sending him out of the Ancient Ruins.

A Jade Bottle containing a Celestial Essence Pill appeared in his hand.

"Two more failed the trial!"

Fang Han stood at the other end of the passage, his gaze fixed on the direction where Su Yuwei and Mo Chen had disappeared. He was silent for a moment.

’Two more from the Qingxuan Sect have failed. It’s clear the difficulty of each trial increases dramatically.’

「An hour later.」

The last challenger’s figure disappeared at the far end of the passage.

In the great hall, only a little over one hundred young people who had passed the second trial remained.

All the failures had been sent out of the Ancient Ruins by the golden barrier.

The wall at the very front of the hall began to change again.

Ripples spread, and the wall became transparent before disappearing.

Behind it, yet another passage was revealed.

In the center of the passage, four Metal Puppets stood in a square formation.

The one in the center resembled a Fierce Tiger Puppet, dark gold in color and nearly ten feet long. Its limbs were thick and powerful, its sharp claws glinted with a cold light, and its eyes were scarlet red.

The one on the left resembled a Giant Bear Puppet. It stood upright, about twenty feet tall, and was entirely jet-black. Its arms were as thick as tree trunks, and the ten claws on its paws glowed with an eerie blue light.

The one on the right resembled a giant python puppet, coiled on the ground. It was as thick as a water bucket and entirely silver-white. Its vertical pupils were an eerie green, and its forked tongue flickered, emitting a faint hissing sound.

Behind them was one that resembled a giant ape. It had a slender build, was entirely dark silver, and its arms hung past its knees. Its eyes were dark gold, radiating a cold, indifferent light.

Four puppets, four pairs of eyes, all staring coldly at the crowd before the passage.

"The third trial..."

A young man spoke in a low voice, his tone laced with gravity.

"These four puppets... each one has the strength of a Late-Fourth Grade Martial Artist."

"Late-Fourth Grade..."

Someone sucked in a sharp breath.

For most of the people on the Celestial Pride List, who were under thirty and had limited time for Cultivation, facing a Late-Fourth Grade Martial Artist was already a significant challenge.

One could only imagine the difficulty of facing four of them at once, especially since they were Metal Puppets that coordinated perfectly.