The moment the barrier dissolved, Zhen Huan's feet had barely touched the lakebed before his vision twisted once more.
White light engulfed him.
Again.
He sighed. "Tch… this damned room again."
The familiar sterile whiteness of the Prisoner Room surrounded him like a cage.
But this time, the air was heavier, tinged with deeper bloodlust.
Ten monstrous figures emerged from the mist—massive, sleek, and pulsing with raw energy.
5th Rank High-Tier Aqua Beasts.
Zhen Huan narrowed his eyes. "So the difficulty's ramped up, huh? Let's see how long you last."
He lunged forward, blade humming. But the beasts were coordinated—working in tandem. Every time he struck at one, another came from his flank, clawing or slashing, covering for each other. Their teamwork was impeccable.
This… is different.
With a leap into the air, Zhen Huan raised his finger skyward.
"Earth Finger Ray!"
A sharp golden beam burst from his fingertip, slamming through one beast's skull.
Ding!
You killed one 5th Rank High-Tier Beast.
XP Gained: 6,000
Current XP: 102,700
Using Wind Steps, he backed off and exhaled.
"This will take time…"
He gritted his teeth.
Time wasn't on his side.
He poured energy into his blade.
"Inferno Slash – Third Form!"
A blazing arc of black fire roared across the battlefield, burning through two more beasts as they howled and collapsed in smoldering ruin.
Ding!
You killed two 5th Rank High-Tier Beasts.
XP Gained: 12,000
Current XP: 114,700
He exhaled—then flinched.
A sudden impact.
Two beasts had circled behind him and struck together—one raked his back, the other slammed into his side.
Blood spilled.
"Argh!"
Staggering forward, Zhen Huan turned with fury in his eyes. "That's enough!"
"Meteor Rain of Sword!"
His blade lit up, and the air cracked.
A storm of spectral swords rained down from above, cutting through the white space like celestial punishment. Four beasts shrieked as they were torn apart mid-charge.
Ding!
You killed four 5th Rank High-Tier Beasts.
XP Gained: 24,000
Current XP: 138,700
Only three remained.
They gathered water energy and launched their signature move—Water Prison—a cage of pressurized currents meant to trap and drown.
Zhen Huan's blade ignited once more.
"Inferno Slash – Second Form!"
The fiery blade shattered the watery prisons and bisected the final three in a single sweep.
Ding!
You killed three 5th Rank High-Tier Beasts.
XP Gained: 18,000
Current XP: 156,700
He collapsed to one knee, panting.
"That… took seven hours…"
His eyes widened.
"That's… seven months outside."
He exhaled. "Time's a curse here."
White light pulsed again.
He returned to the lake.
He swam downward.
But before he could regain control—
White Room again.
"Dammit!"
But this time… it was different.
There was no mist.
Just silence.
And then—a movement.
Zhen Huan's spiritual senses flared.
From the depths of the room, a massive serpent slithered into view. Its body rippled with scaled power, fangs long and dripping. Its aura was suffocating.
6th Rank Mid-Tier Beast.
Zhen Huan's face grew grim.
"I can fight it… but I'll be torn apart if I'm not careful."
The serpent struck—its tail like a pillar of force.
Zhen Huan raised his blade in defense, but the impact hurled him across the room, blood trailing from his lips.
"Shit… its strength is insane."
He retaliated.
"Earth Finger Ray!"
A beam of energy shot forward—but the serpent twisted, dodging with unnatural speed.
It lunged.
Maw wide.
Zhen Huan vanished in a swirl of wind, reappearing behind it, heart pounding.
"Too fast. Too strong."
"System—how many breakthroughs can I do?"
Ding
Host can perform up to ten breakthroughs.
"Do four!"
Ding
XP cost: 46,200
Current XP: 110,500
A surge of heat engulfed his body.
His core expanded. His meridians howled with energy. Spiritual pressure rose like a volcano about to erupt.
Ding
Host has broken through to Soul Transformation – 6th Layer.
Zhen Huan grinned, eyes gleaming.
"My turn."
He darted forward, channeling fire into his blade.
"Inferno Slash – Second Form!"
He slashed across the serpent's midsection, drawing blood for the first time.
It screeched and thrashed violently.
Smoke clouded the room.
"I got it!"
But from the dust, the serpent burst forward and smashed him with its tail.
"Urgh—what!?"
He rolled across the floor, groaning.
Then he saw it.
Its tail… had been cut in half.
It had sacrificed it—to dodge death.
Zhen Huan stood, eyes blazing.
"This ends now."
He raised his sword with both hands.
"Inferno Slash – Third Form!"
A colossal slash of black flame exploded forward, engulfing the serpent completely.
It shrieked once—and then, nothing remained but ash.
Ding!
You killed 6th Rank Mid-Tier Beast.
XP Gained: 12,000
Current XP: 122,500
Zhen Huan stood alone, panting, blade dripping with flames.
He smirked.
"One year and nine months… in Four trials."