Lin Fan gripped the two *Ancestral Symbol* shards, their devouring Qi pulsing in sync with the wolf core in his pocket, urging him deeper into the Myriad Dao Secret Realm's maze. The *Devouring Illusion* wove relentless mirages—visions of Qingyang Town scorning his parents, Lin Xiao and Su Mei, for their fallen lineage. His **Qi Condensation Layer 9** and **Soul Awakening Stage 7** outshone all inner disciples, yet Chu Rong's burning envy and the Blood Fang Sect's hidden trap loomed larger. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* thrummed, its voice resolute:
> *"Task progress: 3750/2500 CP. New task: Disable the Blood Fang Sect's trap in the second trial. Earn 3000 CP by the trial's end. Current CP: 3750."*
Lin Fan's eyes blazed. "I'll crush their schemes." His *Tempest Sonic Barrage*—blending lightning, fire, wind, shadow, earth, thunder, claws, illusions, and sonic waves—fed on *Envy Absorption* and *Wrath Empowerment*, thriving on Chu Rong's jealousy and his own fury. The next *Ancestral Symbol* shard called, a key to Lin Dong's legacy.
Chu Xue moved beside him, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* cutting through the maze's mist, her ice-blue eyes sharp. "The trap's close," she warned. "Their killing intent's stronger here." Chu Rong lagged behind, his Core Manifestation Stage 3 aura flickering, his face twisted with rage. "You're stealing our glory," he hissed, envy radiating.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 3775."*
The maze opened into a vast chamber, its walls pulsing with devouring runes. The second trial's core—a *Devouring Trap Array*—hummed, its illusion Qi masking a Blood Fang Sect formation designed to kill. Lin Fan's 70-meter divine sense, honed by *Soul Awakening Stage 7*, detected three cloaked operatives at Core Manifestation Stage 6, their blood-red spears poised. Their envy at his shards burned.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operatives. CP +45. Threat detected. CP +20. Current CP: 3840."*
The array activated, illusions of Lin Dong's towering legacy mocking Lin Fan's lineage. His anger surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3860."*
Lin Fan used *Dao Enlightenment*, his divine sense piercing the array's core—a bloodstone emitting killing Qi. He activated *Insight Surge* (CP -50, Total: 3810), his mind blazing with clarity. "There," he said, pointing to the stone. "That's their trap."
Chu Xue nodded, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* freezing nearby illusions. "Destroy it, or we're dead."
A Rank 3 *Bloodmist Panther* at Core Manifestation Stage 6 emerged, its roar amplifying the array's illusions. Lin Fan used *Beast Copying*:
> *"Observed: Bloodmist Phantom Roar. Copied as Bloodmist Palm (High-Grade). CP +50. Current CP: 3860."*
The panther charged, claws dripping venom. Lin Fan's *Tempest Sonic Barrage* roared, sonic waves disrupting its illusions. Lightning, fire, and claws tore through its hide. Chu Rong attacked, his *Blazing Lion Fist* aiming to steal the kill, but Lin Fan's strike felled the beast.
> *"Beast defeated. CP +60. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 3965."*
Lin Fan's anger at Chu Rong's greed flared:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3985."*
The operatives struck, their spears converging. "The shards are ours!" one roared, envy blazing.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operatives. CP +45. Current CP: 4030."*
Lin Fan fused *Bloodmist Palm* with *Tempest Sonic Barrage*, creating *Tempest Blood Barrage*, a high-grade art blending bloodmist with his elements.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Blood Barrage created. CP +60. Current CP: 4090."*
His *Tempest Blood Barrage* clashed with the spears, sonic waves and illusions scattering their attacks. One operative fell, bloodied; the others fled. Lin Fan dashed to the bloodstone, his *Bloodmist Palm* shattering it. The array collapsed, illusions fading.
> *"Trap disabled. Task completed. CP +70. Current CP: 4160."*
Chu Xue exhaled. "You turned their trap against them." Her eyes held a flicker of admiration.
The system confirmed: *"No detection of system. Host's secret is safe."*
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +20. Current CP: 4180."*
The chamber revealed a third altar, its *Ancestral Symbol* shard (3/9) glowing with devouring Qi. Chu Rong lunged, his *Blazing Lion Fist* desperate. "It's mine!" he roared, envy and rage consuming him.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 4225."*
Lin Fan's anger surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 4245."*
His *Tempest Blood Barrage* overwhelmed Chu Rong, sending him crashing into the wall. Lin Fan seized the shard, its Qi merging with the others, boosting his absorption by 20%. The wolf core blazed, resonating.
> *"Relic fragment claimed. Ancestral Symbol Shard (3/9) acquired. CP +70. Current CP: 4315."*
Chu Rong crawled away, his envy a storm. "You'll pay for this," he spat.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 4340."*
Lin Fan spent 50 CP on a *Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 7)*, pushing his cultivation.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 4290."*
The pill triggered a breakthrough to **Core Manifestation Tier 1**, his aura rivaling Chu Xue's. His meridians pulsed with power.
> *"Cultivation breakthrough. Core Manifestation Tier 1 reached. CP +50. Current CP: 4340."*
A hidden Blood Fang Sect operative, Foundation Forging Stage 1, emerged, their blood-red axe gleaming. "Venerable Shadow Fang demands those shards," they growled, envy radiating.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operative. CP +30. Current CP: 4370."*
Lin Fan's *Tempest Blood Barrage* clashed with the axe, sonic waves and bloodmist disrupting their strike. Chu Xue's *Ice Phoenix Palm* joined, freezing the operative's arm. They retreated, cursing. "You're stronger than I thought," Chu Xue said, her voice soft.
> *"Victory achieved. CP +70. Current CP: 4440."*
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +20. Current CP: 4460."*
The maze shifted, revealing a deeper path. Illusions grew fiercer, showing Lin Fan's family crushed by the Chu Clan's scorn. His anger burned:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 4480."*
Lin Fan entered the *Comprehension Arena*, facing a shadow of the operative's *Bloodaxe Slash*. The system advised: *"Angle strike 8 degrees higher for efficiency."* He defeated the shadow, refining his art.
> *"Comprehension Arena training completed. CP +30. Current CP: 4510."*
Chu Xue scanned the path. "The next trial's worse. The Blood Fang Sect's operatives are gathering." Lin Fan's anger at their persistence surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 4530."*
He spent 50 CP on a *Soul Condensation Pill (Tier 6)*, enhancing his soul.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 4480."*
The pill pushed him to **Soul Awakening Stage 8**, his divine sense reaching 80 meters.
> *"Soul cultivation breakthrough. CP +45. Current CP: 4525."*
Chu Rong's distant glare burned with envy. "You can't keep this up," he muttered.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 4550."*
The maze's depths pulsed with relic Qi, the *Ancestral Symbol*'s call stronger. The Blood Fang Sect's operatives, Chu Clan's jealousy, and the *Devouring Illusion* awaited. Lin Fan's *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* blazed, feeding on envy and anger, ready to forge his path.
"I'll claim every shard," he vowed, *Tempest Blood Barrage* roaring. "No trap will break me."