The Myriad Dao Secret Realm's maze pulsed with an ominous hum, devouring runes glowing faintly on the cavern walls. The *Ancestral Symbol*'s call grew sharper, its three shards vibrating in sync with the wolf core, their combined Qi boosting cultivation efficiency by 20%. At **Core Manifestation Tier 1** and **Soul Awakening Stage 8**, the path forward brimmed with peril—Chu Rong's relentless envy and the Blood Fang Sect's operatives closing in. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* stirred, its voice steady:
> *"Task progress: 4550/3000 CP. New task: Defeat a Blood Fang Sect elite in the third trial. Earn 3500 CP by the trial's end. Current CP: 4550."*
A smirk tugged at the lips. "An elite? They'll regret crossing me." *Tempest Blood Barrage*—weaving lightning, fire, wind, shadow, earth, thunder, claws, illusions, sonic waves, and bloodmist—surged with *Envy Absorption* and *Wrath Empowerment*, feeding on Chu Rong's jealousy and rising fury. The next *Ancestral Symbol* shard beckoned, a step closer to Lin Dong's legacy.
Chu Xue moved silently ahead, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* dispersing the maze's mist, her ice-blue eyes scanning the shadows. "They're watching us," she whispered. "The Blood Fang Sect's elites are stronger than the last." Chu Rong trailed, his Core Manifestation Stage 3 aura dim, his rage boiling. "You're hogging the relics," he spat, envy radiating like heat.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 4575."*
The maze widened into a vast arena, its floor etched with a *Devouring Vortex Array*. The third trial ignited—illusions of Qingyang Town's scorn morphed into visions of Lin Dong's glory, belittling the present lineage. Anger flared, fists clenching.
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 4595."*
An 80-meter divine sense, honed by *Soul Awakening Stage 8*, pierced the illusions, revealing a Rank 3 *Voidshade Wolf* at Core Manifestation Stage 6, its claws warping space. *Beast Copying* activated, eyes tracking its fluid strikes.
> *"Observed: Voidshade Spatial Claw. Copied as Spatial Shadow Fist (High-Grade). CP +50. Current CP: 4645."*
The wolf lunged, space rippling. *Tempest Blood Barrage* roared, bloodmist and sonic waves disrupting its claws. Lightning and fire shredded its hide, felling it in a burst of elements. Chu Rong's envy spiked, his *Blazing Lion Fist* trembling. "Another core stolen!"
> *"Beast defeated. CP +60. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 4750."*
Anger surged at Chu Rong's greed:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 4770."*
The array pulsed, unveiling a Blood Fang Sect elite—a Foundation Forging Stage 2 woman, her blood-red whip crackling with venomous Qi. "I'm Xue Yin, disciple of Venerable Shadow Fang," she hissed, her envy at the *Ancestral Symbol* shards palpable. "Hand them over."
> *"Envy detected from Xue Yin. CP +30. Threat detected. CP +20. Current CP: 4820."*
Chu Xue tensed, her sword drawn. "She's too strong for us alone." A nod answered her. "Together, then."
Xue Yin's whip lashed, venom Qi splitting stone. *Tempest Blood Barrage* countered, sonic waves scattering the venom. Chu Xue's *Ice Phoenix Palm* froze the whip's path, creating an opening. *Insight Surge* activated (CP -50, Total: 4770), mind blazing with clarity. *Spatial Shadow Fist* struck, warping space to land a blow on Xue Yin's shoulder. She staggered, rage flaring.
> *"Anger detected from Xue Yin. CP +20. Current CP: 4790."*
Xue Yin's whip intensified, venom Qi forming a blood serpent. Chu Rong attacked, his *Blazing Lion Fist* aiming to impress, but Xue Yin swatted him aside. His envy burned hotter. "You're nothing without her!" he roared.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 4815."*
Anger surged at Chu Rong's betrayal:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 4835."*
*Tempest Blood Barrage* fused with *Spatial Shadow Fist*, creating *Tempest Spatial Barrage*, a high-grade art blending spatial distortion with elements.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Spatial Barrage created. CP +60. Current CP: 4895."*
The new art erupted, spatial rifts tearing through the blood serpent. Chu Xue's ice Qi amplified the strike, and Xue Yin fell, bloodied but alive. "Venerable Shadow Fang will crush you," she spat, fleeing.
> *"Elite defeated. Task completed. CP +80. Current CP: 4975."*
Chu Xue panted, her gaze softening. "You're rewriting the odds." The system confirmed: *"No detection of system. Host's secret is safe."*
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +20. Current CP: 4995."*
The arena revealed a fourth altar, its *Ancestral Symbol* shard (4/9) glowing. Chu Rong lunged, desperate, but *Tempest Spatial Barrage* knocked him back. The shard merged with the others, boosting Qi absorption by 25%. The wolf core flared, resonating.
> *"Relic fragment claimed. Ancestral Symbol Shard (4/9) acquired. CP +70. Current CP: 5065."*
Chu Rong's rage exploded. "You're stealing our destiny!" he roared, envy consuming him.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 5110."*
Anger surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 5130."*
50 CP were spent on a *Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 8)*, pushing cultivation forward.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 5080."*
The pill triggered a breakthrough to **Core Manifestation Tier 2**, aura surging with power.
> *"Cultivation breakthrough. Core Manifestation Tier 2 reached. CP +60. Current CP: 5140."*
A hidden Blood Fang Sect operative, Foundation Forging Stage 3, watched from the shadows, their envy at the shards intense.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operative. CP +30. Current CP: 5170."*
The maze shifted, opening a deeper path. Illusions grew fiercer—Lin Dong's legacy towering, Qingyang Town's scorn crushing family pride. Anger burned:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 5190."*
The *Comprehension Arena* activated, facing a shadow of Xue Yin's *Blood Venom Whip*. The system advised: *"Counter venom with spatial deflection."* The shadow fell, art refined.
> *"Comprehension Arena training completed. CP +30. Current CP: 5220."*
Chu Xue pointed ahead. "The next trial's core is near. The Blood Fang Sect's gathering more elites." Anger at their persistence surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 5240."*
50 CP were spent on a *Soul Condensation Pill (Tier 7)*, enhancing soul cultivation.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 5190."*
The pill pushed to **Soul Awakening Stage 9**, divine sense reaching 90 meters.
> *"Soul cultivation breakthrough. CP +50. Current CP: 5240."*
Chu Rong's glare burned from afar. "You'll fall," he muttered, envy a storm.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 5265."*
The maze's depths pulsed with relic Qi, the *Ancestral Symbol*'s call deafening. Chu Clan's jealousy, Blood Fang Sect's elites, and the *Devouring Illusion* stood in the way. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* blazed, feeding on envy and anger, ready to carve a legend.
"I'll claim every shard," the vow echoed, *Tempest Spatial Barrage* crackling. "No one will stop this rise."