The Myriad Dao Secret Realm's chasm pulsed with an ancient rhythm, devouring runes flickering like dying stars on the stone walls. Seven *Ancestral Symbol* shards thrummed, their 40% Qi absorption boost resonating fiercely with the wolf core's relentless beat. At **Core Manifestation Tier 5** and **Soul Awakening Stage 12**, the path ahead bristled with peril—Chu Rong's seething envy and the Blood Fang Sect's elites tightening their trap. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* stirred, its voice resolute:
> *"Task progress: 7690/5000 CP. New task: Survive the sixth trial's shadow ambush and secure the eighth Ancestral Symbol shard. Earn 5500 CP by the trial's end. Current CP: 7690."*
A sharp exhale cut the air. "A shadow ambush? Let's tear it apart." *Tempest Crimson Barrage*—blending lightning, fire, wind, shadow, earth, thunder, claws, illusions, sonic waves, bloodmist, shadow cloaking, dreamlike disorientation, fire, and mist—surged with *Envy Absorption* and *Wrath Empowerment*, thriving on Chu Rong's jealousy and rising fury. The *Ancestral Symbol*'s legacy loomed, a beacon of Lin Dong's enduring might.
Chu Xue glided forward, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* slicing through the chasm's thickening mist, her ice-blue eyes sharp. "The elites are closing in," she warned. Chu Rong stumbled behind, his Core Manifestation Stage 3 aura dim, his rage a storm. "You're stealing our destiny," he growled, envy radiating like a blaze.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 7715."*
The chasm widened into a vast arena, its floor etched with a *Devouring Shadow Array*. The sixth trial erupted—illusions of Qingyang Town's scorn morphed into Lin Dong's towering figure, accusing betrayal of the Lin Clan's honor. Anger surged, fists clenching.
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 7735."*
A 120-meter divine sense, honed by *Soul Awakening Stage 12*, pierced the illusions, revealing a Rank 3 *Phantom Abyss Tiger* at Core Manifestation Stage 9, its claws cloaked in shadow Qi. *Beast Copying* activated, tracking its predatory strikes.
> *"Observed: Phantom Abyss Slash. Copied as Abyss Shadow Fist (High-Grade). CP +50. Current CP: 7785."*
The tiger lunged, shadows swallowing light. *Tempest Crimson Barrage* roared, mist and fire disrupting its claws. Thunder and spatial rifts shredded its hide, felling it. Chu Rong's envy blazed. "Another core taken!"
> *"Beast defeated. CP +80. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 7910."*
Anger flared at Chu Rong's greed:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 7930."*
The array pulsed, and three Blood Fang Sect elites emerged—two at Foundation Forging Stage 4, one at Stage 5, their blood-red spears pulsing with killing Qi. "I'm Wei Shan, blade of Venerable Shadow Fang," the Stage 5 elite snarled, envy at the shards palpable. "Your relics are ours."
> *"Envy detected from Wei Shan and operatives. CP +60. Threat detected. CP +30. Current CP: 8020."*
Chu Xue's sword gleamed. "They're coordinated. We need to disrupt their formation." A nod answered. "Let's break them."
Wei Shan's spear thrust, blood Qi forming a crimson storm. *Tempest Crimson Barrage* countered, dreamlike Qi scattering the storm. Chu Xue's *Ice Phoenix Palm* froze one operative's spear, creating an opening. *Insight Surge* activated (CP -50, Total: 7970), mind blazing with clarity. *Abyss Shadow Fist* struck, shadow Qi disorienting Wei Shan. He staggered, rage erupting.
> *"Anger detected from Wei Shan. CP +20. Current CP: 7990."*
The operatives' spears converged, summoning a blood phantom. Chu Rong attacked, his *Blazing Lion Fist* aiming to steal glory, but Wei Shan's storm sent him crashing. His envy roared. "You're nothing without her aid!"
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 8015."*
Anger surged at Chu Rong's betrayal:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 8035."*
*Tempest Crimson Barrage* fused with *Abyss Shadow Fist*, creating *Tempest Abyss Barrage*, a high-grade art blending abyssal shadows with elements.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Abyss Barrage created. CP +70. Current CP: 8105."*
The new art erupted, shadow and mist shattering the phantom. Chu Xue's ice Qi amplified the strike, felling one operative. Wei Shan and the other fled, cursing. "Shadow Fang will crush you," Wei Shan spat.
> *"Ambush survived. CP +100. Current CP: 8205."*
Chu Xue's breath steadied, her gaze flickering with respect. "You turn traps into victories." The system confirmed: *"No detection of system. Host's secret is safe."*
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +20. Current CP: 8225."*
The arena revealed an eighth altar, its *Ancestral Symbol* shard (8/9) pulsing with devouring Qi. Chu Rong lunged, desperate, but *Tempest Abyss Barrage* sent him sprawling. The shard merged with the others, boosting Qi absorption by 45%. The wolf core blazed, resonating fiercely.
> *"Relic fragment claimed. Ancestral Symbol Shard (8/9) acquired. Task completed. CP +90. Current CP: 8315."*
Chu Rong's rage exploded. "You're robbing our legacy!" he roared, envy consuming him.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 8360."*
Anger surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 8380."*
50 CP were spent on a *Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 12)*, pushing cultivation forward.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 8330."*
The pill triggered a breakthrough to **Core Manifestation Tier 6**, aura surging with power.
> *"Cultivation breakthrough. Core Manifestation Tier 6 reached. CP +80. Current CP: 8410."*
A hidden Blood Fang Sect operative, Foundation Forging Stage 6, watched from the shadows, their envy at the shards intense.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operative. CP +30. Current CP: 8440."*
The chasm shifted, opening a deeper path. Illusions grew fiercer—Lin Dong's legacy crushing family pride, Qingyang Town's scorn echoing. Anger burned:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 8460."*
The *Comprehension Arena* activated, facing a shadow of Wei Shan's *Blood Storm Spear*. The system advised: *"Counter with abyssal deflection."* The shadow fell, art refined.
> *"Comprehension Arena training completed. CP +30. Current CP: 8490."*
Chu Xue pointed ahead. "The final shard's trial is near. The Blood Fang Sect's elites are massing." Anger at their persistence surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 8510."*
50 CP were spent on a *Soul Condensation Pill (Tier 11)*, enhancing soul cultivation.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 8460."*
The pill pushed to **Soul Awakening Stage 13**, divine sense reaching 130 meters.
> *"Soul cultivation breakthrough. CP +70. Current CP: 8530."*
Chu Rong's glare burned from afar. "You'll fall," he muttered, envy a tempest.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 8555."*
The chasm'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 ready. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* blazed, feeding on envy and anger, forging an unyielding path.