The Myriad Dao Secret Realm's chasm roared with an ancient pulse, devouring runes blazing like crimson torches across the stone walls. The *Ancestral Symbol*, fully formed with nine shards and an unlocked seal, thrummed with a 60% Qi absorption boost, resonating fiercely with the wolf core's relentless beat. At **Core Manifestation Tier 9** and **Soul Awakening Stage 16**, the path ahead crackled with peril—Chu Rong's seething envy and the Blood Fang Sect's remnants rallying for a desperate strike. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* stirred, its voice resolute:
> *"Task progress: 11,495/7000 CP. New task: Breach the Devouring Gate in the tenth trial and confront the Blood Fang Sect's shadow elder. Earn 7500 CP by the trial's end. Current CP: 11,495."*
A sharp exhale sliced the air. "A shadow elder? I'll crush them." *Tempest Devouring Barrage*—weaving lightning, fire, wind, shadow, earth, thunder, claws, illusions, sonic waves, bloodmist, shadow cloaking, dreamlike disorientation, fire, mist, abyssal shadows, phantom shadows, chaotic disruption, and devouring power—surged with *Envy Absorption*, *Wrath Empowerment*, *Relic Synergy*, and *Fury Amplification*, thriving on Chu Rong's jealousy and rising fury. The *Ancestral Symbol*'s legacy burned, a testament to Lin Dong's might.
Chu Xue glided forward, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* slicing through the chasm's dense mist, her ice-blue eyes scanning for threats. "The elder's Qi is overwhelming," she warned. Chu Rong staggered behind, his Core Manifestation Stage 3 aura dim, his rage a storm. "You're stealing our legacy," he snarled, envy radiating like a furnace.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 11,520."*
The chasm opened into a vast arena, its floor etched with a *Devouring Gate Array*. The tenth trial erupted—illusions of Qingyang Town's scorn morphed into Lin Dong's towering figure, accusing failure to restore the Lin Clan. Anger surged, fists clenching, amplified by *Fury Amplification*.
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +40. Current CP: 11,560."*
A 160-meter divine sense, honed by *Soul Awakening Stage 16*, pierced the illusions, revealing a Rank 4 *Abyssal Devouring Wyvern* at Core Manifestation Stage 10, its wings pulsing with devouring Qi. *Beast Copying* activated, tracking its crushing strikes.
> *"Observed: Abyssal Devouring Claw. Copied as Devouring Claw Fist (High-Grade). CP +60. Current CP: 11,620."*
The wyvern roared, claws tearing space. *Tempest Devouring Barrage* countered, devouring power shredding its wings. Fire, thunder, and chaotic Qi felled it. Chu Rong's envy blazed. "Another core taken!"
> *"Beast defeated. CP +100. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 11,765."*
Anger flared, amplified:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +40. Current CP: 11,805."*
The array pulsed, and the Blood Fang Sect's shadow elder emerged—a Heavenly Fusion Stage 1 man, his blood-red staff radiating killing Qi. "I'm Elder Mo Sang, servant of Venerable Shadow Fang," he sneered, envy at the *Ancestral Symbol* palpable. "Your relics end here."
> *"Envy detected from Mo Sang. CP +50. Threat detected. CP +40. Current CP: 11,895."*
Chu Xue's sword gleamed. "He's far stronger. We need to strike together." A nod answered. "Let's break him."
Mo Sang's staff swung, blood Qi forming a crimson vortex. *Tempest Devouring Barrage* countered, devouring power scattering the vortex. Chu Xue's *Ice Phoenix Palm* froze the staff's path, creating an opening. *Insight Surge* activated (CP -50, Total: 11,845), mind blazing with clarity. *Devouring Claw Fist* struck, devouring Qi disorienting Mo Sang. He staggered, rage erupting.
> *"Anger detected from Mo Sang. CP +20. Current CP: 11,865."*
Mo Sang's vortex intensified, summoning a blood titan. Chu Rong attacked, his *Blazing Lion Fist* aiming to steal glory, but the vortex sent him crashing. His envy roared. "You're nothing without her!"
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 11,890."*
Anger surged, amplified:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +40. Current CP: 11,930."*
*Tempest Devouring Barrage* fused with *Devouring Claw Fist*, creating *Tempest Void Barrage*, a high-grade art blending void-like devouring power with elements.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Void Barrage created. CP +80. Current CP: 12,010."*
The new art erupted, void-like Qi shattering the blood titan. Chu Xue's ice Qi amplified the strike, felling Mo Sang. He collapsed, cursing. "Shadow Fang will avenge me."
> *"Shadow elder defeated. CP +150. Current CP: 12,160."*
Chu Xue's breath steadied, her gaze flickering with respect. "You're unstoppable." The system confirmed: *"No detection of system. Host's secret is safe."*
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +20. Current CP: 12,180."*
The arena revealed the Devouring Gate, a massive portal pulsing with relic Qi. Chu Rong lunged, desperate, but *Tempest Void Barrage* sent him sprawling. The gate opened, revealing a *Devouring Core Orb* that merged with the *Ancestral Symbol*, boosting Qi absorption by 65%. The wolf core blazed, resonating fiercely.
> *"Core relic claimed. Devouring Core Orb acquired. Task completed. CP +120. Current CP: 12,300."*
Chu Rong's rage exploded. "You've taken everything!" he roared, envy consuming him.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 12,345."*
Anger surged, amplified:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +40. Current CP: 12,385."*
50 CP were spent on a *Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 16)*, pushing cultivation forward.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 12,335."*
The pill triggered a breakthrough to **Core Manifestation Tier 10**, aura surging with power.
> *"Cultivation breakthrough. Core Manifestation Tier 10 reached. CP +100. Current CP: 12,435."*
A hidden Blood Fang Sect operative, Heavenly Fusion Stage 1, watched from the shadows, their envy at the *Ancestral Symbol* intense.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operative. CP +50. Current CP: 12,485."*
The chasm shifted, opening a deeper path. Illusions grew savage—Lin Dong's legacy crushing family pride, Qingyang Town's scorn echoing. Anger burned, amplified:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +40. Current CP: 12,525."*
The *Comprehension Arena* activated, facing a shadow of Mo Sang's *Blood Vortex Staff*. The system advised: *"Counter with void redirection."* The shadow fell, art refined.
> *"Comprehension Arena training completed. CP +30. Current CP: 12,555."*
Chu Xue pointed ahead. "The trials are ending, but the Blood Fang Sect's remnants are desperate." Anger at their persistence surged, amplified:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +40. Current CP: 12,595."*
50 CP were spent on a *Soul Condensation Pill (Tier 15)*, enhancing soul cultivation.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 12,545."*
The pill pushed to **Soul Awakening Stage 17**, divine sense reaching 170 meters.
> *"Soul cultivation breakthrough. CP +90. Current CP: 12,635."*
Chu Rong's glare burned from afar. "You'll pay," he muttered, envy a tempest.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 12,660."*
The chasm's depths pulsed with relic Qi, the *Ancestral Symbol*'s power complete. Chu Clan's jealousy, Blood Fang Sect's remnants, and the *Devouring Illusion* stood ready. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* blazed, forging an unyielding path