As Ying Bing's command fell, the Profound Frost Ice Phoenix suddenly erupted with a blinding ice-blue light all around its body.
Gu Xing's pupils contracted, and a brand new data panel popped up before his eyes:
[Frost Profound Ice Phoenix (Special State)]
[Talent: Legendary One Star]
[Level: Awakening Tier Five]
[Power: 120→220]
[Constitution: 130→230]
[Spirit: 178→378]
[Speed: 150→250]
[Skills: Cold Cone Piercing, Frost Storm, Frost Ring Imprisonment (Guardian Beast enters Weak State after use)]
Before the Ice Phoenix unleashed its Finishing Technique, its Spiritual Attribute skyrocketed by a full 200 points like a rocket, while its other attributes also surged by one hundred points each.
It seems...
The Guardian Beast's Finishing Technique also relies on boosting all of its attributes, thereby significantly enhancing the skill's effect.
However, to reach this Special State, there is always a certain aftereffect!
An audacious guess suddenly surfaced in Gu Xing's mind—
If Liu Li, while in Blazing Angel State, activates her Finishing Technique, could she achieve a double amplification on top of the doubled attributes?
But the higher the boost, the greater the aftereffects for the Guardian Beast!
Still, this is no time to be thinking about such things!
"Liu Li, get ready!"
Hearing Gu Xing's command, Liu Li's eyes, blazing with Red Flame, locked onto the Trial Puppet, and the flames around her surged violently.
At the same instant, the Ice Phoenix's aura also soared to its peak.
One ice, one fire—two completely opposite energies rampaged within the Trial Space, frost and flame weaving together all across the battlefield.
The Trial Puppet clearly sensed the threat as well; a red flash flickered in its eyes.
"Stable Barrier!"
A metallic black shield instantly formed.
However.
The Profound Frost Ice Phoenix's Finishing Technique wasn't simply a matter of freezing things externally.
On the contrary!
"Crack!"
With the crisp sound of shattering ice crystals, inside the shield, the Trial Puppet's entire body suddenly sprouted crystal-clear shards of ice, and these crystals spread swiftly across its surface.
Suffering the attack, the Trial Puppet's Stable Barrier immediately fell apart.
"Gu Xing, quick! The Ice Phoenix's burst state can only last five seconds!"
Gu Xing obviously wouldn't let such a chance slip by.
"Liu Li, now!"
"Understood!"
A crimson flash shot through space, Liu Li wielding her burning sword, lunged like a meteorite.
The sword blade aimed straight at the Trial Puppet's mechanical head.
For the first time, a very human panic flickered across the Trial Puppet's electronic eyes, but the ice crystals had completely immobilized it; it couldn't even twitch a finger, and could only watch as that deadly red light closed in.
"Judgment!"
The sword clashed with the alloy head, breaking out in a squealing metallic shriek.
"Bang!"
Liu Li's hands went numb; the shock from the sword's impact made her heart jolt.
Hard!
This was Liu Li's only thought right now.
Even at the peak of her Blazing Angel Form, facing a metal monster with a Constitution Attribute of 340...
She felt as though she were cutting through diamond; every inch of progress was horribly difficult.
Fortunately...
Though slow, the Red Flame Long Sword was still gradually sinking into the puppet's head. Its blazing blade and the melting metal sparked dazzling fire.
However.
Just as everyone thought this trial would end this way—
The dying Trial Puppet's eyes suddenly erupted in piercing bloody light.
Tarry-black, inky energy mistily poured from its joints, instantly corroding the ice crystals covering its body.
Gu Xing and Ying Bing both shuddered in shock at this sight.
"What is that?"
Meanwhile, in Gu Xing's view, the attribute panel in his vision was violently warping and rearranging:
[Trial Puppet: Ultimate (Demonization)]
[Talent: Epic Nine Stars]
[Level: Awakening Tier Eight]
[Power: 301→400]
[Constitution: 340→450]
[Spirit: 256→350]
[Speed: 240→360]
[Skills: Balanced Force Field·Complete, Realm-Breaking Hammer, Stable Barrier]
"Demon Race Transformation!"
Gu Xing and Ying Bing locked eyes, both gasping in cold terror.
At this moment, all mysteries were suddenly revealed—
Why was the Abyssal Level trial so insanely difficult?!
The entry standard was Awakening Tier Five, but in the end, they had to face enemies nearly at Extraordinary Level.
As it turned out, the entire Trial Space had long been infiltrated by Demonic Qi!
Under the influence of Demonic Qi, the attributes of all the Trial Puppets in the Land of Trial were slowly rising.
If these things weren't lifeless constructs, their growth would have been even more terrifying...
Realizing all this, both their hearts immediately plunged to rock bottom.
Even against the Ultimate Trial Puppet in its normal state, the two had already fought with great difficulty.
And now...
Because of Demonization, this Trial Puppet's attributes had each increased by another hundred points.
What are we supposed to do?!
"Kra—"
Liu Li's sword screeched as it scraped against the puppet's neck; she couldn't push forward anymore.
Even worse, the Profound Frost Ice Phoenix's extreme freeze was rapidly fading, spiderweb cracks already spreading over the ice surface.
Both of them knew: once this monster with attributes breaking through 400 regained freedom...
This trial really might be impossible to clear!
"Crack!"
Cracks began appearing in the ice covering the Trial Puppet's head.
Its head recovered mobility!
Now its gaze slowly swept over and locked onto Gu Xing and Ying Bing.
After Demonization, its intelligence clearly rose even further!
No matter how formidable the two Guardian Beasts were, as long as it got rid of their Beast Masters...
Gu Xing and Ying Bing both felt a piercing chill, the Trial Puppet's sight locking onto them like a venomous serpent.
"Crack!"
With a crisp shattering sound, the ice covering the puppet's body exploded in all directions.
Its mechanical arm snatched an ice shard from midair with incredible speed, and in an instant completed aiming—charging—throwing!
"Whoosh——!"
A sharp, piercing sound ripped through the battlefield as the ice spike turned into a deadly gleam, heading straight for Ying Bing's throat!
"Screee——!"
The Profound Frost Ice Phoenix let out a soul-piercing cry, struggling desperately to flap its wings in defense.
But right after using its Finishing Technique, it could hardly even stand; it could only watch helplessly as death drew near to its master.
Ying Bing's mind went blank, a shadow of death enveloping his entire body.
The icy gleam of the spike grew rapidly in his pupils...
"Liu Li, Divine Protection!!"
Gu Xing's furious roar detonated inside the Trial Space.
In an instant, a dazzling golden barrier descended like a divine shield, completely enveloping Ying Bing.
This was one of Liu Li's four core skills...
Divine Protection!
The ultimate defense that could absolutely negate a single fatal attack!
"Boom——!"
The ice spike slammed against the golden shield with earth-shattering force, unleashing a deafening roar, but was ultimately unable to pierce this seemingly flimsy barrier.
Seeing that Ying Bing was unharmed, Gu Xing immediately turned, his gaze locking onto the Trial Puppet.
Now, faced with a monster whose attribute values reached 400...
There was no choice but to unleash Liu Li's Finishing Technique!
And at this moment, it was as if Liu Li sensed Gu Xing's deepest resolve—she suddenly lifted her golden eyes, utterly determined:
"Master, I can do this!!"
...
...