In the City Lord's Manor, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
It's important to note that in the entire Southern War Zone, there are only dozens of geniuses rated S-Level potential.
And in a remote small town like Lythos, such a potential genius hasn't appeared for several years.
"Chief Vance, should we go have a look?"
Seeing Abel Vance clearly showing interest, Sean Sherman tentatively suggested.
A sharp light flashed in Abel Vance's deep eyes as he adjusted the collar of his Zhongshan suit and said solemnly:
"Let's go!"
The City Lord's assistant dared not delay naturally and immediately bowed to lead the way in front.
However, what they didn't know was that inside the monitoring room, chaos had already erupted.
"This can't be true! This score… did he cheat?!"
"Why did the score increase so dramatically in an instant? Did he destroy a demonic beast hive?"
"This score… can a rookie Beast Tamer really achieve this? Could there be a malfunction with the equipment?"
Felix Hoffman was staring intently at the monitoring screen, the coffee cup in his hand had long tilted, with the brown liquid dripping onto his shiny leather shoes without him noticing.
The eye-catching number on the screen seemed to pound on his heart like a heavy hammer:
[First Place: Aster Grant 25,000 points]
Meanwhile, the second-placed Mason Cheney was still lingering pitifully at 3,000 points.
Even more suffocating was that Aster Grant's score was still climbing at an astonishing speed.
"The highest record in the past ten years was only 3,500 points…
Felix Hoffman murmured to himself, his Adam's apple unconsciously rolling.
His gaze slowly shifted to the potential rating column, and his pupils suddenly contracted—
[Potential Rating: SSS]
The three gilded letters on the screen shimmered brilliantly, stinging the eyes painfully.
...
In the Trial Space.
Lazuli's snow-white wings were stained with the blood of demonic beasts, and the pile of corpses beneath her feet formed a small hill.
The suffocating stench filled the air, and the viscous blood had even formed small streams on the ground.
"Master, they've become smarter."
Lazuli stood with her sword held horizontally, protecting Aster Grant behind her.
Her breathing was slightly rapid, but the hand gripping the sword remained as steady as a rock.
Aster Grant squinted his eyes towards the entrance of the valley—
Dozens of different types of demonic beasts had unprecedentedly formed a coalition, snarlingly blocking all escape routes.
Although most were merely Tier Two or Tier Three low-tier demonic beasts, the gathering of dozens of them was still overwhelmingly imposing.
"It seems they've become afraid of us!"
In the past half hour, he and Lazuli had been almost insanely slaughtering.
In the end, the remaining demonic beasts had no choice but to join forces and lure the two of them into this valley.
Aster Grant raised his hand to look at the timer.
[Remaining Time: 03:00]
There were only three minutes left.
"Just right, now we don't have to search for them, Lazuli!"
"Understood!"
Through this period of battle, the tacit understanding between the two had rapidly increased.
Now, without needing Aster Grant to speak, Lazuli could already gauge Aster's thoughts.
"Blazing Angel Form, release!"
Gold patterns instantly crawled over Lazuli's entire body, four dazzling light wings burst out.
"Judgment!"
The blinding white light swept through the valley like a tide, and the wails of the demonic beasts rose one after another where it passed.
As the head of the last Tier Five Demon Wolf flew high, a dazzling golden light suddenly erupted around Lazuli.
Awakening Tier Five, achieved!
Beside her, Aster Grant immediately checked Lazuli's various attributes.
[Divine Angel (Lazuli)]
[Talent: Legendary One Star]
[Level: Awakening Tier Five]
[Power: 148]
[Constitution: 150]
[Spiritual: 142]
[Speed: 153]
[Skills: Judgment (increased damage to Demon Clan creatures), Divine Protection (immune to one fatal attack), Blazing Angel Form (all attributes increased by 200%), Song of the End (Angel enters a slumber period after use)]
[Cultivation Suggestions: Use Light Crystal, Holy Spirit Marrow Liquid, Angel Sacred Blood to enhance Beastbond Talent]
The terrifying aspects of a Little Angel's legendary level talent were now finally beginning to show.
Even though the level was merely Awakening Tier Five, Lazuli's various attribute values already crushed ordinary Awakening Tier Seven or Eight Beastbond.
Aster Grant gazed at the Cultivation Suggestions section on the system interface.
He had a premonition that as long as he found the Light Crystal, Holy Spirit Marrow Liquid, and Angel Sacred Blood materials, Lazuli's talent would undergo a leap in enhancement.
But only...
"The largest Beastbond Trading House in Lythos doesn't even have any information on these three materials..."
Aster Grant shook his head with a bitter smile.
He had previously researched the information.
At the top auctions in Draconia, a partially incomplete Light Crystal had fetched a sky-high price of millions.
And the Light Crystal Lazuli needed required a complete whole piece!
As for the Holy Spirit Marrow Liquid and Angel Sacred Blood, even in the chronicles of the Beastbond General Association of Draconia, there were only vague records.
"Cultivating a legendary-level talent is indeed not something ordinary people can achieve... "
Aster Grant let out a soft sigh.
Even with a Golden Finger, clearly knowing the evolution path, he could only sigh looking at the vast ocean.
Nevertheless, Aster Grant wasn't troubled.
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it!
One day, he would surely collect all the materials and complete Lazuli's initial cultivation.
At this moment, Lazuli's raging energy finally calmed down.
She instinctively wanted to get closer to Aster Grant, but froze at the moment of stepping.
Her snow-white wings were splattered with dark red bloodstains, and the hem of her skirt was dripping with viscous liquid.
"Ugh..."
The Little Angel wrinkled her delicate nose, looking at herself with disdain.
With a soft hum, the crimson-gold Holy Flame ignited from her fingertips, flowing like water over her body.
The filthy bloodstains evaporated into blue smoke upon contact with the flame, not leaving a single trace.
After confirming that each feather had returned to purity, Lazuli nodded with satisfaction and walked lightly to Aster Grant's side.
"Master, should we leave now?"
Lazuli gently tugged at Aster Grant's sleeve, her small face slightly frowned as she looked around.
This valley soaked in blood certainly made one not want to linger.
Aster Grant looked down at the timer, just as the digits hit zero.
In the next moment, a solemn mechanical voice echoed throughout the Trial Space:
[This Novice Trial now concludes, please prepare for extraction everyone!]
[In ten seconds, everyone in this space will be teleported back to Lythos!]
[Now starting the countdown]
"Hold onto me."
Aster Grant naturally held Lazuli's small hand.
[10]
[9]
....
[3]
[2]
[1]
The blinding white light swallowed the entire world.
When Aster Grant opened his eyes, the familiar outline of Lythos's plaza lay before him.
Before he could fully adjust to the dizziness following the teleport, he found himself already surrounded by excited staff members.
Felix Hoffman led the group, advancing quickly, and this usually stern trial director was now beaming with joy:
"Aster Grant, your performance in the Novice Trial was truly astounding. The City Lord specifically requested to meet with you."
Aster Grant was momentarily stunned but quickly realized it was undoubtedly due to his performance in the Novice Trial Space catching the City Lord's attention.
He had anticipated such an outcome earlier, so he didn't refuse.
"Alright!"
...
...