The Myriad Dao Secret Realm's chasm pulsed with an unrelenting hum, devouring runes casting jagged shadows across the stone. Six *Ancestral Symbol* shards thrummed, their 35% Qi absorption boost resonating fiercely with the wolf core's rhythm. At **Core Manifestation Tier 4** and **Soul Awakening Stage 11**, the path ahead crackled with danger—Chu Rong's seething envy and the Blood Fang Sect's elites closing in with renewed ferocity. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* stirred, its voice unwavering:
> *"Task progress: 6795/4500 CP. New task: Overcome the fifth trial's dual guardians and secure the seventh Ancestral Symbol shard. Earn 5000 CP by the trial's end. Current CP: 6795."*
A sharp breath escaped. "Dual guardians? I'll shatter them." *Tempest Nightmare Barrage*—blending lightning, fire, wind, shadow, earth, thunder, claws, illusions, sonic waves, bloodmist, shadow cloaking, and dreamlike disorientation—surged with *Envy Absorption* and *Wrath Empowerment*, feeding on Chu Rong's jealousy and rising fury. The *Ancestral Symbol*'s legacy burned brighter, a testament to Lin Dong's power.
Chu Xue moved swiftly ahead, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* cutting through the chasm's mist, her ice-blue eyes scanning for threats. "The elites are circling closer," she warned. Chu Rong stumbled behind, his Core Manifestation Stage 3 aura dim, his rage a storm. "You're plundering our birthright," he snarled, envy radiating like a furnace.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 6820."*
The chasm opened into a vast arena, its floor etched with a *Devouring Fury Array*. The fifth trial ignited—illusions of Qingyang Town's scorn morphed into Lin Dong's towering figure, his voice accusing betrayal of the Lin Clan. Anger surged, fists clenching.
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 6840."*
A 110-meter divine sense, honed by *Soul Awakening Stage 11*, pierced the illusions, revealing two Rank 3 guardians: a *Crimson Storm Lion* and a *Voidmist Serpent*, both at Core Manifestation Stage 8, their roars shaking the arena. *Beast Copying* activated, tracking their coordinated strikes.
> *"Observed: Crimson Storm Roar and Voidmist Coil. Copied as Crimson Storm Fist and Voidmist Grip (High-Grade). CP +80. Current CP: 6920."*
The lion charged, its roar unleashing fire Qi. The serpent coiled, mist warping space. *Tempest Nightmare Barrage* roared, dreamlike disorientation scattering their attacks. Fire and spatial rifts shredded the lion's mane, while thunder and claws crushed the serpent's scales. Both fell, cores pulsing. Chu Rong's envy blazed. "More cores stolen!"
> *"Guardians defeated. CP +100. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 7065."*
Anger flared at Chu Rong's greed:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 7085."*
The array pulsed, and two Blood Fang Sect elites emerged—both Foundation Forging Stage 4, their blood-red halberds glowing with killing Qi. "We're the Fang Twins, loyal to Venerable Shadow Fang," one growled, envy at the shards palpable. "Your relics end here."
> *"Envy detected from Fang Twins. CP +50. Threat detected. CP +30. Current CP: 7165."*
Chu Xue's sword flashed. "They're synchronized. We need precision." A nod answered. "Let's break them."
The twins' halberds slashed, blood Qi forming a crimson vortex. *Tempest Nightmare Barrage* countered, dreamlike Qi disrupting their rhythm. Chu Xue's *Ice Phoenix Palm* froze one halberd's path, creating an opening. *Insight Surge* activated (CP -50, Total: 7115), mind blazing with clarity. *Crimson Storm Fist* struck, fire Qi slamming one twin. The other roared, rage erupting.
> *"Anger detected from Fang Twin. CP +20. Current CP: 7135."*
The twins' vortex intensified, summoning a blood phantom. 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: 7160."*
Anger surged at Chu Rong's betrayal:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 7180."*
*Tempest Nightmare Barrage* fused with *Crimson Storm Fist* and *Voidmist Grip*, creating *Tempest Crimson Barrage*, a high-grade art blending fire and mist with elements.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Crimson Barrage created. CP +70. Current CP: 7250."*
The automatique new art erupted, mist and fire shattering the phantom. Chu Xue's ice Qi amplified the strike, felling one twin. The other fled, cursing. "Shadow Fang will bury you," he spat.
> *"Elite defeated. CP +90. Current CP: 7340."*
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: 7360."*
The arena revealed a seventh altar, its *Ancestral Symbol* shard (7/9) pulsing with devouring Qi. Chu Rong lunged, desperate, but *Tempest Crimson Barrage* sent him sprawling. The shard merged with the others, boosting Qi absorption by 40%. The wolf core blazed, resonating fiercely.
> *"Relic fragment claimed. Ancestral Symbol Shard (7/9) acquired. Task completed. CP +90. Current CP: 7450."*
Chu Rong's rage exploded. "You're robbing our future!" he roared, envy consuming him.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 7495."*
Anger surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 7515."*
50 CP were spent on a *Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 11)*, pushing cultivation forward.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 7465."*
The pill triggered a breakthrough to **Core Manifestation Tier 5**, aura surging with power.
> *"Cultivation breakthrough. Core Manifestation Tier 5 reached. CP +80. Current CP: 7545."*
A hidden Blood Fang Sect operative, Foundation Forging Stage 5, watched from the shadows, their envy at the shards intense.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operative. CP +30. Current CP: 7575."*
The chasm shifted, opening a deeper path. Illusions grew savage—Lin Dong's legacy crushing family pride, Qingyang Town's scorn echoing. Anger burned:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 7595."*
The *Comprehension Arena* activated, facing a shadow of the Fang Twin's *Blood Vortex Halberd*. The system advised: *"Counter with mist deflection."* The shadow fell, art refined.
> *"Comprehension Arena training completed. CP +30. Current CP: 7625."*
Chu Xue pointed ahead. "The next trial's core is near. The Blood Fang Sect's elites are rallying." Anger at their persistence surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 7645."*
50 CP were spent on a *Soul Condensation Pill (Tier 10)*, enhancing soul cultivation.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 7595."*
The pill pushed to **Soul Awakening Stage 12**, divine sense reaching 120 meters.
> *"Soul cultivation breakthrough. CP +70. Current CP: 7665."*
Chu Rong's glare burned from afar. "You'll fall," he muttered, envy a tempest.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 7690."*
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.