Chapter 1 Abyss Base Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Abyss Base
In the dark, damp room filled with the smell of mildew, there were eight sets of bunk beds lined with wooden boards.
The heavy iron door was shut tight, no windows, housing thirteen people in the room with only a vent of twenty centimeters squared on the ceiling.
The smell of sweat, foot odor, and unknown peculiar odors mixed into a sour stink that made people want to retch.
Seven of the eight bunk beds were lined on both sides, only one was placed awkwardly in the middle of the aisle, seeming abrupt and out of place.
What stood out more was that the other seven bunk beds were all extremely messy, with ragged clothes, quilts, and socks piled chaotically. Only that one bed was very tidy, though the clothes and bedding were also old, they were cleaned and organized well.
Most of the clutter was stacked on the lower bunk, with the upper bunk having quilt folded into neat blocks, with a person sitting beside it.
A woman appeared to be in her twenties, perhaps could be described as beautiful if not for the scar across her entire cheek.
Now, if one were to use a word to describe her appearance, fierce might be more suitable.
In the room of a dozen, there was only this one woman. Her ability to occupy a whole bunk wasn't due to some "ladies first" principle, in fact, gentlemen didn't exist in such a place.
The woman's name was A Fei, like the word 'bandit', nobody in the room knew her last name, nor did anyone dare to ask.
Because in this room, she was the boss. At this moment, A Fei was sizing up a man, a man who had just appeared in the room today.
Prior to today, there were only seven left in the room, today six more young, strong men were brought in.
This had happened countless times before, A Fei had long been used to it, even considered it a form of entertainment. After all, in this place, there wasn't much for amusement besides watching the rookies' expressions of fear, confusion, and helplessness, one of the few pleasures or soul comforts reminding one they were still alive.
A Fei had some interest before, but now she was numb, no mood for such boring activities.
During her nearly three years here, A Fei had met numerous newbies, but a newcomer like this man was the first she'd seen.
Those sent here usually had no choice, none would willingly come to such a hellhole, especially given the mortality rate is at twenty percent, which means two out of ten die each week on average.
Anyone who came to this place and didn't go crazy was already doing well, none had the mood for a silly grin.
But the young man had kept a smile on his face since arriving in the room.
Though that smile wasn't charming, it appeared unusually bright in a hellhole like this, even seeming somewhat glaring.
"Newcomer, what's your name?" A Fei spoke as if the smile made her uncomfortable, squinting at the young man.
"What are you staring at? Sister Fei is asking you a question!" Shouted a burly man in shorts from the side bed.
"Me? I'm Li Xiu." The young man realized A Fei was talking to him, smiled and answered, showing off two rows of very white and handsome teeth.
"What did you do to get in?" A Fei frowned, she was quite unaccustomed to the young man's smile. "I didn't do anything." Li Xiu shook his head in reply.
"If you didn't do anything how would you end up here?" A Fei did not believe Li Xiu at all; no crime means there's no way he ended up in such a hellhole.
"Because someone told me this is a paradise for men, so I came." Li Xiu responded earnestly.
Ha ha!
Thunderous laughter erupted, the "veterans" laughed so hard they almost couldn't catch their breath.
"Right, right, it truly is a paradise for men here, you'll be in heaven soon." The burly man who yelled at Li Xiu laughed and said.
A Fei stared at Li Xiu, unsure if he was genuinely naive or playing dumb. Regardless of which, neither worked here; survival depended only on one's own strength and luck.
Decades ago, a bizarre organism suddenly appeared on Earth, nearly destroying human civilization.
Until a weapon known as "Demon Armor" was developed, humanity finally had a chance to breathe.
Together with those creatures called "soul demons" by humans, many mysterious doors appeared. The soul demons seemed to come from inside those doors.
Those ancient, bizarre, mysterious doors scattered globally, humans tried using various weapons to open and explore their secrets.
However, even the earliest weapons couldn't leave a mark, not even Demon Armor could harm them.
Only one method could open the doors, but it was incredibly expensive, requiring natural gemstones to be embedded on them for automatic opening, and only human flesh could enter the doors, without carrying anything.
Thus began humanity's true exploration of the mysterious doors.
Countless humans perished inside the mysterious doors in exchange for discoveries shocking enough to alter human perceptions. The doors already explored contained different scenes; some understandable to humans, others incomprehensible.
So far, within the known and searched doors, while scenes varied, they shared something in common.
Inside the mysterious doors, it's like a special examination hall, entrants must face various trials.
Only those who reach the passing line can exit alive.
The so-called exam wasn't a test by conventional standards, nor did it award a diploma, the benefits gained unimaginable to ordinary people.
Human research into the mysterious doors has never ceased, with human casualties inside the doors already hard to count.
The underground base named "Abyss" was established beside one such underground mysterious door, people like A Fei are essentially akin to death squads, risking death each time they enter the doors for exploration.
Most there are either death row convicts or those burdened with immense debts, or with unavoidable reasons.
People like Li Xiu who voluntarily came here are rare, even if Li Xiu claimed so, few would believe.
Bzzz Bzzz!
The ear-piercing alarm sounded, instantly souring the faces of A Fei and a few of the older members.
"Dammit, what's going on? The Demon Gate is supposed to open in three days, how's it tonight..." The burly man showed a hint of panic, looking at A Fei.
Before A Fei could respond, the iron door in the room clicked, opening just a crack, then slowly swung open automatically. Chapter 2 Trial Gate Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Trial Gate
Amidst the shouts of soldiers fully armed with firearms, Li Xiu and others came out of the room and proceeded along the narrow and chilly passage under the dim lights.
Numerous similar rooms lined the passage, and the people inside were also driven out, moving slowly toward the end of the passage.
After a few turns, the scene before them suddenly opened up to reveal a vast, brightly lit underground space to Li Xiu.
Steel frames and wooden beams served as the primary supports for the underground space. Through the steel frames, irregular gray-black rocks were visible overhead, with many of them draped in droplets of moisture, and even some moss clinging to the rocks for growth.
At the place where the light was most dazzling, a towering Blue Stone Gate, over a dozen meters high, was embedded in the rock wall. The natural rock wall contrasted sharply with the stone gate, which was carved with various exquisite and mysterious patterns, making it appear particularly eerie and terrifying against the backdrop of those bizarre symbols, grooves, and designs.
"Is this the Trial Gate?" Li Xiu muttered as he gazed up at the Blue Stone Gate.
"It should be called the Demon Gate," a brawny man following Ah Fei sneered. "Kid, you're really unlucky. Who knows what those guys were thinking, opening the Demon Gate early. You've just arrived here without even a day's training and already have to face death. It's pathetic. But even with training, it wouldn't help much. You'd better pray for the Goddess of Fortune's blessing."
"Everyone shut up!" A cold voice echoed through the loudspeaker, quickly silencing everyone. In the vast underground space, the quiet was so profound that even the sound of water droplets could be heard.
On a high platform made of wood, a man held a loudspeaker, standing beside two figures resembling Iron Man, whose bodies were entirely covered in some strange armor.
Those were Magic Armor Masters, war machines capable of contending with magical spirits, representing the pinnacle of human combat power.
In the eyes of Li Xiu, who was also a Magic Armor Master, these two were unremarkable figures, but for ordinary people, their deterrence was akin to nuclear weapons.
"Some of you know me, some don't. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Old Gu, and I'm in charge here. I won't say much else. You know why you're here and what you want to gain better than anyone else. I'm waiting for you to return, to come out alive from the Trial Gate, hand over the items to me, and exchange them for everything you want. It's your only way out," Old Gu said, and without waiting for a response, he shouted toward the Blue Stone Gate, "Open the gate."
Following Old Gu's command, a few soldiers carrying boxes approached the Blue Stone Gate, placed the boxes before it, and took out blue Gemstones, fitting them one by one into the slots of the Blue Stone Gate.
Once all the slots on the Blue Stone Gate were filled with gemstones, they seemed to be activated by some force, emanating a strong blue light from themselves without needing to reflect any external light.
Ka-chak! Ka-chak!
As the blue light flashed, the Blue Stone Gate slowly opened, releasing a mysterious and enchanting white light from the crack.
No order from Old Gu was needed; some people were already running towards the open Blue Stone Gate.
Experienced "old-timers" like Ah Fei and the brawny man were also running forward, while some newcomers remained frozen in place.
Ka-chak! Ka-chak!
The sound of rifles being cocked came from behind, making the newcomers turn their heads to see that all the soldiers around them had their guns pointed at them.
"Anyone still outside once the Trial Gate closes... will die..." Old Gu's sinister voice echoed once more. This time, no one hesitated anymore, and everyone, including Li Xiu, rushed feverishly toward the opening in the Blue Stone Gate.
The Blue Stone Gate had not even opened halfway when the blue light began to fade, and the gate started to close slowly.
People rushed frantically toward the interior of the gate, and just as it was about to close completely, everyone had already entered through it.
Boom!
The stone gate shut completely, and the underground space returned to its previous chilly and silent state.
Amid the crowd, Li Xiu surveyed the surrounding environment. Although he had heard some things about what was inside the Trial Gate, he was experiencing it firsthand for the first time.
This place, accommodating over a hundred people, was an enormous structure resembling a stadium, surrounded by layer upon layer of ascending circular stone steps, with an oval field in the center.
At the center of the field was a goalpost, approximately ten meters from which was a cross mark, and at the center of the cross mark, there was indeed a soccer ball placed.
Li Xiu glanced around at everyone, then checked himself, realizing that irrespective of what they wore when they arrived, now everyone was dressed in identical white tightfitting suits covering their bodies, and everything else they had was gone. On their left wrist was a red bracelet with numbers on it.
Li Xiu looked at his wristband and saw the number 49 on it.
"Unlucky, it's a C-level difficulty test!" The brawny man who had been following Ah Fei all along looked up at the sky above the field and swore softly.
Li Xiu looked up to see a giant screen hovering there, displaying a large "C" character.
"Welcome to the Sea Heaven Trial Ground, Trial Difficulty Level C. The trial rules are as follows..." Some text appeared on the large screen, accompanied by a voice resembling an electronic synthesis. After listening to the trial rules, some people seemed excited, but most had ugly expressions on their faces.
The trial rules were quite simple. All participants in the trial were divided into teams of two, with one person standing before the goal to defend and the other to kick the ball.
Each had two chances: scoring a goal counted as one point, and saving a goal also counted as one point. Simply obtaining one point was considered passing the trial.
Everyone got one opportunity to defend and one to kick. Scoring one point ensured survival, while scoring zero meant death.
However, there were only two rewards, and if someone managed to score two points, they could take all the rewards.
But if someone scored two points, the other would inevitably score zero, meaning failing the test, with death as the only outcome.
Whichever way one looked at it, the rules were somewhat similar to a penalty shootout in soccer, with each goal a matter of life and death.
"Now, you can start choosing your teammates. Simply shake hands to exchange wristbands, and you must find a teammate before the countdown ends." The synthesized voice echoed again, and a six-hundred-second countdown appeared on the screen.
People scanned around, some looking confused, others confident, some showing despair, and others hesitating.
"According to these rules, as long as two people cooperate, they can both leave with the reward alive. But if your teammate doesn't cooperate, then it's hard to say. Choosing a teammate is the key to this trial." Li Xiu pondered silently.
In fact, everyone understood this logic, but human nature is unpredictable. In such a place, who is truly worthy of trust?
"Hey kid, want to team up with me?" Just as Li Xiu was contemplating, he suddenly saw the brawny man walk up to him, smiling and extending a hand adorned with a red wristband. Chapter 3 Preliminary Ranking Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Preliminary Ranking
"Of course." Li Xiu unexpectedly agreed without hesitation, extending his hand to shake hands with the burly man.
The burly man obviously did not expect Li Xiu to agree so readily and was momentarily taken aback.
In the instant their hands clasped together, the numbers on both of their wristbands lit up, rapidly changing to become the numbers originally belonging to the other.
Li Xiu's original number was 49, which changed to 3, while the number on the burly man's wristband became 49.
Seeing the number on the wristband, the burly man, who had been somewhat perplexed and uneasy, immediately showed a look of glee.
"Not bad, kid, securing number 49 is better than some experienced veterans," the burly man said with a smirk.
"What do you mean?" Li Xiu asked, puzzled.
"These numbers are the Trial Ground's assessment of the Trial Takers' physical aptitude, which means among all the participants, your physical aptitude is ranked 49. This number was only visible to you before the exchange," the previously silent Ruoruo spoke up suddenly.
"A preliminary ranking? That's quite an interesting design," Li Xiu remarked, examining his wristband with interest.
"Seems like ignorance truly is bliss. You don't even understand what this means; you probably have no idea how you'll die," Ruoruo shook her head secretly, seeing Li Xiu still unconcerned like an innocent curious child.
With such a vast difference in physical aptitude, any resistance in the test confrontation would be utterly futile, akin to being at someone else's mercy. The Trial Ground is no sports arena where friendship comes before competition; it's a contest of life, death, wealth, and power, with many people resorting to any means necessary to win.
Although this trial allows both group members a chance to escape unharmed, if there's a chance to win two rewards, who would willingly give up the additional reward?
"Kid, remember my name, I'm Zhao Lie." The burly man leaned his face toward Li Xiu, smiling oddly, "Perhaps you've never heard of this name, but I can tell you that I used to be a football player and was once the top scorer in a certain country's top league."
"Does this mean you're really good at controlling the ball? If we team up, we can easily win rewards together," Li Xiu said with a smile.
Upon hearing such naive remarks, Zhao Lie burst into laughter, speaking in a neartwisted voice, "I'll get both rewards, and you can just die, enjoy the little time you have left."
Many people around cast sympathetic glances towards Li Xiu. A person with a physical aptitude far exceeding his, who was also a professional football player, made it seem like Li Xiu had no hope, merely waiting for his end.
While selecting teammates, most people chose those with rankings close to their own or people they were already familiar with, only opting for unknown teammates with significantly different rankings when absolutely necessary.
Li Xiu didn't take Zhao Lie's threat to heart, carefully observing everything within the Trial Ground.
The Trial Ground appeared to be an ancient arena, with nothing particularly distinctive about it. However, when Li Xiu attempted to reach into the arena with his hand, he discovered there seemed to be an invisible barrier, separating the stands from the trial area.
The six hundred seconds quickly passed, and whether voluntarily or reluctantly, everyone had found their teammates.
As the countdown ended, the wristbands of two people suddenly lit up, and they appeared in the arena out of thin air—one in front of the goal, and the other behind the football. An apparently frail woman stood in front of the goal, appearing to be in her late twenties or early thirties. Why she chose to come to such a place was unknown.
"Husband, kick it slowly and carefully," the woman shouted to the man positioned to kick the ball; surprisingly, the man was her husband.
"Okay, try to stay close to me and don't let the ball accidentally roll in," the middle-aged man said to his wife.
The woman quickly moved forward, trying to get closer to the football to avoid any mishaps during their coordination.
As the woman got closer to her husband, unexpectedly, the middle-aged man suddenly lifted his leg and kicked the football with all his might.
Due to the proximity and lack of psychological preparedness, the woman did not react at all.
The football flew past her with a gust of air, leaving her stunned, wide-eyed, and full of disbelief.
"I can't stay in this cursed place any longer. If I stay, I'll go insane. By winning two rewards, I can leave this place. I have to get out... have to survive..." The middle-aged man roared as he watched the airborne football, his face twisting in extreme anguish.
Bang!
The next second, a dramatic scene unfolded. Perhaps using too much force or due to his lack of ball control, the football struck the goalpost and bounced out, failing to enter the goal.
"Ball failed to enter the goal. Offense judged unsuccessful, awarded zero points; defense failed to touch the ball, also judged unsuccessful, awarded zero points."
The synthesized electronic voice rang out again, causing a heavy feeling in everyone's heart. Originally, people thought that if the ball didn't go in, the woman might score one point. But not having touched the ball would still result in a failed defense judgment, significantly increasing the defense's chance of failure.
The couple remained stunned, their wristbands glowing once more as their positions were swapped— the man becoming the goalkeeper and the woman now taking the striker's position. The ball, which had flown out, returned to the center of the cross mark, initiating the second shot test.
The man was the first to react, his eyes glaring fiercely, his face contorting as he rushed toward the ball in front of the woman, shouting, "You'll never score, give me the ball, I can't die..."
Although many inwardly despised this scoundrel of a husband, everyone understood that the woman was too frail and delicate, her strength impossible to rival against that scoundrel.
Just as everyone thought the scoundrel was about to win, the woman suddenly kicked the ball away.
Only, the direction she kicked the ball wasn't toward the goal but in the opposite direction.
Watching the middle-aged man chase the ball like a dog scrambling for a bone, her eyes were full of irony and sadness.
Under such rules, as long as the man didn't touch the ball, he would also be judged as having scored no points.
"Ball failed to enter the goal. Offense judged unsuccessful, awarded zero points; defense failed to touch the ball, also judged unsuccessful, awarded zero points. Trial ends, both sides score zero, clearing begins..."
Bang! Bang!
The middle-aged man failed to catch up to the football; the wristbands on both his and the woman's wrists exploded, blowing them to smithereens, their blood and scattered remains splattered all over.
Witnessing this gruesome scene, all hearts were shrouded in a shadow, and those who had initially chosen to team up with familiar people started feeling restless and less confident than before.
"Alas!" Li Xiu sighed softly, though for whom he sighed remained unknown.
On the stands, two beams of light shone again, and another pair was transported into the Trial Ground. Once everyone saw clearly, they realized the people entering the trial this time were none other than Li Xiu and Zhao Lie.
They were the pair with the greatest ranking disparity among all the teams.
Li Xiu appeared in the goalkeeper's position, while Zhao Lie was at the kicker's spot. Chapter 4: Left or Right? Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Left or Right?
"Have you ever played soccer?" Zhao Lie didn't shoot immediately, but instead looked at Li Xiu with interest and said.
"No." Li Xiu shook his head. He had occasionally seen some soccer matches and knew a little bit about the basic rules, but he had never actually played soccer.
"What a poor guy, then let me teach you some basic knowledge about soccer, so you can lose convincingly and die with your eyes closed." Zhao Lie, like a cat toying with a mouse, pointed at the soccer ball in front of him and said: "Even if you don't know how to play soccer, you should have seen soccer matches. The distance between the ball and the goal here is that of a penalty kick, the easiest scoring method in a soccer match.
Even the top goalkeepers don't have a high success rate in saving penalties. Facing a penalty kick involves not just technique, but also a bit of luck."
"What luck?" Li Xiu wasn't angry at Zhao Lie's teasing attitude; instead, he humbly asked for guidance.
"For a professional shooter, at this distance, if a goalkeeper waits until he sees the ball flying out before trying to save it, it's definitely too late. So before the shooter takes his shot, the goalkeeper must predict whether the shooter will aim left or right, and make a preemptive dive to either side at the moment the shooter kicks, in order to have a chance to block the penalty." Zhao Lie actually explained, seemingly not taking Li Xiu seriously at all.
Among the spectators, many didn't understand soccer, and upon hearing Zhao Lie's explanation, they had a sudden realization.
"I see, thank you for the lesson." Li Xiu nodded.
"No need to thank me, what I said applies to professional goalkeepers who have a chance like that. For an ordinary person like you, whether I shoot left or right, you won't be able to block it, you'll just have to wait for death." Zhao Lie said, suddenly starting to run, planting his left foot, lifting his right foot backward, his body tilting, twisting his waist, like a taut bowstring, his instep striking the ball fiercely. The whole action was fluid and filled with explosive beauty.
"Will he dive left or right?" The others watched Li Xiu, waiting for his choice, even silently wondering which way they would dive if it were them.
Bang!
The soccer ball crashed heavily into Li Xiu's arms, yet Li Xiu stood there motionless, the ball seemingly flying right into his arms, leaving the onlookers stunned.
"Attacking side failed, zero points awarded, defending side succeeded, awarded one point." The synthetic electronic voice announced, and the positions of the two were switched accordingly.
"Brother, you weren't scared just now, I was just joking with you, it's best if we all survive." Zhao Lie was momentarily stunned, but immediately put on a cheerful smile, though inside he was thinking: "Damn, I overestimated this kid. He didn't react at all, had I known I wouldn't have wasted so much thought, I would have just kicked straight away, truly snubbed by my own cleverness."
Now Zhao Lie was really scared. If Li Xiu didn't shoot at all and, like the previous wife, kicked the ball elsewhere, according to the trial's rules, Zhao Lie would be doomed, with no chance at all.
"Just kidding? Weren't you just trying to guide me to choose left or right?" Li Xiu looked at Zhao Lie with a faint smile.
"How could I... Brother, don't misunderstand..." Having his thoughts revealed by Li Xiu, Zhao Lie's face turned an ugly shade as he frantically tried to explain.
At this moment, his life was truly in Li Xiu's hands, with life and death hinging on Li Xiu's decision.
"No need to explain, you may be a professional player, with decent skills, but you're definitely not the league's best shooter because you lack confidence. A true top shooter would disdain using such tactics because nothing is more reliable than their own skills." Li Xiu interrupted Zhao Lie, speaking calmly: "However, I can give you another chance."
"Brother, that's good to know, we're all people with tough lives..." Zhao Lie had completely lost his previous overbearing demeanor, his face full of ingratiating smiles as he spoke. "You're right; we're all people with tough lives, so I'll give you a chance. I'll kick the ball to the center, just like you did, and all you have to do is stand there like I did to catch the ball." Li Xiu said.
"Alright, alright, I'll stand here to catch it, brother, take your time kicking." Zhao Lie nodded repeatedly, cursing inwardly: "What a farce, playing this game with me. You're giving me a chance just to get double rewards, right? And having me stand still, who are you kidding? Even if that's your little trick to fool me, just kicking to the center also needs skill. Do you think anyone can just kick a soccer ball wherever they want?
Without professional training, it's impossible to be that precise."
Other people had similar thoughts to Zhao Lie; the fate of the previous couple was still fresh in their minds, and even a couple couldn't trust each other, let alone Li Xiu and Zhao Lie.
Li Xiu didn't say anything more, took a few steps back, and with a run-up, came up to the ball, using his left leg as support, his body leaning, his right leg swinging up, and with a sharp waist twist, his instep struck the ball hard.
The motions were done in one smooth action, without a shred of hesitation, mirroring Zhao Lie's previous moves exactly.
"Left or right?" People were guessing in their minds.
"Damn, I was tricked, this guy can play." Before Li Xiu made a shooting pose, Zhao Lie's face had already changed drastically.
Such movements aren't easily mastered to this level of perfection by someone who isn't a professional soccer player.
"Left or right? Or center?" Zhao Lie hesitated in his heart, and knowing that Li Xiu could also play soccer only made him more confused.
Earlier, thinking Li Xiu hadn't been exposed to soccer, he was afraid he'd miss, but now knowing Li Xiu was also a professional, Zhao Lie suddenly realized something, focusing intently on Li Xiu's body movements to determine where his balance was.
Having recently used this move himself, with balance already set on the left leg, to fully unleash power with such a move could only result in the ball being kicked left or center, it's impossible to aim right. That leaves only middle and left as options, and Zhao Lie didn't believe Li Xiu would shoot the ball to the center, thinking his previous words were just meant to mislead his judgment.
In such a life-and-death duel, who would be foolish enough to give the points away?
Zhao Lie himself wouldn't, and he didn't trust that Li Xiu would either.
Moreover, by calculating probabilities, left, right, and center each hold a one-third chance; if Li Xiu intends to fix Zhao Lie's mindset on center and non-center choices, only actually choosing left or right to shoot, the odds of winning are much higher.
"Yes, it's left, it must be left." Zhao Lie's eyes suddenly brightened, and he rushed to dive left.
But as Zhao Lie was in mid-air, he horrifyingly realized the soccer ball was already whistling toward where he had just been standing, identical to the shot he had made earlier, without even differing in height by a fraction.
Suspended in mid-air, Zhao Lie could now only twist his head, watching the ball zip past him, crashing fiercely into the net, his eyes transitioning from surprise, to confusion, to regret, then from regret to fear, and finally all his fear turned into despair.
The ball and Zhao Lie almost simultaneously hit the ground, followed by the cold synthetic electronic voice resounding above.
"Attacking side succeeded, awarded one point; defending side failed, awarded zero points. Score calculation complete, distributing rewards, beginning cleanup..."
"No..."
Bang!
With an explosion, Zhao Lie's heart-wrenching, unwilling scream abruptly stopped, and blood and shattered bone blasted everywhere.
Li Xiu's wristband also lit up, emitting a faint blood glow, and Li Xiu felt a tightness where the wristband was bound, a needle-like pain as if something was being injected into his veins. Chapter 5: Is it worth it? Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Is it worth it?
A sour, swollen sensation emerged from the veins, visibly causing the veins on the arm to bulge, like tiny blue snakes coiling beneath the skin, even the small veins swelled, spreading densely across the body.
This feeling lasted only a short time, soon the veins returned to normal, and the pricking sensation vanished as the bracelet relaxed.
"Is this level of physical enhancement worth risking your life, with no regrets even in death?" Li Xiu felt the changes in his body, even though he could sense that his body had gained some enhancement, this level of enhancement meant nothing to a Magic Armor Master.
A Magic Armor Master relies on Spiritual Sense or Spiritual Power to control the Demon Armor, and the enhancements gained from trials are merely physical, completely useless for a Magic Armor Master.
There has never been a case of a human awakening their Spiritual Sense due to the enhancements from the Trial Gate and becoming a Magic Armor Master.
Such enhancement, even if it happens ten thousand times, is far inferior to the combat strength of a Magic Armor Master wearing Demon Armor; physical enhancement for a Magic Armor Master is just an insignificant embellishment, with no decisive effect.
Li Xiu could not understand why his best friend and comrade would rather forsake the prestigious identity of a Magic Armor Master and venture into the Trial Gate.
Even when severely injured within the Trial Gate, before dying, he still urged Li Xiu to definitely enter the Trial Gate, claiming that this was a paradise for men, a place he should come to.
"Is it worth it?" To this day, Li Xiu could not comprehend his friend's choice.
Because even until that friend died, his body combat ability was far inferior to even the lowest level Magic Armor Master, not to mention that Li Xiu was the world's number one, with the title of "God" Magic Armor Master.
Two pigeon egg-sized, non-metal, non-jade, irregularly shaped Demon Cores glowing with blue light appeared out of nowhere in front of Li Xiu.
This was not unfamiliar to him; this was the core material for crafting Demon Armor, obtainable not only from the Trial Gate but also from slaying demon spirits.
As Li Xiu reached out to grasp the two Demon Cores, a flash of white light occurred on his bracelet, transporting him back to the stands, while two other people were transported into the Trial Ground.
The trial was extremely brutal; among over fifty teams, less than a third survived together, and some teams perished together, showcasing the dark side of human nature in all its glory.
When it was Ah Fei's turn to play, she said nothing, kicking the soccer ball directly, sending it flying straight towards the center of the goal.
The goalkeeper was overjoyed, grabbing the ball with both hands, but in the next second, his feet left the ground, and he crashed into the goal along with the ball.
The newcomers were all stunned; no one expected that despite her not particularly tall stature, Ah Fei possessed such immense power.
The veterans who had interacted with Ah Fei seemed to already know this would be the outcome, seeming unsurprised.
The newcomers who teamed up with Ah Fei initially thought they were getting a good deal, but now were in utter despair and regret.
Injured already as goalkeeper, the newcomer could only helplessly watch as Ah Fei took control of the ball when it was his turn to kick.
In a despairing scream, the young man exploded and died.
"The first round of trials has ended. Remove the Ring of Trial to leave the Trial Ground.
The next round of trials will begin after the countdown ends."
After the cold voice finished, a six hundred-second countdown appeared on the screen again. People hurriedly removed their bracelets and were transported out of the Trial Ground in a burst of white light, leaving only three people inside after a short while.
Li Xiu remained in the Trial Ground; he wanted to reach the end and see what in the Trial Ground was worth risking his friend's life for.
According to Li Xiu's knowledge, his friend first entered the Trial Ground here and reportedly reached the end as well.
However, even if it was the same Trial Ground, the projects and rules of the trial might not be the same, and he didn't know what kind of trials his friend went through to reach the end.
The other two who stayed were Ah Fei and a man in his twenties or thirties, over 1.8 meters tall, with brown hair and a healthy, vibrant wheat-colored complexion, appearing very robust.
"The second round of testing is about to begin. The rules remain the same; please choose your teammates." The countdown restarted.
The man suddenly approached Li Xiu and said, "Now there are only three of us; inevitably, one will be unable to team up and may be directly eliminated. That woman's power far exceeds ordinary human beings; she should have undergone many enhancements as a Trial Taker. We are both newcomers, so it's best for us to team up.
What do you think?"
Li Xiu glanced at Ah Fei and saw that she seemed completely unresponsive, having no intention to stop them, so he nodded, "Alright."
After shaking hands, the number on Li Xiu's bracelet turned to 2, indicating that this man's physical capability surpassed Zhao Lie, second only to Ah Fei.
"Sorry, for this Trial Ground, I am indeed a newcomer. But before coming here, I have been to other Trial Grounds and received numerous physical enhancements." The man smiled, "And unlike a half-baked like Zhao Lie, I used to be the real top scorer in the ALeague, the real deal."
"It doesn't matter; there's nothing to apologize for." Li Xiu didn't care whether the man was a newcomer or a veteran, or whatever he might be.
"Number 1 gets a bye, directly advancing to the next round, trial begins." Together with that unfeeling voice, Li Xiu and the man were transmitted to the field. Li Xiu stood once again in front of the goal, taking the position of goalkeeper, while the man stood in front of the soccer ball.
"I think I should tell you my name; I am Wu Luo." The man did not immediately kick the ball; instead, he introduced himself first.
"Wu Luo? The main striker of the Solar God Team, league top scorer? No wonder you look familiar." Ah Fei, hearing the man's name, said somewhat unexpectedly.
"I didn't expect you to have heard my name; are you my fan? It truly is my honor." Wu Luo greeted Ah Fei gentlemanly.
Ah Fei did not converse with Wu Luo; in fact, she was not a fan, just that when she was little, her father loved soccer, forcing her to watch games with him often. Although her father was no longer around, she would occasionally watch games alone, thus knowing about Wu Luo.
Wu Luo was indeed a very excellent soccer player, even to a certain extent, a great striker. A few years ago, he broke a certain league's single-season scoring record.
Unlike Zhao Lie, Wu Luo was a genuine top striker.
Ah Fei looked at Li Xiu, seeing that he stood calmly in front of the goal, unaffected by Wu Luo's reputation, adopting a stance that wasn't even quite professional.
Ah Fei shook her head slightly; she had seen at a glance that Li Xiu was not a professional soccer player, not even an amateur.
He could defeat Zhao Lie by relying on psychological tactics and Zhao Lie's own cleverness.
Wu Luo, however, was completely different from Zhao Lie; he not only possessed toplevel professional skills but also absolute strength, none of which could be overcome by psychological tactics.
Rationally analyzing, Li Xiu was bound to lose this match, at least in Ah Fei's view. Chapter 6 Fallen Leaves Ball Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Fallen Leaves Ball
"Be careful, I'm coming." With a few simple steps of approach, Wu Luo's powerful leg swung and the instep struck the side of the soccer ball like a steel whip.
Buzz!
The soccer ball flew with a buzzing sound towards the top left corner of the goal, which was to the right side of Li Xiu.
Typically, a person's right arm and right leg are more agile and powerful. Nonprofessionals use the left leg as the main point of force when diving to the right, which affects the speed of the dive to some extent.
"Clearly possessing overwhelming strength, yet never underestimating any opponent, going all out to defeat them even when victory is certain, is truly a terrifying guy." A Fei contemplated, if Wu Luo advanced to the next trial, how could she ensure her victory, given she wasn't a professional soccer player and her skills were far inferior to Wu Luo's.
Almost at the same moment that Wu Luo kicked the ball, Li Xiu also leapt out, his body lifting into the air in the same direction the ball flew.
"He guessed the direction correctly, but it's a pity it's useless." A Fei muttered to herself, seemingly a bit regretful.
A Fei was well aware of Wu Luo's skills, if Li Xiu really aimed for the top left corner, then he was doomed to lose.
The soccer ball, clearly flying towards the top left corner, suddenly defied physics and plunged just as it was about to reach Li Xiu, appearing to pass right under him.
"What a bizarre curve, what a powerful Fallen Leaves Ball, to kick such a high dropping Fallen Leaves Ball over such a short distance is likely due to the physical enhancements he received from the Trial Gate. If it were me, could I block such a Fallen Leaves Ball?" A Fei pondered in her mind. Bang!
A loud impact sounded in front of the goal as Li Xiu surprisingly used both fists to pound the falling soccer ball, forcibly changing its trajectory.
The soccer ball struck the ground, spun fiercely, and bounced towards the outside of the goal, barely grazing the goalpost as it flew out.
Li Xiu, due to the strong rebound force of the soccer ball, fell into the goal himself, rolling a few times and finally stopping after hitting the goal net.
"How is this possible?" A Fei and Wu Luo both wore shocked expressions.
At such a distance, the ball suddenly dropping, human nerves simply can't respond quickly enough; even if the reaction can keep up, the body matches the brain's reaction speed.
Li Xiu actually managed to respond and, with such a strange posture, precisely hit the soccer ball, altering its trajectory; this is simply unlike a normal human.
Yet Li Xiu's ranking is only 49, which, comparatively speaking, is just slightly above average physical fitness, so how is it possible to perform at such a level?
"How did he do it? Does he know Wu Luo just as well, predicting Wu Luo would definitely kick a Fallen Leaves Ball, so from the beginning, he aimed at the Fallen Leaves Ball? That's too much of a gamble." A Fei secretly speculated in her heart.
Wu Luo was somewhat annoyed, obviously, he thought like A Fei, believing that Li Xiu heard his reputation, so he predicted he would kick a Fallen Leaves Ball, which is why he performed that way. Now Wu Luo regretted telling Li Xiu his name before starting.
Had he known this would happen, he wouldn't have kicked a Fallen Leaves Ball.
Li Xiu climbed up from the ground, rubbed his numb hands a bit, smiled at Wu Luo and said, "It's my turn."
"You were lucky to get one point, hope you cherish it. If you still choose to continue to the next round, you won't be so lucky." Wu Luo stood before the goal, assuming a goalkeeper's posture, his tone somewhat arrogant.
His defensive posture was much more professional than Li Xiu's. Although he hadn't played a goalkeeper position before, he occasionally served as a goalkeeper during training and was familiar with goalkeeper techniques. For a normal goalkeeper, it is indeed very difficult to block a penalty shot, but that's for ordinary people.
With physical enhancement to Wu Luo's level, Li Xiu's ball speed kicked with such force, Wu Luo could totally react first and was confident he could catch the ball, so Wu Luo remained confident.
Even so, Wu Luo didn't take it lightly, slightly flexing his legs, shifting his focus downward, rapidly adjusting his feet back and forth in small steps, both to prevent Li Xiu from discerning his intent and to react as quickly as possible, extremely professional.
"How will you kick this ball?" A Fei looked at Li Xiu with some curiosity.
Li Xiu's previous performance exceeded her long-established judgment system, making it somewhat uncontrollable, arousing a certain expectation.
"Be careful, I'm coming." Li Xiu also, like Wu Luo, gave a warning and then quickly approached, his foot striking the ball.
The ball buzzed and flew towards the top right corner of the goal, its speed noticeably slower than Wu Luo's.
Wu Luo's stout body suddenly moved, like a beast pouncing on its prey, extending his arms to envelop the soccer ball.
Just as his fingers were about to touch the ball, it suddenly dipped, vanishing from his sight.
"Fallen Leaves Ball!" Wu Luo's pupils contracted, revealing an expression of disbelief.
A Fei, seated on the steps watching, sprang to her feet, her face full of disbelief.
The Fallen Leaves Ball is a technique countless professional players may never learn and master in their entire careers.
Even for players who can execute a Fallen Leaves Ball, it's not easy to control with precision, sometimes even requiring a bit of luck.
Yet Li Xiu managed to kick a Fallen Leaves Ball and so accurately, it was beyond imagination. "Was my previous judgment wrong? Is he also a professional player, a top striker?" A Fei, having consistently misjudged, began to doubt her evaluative capability.
Bang bang!
The ball and Wu Luo both hit the ground, Wu Luo did not rise, his face full of bitterness.
"Trial is over, the attacker gains a point, the defender gains zero, the defensive trial failed, previous rewards go to the winner, awards are given, clearing begins..."
Bang!
In the explosion sound, Wu Luo's body instantly turned into a mist of blood.
Li Xiu felt a pricking pain on his wrist again, but this time more intense than before, the effect also seemed much stronger, making Li Xiu clearly feel as if his body was injected with adrenaline.
Four Demon Cores appeared in front of Li Xiu, two were the reward for this round, and two originally belonged to Wu Luo.
Due to a bye, in this round A Fei directly received two Demon Cores and entered the countdown to decide whether to participate in the next trial.
"Can I ask you a few questions?" A Fei asked, looking at Li Xiu.
"If they are questions I can answer, then no problem." Li Xiu smiled.
"Are you a professional soccer player?" A Fei frowned slightly, still not quite used to Li Xiu's expression.
"No." Li Xiu didn't lie, he actually wasn't.
"Have you practiced soccer?" A Fei asked again.
"No, occasionally watched some matches, it's my first real contact with soccer." Li Xiu answered truthfully.
"If you're not lying, how could someone who's never touched soccer kick a Fallen Leaves Ball the first time?" A Fei stared into Li Xiu's eyes intently, as if trying to see through him.
"Watched him kick it once, so I learned." Li Xiu said with a smile. "You have no obligation to answer my questions." A Fei obviously wouldn't believe someone who's never touched soccer, only watched once and then kicked such a Fallen Leaves Ball. Such nonsense no one would believe. Chapter 7 Absolute Order Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Absolute Order
Li Xiu didn't explain, nor was there any need to.
"You win." A Fei gave Li Xiu a deep look, chose to remove her bracelet, and then transformed into white light, disappearing.
She wasn't confident enough to defeat Li Xiu and didn't trust him, unwilling to cooperate, thus chose to forfeit the continuation of the trial.
"It's just a Fallen Leaves Ball, is it really that hard to believe?" Li Xiu shrugged, indifferent, having seen such reactions countless times before and long accustomed to it.
Talent combined with subsequent training indeed reaches a shocking effect, even lifelong friends who grew up alongside Li Xiu harbored deep resentment towards his talents.
This ability, jokingly referred to by friends as "absolute order," is one of the fundamental reasons Li Xiu can become the strongest Magic Armor Master.
While ordinary people might achieve photographic memory, Li Xiu can not only remember what he sees but also perfectly replicate the actions he observes. Simply put, as long as his body permits, he can learn any action and skill he witnesses.
Although it sounds simple, anyone can learn through practice.
The key is that Li Xiu doesn't need practice; once he sees something, he can flawlessly mimic it and adapt it skillfully.
According to Li Xiu, a picture is composed of countless dots. When others draw a line, he can connect the dots the same way to draw the same line; when others draw a painting, he can accurately link all the corresponding dots with almost no deviation.
This theory applies in space as well. Li Xiu's body can accurately capture those dots and rhythms, a result of talent combined with long-term training. Such observing ability and body control, as described by Li Xiu's friends, is akin to being a robot.
Of course, absolute order's prerequisite is Li Xiu's physical capability to endure; tasks beyond his body's limit remain unachievable.
"Trial Taker count is one; final trial initiates, choose whether to participate, countdown starts at 10...9...8...7..."
Li Xiu remained motionless, waiting for the countdown to end, then was once more transported into the arena, standing behind the soccer ball. Flashes of white light at the goal revealed a shadow figure resembling Li Xiu's own form, except it was a pure shadow formed by white light without any substance.
"Trial Puppet physical attributes reference the Trial Taker, possessing all the Trial Taker's skills, with skill levels and attributes enhanced to 1.5 times that of the Trial Taker. Final trial rules as follows: the Trial Taker has ten shots, scoring six points to pass; the higher the score, the greater the rewards. Complete all shots before the countdown ends; trial starts!"
Seeing these trial rules, Li Xiu felt somewhat disappointed.
His physical attributes were not strong, and theoretically, Wu Luo's physical attributes should also approximately reach 1.5 times those of Li Xiu.
As for skills, Li Xiu hadn't participated in any trials before and acquired no skills, thus skill doubling simply doesn't apply.
Such trials, the stronger the Trial Taker's own strength, the harder the trial becomes, yet for someone like Li Xiu, this trial doesn't pose much pressure.
Li Xiu attempted a kick; indeed, the Trial Puppet's physical attributes surpassed Li Xiu's, even slightly surpassing Wu Luo's.
But it was useless; the Trial Puppet lacked Li Xiu's consciousness. Its response was swift, its technique formidable, but it was too simple.
The Fallen Leaves Ball easily toyed with the Trial Puppet, scoring into the goal.
Ten consecutive shots, Li Xiu kicked out Fallen Leaves Balls every time, and in varying directions. The Trial Puppet, possessed of great strength though it had some judgment capabilities, couldn't stop Li Xiu from scoring, failing even to touch the ball's skin. When the last shot went in, the Trial Puppet vanished, an icy voice echoed: "Final trial completed, scored ten points, achieving the peak score, reward list randomly generating, please choose one from the reward list."
Four icons appeared on the screen, labeled Skill, Demon Core, Attribute, and Admission Ticket respectively.
The skills of the Trial Taker, which Li Xiu experienced, were indeed miraculous, a capability Li Xiu couldn't mimic.
Yet the energy those skills released was still far inferior to Demon Armor, not worth a Magic Armor Master's risking their life for.
Demon Core and attributes were even less needed; an ordinary person could obtain a Demon Core by entering the Trial Ground, there's no need for precious Magic Armor Masters to take risks, and body attributes are not essential for them, thus even less required.
However, that Admission Ticket was something Li Xiu had never heard of before, nor did he know what it was.
Without hesitation, Li Xiu chose the Admission Ticket.
With Li Xiu's choice, the other three icons vanished, leaving the remaining icon, which directly projected from the screen, transforming into a card printed with strange patterns before Li Xiu.
Before Li Xiu could closely examine the pattern, the pattern on the card began to glow, emitting an eerie blue light, swiftly morphing into a light vortex, generating an irresistible force pulling Li Xiu into it.
The surroundings were pitch black, only an ancient Copper Oil Lamp ahead illuminating a dim light, so faint it merely lit the table beneath and about a meter nearby.
By the faint firelight, Li Xiu could vaguely see behind the table, a deep blue object standing more than human height, looking crafted of some kind of metal.
Li Xiu stepped forward, arriving at the table's front for a closer look, discovering the object's surface varied with indentations, its overall silhouette somewhat reminiscent of an upright coffin for a mummy, albeit slightly different. Suddenly, that mummy coffin-like object had two openings at the face area, revealing a pair of blood-red eyes from behind.
The eyes were cold, bloodthirsty, evil; under the dim lamp light, they appeared eerily ghost-like.
Li Xiu took just one glance, already feeling cold sweat running down his back, as if constrained by an invisible force, completely immobilized.
"Demonic Spirit!" Li Xiu caught a familiar scent, quickly realizing what resided inside the mummy coffin after years of battling Demonic Spirits.
Li Xiu searched through his memory but couldn't remember any Demonic Spirit he knew having such frightening eyes.
Under those eyes' scrutiny, Li Xiu's body moved uncontrollably, stepping towards the Metal Coffin that imprisoned the Demonic Spirit.
Li Xiu was aghast, though he had seen many powerful Demonic Spirits, never had he seen one so terrifying, exerting enough eye power to control his body completely, leaving no room for resistance.
Li Xiu dreaded imagining if such a Demonic Spirit appeared on Earth, how he would combat it.
Even wearing the most advanced Demon Armor, whether he could defeat such a Demonic Spirit remained uncertain.
Suddenly, the Metal Coffin emitted blue light, like blue electric currents flowing around.
Li Xiu heard a painful scream from within the Metal Coffin, as if the Demonic Spirit inside was shocked, trembling, then the blood-red eyes vanished, freeing the force that bound him.
Regaining control over his body, Li Xiu was drenched in sweat, gasping heavily, yet his gaze remained fixed on the Metal Coffin. Chapter 8 Entry Ticket Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Entry Ticket
The Metal Coffin remained silent for a while, Li Xiu slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at the table with the oil lamp.
It was a rectangular stone table, more like a ritual altar than a table.
The altar was very rough, carved from bluestone, seemingly barely polished, with dense patterns and uneven bumps on its surface.
At the center of the altar sat the Copper Oil Lamp. Its base was presumably made of brass, now covered in green copper rust; the mottled, aged color made it look as if it had endured countless years of wear.
The lamp oil was a black substance that seemed unusually thick, somewhat resembling crude oil, but emitted a peculiar fragrance.
The fragrance couldn't be described as pleasant; it even felt somewhat pungent, yet it certainly was a fragrance, not unbearable.
Suddenly, Li Xiu noticed another item beside the oil lamp, which he hadn't seen initially due to the darkness beneath the lamp and the sudden entry into such a dark environment, causing his eyes to still be adjusting.
Upon closer inspection, he found it was an extraordinarily strange handgun.
It was of a revolver style, with a longer and thicker barrel than a regular revolver. The entire gun body was a matte gray-white, lacking metallic sheen, appearing as though it wasn't metal, yet uncertain.
The gunstock, barrel, cylinder, and even the firing pin bore some blood-red patterns.
The patterns were highly irregular, lacking the symmetry that humans prefer, resembling tiny blood vessels spread across the gun body.
This bizarre handgun was larger than a typical handgun, yet did not feel cumbersome; instead, it had an eerie aesthetic, akin to a dark-themed artwork crafted by an artist with psychological issues.
It possessed the beauty of an art piece, yet also evoked a chilling sense of terror.
Beyond that, there was nothing else on the stone table. Li Xiu hesitated briefly and reached for the strange handgun.
The blood-red eyes on the Metal Coffin suddenly opened again, glaring coldly at Li Xiu; yet this time, Li Xiu did not feel the binding strength.
Li Xiu had no idea where this place was, nor any hints; he was forced to rely on his instincts for judgment.
This gun might indeed be the key.
Gazing at those blood-red eyes, his fingers gradually touched the gunstock, the icy sensation causing Li Xiu to shiver involuntarily.
It seemed as though Li Xiu wasn't touching a handgun but something carved from ice.
At the instant Li Xiu touched the handgun, the pupils of those blood-red eyes significantly contracted.
This reaction further confirmed Li Xiu's suspicion; he reached out to grasp the grip, aiming to pick up the handgun.
Yet in the next second, Li Xiu's expression changed.
The handgun seemed nailed to the table; Li Xiu found he couldn't lift it, not even budge it.
Li Xiu frowned slightly, ignoring the cold emanating from his hand, attempting with all his strength to lift the handgun.
The result surprised Li Xiu; despite his full strength, the handgun remained unmovable, which led him to suspect it was truly fixed to the stone table.
In those blood-red eyes, a look of mockery appeared. Though silent, it made Li Xiu feel as though it was saying: "That's all..."
Li Xiu felt his hand nearly numbed from the cold; he withdrew his hand to blow warm air onto it, finally regaining sensation after a while. Meanwhile, Li Xiu kept observing the handgun to see if there was anything fixing it to the stone table.
Without hesitation, Li Xiu used both hands to quickly grasp the handgun, attempting to lift it with combined force.
The result remained unchanged; Li Xiu failed to lift the handgun, just barely moved it.
Li Xiu continued exerting force with both hands, veins bulging on his forehead, yet still couldn't lift the handgun, only shifting its position slightly.
This truly astonished Li Xiu; he released the gun and wiped his nearly numb hands, silently marveling: "This bizarre handgun isn't fixed on the stone table; it's just too heavy, which prevents me from lifting it. Yet it's just a handgun, even if larger than usual, it shouldn't weigh much; why is it so heavy, and why so cold—can it really be used by humans?"
The blood-red eyes had lost their previous intimidating gaze, now filled with mockery.
Li Xiu knew that with his strength, no matter how he tried, he couldn't lift the handgun.
As he pondered other methods, he suddenly perceived a shift in light before him; when the view stabilized, he found himself in front of the Blue Stone Gate.
Immediately, two armed soldiers charged forward; one pointed a gun at Li Xiu's head while another frisked him, taking all the Demon Cores Li Xiu had obtained.
Li Xiu wasn't concerned with these things, letting the soldiers take all the Demon Cores.
"Not bad, obtaining so many Demon Cores on your first entry into the Trial Gate; I suppose you've been to other Trial Gates before." Old Gu looked at the Demon Cores brought by the soldiers, casually tossed them into a box, and smiled at Li Xiu.
Li Xiu didn't respond to Old Gu; the bizarre handgun and the Demon Spirit inside the Metal Coffin occupied his thoughts.
It was a powerful Demon Spirit unlike any he'd seen before; such a spirit, if it appeared on Earth, would surely bring unimaginable disaster, and Li Xiu wasn't confident whether the Magic Armor Master could eliminate it.
The peculiar handgun intrigued him further—what on earth was it? "Is it for such things that you risk life and death, entering the Trial Gate repeatedly without regrets?" Li Xiu mused internally.
With the trial concluded, about eighty of the hundred-plus participants remained; under the soldiers' orders, they returned to the narrow, damp room.
Li Xiu wasn't returned to his original room but led to another.
This room was far better than the previous one; in such a place, it could even be considered luxurious. It was not only spacious but simply decorated, with moistureproof flooring.
One wall bore a wine cabinet stocked with wine.
"According to the contract, you're allowed to leave now, but there's a problem—the exit path has been collapsed by Demon Spirits, so you must stay a while until rescue clears the way," Old Gu said, seated behind the wide desk, leafing through a contract, smiling.
"Of course, your debt is settled; your treatment differs from others. I'll arrange a private room for you, providing comfort with catered meals, but..."
"You still want me to enter the Trial Gate, right?" Li Xiu looked at Old Gu's duplicitous expression calmly.
"The situation outside is unclear; until rescue arrives, there's no saying whether the Demon Spirits might break in. Should they breach, the Magic Armor Master is our sole survival guarantee. Gather more Demon Cores for them to ensure they have ample energy for battle. You aren't entering the Trial Gate for me or anyone, but for yourself," Old Gu earnestly argued.
"Understood. No need to switch rooms or have special care; I'll return to my original room," Li Xiu said, glancing at Old Gu, maintaining his composure. Chapter 9: 6 Trials Chapter 9: Chapter 9: 6 Trials
When Li Xiu returned to the room, only seven people were left inside. Including him, there were just eight people. Just one trial, five people in their room had died.
The others looked at Li Xiu with eyes completely different from before, some with envy, but mostly with wariness and fear.
Afei glanced at Li Xiu, said nothing, and closed his eyes to continue resting.
Li Xiu also had nothing to say. He returned to his bed, lay down, and closed his eyes to rest, but his mind kept racing.
Old Gu is not someone to trust. The things he said might just be to keep Li Xiu here to continue adventuring and participating in trials, squeezing out his last bit of value.
This place is different from the outside world. Here, a few people dying isn't a big deal.
Even if someone investigates in the future, Old Gu could say Li Xiu died the first time he entered the Trial Gate. That's not impossible.
Li Xiu didn't regret coming here alone. Even if Old Gu wouldn't let him leave, he would find a way to get out if he really wanted to.
Within the Abyss Base, there are two Magic Armor Masters. As long as he could seize a set of Demon Armor, no one could stop Li Xiu from leaving.
The Magic Armor Master is powerful, but only when wearing Demon Armor. The Master is just a person who also needs to eat, drink, and sleep, not wearing the armor 24/7. There will always be an opportunity, just need to wait for it.
Moreover, that old-style Demon Armor has inherent flaws. If utilized properly, it's not too hard to seize it.
No one would think that a top-tier Magic Armor Master would come here.
But Li Xiu wasn't in a rush to leave because he wanted to figure out where the ticket had taken him, what was going on with the demon spirit trapped in the Metal Coffin, and what the Blood Pattern Revolver was.
And to figure all this out, first, he needed to be able to pick up that Blood Pattern Revolver.
Li Xiu is the strongest Magic Armor Master, but not the strongest Trial Taker. His strength and physique were only slightly better than the average person, a result of years of training. But compared to Trial Takers who had undergone multiple enhancements, his body was still somewhat weak.
"Since that's the case, then I should strengthen my body first. Whether it's to pick up that strange Blood Pattern Revolver or to seize the Demon Armor, it's the best choice." Li Xiu mused to himself.
Old Gu valued his abilities and wanted him to continue entering the Trial Gate, which played right into Li Xiu's hands.
Perhaps because of the psychological pressure during the trials, the mental exhaustion was immense, and the people in the room quickly fell asleep.
Li Xiu also seized the opportunity to rest and likewise dozed off.
Suddenly, Li Xiu felt someone approaching his bedside. Now, Li Xiu had taken an entire bunk for himself; no one should need to approach him.
Li Xiu immediately opened his eyes and found a silhouette standing in front of his bed in the dark. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Afei.
Afei put her slender index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.
Seeing that Li Xiu understood, made no noise, and caused no commotion, Afei glanced around. Seeing no disturbances in the darkness and everyone still asleep, she made a move that surprised Li Xiu a bit.
Afei, like a cat walking without a sound, slipped into Li Xiu's covers and lay down beside him.
Afei lay face to face with Li Xiu, with almost no gap between them, their faces nearly touching.
"Why didn't you leave?" Afei's voice was very soft, only audible to Li Xiu, who was very close, even a bit unclear. Li Xiu looked at Afei without speaking; he didn't understand what Afei meant.
"Didn't Old Gu take you away because your contract was finished and you were supposed to be sent out?" Afei asked softly when she saw Li Xiu hadn't understood.
"Yes," Li Xiu replied in a low voice.
"Then why did you come back?" Afei stared at Li Xiu and asked again.
"Old Gu said there are demon spirits outside that caused the collapse of the passage. It's impossible to get out now, and we must wait for a rescue team to clear out the demon spirits and the collapsed passage," Li Xiu repeated what Old Gu had told him.
"Do you believe him?" Afei stared at Li Xiu and asked.
"What if I don't?" Li Xiu retorted.
Afei looked deeply at Li Xiu, said nothing further, and, like a ghostly cat, slipped out of Li Xiu's covers silently, returning to her own bed.
Li Xiu knew Afei didn't completely trust him, perhaps even suspected he was a spy sent by Old Gu.
Li Xiu didn't really trust Afei either. He had heard that Afei had been here for nearly three years. How much debt did she owe that she hadn't paid off in three years?
Even a criminal guilty of serious murder would have been out by now, but Afei was still here.
Moreover, given three years, if she entered the Trial Gate once a week, Afei's body enhancements should have been much stronger than they currently were.
In Li Xiu's view, it could only mean Afei hadn't been through as many Trial Gates, either she was an undercover piece placed by Old Gu, or there was some special reason.
Until he figured out Afei's background, Li Xiu didn't want too much contact with her.
In this place, there is no concept of day and night, and even the concept of time is blurred.
Before entering the Abyss Base, except for clothes and daily necessities, everything else had been taken from them, so there wasn't anything like a watch to tell time. Who knows how long they slept; people started getting up gradually and moving around, even using a makeshift restroom in the corner, walled off by thin boards, barely accommodating one person.
The smell was unpleasant, preventing Li Xiu from sleeping. As he was about to sit up, he heard that jarring alarm again.
"What's going on? The Trial Gate was just opened yesterday, and now it's opening again so soon?" A middle-aged man who had been here for over a month said uneasily, "Wasn't it supposed to open once a week? What's happening?"
"Who cares what's happening? The sooner we finish, the sooner we're free. The sooner I finish my contract, the sooner I leave this hellhole. I've had enough," replied someone nearby, grumbling as he got dressed.
"We just got out not even a day ago and they're sending us back to risk our lives. Do they consider us not human?"
"Once you're here, you'd better not think of yourself as human."
Amidst curses and complaints, the crowd was once again driven into the huge underground cavern where the Blue Stone Gate stood.
"I have some very bad news for you all. We don't know where these demon spirits came from, but they found our base..." Old Gu stood on the platform, repeating what he had told Li Xiu yesterday.
"Currently, the Gemstones in the base can barely open the trial six more times. From now on, every twelve hours a trial will be opened. Whether you've completed your contract or not, you must participate in these six trials."
Old Gu's words immediately sparked discussion, with many people expressing dissatisfaction. Chapter 10 Speed Trial Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Speed Trial
"Why do we have to take the trial after completing the contract, why don't you go yourself?" A middle-aged man shouted angrily at Lao Gu.
"Well said, this concerns the life and death of us all, so you can't be the only ones taking the risk. Besides these two Magic Armor Masters, 42 management personnel, including myself, will be divided into three groups to take turns joining the trial with you, while the remaining two groups will maintain order and monitor the dynamics on the other side of the passage." Lao Gu glanced at the middle-aged man and continued, "For the safety of everyone's lives, we must acquire as many Demon Cores as possible."
"You go if you want, I'm one Demon Core away from completing my contract, and once I complete it, I refuse to go to the trial again," the middle-aged man shouted.
Boom!
As soon as he finished speaking, a Magic Armor Master appeared before him like a phantom and blew up his head with a punch before he could react.
The body, along with the head, didn't even have time to react. After the head was blown off, the headless body stood for a moment before slowly falling backward.
"In these extraordinary times, anyone who wants to drag everyone down and jeopardize our survival will meet this fate." Lao Gu swept the room with his cold gaze, causing many to lower their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
"I won't let everyone work for nothing; for Demon Cores acquired beyond the contract, once the crisis is over, you will be rewarded at twice the market price when you leave." Seeing no one else challenging him, Lao Gu slowly said.
Seeing quite a few people seem tempted, Li Xiu thought to himself, "This Lao Gu is just an administrator of a base, and his methods are already so formidable. What exactly are they planning?" Administrators joining the trial team seem to increase the numbers, but it actually makes it more difficult.
Most of these administrators have undergone strengthening experiences through the Trial Gate, so their abilities are certainly stronger than average people.
In competitive trials among Trial Takers, the probability of average people's death can actually become higher.
Many Trial Takers understood this, but with the Magic Armor Masters intimidating them, no one dared to speak up.
Under Lao Gu's command, the Trial Gate of the Sea Heaven Trial Ground opened once again.
Li Xiu and others, under the threat of guns, could only rush into the Trial Gate once more, along with fourteen administrators entering the Trial Gate as well.
"Ugh! Another C-level trial!" someone immediately complained upon seeing the C mark on the screen inside the trial ground.
C-level trials occur relatively infrequently, mostly having E-level and D-level trials, where the death rates are much lower.
Li Xiu found that this trial ground was significantly different from the last one.
Though it was still a stadium-like structure, this time they were not on the stands; instead, everyone was on the field.
The trial ground was an oval track, with nearly a hundred people assigned to different starting points, much like an athletics competition.
Outside the starting line, there seemed to be an invisible barrier blocking everyone's path.
"A speed trial?" Li Xiu was a bit frustrated.
No matter how strong his natural abilities were, he couldn't increase his speed, which was a reflection of physical fitness. While skills played a part, the key was still physical fitness.
This kind of trial wasn't very friendly to Li Xiu. "Welcome to the Sea Heaven Trial Ground. The trial difficulty is C-level. The trial rules are as follows..." A cold and emotionless voice sounded once more.
Upon understanding the rules, some looked excited, while others broke down crying.
As expected, it was an athletics-type trial. The track was 800 meters per lap, longer than a typical track.
The trial rule was to complete a lap within one and a half minutes to score a point.
Those taking more than two minutes who ranked in the bottom thirty would fail the trial.
Trial Takers not in the last thirty would also be deemed to have completed the trial and could score a point to receive a Demon Core reward.
A six hundred-second countdown began, and when it ended, the trial would start.
Li Xiu looked at his bracelet. The number showed 57.
This meant his ranking among these people was 57th. After calculating the number of participants, there were a total of 92 people.
In other words, there were 35 people whose physical fitness was inferior to Li Xiu's, so he shouldn't fall into the bottom thirty in this trial.
As for completing the trial in one and a half minutes, it was simply impossible for ordinary people.
Even the previous world record holders of the 800 meters couldn't finish within one and a half minutes, and the gap wasn't small. Only those who went through multiple strengthenings among Trial Takers could possibly achieve such a result.
It was estimated that more than half of the participants in this trial couldn't meet the oneand-a-half-minute threshold, striving only not to be among the last thirty.
Li Xiu also realized the importance of physical fitness in trials, but no one expected two consecutive C-level trials.
Before coming to the Abyss Base, Li Xiu had already researched this location. The Sea Heaven Trial Ground commonly featured E-level and D-level trials, which were not overly difficult and typically not fatal. As long as one's physical fitness reached the level of a professional athlete, the chances of passing were high. Consecutive C-level difficulty tests were not something Li Xiu anticipated, but he wasn't completely unprepared.
"Which of you two killed Wu Luo?" An administrator Trial Taker walked up to Li Xiu and Ah Fei and asked, glaring at them.
"What do you want to do?" Just as Li Xiu was about to say something, Ah Fei looked at the administrator Trial Taker and asked.
"Wu Luo was brought here by me; he was my friend. I have to give his parents an explanation. Whoever killed him must pay the price." The administrator Trial Taker said with a grim face.
Others retreated to the side, leaving only the administrator Trial Taker, Li Xiu, and Ah Fei in the area.
"In trials like this, one must accept fate if they lose," Ah Fei said.
"So you're admitting you killed Wu Luo?" The administrator Trial Taker stared at Ah Fei with murderous intent in his eyes.
"What if I did, what if I didn't?" To Li Xiu's surprise, Ah Fei did not deny it and ambiguously responded.
"It's good that you admit it." The administrator Trial Taker nodded and said, "You're right. In trials like this, one must accept fate if they lose."
"Rest assured, I won't kill you, but I will break one of your legs. Hopefully, you can continue winning the trial." The administrator Trial Taker said as he approached Ah Fei step by step, raising his fists, steady and rhythmic in his steps.
"This has nothing to do with her, Wu Luo died because he lost to me," Li Xiu stepped out and said. He didn't want to implicate others and didn't want to hide behind a woman.
Just from the administrator's posture, it was clear that he was skilled in combat techniques, and his strength and speed probably weren't inferior to Ah Fei's.
"Who was it really?" The administrator Trial Taker looked at Ah Fei.
"What do you think?" Ah Fei countered.
"I heard his ranking was 49; with such physical fitness, he shouldn't have been able to beat Wu Luo. But no matter, breaking an additional leg won't take much effort." The administrator Trial Taker didn't want to waste time; he intended to break both Ah Fei's and Li Xiu's legs before the trial began.