Fourth Job Advancement! Thunder Palace!

Blue Star, a city in Dragon Country.

White Night left the arena space and returned to his small house.

There was still fine dust on the wooden floor from when he left, morning dew clung to the leaves of the pothos on the windowsill, and sunlight slanted through the glass, casting dappled shadows on the wall.

"A buff of 100,000 HP. With this buff, others on Blue Star should level up much faster."

He walked to the window, his fingertips brushing a pothos leaf. The morning dew rolled off, creating tiny wet marks on the floor.

"This way, more people should survive when the Demon Abyss invades."

"As for me, this buff is irrelevant, but thankfully, there's an extra reward!"

White Night turned and sat on the living room sofa, the fabric cushions sinking slightly under his weight.

Then.

With a thought, a faint blue ripple spread through his backpack space, and a sharply faceted treasure chest slowly floated into his palm.

The treasure chest was covered in dark golden patterns, its edges inlaid with tiny, colorful crystals. A light touch sent a shower of golden specks fluttering down.

This was precisely the Mythical-grade treasure chest from the MVP extra reward!

"I hope this brings me a surprise..."

He murmured to himself, his fingertips tracing the patterns on the chest's surface.

The next moment, he gently opened the treasure chest!

First, a dazzling white light exploded, instantly filling the entire living room, as if even the sunlight outside the window was swallowed by it.

Immediately after, the white light abruptly receded, transforming into a hazy silver-gray orb of light, suspended in mid-air, like it was wrapped in a layer of flowing mist.

At the same time, the Game System's notification suddenly appeared before his eyes:

[You opened the treasure chest and obtained the item: Holy Edge - Twin Shadow Godbreaker Sword *1!]

Bang!

The hazy orb of light burst like a popped soap bubble, tiny specks of light scattering in the air, revealing the item quietly suspended within.

It was a slender longsword.

The sword body was about three feet seven inches long, gleaming with a cold, silvery-white luster, yet a faint dark shadow pattern coiled along its spine, as if moonlight and night had solidified on the metal.

The blade was as thin as a cicada's wing, its edge shimmering with an almost invisible flow of light, as if a mere touch could cleave the air. Upon closer inspection, the blade surface actually reflected two intertwined phantom images: one as fiery as holy light, the other as deep as an abyss, slowly swirling with the sword's slight tremor!

The hilt was wrapped in dark-patterned leather, and its end was embedded with a crystal the size of a pigeon's egg. At the center of the crystal, two points of starlight flickered, echoing the twin shadows on the sword body.

Intricate runes were also carved into the grip, with a faint golden glow flowing between them, subtly exuding a sharp aura that made the air in the living room seem to tremble slightly as if being cut.

White Night's eyes lit up, his gaze slightly focused, and he quickly checked the specific attributes of this weapon:

[Holy Edge - Twin Shadow Godbreaker Sword]

Grade: Mythical

Effect: Increases 60,000 Strength, 50,000 Agility; comes with the passive "Twin Shadow Combo"

(When attacking, there is a 70% chance to trigger an additional quick slash, dealing 250% damage)!

Type: Weapon (Warrior exclusive)

..."Such powerful equipment effects! And it's a warrior-exclusive weapon, perfect!"

White Night's face was filled with pleasant surprise, the corners of his eyes involuntarily curving upwards.

Without any hesitation.

He immediately raised his hand, a faint glow emanating from his palm. The black blade of the eternal demon blade slid out from the light, facing the suspended Holy Edge - Twin Shadow Godbreaker Sword, and began to devour this equipment!

...This devouring process was different from previous ones.

The moment the dark purple eternal demon blade touched the silver-white Holy Edge - Twin Shadow Godbreaker Sword in White Night's palm, dense black runes suddenly appeared on the former's blade.

These runes wriggled like living things, quickly spreading along the contact surface of the two weapons, instantly coiling around the spine of the Holy Edge Sword.

The Holy Edge Sword seemed to sense the threat, its golden patterns suddenly lighting up, attempting to break free from the runes'束縛, but it was firmly suppressed by the dark purple energy bursting from the runes.

Immediately after.

A faint dark suction emanated from the blade of the eternal demon blade. The silver-white luster on the surface of the Holy Edge Sword receded like a tide, transforming into wisps of light that were devoured by the demon blade.

The entire process took only a few breaths. The Holy Edge Sword's blade became transparent at a visible speed, finally transforming into a pure golden energy mass, which was completely absorbed into the blade of the eternal demon blade.

Buzz--!

The moment the devouring was complete, the eternal demon blade trembled violently.

The originally pure dark purple blade now had a few peculiar changes.

Faint golden afterimages appeared on both sides of the blade, as if another invisible blade overlapped with it.

Between the black runes on the blade's surface, tiny golden specks flickered gently with White Night's breathing!

The patterns on the grip became deeper, and faint golden and dark purple energies could vaguely be seen intertwining and flowing within. When touched, one could even feel a subtle, dual sensation.

White Night's gaze sharpened, and the attribute information of the eternal demon blade after devouring appeared before his eyes:

[eternal demon blade]

Grade: ???

Effect: Increases 90,000 Strength, 52,000 Agility, 200 Health; comes with passive "Devour"!

Devour 1: Increases physical damage dealt by 20%!

...Effect 6: "Twin Shadow Combo"!

Type: Weapon (Warrior exclusive)

..."The current eternal demon blade has already surpassed the Mythical-grade equipment level, hasn't it?"

White Night stroked the blade, his face filled with admiration.

After playing with the greatly transformed demon blade in his hand for a while.

White Night summoned the information panel and murmured to himself:

"Next, it's time to complete the Fourth Advancement."

"I wonder what kind of changes there will be this time..."

...Not long after.

Eternal Plaza.

A beam of light suddenly descended, and White Night's figure appeared with it.

After standing firm, White Night immediately walked towards the towering pagoda in the center of the plaza.

This was his third time here.

One could say he was 'familiar with the path'.

Soon, he arrived at the Eternal Divine Tower.

"Why are there so few people today?"

White Night scanned the area around the Eternal Divine Tower, feeling a bit suppressed.

The previous two times he came, there were always many professionals from other civilizations around the Eternal Divine Tower.

This time, there were only a handful of people.

However, he didn't pay much attention, turning immediately to the entrance of the Eternal Divine Tower.

He glanced at the Fourth Advancement ranking record on the eternal god monument:

[First Place: Holy Light Civilization - 'Lu Jing', 'Source' grade rating.]

[Second Place: Holy Pearl Civilization - 'Fu Zhen', 'Source' grade rating.]

[Third Place: Watcher Civilization - 'Qin Ye', 'Source' grade rating.]

[...]

[Tenth Place: Illusion Flame Civilization - 'Lin Yi', 'Law' grade rating.]

..."Hmm? 'Source' grade rating? What does that mean?"

White Night looked curious.

But there was no one here to explain it to him.

"I'll know once I try."

The next moment.

He pushed open the Eternal Divine Tower's door and stepped inside.

Bang!

The door closed, and the third advancement trial began!

...The moment the door closed, the surrounding light suddenly distorted.

White Night felt a momentary sense of weightlessness under his feet, and when he opened his eyes again, he was in a brilliant starry sky.

Countless stars revolved overhead, the air filled with crackling electric sounds, and five purple-gold intertwined pillars of light descended from the void, supporting five floating golden palaces.

The palace complex was entirely cast in gilded gold, with lifelike thunder god dragon sculptures coiling around its eaves. The palace roofs were covered with dark purple glazed tiles, each tile embedded with breathing electric light stones, looking from afar like five thunder fortresses locking down the sky!

At this moment.

The Game System's notification appeared in White Night's mind:

[Welcome Player White Night to the Fourth Advancement Trial Space - Thunder Holy Palace!]

[Trial Rules: Defeat the five Holy Palace Guardians in sequence to obtain the corresponding rating]

[Defeat 1 Guardian: Spirit Grade Rating (Basic Advancement)]

[Defeat 2 Guardians: Saint Grade Rating (Enhanced Advancement)]

[Defeat 3 Guardians: Law Grade Rating (Elite Advancement)]

[Defeat 4 Guardians: Source Grade Rating (Legendary Advancement)]

[Defeat 5 Guardians: Unique Grade Rating (divine selection Advancement)]

The cold system notification echoed in the starry sky. White Night looked up at the palace on the far left. Above its gate hung a plaque with the words "Astonishing Thunder Hall," and silver snake-like lightning flickered around its edges.

"So that's what 'Law' grade rating and 'Source' grade rating mean..."

White Night suddenly understood.

"This kind of trial quest is the easiest for me."

Confidence flashed in White Night's eyes.

The next moment.

He moved, and a dark purple demonic flame flashed under his feet, covering a hundred meters to land in front of the Astonishing Thunder Hall.

Rumble--!

A deafening thunderclap suddenly rang out in the surrounding space.

Immediately after.

The heavy palace gate automatically slid open to both sides, and a violent aura of thunder rushed out.

Inside the hall, the ground was paved with dark golden floor tiles, each engraved with thunder runes. In the center stood a guardian formed by pure lightning!

It was a Thunder Warrior, three zhang tall, clad in lightning armor, wielding a giant axe shimmering with purple lightning, and two clusters of blazing electric fire flickered in its eye sockets.

"Outsider, accept the judgment of thunder!"

The guardian's voice boomed like a thunderstorm. Its giant axe slammed into the ground, and in an instant, all the runes in the great hall lit up simultaneously. Countless bolts of lightning, thick as arms, shot out from beneath the floor tiles, forming an impenetrable electric net that enveloped White Night.

White Night's expression was calm. He reached back and gripped the eternal demon blade.

As soon as the dark purple blade was drawn, the golden afterimages on its side automatically appeared.

He didn't even move his feet; with just a flick of his wrist, a purple-gold intertwined blade light tore through the air.

Wherever the blade light passed, the electric net shattered like thin ice, and even the guardian's body, composed of lightning, was cleaved in two.

"Crack--!"

Amidst the crisp cracking sound, the Thunder Guardian's armor and giant axe disintegrated simultaneously, turning into countless electric sparks that dissipated into the air.

At the same time.

The Game System notification popped up:

[The Guardian of the First Holy Palace has been defeated. Current Rating: Spirit Grade]

[Continue to challenge the Second Holy Palace?]

White Night flicked off the tiny electric sparks clinging to his blade, looked up towards the direction of the second palace in the distance, and a faint smile played on his lips.

"Continue."

...