145: The Three Gates of Guixu, a Ridiculous Record

When Long Qingtian's 'defeat the enemy in three moves,' like a divine judgment, ruthlessly trampled upon Gu Fan, the number one Prodigy of Guixu City, along with the last shred of face of the City Lord's Mansion, the entire banquet hall fell into an incredibly awkward, dead silence where a pin drop could be heard.

City Lord City Lord's face alternated between green and white, looking extremely displeased.

He wanted to lash out but didn't dare.

Whether it was Lin Tian's own unfathomable strength, or the equally impossibly strong follower beside him, or the terrifying mount that could gravely injure an A-rank Peak Genius with just a low growl... the tip of the iceberg displayed by this team was enough to make him, an S-rank Peak 'local tyrant,' feel a chill from the bottom of his heart.

Ultimately, reason still triumphed over that ridiculous notion of 'face.'

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the anger and humiliation in his heart, and squeezed out a smile on his face that was uglier than crying.

He clapped his hands, attempting to forcibly divert everyone's attention with a grander event and resolve the current awkwardness.

"Haha... Your Excellency Long Qingtian, as expected of a Prodigy of the Long family, your strength is extraordinary, truly an eye-opener for me, Ao."

"Since everyone has had enough to drink and the entertaining 'martial arts' have concluded. Then, next, I invite everyone to move to the inner hall to participate in the true highlight of this banquet—"

His voice suddenly became high-pitched and full of mystery.

"—the 'Guixu Trial'!"

Under the City Lord's guidance, everyone passed through the main hall and arrived inside an even vaster and more ancient giant stone hall.

In the very center of the stone hall stood three massive stone tablets, each a hundred meters tall, entirely made of an unknown black crystal.

The stone tablets were covered with ancient and weathered runes, emanating a chilling Law aura originating from primeval times.

"Everyone," City Lord pointed at the three stone tablets, his face regaining a hint of the pride and arrogance befitting a host, "This is the ultimate trial that our Guixu City has passed down for tens of thousands of years to measure the potential of a Genius—the 'Three Guixu Trials'!"

"The first trial, the Tablet of Strength! It tests a Martial Artist's purest, absolute physical strength!"

"The second trial, the Tablet of Speed! It tests a Martial Artist's reaction and movement techniques in extreme environments!"

"The third trial, the Tablet of Spirit! It tests a Martial Artist's most fundamental, Soul-level intensity!"

He paused, pointing to the top of the three stone tablets, where several numbers, shining with eternal golden light like a miracle, glowed, speaking in a tone filled with awe and reverence.

"And the highest records for these three trials were not set by the ancestors of our Guixu City, nor were they left by some demigod-level powerhouse of recent times."

"They were left casually by several supreme beings, honored by later generations as 'Ancient Human Heroes,' during the most glorious and brilliant 'Golden Age' of the Human Race several millennia ago when they traveled here!"

"For thousands of years, countless Geniuses and Prodigies have come to challenge them, but no one has ever come close! In fact, very few have even reached half of the record!"

"These three records have long become the absolute benchmark for measuring the potential of Geniuses in an era!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a raging flame named "competitiveness" ignited in the eyes of all the Prodigies present!

Records of Ancient Human Heroes?

As the top existences of this Golden Age, how could they be content to fall behind?!

"I'll go!"

Arthur, the Saint of the Holy Temple, was the first to step forward and walk to the first "Tablet of Strength."

He took a deep breath, his Holy Light power erupted, and he unleashed a fierce punch!

Light flickered on the stone tablet, finally settling on a number—【300,000 tons】.

This achievement was enough to make ninety-nine percent of the Prodigies present feel ashamed.

However, when he looked at the golden number at the top of the stone tablet, which seemed to look down on him like a god, a bitter expression involuntarily appeared on his face.

【Highest Record: 9,990,000 tons】!

The gap was like an unbridgeable chasm!

Next, Thor, the Thunder God, from the Holy Mountain, and the Prodigies from the African Beast King Hall, among others, also stepped forward to challenge, each demonstrating their strengths, but their best results only hovered around 500,000 tons, still a distant cry from the legendary record.

Just then, a figure walked out from the crowd.

It was Gu Fan, who had just been defeated by Long Qingtian and had recovered some Origin Qi after emergency treatment by the City Lord's Mansion's top Alchemist!

His face was pale, but his eyes were filled with unwillingness and determination!

He wanted to reclaim some face in his most proficient Domain!

"Hmph!"

He roared, pushing his [Raging Waves Force] to its limit, even burning a trace of his vital blood, using all his strength to fiercely punch the stone tablet!

Buzz—!

The stone tablet shook violently, and light shot into the sky!

Finally, an unprecedented highest number belonging to this era appeared!

【800,000 tons】!

"Good!"

"As expected of Young Lord Gu Fan! This is already the best achievement of the current generation!"

Amidst a chorus of cheers, Gu Fan, though still pale, had a hint of pride reappear on his face. He turned his head and stared intently at Lin Tian, who had been leisurely sipping wine from beginning to end as if none of this concerned him, with a challenging gaze.

"Long Family's 'Number Zero'!" His voice was hoarse and full of Battle Intent, "Do you dare to try?!"

Everyone's gaze once again focused on Lin Tian.

Upon hearing this, Lin Tian finally slowly put down the wine glass in his hand.

He glanced at the record of 9,990,000 tons on the stone tablet, which everyone regarded as a miracle, then looked at Gu Fan's provocative gaze, and a curve of boredom and disdain appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Such... a child's game.

He disdained participating.

But just then, Elizabeth, beside him, gently nudged him with her elbow and whispered in his ear in a tone full of anticipation and coquetry, "Darling, go play a bit, and let these 'natives' see what true power is."

On the other side, Jiang Luoling directly hugged his arm and shook it vigorously, her eyes sparkling with adoration: "Yes, yes! Cousin, go up there and show them how powerful you are! Let them know who is the strongest!"

Looking at the encouraging and expectant eyes of the two beautiful women beside him.

Lin Tian sighed helplessly.

Alright.

Since the beauties wanted to see it.

Then, he would just play along with them.

He slowly stood up, and under a myriad of complex gazes filled with anticipation, doubt, and schadenfreude, he walked slowly and "unwillingly" onto the stone platform of the first "Strength Test," which everyone regarded as "sacred," like a child reluctantly pushed onto a stage to perform by his parents.