136: All cards revealed

"Triple-element Fusion: Life to the Void!"

After another collision, Zhou Xing immediately pulled back. The three energies of ice, fire, and healing fused once again into a black-and-white energy sphere, which he violently hurled toward the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger.

This strike took a significant toll on Zhou Xing, leaving his face somewhat pale.

Sensing the threat of the black-and-white energy sphere, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's ferocity surged, and power welled up within its body once more.

With a 'swish,' its body suddenly turned ethereal, switching from its light form to its shadow form. Its size shrank more than tenfold, allowing it to forcibly break free from the energy sphere's lock-on.

"Boom!"

The black-and-white energy sphere struck the ground, blasting a deep crater hundreds of meters in diameter.

"It really is troublesome!" Zhou Xing's heart sank.

This couldn't go on. The time limit for each floor's challenge was at most thirty minutes. He had to find a solution; otherwise, even if he challenged it again, he would still fail.

At this moment, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger in its shadow form gained a massive boost in speed, weaving through the shadows like a ghost. Every time it appeared, it left a corrosive wound on Zhou Xing's body.

Zhou Xing had been maintaining his Frost Silence Battle Armor and Ice-Fire Battle Armor, and had even used Skeleton Armament and Metal Skin, but they were proving ineffective.

The opponent's sharp claws could easily tear through Zhou Xing's defenses.

Even more problematic was that the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger began spitting out clouds of black mist.

Sizzle—!

In an instant, Zhou Xing saw the surrounding ground corrode at a speed visible to the naked eye, the surface becoming completely covered in a layer of corrosive slime.

Zhou Xing found his legs stuck, and his movement speed dropped significantly.

"As expected, even Mutated Beasts have special Domain abilities."

Zhou Xing's realization came a bit late. Although his light purification and Fire Incineration Powers were constantly manifesting, the power within the black mist was very strange. Even with his Healing Power, Zhou Xing still felt his vision blurring and his head becoming heavy.

Seizing the opportunity, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger emerged from the darkness, its claws lunging directly for Zhou Xing's neck.

Sensing a massive killing intent, Zhou Xing bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain cleared his mind considerably.

"Battle Domain!"

"Boom!"

Instantly, centered on Zhou Xing, a blood-red force field expanded, directly shattering the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's Domain. A powerful suppressive force enveloped the tiger, causing its speed to drop significantly compared to before.

"Strength Enhancement!"

Zhou Xing seized the chance, gathering immense strength into his fist. His figure blurred as he closed in on the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger as if teleporting, throwing a punch.

"Bang!"

The terrifying force sent the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger flying backward.

"Light-Dark Common Origin: Annihilation!"

Knowing he couldn't give the opponent any breathing room, light power surged in Zhou Xing's left hand and Shadow Power in his right. Under careful control, the two powers were fused and continuously compressed together.

"Boom!"

The terrifying power surged out like a flood, warping the space it passed through. The balance between light and shadow was completely shattered.

The Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger tried to switch to its other form, but found its own divine power seemingly locked away.

"Roar!"

With a roar of agony, the flood of Light-Dark Common Origin energy completely covered and submerged it.

[Floor 40 cleared. Time: 26 minutes 39 seconds]

[Evaluation: Special Grade]

[Total Points Gained for this floor: 2000]

The clearance result was displayed immediately. Zhou Xing, looking exhausted, fell to one knee on the ground.

His own consumption had reached its limit. Fortunately, he had seized the opportunity to wear down most of the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's power before finally finishing it off with the Light-Dark Common Origin.

It could be said that if he had only used his ice, fire, and healing abilities, Zhou Xing wouldn't have lasted until now.

On this floor, Zhou Xing had used Simulation, Light, Shadow, Strength, Battle, Wind Mastery, Skeleton, Steel, and other abilities. Both his defense and strength were pushed to their maximum.

This was the first time Zhou Xing had used so many powers simultaneously. Although they were quite varied, the stacked effect was unexpectedly powerful.

Inside the Challenge Tower hall, the atmosphere had reached a complete boiling point.

Just now, Zhou Xing's floor count on the leaderboard had refreshed once again.

[Rank 1: Zhou Xing | Floor: 40 | Time: 26 minutes 39 seconds]

"He actually cleared the 40th floor? Is he a freak?"

"Augustus only barely cleared the 35th floor by the skin of his teeth, and he's been stuck on the 36th floor since he went back in. Zhou Xing rushed straight to the 40th in one go. Are we really the same age?"

"The strength of the Mutated Beasts on the 40th floor reaches F-grade Middle Stage. Their full outburst is almost on par with an ordinary human Awakened One at the Late Stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm. For someone at the Peak of Control to face a Celestial Phenomenon Late Stage, the difficulty is unimaginable."

"Could this guy still be hiding something? Is his true strength already a Breakthrough into the Celestial Phenomenon Realm?"

...

The numerous students were engaged in heated discussion, with many even wondering if the Challenge Tower had malfunctioned.

At this time, Augustus, who had once again failed to clear the 36th floor, stood up and heard the others' discussions.

Seeing that Zhou Xing had reached the 40th floor, his expression turned very ugly, and his fists clenched until they creaked.

Zhou Xing, is the gap between us really this large?

Just how much strength are you still hiding?

Yue Hua, who had secretly received the notification, was also surprised.

She was very aware of the intensity of the 40th floor. With Zhou Xing's current strength at the Peak of Control combined with the burst of his Triple-element Fusion, he would be confident in defeating an F-grade Early Stage Mutated Beast.

However, the Mutated Beasts on the 40th floor were equivalent to bosses in a game. The data originally set for them meant that basically only those who had truly broken through to the Celestial Phenomenon Realm could challenge them.

Zhou Xing's strength had completely pulled away from the others.

What they needed to do now was maintain secrecy. A Genius with such combat power could likely become a covert target for the Divine Gene and other factions.

Zhou Xing did not choose to exit. After summarizing his experience from this run, he directly started the next floor's trial.

"What kind of Mutated Beast will be on the 41st floor?"

As Zhou Xing confirmed, the scene before him changed abruptly.

"Rumble!"

Amidst deafening thunder, Zhou Xing found himself standing on a scorched, desolate wilderness.

The sky was thick with dark clouds, and thick bolts of lightning constantly struck the ground, blasting out massive craters.

Then, in the distance, a 'mountain' moved.

Even Zhou Xing couldn't help but give a bitter smile as he looked at the colossal creature in the distance.

[Current Floor: Floor 41]

[Target: Thunder Earth Dragon (F-grade Late Stage)]

[Traits: Dual-element Thunder + Earth]

The massive creature in the distance was over thirty meters long, its body covered in dark gold scales, with dozens of huge thunder-spikes a meter in diameter growing from its back.

Its thick limbs were like pillars supporting the sky. Just a slight movement triggered an earthquake-like roar.