255: Dignity? Face?

The entire space suddenly twisted, and the pure white hall shattered like a mirror, transforming into countless light particles that floated in all directions.

Heaven and earth were reconstructed, Laws reset, and a new trial had begun.

【Fourth Trial: Burning Heart Valley】

【Rule: Cross the Flaming Canyon; those who reach the other side advance.】

The entire space suddenly twisted, and the pure white hall shattered like a mirror, emitting a crisp, ear-piercing "crack" sound.

Heaven and earth were reconstructed, Laws reset, and the spiritual Qi in the air became viscous and restless.

【Fourth Trial: Burning Heart Valley】

【Rule: Cross the Flaming Canyon; those who reach the other side advance.】

The light dissipated, and everyone found themselves on a crimson land.

Underfoot was scorching black rock, overhead was a dark red sky, and magma surged like rivers through the canyon. Waves of heat assailed them, making even breathing feel like a burning pain.

Wan Zehu roared, his golden fur bristling. Relying on his powerful Physical Body, he charged first into the sea of fire, his feet treading on the surface of the molten rock, managing to stand for a brief moment!

But just as he was about to reach the shore—

The earth pulse beneath his feet suddenly trembled, and a crimson crack instantly spread!

"Oh no!"

He sensed something was wrong, but it was already too late!

The ground collapsed with a roar, forming a giant, gaping magma abyss that swallowed him whole!

He didn't even have time to scream before he was reduced to ashes.

【Wan Zehu, eliminated.】

The other three had varied expressions.

Blood Vine King gave a sinister smile, raising his hands. Countless blood-colored vines surged from his body, weaving into a winding "Blood Vine Bridge" over the magma. He stepped across it nimbly.

Ape King and Wan Yuan followed closely, using the vine bridge to successfully reach the opposite bank.

But Lu Chen, to everyone's shock, swaggered into the sea of fire—

He didn't use any protective Divine Ability, nor did he rely on external objects.

Yet, the boiling magma receded beneath his feet like warm water, as if fearing his presence!

He walked with steady steps, unhurried, as if strolling through his own garden.

Wan Yuan's pupils contracted slightly: "He... how did he do that?!"

Blood Vine King narrowed his eyes and murmured, "He's too terrifying. If this continues, both of us will die."

【Fourth Trial ends, four players advance.】

The scene twisted again, and space flipped like a scroll.

They appeared in a deep, dense forest, with ancient trees reaching to the sky, their branches and leaves intertwined, blocking all light.

Mist permeated the air, and faint whispers drifted about, as if countless Souls were murmuring in their ears.

【Fifth Trial: Thousand Faces Forest】

【Rule: Find the real "Exit Gate"; those who walk out of the maze advance.】

【Warning: Those who touch a false illusionary gate will have their Divine Soul annihilated.】

"Hmph, a mere maze won't stump me!"

Ape King was full of confidence, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed a faint trace of "life gate Qi" in the air.

He prided himself on his Yao Race talent, his sense of smell far surpassing ordinary people.

He hurried along and finally found a half-open wooden door behind an ancient tree, with warm light emanating from the crack.

Inside the door, Qian Huan stood smiling, her white clothes like snow, her eyes like stars:

"Brother, you've finally come... I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Ape King's heart trembled, and his eyes instantly welled up: "Sister Qian Huan... is it really you?!"

"As long as you push open the door, we'll be together forever," she said softly, extending her hand to invite him.

Ape King no longer hesitated, rushing forward with tears in his eyes, pushing open the wooden door with force—

In that instant, thousands of blood-colored vines erupted like venomous snakes, instantly coiling around his limbs and body!

A sharp thorn pierced straight through his glabella, and his Divine Soul shattered on the spot!

【Ape King, eliminated.】

Wan Yuan and Blood Vine King witnessed this scene from afar, both feeling a chill.

They dared not act rashly and began to investigate cautiously.

Finally, relying on their instincts, the two avoided several strange doors and managed to find the exit, successfully advancing.

Lu Chen, relying on the powerful Divine Sense of the Divine Illumination Seamless Art, directly avoided all dangers and easily walked towards the true exit.

【Fifth Trial ends, three players advance.】

Light and shadow flowed, and heaven and earth returned to silence.

They stepped into an ancient bronze hall, where a giant silent bell hung in the center, unmoving.

Here, even a heartbeat sounded piercing.

【Sixth Trial: Silent Hall】

【Rule: Maintain absolute silence until the bell rings.】

【Whoever speaks first will be eliminated.】

【Hint: The bell will ring after one hour.】

The three sat cross-legged, the atmosphere extremely oppressive.

Time passed minute by minute, and even breathing became cautious.

One hour, seemingly short, was in fact as long as a year.

Wan Yuan's eyes flickered, and he quietly gave Blood Vine King a signal:

"Act now, force Lu Chen to speak, and we'll win!"

Blood Vine King understood, gritting his teeth and deciding to take a gamble!

He suddenly activated a secret art, and countless blood vines erupted from the ground like venomous snakes, lunging straight for Lu Chen's throat, eyes, and heart—all fatal killing moves!

He didn't believe Lu Chen could completely ignore the attacks without making a sound!

But just as the blood vines were about to strike—

Lu Chen remained with closed eyes, but his right hand suddenly lifted, pointing into the Void Realm!

"Om—!"

A golden dragon fiend spear shadow appeared out of thin air, swift as lightning, piercing through Blood Vine King's chest!

The will of the dragon fiend spear had already locked onto this person for a long time!

Blood Vine King couldn't bear the intense pain and screamed out:

"Ah—!!!"

【Player "Blood Vine King" detected speaking.】

【Blood Vine King, eliminated.】

Wan Yuan stood dumbfounded, cold sweat soaking his black robe.

He finally understood—

Lu Chen was waiting for the prey to deliver themselves to him.

All light and shadow faded, and heaven and earth became empty.

The mechanical voice echoed again, cold and solemn, reverberating through the Void Realm:

【Seventh Trial, the final trial: Reward Trial】

【There are no restrictions, no time limits, and no win/loss judgment in this trial. Free treasure hunting.】

Wan Yuan stood before the Chaos Hall, his body rigid, cold sweat dripping like rain from his temples.

He stared intently at Lu Chen's calm, almost indifferent Face, his heart churning.

He knew—

He was no longer a match.

From the Fourth Trial onwards, Lu Chen seemed to be toying with them.

Walking through fire in Burning Heart Valley, unmoved by illusions in Thousand Faces Forest, breaking the deadlock with a single spear in Silent Hall... every step was as precise as if fate itself were in control.

Let alone contending for treasures, whether he could even keep his life now was an unknown.

Even more terrifying was—

All six other Ape Kings were dead.

Now, among the millions of Yao Race in the Southern Barbarian Lands, only he remained as a leader.

He couldn't die!

If he perished, the Yao Race would be leaderless, and the iron hooves of the Tianwu Dynasty would surely flatten the Southern Barbarian Lands, drenching the Yao Race Holy Land in blood!

Dignity? Face?

In the Face of life and death and the survival of his race, these all became a joke.

In an instant, this "King of Ten Thousand Yao" who once commanded all beasts and struck terror into the hearts of humans, suddenly fell to his knees with a "thud," heavily kowtowing!

His forehead struck the ground, emitting a dull thud.

"Brother Lu!!"

His voice trembled, carrying unprecedented humility and pleading:

"I don't want any rewards! No treasures! I only ask that you spare my life! I'm not afraid of death, but I cannot die! The countless lives of the Southern Barbarian Lands depend on me! If I perish today, the entire Yao Race will become slaves to the Tianwu Dynasty, refined into Medicinal Pills and made into Puppets! You wouldn't want to see the Tianwu Dynasty's power grow even stronger, would you? Please... let me live!!"