Trial Tower Part 2

The objectives and numbers of each of the seven trial towers are identical, but the strength of each challenge increases.

On the first floor, there are 10,000 blood-haired mammoths.

On the second floor, there are 10,000 "Nine-Headed Pythons."

On the third floor, there are 1,000 metal beings known as the "Warriors of the Dhara Tribe."

...

The seventh floor hosts a single Zerg brood.

Wang Yi had spent seventy grueling days making his way to the first floor of the second tower, which mirrored the first floor of the previous one, populated by blood-haired mammoths. However, the beasts here were far stronger, demanding every ounce of his strength and strategy. Around this same time, other prodigies, including Luo Feng and Hong, also reached this stage. As they advanced, more seasoned participants gathered outside, including immortals and dignitaries from major universe nations, watching the ranking boards with rapt attention.

The rankings constantly fluctuated as participants strove to prove their mettle. Rong Jun, a fierce prodigy known for his tenacity, drew the spotlight after reaching the top 1,000. His momentum carried him up the ranks swiftly, captivating audiences who debated the relative standings of the others, especially Luo Feng, whose position remained unexpectedly low.

Some believed he was lying low, conserving his energy for tougher challenges, while others suspected he struggled to keep pace. Meanwhile, Wang Yi remained an enigma, eschewing the publicized battles and trials, focusing solely on his advancement in the Trial Towers. Only a handful of high-ranking officials understood the full extent of his abilities, while public attention fixated on more visible contestants like Rong Jun, Luo Feng, and Hong.

In the Virtual Universe, in the plaza encircled by towering spires, immortals observed the proceedings with amusement and curiosity.

"As expected, Bolan remains well ahead," one commented, his gaze on the leaderboard where Bolan's name occupied the top slot. "It doesn't seem like anyone can catch him."

"Rong Jun, though… he's climbed all the way to 18th." Another immortal pointed, nodding in respect. Rong Jun's fierce determination was hard to overlook.

The Trial Towers presented a unique challenge compared to traditional one-on-one combat. Participants faced hordes of varied enemies, including mechanical puppets and metal beings immune to soul attacks, which forced competitors who relied on spiritual force to adapt. Those who were genuinely talented, however, continued to rise above these obstacles.

A scaled-armored giant from the Witchcraft World, scrutinized the leaderboards with a calculating gaze. The rankings were ruthless, marked with the names of thousands who had already been eliminated. Among the remaining contenders, Wang Yi and Luo Feng caught his attention.

"I wager they'll both make it into the top 100," he mused. "But to what extent? That remains to be seen."

The Trial Towers claimed their fair share of victims, and the third tower, in particular, proved brutal. Only 10% of those who entered it made it through to the fourth. Yet on the seventh floor of the third tower, Wang Yi faced his own decisive battle against the towering 80-meter-diameter Zerg brood, a grotesque creature exuding toxic gas and venomous bile.

For a time, the Zerg mother empress attempted to thwart him with soul attacks, only to realize they barely phased him. Instead, Wang Yi focused on mastering his prized weapon, the Yanshen.

Summoning a complex formation of hundreds of fiery-red lights, Wang Yi melded them into a design that resembled both a comet and a radiant sun. As it took form, powerful waves of energy pulsed outward, distorting the air around him and repelling the Zerg queen's venomous mists. The Yanshen, attuned to fire and space, emitted a power that overwhelmed the brood's defenses, shattering its resilience. After 210 days of honing his skill within the tower, Wang Yi reached the third stage of the Yanshen's power limit with the aid of his two clones, the Flame Star Beast and the Void Zerg, each possessing world-class abilities as Domain Masters.

With a final strike, a fiery-red blast burst forth from the Yanshen and eradicated the Zerg mother in an instant. As she crumbled, Wang Yi felt the Tower's power surge within him, drawing him forward to the fourth Trial Tower. Unbeknownst to him, Luo Feng and Hong advanced around the same time, ready to tackle the fourth tower's perils.

Outside, the immortals and spectators watched as a red "eliminated" label appeared next to Hong's name on the ranking list. He'd reached an impressive rank of 15,722, surpassing the achievements of most others but still falling short of the top tiers. For his efforts, Hong would likely earn a position within the core ranks of the Ganwu Universe Country.

The scaled-armored giant narrowed his gaze, noting the consistent progress of both Luo Feng and Wang Yi. With each floor, they exhibited unique yet comparable strategies, and the similarities did not go unnoticed. He recalled seeing the Yanshen, a weapon of great might, that Wang Yi wielded with exceptional skill.

As the competition neared its final stages, the tension in the Virtual Universe plaza was palpable. The seventh floor of the fourth Trial Tower loomed ahead, containing even greater trials that tested each contender's ability to adapt, strategize, and endure.