End Of The Second Test

End Of The Second Test . . .

Qin Wentian's will was thrust into the nightmarish realm for the third time. The malevolent eyes of the devil king bore into him, and once again, a sinister blood-saber manifested in the creature's hands.

Unfazed, Qin Wentian returned the piercing gaze with a chilling determination. His voice sliced through the air, as cold as the ice that enveloped him, "Your annihilation of my will is tantamount to snuffing out my life, shattering my sea of consciousness. You seek to drive me back, to force me to avert my eyes and surrender to the devil statue."

His tone was laced with icy resolve. As his will ventured into the statue's depths, the devil king promptly obliterated it.

Qin Wentian's voice remained unyielding, "You aim to thrust me into the abyss of last place with a single blow. But who are you truly, orchestrating this twisted game?" His question hung in the air, unanswered.

In response, the devil king's aura surged ominously, its silence a chilling response. Another swift strike followed, and Qin Wentian's arm was severed, agony searing through him. Blood flowed profusely, pooling at his feet.

Indeed, this will was manipulated by an unseen hand. Qin Wentian had harbored suspicions before, but now he was certain. The devil king within the statue possessed consciousness; its actions were deliberate.

Once more, Qin Wentian's will was drawn into the blood-soaked world. Even as a mere fragment of himself, he remained acutely aware. The purpose of this gruesome assault was clear—to break his spirit, to drive him to despair, ultimately resulting in his elimination.

Another deadly slash descended, severing his remaining arm. Yet, he stood resolute, every fiber of his being wracked with pain. His unyielding gaze remained locked onto the devil king before him.

As the devil king raised its saber once more, a blood-red light gleaming menacingly, Qin Wentian's body convulsed from the agony, but his eyes never wavered. The saber drew closer, inch by agonizing inch, as if the devil king reveled in prolonging his torment, seeking to shatter his will.

Back on the platform, Qin Wentian trembled, his voice echoing through the air, a defiant laugh laced with madness. "HAHA, it seems the devil statue possesses a cruel consciousness, delighting in tormenting me! COME, ONCE MORE!" His voice pierced the heavens as his will was inexorably pulled back into the statue. In that moment, only Qin Wentian's voice resounded, defying the relentless torment.

A tense hush fell upon the spectators as their collective gaze bore down on Qin Wentian. His bold proclamation had rattled them, and the sharp-eyed experts in the crowd couldn't help but exchange knowing glances.

The statue possessed a mind of its own and was inflicting torment upon him? The mere thought of such a bizarre revelation sent shivers down their spines.

All eyes then turned to Dongsheng Ting, who remained unruffled, an air of indifference surrounding him. He calmly responded, "This trial conducted by the devil statue is exceptionally arduous. It subjects all participants to the same brutal treatment, pushing their wills to the brink, testing their endurance."

Dongsheng Ting's explanation seemed reasonable, but doubts lingered. Was Qin Wentian's will truly the weakest among the ten participants? Why did he display such an intense reaction? And what did he mean by the statue having a mind of its own? Were these excuses, or was there something more to the situation?

While these questions swirled in the minds of the immortal kings present, none dared to voice their suspicions. This event was hosted by the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, and the rules were set by Dongsheng Ting. Both the sect's own immortal kings and their guests understood the unspoken protocols.

The audience watched as Qin Wentian was repeatedly thrust out of the nightmarish realm, blood flowing from his mouth. Yet, it became apparent that he wasn't the sole victim; others also exhibited signs of enduring excruciating pain.

Eventually, the strain became too much for one participant. In a moment of weakness, he averted his gaze. It was a surprising turn of events—the top-ranked participant from the Qian Prefecture, Ye Qianchen, was the first to be eliminated from the second round.

The power concealed within the statue left everyone bewildered. Far from the prying eyes of the onlookers, deep within the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, a formidable figure sat in meditation. He was a formidable devil cultivator, and while his mortal form remained seated here, his consciousness resided within the heart of the battle platform, within the statue itself.

"Such tenacity," he murmured, his voice cold and low. His eyes, a malevolent shade of blood-red, opened. They bore a striking resemblance to the devil king manifested within the blood-soaked realm of the statue.

He had employed every method at his disposal to torment Qin Wentian, yet the youth refused to yield. Frustrated, he was now compelled to escalate his cruelty toward the others. However, he needed to tread carefully; if his interference became too obvious, Dongsheng Ting would undoubtedly raise suspicions.

Regrettably, only his immortal sense could penetrate the statue while he himself remained physically distant from the test location. If he were to reveal his presence, it would be a slap in the face of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect.

"I want to see how long your will can withstand this." The devil cultivator's voice dripped with malevolence as he continued to subject Qin Wentian's consciousness to unrelenting torment. How long could the youth endure this relentless onslaught?

With the devil statue's will under his control, Dongsheng Ting possessed the means to manipulate the rankings for this second round, just as he had done in the first. During that initial trial, as long as the Dream Demon King had been willing, he could have arranged the rankings as he pleased, for all ten participants existed within his dreamscape.

In the second round, the stage was shrouded in darkness, yet the reactions of the ten contenders were now fully visible to the onlookers. Though the devil king's influence over the testing was somewhat limited, it still played a significant role, particularly in the intensity of the assaults unleashed upon the participants. So, in a certain sense, this seemingly 'fair' second round was not all that different from the first.

From the spectators' viewpoint, however, this second round appeared entirely equitable. Were it not for Qin Wentian's earlier proclamation, suspicions would have never taken root. The distracting remnants of a certain website and extraneous characters had been expunged from the narrative.

A sudden roar of frustration rent the air as a second participant, unable to endure any longer, averted his gaze. This time, it was Qin Ta, the second-ranked contender from the Western Desert Prefecture. While his combat prowess was formidable, his mental fortitude proved less resilient, leading to his elimination.

Next to succumb to the relentless torment was Zi Qingxuan, a surprising turn of events given her strength. She had also been the third participant to fall during the initial round of testing. Her countenance paled as she glared at the devil statue, her eyes flashing with a simmering anger. She had endured a great deal of suffering but, as her will teetered on the brink of collapse, she had no choice but to yield.

Yet, beneath her outward frustration simmered an indomitable fire of rage. She, too, sensed the puppeteer behind the devil statue's sadistic machinations. But what recourse did she have?

If the devil king harbored a target, it was undoubtedly Qin Wentian.

Were it not for Qin Wentian's unwavering resolve and unrelenting persistence, he would have fallen victim long ago.

This final examination comprised three rounds. Having placed last in the first, Qin Wentian knew that securing a spot in the top three would be exceedingly challenging if he were to rank at the bottom once again in this second round. Even with a stellar performance in the final round, marked by unparalleled combat prowess, the odds would remain stacked against him.

He had to push his limits, defy the test, and refuse to accept defeat.

With a furious roar, Qin Wentian's will was once again sundered. Yet, mere moments later, it was forcibly drawn back into the nightmarish realm of blood and darkness—a relentless cycle of torment with no apparent end.

The seven remaining participants fought valiantly, testing their endurance. However, even Jun Mengchen, who had given his all, eventually reached his breaking point. For this round, he claimed the seventh position.

Yet, Qin Wentian persisted. Remarkably, he advanced toward the devil statue of his own volition, each step causing his body to tremble violently. His determination surged through his veins, an unyielding resolve in his heart.

"Senior brother, please reconsider..." Jun Mengchen implored, witnessing the agony etched across Qin Wentian's face. He was acutely aware of the excruciating torment Qin Wentian endured every time his will was thrust into the blood-soaked abyss. The malevolent devil king employed the most brutal methods to torment him.

But Qin Wentian refused to yield. Mo Wen's endurance reached its limit, earning him the sixth rank.

Amidst the grueling test, only the top five positions remained within reach. Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan clenched their fists, their eyes filled with determination. Even under these profoundly unfair circumstances, Qin Wentian had managed to cling to a position within the top five.

In an effort to maintain the illusion of fairness, the other participants were now enduring the same ferocious onslaught as Qin Wentian. The next contender to succumb to the relentless torment was Ruthless, a master of devil arts. Even his unwavering will had its limits, resulting in him securing the fifth rank in this grueling second round of testing.

The indomitable Feather King, too, eventually averted his gaze.

"Now, only the top three spots remain," Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan whispered to each other, their eyes locked onto the remaining participants. These two, however, displayed unyielding wills. After a protracted struggle, Qin Wentian finally coughed up blood, tearing his gaze away from the relentless assault. He was sent reeling by the impact, his entire body convulsing and drenched in sweat, his aura fluctuating wildly.

Qin Wentian had secured the third rank in this second round of testing.

"Senior!" Jun Mengchen dashed towards Qin Wentian in concern.

"Don't worry," Qin Wentian reassured him, casting a glance at the two remaining participants. Securing the third rank was already a significant achievement.

He then sat down cross-legged, his blood stirring. A white candle flame began to circulate within his body, gradually alleviating the fatigue and damage inflicted upon his will and spirit.

The last two participants continued to endure.

Ultimately, the first to falter was none other than Gusu Tianqi. Hua Taixu's unyielding will persevered until the very end.

"Hua Taixu is the last participant standing. He has bested Gusu Tianqi and claimed the first rank for the second round of testing."

"Gusu Tianqi and Hua Taixu... In the first round, Gusu Tianqi secured the top spot, while Hua Taixu came in second. However, for the second round, their positions have reversed. If they perform just as impressively in the final round, their positions in the top three will likely be secured." The crowd's eyes flickered with anticipation before returning to Qin Wentian. His relentless determination had allowed him to secure a position within the top three rankings for the second round. It was evident that he, too, was prepared to give his all to claim a spot in the coveted top three.