Before them lay a scene utterly different from the icy wasteland they had just traversed.
The ground was rough and fissured, glowing cracks revealing churning magma beneath. Jagged rocks, the same despair-inducing gray-brown as the cracked earthâlike dried tree bark, littered the landscape.
The biting cold was gone, replaced by scorching heat and the acrid stench of sulfur, potent enough to daze anyone with a single breath.
In the distance, geysers of magma erupted sporadically from the ground, each outburst raising the temperature and intensifying the noxious fumes. Farther still, an eternally active volcano spewed thick ash clouds, its slopes rivers of molten rock, turning the entire mountain into a giant, burning torch.
This was a place that instilled dread at first glance.
Ye Zhongming took a deep breath and stepped forward first.
For an ordinary person, a few breaths of this air would trigger coughing and tears; prolonged exposure would lead to unconsciousness, and without immediate treatment or escape, death.
But for evolved, it was manageable, though with the toxin concentration slowly rising, Cloud Peak needed to move quickly.
"What kind of trial awaits us here?"
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Ye Zhongming pondered as he led the group forward.
The answer came from beneath the ground.
A creature of rock and magma, its body wreathed in flames, rose before them. Its fire-wreathed fists were its weapons.
"What the hellâŠ"
A Youth Army soldier couldnât help but mutter.
This flaming stone giant, though not as tall as the Type V stone knight, radiated the same level of power.
Level 9!
Since when did spatial trials start at Level 9?
Ye Zhongming didnât know whether to laugh or cry. But what he did know was that they had to attack.
Facing a Level 9 threat, Ye Zhongming, along with Red Hair, Xiao Min, and Xia Baiâall Level 8âcharged as the spearhead, while the Female Guard provided support. The Youth Army remained in reserve.
The battle beasts, still useless in combat, could only watch from behind.
The flaming stone giant, standing ten stories tall, was met with Ye Zhongmingâs Thousand Seal Slash, countless slashes carving deep into its chest.
Shards of rock and fire scattered, but the wounds were quickly sealed by flames, making it impossible to gauge the damage.
Red Hair and Xia Bai struck next, spear and scythe slamming into the giantâs body, forcing it back two steps. Yet again, flames and debris flew, but the effect remained unclear.
The giantâs fire-trailing fist came crashing down.
BOOM!
The group scattered as the punch slammed into the ground, the shockwave rattling even the Female Guard and Youth Army further back.
Such was the might of a Level 9 strike.
"Fire-elemental attack power."
Xia Bai, who had hovered closest to the fist thanks to her flight ability, analyzed it best.
"Tremendous force, with extreme acceleration in the final moments."
Red Hair, having nimbly dodged, drove her weapon into the giantâs heel as she spoke.
"Defense is average, but the flames seem to have regenerative properties."
Ye Zhongming, having evaded the punch, landed and slashed at the opposite heel.
"Watch its other hand!"
Xiao Min, aware of her slightly lower combat prowess, had hung back, wielding two thick, tube-like devices.
One fired a diamond-shaped metal projectileâtethered by a tough beast tendonâstraight at the giantâs head.
The second shot struck the other hand, the impact strong enough to rival Xia Bai or Red Hairâs blows, forcing the giantâs limbs off course.
The missed magma spray from its palm incinerated a distant boulder instantly.
Ye Zhongmingâs eyes narrowed. That magmaâs corrosive power meant even a glancing hit would severely injure any of them.
"Xiao Min and I will hold it offâyou attack!"
Ye Zhongming tossed the Staff of Nature to Xiao Min and leaped toward the descending fist.
"Boss!"
The Female Guard warriors stiffened in alarm.
Ye Zhongming was among the strongest Level 8 evolved, capable of holding his own against Level 9 foes briefly.
But the power gap was undeniable. Even if this flame giant was weaker than a true Level 9 lifeform, it still outmatched him.
Especially in raw attack power.
For him to stand his ground like thisâwas he staking everything?
The fist collided with Ye Zhongming.
The entire team stopped breathing.
CLANG!
Ye Zhongming droppedâbut not at the bone-shattering speed everyone expected.
Instead, he descended steadily, landing on his feet.
"The bossâs shield!"
A Youth Army soldier spotted it firstâthe subtle motion of Ye Zhongming lowering his arm, the small round shield now visible.
"Shilan Defense Shield! Defense: 12,000."
"Ability 1: Loyal Bulwark. When activated, blocks all attack types, negating damage up to twice its defense value. Residual force is evenly distributed across three seconds in three increments!"
Ye Zhongming had used this newly forged purple-grade shield to absorb a Level 9 strike, dispersing the remaining force in three manageable bursts.
He had withstood a Level 9 attack unscathed.
For a moment, the team stared in aweâthen erupted in cheers.