Shen Yi led Fang Yang's group through a shadowed corridor into a spacious, sunlit hall.
"Senior Teacher Shen—what's this test?" Tang Wulin asked, eyes bright with curiosity.
Shen Yi smiled: "Second trial: Beast Arena."
"More participants = stronger, more numerous spirit beasts. Survive one minute under their assault. Inflict wounds for bonus points."
Her gaze warmed with encouragement: "Do your best."
Then—she vanished.
The group nodded, bracing themselves.
Suddenly—darkness swallowed the hall.
Silver lines flared on the floor, weaving luminous patterns.
The ceiling transformed into a living starry sky.
WHOOSH!
They stood in a colossal circular arena.
No warning—the ground trembled.
Four hulking spirit beasts emerged—
12-meter-long, 6-meter-tall, armored in thick brown carapace, dual horns crowning their heads, blood-red eyes blazing with slaughter-lust.
"Earth Demon Rhinos!" Tang Wulin identified them. "All ten-thousand-year grade!"
Prairie monarchs—less famed than Star Dou's Dark Terror Bears, yet devastatingly powerful.
Unbreakable defense. Cataclysmic charges.
Fang Yang commanded instantly:
"Gu Yue and Xiaoyan—left rhino. Wulin and Xie Xie—right. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi—third. I'll handle the leader."
"Yes, Captain!" they roared, deploying.
Gu Yue pulsed with elemental energy, silver light flashing in her eyes.
Xu Xiaoyan summoned her Star Wheel, stardust swirling in her palms.
Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Emperor vines coiled like serpents.
Xie Xie gripped his Space Time Dagger, Space Time Dragon phantom looming behind him.
Zhang Yangzi's Shadow Phantasm Eagle wings blotted out light, shadows swallowing him whole.
Wang Jinxi became Bone Dragon Emperor, skeletal armor radiating glacial dread.
Fang Yang stood relaxed, hands in pockets, utterly dismissive of the rhino king.
ROOOAR!
The rhinos charged.
Xu Xiaoyan struck first—
First Soul Skill: "Star Wheel Chains!"
Stellar shackles snared the left rhino.
"Ice Spear!" Gu Yue flicked her fingers—a glacial lance pierced its hide, blood geysering.
On the right—
Tang Wulin's vines bound the rhino's limbs.
Xie Xie blinked via spatial rift, dagger plunging into its soft underbelly.
Zhang Yangzi activated his first black ring:
First Soul Skill: "Veil of Darkness!"
Pitch-black void swallowed the third rhino.
Wang Jinxi said nothing—
Bone Dragon Claws ripped the beast in half.
It collapsed, cleaved clean.
Fang Yang glanced sideways—
Black Flame erupted, forming a sky-obscuring palm.
KRABOOM!
The rhino king vanished—incinerated to nothingness.
As the last rhino fell, stars dimmed.
Dizziness struck—they reappeared in the hall.
Shen Yi stood waiting, shock unmasked on her face.
She'd expected a grueling battle—not annihilation.
"Congratulations!" she beamed, pride swelling.
"Second trial results: Fang Yang—10, Xie Xie—10, Gu Yue—10, Xu Xiaoyan—10, Zhang Yangzi—10, Wang Jinxi—10!"
Another perfect sweep!
She studied them silently, then led them onward.
Their synergy, combat instincts, individual power—surpassed even Inner Court disciples.
"How did my Senior Brother train such monsters?" she wondered.
They exited into a courtyard of stone buildings.
Ahead—a wall of doors—over a hundred, arranged in uneven rows.
"Guillotine Doors?!" Xie Xie grinned, eyes gleaming. "My specialty!"
"Correct," Shen Yi confirmed.
Each door held only a frame—above it, a 2-meter-wide, 1-meter-tall guillotine blade, half-meter thick.
One drop could bisect an ox.
"Third trial: Reflexes," Shen Yi explained.
"After I say 'Prepare,' you have one minute to ready yourselves. At 'Begin,' you'll start to cross through.
Complete in ≤30 seconds: 6 points. Every 3 seconds faster: +1 point. Every 3 seconds slower: -1 point."
Her voice turned grave:
"First—the closer you stand to the blade, the faster it falls. These are REAL blades. Death is on you."
"Second—scores can go NEGATIVE. Fail to pass? Your exam ends here."
She inhaled deeply, then bellowed:
"GUILLOTINE—RISE!"
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