The mural choice three, "[Cleverly Overcoming the Trap]", depicts an ancient epic with a magnificent and tragic aftertaste that still lingers in Xiao Han's heart. Suddenly, ripples appear in the void ahead of the ancient road, like pebbles being thrown into a calm water surface. As the ripples spread, several figures silently coalesce into shape.
They were clad in uniform silver armor, each plate seemingly forged from fragments of starlight, reflecting a chilling light. The tips of their spears sparkled with starlight, as if drawing upon the essence of the celestial galaxy. Their faces were shrouded in a hazy halo, only their cold and powerful aura emanating from them, the oppressive force of Martial Emperor Realm Third Level, pressing heavily upon Xiao Han.
As soon as these "Starpath Guards" appeared, they all turned their gazes to Xiao Han, and an invisible sense of oppression blocked all his possibilities of moving forward.
The leading guard captain was slightly taller than his companions, and the star patterns engraved on his silver armor were more intricate and mysterious. Beneath his helmet, two points of eerie blue light suddenly shone, like two cold stars, meticulously scanning Xiao Han's entire body. He spoke, his voice devoid of any human emotion, like metal rubbing against metal, cold and piercing. "A high level of demonic corruption has been detected on the target, not meeting the standards for entering the Heaven-Piercing Tower. Execute 'Purification Program' or 'Elimination Program'."
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold, emotionless notification sound suddenly rang in Xiao Han's mind:
[Ding! God-Level Choice System activated!]
[Option 1: [Comply with Purification]. Accepting the Starpath Guards's "Starlight Purification" has a certain chance of washing away some of the demonic aura, but the purification process will be extremely painful and may cause unpredictable damage to the foundation of your Martial Soul. Reward: Heaven-Piercing Tower Initial Recognition +10.]
[Option 2: [Forceful Assault]. Defeat all Starpath Guards in front of you and force your way through the Purification Corridor. Reward: Title "Tower-Outlaw" (Loyalty to all relevant factions in the Heaven-Piercing Tower -50), Star Energy Core (Number of Guardians x1, Quality Random).]
[Option 3: [Outsmart the Guard]. Utilize your understanding of shadow and Space Laws, or use other means, to attempt to bypass or deceive the guards and find potential loopholes in the Purification Corridor. Reward: Unknown Mysterious Item x1, no change in Heaven-Piercing Tower affinity.]
Xiao Han's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. The two streams of demonic energy within him were generating an increasingly strong aversion to the pure stellar energy emanating from these Starpath Guards, almost to the point of boiling over. He dared not even consider the option of [Submit to Purification]. If he were to allow that "Starlight Purification" to trigger trouble within his body, the consequences would be unimaginable, far more serious than simply damaging his foundation.
He slightly shifted his body, silently activating the Eternal Night Monarch's martial arts, transforming himself into a pale ink-like phantom, attempting to blend into the mottled and variegated light and shadow of the ancient road. Unleashing the "Close at Hand, A Step to the Ends of the Earth" footwork, almost invisible ripples spread across the space beneath his feet. He glided towards the flank of the guards' seemingly impenetrable defenses, simultaneously sensing both sides of the ancient road, hoping to discover overlooked hidden paths.
The moment he moved, the eerie blue lights under the helmets of the Starpath Guards suddenly focused, precisely locking onto his new location.
"Whoosh!"
Several condensed beams of star energy pierced the air, accompanied by a piercing shriek, heading straight for the shadow where he had previously been hiding. The beams were extremely fast, and the power they contained made the hairs on the back of Xiao Han's neck stand on end. He rolled quickly, narrowly avoiding the beams, but a few strands of hair on his forehead were singed by the edge of the beams and instantly turned black, filling the air with the acrid smell of burning protein.
"Damn it!" Xiao Han cursed inwardly. These iron lumps were far too sensitive to energy!
The captain of the guard remained motionless, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion. "Demonic corruptor, your petty cleverness is meaningless before the rules of the Heaven-Piercing Tower. The Purification Corridor is the only way for all pilgrims, and it is also a test of the soul."
Unconvinced, Xiao Han tried several different stealth methods, attempting to break through using subtle disturbances in light and energy. However, instead of finding an opening, he was overwhelmed by the guards' mechanically precise coordination. The starlight rays seemed to have eyes, relentlessly pursuing his shadow, leaving him no chance to even catch his breath. He was now almost certain that these guards were not living beings, but rather some kind of energy aggregate connected to this Starry Sky Ancient Road, possessing inexhaustible and tireless power.
It seems there's no chance of finding a loophole. Xiao Han took a deep breath, his previously hesitant figure steadied itself, and a resolute aura rose from him.
Just as he was gathering his strength and preparing to go all out, an unexpected event occurred!
At this moment, the "Primordial Demon Finger Soul-Splitting Curse Seal" on his left ankle and the "Primordial Demon Fiend Qi" deep in his back suddenly resonated with an unprecedented intensity! A violent demonic thought, far exceeding any previous one, transformed into a surging black shockwave and slammed into his sea of consciousness!
This demonic thought was filled with greed and desire for pure energy. It roared wildly in Xiao Han's mind, clamoring to control his body, to tear apart those Starpath Guards, and to devour the pure yet damnably tempting star power on their bodies!
"Ugh--!" Xiao Han suddenly clutched his head, veins bulging on his forehead, large beads of sweat rolling down his contorted face, splashing onto the hard, cold stone slabs of the ancient road.
His eyes were bloodshot, his teeth were clenched, and he used all his strength to protect his sea of consciousness with the [Soul Origin Treasure Jade] and the Chaos Green Lotus Martial Soul, suppressing the terrifying demonic thought that was about to devour him.
He finally understood! The "Purification Program" these guards spoke of might really be the nemesis of the demonic corruption within him, but it could also very well be the fuse that completely ignites these two hidden dangers!
The guard captain seemed to notice Xiao Han's unusual state; the eerie blue light beneath his helmet flickered rapidly, as if he were analyzing some data. A moment later, he raised his star-energy spear, and his icy voice rang out again. "Signs of demonic corruption spiraling out of control, threat level increased. Activate... 'Final Elimination Protocol'!"
Before he finished speaking, not only him, but also the dozens of Starpath Guards who had been standing still all around him raised their spears at the same time!
The tips of each spear began to gather dazzling starlight, and the terrifying energy fluctuations were enough to make any Peak of the Martial Emperor Realm expert change color!
Dozens of devastating attacks were firmly locked onto Xiao Han!
Meanwhile, within his body, the out-of-control demonic thought was roaring wildly, assaulting his willpower defenses!
A deadly attack from both inside and outside suddenly erupted! Xiao Han was instantly plunged into an unprecedented life-or-death predicament!