Zong Shen did not act in haste.
He first walked toward the nearest empty pedestal.
The pedestal's surface was smooth.
As he approached, a ring of silvery-white Runes suddenly lit up around it.
At the same time, a blurry humanoid figure outlined in icy crystalline light appeared before the pedestal.
The phantom held a massive ice hammer engraved with Runes.
It assumed a standard Charged Hammer Strike stance.
Zong Shen could feel a heavy, steady, and power-filled intent spreading through the air.
It was the ultimate application of ice's properties of solidity and destruction.
"A craftsman? Or rather, an Ice Vein architect?"
Zong Shen immediately understood the exact meaning of this test.
However, he did not casually use the power of chaos. With a thought, he took the long-unused [Dragon-Slaying Greatsword (Gold)] from his Storage Grid.
The blade of this greatsword was broad, yet it already felt light in his hands.
He did not channel much divine power into it. Relying only on his physical strength and understanding of force, he imitated the phantom's posture and raised the greatsword high.
Then, with an effortless yet concentrated and undispersed force, he fiercely swung it down at the empty space before the pedestal.
As the blade cleaved through the air, it did not stir up a gale, but rather a wave of air pressure tinged with grayish-white traces.
It crashed heavily into the hammer-strike point designated by the phantom.
"Buzzz—"
At once, the silvery-white Runes on the pedestal began to glow and flow.
The ice hammer phantom completed its striking motion, then slowly dissipated.
A line of ancient Slavia text briefly appeared on the pedestal's surface before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Although he had passed the test, there was no additional reward.
This was merely the standard inspection for