Outside the city, Ling Xuan examined the Space Ring he had taken from the lord.
The ring wasn't very large, spanning only a few kilometers—nothing compared to the World Ring Ling Xuan carried.
There wasn't much inside, either: just a few treasures and rare materials useful to Domain Lords, along with some of Xueluo Continent's currency.
"Just a pile of junk, and he hid it like it was treasure." Ling Xuan, whose own secret realm was overflowing with riches, didn't think much of the lord's collection.
"Is this a Xueluo Crystal?" Ling Xuan's gaze suddenly settled on a triangular pillar of blood-red crystal.
The Xueluo Crystal was an important token for this trial, and Ling Xuan had long since looked up what it looked like using his authority. He recognized it at a glance.
"Let's fuse one and see how strong it is." Without hesitation, Ling Xuan sliced across his left palm with a finger like a blade.
Hiss!
The cut opened, and crimson blood flowed from the wound. Before it could heal, he pressed the Xueluo Crystal against it.
The crystal was instantly soaked in scarlet, as though it had awakened a slumbering beast.
In an instant, the Xueluo Crystal erupted with blinding red light, like the gates of hell bursting open.
A savage energy, like that of an ancient Desolate Beast, surged through the wound and flooded Ling Xuan's body.
His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and his handsome face twisted out of shape. Veins bulged along his neck like coiled vipers.
"Damn it!" Ling Xuan growled through gritted teeth. Every muscle in his body tightened like a drawn bowstring, every inch of him fighting the violent force with all his might.
Boom! A deafening crash exploded in his sea of consciousness, as if a thousand armies were charging