Assessment Passed

At that moment, in a room within the towering building, Cal was chatting idly with a snake-human youth who had a human head and serpent body. Before them played a video of Gulanxiu's trial.

After Gulanxiu cleaved the Zerg Queen of the Fourth Tower in two with a single axe stroke, the snake-human youth smiled and said to Cal, "Haha! Cal, your luck is really good. That little fellow has successfully passed the Fourth Tower and is now qualified to join our Axe Fighting Arena."

A faint smile tugged at Cal's lips as she replied, "Yes, my luck is indeed good. But it looks like the Fifth Tower is his limit. There's no way he can directly enter the Axe Secret Realm."

The snake-human youth rolled his eyes and said, "Don't be so smug. The Seventh Trial Tower isn't that easy to clear. Even among all the Universe-level members of our Axe Fighting Arena, only a handful have managed it. And this kid's cultivation path is Space Slaughter—among the three major branches of the Space Law, Space Slaughter has the strongest combat power in one-on-one fights, but clearing this trial tower relies more on speed. Those who comprehend Teleportation have a clear advantage!"

Cal nodded and said, "True. Actually, Gulanxiu is fine since he's a warrior; the trial tower doesn't affect him much. It's truly unfair for illusionists. That little girl named Yuxue you found earlier—her Law comprehension isn't worse than Gulanxiu's, but because she's an illusionist, she couldn't pass the Fourth Trial Tower. What a pity!"

The snake-human youth shook his head and said, "Nothing we can do. The higher-ups don't really care about geniuses like us from the Fourth Secret Realm. Even if they know the trial tower favors controllers over illusionists, they won't change it. After all, any genius with real potential to break into the First Secret Realm wouldn't fall at the Fourth Trial Tower, even if they're an illusionist."

Cal agreed, "Exactly. The higher-ups only care about geniuses from the Axe Secret Realm. Only they have a chance to become King-level Experts. As for us, the hope of becoming a King is slim. By the way, I'm preparing to break through to Immortal. When will you break through?"

The snake-human youth looked at Cal in surprise and said, "Can you clear Sky Bridge Level 15? Do you have a chance to become a Marquis?"

Cal smiled bitterly and said, "No. Level 15 isn't that easy. It's just that over the past hundred thousand years, my cultivation speed has slowed down more and more. I can't clear Level 15 before my lifespan runs out. So I might as well break through to Immortal and cultivate slowly afterward. After all, breaking through to Immortal changes my status and greatly improves my survival ability. There's no need for me to stay at the Realm Lord Level anymore."

The snake-human youth nodded and said, "That's true. Breaking through early is fine. Over the years, of the members who participated in the Expert Battle in the same batch as us, 972 have already fallen. Of the remaining 28, 20 have chosen to break through. Only the eight of us are still at the Realm Lord Stage. When I reach a point where I can't advance anymore, I'll choose to break through too."

A hint of envy flashed in Cal's eyes as she said, "I really envy you for still being able to improve. It seems possible for you to clear Sky Bridge Level 15 while still at the Realm Lord Stage. Once you break through to Immortal, you'll have an Undying Body and become a Marquis-level Expert!"

The snake-human youth shook his head and said, "It's not as easy as you say! I'm still a ways off from Level 15. I don't know if I can break through. And with my potential, Level 15 at the Realm Lord Stage is my limit. I can't compare to those true geniuses!"

After hearing this, Cal felt a touch of melancholy. Since joining the Axe Fighting Arena, they had learned that there were always greater people and greater heavens. The talent they had once prided themselves on was nothing in front of true geniuses. Of course, that was compared to the most exceptional geniuses. Compared to the countless Realm Lords of the human race, they were still very strong—after all, comprehension at Sky Bridge Level 14 had already surpassed most Immortals of the human race.

After that, the two chatted idly while watching Gulanxiu's trial.

Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. The snake-human youth said, "Look, that little guy is injured!"

Cal nodded and said, "Yes. It seems the third level of the Fifth Tower is his limit."

In the image, Gulanxiu was being besieged by hundreds of Gyro Tribe Warriors. Each of these warriors had made some progress in the Gold Law and was extremely tough. Gulanxiu couldn't kill one with a single axe strike.

Under the siege of these Gyro Tribe Warriors, one of Gulanxiu's arms was severed at the shoulder, and his movement speed was affected. After killing over five hundred Gyro Tribe Warriors, Gulanxiu finally couldn't hold on and was killed by the remaining ones.

In the room, Gulanxiu slowly opened his eyes. His consciousness left the Virtual Universe, and he murmured to himself, "It's truly amazing. Fighting in the Virtual Universe feels almost no different from reality. Even the pain of death is almost exactly the same!"

Indeed, this was Gulanxiu's first battle in the Virtual Universe. After all, Gulanxiu was just a Star-level from a native planet. He had never been exposed to the Virtual Universe before. Later, he became a slave and had no chance to experience it. His first connection to the Virtual Universe relied on the Light Brain Cal had given him.

Moreover, since Gulanxiu had no money and was too embarrassed to ask Cal for more, he hadn't experienced many of the Virtual Universe's functions. Now, thanks to this assessment, he finally got a taste of the Virtual Universe's wonders.

Shaking his head, Gulanxiu slowly walked out of the room. Cal was still waiting for him. He couldn't keep this Realm Lord, who had helped him so much, waiting long.

As soon as he stepped out, Gulanxiu saw Cal and a snake-human youth standing side by side with smiles on their faces.

Cal said to Gulanxiu, "Gulanxiu! Congratulations on passing the assessment and becoming a genius of our Axe Fighting Arena's Fourth Secret Realm! This is my friend, Qianmo Realm Lord, also a Realm Lord member of our Fourth Secret Realm. He just watched your trial video and thinks highly of your talent."

Gulanxiu quickly bowed to the snake-human youth Qianmo and said, "Thank you, Lord Qianmo!"

Qianmo nodded and said, "No need to be polite. Your talent is indeed good. Cultivate well, and who knows—you might break into the Third Secret Realm or even the Second Secret Realm!"

Seeing Gulanxiu's puzzled expression, Cal explained, "Gulanxiu! Let me tell you about the classification of core members in our Axe Fighting Arena."