Incarnation of a Spell Machine

"Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions!"

"I told you, the third stage is very special. Just keep watching and you'll see!"

King Yama Zhou remained as calm and composed as ever.

Everyone looked at King Yama Zhou with incredulous eyes.

"Special?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Is this boss a fake?"

King Yama Zhou's gaze remained incomparably dignified. He beckoned, and a minor official trotted over.

After a few operations, a recording began to play over the playground loudspeakers.

"Old Zhou, the task you assigned has been completed."

"Good."

"The volcano is real, but the Flame Demon Overlord is just a counterfeit."

"Remember the Dream Illusion Demon Flower? It's a monster species already declared extinct, but we were lucky enough to catch one."

"One of the Demon Flower's traits is that when a creature enters its territory, it transforms into a powerful monster and emits intense pressure. We've done our best to erase the weaknesses that would make it easy to identify after transformation. Even so, the Demon Flower's attack power remains ridiculously low."

"Remember to file the paperwork in advance, and don't leak the questions!"

The recording ended.

On the playground, thousands of people stared at each other in silence.

"The Red Name monster is a fake?"

"Damn it, King Yama Zhou is such an old schemer!"

"But the Red Name-level pressure is real."

"No, what exactly is King Yama Zhou's game? Simulating the pressure of a Red Name monster just to scare the challengers into wetting their pants?"

"Is he really that twisted?"

The crowd was bewildered.

If that was the case, what was the point of the Endless Trial?

"Quiet."

On the podium, leaders of all ranks kept reprimanding the students, trying their best to maintain order. But it had little effect; although the students didn't dare to complain loudly, they still huddled together to whisper.

"I get it now."

"Brothers, when you first saw the Red Name monster Flame Demon Overlord, what was your first reaction?"

"That King Yama Zhou... is a pervert?"

"..."

"What else?"

"Fear."

"Scared to death. The moment the Flame Demon Overlord displayed its level, I almost wet myself."

"Who wouldn't be scared? The stats of a level 50 monster like that are just too terrifying!!"

In an instant, everyone understood.

So—the test of the third stage was: courage!

A true warrior dares to face death head-on!

A true warrior, even when standing before a Red Name monster, still has the courage to wield their blade!

Not wetting your pants is victory.

"Awesome."

"I've learned something today. King Yama Zhou really knows how to spice up a trial, doesn't he?"

"The seniors are so pitiful. I wonder if they'll be scared to death by the Red Name monster."

"They have Town Portal Scrolls, what are they afraid of?"

The third stage tested courage.

The longer one persisted under the pressure of the Red Name monster, the higher the score.

Ling Zhan had rushed into the Endless Trial without hesitation. From that moment on, his ranking as the city's number one was secure.

Now, he was competing for a spot on the provincial trial leaderboard.

Even so, countless students were so nervous their palms were sweating.

"Go for it, Senior Ling Zhan."

Principal Zhong, Qi Mu, and Ling Zhan's homeroom teacher had all stood up from their seats.

First High School.

Was it finally going to produce a provincial champion?

This was a miracle created by a solo player, destined to be recorded in the annals of history!

"Can he see through it?"

"I hope so. All in all, this is a test of character. It all depends on how he decides to act."

The principals and leaders of other schools, the reporters on the scene, and even the recruiters from ordinary schools were all nervous to the point of suffocation.

"Fight, regardless of success or failure!"

"The Flame Demon Overlord is just a paper tiger. Please, go and tear it to shreds!"

"I feel like I'm seeing a solo player wearing the crown of the provincial trial leaderboard champion!!!"

Humanity had been oppressed by demons and monsters for too long.

They hungered for resistance!

Inside the Endless Trial.

For the first time, a trace of shock flashed in Ling Zhan's eyes.

"It's actually a Red Name monster, even fiercer than a boss..."

ROAR!!

The Flame Demon Overlord let out an earth-shattering roar, and its Red Name pressure swept out from it without restraint.

Brutal!

Terrifying!

The pressure felt as if it were going to destroy everything.

Ling Zhan tried to cast aside his inner distractions, struggling to straighten his back and face the monster head-on.

But the level gap between them was too vast, like a firefly competing with the moon.

A massive psychological pressure descended.

It made him feel as if his breathing were stagnant and his blood flow had stopped!

Since entering the trial, this was the first time he had felt such terrifying pressure.

Outside.

Everyone watched the screen nervously, unable to imagine that even someone as strong as Senior Ling Zhan seemed to be hesitating.

"It's a fake."

"Senior Ling Zhan, the Flame Demon Overlord is a fake!"

"Sigh, our god's-eye view is different from the person actually in there!"

"I hope he can break through the cage with courage!"

"The pressure is getting heavier, like a mountain pressing down."

Inside the Endless Trial.

Ling Zhan was enduring immense psychological pressure, but his eyes were gradually becoming fanatical.

"Why isn't it moving?"

"A Red Name monster, damn, it really is a bit scary."

Ling Zhan's spine was bending.

The pressure was too strong; it was suffocating.

The next moment.

BOOM!

Ling Zhan activated all his buff enhancements at once!

It was as if this gave Ling Zhan endless courage.

One inch.

Two inches.

His bent spine gradually straightened.

Under the pressure of the Red Name monster, Ling Zhan stood tall.

"Huh? He's actually ignited his fighting spirit!"

"That's a level 50 Red Name."

"Pfft! He's Senior Ling Zhan, so what if it's a Red Name?"

On the playground, the audience's emotions were pushed to the limit.

Everyone could see how hard Ling Zhan was pushing himself.

Under the pressure of the Red Name monster.

Sweat poured off him like rain.

His face gradually twisted.

His legs were trembling.

On his arms, veins bulged and writhed like dragons.

"Spear."

"Senior Ling Zhan has brought out the Poison Crab Fang Spear."

"What is he going to do?"

With a loud boom, the crowd erupted.

Just then, someone with itchy fingers switched the screen from Ling Zhan to other challengers.

It was like throwing a spark into a powder keg.

"Senior Ling Zhan?"

"I want to see Senior Ling Zhan!!"

"F*** you!!!"

"Who told you to change the channel?"

The freshmen went crazy.

They were rioting en masse.

Dozens of glares that looked ready to eat someone turned toward the staff member, whose scalp immediately went numb.

Snap.

The image of Ling Zhan appeared on the screen again.

"Leader, you have to do something, these students were acting like lunatics just now." The staff member complained to his superior, looking aggrieved.

Then...

"I really want to chop your hands off!" The leader growled fiercely.

The staff member felt like crying.

"Every challenger has ten seconds of screen time when they leave the trial; that's the rule set for the trial."

"Besides, it wasn't just one person who left the trial just now."

"Fine, if you won't handle it, I'll go report you to King Yama Zhou."

"Director Zhou, I..."

"GET OUT!"

King Yama Zhou let out a roar, and this time, the staff member really did almost wet himself.

"Senior Ling Zhan has all his buffs active, he's holding his ground against the Red Name monster's pressure!"

"What did we miss in those few seconds of footage?"

"Doesn't matter."

"ROAR! Ling Zhan is a beast, Senior is a beast!!"

"Holy crap."

"Senior didn't crush his Town Portal Scroll, is he going to... attack the Flame Demon Overlord with his spear!!?"

The students were wild, their blood boiling at this moment.

Teachers, reporters, and onlookers stared in horror, their eyes locked onto the image of Ling Zhan on the giant screen.

"Is this truly a student of our First High School? To have the courage to level his spear even when facing a Red Name!" Principal Zhong's expression was filled with excitement; he felt a surge of pride for this student.

This was the pride of First High School.

In a novice trial, a Red Name monster with such terrifying spear-index stats.

His courage was commendable!

This student already possessed what every powerhouse must have: courage!

"Regardless of his trial results, all video footage of this student from this trial is to be compiled into our teaching materials."

"Remember, all of it!"

On the podium.

King Yama Zhou remained as imposing as ever, and he, too, was filled with admiration for this student.

It was no exaggeration to say that this student's performance from start to finish could be described as perfect!

Such footage would provide excellent instructional value for future Job Transfer Trial Entrance Examinations.

"Kill!"

A hot-headed freshman suddenly let out a roar.

"Kill it, Senior Ling Zhan!"

To hell with the Red Name.

The bloodlust of humanity was unleashed in that very moment.

One student shouted.

Ten students shouted.

A hundred, a thousand.

Soon after.

Teachers, reporters, everyone was shouting.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Inside the level.

Ling Zhan's eyes were bloodshot. Gripping the Scorpion King Tail Needle Spear, he slammed his foot into the ground.

Earth and stone shattered as his figure soared into the sky—