Yun Ji's warning was like a bucket of cold water over their heads, instantly dampening Su Yan's joy at breaking through. The immense energy stirring deep within Mount War God was like a sleeping beast awakening, carrying a heart-palpitating pressure that could be faintly sensed even from so far away.
"Fortune cannot be avoided, nor can disaster be escaped." Su Yan quickly calmed down, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Since it has noticed us, hiding will only make us seem guilty. We might as well approach it and see what exactly has been stirred up. Perhaps... it is another opportunity."
His suggestion was bold and risky, but everyone knew that before such an existence, blindly fleeing was meaningless. Mo Hen checked his mechanisms and said solemnly, "I agree. At the very least, we need to know what has set its sights on us." Bai Zhi tightened her grip on the Willow Branch and nodded. Yun Ji gave a slight nod as well, tacitly agreeing. The mist around her seemed to grow denser, clearly as she devoted herself fully to divining fortune and misfortune.
The four of them did not linger. Following the faint direction of that oppressive aura, they cautiously advanced deeper into Mount War God. The farther in they went, the heavier the baleful energy became. Fine fragments of battle intent, sharp as blades, even began to appear in the air. Ordinary cultivators would likely struggle to maintain even their protective spiritual energy here. The monsters they encountered along the way had also risen to around Level 40, but before the four-person team at the height of their strength, they still posed little threat and instead provided considerable experience.
At last, after crossing a wasteland littered with enormous bones left behind by some unknown giant beast, they arrived at a massive circular valley. At its center was not the terrifying monster they had expected, but a towering ancient altar piled high with countless weapon fragments! Above the altar floated a blazing golden sphere that constantly shifted shape, radiant as the sun. The heart-palpitating pressure was emanating from it. Around the sphere stood countless faint phantoms of Heroic Spirits in helmets and armor, majestic and imposing like the most loyal guards.
Below the altar, at the entrance to the valley, stood an ancient bronze gate over thirty meters tall. Its surface was carved with scenes of war and slaughter, radiating a desolate, ancient aura.
"This is... the Ancient Heroic Spirit Altar?" Shock flashed through Bai Zhi's beautiful eyes. "It is said that only those recognized by Mount War God, blessed with immense fortune and unwavering resolve, can trigger the phenomenon here and receive the trial of the Heroic Spirits!"
"It seems that purifying the outer altar, along with the pure Power of Stars and battle intent drawn forth during Brother Su's breakthrough, fulfilled this place's conditions for recognition." Mo Hen analyzed, and a rare trace of fervor appeared in his eyes. A Heroic Spirit Trial meant an enormous opportunity!
At that moment, the massive bronze gate slowly opened. A deep, resonant voice, as though it had crossed the endless ages, rang directly in their minds:
"Latecomers, you bear the Light of Order, cleanse filth, and possess unyielding battle intent. You may enter this gate and undergo the trial of the Heroic Spirits. Those who pass shall receive the gifts of our kind; those who fail shall have their souls return to the Battle Banner!"
As the voice faded, an invisible force enveloped the four of them and instantly drew them through the bronze gate.
Beyond the gate was not a physical space, but the phantom of a vast, boundless ancient battlefield! The sky was dark red, the earth was cracked, and beacon smoke rose everywhere. Countless Heroic Spirits clad in golden armor fought bitterly against blurry phantoms of monsters, their battle cries shaking the heavens! Battle intent, baleful energy, and a faith in protection and defiance so intense it was almost tangible filled every inch of the space.
"What is the content of this trial?" Su Yan asked, alert and focused as he gripped the Compass tightly.
The moment he spoke, four incomparably solid Heroic Spirit Warriors in heavy armor, each wielding a different weapon, separated from the battlefield ahead and locked onto one person each. Their auras had all reached the level of Level 40 elites!
"Looks like we fight separately and defeat our respective Heroic Spirits!" Mo Hen understood at once. With a flicker of his body, he took the initiative to meet the Assassin Heroic Spirit wielding twin daggers and moving like the wind. His Mechanical Beast was even more at home in such a chaotic battlefield.
Before Bai Zhi stood a Priest Heroic Spirit holding a staff, surrounded by halos of healing and purification. She took a deep breath and gently swayed the Willow Branch, meeting it with the pure Buddhist arts of Mount Putuo.
Yun Ji's opponent was a Strategist Heroic Spirit holding an Eight Trigrams formation disk, its aura ethereal and elusive. She revealed no weapon, merely standing silently as mist flowed around her, as though she were engaging her opponent in a soundless contest of heavenly deduction and formation arrays.
Su Yan, meanwhile, faced a Berserker Heroic Spirit over three meters tall, wielding a giant axe as broad as a door! The Heroic Spirit roared and charged forward with earth-shaking steps, its massive axe crashing down with the force to tear apart everything before it! Its might far surpassed any enemy they had encountered before!
"Good!" Su Yan let out a long shout. Not daring to take the blow head-on, he instantly activated Shrink Ground into Inches, appearing at its flank as he unleashed a Lightning Talisman!
"Crack!" Blinding lightning struck the Heroic Spirit precisely. It dealt considerable damage and actually triggered a paralysis effect, making the Heroic Spirit's movements stiffen for an instant!
"Little Big Dipper!"
There was no need for further words. Little Big Dipper had already transformed into a streak of violet lightning burning with battle intent and pounced forward! Its Battle Intent Burn passive had activated, and its attack speed and strength continuously increased as the battle continued. Its claws left behind afterimages as they viciously tore across the Heroic Spirit's heavy armor, producing piercing scraping sounds! It spat Star Fire, silver-white flames scorching the Heroic Spirit's energy body.
However, the Berserker Heroic Spirit possessed extremely high defense and immense strength. Even while paralyzed, its counterattacks remained extraordinarily fierce. Its giant axe swept across a vast area, forcing Su Yan to repeatedly use Shrink Ground into Inches to evade, rapidly draining his mana. Little Big Dipper was also struck several times by the axe wind, its health falling as it barely endured through Life Steal and a wave of healing sent from afar by Bai Zhi.
"We cannot drag this out!" Su Yan's thoughts raced. This Heroic Spirit was immensely powerful, but somewhat less agile. "Brother Mo Hen, Miss Bai Zhi, Fellow Daoist Yun Ji, finish quickly. We may still need to deal with further changes!"
As he transmitted his words, he fully activated the Compass. The ability of Star Track Deduction was pushed to its limits in actual combat for the first time! His Spiritual Power was consumed frantically as the Heroic Spirit's attack trajectories and energy circulation nodes over the next few seconds flashed continuously through his mind.
"Five feet ahead to the left, sweeping strike!"
"Jump right, the slash will miss!"
"Three inches below the throat, Energy Node, it will appear in three breaths!"
With the Compass's assistance, Su Yan seemed able to foresee the future, always avoiding fatal attacks by the narrowest margin while directing Little Big Dipper to launch the most effective counterattacks. At the same time, he continuously used Armor Shattering Talismans to weaken the Heroic Spirit's defenses, while Soul Chasing Talisman: Erosion struck again and again, its violet lightning and black patterns constantly corroding the Heroic Spirit's core.
Elsewhere, Mo Hen had already lured the Assassin Heroic Spirit into a trap zone with his unpredictable movement techniques and endless mechanisms, limiting its speed advantage. Victory was within sight. Bai Zhi's battle with the Priest Heroic Spirit was more like a war of attrition, with their healing and purification abilities constantly canceling each other out as they waited to see who would collapse first. Yun Ji's confrontation with the Strategist Heroic Spirit was the strangest of all. The space around them twisted and shifted without end, formation lights flickering uncertainly. It appeared calm, but was in truth fraught with danger.
Finally, through the seamless coordination between Su Yan and Little Big Dipper, along with the Compass's precise predictions, the Berserker Heroic Spirit's core node was struck at the same time by Soul Chasing Talisman: Erosion and a Starfire Claw Strike in which Little Big Dipper had concentrated all its strength!
"Boom!" The Heroic Spirit's massive body froze, then dissolved into the purest golden particles of light that merged into Su Yan and Little Big Dipper.
[System: Successfully passed the Heroic Spirit Trial (Berserker), obtained 'Essence of Strength'! Strength permanently +10, physical damage increased by 5%.] [System: Your summoned beast 'Little Big Dipper' absorbed the Berserker Heroic Spirit's origin. Its Strength aptitude has greatly increased, and the effect of the skill 'Battle Intent Burn' has been enhanced!]
A surging sense of power swept through his body. Su Yan felt that his physical combat ability had risen to a new level! Little Big Dipper also let out an excited howl. The star markings on its body erupted with dazzling light, and its aura rose once more!
Almost at the same time, Mo Hen and Bai Zhi also defeated their opponents. Mo Hen obtained Essence of Agility, while Bai Zhi obtained Essence of Spirit Power, strengthening their respective attributes. Finally, the distorted space around Yun Ji also calmed. The Strategist Heroic Spirit bowed to her, transformed into particles of light, and merged into her body. What she received was Essence of Spirit.
The four exchanged smiles, all having gained something. However, the trial was not yet over.
The ancient battlefield phantom slowly faded, and everyone reappeared before the bronze gate. The golden sphere above the altar slowly descended and transformed into a vague, tall figure clad in golden armor, its face impossible to discern. It was the owner of that deep voice from before.
"You have not disgraced the glory of Mount War God." The Heroic Spirit Commander's voice carried a trace of approval. "However, a great calamity approaches. Filthy undercurrents have already infiltrated the mountain's foundation. Though our lingering wills can keep them beyond the core, we cannot eradicate them."
He raised his hand, and four points of golden light flew toward them, transforming into four ancient bronze tokens engraved with crossed battle axes and stars.
[Mount War God Ally Token] (Special Item) Description: Proof of recognition by the Ancient Heroic Spirits. With this token, you may mobilize some Heroic Spirits in the Outer Reaches of Mount War God to assist in battle (long cooldown), gain a 20% increase in cultivation speed within Mount War God, and obtain one opportunity to enter the 'War God Blood Pool' for baptism (requires gathering all four tokens to open together).
"Hold these tokens, protect order, and cleanse filth. Should you encounter an irresistible force, you may return with the tokens. Mount War God will forever be an ally's support." The Heroic Spirit Commander's figure began to slowly fade. "Remember, the source of the corruption lies within the Valley of Buried Soldiers..."
Before the words had fully faded, the figure and the entire altar slowly vanished, as though they had never existed. Only the bronze tokens in their hands proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.
"Valley of Buried Soldiers..." Su Yan memorized the name. It was clearly their next target and an important stronghold of the End Times Cult within Mount War God.
Just as they were absorbing the immense gains from this encounter, Yun Ji's face suddenly turned pale. The mist around her churned violently, and she abruptly spat out a small mouthful of blood!
"Fellow Daoist Yun Ji!" The other three were shocked.
Yun Ji waved her hand and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes behind the mist were filled with unprecedented gravity. "The heavenly secrets have rebounded... I forcibly deduced the Valley of Buried Soldiers and touched an extremely terrifying barrier... There is not only endless baleful energy there, but also... an ancient will slumbering within, filled with deathly silence and warfare, as well as... an active and powerful End Times Altar! They are using the baleful energy and ancient will of the Valley of Buried Soldiers to accelerate the formation of the 'anchor point'!"
She looked at Su Yan, her tone urgent. "We must head to the Valley of Buried Soldiers immediately and stop them! Otherwise, once the 'anchor point' is fully activated, not only will Mount War God completely fall, but its power may even travel through the Earth Veins and accelerate the progress of the other 'anchor points'!"
The joy of their newfound strength vanished completely. An even more urgent crisis was already upon them.
Before you continue