《When “God” Decides To Start Over》 Chapter 1 Translator: CKtalon In a dark, dank, musty room were eight wooden bunk beds framed with iron. A heavy steel door stood tightly shut. Despite thirteen people living in the room, there were no windows; there was only a twenty-centimeter-long vent in the ceiling. The smell of sweat, foul feet, and unknown odors blended into a strange, sour odor that was almost nauseating. Seven of the eight bunk beds were lined up on both sides. Only one bunk bed was placed very unevenly in the middle aisle, making it appear out of place. What was even more different was that the other seven bunk beds were basically filthy. Old clothes, quilts, and socks were piled messily on the bed. Only that one bed remained pristine. The blanket also looked ancient, but it was well-kept. Most of the random stuff was piled on the lower bunk. The top bunk had a quilt folded into a block, and sitting beside it was someone. It was a woman who looked to be in her twenties. One might even describe her as pretty if not for the scar that went diagonally across her entire cheek. If one had to use a word to describe her appearance now, ferocity might be more appropriate. There were a dozen people in the room, but only one woman. She was able to occupy an entire bunk bed clearly not because she was a lady. In fact, there were no gentlemen in a place like this. The woman was Bandit. No one in this room knew her last name, and no one dared to ask. Because in this room, she was the boss. At this moment, Bandit was sizing up a man, a man who had just come to the room today. Before today, there were only seven people in the room. Today, six young, strong men were sent over. It had happened so many times before that Bandit had gotten used to it. She even found it a form of pleasure. After all, there wasnt much to amuse her in a place like this. It was one of her rare indulges to take in the looks of fear, confusion, and bewilderment on the faces of the rookies. Or perhaps it was a spiritual sustenance to feel alive. Bandit used to be slightly intrigued, but she was now too numb to be in the mood for anything so insipid. In her nearly three years here, Bandit had seen all kinds of rookies, but this was the first time she had seen a man like this rookie. Most people were sent here for various individual reasons. No one would willingly come to such a godforsaken place. After all, the death rate here was as high as 20%. On average, two out of ten people died every week. Anyone who came to such a place would be lucky not to go crazy. No one was in the mood to chuckle. But the young man wore a smile ever since he stepped into the room. Although that smile wasnt exactly charming, it seemed unusually optimistic in this godforsaken place. It even seemed a little blinding. Whats your name, rookie? Bandit asked the younger man, narrowing her eyes as if she found that smile uncomfortable. What are you waiting for? Bandit just asked you a question! A burly man in underpants on the bed beside the young man shouted at him. Me? My name is Li Xiu. Only then did the young man realize that Bandit was asking him. He smiled in reply, revealing two rows of pearly teeth. What got you in here to do time? Bandit frowned. She wasnt used to the young mans smile. I didnt do anything wrong, Li Xiu replied, shaking his head. Why would you be here if you didnt do anything wrong? Bandit didnt believe a word Li Xiu said. How could he be sent to such a godforsaken place if he hadnt done anything wrong? Because someone told me this is a mans paradise, so here I am, Li Xiu replied seriously. Haha! Everyone immediately burst into laughter. These old-timers were bending over from their laughter that they were almost out of breath. Yes, yes, yes. This is indeed a mans paradise. After coming here, you will soon reach paradise, the burly man who had shouted at Li Xiu earlier laughed and said. Bandit stared at Li Xiu and looked him up from head to toe. She did not know if Li Xiu was really naive or playing dumb. Either way, it was useless here. Whether one could survive or not depended on their own strength and luck. A strange type of creature suddenly appeared on Earth decades ago and nearly destroyed human civilization. It wasnt until a weapon known as a Demon Suit was made that humans had a chance to catch a breather. Along with the appearance of the creatures that humans named Demon Spirits were many strange gates through which the Demon Spirits used for entry. Those ancient, strange, mysterious gates were scattered across the world, and humans used all manner of weapons to open them and explore their secrets. Early on, even the most advanced weapons could not hurt them at all. Even the Demon Suit did zero damage. There was only one way to open the gate, but an extravagant method at that. One had to embed natural gems into the mysterious gates to make them open automatically. Moreover, only human flesh and blood could enter the gates; they could not carry external objects. Humanitys exploration of the mysterious gates truly started with that discovery. It was unknown how many humans died inside the mysterious gates in exchange for some discoveries that were enough to turn human values on their head. There were different vistas within the explored interior of the gates. Some of those scenes were within human comprehension, while others were beyond human comprehension. There was one thing in common inside all the explored gates despite the different scenes. Inside the mysterious gates were special test halls. Humans who entered had to undergo various trials. Only humans who passed could walk out of it alive. The so-called test was not the common test that humans knew of. If one passed the test, they would not obtain a graduation certificate. Instead, the benefits they obtained were also unimaginable to ordinary people. Research on the mysterious gates never ceased, and an uncountable number of humans perished inside. The underground base known as Abyss was built right next to a mysterious underground gate. People like Bandit basically ran the risk of dying every time they ventured inside the mysterious gate. Most of these people were death row prisoners, people who owed huge debts, or people who came for some reason of their own. There were probably very few people like Li Xiu who came here voluntarily. Even if Li Xiu said it himself, not many people believed him. Buzz! Buzz! An ear-piercing alarm sounded. Bandit and the other old-timers grimaced. Damn it, whats going on? The Devils Gate shouldnt be open for another three days. Why is it opening now The burly man looked flustered and looked at Bandit. Before Bandit could say anything, a click sounded from the steel door before it automatically opened slowly. Chapter 2 Translator: CKtalon As the fully-armed soldiers shouted, Li Xiu and the others came out of the room and walked along the narrow, cold passageway, shuffling amid the dim light. There were many similar rooms on both sides of the passageway with its occupants forced out before they ambled towards the end of the passageway. After turning a few corners, the scene in front of them suddenly became clear. A huge, brightly-lit underground space appeared in front of Li Xiu. The steel frame and wooden beams acted as the main supports for the underground space. Through the steel frame, irregular patches of gray-black rock could be seen above their heads. Water droplets still hung from many of the crevices in the damp rock. There was even moss growing on them. In the most glaring area of the light, a large blue stone door, more than ten meters high, was set into the stone wall. The natural rock wall contrasted strongly with the stone door, which was carved with a variety of exquisite, mysterious patterns. The strange symbols, grooves, and patterns made it seem eerie and terrifying. Is this the Trial Gate? Li Xiu muttered to himself as he looked up at the blue door. More like Devils Gate. The burly man beside Bandit sneered. Boy, you guys are really unlucky. I dont know what got into those guys to open the Devils Gate so early. Being new, youll be dying without even getting a day of training. What a pity. But even if you have time to train, its useless. Youd better pray for luck. Shut up, all of you! came a cold shout from the megaphone, and soon everyone was quiet. The huge underground space was so quiet that only the sound of dripping water could be heard. On a raised platform made of wood, a man held a megaphone. Beside him stood two guys who looked like Iron Man. They were all wrapped in some kind of weird carapace. They were the Demon Suiters dressed in Demon Suitswar machines that could fight Demon Spirits, humanitys best fighters. In the eyes of Li Xiu, who was also a Demon Suiter, these two Demon Suiters were nothing impressive, but to ordinary people, the intimidation these two Demon Suiters exhibited was no less than nuclear weapons. Some of you know me. Some of you dont. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Old Gu, and Im in charge here. Ill cut to the chase. You know better than anyone why youre here and what you want from this place. Ill be here waiting for your return. Come out of the Trial Gate alive and give me the goods in exchange for everything you want. This is your only way out. Old Gu didnt wait for a response. Open the gates, he barked at the blue stone door. As Old Gu gave the order, a few soldiers carrying boxes came to the blue stone door and placed them in front of it. They took out sapphires and stuffed them into the grooves. When all the grooves in the blue stone door were stuffed with gems, those gems came alive by some magical force. They did not need to reflect any external light to emit a strong blue light. Crack! Crack! In the glare of the blue light, the blue door opened bit by bit. Mysterious and magical white light shot through the gap. Old Gu didnt need to give any further orders. Someone was already running toward the open blue door. The experienced old-timers like Bandit and the burly man were all running forward. Only some of the newcomers remained rooted to their spots. Crack! Crack! From the back came the sound of soldiers socking their rifles. The rookies turned to see all the surrounding soldiers pointing their guns at them. Those who remain outside before the Trial Gate closes die Old Gus grim voice spoke again. This time, no one hesitated. Everyone, including Li Xiu, swarmed towards the gap in the blue stone door. The blue stone door wasnt even half-opened before the blue light on it began to fade and the door began to close. Everyone ran even more desperately towards the stone door. When the stone door was about to close completely, everyone had already stepped through the stone door. Boom! The stone door closed completely, and the underground space returned to its previous cold and silent state. In the crowd, Li Xiu sized up his surroundings. Although he had heard some things about the Trial Gate, this was the first time he was personally experiencing it. The hundred or so people found themselves inside a huge building that looked like a stadium. It was surrounded by layers of spiraling stone stairs that led to an oval arena in the middle. There was a goal in the center of the field. Labeled on the ground about ten meters from the goal was a cross. In the center of the cross was a soccer ball. Li Xiu looked at the people around him and then at himself. He realized that no matter what they had been wearing before they arrived, they were now wrapped in the same white tights. Everything else on them had disappeared. There was a red bracelet on his left wrist with numbers on it. Li Xiu glanced at his bracelet and saw the number 49. Damn, its a C-class! The burly man who had been right behind Bandit looked up at the sky above the field and cursed softly. Li Xiu looked up and saw a huge screen floating there. On the screen was a large C. Welcome to the Sea and Sky Trials. The trial difficulty is C-class. The rules of the trial are as follows Some words appeared on the big screen, and an electronic voice sounded. After listening to the rules of the trial, some people looked excited, but most of them wore looks of dismay. The rules of the trial were simple. Everyone participating in the trial was divided into groups of two. One person stood in front of the goal to guard it, while the other kicked the soccer ball. There were two chances. One scored a point by scoring a goal. One scored a point from successfully defending the goal. As long as one scored a point, they completed the trial. Everyone had one chance at guarding the goal and kicking the soccer ball. Scoring one point meant they could keep their lives; those with a zero score would die. There were a total of two rewards. If one person could obtain two points, they could take both rewards. However, if one person obtained two points, that meant zero for the other person. In other words, death was the only outcome if they failed. No matter how one looked at it, this rule was somewhat similar to the penalty shootout in soccer. One ball determined life and death. Now you can start choosing your teammates. Just shake hands and exchange bracelets. You must find your partner before the countdown ends. The electronic voice spoke again, and a six-hundred-second countdown appeared on the monitor. People were looking around. Some looked lost and helpless, some looked confident, some looked desperate, and others were hesitant. According to this rule, as long as two people work together, they can get the reward and leave alive. But if their partner doesnt cooperate, who knows what will happen? Choosing a partner is the key to this trial, Li Xiu thought to himself. In fact, everyone understood this, but the human heart was unpredictable. Who could be trusted in such a place? Kid, do you want to team up with me? While Li Xiu was thinking, he suddenly saw the burly man walk up to him and smile as he extended his palm that had a red bracelet. Chapter 3 Translator: CKtalon Of course. Li Xiu promptly agreed and reached out to shake the burly mans hand. The burly man clearly did not expect Li Xiu to agree so readily. He failed to react for a moment and stood there, stunned. The moment they clasped their hands together, the numbers on their bracelets lit up, then quickly changed to the number of the other party. Li Xius original number was 49. After the change, it became 3, and the number on the burly mans bracelet became 49. Seeing the number on the bracelet, the burly man, who had been a little puzzled and uneasy, immediately looked delighted. Not bad, kid. You actually got 49. This is better than some of the experienced old-timers, the burly man said with a smile. What do you mean? Li Xiu asked, puzzled. These numbers are an assessment of the trial participants physical fitness. In other words, your physical fitness is ranked 49th among everyone here. Before the exchange, only you can see this number, Bandit, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said. Pre-ranking? This is quite a unique design. Li Xiu examined his bracelet with interest. Ignorance sure is bliss. You dont even understand what this means. Im afraid you wont even know how you died. Seeing Li Xius nonchalance other than his curious naivety, Bandit couldnt help but shake her head deep down. With such a huge difference in physical fitness, he had no means of resistance during the test. It was equivalent to being at the mercy of others. The trial didnt care about fair competition or friendship. This was a competition of life and death. Many people would resort to unscrupulous means to win. Although both people in a pair had a chance to escape unscathed in this trial, if they had a chance to obtain two rewards, who would give up the other reward? Kid, remember me well. My name is Zhao Lie. The burly man put his face in front of Li Xiu and said with a strange smile, You might not have heard of this name, but I can tell you that I was once a soccer player. I used to play in my countrys A-Division league, and I was the best striker. In that case, your control over the soccer ball must be amazing. If we work together, we can both be rewarded easily, Li Xiu said with a smile. Hearing Li Xius naive words, Zhao Lie laughed wantonly and said in a nearly distorted voice, Ill get two rewards, and you only have death awaiting you. Enjoy what time you have left. Many people around looked at Li Xiu sympathetically. A person whose physical fitness far exceeded his was actually a professional soccer player. It appeared hopeless for Li Xiu, and he could only await death. When others chose their teammates, most of them would choose people with a similar ranking to them or people they were already familiar with. Only when they had no choice would they choose teammates who they did not know or whose ranking was very different from theirs. Li Xiu did not take Zhao Lies threat to heart and carefully observed everything in the trial grounds. The trial grounds looked like an ancient arena. There was nothing special about it, but when Li Xiu tried to extend his palm into the arena, he realized that there seemed to be an invisible barrier that isolated the stands from the trial grounds. Six hundred seconds passed quickly. Whether by choice or by necessity, everyone had found their partner. As the countdown ended, two peoples bracelets suddenly lit up. Then two people appeared out of thin air on the field, one in front of the goal and one behind the soccer ball. Standing in front of the goal was a weak-looking woman in her twenties or thirties. It was unknown why she had chosen to come to such a place. Hubby, be careful and kick over slowly, the woman shouted to the kicker. The man taking the shot was actually her husband. Okay, get as close as you can. Dont let the ball accidentally roll in, the middle-aged man said to his wife. The woman hurried forward, moving as close to the ball as she could get in case she made a mistake. As the woman approached her husband, the middle-aged man suddenly raised his leg and kicked the football with all his might. Because she was too close and unprepared, the woman didnt react at all. The soccer ball flew past the woman like a gust of air, leaving her stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. I cant stay in this damn place anymore. Ill go crazy if I stay any longer. I can leave this place once I get two rewards. I have to get out I have to get out alive The middle-aged man looked at the flying soccer ball and roared, his face warped. BANG! In the next second, a dramatic scene occurred. It was unknown if it was because he used too much force or if he had poor control of the ball. The ball hit the goalpost and bounced off, failing to score a goal. The ball did not enter the goal. The attacker is deemed to have failed and gains zero points. The defender failed to touch the ball. The defender is deemed to have failed and gains zero points. The electronic voice sounded again, making everyones hearts sink. People imagined that the woman would get a point if the ball didnt go in. They did not expect that a defense would be deemed a failure if the defender did not touch the ball. This greatly increased the chances of the defender failing. The couple stood there as the bracelets on their wrists glowed again and their positions switched. The man became the goalie and the woman came to the shooters position. The soccer ball that flew out also returned to the cross mark, and the second attempt at the goal began. The man was the first to react. His eyes were fierce and his face was ferocious. He rushed towards the soccer ball in front of the woman and shouted, You cant possibly kick it in. Give me the ball. I cant die Although many people despised this scumbag, everyone understood that the woman was too thin and delicate. She didnt have the strength to resist the scumbag. Just when everyone thought the scumbag was sure to win, the woman suddenly kicked the ball out. Except she wasnt kicking the ball in the direction of the goal. She was kicking it in the opposite direction. Seeing the middle-aged man chase after the ball like a dog eying a bone, the womans eyes were filled with sarcasm and sorrow. Under such rules, as long as the man didnt touch the ball, he would still be deemed to have failed and not get a point. The ball did not enter the goal. The attacker is deemed to have failed and gains zero points. The defender failed to touch the ball. The defender is deemed to have failed and gains zero points. The trial is over. Both parties end with zero points. Cleanup commencing Bang! Bang! Before the middle-aged man could catch up with the soccer ball, the bracelet on his and the womans hands exploded, blowing them both to bits, spraying blood and mangled bodies all over the ground. Seeing this tragic scene, a shadow loomed over their hearts. Those who had chosen to team up with their acquaintances began to feel uneasy and were no longer as confident as before. Sigh! Li Xiu sighed softly. It was unknown who he was sighing for. In the stands, two more lights lit up as two more people were teleported into the trial grounds. When everyone saw clearly, they realized that the people who entered the trial ground this time were Li Xiu and Zhao Lie. They were the group with the greatest difference in ranking among all the teams. Li Xiu appeared at the goalies position, while Zhao Lie was at the kickers position. Chapter 4 Translator: CKtalon Have you played soccer before? Zhao Lie did not shoot immediately. Instead, he looked at Li Xiu with interest. No. Li Xiu shook his head. He had occasionally seen some soccer matches and knew some of the general rules, but he had never played soccer. What a pitiful fellow. Then Ill give you some basic knowledge about soccer so that you can accept your loss and die in peace. Zhao Lie pointed at the ball in front of him like a cat playing with a mouse and said, Even if you dont know how to play soccer, you should have seen a soccer match. The position of this ball and the goal is the distance from the penalty kick. In a soccer match, its easiest to score with a penalty kick. Even the best goalkeeper doesnt have a high success rate of being able to catch a penalty kick. A penalty kick isnt only about technique; you also need a little luck. What luck? Li Xiu wasnt angry at Zhao Lies teasing attitude. Instead, he humbly asked for guidance. For a professional striker, its definitely too late for the goalkeeper to save the ball after seeing it fly out at such a distance. Therefore, before the striker kicks, he has to determine if the striker is going to kick to the left or to the right. Only by predictively jumping to the left or right at the same time as the striker kicks will he have a chance to hit the penalty shot. Zhao Lie explained sincerely, as if he really thought nothing of Li Xiu. Many of the spectators did not know soccer. After hearing Zhao Lies explanation, they felt enlightened. I see. Ive learned a lot. Li Xiu nodded. No need to thank me. Im talking about a professional goalkeeper who has that kind of opportunity. An ordinary person like you cant stop me no matter if I shoot left or right. Theres only death. As Zhao Lie spoke, he suddenly did a run-up. With his left foot on the ground, he raised his right foot backward. His body tilted and his waist twisted like a mighty bow that was fully pulled back. The back of his foot struck the ball hard. His series of motion was fluid and filled with explosive beauty. Will he pounce left or right? The others looked at Li Xiu, waiting for his choice, even secretly deciding which way they would pounce. BANG! The soccer ball slammed into Li Xius chest as he stood there motionless. The soccer ball seemed to have plunged into his chest, stunning everyone. The attacker gains zero points from a failed attack. The defender scores one point from a successful defense. The electronic voice sounded, and their positions switched. Bro, did I give you a scare? I was just joking with you. The best outcome is for everyone to survive. Zhao Lie was also stunned by the outcome, but he immediately wore a beaming smile. However, he thought to himself, Damn, I overestimated this kid. He actually didnt react. If I had known, I wouldnt have bothered so much. I should have just kicked. I became a victim of my own cleverness. Zhao Lie was really afraid. If Li Xiu did not shoot at all and kicked the football elsewhere like the wife from before, then according to the rules of the trial, Zhao Lie would be dead. He didnt stand a chance. Joking? Werent you trying to trick me into choosing left or right just now? Li Xiu looked at Zhao Lie and said indifferently. How can that be Bro, dont misunderstand Zhao Lies expression was a little nasty after being seen through by Li Xiu. He was anxious to explain. Now, his life was in Li Xius hands. Theres no need to explain. You might be a professional player with decent skills, but youre definitely not the leagues best striker because you dont have confidence. Real top strikers wont even bother to use such methods because theres nothing more reliable than their own skills. Li Xiu interrupted Zhao Lie and said indifferently, However, I can give you another chance. Brother, its good that you understand. We all have hard lives Zhao Lie completely lost his previous domineering appearance and said with a smile. Youre right. We all have hard lives, so Im giving you a chance. Ill kick the ball right in the middle like you did. You just have to stand there like me to get the ball, Li Xiu said. Alright, alright, alright. Ill take it from here. Bro, take it slow. Zhao Lie nodded repeatedly, but he was cursing in his heart. What the hell? Are you trying to use the same trick on me? Arent you eyeing the two sets of rewards by giving me a chance? You want me to stand still? Dream on! Those little tricks cant fool me, even if you really want to kick straight, you need the skills. Do you think soccer can be played by anyone? Without professional training, its impossible to be accurate. The others had similar thoughts as Zhao Lie. The fate of the couple from before was still vivid in their minds. There was no trust between husband and wife, let alone Li Xiu and Zhao Lie. Li Xiu didnt say anything else. He took a few steps back and took a running start to the ball. With his left leg as his center of gravity, he tilted his body and swung his right leg up. He twisted his waist and slammed his right instep into the ball. This set of movements was done in one go without any hesitation, exactly the same as Zhao Lies previous movements. Left or right? People were guessing. Damn it, I fell for it. This guy knows how to play soccer. Before Li Xiu took on his kicking position, Zhao Lies expression changed drastically. Such a move would be difficult for a professional football player to grasp so perfectly. Left or right? Or in the middle? Zhao Lie was hesitant. After knowing that Li Xiu was good at soccer, his thoughts were in an upheaval. Previously, he thought that Li Xiu had never come into contact with soccer and was afraid that he would not be able to shoot accurately. Now that he knew that Li Xiu was also a professional, Zhao Lie suddenly thought of something. He stared at Li Xius body movements and determined where his center of gravity was. He had just used this move before. With his center of gravity already fixed on his left leg, if he wanted to unleash his full strength with such a move, he could only kick the ball to the left or in the middle. It was impossible to kick to the right again. This left only the middle and left. Zhao Lie did not think that Li Xiu would kick the ball to the middle. Li Xius previous words were just to interfere with his judgment. Who would be stupid enough to give away their share in such a life-and-death battle? Zhao Lie himself would not, much less believe that Li Xiu would do that. And according to probability theory, left, right, and middle each accounted for one-third of the probability. Li Xiu had a higher chance of winning if he wanted him to be dead fix on the middle and non-middle choices, but in fact chose to kick left or right. Yes, its left. It must be left. Zhao Lies eyes lit up and he pounced to the left. However, when Zhao Lie was in mid-air, he was shocked to discover that the ball had already whistled towards where he was standing just now. It was exactly the same trajectory as the ball he previously kicked. Even the height of the ball was the same. Zhao Lie, who was in the air, could only turn his head and watch as the ball flew past him and slammed into the net. His eyes went from surprise to confusion, then to regret, then to fear, and finally, all his fear turned to despair. The ball and Zhao Lie landed on the ground almost at the same time, and then they heard the cold electronic synthesized voice above their heads. The attacker has successfully attacked and obtained one point; the defender failed to defend and obtained zero points. Point tabulation completed. Rewards distributed. Cleanup commencing No BANG! With an explosion, Zhao Lies heart-wrenching roar came to a sudden stop, and his flesh and bones splattered across the ground. Li Xius bracelet also lit up, emitting a faint bloody glow. Then Li Xiu felt the bracelet around his wrist tighten. He felt a needle-like pain, as if something had been injected into his blood vessels. Chapter 5 Translator: CKtalon His blood vessels felt sore and swollen. The blood vessels on his arm protruded like small blue snakes criss-crossing and coiling under his skin. Even the small blood vessels swelled and spread densely throughout his body. The sensation lasted only a while before his veins quickly returned to normal. The puncturing feeling was long gone, and the bracelet loosened. Is this level of physical enhancement worth risking your life? To not feel regret even in death? Li Xiu took in the changes in his body. Although he could feel that his body had been strengthened, this level of enhancement did not mean much to a Demon Suiter. A Demon Suiter relied on their spiritual senses or mental power to control a Demon Suit. The enhancement obtained from the trial was only targeted at the physical body and was completely useless to a Demon Suiter. He had never heard of a human becoming a Demon Suiter because of a Trial Gates strengthening. This kind of enhancement, even if it was done 10,000 times, was far inferior to the combat power of a Demon Suiter in a Demon Suit. Physical enhancement was just an insignificant icing on the cake for a Demon Suiter. It had no decisive effect. Li Xiu didnt understand why his best friend and comrade-in-arms would rather give up his noble status as a Demon Suiter and risk entering the Trial Gate. He was even seriously injured in the Trial Gate. Before he died, he even persuaded Li Xiu to enter the Trial Gate. He even said that this was a mans paradise and a place he should go. Was it worth it? Even now, Li Xiu could not understand the choice his friend had made. Before that friend died, his physical combat ability was far inferior to that of a low-level Divine Suiter. Furthermore, Li Xiu was the worlds number one Demon Suiter with the call-sign of God. Two irregular-shaped Demon Cores the size of pigeon eggs that were neither gold nor jade appeared in front of Li Xiu out of thin air. He was no stranger to them. This was the core material for forging Demon Suits. Other than the Trial Gates, one could also obtain them from killing Demon Spirits. When Li Xiu reached out and grabbed the two Demon Cores, a white light flashed on his bracelet. He was teleported back to the stands. At the same time, two more people were teleported into the trial grounds. The trial was very tragic. Among the more than 50 teams, less than a third had both parties surviving. There were even a few teams that ended dead together. The dark side of human nature was vividly displayed. When it was Bandits turn, she didnt say a word. She kicked the ball and it flew straight into the middle of the goal. The goalkeeper was overjoyed. He hugged the ball with both hands, but in the next second, he saw his feet leave the ground and he crashed into the goal with the ball. The rookies were dumbfounded. No one had expected the not-so-tall Bandit to be so powerful. The old-timers, who had previously crossed paths with Bandit, seemed to have known this would happen and were not at all surprised. The rookie whod teamed up with Bandit had thought hed lucked out, but now he was filled with despair and regret. Hed already been injured while guarding the goal, and now when it was his turn to kick the ball, he could only watch as Bandit brought the ball under control with both hands. Amid a desperate scream, the young man exploded. The first round of trials has ended. You may leave the trial grounds by removing the trial bracelet. The next round of trials will begin after the countdown ends. After the cold voice ended, another six-hundred-second countdown appeared on the screen. People took off their bracelets and were teleported out of the trial grounds in a flash of white light. Soon, only three people were left in the trial grounds. Li Xiu stayed in the trial grounds. He wanted to go to the end and see what was worth his friends life. As far as Li Xiu knew, his friend had first entered the trial grounds here. It was said that he had also reached the end. However, even if it was the same trial ground, the trials and rules might not be the same. He did not know what kind of trial his friend had experienced to reach the end. The other two who stayed behind were Bandit and a very fit-looking man in his twenties or thirties. He was over six feet tall, with brown hair and a healthy tan. The second round of testing is about to begin. The rules remain the same. Please select your partner. The countdown began again. The man suddenly walked towards Li Xiu and said, There are only three of us left now. There must be one person who cant form a team and might be directly eliminated. That womans strength far exceeds that of ordinary people. She should be a trial-taker who has been strengthened many times. The two of us are rookies. Its best for us to form a team. What do you think? Li Xiu glanced at Bandit. Seeing that she was completely indifferent and had no intention of stopping them, he nodded and said, Sure. After the two shook hands, the number on Li Xius bracelet became 2. This meant that this mans physical fitness was above Zhao Lies, second only to Bandit. Im sorry, but Im indeed a rookie at this trial ground. However, before coming here, Ive been to other trial grounds and received many physical enhancements. The man smiled and said, And unlike a dabbler like Zhao Lie, I was once the true best striker in the A-Division league. It doesnt matter. Theres nothing to be embarrassed about. Li Xiu didnt care if the man was an old-timer, rookie, or something else. No. 1 gets a free pass to the next round. The trial begins. With that impersonal voice, Li Xiu and the man were teleported to the arena. Li Xiu stood in front of the goal again, playing the role of goalkeeper. The man stood in front of the ball. The man didnt kick the ball immediately. He introduced himself first, I think I should tell you my name. Im Wrow. Wrow? The main striker of the Sun Team, the leagues best striker? No wonder you look familiar, Bandit said, surprised to hear the mans name. I never expected you to know me. Dont tell me youre a fan. That would be an honor, Wrow greeted Bandit like a gentleman. Bandit didnt chat with Wrow. In truth, she wasnt much of a fan. It was only because her father had loved soccer when she was very young that shed often been forced to watch the game with him. Although he had passed away, shed occasionally watch matches alone and learned about Wrow. Wrow was indeed an excellent soccer playera great striker even. A few years ago, he had set a new season goal record for the national A-Division league. Unlike Zhao Lie, Wrow was a genuine top-notch striker. Bandit looked at Li Xiu and saw that Li Xiu was not swayed by Wrows reputation. He still stood calmly in front of the goal and assumed a defensive posture that was not very professional. Bandit shook her head slightly. She could tell that Li Xiu was definitely not a professional soccer playernot even an amateur. He was able to defeat Zhao Lie because of his psychological tactics backfiring Wrow was completely different from Zhao Lie. Not only did he have top-notch professional skills, but he also had absolute strength. These were not things that could be defeated by psychological tactics. A rational analysis determined that Li Xiu would lose this matchat least in Bandits opinion. Chapter 6 Translator: CKtalon Be careful. Im coming. Reaching the ball with a few, quick steps, Wrows muscular leg swung and his instep struck the side of the football like a steel whip. Shoosh! The soccer ball flew towards the top left corner of the goal, which was Li Xius right. The average person was more agile in their right arm and leg, capable of dealing out greater force. When a non-professionals pounced to the right, they would mainly exert strength with their left leg. This would affect the speed of the rescue to a certain extent. He clearly has overwhelming strength, but he doesnt underestimate any opponent. Even if victory is in his grasp, he still does his best to defeat his opponent. What a terrifying fellow. Bandit was considering how she could guarantee her victory if Wrow reached the next round of the trials. After all, she wasnt a professional soccer player. Her skills were far inferior to Wrows. Almost at the same time Wrow kicked the soccer ball, Li Xiu flew out and leaped into the air, heading in the direction of the ball. He got the direction right, but its useless, Bandit muttered to herself as though she found it a pity. Bandit knew Wrows techniques very well. If Li Xiu really pounced for the top left corner, he would definitely lose. The football that was clearly flying towards the top left corner suddenly seemed to violate the rules of physics when it was about to reach Li Xiu. It suddenly plummeted as if in a bid to pass under Li Xiu. What a strange trajectory. What an amazing knuckleball. To be able to deliver a knuckleball at such a short distance, this should be thanks to the physical strengthening he obtained in the Trial Gate. If it were me, would I be able to block such a knuckleball? Bandit thought to herself. BANG! A loud collision sounded in front of the goal. Li Xiu had actually smashed his fists on the falling ball, drastically changing its trajectory. The ball slammed into the ground and spun violently towards the outside of the goalpost, barely brushing past it. Li Xiu himself fell into the goal due to the powerful recoil from the ball. He landed on the ground and rolled a few times before stopping after hitting the net. How is that possible? Bandit and Wrow wore looks of shock. If the ball suddenly plummeted at that distance, the human nervous system just couldnt react in time. Even if ones reaction could keep up, their body wouldnt be able to keep up with their brains reaction speed. Yet, Li Xiu was actually able to react in time. He had even accurately smashed the soccer ball and changed its trajectory with that strange posture. He didnt look like a normal human. However, Li Xius ranking was only 49. From this benchmark, he was only slightly stronger than the average person. How could he accomplish such a feat? How did he do it? Could it be that he knows Wrow very well and knows that Wrow will deliver a knuckleball, so he was prepared for it from the beginning? Isnt this too much of a gamble? Bandit guessed inwardly. Wrow was somewhat vexed. Clearly, he was the same as Bandit. He believed that Li Xiu knew him, so he predicted that he would deliver a knuckleball. That was the reason for his performance. Now, Wrow regretted telling Li Xiu his name. If he had known this would happen, he wouldnt have delivered a knuckleball. Li Xiu got up from the ground and rubbed his numb hands. He looked at Wrow and smiled. Its my turn. I hope you cherish the fact that you were lucky enough to obtain one point. You wont be so lucky next timeif you still choose to continue to the next round. Wrow stood in front of the goalpost and assumed a guarding stance. His tone was somewhat arrogant. His defensive stance was much more professional than Li Xius. Although he had never played the role of goalkeeper in the past, he had occasionally done so during training. He was no stranger to goalkeeping. To ordinary goalkeepers, it was indeed very difficult to defend against a penalty shot, but that was for ordinary people. With his body strengthened to such a level, Wrow could definitely catch the ball that Li Xiu kicked out with his strength. Therefore, Wrow was still very confident. Even so, Wrow didnt let his guard down at all. He bent his knees slightly and lowered his center of gravity. His feet moved back and forth quickly, making his intentions a mystery to Li Xiu. This also empowered him to react as quickly as possible. He was very professional. How are you going to kick this ball? Bandit looked at Li Xiu and couldnt help but feel curious. Li Xius previous performance had exceeded the judgment system she had built over a long period of time. She found him somewhat unpredictable and actually felt some anticipation. Be careful. Im coming. Like Wrow, Li Xiu first warned before charging forward and kicking the ball. The ball hummed and flew towards the upper right corner of the goal. His ball was clearly much slower than Wrows. Wrows muscular body lunged out like a ferocious beast hunting its prey. He extended his arms, wanting to bring the soccer ball into his embrace. Just as his fingers were about to touch the ball, it suddenly plummeted and vanished in front of him. Knuckleball! Wrows pupils constricted as he revealed a look of disbelief. Bandit, who was watching the shootout from the steps, also stood up with a look of disbelief. Knuckleballs were something that many professional players might not be able to learn and master their entire career. Even for a player who could kick out a knuckleball, it wasnt easy to control it accurately. It even required some luck. Li Xiu was actually able to kick it out with such precision. It was unimaginable. Could it be that my previous judgment was wrong? Hes also a professional player, a top striker? Bandits repeated miscalculations had already shaken her judgment. Bang! Bang! The ball and Wrow landed on the ground independently. Wrow didnt get up; his face was filled with bitterness. The trial has ended. The attacker has obtained one point. The defender failed to defend. All previously awarded points shall be the victors. Rewards distributed. Cleanup commencing BANG! Amidst an explosion, Wrows body instantly turned into a bloody mist. Li Xiu felt a needle-pricking pain on his wrist again, but this time, it was even more intense than before. The effect was probably much more intense than before, making Li Xiu feel as though his body was on stimulants. Four Demon Cores appeared in front of Li Xiu. Two were the rewards for this round, and the other two originally belonged to Wrow. Due to the bye, Bandit obtained two Demon Cores this round and entered the countdownCwhether to participate in the trials next round. Can I ask you a few questions? Bandit asked Li Xiu. If its a question I can answer, it shouldnt be a problem, Li Xiu said with a smile. Are you a professional soccer player? Bandit frowned slightly. She still wasnt used to Li Xius smile. No. Li Xiu wasnt lying. He really wasnt. Have you trained in soccer before? Bandit asked again. No, but I occasionally watch some matches. This is the first time Ive really come into contact with soccer, Li Xiu answered truthfully. If you arent lying, how can you kick a knuckleball on your first time playing soccer? Bandit stared intently into Li Xius eyes as though she wanted to see through him. I learned it after watching him kick it once, Li Xiu said with a smile. You have no obligation to answer my question. Bandit naturally wouldnt believe that someone who had never come into contact with soccer could kick out such a knuckleball. No one would believe such nonsense. Chapter 7 Translator: CKtalon Li Xiu didnt explain, nor was there any need to. You win. Bandit took a deep look at Li Xiu and chose to remove her bracelet before turning into a white light and disappearing. She wasnt completely confident of defeating Li Xiu, nor did she trust him. She wasnt willing to cooperate with him, so she could only give up on continuing the trial. Its just a knuckleball. Is it that unbelievable? Li Xiu curled his lips and didnt take it to heart. He had seen too many of such performances in the past and was already used to it. The effects of talent and acquired experience from training were indeed shocking. Even the best friends who grew up with Li Xiu begrudged his talent. This ability that was jokingly called Absolute Order by his friends was one of the main reasons why Li Xiu could become the strongest Demon Suiters. Ordinary people might be able to have a photographic memory. Not only did Li Xiu have a photographic memory, but he could also perfectly replicate all the actions he saw. To put it simply, as long as his body allowed it, he could master any movement and technique he saw. It sounded very simple. Anyone could master something as long as they practiced. The key was that Li Xiu didnt need any practice. All he needed to do was watch it once and he could mimic it flawlessly. He could even use it flexibly. In Li Xius own words, a scene was formed by countless nodes. If others drew a line, he could connect the same nodes to draw the same line. If others drew a painting, he could accurately connect all the same nodes without any deviation. This theory was also applicable spatially. Li Xius body could accurately grasp those points and rhythm. This was the result of a combination of talent and long-term training. Li Xius friends deemed such observational and physical control robot-like. Of course, the premise of Absolute Order was that Li Xius body could withstand it. Li Xiu couldnt do anything that exceeded his bodys limits. The number of trial-takers is one. The final trial begins. Do you choose to participate? Countdown commencing. 10 9 8 7 Li Xiu remained motionless as he waited for the countdown to end. Then, he was teleported into the arena again and stood behind a soccer ball. A white light flashed in front of the goal, and a figure appeared. It was Li Xiu himself, but the figure didnt have a corporeal body. It was a phantom condensed from white light. Trial Puppets stats are based on the trial-taker. It possesses all the trial-takers skills. Furthermore, its skill level and stats are all 1.5 times that of the trial-taker. The rules of the final trial are as follows. The trial-taker has ten chances to shoot. Six out of ten is a pass. More rewards will be disbursed with higher points. Complete all the shots before the countdown ends. The trial begins! He was somewhat disappointed when he saw the rules of the trial. His physique wasnt strong. In theory, Wrows physique should be about 1.5 times that of Li Xius. As for skills, Li Xiu had never participated in the trial before, nor had he obtained any skills. It was impossible to double any skill. In such a trial, the stronger the candidate was, the more difficult the trial became. Instead, it was people like Li Xiu who didnt feel much pressure. Li Xiu attempted to kick the ball. The physique of the Trial Puppet was indeed much stronger than Li Xius. It was even better than Wrow. However, it was useless. The Trial Puppet didnt have Li Xius mind. Although its reaction was fast and it was very skilled, it was too naive. The knuckleball easily fooled the Trial Puppet, earning him a goal. Li Xiu delivered ten consecutive knuckleball shots, all aimed in different directions. Although the Trial Puppet had some level of judgment and wanted to stop Li Xiu from scoring, it failed to even touch the surface of the ball. When the last ball was a goal, the Trial Puppet vanished. A cold voice sounded again. The final trial has been completed. Accumulated ten pointsthe maximum value. The reward list is being randomly generated. Please choose one of the rewards. Four symbols appeared on the screen, indicating: Skill, Demon Cores, Stats, and Admission Ticket. Li Xiu had seen the skills of the trial-takers. They were indeed very magical. They were abilities that Li Xiu couldnt mimic. However, the energy produced by such skills was still far inferior to a Demon Suiter. They werent worth it for a Demon Suiter to risk his life for them. There was no need to mention the Demon Cores and stats. Ordinary people could obtain Demon Cores when they entered the trial, so there was no need for a precious Demon Suiter to take the risk. Physical stats werent something a Demon Suiter needed, so there was even less need for them. As for the admission ticket, Li Xiu had never heard of it before, nor did he know what it was. Without any hesitation, Li Xiu chose the admission ticket. With Li Xius choice, the other three symbols vanished. The remaining symbol was projected from the screen, turning into a card with a strange symbol. Before Li Xiu could take a closer look at the symbol, the symbol on the card lit up and emitted a strange blue light. Soon, it turned into a vortex of light that produced an irresistible force that pulled Li Xiu into it. It was pitch-black all around. Only an ancient bronze oil lamp ahead of him was lit with a dim yellow light. The light was so dim that it could only illuminate the table under the oil lamp and a distance of about a meter. With the help of the dim flames, Li Xiu could vaguely see a dark-blue object behind the table. It was about the height of a person and looked like it was made of some metal. Li Xiu took two steps forward and came to the table to take a closer look. He realized that the surface of the thing was uneven and different. Its overall outline looked like a sarcophagus that held a mummy, but there were some differences. Suddenly, two holes appeared on the sarcophagus-like object where the face would be. A pair of blood-red eyes appeared behind the holes. The eyes were cold, bloodthirsty, and evil. Under the dim yellow light, they were demonic like the eyes of a ferocious ghost. With just a glance, Li Xiu felt his back break out into a cold sweat. His body seemed to be restrained by an invisible force, preventing him from moving at all. Demon Spirit! Li Xiu smelled a familiar scent. Having fought Demon Spirits for years, he quickly understood what was inside the sarcophagus. However, Li Xiu searched his memories and couldnt think of anyone he knew who had such terrifying eyes. Under the fixation of those eyes, Li Xius body lost control as he walked towards the metal sarcophagus that imprisoned the Demon Spirit. Li Xiu was alarmed. He had seen many powerful Demon Spirits, but he had never seen one so terrifying. Just the power of its gaze could control his body; he had no way of resistance. Li Xiu didnt dare imagine how he would fight such a Demon Spirit on Earth. Even if he wore the most advanced Demon Suit, it was unknown if he could defeat such a Demon Spirit. Suddenly, a blue light lit up on the metal sarcophagus like a blue electric current. Li Xiu heard a painful scream coming from the metal sarcophagus. The Demon Spirit inside trembled as though it had been electrocuted. Then, the blood-red eyes vanished as the power that restrained him vanished. Li Xiu was already covered in cold sweat after regaining control of his body. He panted heavily, but his gaze remained fixed on the metal sarcophagus. Chapter 8 Translator: CKtalon The metal sarcophagus was dead still. Li Xiu slowly retracted his gaze and looked at the table with the oil lamp. It was a rectangular stone table. Instead of calling it a table, it looked more like a sacrificial offering table. The offering table was very crude. It was carved from limestone and didnt seem to have been polished at all. Its surface was covered in dense patterns and uneven spots. In the middle of the offering table was the bronze oil lamp. The base of the bronze lamp was likely made of brass, but now, it was covered in green bronze rust. The mottled ancient color made it look like it had been ravaged by time. The lamp oil was a black oil that looked abnormally sticky. It looked like crude oil, but it emitted a strange fragrance. The fragrance wasnt pleasant. It even felt a little pungent, but it was a fragrance that wasnt unbearable. Suddenly, Li Xiu realized that there was something beside the oil lamp. Due to the darkness under the lamp and his sudden entry into the darkness, his eyes hadnt completely adapted to it, so Li Xiu hadnt seen it. After careful inspection, he realized that it was a very strange handgun. The revolvers barrel was much longer and thicker than an ordinary revolver. The entire gun was a matte gray-white color without a metallic luster. It didnt look like metal, but he couldnt be sure. There were blood-red patterns on the butt, barrel, cylinder, and even the firing pin. The patterns were very irregular, and they didnt have the symmetry that humans liked. Instead, they were like tiny blood vessels distributed on the handgun. This strange handgun was slightly bigger than an ordinary gun, but it didnt feel heavy. Instead, it had a demonic beauty, like a dark art piece created by a mentally-ill artist. It had the aesthetics of a work of art, but it also made ones hair stand on end. Apart from that, there was nothing else on the stone table. Li Xiu hesitated for a moment before reaching out to the strange handgun. The blood-red eyes on the metal sarcophagus suddenly opened again as it stared coldly at Li Xiu. However, this time, Li Xiu didnt feel the power that bound his body. Li Xiu didnt know where he was, nor was there any indication. He could only rely on his senses to make a judgment. This gun might be the key. Eyes stared at the blood-red eyes, Li Xius fingers slowly touched the butt of the gun. Its ice-cold touch made him shiver. It was as though Li Xiu hadnt touched a handgun, but something carved from ice. The moment Li Xiu touched the handgun, the blood-red pupils clearly constricted. This reaction made Li Xiu even more certain of his guess. He reached out to grab the butt of the gun and was about to pick it up. But in the next second, his expression changed. The handgun seemed to be nailed to the table. Li Xiu failed to pick it up or even move it. Li Xiu frowned slightly. Ignoring the coldness from his hand, he exerted all his strength to pick up the handgun. However, the outcome surprised him. Despite using all his strength, the handgun remained motionless. This made him suspect that the handgun was fixed to the stone table. A look of mockery appeared in the blood-red eyes. Although it didnt make a sound, Li Xiu felt as though it was saying: Thats it? Li Xiu felt that his hands were about to freeze. He retracted his palm and placed it by his mouth to warm it up. It took him a while to recover the feeling in his numb fingers. At the same time, Li Xiu had been observing the handgun with his eyes, but he didnt discover anything fixing the handgun to the stone table. Without any hesitation, Li Xiu extended both hands and quickly grabbed the handgun, hoping to pick it up with his bare hands. However, Li Xiu still didnt pick up the handgun. It only moved slightly. Li Xius hands continued to exert strength as the veins on his forehead protruded. The outcome was exactly the same. This time, Li Xiu was truly surprised. He let go of the handgun and rubbed his hands that were about to go numb from the cold. This strange handgun isnt fixed to the stone table. I cant lift it because its just too heavy. However, its just a handgun. Even if its slightly bigger than an ordinary handgun, it shouldnt be much heavier. How can it be so heavy? Furthermore, why is the handgun so cold? Is this really a handgun meant for humans? The blood-red eyes were no longer as oppressive as before. They were filled with mockery. Li Xiu knew that with his strength, it was impossible for him to pick up the handgun no matter how hard he tried. Just as he was wondering if there was any other solution, he suddenly felt the light in front of him change. When the scene in front of him stabilized, he realized that he had already arrived in front of the blue stone gate. Immediately, two soldiers with guns rushed forward. One soldier pointed a gun at Li Xius head, while the other soldier searched him and took away the Demon Cores he had obtained. Li Xiu didnt care about those things and allowed the soldiers to take away all the Demon Cores. Not bad. To be able to obtain so many Demon Cores on your first entry into the Trial Gate, it looks like youve been to other trials before, Old Gu said with a smile as he looked at the Demon Cores delivered by the soldiers and casually threw them into the box. Li Xiu didnt answer Old Gu. All he could think about was the strange handgun and the Demon Spirit in the metal sarcophagus. That was a powerful Demon Spirit he had never seen before. If such a Demon Spirit appeared on Earth, it would definitely bring unimaginable disaster to Earth. Li Xiu wasnt sure if Demon Suiters could destroy it. The strange handgun left him even more intrigued about what it was. Could it be that its because of these things that you entered the Trial Gate again and again without any regrets? Li Xiu muttered inwardly. After the trial was completed, there were only about eighty people left among the hundred-plus people. Herded by the soldiers, they returned to the narrow and damp room. Li Xiu wasnt sent back to his original room. Instead, he was taken to another room by the soldiers. This room was much better than the previous room. It could even be described as luxurious, considering where he was. Not only was it spacious, but it had also been decorated simply. There was a damp-proof floor on the ground. On one side of the wall was a wine cabinet with many bottles of red wine inside. According to the contract, you can leave this place. However, theres a problem now. The path out has been destroyed by a Demon Spirit, so Im sorry that youd be stuck here for some time. You may leave after the rescue team cleans up the Demon Spirit outside and clears the path. Old Gu, who was sitting behind the wide desk, flipped through the contract document in his hand and said with a smile, Of course, the debt you owe has been paid. Your treatment will naturally be different from the rest. Ill arrange a single room for you so that you can live comfortably. You will also be taken care of food-wise, but You still want me to enter the Trial Gate, right? Li Xiu looked at Old Gus sanctimonious face and asked calmly. The situation outside isnt clear yet. Before help arrives, no one knows if the Demon Spirit will barge in. If the Demon Spirit really does barge in, Demon Suiters are our only guarantee of survival. Get more Demon Cores for the Demon Suiters so that they have enough energy to fight. You arent entering the Trial Gate for me or anyone else, but for yourself, Old Gu said earnestly. Got it. Theres no need to change rooms or give me special privileges. Ill return to my original room, Li Xiu said calmly as he spared Old Gu a glance. Chapter 9 Translator: CKtalon When Li Xiu returned to his room, there were only seven people left. Including him, there were only eight people. In just one trial, five people from the room had died. When the others saw Li Xiu return, the way they looked at him was completely different from before. They were somewhat envious, but they were more afraid. Bandit glanced at Li Xiu and didnt say a word. She closed her eyes and continued resting. Li Xiu didnt have anything to say. He returned to his bed and lay down to rest with his eyes closed, but his mind was constantly working. Old Gu wasnt a person who could be trusted. The words he said might have been to keep Li Xiu here so that he could continue risking his life to participate in the trials until he was squeezed dry of every last bit of value. This place was different from the outside world. It wasnt a big deal for a few people to die here. Even if someone carried out investigations in the future, Old Gu could say that Li Xiu died the first time he entered the Trial Gate. This wasnt impossible. Li Xiu didnt regret coming here alone. Even if Old Gu didnt let him out, he still had his ways if he really wanted to leave. There were two Demon Suiters in the Abyss Base. As long as Li Xiu could snatch one Demon Suit, no one could stop him from leaving. Demon Suiters were very powerful, but that was after putting on the Demon Suit. Demon Suiters were still human. They had to eat, drink, poop, and sleep. It was impossible for them to wear Demon Suits 24/7. There would always be a chance. All he needed to do was wait for an opportunity. Furthermore, the older Demon Suits had flaws. If he could exploit their weaknesses, it wouldnt be difficult to snatch it. No one expected the high and mighty top-notch Demon Suiter to be here. However, Li Xiu wasnt in a rush to leave. This was because he wanted to figure out where the admission ticket took him, what was going on with the Demon Spirit trapped in the metal sarcophagus, and what the blood-patterned revolver was. To figure all of this out, he first had to be able to pick up the blood-patterned revolver. Li Xiu was the strongest Demon Suiter, but he wasnt the strongest trial-taker. His strength and physique were only slightly stronger than the average person. That was the result of years of training, but compared to the trial-takers who had been strengthened many times, such a body was still weaker. In that case, Ill make my body stronger first. Be it to pick up that strange blood-patterned revolver or to snatch the Demon Suit, its my best shot, Li Xiu thought to himself. Old Gu had taken a fancy to his abilities and wanted him to continue entering the Trial Gate. This was exactly what Li Xiu wanted. Perhaps it was because of the psychological pressure caused by the trial, everyone in the room quickly fell asleep. Li Xiu also took the opportunity to rest and fell asleep. Suddenly, Li Xiu felt someone approaching his bed. Now that Li Xiu had occupied an entire bunk bed, no one should need to approach him. Li Xiu immediately opened his eyes and realized that there was a figure standing in front of his bed in the darkness. On careful look, it was Bandit. Bandit placed her slender index finger to her lips and gestured for silence. Seeing that Li Xiu understood and didnt make a sound or make any movement, Bandit looked around again. Seeing that there was nothing abnormal in the darkness and that everyone was still sleeping, she actually did something that surprised Li Xiu. Bandit was like a cat that walked silently. She burrowed into Li Xius blanket and lay down beside him. Bandit and Li Xiu lay opposite each other. There was almost no distance between the two of them. Their faces were almost touching each other. Why didnt you leave? Bandits voice was extremely soft, so soft that only Li Xiu, who was inches away, could hear her. Li Xiu looked at Bandit without saying a word. He didnt understand what Bandit was getting at. Didnt Old Gu take you away because you fulfilled your contract and he wanted to send you out? Bandit whispered when she saw that Li Xiu didnt understand what she meant. He did, Li Xiu answered in a low voice. Then why are you back? Bandit stared at Li Xiu and asked again. Old Gu said that theres a Demon Spirit outside, and it caused the tunnel to collapse. We cant leave now. We have to wait for the rescue team to clean up the Demon Spirit and the collapsed tunnel. Li Xiu repeated what Old Gu had told him. You believe him? Bandit stared at Li Xiu and asked. So what if I dont? Li Xiu asked. Bandit took a deep look at Li Xiu and didnt say anything else. Like a ghost cat, she slid out of Li Xius blanket and silently returned to her bed. Li Xiu knew that Bandit didnt completely believe him. She might even suspect that he was a spy sent by Old Gu. Li Xiu actually didnt trust Bandit. He had heard that Bandit had been here for nearly three years. How much debt did she owe that she hadnt repaid it after three years? Even a heinous murderer should have left long ago, but Bandit was still here. Furthermore, in three years, if she entered the Trial Gate once a week, her body wouldnt only be as strong as it was now. It should have been much stronger. From Li Xius point of view, it could only be that Bandit hadnt entered the Trial Gate that many times. Either she was a hidden card set up by Old Gu or there was some special reason. Before figuring out Bandits background, Li Xiu wasnt willing to have too much contact with her. There was no distinction between day and night in such a place. Even the concept of time was blurred. Before entering the Abyss Base, other than their clothes and daily necessities, everything on them had been taken away. There was nothing like watches to keep time. After sleeping for an unknown period of time, people were already getting up and moving around. There were even people who were using a bathroom that could only accommodate one person. Li Xiu couldnt sleep from the reeking smell. Just as he was about to sit up, he heard the ear-piercing alarm again. Whats going on? The Trial Gate just opened yesterday. Is it going to open again so soon? A middle-aged man who had been here for more than a month said uneasily, Didnt it only open once a week in the past? What happened? Who cares what happened? The sooner we enter, the sooner we will be liberated. The sooner we complete the contract and leave this godforsaken place, the better. Ive had enough, the person beside him muttered as he put on his clothes. Weve only been here for less than a day, and they want us to risk our lives again? Are they trying to kill us? They dont treat us as humans at all. Since youre here, its best you dont treat yourself as a human. Amidst the curses and complaints, everyone was once again herded into the huge underground cave where the blue stone gate was. I have very bad news for everyone. A Demon Spirit came from somewhere outside and discovered our base Old Gu stood on the platform and repeated what he had said to Li Xiu yesterday. Currently, the gems in the base can barely activate six more trials. From now on, a trial will happen every twelve hours. Regardless of your contract fulfillment, you will have to participate in these six trials. Old Gus words immediately triggered an uproar. Many people immediately complained unhappily. Chapter 10 Translator: CKtalon Why do we have to attempt the trials after completing our contract? Why dont you go yourself? A middle-aged man was the most agitated as he shouted at Old Gu. Good question. This concerns the lives of all of us. Of course, we cant just let you take the risk. Apart from these two Demon Suiters, the 42 administrators, including myself, will be split into three groups. We will take turns attempting the trials with you. The remaining two groups will be in charge of maintaining order and monitoring the situation at the tunnel. Old Gu glanced at the middle-aged man and continued, For the sake of everyones safety, we have to obtain as many Demon Cores as possible. Do it yourself. Im still short of a Demon Core to fulfill my end of the bargain. After Im done, I refuse to attempt the trials, the middle-aged man shouted. BANG! Just as he said that, a Demon Suiter appeared in front of him like a phantom. His head exploded before he could react. The body failed to react either. After the head exploded, the headless body stood there for a while before slowly collapsing backward. This is an emergency. Anyone who tries to hold us back and affect everyones survival will end up like this. Old Gu scanned the crowd coldly. Many people lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze. I wont let everyone work for nothing. After the crisis is resolved, you will be rewarded twice the market price for the excess Demon Cores when you leave, Old Gu said slowly when he saw that no one was stirring up trouble. Seeing that many people were tempted, Li Xiu thought to himself, Old Gu is only the administrator of a base, but his management abilities are amazing. I wonder what they are up to? Having the administrators join the trial-takers looked like they had increased the number of people, but in fact, they increased the difficulty. Most of these administrators had entered the Trial Gate to strengthen themselves. Their abilities were definitely stronger than ordinary people. If it was a PvP trial between trial-takers, the chances of ordinary people dying increased. Many trial-takers understood this principle, but with the Demon Suiter standing by the side, no one dared to say anything. Under Old Gus command, the gate to the Sea and Sky Trials opened again. Under the threat of the guns, Li Xiu and company had no choice but to rush into the Trial Gate again. At the same time, fourteen administrators entered the Trial Gate together. Ah! Another C-class trial! Someone immediately complained when they saw the C symbol on the screen. The chances of a C-class trial appearing were relatively low. Most of them were E-class and D-class trials. That way, the mortality rate would be much lower. Li Xiu realized that the trial grounds this time were very different from the last time. Although it was also a stadium-like building, they didnt appear in the stands this time. Everyone was in the arena. Inside the trial grounds was an oval-shaped track. Nearly a hundred people were assigned to different starting points. It was very similar to track and field competitions. Beyond the starting line was an invisible barrier that blocked everyones path. Speed trial? Li Xiu was somewhat depressed. No matter how strong his talent was, it couldnt increase his speed. That was a manifestation of his physique. Although technique played a part, the key was still his physique. Such a trial wasnt too conducive to Li Xiu. Welcome to the Sea and Sky Trials. The trial difficulty is Level C. The rules of the trial are as follows The cold and heartless voice sounded again. When they saw the rules, some people were excited, while others broke down and cried. As expected, this was a track-and-field-type trial. One lap of the track was 800 meters, longer than the typical track. The rules of the trial were that after completing one round, trial-takers who didnt take more than a minute and a half would gain one point. Those who exceeded two minutes would be considered to have failed the trial if they were ranked within the bottom thirty. Those who didnt fall into the bottom thirty would also be considered to have completed the trial. They could also gain one point and obtain a Demon Core as a reward. The 600-second countdown began. When the countdown ended, the trial would begin. Li Xiu glanced at his bracelet. The number on it was 57. This meant that his ranking was 57th among these people. After carefully counting, there were a total of 92 people. In other words, there were 35 people whose physiques were inferior to Li Xius. He likely wouldnt fall into the bottom 30 for this trial. As for completing the trial in one and a half minutes, it was impossible for ordinary people to do so. In the past, the record holder of the 800-meter world record couldnt even break 90 seconds. Furthermore, it came nowhere close. Only trial-takers who had been strengthened many times could obtain such results. Among the people participating in the trial, it was probably impossible for more than half of them to hit the 90-second mark. They could only try their best not to be in the last thirty. Li Xiu also realized the importance of physique in the trials, but no one expected two consecutive C-class trials to happen. Before coming to the Abyss Base, Li Xiu had already learned about this place. The Sea and Sky Trials were mostly Class E and D trials. The difficulty wasnt too high, and there were basically no trials that guaranteed death. As long as ones physique reached the level of a professional athlete, the chances of passing the test were very high. He hadnt expected two consecutive C-level tests, but he wasnt completely unprepared. Which one of you killed Wrow? An administrator walked to Li Xiu and Bandit and stared at them. Just as Li Xiu was about to say something, Bandit stared at the administrator and asked, What do you want? I brought Wrow in. Hes my friend. I have to give his parents an explanation. No matter who killed him, they have to pay the price, the administrator said with a sullen expression. The others retreated to the side, leaving only the administrator, Li Xiu, and Bandit. You have to accept your fate if you lose in a trial, Bandit said. Does that mean you killed him? The administrator stared intently at Bandit as killing intent surfaced in his eyes. So what if I did? So what if I didnt? To Li Xius surprise, Bandit didnt deny it and said ambiguously. Its good that you admit it. The administrator nodded and said, Youre right. When it comes to trials, you have to accept your fate if you lose. Dont worry. I wont kill you, but Ill break one of your legs. I hope you can win the trial, the administrator said as he approached Bandit. At the same time, he raised his fists one after another. His footsteps were steady and rhythmic. This matter has nothing to do with her. Wrow died because he lost to me, Li Xiu said as he stood forward. He didnt want to implicate others, nor did he want to seek shelter from a woman. From the administrators stance, one could tell that he was proficient in combat. His strength and speed were probably not inferior to Bandits. Who did it? The administrator looked at Bandit. What do you think? Bandit asked. I heard that his ranking was 49 back then. With that physique, its unlikely he could defeat Wrow. However, it doesnt matter. It wont take much effort to break another leg. The administrator didnt want to waste time. He wanted to break Bandit and Li Xius legs before the trial began. Chapter 11 Translator: CKtalon The administrator rushed towards Bandit at an increasing speed. When he was about to reach her, he suddenly leaped up and slammed his right knee into her face. His strike was fast and ruthless thanks to the momentum gained from the charge. He wanted to quickly finish off Bandit. From his point of view, Li Xius physique was much weaker and didnt pose much of a threat. After dealing with Bandit, it wouldnt take him long to deal with Li Xiu. Bandit raised his arms in front of her and blocked the administrators knee. The ferocious force made her lose her balance and retreat. Her arms were also knocked away. After the administrator landed, he took a sprint and slammed his right elbow upwards, striking Bandits chin. Bandit had no choice but to retreat and dodge. Under the administrators ferocious attacks, she was forced to dodge left and right, unable to retaliate at all. Smart! Li Xiu praised inwardly. After the first head-on clash, Bandit had already determined that the administrators physique and techniques were above hers. She was definitely no match for him in a head-on clash. Therefore, from the beginning, Bandit had no intention of determining a victor from her fight with him. There were only about five minutes left on the countdown. As long as she could stall for time, the administrator could only return to the starting line to participate in the trial. No one would risk their lives for a friend. At the very least, it was unlikely that the administrator was such a person. However, Li Xiu didnt consider it a correct strategy. Even if they could stall for time today, the administrator might use even more sinister means to deal with them after they were out. If they could resolve the trouble here, why make it more troublesome? Li Xiu glanced at the other administrators. They were only watching from the side and didnt seem to have any intention of taking action. Having made up his mind, Li Xiu didnt hesitate to charge at the two people fighting. His speed and strength were naturally far inferior to the administrator, but this didnt mean that he didnt have what it took. The physique of a Demon Suiter wasnt strong. Most of them had never been physically strengthened. However, this didnt mean that the Demon Suiters had lacking combat techniques. On the contrary, Demon Suiters were not weak with combat techniques at all. Demon Suiters needed combat skills to complement them; therefore, they had all undergone professional combat training. Ignoring the fact that the coaches who trained Li Xiu in combat were all pugilists, even Li Xius sparring partners were top-notch combat experts. Furthermore, Li Xiu had the talent of Absolute Order. He could learn any technique after seeing it once. In addition, he had been fighting Demon Spirits for years. He could be considered a master from the experience and combat intuition he had honed from life-and-death situations over the years. Realizing that Li Xiu was rushing over from behind, the fuming administrator became further enraged. He was already very displeased that his ferocious attacks failed to severely injure Bandit. Now, Li Xiu was sneaking up on him; it made him even more displeased. At the instant Li Xiu approached him, he placed his weight on his left foot. As his body leaned forward, he twisted his waist with all his might, causing his right leg to swing backward like a steel whip. This kick was fast and ruthless, and the angle of the kick was extremely sharp. In an instant, it reached the side of Li Xius neck. This extremely ferocious and sharp kick surprisingly missed. As though he had expected it, Li Xiu crouched and lowered his head to dodge the kick. However, that wasnt the end of the administrators attack. The moment his right leg landed on the ground, he switched to pivoting on his right and used the momentum to kick his left leg out again. This kick was faster and more ruthless than the right legs attack. It was also more artful. This was the move in Muay Thai, spinning back heel kick. Although it was only a basic move, it had a very practical effect. It also combined strength and technique. When he used it, it was indomitably clean, vicious and domineering. However, just as he raised his left leg, he suddenly realized that Li Xiu was already beside him, almost sticking to him. After Li Xiu bent down to dodge his kick, he didnt retreat like a normal person. He charged forward instead. All his strength erupted from his calf as he shifted his center of gravity and instantly darted to the administrators front like a venomous snake. Li Xiu simultaneously threw his fist in parallel with the momentum at the administrators crouch. It was at this moment that the administrators leg swung at Li Xiu. Due to the close distance, the administrators kick failed to deliver its full strength. It only made Li Xiu stagger two steps to the side. As for Li Xius direct punch, it made the administrator cry out in pain. He grabbed his crotch with both hands and clamped his legs together. He whimpered while trembling violently. Body strengthening happened in different areas. Even if some weak spots had been strengthened many times and were tougher than the average persons, they were still relatively weak. If a trial-taker could really strengthen their body to invulnerability, he wouldnt be here as an administrator. Most of the administrators here were glorified guards, no different from ordinary soldiers. Without any hesitation, Bandit lashed out with her leg with all her might. Her powerful long legs struck the administrators head like a blade. With a bang, the administrators face distorted and deformed. His teeth and blood spewed out as he was sent flying to the side. Before he could fall, Li Xiu threw another punch at his face, deforming it completely. His jaw fell off and blood spewed out as he fell towards Bandit. Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Under the combined attacks of Li Xiu and Bandit, the administrator was beaten up terribly. His face was covered in blood, and his mangled body was unrecognizable. Stop. The onlooking administrators rushed over and pulled Li Xiu and Bandit away. Unfortunately, everything had happened too quickly. By the time they saved the administrator, he had already fainted. You dare kill an administrator? The leading administrator stared at Li Xiu and Bandit and said with a sullen expression. You expect us to just stand here and let him kill us? Bandit didnt flinch at all as she confronted the leading administrator. The leading administrator glanced at the countdown and said coldly, Finish the trial first. Well deal with this matter after we leave. Wake him up. It was unknown if it was because the administrators body was indeed powerful or if it was because the person who saved him was skilled, but he managed to regain consciousness despite suffering such serious injuries. However, he couldnt even stand properly. It was impossible for him to complete the trial. No one cared about him because the countdown was about to end. The other administrators returned to the starting line and prepared to begin the ensuing trial. Why did you help me? Li Xiu lowered his voice and asked Bandit. Because I want to leave the Abyss Base alive. Bandit also lowered her voice and said meaningfully. Lets talk when we get back. Li Xiu realized that the countdown was about to end. All he could do was focus on completing the trial. It wasnt convenient to say certain things here. At the instant the countdown ended, the invisible barrier beyond the starting line vanished. Almost at the same time, everyone rushed out and charged forward with all their might. Chapter 12 Translator: CKtalon Eight hundred meters wasnt a long distance, but it wasnt short either. It was originally considered a middle-distance race in track and field. It was difficult for a normal humans physical strength to sprint at top speed for 800 meters. One needed to control their pacing and employ certain tactics. However, there were many human trial-takers whose bodies had been strengthened. To these trial-takers, pacing and strategy werent that important. Trial-takers with sufficiently good stamina could even sprint the entire haul like they were running a hundred meters like ordinary people. Li Xiu definitely couldnt achieve that. All he could do was control his pacing and breathing. He followed the pack at the back and waited for a suitable opportunity to do a final charge. Those administrators were basically among the front pack of the runners. Bandit and others with better physiques were in the second pack. Li Xiu was in the last pack. There were more than forty people among them. They were all physically weaker and werent much better than ordinary people. Some were even inferior to ordinary people. An ordinary thin youth who was running at the back fell to the ground due to nervousness. He didnt even have the intention to get up and continue chasing after the pack. He lay there and watched the person in front of him leave, his eyes filled with despair. Li Xiu wasnt a cold-blooded and heartless person, but he didnt have the ability to help others. It was already good enough if he could ensure his own survival. The administrator who had wanted to break Li Xiu and Bandits legs had already fallen near the starting line. He staggered to his feet and wanted to chase after them, but he failed to get up after a few attempts. No expression could be seen on his bloody face, but his eyes were filled with regret and despair. Whats the meaning of the trials? Where do the Trial Gates come from? Whos controlling all of this? This question not only troubled Li Xiu, but it was also a common question for all of humanity. To date, no one had figured out what the Trial Gates were. The front pack had begun their final sprint. They were half a lap ahead of the last pack. In the second pack, more and more people at the back gave up in despair and stopped in place. Some even broke down and cried. Li Xiu maintained his pacing and remained in the top few of the last pack, waiting for the final sprint. Finally, he reached the distance where Li Xiu could sprint with all his might. The finish line was within his reach. He began to exert strength as he increased his speed, dashing forward for his final sprint. Just as Li Xius speed increased, a leg suddenly extended out from the side of the track, diagonally ahead of him. This leg was extended just right. It was at the moment Li Xiu raised his left foot. If it were an ordinary person who was completely focused on the race and at such close distance, they would definitely have been tripped. They probably wouldnt be able to catch up to the person in front of them in time. However, Li Xiu instantly reacted. He raised his left foot that was about to take a step forward again. At the same time, he exerted strength with his right leg and leaped over the leg that was extended diagonally. After landing on the ground, he adjusted his pacing and continued to increase his speed as he charged towards the finish line. Li Xiu should have been able to come in above the bottom 45, but his pacing was inevitably affected. He crossed the finish line in 39th place. Whos that fellow? Li Xiu stared at the young man not far away and asked Bandit who had walked over. I dont know him. Ive never seen him before. Hes not from the previous trial, nor have I seen him among the administrators. Bandit had also seen the attempted tripping. She was also paying attention to the young man, but she didnt recognize him. Oh! Li Xiu sized up the man. He looked to be in his twenties. He was tall and muscular, and his eyes were slender. His hair was a little curly, but it was unknown if it was naturally curly or if it had been permed. The man was also looking at Li Xiu. Seeing Li Xiu sizing him up, he even smiled at him. At the same time, he extended his right hand like a gun. With one eye open and one eye closed, he made a shooting gesture at Li Xiu. The trial has ended. Rewards distributed. Cleanup commencing As the 31st person crossed the finish line, the cold voice sounded again. With a bang, the thirty people who failed to cross the finish line exploded to pieces at the same time. Thirty lives were lost in an instant. The lives cherished by civilized society were like weeds, free for all to cull. The 62 people who completed the test each received a Demon Core as a reward. At the same time, they felt a sharp pain from the bracelets injection as their bodies were strengthened again. Li Xiu felt as though his entire body had been baptized by a warm stream. His originally aching muscles after running eight hundred meters instantly recovered. The pain made him feel indescribably comfortable. When choosing whether to enter the second round of trials, Li Xiu decisively took off his bracelet and chose to give up. After all, he was only the strongest Demon Suiter, not the strongest trial-taker. There was no need to persist in a trial he had no confidence in. After he came out, the people guarding outside took away the Demon Core in Li Xius hand and put it on record. They claimed that they would pay him double the price when he left. Li Xiu originally wanted to wait for Bandit and the man to come out, but he was herded back to his room by the soldiers. Li Xiu recalled the mans appearance, but he couldnt remember when he had seen such a man. He shouldnt be an administrator. Otherwise, theres no way Bandit wouldnt recognize him. If hes a trial-taker who was sent here, why would he attack me and provoke me for no reason? Could it be someone I offended outside? Li Xiu quickly rejected this thought. He had been trained as a Demon Suiter since he was young and had never interacted with anyone outside. The number of people who knew him could be counted on one hand. At the very least, few people knew that he was the Demon Suiter codenamed God. As a Demon Suiter was relatively weak and easy to assassinate, most Demon Suiters wouldnt reveal their true identity in front of others. Even when they fought in Demon Suits, they only used a code name. Li Xius original code name was Safflower, but due to his outstanding performance, he was called God by others. As a result, few people knew his real code name, Safflower. Therefore, even if someone wanted to kill the worlds number one Demon Suiter, God, few people knew that God was Li Xiu. Furthermore, Li Xiu hadnt told anyone that he would come to the Abyss Base, so it was even more impossible for him to be an enemy outside. If its not someone from the outside who wants me dead, who else in this base would want me dead? Li Xiu thought to himself. Chapter 13 Translator: CKtalon After nearly half an hour, Bandit was sent back. Including Bandit, there were only four people left in the room. The person who tried to trip you reached the end, Bandit said directly. Do you know his identity? Li Xiu asked again. Hes not an administrator, but he should be related to Old Gu. I saw Old Gu take him away with a smile, Bandit said after some thought. Old Gu wants me dead? That cant be. Li Xiu shook his head and rejected this idea. Old Gu had control over the life and death of everyone in the Abyss Base; there was no need for him to go through so much trouble to kill him. There were many simpler and more direct methods. Without further information, Li Xiu couldnt make any effective preparations. All he could do was keep this question to himself. Why did you help me today? Li Xiu raised the question again and whispered to Bandit. Since the administrator attacked you, it means that you arent Old Gus man. If we join forces, we might have a higher chance of survival, Bandit said. You suspect Old Gu? Dont you suspect anything? The tunnel being destroyed by the Demon Spirit might just be an excuse. The administrators might be trying to finish off all the trial-takers who were brought here by force, Bandit said coldly. Whats the reason? Li Xiu looked at Bandits fierce-looking face due to the scar. The ugly scar couldnt hide her intelligence and excellence. Im not sure, but theres a possibility. Bandit seemed somewhat hesitant and didnt directly voice her suspicion. Li Xiu looked at Bandit silently, waiting for her to make a decision. Perhaps Old Gu has already discovered the secret behind the Sea and Sky Trials. Bandit stared at Li Xiu for a long time before finally revealing a secret. The blue stone gate was discovered three years ago. Bandit was one of the first trial-takers to come here. In the past three years, Bandit had participated in more than a hundred trials. If she had relied on her own strength to survive, how could she have survived the cruel trials repeatedly when she was still an ordinary weak girl three years ago? Li Xiu had his suspicions over this question. After being enhanced more than a hundred times in three years, Bandits physique would have been better. At the very least, she should be stronger than the average administrator. The answer that Bandit gave him surprised him. The trials in the trial grounds are random. S-class is the highest, and E-class is the lowest. The Sea and Sky Trials are typically only E and D-class trials. At best, they are C-class. Occasionally, there will be A and B-class trials, but at very special times, there will be an S-class trial. If one can reach the end of an S-class trial, they will have a chance to obtain a special S-class skill as a rewardForfeit Bandit lowered her voice further. As long as the trial begins, the trial-taker will typically have to complete the trial. Giving up is equivalent to accepting the punishment of failure. However, those with the skill to forfeit can choose to forfeit after the trial begins. Although they wont be rewarded, they can leave the trial grounds alive without punishment. When I first entered the trial grounds, I was lucky to reach the end and obtained the Forfeit skill. Now, do you know why Im still alive? Every time I encounter a trial that I cant complete, I will use Forfeit. Thats how Im still alive. Bandit sighed. Li Xiu immediately understood what Bandit meant. Forfeit could be described as a divine skill. The Trial Gates were filled with danger. Even the top trial-takers couldnt guarantee that they could survive every test. Having Forfeit was equivalent to having a get out of jail free card. Such a skill was enough to tempt any expert. This was an ability that could affect the world. If Old Gu and the faction behind him really knew that one could obtain such a skill from the Sea and Sky Trial, they would undoubtedly seal off all news immediately. It was impossible for any outsider to obtain this news. Therefore, it was impossible for them to let anyone leave the Abyss Base. Everyone would be silenced and they would be forced to constantly enter the Trial Gate to be squeezed of their remaining value. According to my experience over the past three years, that S-class trial appears once every six months. If Im not wrong, we will encounter that S-class trial when we enter the Sea and Sky Trial the sixth time based on what Old Gu has said, Bandit continued. How did you hide it from Old Gu and company in the past? Li Xiu asked. I didnt hide it, nor could I hide it. Having used Forfeit many times, people would inevitably discover it. Old Gu and company already knew that I could forfeit trials and come out alive. They kept me behind only to figure out which trial I obtained this ability from. Bandits gaze was firm. From the looks of it, they have already figured it out. If they successfully complete the sixth trial and obtain Forfeit, I would be useless. Only death awaits me, so I have to find a way out. My strength is limited, and there arent many people I can choose from. There are even fewer people who can help me. I chose you because I had no other choice. Can you tell me what you did outside, or what debt you owe that you havent paid off in three years? Li Xiu asked a question that had nothing to do with the previous topic. This has nothing to do with our cooperation, Bandit said with a cold expression. Alright, why dont you tell me what kind of cooperation you have in mind? You arent naive. You should naturally know that with the two of us, we are definitely no match for Old Gu and company. Let alone two, even ten or twenty of us wont be able to win. Furthermore, Old Gu has two Demon Suiters. Therefore, we only have one chance. We have to finish off Old Gu and the rest in the trials. In that final trial, Old Gu and some of his trusted aides will definitely participate personally. That will be our chance. Not many of Old Gus men know the secret either. I suspect that only Old Gu himself knows. As long as he dies, no one in the base will know that all of us were supposed to be silenced. If we escape the Abyss Base before the people backing Old Gu arrive, we will stand a chance of survival. This is also our only chance of survival. Bandit emphasized again. This was their only chance. What if someone else other than Old Gu knows this secret? Li Xiu asked. How do we know if we dont give it a try? Bandits eyes were firm. She wasnt someone who would easily waver. Alright, then tell me. What kind of trial is it? Li Xiu was somewhat curious about the S-class trial. Chapter 14 Translator: CKtalon I gave that S-class trial a nameWorlds End, Bandit said hesitantly. How did you clear the S-class trial? Li Xiu was somewhat surprised. From the information he had previously gathered, even B and A-class trials seldom appeared in the Sea and Sky Trials. It was already very difficult for ordinary people to clear a C-class trial, much less an S-class. What puzzled Li Xiu even more was that Bandit, who had entered the Trial Gate for the first time, was a naive girl without any abilities. How did she clear the S-class trial and obtain the skill reward? Ignoring the former Bandit, even the present Bandit and Li Xiu himself didnt have any confidence facing an S-class trial. You dont need to know how I cleared it. All you need to know is how we can clear the S-level trial. Only by opening the door to the Sea and Sky Trials at a specific time would we have the chance to activate that special trial. Therefore, Old Gu took three years to figure out the ins and outs. Even so, he isnt 100% sure, so he doesnt dare to kill me now. Bandit explained the rules of Worlds End. Worlds End also required two people to form a team. This was also why Bandit wanted Li Xius cooperation. She had to find someone she could trust and who had the ability to help her. Only then would she have a chance of killing Old Gu and the other administrators who were participating in the trial. After Bandit explained the rules of the trial, Li Xiu finally understood why Bandit could reach the end and obtain the skill when he didnt have any abilities. Worlds End wasnt a competition of physique. It was completely different from the two trials Li Xiu had participated in. Even a weak elder could reach the end. However, this didnt mean that it wasnt difficult. The truth was the opposite. Worlds End lived up to its name as an S-class. The difficulty was extremely high. Top trial-takers could die instantly. The rules only could be described simplychoice. The two people in the team would face the same question. When the time came, the two of them wouldnt be able to communicate, but they had to choose the same answer. Once two people chose different answers, they would immediately be judged to have failed the trial and be eliminated. Every round of the trial had ten questions. Only by answering all of them correctly could one enter the next round. The team with the slowest speed would be judged to have failed the trial. What was even more terrifying was that the trial would continue indefinitely. Unless one had Forfeit, they could only continue the trial indefinitely until there was only one team left. In other words, only two trial-takers who entered Worlds End could come out alive. Bandit had already participated in the Worlds End trial five times. Although the questions in each trial were different, she had roughly figured out its pattern. As long as they chose according to the pattern she had figured out, the two of them could choose the same answer and complete the trial as quickly as possible. If my luck is good enough and Old Gu and company are unlucky enough, we might only need one round to kill everyone, Bandit said. Li Xiu knew that it was viable. If the two people in the team werent familiar with each other or didnt have any tacit understanding, the chances of death in the first round would be very high. It wouldnt be strange for them to be wiped out. Even couples who had lived together for years might give different answers when faced with the same question. This is the only chance we have to kill Old Gu and company. However, before that, you have to survive the first four trials. Compared to Worlds End, these four trials are the most difficult. Bandits expression was abnormally solemn as she continued, According to my summary and analysis, theres an 80% chance that the first and third trials will be E and D-class trials. Such trials are relatively simple to clear. With your abilities, it wouldnt be difficult for you. The problem is the second and fourth trial. The second trial is very likely Death Ball, a C-class trial. The fourth trial, which is the one before the S-class trial, has a 90% chance of being a B-class trial and a 10% chance of an A-class trial. The C-class trial shouldnt be a problem, Li Xiu said. Its a problem. Dont write it off just because I named it Death Ball. Its nothing like the soccer trial youre good at. In fact, its completely different. Its a baseball match. Its also a battle between two people in the same team. When the time comes, I cant be on the same team as you. You will be in grave danger in this round. Bandit said seriously, Thankfully, Death Ball is the second trial. When the time comes, you might be able to choose a weaker opponent. If Death Ball is the fourth trial, your chance of survival will be even harder than a B-class trial. Li Xiu knew what Bandit meant. The remaining four trials were actually for Old Gu to eliminate the trial-takers who had been sent here by force. The further one went, the fewer ordinary trial-takers there would be. By the fourth trial, it was very likely that they wouldnt be able to find other ordinary trial-takers. When the time came, he could only choose an administrator as a teammate. Li Xius physique would put him at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, Death Ball isnt your forte. Otherwise, it wouldnt be so troublesome. You have to choose a weaker opponent during Death Ball. As long as you survive one round, exit the trial immediately. Bandit sighed. Ive played baseball twice in the past. There shouldnt be any problems with Death Ball, Li Xiu added. Youve played baseball before? How long have you been playing? Bandits eyes lit up as she hurriedly asked. Just twice. The first time was about half an hour, and the second time was about five minutes, Li Xiu answered after some thought. The two times you mentioned are really just two instances. Whats the difference between that and not having played before? Bandit was somewhat speechless. There is. I understand the rules, Li Xiu said after some thought. Its useless knowing the rules. Forget it. Its best if you act according to our plan. After a pause, Bandit continued, As for the fourth B-class or A-class trial, Im not sure which one it will be. We can only make plans when the time comes. In the first and third trials, you have to try your best to obtain as many rewards as possible. Dont get Demon Cores; get body strengthening in preparation for the fourth trial. Ill help you when the time comes. The two of them discussed the details before getting some rest for the subsequent trials. Li Xiu hadnt felt such excitement in a long time. He was invincible among Demon Suiters. Having controlled the strongest Demon Suit and killing the strongest Demon Spirits, it had been a long time since he had felt such pressure. Perhaps becoming a trial-taker isnt a bad choice. This pressure excited Li Xiu. Now, Li Xiu was really looking forward to the subsequent trials, especially the S-class Worlds End. Chapter 15 Translator: CKtalon There were three people sitting in Old Gus office. Old Gu, the leading administrator of todays trial, Li Changqing, and the slender-eyed man. Old Gu addressed him as Jin Zhenhuan. Old Gu, do you want to deal with Li Xiu first? Li Changqing asked Old Gu. No rush. Now that Bandit wants to team up with that punk, killing Li Xiu now is equivalent to cutting off Bandits path to survival. We mustnt push her into a corner. Shes still useful, Old Gu said with a smile. Bandit knows that trial better than us. What if Li Changqing frowned, not agreeing with Old Gu. There are no what-ifs. We have to give her hope, but we cant allow her to really have hope, Old Gu said meaningfully. You mean to kill Li Xiu before the final trial begins? Li Changqing immediately understood what Old Gu meant. Let him live for now. Give Bandit some hope to prevent her from going rogue. She might be of use in the future, said Old Gu. Got it. Li Changqing nodded with a smile. Old Gu, let me finish Li Xiu when the time comes. Jin Zhenhuan suddenly spoke in a tone that didnt accept any questioning. Director Jin, why do you care about him? Although Li Xiu is a little smart and resourceful, hes nothing compared to you. Is it worth it for you to dirty your hands? Old Gu carefully probed. I want to personally collect the debt he owes me. When he mentioned Li Xiu, Jin Zhenhuans slender eyes shimmered with a strange hint of color. As you wish. Old Gu naturally didnt object and agreed with a smile. When Li Xiu woke up, Bandit was already packing his things. After a while, the ear-piercing alarm sounded again. When they arrived in front of the blue stone gate again, the administrators didnt cause trouble for Li Xiu and Bandit. They directly opened the Trial Gate. Li Xiu followed everyone into the Trial Gate. Just as Bandit had predicted, this was an E-class trial. It was the lowest difficulty. A basketball hoop appeared in the middle of the court. They were to try shooting from the free-throw line ten times. As long as one scored once, one would clear the trial. Even for people who didnt know how to play basketball, they should be able to score one or two out of ten balls. The trial was indeed very simple. Li Xiu looked around and realized that Jin Zhenhuan was looking at him from afar. He had a smile on his face, but there was unfriendliness in his eyes. Who is this fellow? Li Xiu really couldnt recall when he had interacted with this person. However, from the look in his eyes, he seemed to have a huge grudge with Li Xiu. Have we met? Li Xiu walked in front of Jin Zhenhuan and asked. He had to figure out who this person was. If this person knew his identity as a Demon Suiter, Li Xiu was certain that he was in grave danger. You really dont remember me? Anger flashed in Jin Zhenhuans eyes. Does that mean we know each other? Li Xiu stared at Jin Zhenhuans face and racked his memories, but he still couldnt recall when he had seen the man in front of him. World Training Camp. Jin Zhenhuan stared at Li Xiu and said the name of an organization. Li Xiu was slightly taken aback before he immediately recalled. Back when he was a child, he had gone to the World Training Camp for training. It was an organization that discovered and nurtured Demon Suiters. Back then, Li Xiu had passed the World Training Camps test due to him having the talent to become a Demon Suiter. He had also been invited to join the training camp, but Li Xiu didnt join it. Li Xiu didnt take such matters to heart at all. If Jin Zhenhuan hadnt mentioned it, he would have forgotten about it. Li Xiu frowned slightly. He didnt remember having a conflict with anyone in the World Training Camp, nor did he remember seeing Jin Zhenhuan. Of course, even if they had really met, it was normal for Li Xiu not to recognize him. After all, they were still children back then. They were less than ten years old. Jin Zhenhuan was about the same age. Who could recognize a grown-up him? You finally remember. Thats right. Im Jin Zhenhuan. I competed with you for first place in the test. Seeing Li Xiu silent, Jin Zhenhuan thought that he had finally remembered. Was there such a person back then? I dont remember. Li Xiu was enlightened, but he still couldnt recall who Jin Zhenhuan was. The corners of Jin Zhenhuans eyes twitched as killing intent flashed in his eyes. After a while, he suddenly sneered and said, Its normal that you dont remember. The genius youth who was yearned by the training camp back then has now fallen to such a state. If it were me, I wouldnt want to recall the past either. There shouldnt be any grudge between us, right? Li Xiu said to Jin Zhenhuan. The World Training Camp didnt only recruit one student. Being first didnt affect Jin Zhenhuans matriculation. Furthermore, Li Xiu hadnt been admitted into the World Training Camp. If I, Jin Zhenhuan, want to do something, I have to be the best. Since I cant become the best Demon Suiter, Ill become the strongest trial-taker. Its because of you that I gave up the chance to become a Demon Suiter. I trained myself hard to become the strongest trial-taker. Jin Zhenhuan stared at Li Xiu with a mocking expression as he continued, I originally thought that I would have a chance to fight you again in the future, but I never expected you to be reduced to such a state. Not to mention a Demon Suiter, even as a trial-taker, youve failed terribly. How misguided I was back then. If I had known that you were such a failure, I wouldnt have given up the chance to become a Demon Suiter for you. It looks like the trial back then dealt you a huge blow, Li Xiu said in thought. Jin Zhenhuans smile froze as he stared intently at Li Xiu. Its best you dont try to anger me again. You should know very well that your life is in my hands now. You can only live if I permit it. If I want you dead, you wont live. So that means you are one of Old Gus? Li Xiu asked. Youre wrong. You should say that Old Gu is one of mine. Jin Zhenhuan teased, Now, you should understand whos in charge of your life and death. Its you, Li Xiu said calmly. You can beg me. Perhaps Ill give you a way out. The corners of Jin Zhenhuans mouth curled up slightly as though he stood high and mighty. Li Xiu laughed. You wont kill me. Do you think I dont dare kill you? Jin Zhenhuans expression darkened. Its not that you dont dare. A stubborn person like you wont kill me unless you defeat me, Li Xiu said. Youre right. I wont kill you. If I want you dead, itll happen only after I defeat you. Since you are also a trial-taker now, Ill let you see what a true trial-taker is. Ill make you lose completely in the trial and let you die in peace, Jin Zhenhuan said coldly. Chapter 16 Translator: CKtalon Youre in trouble. Once Jin Zhenhuan defeats you, Im afraid he wont let you live, Bandit whispered after Li Xiu returned. Then Ill just make him lose all the way, Li Xiu answered. Bandit shook her head and remained silent. She could tell that Jin Zhenhuans strengthening was stronger than hers. Repeatedly defeating him was easier said than done. Li Xiu didnt explain because the trial had already begun. People were teleported into the arena one after another to carry out the hoop-shooting trial. The E-class trial was indeed relatively simple. All the people who went up first cleared the test. Unless they were especially unlucky, the mortality rate in such trials was very low. Bandit took the test ahead of Li Xiu. She scored six out of ten and easily cleared the test. When it was Jin Zhenhuans turn, he didnt immediately throw the ball. He looked back at Li Xiu, who was outside the court. His eyes seemed to say: Look carefully and see what a true trial-taker is. Swoosh! The basketball shot into the net. Jin Zhenhuans shooting posture was beautiful, even better than a professional players. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! One after another, Jin Zhenhuan scored every throw. Furthermore, all of them entered the net with shocking accuracy. All ten balls went in. Apart from two balls that touched the hoop a little, the rest went in cleanly. It was undoubtedly a professionals standard. A few more people passed. One of them was too nervous or perhaps his luck was too bad. He scored none of the ten balls, making him the first victim. When it was Li Xius turn, Jin Zhenhuan and Bandit paid him close attention. Swoosh! He scored a clean shot. Bandit was somewhat surprised. She never expected Li Xiu to be good at basketball. Without any hesitation, Li Xiu immediately threw after receiving the ball. His actions were as beautiful as Jin Zhenhuans. He scored all ten shots as well. All ten of Li Xius balls entered the net without touching the hoop. This was very simple for Li Xiu who had Absolute Order. Others could make mistakes, but not him. He could perfectly replicate the same trajectory for every ball without any deviation. Jin Zhenhuans expression was a little ugly. He looked at Li Xiu who had returned to the spectator stands and said, Continue on to the next round. Of course. Li Xiu directly responded to Jin Zhenhuans provocation. Very good. Jin Zhenhuan didnt say anything else. He turned his head and sat back on the steps, waiting for the next round to begin. After this round of trials ended, other than the unlucky fellow, everyone else passed the trial. Some people chose to remove the bracelet and quit, while others chose to continue. Li Xiu felt the needle-pricking feeling from the bracelet. The body-strengthening effect was very weak. It was over without him feeling much of anything. The strengthening rewards of the E-class trial were clearly much weaker than the C-class. In the second round, it was still free-throw shots. However, the standard was to score two goals to pass the trial. Jin Zhenhuan scored all ten shots again. After he left the court, he even goaded, Not only do trial-takers have to have a powerful physique, but they also have to have a powerful will and the spirit to constantly improve. I train for at least twelve hours a day for more than ten years, learning different techniques to prepare for different trials. What about you? Ive tried. Li Xiu didnt mind and said casually. When it was Li Xius turn, he scored all ten shots as well. Furthermore, all ten shots were clean. Jin Zhenhuan frowned when he saw this. I never expected you to be so proficient in basketball. Have you played basketball before? Bandit was overjoyed as she whispered to Li Xiu. No, but they all involve balls. Its roughly the same, Li Xiu answered. Roughly the same? Bandit was speechless. Round after round of trials. The passing mark went from one ball, two balls, three balls, to eight and nine balls. People kept quitting the trials. Bandit had already quit when the passing mark was five balls. When it came to the seventh ball, only Li Xiu and Jin Zhenhuan were left. The two of them had scored all the shots so far without missing a single one. On the eighth shot, there was a problem with the angle of one of Jin Zhenhuans balls. The ball spun twice inside the hoop and fell out, causing Jin Zhenhuans expression to change slightly. The next few shots went in again. Jin Zhenhuan looked at Li Xiu and realized that Li Xiu was still scoring perfect. They entered cleanly. How is this possible! Is he a machine? How can he control the ball so precisely? Jin Zhenhuan was somewhat furious as he recalled the scene from back then. He did his best trying to catch up to the youth back then, only to be left in the dust. That extremely powerful talent gave Jin Zhenhuan deep despair and a sense of powerlessness. No matter how hard he tried, he couldnt even come close. Now, he remembered that feeling againthe fear of being dominated by powerlessness. Talent is innate. No one can change it. However, we are on the trial grounds. As long as one works hard enough, they will definitely win. I will definitely win With intense emotions, Jin Zhenhuan entered the next round of tests. One had to score nine shots in this round to pass. Despite his surging emotions, not only was Jin Zhenhuans rhythm not disrupted, but he also became even more stable. He did a perfect 10 with every shot entering cleanly. Its your turn. Jin Zhenhuan turned his head proudly and looked at Li Xiu. At this stage, Jin Zhenhuan believed that Li Xiu was under immense psychological pressure. It was impossible for him to maintain his previous stable state. Yet, Jin Zhenhuan saw Li Xiu shooting without any hesitation the next moment. He shot the moment he received the ball. In the end, it was still the same. All ten balls went in, and all ten were clean. How is this possible! Jin Zhenhuans expression changed as he looked at Li Xius back. The trauma hidden deep in him magnified, as though even Li Xius back had become much taller. It wasnt surprising that Li Xiu could score all ten shots, but the problem was his lack of hesitation. He didnt show any pressure. Such confidence increased the pressure on Jin Zhenhuan. The trials have ended. Rewards distributed. The next round of trials will begin after the countdown. Jin Zhenhuan stared intently at Li Xiu. At the last moment of the countdown, he removed the bracelet and left the trial. He had to score all ten shots in the tenth round. Jin Zhenhuan wasnt confident that he wouldnt make any mistakes. He originally wanted to wait for Li Xiu to give up, but all he saw was Li Xius calm face. Giving up once will open the gates to countless forfeitures. He failed to overcome his trauma after all. Li Xiu seemed to have expected Jin Zhenhuan to give up as he muttered to himself in boredom. Outside the blue stone gate, Jin Zhenhuans expression didnt look good, but he consoled himself. This trial has a certain element of luck. It doesnt showcase the true strength of the trial-taker at all. Theres no need to compete with him in luck. In the true trial of strength in the future, Ill use my absolute strength to crush him. Bandit was alarmed when she saw Jin Zhenhuan come out instead of Li Xiu. However, when she realized that the trial hadnt ended, she was even more surprised. Li Xiu won. Jin Zhenhuan actually gave up! Chapter 17 Translator: CKtalon Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! The ten balls entered the netall clean shots. The trials have ended. Rewards distributed. The countdown to the final trial begins. The cold voice sounded again. Li Xiu quietly waited for the countdown to end. The ten consecutive enhancements were inferior to one enhancement in the C-class trial. This left him somewhat disappointed. That wasnt all Li Xiu wanted. He wanted to enter the strange darkness again to see if he could move the blood-patterned revolver. The final trial begins. The rules are as follows The rules of the final test were somewhat different from before. Although it was still shooting, the shooting position wasnt at the free throw line, but outside the three-point line. There were a total of five shooting spots. There were two symmetrical bottom angles and two symmetrical 45-degree angles. The middle one had a slightly sharper angle. Ten shots were likewise required. One was to shoot twice at every spot. Only by scoring all ten shots could one pass the trial. If one missed a shot, it would be considered a failure. The final tests difficulty couldnt be too low. The E-class trial was already of such difficulty; the success rate of humans who hadnt been strengthened was very low. Professional basketball players couldnt guarantee that they could score every three-pointer shot. After all, humans werent machines. It was impossible for them to guarantee that there were no deviations every time they shot. It was normal for there to be deviations. After all, there were countless trajectories in space. No one could guarantee that they would throw the correct trajectory every time. Of course, this normal situation didnt apply to Li Xiu. Li Xiu picked up the basketball and shot two balls at every spot, successfully ending the final trial. A venomous snake-like energy was injected into Li Xius blood vessels and surged through his body. It grew in a barbaric manner as though it had expanded his blood vessels. The strengthening of the final trial is clearly much better than the strengthening of the ordinary trials. Li Xiu looked up at the big screen and was disappointed to discover that the reward for the final trial didnt have an admission ticket. In fact, not only did it not offer an admission ticket, but he also didnt have the four choices from before. There were only two optionsSkill and Demon Cores. This was equivalent to having no choice at all. The Demon Cores would be taken away when he brought them out. Li Xiu could only choose the skill. Accompanied by a cold electronic voice, the skill was projected in front of Li Xiu, turning into an orange ring that floated in front of him. Li Xiu extended his left pinky and inserted it into the ring. The ring immediately shrank, turning into a mark that seeped into his skin before disappearing. At the same time, information appeared in his brain out of thin air. Frenzy: E-class trial skill. Stimulates the bodys potential, unleashing 120% of its abilities. Lasts for three seconds. With a thought from Li Xiu, a red ring mark immediately appeared on his left pinky. Then, he felt his heart beat faster as his blood pumped quickly. His entire body seemed to be on stimulants, making Li Xiu feel as though he could kill two tigers. It was somewhat difficult to kill two tigers, but after giving it a try, his speed and strength had increased to a certain extent. He was indeed much stronger than when he didnt use skills. Not a bad skill. It can strengthen my physique according to a percentage. In other words, the stronger my physique is, the more awesome this skill will be. However, the percentage of enhancement is a little lower. Its only 20%. The duration is also a little short. Its only three seconds. Li Xiu analyzed the pros and cons of Frenzy. After Li Xiu teleported out, he didnt see Jin Zhenhuan. After the Demon Cores were taken away, he was sent back to his room. You are very good at soccer and basketball. Sea and Sky Trials is indeed a good place for you. Unfortunately, you came at the wrong time. If you have enough time, you can definitely become an outstanding trial-taker here. Bandit stared at Li Xiu and continued, You have to be careful for tomorrows trial. Dont be impulsive. Ignore Jin Zhenhuan and form a team with someone with a weaker physique. Got it. Li Xiu fell asleep on the bed. The physical improvement brought about by physical strengthening couldnt completely wipe away his stamina expenditure. After eleven consecutive rounds, Li Xiu was indeed exhausted. Physical fitness is indeed a huge problem. To what extent can I pick up the blood-patterned revolver? As Li Xiu thought, he fell asleep. Li Xiu had a dream that he saw himself participating in the trial with his good friendsshooting hoops, shooting goals, and having fun together. He easily obtained all sorts of rewards. However, when he woke up, he realized that he was still sleeping in the dark and damp room. Bandit, who was on the top bunk beside him, was sitting there staring at him. Before Li Xiu could say anything, Bandit suddenly asked, Were you dreaming? How did you know? Li Xiu was somewhat surprised because he didnt have the habit of talking in his sleep. You were smilinga very wretched smile, Bandit said. It looks like theres something wrong with your sense of beauty. Its understandable. After all, its very difficult for you to see a truly handsome man in such a place. Its normal that you cant tell the difference between good and bad, Li Xiu said calmly as he lay in bed with his hands under his head as a pillow. Dont you feel nervous at all? Bandit sized up Li Xiu for a long time. She had indeed never seen a man like Li Xiu. He was clearly in danger and could die at any moment. His survival remained in the hands of others, but he didnt seem to realize it at all. It was as though he didnt care if the sky collapsed. Whats there to be nervous about? If youre fated to die, nothing is stopping it. Do what needs to be done. Just dont disappoint yourself, Li Xiu said. I hope you can keep that up. Bandit didnt say anything else. She had seen almost everything in the past three years here. She had seen many people who usually appeared very open-minded, but most of them changed at the critical moment of life and death. Bandit wasnt sure if Li Xiu was that kind of person. Nothing must go wrong at todays trial, Bandit exhorted repeatedly. There wont be any accidents, Li Xiu said with his eyes closed. Its good to be confident, but dont be conceited. Bandit frowned. Confidence without ability is called conceit. Confidence with ability is called confidence, Li Xiu said with a smile. I hope you are truly confident. Bandit didnt say anything else. Soon, it was time for the second trial. Indeed, just as Bandit had predicted, this trial was the C-class Death Ball. The rules were the same as Bandit had said. It was also a two-person team battle. Everyone had one chance to throw the ball and swing the club. It was different from the rules of a real baseball game. In this trials rules, the batter only needed to swing the bat to hit the baseball and prevent any out to obtain one point. During the process, they couldnt use bunts. It roughly meant that they couldnt directly place the bat horizontally in the trajectory of the ball. They could only strike with the bat. The pitcher only needed to throw the ball into a one-meter-long square frame and not have it be hit by the batter. That was considered one point. If the ball flew out after being struck, neither side would score. Both of them had a chance to be pitchers and batters. It was very fair. Whether they could obtain the rewards alive depended on their strength and luck. Do you dare to match up with me again? Jin Zhenhuan came in front of Li Xiu and took the initiative to extend his hand, hoping to team up with him. Chapter 18 Translator: CKtalon People in this world are divided into three types when eating. Li Xiu didnt reach out to shake Jin Zhenhuans hand. Instead, he slowly said, One type of person doesnt have any logic. They eat whatever they want. The second type of person chooses what they like to eat first and finish them before considering anything else. As for me, Im the third type of person. I like to finish the dishes I dont like first. You want to fight me at the end? Jin Zhenhuan understood what Li Xiu meant. Im used to putting feasts at the end, Li Xiu said with a smile. Im just afraid that you will be defeated before you reach me, Jin Zhenhuan mocked. I wont lose today, Li Xiu said indifferently. Alright, as you wish. Ill defeat you in the final battle. However, if you escape before that, you will die even more tragically outside. With that said, Jin Zhenhuan turned around and left without waiting for Li Xius answer. I told you not to provoke him. Why did you have to say those words? What are you going to do this time? You have to know that in Death Ball, trial-takers with good physiques have an absolute advantage. Its impossible for you to defeat Jin Zhenhuan, Bandit said unhappily. Not necessarily. Li Xiu looked around, hoping to find someone who was willing to team up with him. However, no one responded to his gaze. This was because Li Xius previous expression made one suspect that he was also proficient in baseball. Although physical fitness was key to determining victory, if ones technique was good enough, it would have a huge impact. However, the number of people entering the trial grounds was even. There would definitely be someone who needed to team up with Li Xiu. It just depended on who the remaining person was. Can I form a team with you? Just as Li Xiu thought he was going to wait until the end, a person walked in front of him. It was a trial-taker who had been forced here. He looked to be in his thirties or forties and was in pretty good physical condition. From his figure, he was very likely an athlete from some sport. Those who could survive to this day basically had some ability. Even if he wasnt a trial-taker who had been repeatedly strengthened, he definitely had a very good foundation. Of course. Li Xiu nodded. I have a condition, the person suddenly said. What condition? Li Xiu sized up the person with interest. This was the first time he had heard of conditions being raised when forming a team. I hope that we can cooperate with each other after forming the team. Everyone gets one point, and both of us will leave this place alive, the man said. How do we cooperate? Li Xiu was somewhat intrigued as he asked the person. There are two ways to score. One is to have the batter strike the ball out, but this is somewhat difficult for people who have never come into contact with baseball and have no sports experience. Its also easier to make mistakes. The other way is to let the pitcher score directly. As long as the accuracy is alright, its not difficult to throw it into the square area thats one meter long. We can choose not to defend against each others shots. This way, we can score safely and both of us will survive the trial, the man analyzed. I refuse. After hearing that, Li Xiu rejected the man without any hesitation. Think about it again. If you dont team up with me, no one among the ordinary trial-takers will be willing to team up with you. You can only team up with administrators. That way, what are your chances of survival? the man persuaded. Compared to you, Im more willing to team up with those administrators. After Li Xiu said that, he ignored the man. Realizing that there was no hope, the man had no choice but to retreat. Hes right. If you dont team up with him, you can only team up with administrators. Bandit, who had already formed a team, heard their conversation and asked in puzzlement, Is there a problem with that man? I have an impression of that person. His physique isnt bad among ordinary people. He has the standards of a professional athlete, but hes much weaker than the administrators. Its better to choose him than the administrators. I dont like to go back on my word, nor do I like to place my fate in the hands of others. According to him, if I were to be the first to hit and let him get one point, what would happen if he were to strike out my ball when I became the pitcher? Li Xiu said. Thats right. You have a 50% chance of being the batter first. He used one sentence to exchange for a 50% chance of winning. Its indeed worth it. Bandit understood and looked at the people who hadnt formed a team. The rest are administrators. From the looks of it, it will be hard for you to clear this round. Li Xiu declined to comment. When the final countdown was about to end, the remaining administrator came in front of Li Xiu. The two of them shook hands and became teammates without saying a word. Li Xiu looked at his ranking. He was ranked twelfth. It was considered a very low ranking among administrators, but it was still much higher than Li Xius ranking. This time, a total of 62 people entered. Li Xiu was ranked 51st. This was thanks to him receiving eleven enhancements in the last round. Otherwise, his ranking might have been even lower. The trial began. Two people were teleported to the arena. One of them stood sideways at the batters position with a bat in hand, while the other stood at the pitchers position with a baseball in his hand. Behind the batter was a square frame. As long as the ball hit the square frame, one could score. The pitcher was an ordinary trial-taker, and the batter was the administrator. It was obvious that the administrator had most likely threatened him to form a team with him. The pitcher clearly didnt have any experience playing baseball. He didnt even know how to hold the ball properly, much less throw a standard ball. He used the posture he felt most comfortable in and threw the ball at the frame. The ball was rather fast, and its accuracy wasnt bad. The baseball whistled as it flew into the box. After all, trial-takers who could live to this day had good physiques and athletic abilities. BANG! The administrator suddenly swung his bat and sent the ball flying. The ball flew high into the air and flew behind the pitcher. From his actions, one could tell that he was definitely someone who knew how to play baseball. The baseball field was centered around the batter. It extended towards the pitcher at a 120-degree angle, forming a fan-shaped area. Balls that left the fan-shaped area were considered out. This ball flew past the pitchers head. It was definitely within a 120-degree angle, so it was naturally impossible for it to be out. The baseball flew across the pitch and slammed into the invisible barrier that separated the spectator stands and the arena. Sparks erupted as the baseball fell. If it were in reality, this might very well be a home run. As expected, the administrator batter received one point. The administrator came to the pitchers spot. He wore a glove in one hand and held a baseball in the other. He raised his right leg high and leaned back as though he was pulling a bow. Shoosh! The moment his right leg landed on the ground, the ball seemed to be repelled by a powerful rubber band as it flew out with a hum. The batter hurriedly swung his bat, but it was too late. The bat missed and the baseball hit the frame. The outcome was obvious. Everyone witnessed another explosion. One of the two people who was teleported into the trial grounds was the trial-taker who had wanted to team up with Li Xiu. Chapter 19 Translator: CKtalon The man appeared in the pitchers spot. His opponent was also an administrator who stood beside the home plate with a bat in hand. Friend, according to our previous agreement, you have to let me hit this ball, the man said to the administrator. F*ck your agreement. Pitch it if you have the ability; otherwise, scram. The administrator held the bat with both hands and posed a striking pose. It was obvious that these administrators had definitely received training and knew how to play baseball. In fact, these were very normal. Sea and Sky Trials had been in service for three years, and there were only about a dozen trials that often appeared. Most of them were soccer, basketball, baseball, and other sports. It would be strange if Old Gu and company didnt train the administrators in advance. How can you not keep your promise The man pulled a long face, looking helpless. What bullsh*t agreement is that? If you dont want to pitch, scram, the administrator said coldly. He had definitely agreed to the agreement because he thought that if the man was the first to strike, he could take the opportunity to obtain one point. To his surprise, his luck was so bad that he was the first to strike. It was naturally impossible for him to abide by the agreement. A**hole, the heavens will punish you. The man fumed as he threw the ball out in anger. Perhaps due to his anger, the mans actions looked unnatural. When the ball was thrown out, his wrist was very stiff. It looked like he hadnt used the right amount of strength. Die! The administrator didnt show any mercy when he saw the ball fly over. He roared angrily as he swung the bat, hoping to send the ball flying. However, just as the bat was about to touch the ball, the administrators pupils suddenly constricted as though he had lost his focus. It vanished! The ball that was clearly in front of him vanished from the administrators sight. The administrators bat missed and the man scored a point. This is a forkball He can actually throw a forkball This fellow is a professional baseball pitcher Thankfully, you didnt choose to team up with him Bandit said in surprise. Is this kind of pitch called a forkball? Li Xiu saw it clearly. Just as the baseball was about to reach the home plate, it suddenly plummeted rapidly, causing the administrator to make a miscalculation. That was why he missed. This kind of ball was similar to knuckleballs in soccer, but the method was somewhat different. Ive seen a trial-taker use a forkball pitch before. That person was a very famous professional baseball player. He told me that forkballs are also known as the final magic pitch of the 20th century. Theres no mistake about it. Bandit paused before saying, However, this mans pitch cant compare to that of a professional baseball players, but his technique isnt inferior. Its likely that his physique is weaker and his fingers arent strong enough. Thats why he stirred the administrators emotions first, preventing him from making a normal judgment. Otherwise, with that administrators physique and reaction speed, he would still have a chance of touching the ball if he could deal with it calmly. Why you The administrators expression darkened as he glared at the man and arrived at the pitchers position. Why am I good? Ill keep it up all the way. The man didnt fake it anymore. He held the bat with both hands and posed. It was obvious that he was a professional. The administrator glared at him fiercely and threw the ball out in a rather professional manner. The balls speed probably exceeded 180km/h. It was even faster than a professional pitcher. A professional player who hadnt been strengthened couldnt throw at such high speeds. BANG! Despite such high speeds, it was still sent flying by the mans bat. The baseball flew high into the air and slammed into the invisible barrier. Fool, brute force is useless. Baseball is a skill. The man curled his lips mockingly. The administrators face drained of its color. In the next second, his body was blasted apart by the bracelet. That person is Eagle-Eyed Rhode. He was a very famous professional baseball player in the past. Not only can he throw a versatile forkball, but hes also good at batting. I heard that its because of his very special eyes. High-speed balls appear very slow to him. Thats why he has the nickname of Eagle Eye. I heard that because he likes to gamble, he ruined his short professional career. Otherwise, he would definitely be a very great professional baseball player. Someone recognized the man and whispered. A forkball? Interesting. Li Xiu recalled Rhodes actions in his mind. He used his index and middle fingers to grab the ball. He didnt spin his wrist and relied on his fingers to exert strength. He didnt need to use the strength of his wrist to reduce the spinning speed of the ball. How interesting. More and more people took their places, but there were no more stunning trial-takers like Rhode. Although someone managed a forkball, it was still hit. That persons technique was clearly inferior to Rhodes, nor did he have Rhodes scheming mind. There were also two administrators who went on the pitch together. They clearly had a tacit understanding between them. Both sides scored one point and passed the trial. Finally, it was Li Xius turn. Li Xiu appeared in the batters spot. When Bandit saw this scene, she was even more glad that Li Xiu had refused to team up with Rhode. Jin Zhenhuan was also paying attention to this battle. The reason he agreed to Li Xius suggestion wasnt entirely because of what he said. In fact, after the last hoop-shooting match, Jin Zhenhuan had a fear deep in his heart that even he might not have discovered. He also wanted to see how good Li Xiu was at baseball. Li Xiu had already learned how to be a batter. The pose he took looked rather professional. The administrator glanced coldly at Li Xiu before pitching the ball in a very precise manner. The balls speed was extremely fast. Li Xiu didnt have Eagle Eyes eyes, so he couldnt see the variations in the high-speed ball. All he could do was swing according to his prediction. However, the ball seemed to be able to make a turn as it turned to the bottom left. Although Li Xius baseball still touched the ball, it bounced out of the pitch. It was a very beautiful curve ball. Its indeed much harder being a batter than a pitcher. Li Xiu lost a point, but he wasnt nervous. However, Bandit stared at Li Xiu nervously. If Li Xiu died here, it was basically impossible for her to find a suitable person to work with her. Li Xiu came to the pitchers position. The administrator stood in the batters position with a bat in both hands as he stared coldly at Li Xiu. Baseball seems to be more interesting than basketball and soccer. If theres a chance in the future, I have to study it carefully. Li Xiu found baseball very interesting. It should be fun as a hobby. The hand holding the ball spun the baseball and adjusted the position of the ball in his palm. Li Xiu raised his left leg, pulled open his arm, and suddenly swung it, flicking the ball out. Although Li Xiu had used all his strength, his pitch was clearly inferior to the administrators. The administrator had plenty of time to react and swing his bat. Chapter 20 - Strength and Technique Chapter 20 Strength and Technique The administrators gaze was like a blade as he stared intently at the baseball that flew over before swinging the bat with all his might. The collision between the bat and ball was silentthe administrator missed. Forkball! Everyone was alarmed. Anyone with good eyesight could tell that the ball that Li Xiu threw had clearly fallen before the administrator swung his bat. It was identical to the forkball that Rhode had thrown. The drop was even steeper. With a draw, Li Xiu and the administrator passed the trial. When Li Xiu returned to the spectator stands, Bandit immediately walked over with an unfriendly expression and said, So you know how to play baseball. Furthermore, you know how to pitch a forkball. Why didnt you say so earlier? Is it fun fooling me? I didnt know how to play baseball in the past. I just learned it, Li Xiu explained. Bandit naturally didnt buy any of it. She could still accept it if Li Xius pitch was only accurate. However, it was impossible to do something like a forkball without plenty of professional practice. Furthermore, one needed to be talented. Forget it. Its best if you know baseball. Youve finally cleared this level. Bandit wore a look of disbelief. Li Xiu didnt explain himself further. No matter how he explained, Bandit wouldnt believe him. Now, Bandit had already determined that Li Xiu was a professional expert who was good at all sorts of ball-related sports. What gave Bandit a headache was that if it wasnt for Jin Zhenhuan, Li Xiu could have quit the trial. However, with Jin Zhenhuans previous words, there was nothing she could do if Jin Zhenhuan really wanted Li Xiu dead after she left. What are your plans? Bandit asked Li Xiu who was resting on the steps. What else can I do? Even if I want to give up, there are people who wont accept it. Furthermore, I dont plan on giving up. Li Xiu smiled. But Bandit thought for a moment and swallowed the words she was about to say. Although Li Xiu had professional baseball skills, his physique was lacking. He couldnt succeed in pitching a forkball every time. He caught others off-guard on his first pitch. Now that others knew that Li Xiu could throw a forkball, Jin Zhenhuan would be prepared. It would be difficult to use a forkball to defeat him. Bandit didnt believe that Li Xiu could defeat Jin Zhenhuan. The difference in physique was obvious. It was difficult to make up for such a huge difference with technique. When it was Jin Zhenhuans turn, he took the pitchers spot. Against an opponent with relatively good physique among ordinary trial-takers, Jin Zhenhuan didnt take his opponent seriously at all. He didnt use any strategy or technique as he threw a high-speed straight ball. The baseball flew straight to the center of the frame with a whistle. BANG! Strike! The baseball collided with the bat, making the trial-taker overjoyed. However, in the next second, his smile froze on his face. The wooden bat he was swinging with all his might was snapped by the ball. The baseball didnt change direction and rushed into the frame. Instantly, everyone looked at Jin Zhenhuan in shock. To be able to snap the bat, what kind of godly strength was this? No one present could do it. They didnt even dare to think about it. Give up. Its impossible for you to defeat Jin Zhenhuan. Dont participate in the second round. If you leave now, you might still live, Bandit said to Li Xiu. This was because Bandit had already understood Jin Zhenhuans pitch. Not only did his physique far exceed Li Xius, but he also had trial-taker skills. When Jin Zhenhuan threw the ball, she saw the skill ring mark appear on his finger. This skill practically made Jin Zhenhuan invincible. He could even snap a bat. There was no way to stop him from successfully pitching a ball. Li Xiu would definitely lose a point as the batter. Jin Zhenhuan had gratuitously displayed his skill in his first round. It meant that he didnt care about this skill at all. He definitely had other better trump cards. No matter how one looked at it, Li Xiu was bound to lose. Therefore, Bandit got Li Xiu to withdraw. Perhaps Jin Zhenhuan wouldnt kill him outside, so there was still a chance of survival. It was better than fighting him when death was certain. Interesting. That was a trial-taker skill, right? Li Xiu didnt seem to consider these problems as he looked at Jin Zhenhuan with interest. Yes. Although I dont know what kind of skill it is or what level it is, that skill helped him snap the bat. Thats terrifying, Bandit said. This is getting more and more interesting. Li Xiu narrowed his eyes as he wondered what skill he would obtain if he passed the final trial. When it was Jin Zhenhuans turn to be the batter, he sent the ball pitched by the trial-taker flying far away. It looked like a casual wave of his hand. It wasnt counted as an out; the trial-taker was blasted to death on the spot. Dont quit, or youre dead. Jin Zhenhuan returned to the spectator stands and wagged his finger at Li Xiu from afar. His eyes were as evil as a ghoul. Dont worry. Ill definitely play such an interesting game to the end, Li Xiu said with a smile. Thats good. Jin Zhenhuan snorted coldly and ignored Li Xiu. He originally imagined that Li Xiu would be frightened by his pitch, but from the looks of it, the pitch didnt have the effect he imagined After the first round ended, most of the ordinary, surviving trial-takers chose to leave. The administrators stayed behind. They formed teams with each other. Every point counted. If a pair is always tied, will the trial keep going? Li Xiu suddenly thought of this question and asked Bandit. Thats not the case. In a trial like this, if a person draws three times in a row, the fourth round will require the elimination of one. It happens differently for different modes. In Death Ball, three times in a row will lead to the fourth time becoming a match with only one pitch. The loser will be eliminated, Bandit explained. In other words, in pretty much three rounds, the others will be eliminated or they would have given up. Li Xiu thought for a moment. Before fighting Jin Zhenhuan, he still had three rounds of chances to be strengthened. After the first round of trials ended, Li Xiu obtained the Demon Core reward and enhancement. The rules of the second round were the same. Li Xiu formed a team with another administrator. This time, the administrators ranking was even higher. He was ranked fifth, far above Li Xiu. This time, Li Xiu was at the pitchers position. The administrators first impression was that Li Xiu would throw a forkball, but when he swung the bat, he realized that it was a curveball. It was too late to change the bats position. The baseball spun to the bottom right corner of the frame, earning Li Xiu a point. When Li Xiu became the batter, the administrator returned the favor with a high-speed curveball. Although Li Xius bat touched the ball, the ball flew out of bounds. Ordinary people are ultimately ordinary. No matter how good their skills are, they cant compare to trial-takers who have been strengthened multiple times. This is a suppression via absolute strength. Jin Zhenhuan had watched Li Xius two matches and had a very clear understanding of Li Xius physique and techniques. He was already confident of victory. Chapter 21 - Knuckleball Chapter 21 Knuckleball In the third round, only Jin Zhenhuan and the wardens were left. The others had already withdrawn from the trial, including Bandit. As an ordinary trial-taker, the only one who didnt leave was Rhode. Jin Zhenhuan and the wardens happened to make an even number, so they could team up in pairs. Only Li Xiu and Rhode were left, and they were forced to form a team. Li Xiu had already ended with a tie twice. If he fought Rhode to a draw again, the next trial would be a mandatory life-and-death battle. He only had one chance. It would be fine if he was a pitcher, but if he was a batter, the probability of him dying was very high. Moreover, Li Xius next opponent was probably Jin Zhenhuan. As the batter, he was almost certain to lose. Therefore, no matter how one looked at it, victory was the only answer for Li Xiu. A tie wasnt even an option. Brother, your standards arent bad. Were you also a professional in the past? Rhode came to Li Xius side and chatted with him as if they were friends. a na No. Li Xiu closed his eyes and rested, waiting for his trial to begin. Its rare for a non-professional pitcher to control the ball so well. Its not difficult to throw a forkball, but most people can throw a similar forkball after practicing for a period of time. However, that kind of forkball is useless. The speed is slower than the average pitch to begin with. How to increase the speed and precise control of a forkball is a key question. For example, the guy who threw the forkball from before nearly missed the strike zone. That kind of control isnt worthy of being called a forkball Rhode continued. What are you trying to get at? Li Xiu interrupted Rhode. What Im trying to say is that were all skilled players, so theres no need for us to kill each other. If we really want a winner decided, its very likely that both parties will suffer and nobody will survive. Do you think I can trust you? Li Xiu looked at Rhode and asked. Of course you can. You can only trust me, Rhode said. Why? Li Xiu looked at Rhode with interest. He wanted to know what gave Rhode his confidence. Other than forkball, Im also good at knuckleballs, Rhode whispered to Li Xiu. He thought that Li Xiu knew what knuckleballs were, but Li Xiu had no idea. Therefore, he could only look at Rhode without saying a word. Faced with Li Xius silence, Rhode imagined that Li Xiu was weighing the pros and cons, so he continued, You should know very well that even a pitcher doesnt know where the knuckleball will fly to. It flits left and right randomly. Although it has a nice name, its a nightmare for professional players. Not only must the batter guess blindly, but even the catcher can only rely on a lucky catch. If you insist on having a victor emerge in our match, Ill throw a knuckleball. Lets leave it to fate. It sounds fun. Im looking forward to seeing that knuckleball of yours, Li Xiu said to Rhode. Rhode was a little stunned. He believed that Li Xiu-as a professional baseball playerwould understand what he meant. He never expected Li Xiu to say that. Do you think Ill chicken out? Do you know that other than being a professional player, Im also a gambler? I love gambling. Rhodes eyes turned sharp. Thats for the best. Im looking forward to seeing you throw the knuckleball. Li Xiu meant what he said. He really wanted to see what a knuckleball was. Alright, lets wait and see. There was no need to continue the discussion. Rhode turned around and left, sitting on the steps on the other side. Soon, the third round of the trial began. There were only a few groups left, and they each scored one point. Soon, it was Li Xiu and Rhodes turn. Li Xiu stood in the pitchers position. Standing in the batters position, Rhode shouted at Li Xiu, Think about it again. I can let you score first. Theres no need to consider it. Lets leave it to skill. Li Xiu exercised his joints and prepared to pitch. What kind of ball will he throw? A forkball? A curveball? Or a high-speed straight ball? Rhode stared at Li Xiu, who was in a throwing pose, and made a judgment. Although he was known as Eagle Eye and had dynamic vision that ordinary people couldnt reach, it was one thing to be able to see. Making a timely judgment was a whole other matter. The moment the other party threw the ball, one had to determine what pitch the other party was throwing and swing the bat in time. It wasnt easy. Especially when facing someone like Li Xiu who was good at various breaking balls and had incomprehensible confidence, Rhode couldnt help but feel a little nervous. What gives him his confidence? He doesnt even want the point from me and insists on fighting me to the death. Although thats just nonsense to fool him, where does his confidence come from? Be it the forkball or the curveball, I should have a chance of touching them with the speed of the ball he throws. However, his confidence makes it seem like hes 100% confident of victory. What kind of pitch can give him that confidence? As he thought, his eyes suddenly lit up. Could it be that he also knows how to throw a knuckleball? He wants to bet on his luck? The more Rhode thought about it, the more he found it reasonable. Other than that, he couldnt figure out why Li Xiu was so confident. Their physique was about the same, but Rhode possessed extraordinary dynamic vision. Other than the unpredictable knuckleball, there was nothing he wasnt confident in hitting. Right, it has to be a knuckleball. Rhode had made up his mind. Li Xiu had already thrown the ball over. The ball was a little slow in the air, and the knuckleball was considered the slowest way to pitch a ball. This made Rhode even more certain of his judgment. Faking a forkball? Its useless. Ive already seen through you. Since you want to bet with me, lets take a gamble. The gambler in Rhode flared. He knew that the knuckleballs trajectory couldnt be predicted, so it was useless even if he had eagle eyes. He could only take a gamble. Rhode suddenly swung his bat and chose to hit the ball down. Since it was all a gamble, aiming lower could guard against the possibility that Li Xiu was throwing a forkball instead of a knuckleball. Rhode felt something amiss the moment he swung the bat. This was because the baseball that flew over didnt shake violently or randomly. It didnt look like a knuckleball. It doesnt matter. Even if its a forkball, its useless. I can still hit it. He had already swung the bat, so it was useless to think about anything else. All he could do was swing the bat with all his might. But when the ball reached him, his entire body seemed to turn to stone, and his face was filled with shock and incomprehension. y is it such a slow straight ball Theres no variation at all Rhode watched helplessly as the ball flew over the bat and hit the square frame. From a spectators point of view, it was as if Li Xiu had thrown a weak ball, but Rhode had deliberately missed. Chapter 22 - Eye of the Fly Chapter 22 Eye of the Fly They made it sound nice, but it turns out they are just cooperating. Jin Zhenhuan curled his lips in disdain. From a bystanders point of view, this was indeed like a tacit cooperation, but only Rhode knew that he had lost this round-a devastating loss even. That slow straight ball was even more terrifying than his knuckleball. Knuckleballs depended on luck, but Li Xius slow and straight ball was a manifestation of his mental strength and confidence. This kind of slow and straight ball was the easiest ball for others to hit, but it made an expert like Rhode suffer a huge loss. This was no longer a matter of technique but a psychological battle. Rhode glanced at Li Xiu with a complicated expression and arrived at the pitchers position. He had no way out. After losing this point, he could only win and not lose this match. In front of someone like Li Xiu, ordinary breaking balls didnt stand a chance. Rhode felt that Li Xiu had completely seen through him, and he stood naked in front of him. Then, lets leave it to fate! The gambler in Rhode flared again, and he threw a knuckleball without any regard for anything. When the ball flew in the air, it swayed up and down randomly. Although it wasnt fast, there was no way to predict its trajectory. Rhode didnt know where the baseball would end up either. He could only pray that Li Xiu didnt get it right and that the ball didnt deviate from the box. Li Xiu finally swung his bat, but unfortunately, he failed to hit the ball. When the ball hit the square frame, Rhode clenched his fists excitedly. Is this a knuckleball? Li Xiu wasnt depressed at all; instead, he was delighted. Compared to the forkball, the knuckleball had more variations and was more unpredictable. It was just that the trajectory of the knuckleball was difficult to control, so one could only leave it to fate. Of course, this was targeted at ordinary people. After Li Xiu saw Rhodes strike, he already had some ideas. Rhode, what was up with that pitch? After Rhode returned to the stands, Jin Zhenhuan called him over. Jin Zhenhuan previously thought that Li Xiu and Rhode were cooperating tacitly, but when he saw Rhode throw the knuckleball, he felt that something was amiss. If it was really a tacit cooperation, there was no need for him to throw a knuckleball. There was no way to control it at all; it might even deviate from the zone. There was no need for him to take such a risk. That person is terrifying. Rhode glanced in Li Xius direction and sighed. If it were a real competition, I wouldve already lost, and I wouldve lost completely. What do you mean? Jin Zhenhuan didnt understand and frowned. Therefore, he recounted the entire process in detail, causing Jin Zhenhuan and the other wardens expressions to change. Are you thinking too much? Perhaps Li Xiu didnt have all this in mind. He just wanted to cooperate. Jin Zhenhuan didnt believe that Li Xiu was that amazing to be able to toy with peoples hearts to this extent. No, Im not overthinking it. That person is indeed as terrifying as a demon. He saw through me, and in front of him, I felt like I was naked. That feeling still gives me goosebumps. Rhode shook his head. Is he really that amazing? Jin Zhenhuan couldnt help but look at where Li Xiu was, and his frown deepened. He originally had absolute confidence that Li Xiu wouldnt be able to defeat him no matter how he looked at it, but for some reason, it made Jin Zhenhuan a little uneasy. Li Xiu had already tied three consecutive matches. If he matched up with Li Xiu next, it would be a situation of having one win determine the outcome. He wouldnt even have a second chance, so one person would definitely die. With my ability, even if he throws a breaking ball, I can still send it flying. He will definitely lose. Jin Zhenhuan knew the truth, but he couldnt eliminate the unease in his heart. After the third round ended, those who had received their rewards chose to withdraw from the trial. Soon, only Li Xiu and Jin Zhenhuan were left in the stands. There wasnt much time left on the countdown, but Li Xiu still had no intention of quitting. It was as if he was determined to fight him. Jin Zhenhuan hesitated. Li Xiu, are you really unafraid of death? You should know very well that youre bound to lose, be it as a batter or a pitcher. I can give you a chance. If you apologize now, Ill consider giving you a way out, Jin Zhenhuan said condescendingly as he looked at Li Xiu. Theres no need. Li Xiu sat there leisurely and didnt even look at Jin Zhenhuan. Looking at the seemingly fearless Li Xiu, the unease in Jin Zhenhuans heart intensified. What if Li Xiu also knows how to use a knuckleball? Jin Zhenhuan suddenly thought of a possibility. He wasnt 100% confident that he could perfectly hit a ball that he couldnt determine. If he didnt grasp it well and hit an out, he wouldnt even have a second chance. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Jin Zhenhuan then said to Li Xiu, Its meaningless to kill you like this. Ill let you live a few more days and let you consider it carefully. Is your life more important or is that meaningless self-esteem of yours more important? Think it through and come to me at any time. As long as youre willing to apologize, Ill give you a way out. With that said, he took off his bracelet and left the trial grounds without waiting for Li Xius reply. Li Xiu had long expected this and was indifferent to Jin Zhenhuans departure. In fact, his psychological defense had already collapsed when he gave up previously. The number of trial-takers is one. The final trial begins. The rules are as follows Li Xiu appeared in the pitchers spot, and his projection appeared in the batters spot. Similar to the last C-class final test, his opponent was a strengthened version of him. The physique of the projection was 1.5 times that of Li Xiu. It looks like the final tests for C-class difficulty are all similar. I wonder what the final tests for B and A will be like? Li Xiu glanced at the projection. The rules of the trial were to determine victory in one round; there was no second chance. Without any hesitation, he threw the ball. The white baseball traveled haphazardly in the air. When it reached its destination, the projection swung its bat and missed. The ball drilled under its bat and hit the frame. The final trial has ended. The reward is being randomly generated Soon, four reward patterns appeared on the screen. Skills, Demon Cores, Stats, and Talent. It didnt offer the admission ticket Li Xiu was looking for, but even if it appeared, Li Xiu didnt plan on choosing it. His physique wasnt good enough, so it was useless even if he entered. He still couldnt pick up the blood-striped handgun. Li Xiu chose a skill. Talents were actually similar to skills, but one was active while the other was passive. Li Xiu preferred to have the initiative, so he was more inclined to skills. The skill pattern turned into a beam of light that shot in front of Li Xiu, corporealizing into a white ring Li Xiu reached his finger into the ring, and the white ring immediately shrank and imprinted itself on his finger before slowly disappearing. Eye of the Fly: C-class skill. Both eyes will be temporarily enhanced for one minute. Chapter 23 - No Chance Chapter 23 No Chance Li Xiu tried using the Eye of the Fly, and his dark-brown pupils instantly dilated, covering his entire eye. The whites of his eyes couldnt be seen at all. If one took a closer look, they would discover that the dark-brown eyes were covered in grids, like the compound eyes of a fly. They looked terrifying. After activating the Eye of the Fly, the world became a little different in his eyes. Not only did his field of vision expand, but the visualization also changed. A minute passed quickly. He wanted to activate it again, but he felt a sharp pain in his eyes like needles. He hurriedly stopped using it. E-class skills can be used for three seconds, and C-class skills are one minute. I wonder if there are any restrictions on A-class and B-class skills. What about S-class skills? These skills intrigued Li Xiu more and more. The only way to obtain a skill was to complete the final trial, but it was very difficult for ordinary people to clear it. For example, a C-class final mission required him to defeat his 1.5x strengthened shadow clone. It looked like Li Xiu had completed it very easily, but in fact, it was very difficult for ordinary people to defeat a shadow clone whose physique and skills were 1.5x better than him. The difficulty for a C-class final mission was already this high, so it was even harder to imagine B-class and A-class. There probably werent many trial-takers with advanced skills. There were probably even fewer people who were as lucky as Bandit to gain an S-class skill. A skill like Eye of the Fly is also useful for Demon Suiter. I can aim for more skills in the future, Li Xiu thought to himself. Even if he left the Abyss Base, he could obtain skills from other trial grounds. There are two more trials before the S-class trial. If Im lucky, I might be able to obtain two more skills. Li Xiu was still in thought when he was teleported out of the trial grounds. Old Gu took away the demon cores he had obtained, but Jin Zhenhuan was nowhere to be seen. Li Xiu didnt care about Jin Zhenhuan. When the latter chickened out the first time, he was destined to lose to Li Xiu. was Before he was sent back to his room, Li Xiu took a look at the two Demon Suiters. The demon suits they were wearing were an older model, so their might naturally couldnt compare to the latest demon suits. More importantly, these demon suits were a relatively early design that had some flaws. As long as I have a chance to get close to a Demon Suiter, it wont be difficult to snatch the demon suit. Li Xiu had long been planning how to snatch the demon suit. He didnt really place all his hopes on Bandits plan. He wasnt used to relying on others, and his own considerations were the most important and trustworthy. Collaboration is based on trust. How can I trust you again? Bandit said with a cold expression when she saw Li Xiu return. Now that they were the only ones left in the room, they didnt have many scruples when speaking. Are you referring to what happened at baseball? Li Xiu asked with a smile. What else? Bandit didnt find it funny. If I say that this is really my first time playing baseball, would you believe me? Li Xiu asked. Do you think Ill believe you? Bandit naturally didnt believe him. Didnt you say that cooperation is based on trust? Then, do you trust me? Li Xiu asked. Bandit was slightly stunned. She opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, nothing came out of it. Just as Li Xiu had said, she didnt trust him. How could she? It didnt make sense for a person who had just come into contact with baseball and had only such a physique to be the final winner of the trial. Even people like Rhode and Jin Zhenhuan couldnt defeat him. No other person would believe it, much less Bandit. The two of them didnt say anything else and returned to their respective beds to rest. They didnt speak again until the trial began again. Just as Bandit had predicted, it was another E-level trial. Moreover, it was a repeat of the previous trial-another free-throw match. Jin Zhenhuan didnt participate in the trial, but Old Gu did. However, Old Gu left after the first round of the trial. As expected, Li Xiu reached the end and passed the final test again. Between the choice of a skill and stats, Li Xiu naturally chose the skill, but the outcome was a little depressing. The rewarded skill was still Frenzy because if the skill was already possessed, the skill did not stack. It was a waste. The skill rewards for the E-class trial cant all be the same skill, right? If I had known this would happen, I wouldve chosen stats. Li Xiu didnt mind too much. After returning to his room, he continued preparing for the next trial. The next trial was the most important. Bandit said that it was likely a B-class or A-class. If the trial of that difficulty was a competition of physique, Li Xiu would be in trouble. However, Li Xiu firmly believed that any trial could be resolved with technique. As long as it wasnt an absolute crushing disadvantage, he had a chance of clearing the trial. Bandit still had no intention of talking to Li Xiu. She didnt even look at him until the trial grounds reopened. At this trial, there werent many ordinary trial-takers left. Including the 11 administrators participating in the trial, there were only 35 people in total. Jin Zhenhuan also participated in this trial. He had already made up his mind to defeat Li Xiu in this trial. Welcome to the Sea and Sky Trials. The trials difficulty is B-class. The rules of the trial are as follows A B-class mark and trial rules appeared on the screen. Bandits expression turned nasty when she saw that it was a B-class test. Ordinary B-class tests had rather high requirements for ones physique. Many trial-takers who had undergone more than 100 physical enhancements couldnt even survive the tests first round, much less someone with Li Xius physique. After reading the rules of the trial, her expression turned even uglier. The test this time was still the same track and field category as before, but it wasnt 800 meters but 400 meters hurdles. It wasnt solely an elimination system of the stragglers. Those who couldnt make it into the top ten would die. Those who couldnt make it in 38 seconds and those who touched the hurdles died as well. What did it mean to run 38 seconds in a 400-meter hurdle? The previous 400-meter hurdle mans world record was 46.78 seconds. 38 seconds meant that they had to be nearly ten seconds faster than the world record. Was this the speed that humans could achieve? Moreover, there were 11 administrators whose physique was above Li Xius. They definitely wouldnt lose to Li Xiu when it came to running. Even if Li Xiu got a timing of less than 30 seconds, he wouldnt be able to defeat those 11 administrators, much less Jin Zhenhuan. In Bandits opinion, this was an absolute battle of physique. If Li Xius physique was slightly inferior, he definitely wouldnt have a chance of winning. Im sorry. I didnt expect such a test. Bandit finally spoke and expressed her apology. Why are you apologizing? Li Xiu asked in surprise. Dont you understand? Its impossible for you to win this test. If you have any unfulfilled wishes, tell them to me. If I have a future, Ill think of a way to help you complete them, Bandit said. Theres no need. Ill fulfill my wishes myself, Li Xiu said calmly. Shes right. You dont have a chance anymore. Its best if you say your last words. I wont give you a chance this time. Jin Zhenhuan looked like victory was in his grasp. Chapter 24 - Peerless Rhythm Chapter 24 Peerless Rhythm Jin Zhenhuan finally had absolute confidence. In his opinion, the 400-meter hurdle demanded more from ones physique than technique. With Li Xius physique, he would definitely lose to those administrators, much less match him. It was even possible that he wouldnt be able to make a time of 38 seconds. You look very confident. Li Xiu looked at Jin Zhenhuan and said calmly. This calmness made Jin Zhenhuan very unhappy. He curled his lips and said, With absolute strength, one will naturally be confident. Are you ready to face death? Not yet. At the very least, I wont lose the first round, Li Xiu said calmly. Jin Zhenhuan said disdainfully, What gives you your confidence? With your physique, can you even make 38 seconds? Even if you can, you wont be faster than those administrators. Death is the only outcome. Its too late for you to apologize now; its beyond me now. Li Xiu didnt say a word and only quietly warmed up as he waited for the trial to begin. The countdown to the trial quickly ended. As the invisible barrier outside the starting line disappeared, everyone ran forward with all their might. Li Xiu dashed as well. His gaze was firm as he swung his arms greatly, every step filled with strength and rhythm. After a few trials, Li Xius physiquewhich was originally very good-had improved to a certain extent. His speed was clearly faster than that of ordinary humans. However, he was clearly a little slower compared to the administrators. Before he reached the first hurdle, a gap had already widened. Basically, all the administrators ran ahead of Li Xiu, and Jin Zhenhuan was first. The people behind him chased desperately, but they couldnt catch up. In their anxiety, they accidentally touched the hurdle, and their bodies immediately exploded. Screams and explosions constantly sounded. Bandit didnt want to watch anymore. She didnt want to see Li Xiu fail and die with her own eyes, so she chose to use Forfeit and quit the competition midway. Li Xiu, why dont you have a taste of only being able to see backs? Jin Zhenhuan ran at the forefront and still had the energy to look back at Li Xiu. Jin Zhenhuan was a little surprised. Li Xiuwho had been left in the dust by the administrators previouslyhad already caught up to the administrators after two or three hurdles. How is this happening? Jin Zhenhuan was stunned. This was completely beyond his expectations. From his physique, it was definitely impossible for Li Xiu to catch up to those administrators, but he managed to do so. After another hurdle, Li Xiu actually surpassed the administrator at the back ranked 12th. The administrator was already panicking, and now that Li Xiu had overtaken him, he panicked even more. He accidentally touched the hurdle, and his expression immediately changed. Before he could cry out, his body exploded, and blood splattered all over Li Xiu. Li Xiu wasnt affected at all and kept pace. Everyone could run, but not many people really knew how to run. Speed was undoubtedly the foundation of athletics, but technique couldnt be ignored, especially for hurdles. The number of steps he could run between the railings, the distance between each step, where he jumped, where he crossed the hurdles, and where he landed-even the rhythm and magnitude of his breathing and swinging of his arms were within Li Xius calculations. However, those who only relied on their physique and didnt know how to use technique wasted a lot of time. When they approached the hurdle, they either jumped too far or too near, requiring them to slow down and adjust their rhythm. Or after they ran over the hurdle, they landed in the wrong spot and needed to adjust their bodys posture. Although they seemed fast, it wasnt very fluid on closer inspection. As for Li Xius movements, they appeared extremely smooth. Watching him run gave one an indescribable sense of enjoyment. With his peerless rhythm and robot-like stability, Li Xiu slowly surpassed another administrator and was already ranked 11th. 10 9 8 Li Xiu overtook the administrators who had better physiques and ran faster than him time and time again, causing them to lose their minds. Another administrator accidentally touched a hurdle, and blood splattered everywhere after the explosion. Damn it! Jin Zhenhuan was furious. Although Li Xius rhythm was peerless, it was still impossible for him to catch up to Jin Zhenhuan. At most, he would only be in sixth or seventh place. However, such a ranking was enough to keep Li Xiu alive. This was an insult to Jin Zhenhuan. However, there was nothing he could do. The finish line was right in front of him. After crossing the last hurdle, Li Xiu had already reached sixth place. But when he crossed the last hurdle, he was overtaken by three administrators and finally came in eighth. His pure speed was still inferior to those administrators. Li Xiu panted heavily, feeling a burning string in his chest. He had already used all his strength and turned to look at the large screen. He saw that his timing was 37.58 seconds, entering 38 seconds by a hairs breadth. He couldnt help but think to himself, The strengthening of my body during this period is quite effective. My previous results were far worse than this. After 38 seconds, everyone who failed to clear the finish line died an unnatural death. You were lucky to survive, but you wont be so lucky in the next round. Jin Zhenhuan walked over and looked at the panting Li Xiu with a cold expression. Theres no next round. Li Xiu knew his physique. If he participated in the next round, he would basically die. He didnt do anything he wasnt confident in. If you dare to quit, Ill still kill you after we get out, Jin Zhenhuan said fiercely. You dont stand a chance. Li Xiu ignored Jin Zhenhuan, took off his bracelet, and left the trial grounds. Ill kill you! Jin Zhenhuans angry roar echoed in the trial grounds. How could Li Xiu be afraid of Jin Zhenhuans threat? He had long known that even if Jin Zhenhuan didnt kill him, Old Gu wouldnt let him participate in the next round of the trial with Bandit. The next round of the trial was of great importance. Other than Bandit, everyone else would definitely be on their side. It was impossible for them to tolerate Li Xiu. At the blue stone gate, Old Gu and the others were a little surprised to see Li Xiu return. Banditwho hadnt been escorted back to her room-had an incredulous expression when she saw Li Xiu. She didnt know how Li Xiu survived; it was impossible. Two guard-like administrators came to take the demon cores Li Xiu had brought back, but the moment they searched him, Li Xiu instantly snatched a gun and restrained one. Li Xiu leaned against the stone door and locked the administrators neck with one arm, using him as a shield. He held the submachine gun in his other hand and pressed the muzzle against the administrators head. The other administrators immediately aimed their guns at Li Xiu, and the two Demon Suiters looked over. Li Xiu, what are you doing? Old Old Gu stared at Li Xiu and said coldly. Naturally, I want to live, Li Xiu said calmly. Chapter 25 - God Still Calls the Shots Here Chapter 25 God Still Calls the Shots Here If you want to live, you just have to pass the last trial. Not only can you live then, but you can also take the money you deserve. With what youre doing now, not only will you die, but you will also lose everything. Dont think that you can threaten me with the administrators life. Its useless Old Gus eyes were fierce as he stared at Li Xiu. Of course, its useless. You wont let anyone leave this place alive, including these administrators. Nothing must go wrong with the Sea and Sky Trials huge secret. Other than the Demon Suiters and the few of you in charge, everyone here has to die. Isnt that your plan? Li Xiu interrupted Old Gu before he could finish. These words stunned all the administrators, and they couldnt help but look at Old Gu. Old Gus expression didnt change as he said firmly, Nonsense wont save your life. Even God wont be able to keep you alive if He were here. I call the shots in the Abyss Base. Old Gu didnt explain anything. Although he couldnt dispel the administrators doubts, he made them doubt Li Xius words. Li Xiu naturally knew that if he really fired, bullets would penetrate the administrator in front of him and into his body. The hostage was indeed useless. Li Xiu smiled and suddenly moved the gun aimed at the administrators head to the side where Bandit waas. His other arm still held the administrators neck tightly. Of course, I know a hostage is useless, but you can see if Ill kill her before you kill me. Dont you find it ridiculous to use her to threaten me? Old Gu said coldly. Why dont you test the ridiculousness of all of this by giving it a try? Let them fire, Li Xiu said with a smile. He was certain that Old Gu wouldnt let Bandit die before the S-class trial. Old Gu didnt give the order to fire. Bandit was still useful; otherwise, he wouldnt have kept her alive all this time. Old Gu, Ive already said that theres no need to go through so much trouble. Just kill him. Its just Jin Zhenhuan that made things troublesome. Two Demon Suiters walked over. The Demon Suits on their bodies produced a sound similar to metal and stone colliding when stepping on the ground. Without waiting for Old Gus reply, one of the Demon Suiters walked toward Li Xiu and said as he walked, Lets see you kill someone in front of me. Theres nothing impressive about a Demon Suiter. Even a Demon Suiter cant stop me from killing someone. Li Xiu didnt hesitate to pull the trigger, but the Demon Suiter suddenly moved quickly and stood in front of the muzzle. Bullets rained down on him, but they were repelled by the Demon Suit; they didnt even leave a single mark. The others had already scattered and found cover. The Demon Suiter walked toward Li Xiu with the bullets flying at him. Sparks flew from his body, but he didnt suffer any injuries. I said that you cant kill anyone with me around. The only one who will die is you, the Demon Suiter said condescendingly. Is that so? Then, I want to see if you can stop me from killing anyone. As Li Xiu spoke, he suddenly raised his gun and pointed it at the administrator in his arms before pulling the trigger. In an instant, the Demon Suiter appeared in front of Li Xiu like a phantom. He grabbed the guns barrel with one hand and bent it. I said you cant You Before the Demon Suiter could finish, he suddenly felt that something was amiss. Li Xius left hand slammed into the demon Suiters waist, and a strange ring imprint appeared on the pinky of his left hand. What an ignorant fellow. The power of a Demon Suit isnt something you trial-takers can imagine. Not to mention you, even those trial-takers who have undergone countless enhancements cant injure a Demon Suit in the slightest As the Demon Suiter spoke, his tone suddenly changed. Crack! Crack! Cracks appeared on the Demon Suit that seemed to be carved to match his body. In an instant, the Demon Suitert split into many components that peeled off from the Demon Suiter. Everyone was stunned. That was a Demon Suiter, recognized as the strongest combat strength among humans. The Demon Suit was actually shattered by Li Xiu with a single punch as a human. This was an unimaginable scene. Everyone was stunned by this scene, and nobody could react. Li Xius eyes were like blades as he reached out and grabbed something from the shattered Demon Suit. In the next second, the scattered components flew toward Li Xiu and instantly wrapped his body in the shell-like Demon Suit. He Hes a Demon Suiter Old Gu was horrified as he quickly retreated in fear. A Demon Suiter was a noble existence. He never imagined it possible for a Demon Suiter to come to such a place to become a rookie trial-taker. With the scarcity of Demon Suiters, no matter how many debts they owed, there would be factions that would be willing to pay off their debts. How could they end up in this state, risking their lives to exchange for a few Demon Cores? Old Gu couldnt figure it out, but he didnt have the time to think through it. Li Xiu erupted with terrifying energy the moment he donned the Demon Suit. The propeller on the back of the Demon Suit surged with a strange light, propelling Li Xius body to instantly arrive in front of Old Gu. Old Gu wasnt bad among the trial-takers, but Li Xiu grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up. Old Gus pupils dilated as he struggled in pain. His hook-like fingers grabbed the Demon Suit, but it was useless. The other Demon Suiter quickly moved behind Li Xiu and placed a palm on his back. A resplendent light condensed in his palm, and it seemed to be channeling some strange and terrifying energy. It was a weapon system unique to Demon Suiters-Demon Light. Demon Spirits which were impervious to nuclear weapons could only be injured by Demon Light. Similarly, other than Demon Spirits, only Demon Light could injure a Demon Suiter. There was a saying in the world that only a Demon Suiter could defeat a Demon Suiter. W But while the Demon Light in the Demon Suiters palm was still channeling, Li Xiu waved his hand, and a spherical Demon Light instantly condensed in his palm. He didnt need to spend all day channeling like the Demon Suiter. The spherical white Demon Light was instantly thrown out and struck the Demon Suiter. Boom! The Demon Suiters body was sent flying by the Demon Light before crashing into the stone wall, causing a large portion of the stone wall to collapse and produce a pile of rocks. Old Gus pupils constricted, and his eyes were filled with disbelief. What kind of existence could use such an old Demon Suit to instantly produce Demon Light? He couldnt imagine it. It looks like God has the final say here. With that said, Li Xiu exerted strength with his fingers, and Old Gus neck was immediately crushed, killing him. Even until his death, he didnt understand why such a person would appear here. If he were given another 10,000 chances to redo things, he wouldve chosen to kill Li Xiu immediately and not give him a chance to come into contact with the Demon Suit. At this moment, the Demon Suiter who had his Demon Suiter snatched by Li Xiu was dumbfounded. A Demon Suiter who could instantly produce Demon Light was something only in his fantasies. Bandit watched all of this in a daze as she looked at the godlike figure. Everything felt surreal. Chapter 26 - Code Name "God" Chapter 26 Code Name God Jin Zhenhuan was in a bad mood. He originally thought that he would definitely defeat Li Xiu, but who wouldve thought that Li Xiu would run away? How dare you? Ill definitely kill you! Jin Zhenhuan was furious and had decided not to give Li Xiu any more chances. He had to kill him after they exited. The reason why he couldnt become a Demon Suiter was that Li Xiu had left him a huge trauma, causing him to lose the confidence to become a Demon Suiter. That was why he switched to become a trial-taker. He originally thought that this unexpected meeting would wipe clean his trauma, but who wouldve thought that it would leave an even deeper trauma? His physique was clearly far above Li Xius, but he couldnt defeat him no matter what. He found it unacceptable, but he had to admit that Li Xiu was a monster-a monster that made him jealous. So what if youre talented? Youve still fallen to this sorry state. Today is the day you die. After completing the trial, Jin Zhenhuan was the last to leave the trial grounds. He didnt want to miss out on the strengthening he could get. After all, this was a B-class trial, so the effects of the strengthening were quite good. He would strengthen himself at every opportunity. Jin Zhenhuan couldnt hold back his urge to kill Li Xiu. The moment he was teleported out, he shouted angrily, Li Xiu, youre dead meat! But in the next second, Jin Zhenhuan stood stunned. Li Xiu was indeed there, but the situation didnt seem right. The underground cave was a mess, and there was no sign of Old Gu. There wasnt even an administrator around. Bandit stood beside Li Xiu, and there was no other living person. Wheres Old Gu? Jin Zhenhuan frowned, feeling that something was amiss. Hes gone, Li Xiu replied. Where did he go? Jin Zhenhuan looked around and realized that something was amiss. There were clearly signs of a battle around him. Anyone who wasnt blind could see the collapsed rock wall. If youre fast enough, you might be able to catch up to him, Li Xiu said leisurely. Fast enough? Countless thoughts flashed through Jin Zhenhuans mind. What happened? Where did Old Gu and the others go? Where are the administrators who just came out? Why would Old Gu and the others let Li Xiu and Bandit stay here? Could it be Of course, fast enough to die. Old Gu is waiting for you on the road to hell, Li Xiu said as he reached out to grab the black box beside him. The moment Li Xiu grabbed the handle of the black box in his hand, the black box immediately disintegrated, turning into pieces of armor that wrapped around Li Xius body tightly without leaving a single gap. Demon Suiter You Jin Zhenhuans expression changed drastically. He believed that Li Xiu shared the same fate as him and had ultimately failed to embark on the path of a Demon Suiter, resulting in his current predicament. From the looks of it, that wasnt the case at all. Li Xiu had already become a Demon Suiter; he just wasnt aware of it. Jin Zhenhuan turned around and ran, wanting to dash into the tunnel. He didnt have the courage to fight a Demon Suiter. This wasnt unique to Jin Zhenhuan. The powerful image of Demon Suiters was deeply rooted in peoples hearts. BANG! Under the propelling of Demon Light, Li Xiu arrived behind Jin Zhenhuan with afterimages tailing him. He stepped on Jin Zhenhuan with one foot and pinned him to the ground no matter how he struggled. Li Xiu, youre only relying on the Demon Suit. If I wanted to kill you on the trial grounds, you wouldve died several times over Jin Zhenhuan shouted. Jin Zhenhuan, do you know why you lost to me? Li Xiu smiled. Jin Zhenhuan was really stubborn. I was just unlucky. The few tests werent something I was good at. If we had started with the 400-meter hurdles, you wouldve been the one to die, Jin Zhenhuan said hatefully. How long have you been a trial-taker? Li Xiu didnt mind and asked leisurely. So what if its been more than ten years? Jin Zhenhuan said. You shouldve undergone many trials in the past decade or so. How many times did you complete the final trial? Jin Zhenhuans expression changed indeterminately, but he didnt answer. If Im not wrong, you probably havent done it many times. From beginning to end, you only showed one trial-taker skill. Its obvious that you havent completed the final trial much, Li Xiu said. What nonsense are you spouting? How can the final trial be cleared so easily? Even trial-takers stronger than me dont dare to attempt the final trial easily. Who do you think you are? Clear a few final trials and have a few trial-taker skills before lecturing me! As Jin Zhenhuan spoke, his eyes widened. Two branded rings appeared on Li Xius finger they were clearly two trial-taker skills. However, Li Xiu had only arrived at the Abyss Base not long ago, but he already had two trial-taker skills. You lost because you suck. It had nothing to do with anyone else. When you chose to cower in the face of life time and time again, you were destined to fail in life, Li Xiu said slowly. Jin Zhenhuans face turned ashen. This moment was worse than death. In more than ten years, he had only obtained one skill. In just a few days, Li Xiu had actually obtained two skills. Such a blow completely shattered Jin Zhenhuans dignity. Youre the one who f*cking sucks! Jin Zhenhuan flew into a rage and threw a punch at Li Xiu without any regard for anything. A branded ring appeared on his finger. He really only had one skill and didnt hide it. Crack! When their fists collided, the trial-taker skill couldnt withstand a single strike from the Demon Suiter. His finger bones were shattered by Li Xius punch, and his arm was fractured. Jin Zhen let out a painful scream. Li Xiu, so what if you win? You still cant kill me. If you kill me, you wont be able to escape death even if youre a Demon Suiter, Jin Zhenhuan shouted crazily. Oh? Li Xiu looked at Jin Zhenhuan expressionlessly and remained unmoved. The Demon Light in his palm condensed into a ball that shone strangely. Since youre a Demon Suiter, you shouldve heard of Longevity Heaven, right? The Abyss Base belongs to Longevity Heaven, and Im a member of Longevity Heaven. If you kill me, you wont be able to escape death no matter where you run Jin Zhenhuans expression became more and more fanatical, as if he had immense confidence in the name of Longevity Heaven. It was as if Li Xiu wouldnt dare to kill him and would have to submit to him like a dog as long as he said those words. Boom! The Demon Light erupted, and Jin Zhenhuans head shattered amidst his disbelief. Longevity Heaven wont be enough to keep you alive either. After dealing with Jin Zhenhuan, Li Xiu picked up the remaining gems from Old Gu and the others and prepared to get some rest. When that special time came, he would use these gems to begin the special S-class trial. The S-class skill, Forfeit, would definitely be of great use in the future. Since he had the chance, he naturally had to get it. Why arent you leaving? Li Xiu asked in surprise when he saw Bandit follow him back to the room. The Worlds End trial can only be activated with two people or more. Its useless even if you enter alone, Bandit said. You already have the Forfeit skill, so theres no need for you to take the risk. Why did you stay and help me? Li Xiu sized up Bandit and asked. I can help you complete the Worlds End trial, but I have one condition, Bandit said without hesitation. What is it? Li Xiu really didnt have any other choice. Although he hadnt killed all the administrators and had only locked them up, forming a team with them clearly wasnt a good choice. Help me kill someone, Bandit said through gritted teeth. I think youre mistaken. Im not an assassin, and I dont like killing people. Im only killing people here to protect myself, Li Xiu said calmly. Moreover, youre already a trial-taker. If you want to kill someone, kill them yourself. If you cant defeat them, you can continue participating in trials. With a godly technique like Forfeit, you will sooner or later become a top trial-taker. I cant kill that person. Even a top trial-taker cant kill him. Hes a Demon Suiter. Only a Demon Suiter can kill a Demon Suiter. Bandits eyes were filled with killing intent. A Demon Suiter? Who is it? Li Xiu became intrigued when he heard this. I dont know his name. I only know that his code name is God. Bandits words almost made Li Xiu choke. Chapter 27 - Demon Spirit Egg Chapter 27 Demon Spirit Egg You said his code name is God? Li Xiu looked at Bandit with a strange expression. From what he knew, he was the only one among the current Demon Suiter who dared to use such a code name. In fact, this wasnt his code name either. It was a nickname someone else had given him. His original code name was Safflower. Yes, his code name is God. Bandits expression was solemn, and she looked very serious. She didnt look like she was joking. The world number one Demon Suiter, God? Li Xiu wondered if another Demon Suiter had also used the code name God. I dont know if hes number one in the world. I only know that people call him God and that hes a Demon Suiter, Bandit said. When did you meet this Demon Suiter named God? Li Xiu asked again. Three years ago, Bandit said almost without thinking. It looked like something that she would never forget had happened after she met God. Li Xiu felt a little embarrassed. The time matched quite perfectly. He had only become famous in the past three years. Bandit had been trapped in the Abyss Base for three years and didnt know that God was now the worlds number one Demon Suiter. The timeline matched perfectly. What did God do to make you want to kill him? Li Xiu asked after some thought. This has nothing to do with you. You just need to tell me if you can help me, Bandit said through gritted teeth. Ive already said that Im not an assassin, nor will I kill someone for no reason. Li Xiu naturally couldnt agree to Bandits request. Wouldnt that mean that he had to commit suicide? Bandit seemed to be in a dilemma. After a while, she said with a pained expression, He killed my entire family. Do you think such a person deserves death? Killed your entire family? Where? Li Xiu was slightly stunned. Now, he was certain that the God Bandit was talking about was not him. This was because after he became a Demon Suiter, he had been fighting Demon Spirits. He didnt have the time to kill people. Sea Stone Town. Bandits eyes were filled with hatred. The Worlds End trial only opens once every half a year. If you miss this opportunity, you might not have another. As long as youre willing to help me, Ill help you reach the end and obtain the skill reward. Li Xiu thought to himself, Thats definitely not me. Ive never been to Sea Stone Town. The God that Bandit is talking about is definitely not me. I can only promise to help you investigate the truth. If the God you mentioned is really a sinful person, I can help you take revenge, Li Xiu said seriously. Bandit stared at Li Xiu for a long time before returning to her bed and lying down. She then turned her back to Li Xiu and said, Alright, I shall take your word. Whats going on with that guy called God? Li Xiu was puzzled. In the Demon Suiters circle, it was unlikely that anyone who didnt know his title of God. There shouldnt be anyone who would use this code name again. Whether that Demon Suiter used God as a code name on purpose or not made Li Xiu wonder. Even if Bandit didnt ask for his help, he had to find out who that guy was. Since it wasnt time yet, Li Xiu put on the Demon Suit and explored the area to seek a way out. He discovered that, as Old Gu had said, a section of the tunnel had collapsed. As it was underground, he didnt dare to blow up the collapsed area and could only dig up a tunnel. With the help of the Difficult, Li Xiu could be said to have extraordinary strength. It wasnt difficult to move the rocks, broken steel, and wooden frames. After clearing a distance of 20 to 30 meters, there was still a collapsed tunnel in front of him. Li Xiu moved away another boulder that was nearly two meters tall and was about to push it to a spot that wasnt in the way when he discovered many colorful rocks piled up behind the boulder. They werent ordinary rocks but all kinds of gems. Most of them were rubies and sapphires, and some were diamonds. There were also crystals, tourmaline, garnets, and some gems that Li Xiu didnt recognize. With more than 10,000 gems piled together, it was dazzling. Even Li Xiuwho didnt have much pursuit for money-couldnt help but have his eyes light up. In this era, gems were very valuable. They didnt depreciate because of the chaos. This was because opening the Trial Gate required all kinds of gems. For example, opening Sea and Sky Trials required more than 30 pieces of sapphire weighing more than a carat. Of the 10,000-plus gems here, there was no lack of very precious sapphires, rubies, diamonds, and so on. There was no lack of gems above ten carats. Typical convention was that rubies greater than three carats made them collector-level gems. Likewise for sapphire when they exceeded five carats. Li Xiu took a cursory look and discovered many rubies and sapphires that werent smaller than ten carats or even larger. Diamonds went without saying. The price wasnt inferior to rubies and sapphires. Li Xiu even saw some very large colored diamonds among the stack. Soon, his gaze was attracted to the item in the middle of the pile of gems. It was a translucent, milky-white egg-shaped crystal the size of a fist. When Li Xiu was first drawn to the pile of gems, he thought that it was a piece of jade. But now, he caught a whiff of a familiar scent. Demon Spirit Egg Looking at the egg, Li Xius expression changed indeterminately. He had fought Demon Spirits for so many years, but he had never seen a Demon Spirit Egg. However, he had heard of such a thing. Demon Spirit Eggs were produced in very secret places, and it was very difficult for ordinary people to find them. Only a few people were lucky enough to encounter them. These Demon Spirit Eggs were mostly brought back to the laboratory for research. They were quite valuable. Legend had it that a laboratory had developed a way to hatch, control, and tame Demon Spirits, but this method was only suitable for unhatched Demon Spirits. Li Xiu had only heard of them, but he had never seen a domesticated Demon Spirit. Could it be that Old Gu wasnt lying and that there was indeed a Demon Spirit assault? Li Xiu thought through it carefully and felt that the Demon Spirit assault probably wasnt fake. However, it also wasnt a lie that Old Gu wanted to use it as a way to silence everyone. It was very likely that Old Gu wanted to use this opportunity of the Demon Spirit attack to monopolize the Sea and Sky Trials secret. I wonder which retarded Demon Spirit used this place as a place to hatch its descendants. Today is my lucky day. Li Xiu found a large box and wanted to store the gems. With so many gems and a Demon Spirit Egg, he could probably live a carefree life without doing anything for the rest of his life after leaving the Abyss Base. Li Xiu took off the Demon Suit and reached out to grab a handful of gems. Just as he was about to throw them into the box, he discovered that the gems he touched immediately turned to scraps that flowed out from the gaps between his fingers like sand. Whats going on? Li Xiu grabbed a few more handfuls of gems, but the outcome was the same. As long as he touched the gems, they would immediately shatter, and in a short while, they would turn to worthless scraps on the ground. Seeing the huge amount of wealth in his hands disappear just like that, even Li Xiuwho didnt care much about money-was a little stunned. Just as Li Xiu was feeling depressed, the Demon Spirit Egg suddenly moved. Chapter 28 - Dead Skin Chapter 28 Dead Skin Crack! Crack! Cracks appeared on the milky-white translucent eggshell, and in the blink of an eye, the Demon Spirit Egg shattered. What looked like an oversized silkworm rolled out. This fellows body was also translucent and milky-white. It didnt look like a body of flesh and blood but like a work of art carved from crystal jade. After the Demon Spirit tumbled to the ground, it twisted its body adorably as if it struggled to raise its head. The moment he saw the Demon Spirit, he immediately grabbed the Demon Suit without any hesitation and resonated with it. The box-like Demon Suit disintegrated and wrapped around Li Xius body. The components had already stuck to Li Xiu, but before they could completely fuse, the Demon Spirit on the ground suddenly leaped up like a white bolt of lightning. It didnt give Li Xiu a chance to react and burrowed into the gap in the incomplete Demon Spirit. The gap was under Li Xius armpit, and the Demon Spirits chubby body quickly twisted. It was unknown how it did it, but it actually fused into Li Xius skin through his clothes. In the blink of an eye, nearly half of its body had burrowed in, leaving only half of its body twisting frantically outside. Li Xiu reached out and grabbed the Demon Spirits body. He exerted all his strength with his five fingers wrapped in the Demon Suit, but he failed to pull the Demon Spirit out. Instead, it burrowed deeper. Li Xiu made a prompt decision. Demon Light erupted from his palm, intending to destroy the remaining half of the Demon Spirits body. The power unleashed by Demon Light struck the crystalline body, only cracking the skin. Under the pain, the Demon Light burrowed in even faster, instantly completing its task. An egg-sized bump appeared under Li Xius skin before quickly moving around his body. Li Xiu steeled his mind and didnt hesitate to extend his five fingers to grab his chest muscles, tearing open his skin and grabbing the bump that had wandered there. The power of the Demon Suit was maximized by Li Xiu. Demon Light erupted from his palm like a miniature sun, in a bid to completely destroy the Demon Spirit in his palm that was connected to his flesh and blood. Unfortunately, this Demon Suit was an old model. Moreover, it was only a low-end product created from an E-class Demon Core. The Demon Light it could unleash wasnt strong enough. A full-powered Demon Light strike only tore open cracks in the Demon Spirits body, and clear liquid seeped out of the cracks. Li Xiu was alarmed. Although it was only an E-class Demon Suit, this Demon Spirit was a newborn. It was already astonishing that it could withstand such a strike. Without any hesitation, he threw out the flesh and blood in his hand, as well as the infant Demon Spirit. But when the flesh and blood were sent flying, the infant Demon Spirit stuck to Li Xius right palm like superglue. What was even more terrifying was that the body of the infant Demon Spirit quickly seeped into the Demon Suit-wrapped palm and into Li Xius right hand. Li Xiu immediately removed the Demon Suit, but that took time. By the time the Demon Suit in his palm was removed, the Demon Spirit had already burrowed into his palm. The bulge in his skin was so low that it was almost imperceivable. Without thinking, Li Xius left handwhich was still wrapped in the Demon Suitproduced Demon Light, turning into a blade-like beam of light that slashed at his right hand. He had fought Demon Spirits for years, but he had never seen such a Demon Spirit. A Demon Suit created by a Demon Core had a natural restraining effect on Demon Spirits and could prevent their bodies from regenerating Although E-class Demon Suits were relatively low-level and could be easily shattered by high-level Demon Spirits, this was the first time Li Xiu had encountered a Demon Spirit that could directly penetrate a Demon Suit. Death was almost a certainty if it seeped into his body. Losing a hand was better than losing his life. Clang! The Demon Light struck his wrist, but there was the sound of jade colliding. Only a bloody gash appeared on his wrist, and his flesh split open, but his bones on the inside werent broken. The white bone seemed to be coated with a layer of milky-white jade-like membrane. Moreover, the milky-white membrane was still flowing as it traveled up the arm bone. Li Xiu produced Demon Light again and turned it into a blade beam that slashed higher up his arm time and time again. He saw his flesh split open, but the bones inside werent damaged because of the crystal membrane. It was still spreading upward. Li Xiu steeled his heart and slashed at his shoulder. He would rather lose an arm than let the Demon Spirit infant invade his body. The Demon Light struck the shoulder joint, but he heard a strange sound. It was a little different from before. Other than the sound of flesh splitting and bones colliding, there seemed to be the sound of something shattering. Li Xiu didnt continue using Demon Light to slash at his body because if he continued, he wouldnt just lose his arm; he would even lose his life. Strangely, the crystal membrane didnt continue spreading. Instead, it gradually evaporated like steam. As the crystal membrane evaporated, the flesh that had been sliced open by Demon Light slowly healed, and it didnt take long for it to scab over. After a while, the scabs fell off, leaving only pink scars. The new skin looked pink and translucent. He looked down at his chest. The chest muscles that Li Xiu had tore open were the same. The flesh that had been torn off had actually grown back. Is it dead? Li Xiu wasnt sure. It looked like it had been killed; otherwise, why would the infant Demon Spirit give up? Li Xiu took off the Demon Suit and checked his body. He didnt find anything abnormal, which made him heave a sigh of relief. What kind of Demon Spirit is this? Ive never seen it before. A newborn infant is already so terrifying; I wonder how strong it will be when it reaches adulthood. I have to leave this place as soon as possible. If the parents of the infant Demon Spirit return, Ill be in big trouble. The E-class Demon Suit will probably be useless. Li Xiu looked at the tunnel in front of him that was still sealed off and relaxed. The location where the Demon Spirit Egg was located was blocked, which means that the Demon Spirit that gave birth to it wouldnt return anytime soon. Li Xiu hesitated for a moment before deciding to leave after completing the S-class trial. The temptation of an S-class skill made him willing to take some risks. Otherwise, he didnt know when he would be able to clear the next S-class trial after leaving. When he returned to the base, Bandit was already awake and sitting there waiting for him. How soon can the S-class trial begin? Li Xiu asked the bandit. Four hours, I think. Bandit looked at the phone she had found in the base and replied after calculating the time. Lets finish the trial as soon as possible and leave this place. With that said, Li Xiu lay on the bed and seized the time to recover his stamina. He was a little tired from fighting the infant Demon Spirit. As he slept, Li Xiu felt an itch on his right arm. He reached out to scratch it, but he tore his skin. Li Xiu immediately jolted awake, thinking that he had scratched open a new wound. However, when he sat up and took a closer look, he realized that it wasnt the case. The spot where he scratched wasnt where the scars were, but the dead skin on his arm. Li Xius expression changed slightly. He had seen dead skin grow on hands and feet, but he had never seen dead skin grow on arms. The dead skin was like a layer of translucent white plastic. From the hole, Li Xiu tore down, tearing off a layer of dead skin from his entire arm. The new skin under the dead skin was fair and crystalline, and it looked like the skin of a newborn baby. Even the scars from before couldnt be seen. Chapter 29 - S-Class Trial Chapter 29 S-Class Trial Li Xiu got up and left the room. He went to Old Gus old office where there was an independent bathroom, a toilet with a flush system, and a shower. He revealed the beautiful outline of his muscles when he disrobed. Li Xiu used his left hand to touch his right shoulder and indeed, he found the edge of the dead skin that he had ripped off. Li Xiu peeled off flakes of dead skin. It was unimaginable to have so much dead skin available to be peeled off from a person. His finger swiped across his scalp and dead skin fell like dandruff. Li Xiu didnt know if there was any difference between the two, but he felt his scalp tingle. The dead skin looked disgusting and strange, but when it was peeled off, there seemed to be an indescribable comfort in his heart. After more than half an hour, Li Xiu peeled off a bodys worth of dead skin. If all the dead skin was pieced together, it would be a complete human skin. After confirming that there was no more dead skin on his body, Li Xiu washed all the dead skin fragments into the septic tank. After taking a shower, Li Xiu carefully checked his body and didnt find any discomfort other than the dead skin he had just torn off. Beneath the dead skin was tender new skin. It was rather well-developed. There was no bleeding from peeling his dead skin. There werent any pigmented scars or spots on Li Xius body. Even the old scars from his previous training were gone. His skin was as fair and ruddy as a newborn, as though it was glowing. If a woman obtained such skin, she would definitely go crazy with admiration. However, Li Xiu was somewhat worried. Could this be a poison or side effect left behind by the Demon Spirits death? Apart from molting, could there be other symptoms? Even if it was just molting, it would be quite unacceptable if it happened once a day. At this stage, he could only take things one step at a time. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with his body, Li Xiu returned to the room where Bandit was. was What took you so long? Its almost time, Bandit, who was packing, said without looking up when she heard Li Xius footsteps. While theres still some time, lets confirm our choices we previously agreed on. Li Xiu didnt answer Bandit. He sat on the bed and recited the choices they had previously agreed on. Getting each one right; your memory is excellent. Theres no need to rehearse again. Bandit was still packing. She had found many useful things in the base and planned on taking them with her. Your memory should be good too, am I right? Li Xiu said as he looked at the busy Bandit. All he could see was her back. Bandit stopped what she was doing when she heard that. She turned around and glared at Li Xiu. If you dont believe me, you can find someone else to participate in the Worlds End trial. Li Xiu looked straight into Bandits eyes, but he didnt say a word. He only silently picked up the backpack that he had already packed and the Demon Suit box. After getting up, he said, Lets go. Its about time. The two of them arrived in front of the blue stone gate again. Bandit timed it perfectly by taking out the remaining sapphires from a box left behind by Old Gu and the rest and embedded them in the grooves of the stone gate. All the grooves lit up when they were embedded with a gem. This was followed by the patterns on the gate before the stone door slowly opened. The two of them exchanged looks and entered one after another. It wasnt the familiar arena. Li Xiu realized that he was on a platform at the peak of a mountain. The mountain peak was like a sharp sword that stabbed into the clouds. Li Xiu looked down and could only see the sea of clouds and a sharp cliff. The platform was square with five-meter-long sides. In the middle stood a one-meter-tall cylinder. There were two buttons on the dome-one black, one white. Apart from that, there was nothing else, nor was there any sign of Bandit. Welcome to the Sea and Sky Trials. The S-level trial has begun. Number of people in the trial: 2. Team automatically assigned. The final trial has begun. The rules are as follows Above the sea of clouds, a floating screen appeared. After Li Xiu read the rules, he realized that they were basically the same as the rules that Bandit had mentioned, but they were slightly different. Bandit mentioned a total of ten questions, but the rules provided to Li Xiu indicated eleven questions. The eleven questions formed one round, and there was no reward before completing one round. Furthermore, Bandit had said that her trial only had one button, not two. Is the number of questions different every trial, or did Bandit give a wrong number? Li Xiu frowned in thought. The trial didnt give Li Xiu much time to think. After the countdown ended, the first question appeared on the screen. Black or white, choose one answer. Both people in the team need to choose the same answer. If the answer isnt the same, it will be considered a failure of the teams trial Countdown beginning If it were two people who entered the Worlds End trial for the first time, they wouldnt have a chance to communicate. The chances of answering this question correctly were 50%. They needed to give the same answer for all eleven rounds. The chances of survival were unimaginably low. Furthermore, this was a double defeat. If one died, both would die. The S-class trial had a much higher mortality rate than previous trials. However, the two of them had already made an agreement and they had formulated more than one plan. Therefore, even if it was a little different from the agreement, there was still a way to form a tacit understanding. Li Xiu glanced at the black and white buttons and pressed the black button. The two of them had previously agreed that if there were two choices, they would choose the first one. If he chose the wrong answer, Bandit would also die. Li Xiu wasnt worried that anything would crop up on Bandits end. The teams answer is unanimous. First question, cleared. We will proceed to the next question after the countdown. There were no physical enhancement rewards between the questions. Soon, they began the second question. Are you male or female? White button for male; black button for female If there was no tacit agreement, it would be difficult to choose between a man and a woman. Thankfully, the two of them had already come to a tacit understanding. Without any hesitation, Li Xiu chose the white button and successfully cleared the trial again. The first few questions were cleared by prioritizing the first few answers, but when it came to the fifth question, this method failed. What color do you like? Countdown begins Ten Nine Eight Li Xiu frowned as he looked at the black and white buttons in front of him. He could only choose black and white, but which one should he choose? There was no sequence to the answer, nor was there any way to communicate with Bandit. The ten-second countdown was about to end. The two of them had previously discussed many possible situations, but they didnt include such questions. Perhaps it was because Bandit had already participated in the Worlds End trial that the difficulty of the trial had increased. Black or white? Chapter 30 - Final Choice Chapter 30 Final Choice Li Xiu looked at the black and white buttons. When there were five seconds left, he pressed the black button. He chose the black button for the first question. Since there was no order to speak of in this question, he decided to determine the priority using the trials opener-black. Although Li Xiu and Bandit didnt have such an agreement, Li Xiu believed that with Bandits intelligence, she should be able to come to the same conclusion. Of course, at this moment, he could only believe that Bandit could think of something. With his understanding of Bandit, she was definitely not a stupid woman. He stared intently at the screen as he waited for the countdown to end. Three Two One Countdown concluded. The answer is unanimous. Proceeding to the next round After passing the trial without any mishaps, Li Xiu heaved a sigh of relief. If Bandit didnt think of it and relied on luck to choose, the two of them would have been doomed. Even if this question didnt kill them, they would still die in the next round. According to Li Xius judgment, the subsequent questions wouldnt make it easy for them to cheat. Indeed, the next question exceeded any plans they had agreed on. Do you believe in the existence of gods? Press any button if you believe. Otherwise, do not press a button. As Bandit had only mentioned one button, they had previously agreed to press the button if given a choice. However, there were two buttons now. Following the agreement of pressing a button, he had to choose one, increasing the difficulty. The best solution was to give up and not press. This was the easiest answer to reach a consensus. It was the simplest and most crude way to resolve a problem-something most people would choose. When faced with a difficult problem, most ordinary people would choose to avoid the problem when given the possibility of avoiding it. Even if they knew that the situation might end up irredeemable, they would still avoid the unavoidable risk. If both of them shared the same train of thought, they could easily reach a consensus. However, Li Xiu chose to press because an agreement was an agreement. He believed that Bandit would abide by the agreement and not believe that her teammate would give up on difficult choices. Li Xiu pressed the black button. It was the same train of thought from the previous question. He gave priority to the choice made at the beginning of the trial. After pressing the black button, Li Xiu narrowed his eyes and stared at the countdown. This was because he couldnt be sure if Bandit would try her luck, come to the conclusion of making such a choice, or have any other ideas. Seconds ticked by as Li Xius heart raced faster and faster. No matter how strong a persons mind was, it was inevitable that they would be nervous at this moment. Now, Li Xiu could only trust his judgment and his judgment of Bandit. The last number on the screen turned into fragments and vanished. The bracelet on Li Xius hand didnt explode. This relieved Li Xiu completely. Through this question, Li Xiu was certain that Bandit had made the same judgment as him. She wasnt the kind of person who would resolve problems simply and crudely. With this tacit understanding, the remaining questions were resolved by the two of them one by one. The ten questions were answered unanimously like perfection. Through these questions, Li Xiu and Bandit gained an understanding of each other. It could even be said that both of them knew each other the best in the world. Even family or lovers couldnt understand each others thoughts like the two of them. The last question appeared on the screen as the cold electronic voice read it out word by word. After reading the question, Li Xiu hesitated for the first time. The question was very simple, and the choices were very clear. Even two people who didnt know each other could make the same choice, allowing both of them to live and obtain the rewards. By pressing the black button, the two of them could complete the Worlds End trial and obtain the reward they deserved. However, other than this option, there was another option. If one of them chose to press the white button and the other person pressed the black button, the person who chose to press the white button would receive double the reward. The person who chose to press the black button would fail the trial. Apart from that, the rules didnt indicate what would happen if both of them pressed the white button. Li Xiu looked at the black and white buttons, but he didnt press them as decisively as before. Such a simple multiple-choice question was a hundred times more dangerous than the previous ones. According to the agreement, Li Xiu should press the black button. However, Bandit survived her first participation in the Worlds End trial, earning her the S-class skill reward, Forfeit. One had to form a team of two to participate in Worlds End. In other words, someone had teamed up with Bandit to participate in the trial. Then what happened to the other person? He must have reached the final round with Bandit. Otherwise, Bandit wouldnt have obtained the reward. But what happened to the person? If he survived, he should have obtained an S-class skill. Why hadnt he heard of such a person in the Abyss Base? If there was really such a person, Old Gu wouldnt have let him go, just like how Old Gu treated Bandit. What was even more terrifying was that Bandit had told Li Xiu that there were a total of ten questions, but now, there were eleven. And the additional question was such a multiple-choice question. Was there a possibility that Bandit already knew that there were eleven questions? Could it be that the same multiple-choice question was posed to her when she first participated in the trial? The person who teamed up with Bandit chose the black button, but Bandit chose white? Looking at the black-and-white button, Li Xiu fell silent. If failure was having both of them press the white button, perhaps a smart person like Bandit would choose the black button. However, the rules didnt say what would happen if both of them pressed the white button. Perhaps both of them would obtain double the reward if they did so. This thought was very dangerous, but it wasnt impossible. It was precisely because of this tiny possibility that people who might have chosen the black button ended up choosing the white button with greater probability. Choosing the black button had a 50% chance of dying. Even if he didnt die, he could only obtain one reward. Choosing the white button might not imply death. There was a 50% chance-perhaps even higher-of obtaining two rewards. In the struggle between the angel and devil, the devils side was often more attractive. Li Xiu didnt care about the additional reward, but what about Bandit? After all, they had only known each other for half a month. Bandit might even have done something similar previously. Four Three Two The countdown reached the last second. It was time to make a choice. The S-class difficulty lives up to its name. In reality, the ugliness of human nature often defeats kindness. Bandit, what will you choose? Li Xiu looked at the two buttons in front of him and slowly exhaled. He reached out and pressed one of the buttons. Chapter 31 - Entering the Arena Again Chapter 31 Entering the Arena Again When Li Xiu pressed the white button, the final countdown ended. Li Xiu subconsciously looked at the bracelet. It didnt explode. At the same time, he heard the cold electronic voice: As one party has forfeited, you have passed the S-class trial and obtained all the teams rewards. The reward is being randomly generated You can choose two rewards This is the best choice. Li Xiu nodded slightly and muttered to himself. He didnt trust Bandit, and it was impossible for Bandit to completely trust him. The first ten questions were enough for the two of them to understand each others personalities. Bandit should know that with Li Xius unyielding personality, it was impossible for him to leave his fate in her hands. She didnt want to risk her life for nothing either, so she could only choose to forfeit. This was a choice that only Bandit could make. Furthermore, the reason Bandit participated in the trial was to help Li Xiu obtain the skill. The safest way for Li Xiu to obtain the skill was also made available-a choice Bandit had to make. Bandit didnt disappoint Li Xiu either. She ultimately chose to forfeit. The tacit understanding between the two still existed. Four symbols appeared on the screenTalent, Stats, Demon Core, and Admission Ticket. No skill? Feeling the pain from the bracelet, Li Xiu was slightly disappointed, but only a little. An S-class stat enhancement was definitely better than the typical enhancement. It might even allow Li Xius physique to improve significantly. S-class Demon Cores were core materials needed to create S-class Demon Suits. All the Demon Suiters in the world who had S-class Demon Suits were first-rate Demon Suiters. Li Xiu didnt know what an S-class talent was because there werent many trial-takers with an S-class talent. Even if someone had an S-class talent, they probably wouldnt reveal it to others. The admission ticket was an inevitable choice for Li Xiu. If he missed this opportunity, he didnt know when he would be able to come to the Sea and Sky Trials again. Jin Zhenhuan had said that the Sea and Sky Trials belonged to Longevity Heaven. Li Xiu had heard of the organization known as Longevity Heaven. It was extremely mysterious. This organization had been very active ever since the Demon Spirits emerged. It had a very bad reputation and exploited the chaotic times for resources. It was said that Longevity Heaven controlled a large number of Trial Gates and was one of the first organizations to explore them. There were many Demon Suiters and trial-takers in Longevity Heaven, but due to their clandestine actions and cruel methods, no one knew where the headquarters of Longevity Heaven was. If the Abyss Base was really established by Longevity Heaven, it would probably be very difficult for him to come here again in the future. This was also why Li Xiu would rather take the risk to stay a little while longer to complete the S-class trial. He was only the number one Demon Suiter in the worldnot the most powerful person in the world. Even the S-class Demon Suit, Safflower, was provided through a partnership. After deciding on the admission ticket, Li Xiu chose the S-class talent. Although there were very few S-class Demon Suits, Li Xiu was a Demon Suiter who controlled one, despite the S-class Demon Suiter not belonging to him. As for stats, he could slowly accumulate them in the future, so there was no rush. Li Xiu had hesitated between stats and talent. Picking up the blood-patterned revolver required physique. Otherwise, it would be useless. It looked like stats were the best choice, but Li Xiu ultimately chose talent. After these few trials, his physique had clearly improved. If such a physique was still unable to move the blood-patterned revolver, the situation wouldnt be much better even with the S-class stat enhancement. There wasnt much of a difference between fifty steps and a hundred steps. Li Xiu estimated that even with the S-class enhancement, he probably wouldnt be able to lift the blood-patterned revolver. The reason he wanted to enter again was mainly to resolve the few doubts in his heart. At the instant he chose talent, a beam of light shot out from the screen. A heart-shaped blue gem appeared in front of Li Xiu. There were countless tiny cuts on the gem. Every cut shimmered with a blue glow, as though the stars in the sky were condensed on that tiny blue gem. When Li Xius finger gently touched the gems core, he immediately felt a coldness in the form of a blue stream of light enter his body through his finger like a galaxy. Li Xiu felt as though he had fallen into an ice cavern. He felt cold from the inside out and his entire body was numb from the cold. After the terrifying cold swept through his body, it surged crazily towards his heart. His heart froze without an iota of feeling, as though it had stopped beating. The feeling of his body lacking any vitality was something Li Xiu would never forget. After a long while, the coldness gradually receded and Li Xius body gradually regained consciousness. Ice Heart: S-class talent, immune to the freezing effects of most freezing skills. The Ice Heart talent was indeed inferior to a godly skill like Forfeit, but it was a pleasant surprise to Li Xiu. This was because the blood-patterned revolver had a freezing cold aura. When Li Xiu previously tried to lift it, his fingers were quickly frozen. He couldnt hold the revolver for long. With the Ice Heart talent, at the very least, he wouldnt be affected by the coldness. After obtaining Ice Heart, Li Xiu chose the admission ticket. The remaining two rewards vanished as the admission ticket symbol projected in front of Li Xiu, turning into a blue vortex that pulled him into the strange place again. Stone table, oil lamp, blood-patterned revolver, and the strange metal sarcophagus. Unlike the last time, Li Xiu knew that there wasnt much time. In about ten minutes, he would be teleported away. He had to find the answer he wanted in this period of time. Li Xiu ignored the metal sarcophagus and the Demon Spirit inside as he reached out to grab the blood-patterned revolver on the table. The ring pattern on his finger appeared and emitted a red glow. It was Frenzy that allowed Li Xiu to unleash 120% of his physique. When his fingers touched the handle of the blood-patterned revolver, he immediately felt a chill surge over him, making him shiver. Only then did Li Xiu realize that Ice Heart could only nullify a freezing effect, but it couldnt completely withstand low-temperature damage. In other words, no matter how low the temperature was, Li Xius body wouldnt freeze, but low temperatures could still injure him. However, he could clearly sense that the coldness was much weaker than previously. It was still temporarily tolerablean obvious effect of Ice Heart which had a certain effect on low temperatures, but not total immunity. Grabbing the handle of the gun with both hands, he unleashed the full might of Frenzy. Li Xiu tried his best to lift the blood-patterned revolver. The blood-patterned revolver only wobbled left and right slightly without any indication of leaving the table. Just as Li Xiu had expected, his strength was far from enough to pick up the blood-patterned revolver. In fact, Li Xiu didnt have much hope. His goal wasnt just that. He grabbed the blood-patterned revolver with both hands and continued exerting strength, turning the muzzle of the blood-patterned revolver towards the metal sarcophagus. Now, Li Xiu wanted to verify one of his suspicions. Was this blood-patterned revolver used to kill the Demon Spirit in the metal sarcophagus? At the instant the muzzle was aimed at the metal coffin, the blood-red eyes on the metal sarcophagus opened again and stared intently at Li Xiu. They were filled with resentment and anger. At the same time, an invisible force descended on him. Chapter 32 - Verifying the Conjectures Chapter 32 Verifying the Conjectures An invisible force immediately immobilized Li Xiu. Li Xiu had already experienced this state once, so he wasnt surprised. This was also one of the conjectures he wanted to verify. He might be able to resist the power of the Demon Spirit. Li Xiu had plenty of experience fighting Demon Spirits, but he had never seen any Demon Spirit that could immobilize someone with just a glance. He guessed that this Demon Spirit didnt really have the power to control his body. It was only affecting his mind, making him believe that his body was being controlled by some force. If that was the case, it was impossible to escape this control with physical strength. Li Xiu couldnt even move a single finger previously despite using all his strength. This time, he didnt use his body to resist the invisible force. Instead, he used his willpower to resist it. Most Demon Suiters physique wasnt sufficiently good, but in terms of mental strength, any Demon Suiter was a lofty existence among the trial-takers. Without powerful mental strength, one couldnt awaken a spiritual consciousness that was needed to resonate with the Demon Suit, much less activate it. This was a necessary talent for a Demon Suiter. As the number one Demon Suiter in the world, Li Xius mental strength was undoubtedly powerful. Li Xiu had already realized the problem on his previous trip here, but he didnt have the chance to verify it. This was the time to verify it. Li Xius body relaxed, but his mind was highly focused. He entered the state he used when controlling Demon Suits. The control over his body seemed to suddenly relax. Li Xiu felt that he was gradually regaining control of his body. As expected. The Demon Spirit is only affecting my consciousness. Li Xiu could sense that the Demon Spirits mental strength was indeed very strong. It still affected him, but it was unable to wantonly control his body. The blood-patterned revolvers muzzle was aimed at the metal sarcophagus. Li Xiu squeezed the trigger with all his might. Li Xiu had learned how to use firearms. Demon Suiters usually relied on firearms to protect themselves, so he was no stranger to firearms. The feeling from his finger made Li Xiu clearly know that the strength needed to pull the trigger was definitely not at an ordinary level. Despite using all his strength, the trigger only sank a little. It didnt reach the level of hitting the firing pin. The power Frenzy imbued him with was dissipating. Li Xiu was somewhat depressed to discover that he didnt even have the strength to fire, much less lift the blood-patterned revolver. Unwilling to admit defeat, Li Xiu placed another finger from his other hand and tried squeezing the trigger with both index fingers. With the last bit of energy left from Frenzy, the trigger sank bit by bit. However, it still didnt look like there was any hope of hitting the firing pin. As he had used too much strength, the patterns on the revolver sliced through his skin as blood seeped into the blood patterns. It was clearly just a tiny scratch, but Li Xiu felt as though a large portion of his blood had been drawn. In an instant, all the blood patterns were dyed red. When his finger faced a significantly lessened resistance, Li Xiu didnt waste time thinking. He unleashed all his strength and squeezed the trigger. BANG! A tiny blood beam shot out from the muzzle and slammed into the blue metal sarcophagus. The blood beam shattered, and a crystalline blue light burst out from the spot where the blood beam had hit. Ding! It was as though something had fallen out of the shattered light and landed on the ground. The blood-red eyes on the metal sarcophagus stared at Li Xiu as though it had gone berserk. The ruthlessness, resentment, anger, humiliation, and indignation in them had reached their peak. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Dull thuds came from the metal sarcophagus. The entire sarcophagus shook violently as though the Demon Spirit inside was about to break out. However, in the next second, blue lightning bolts rose from the metal sarcophagus and darted around. After a tragic cry, the violently swaying metal sarcophagus fell silent as the blue lightning gradually dissipated. Only the blood-red eyes stared intently at Li Xiu like the eyes of a beast that wanted to devour him. If looks could kill, Li Xiu would probably have been diced into pieces. Li Xiu ignored the Demon Spirits venomous gaze and released his grip on the gun. He circled the table to take a closer look. The spot where the metal sarcophagus had been hit didnt leave any bullet marks. There wasnt even a mark. However, Li Xiu had clearly seen something fall from the spot where the metal sarcophagus had been hit. He had even heard the sound of it landing. How could there be no traces of the hit? Looking down at the ground, Li Xius eyes widened. On the ground, a blue crystal was emitting a strange light. The crystal was the size of a pigeon egg and was wrapped in a dark blue skin. Where there was no skin, one could see a flowing blue light inside. Demon Core Its actually a Demon Core Li Xiu picked up the crystal and confirmed that it was indeed a Demon Core. He couldnt figure out why the blood beam would knock off a Demon Core from striking the metal sarcophagus. Furthermore, according to his experience, the level of this Demon Core wasnt low. It was at least a B-class or higher. It might even be an S-class Demon Core. As there were no detection tools, it was impossible to determine the level of the Demon Core with the naked eye. There was no time to think with the little time he had left. Li Xiu immediately returned to the back of the table and used the edge of the Demon Core to cut his finger. His bloody finger squeezed on the trigger of the blood-patterned revolver again as he pulled the trigger with all his might. BANG! Ding! The blood beam struck the metal sarcophagus again. This time, Li Xiu saw it even more clearly. Amidst the exploding blue light, a Demon Core dropped. There were still no traces on the metal sarcophagus, but why would a Demon Core drop? Li Xiu knew that this wasnt the time to study this. He continued squeezing the trigger, only to feel a little dizzy and his body weakening. Suppressing the feeling of weakness, Li Xiu pulled the trigger again. BANG! Another blue light flashed as another Demon Core dropped. BANG! Another shot. This time, something dropped, but it looked different from the previous Demon Cores. After firing four consecutive shots, Li Xiu felt a little dizzy. The lacking strength in his fingers intensified, and he didnt dare fire again. Furthermore, it was about time. He had to pick up the Demon Cores that had dropped. Li Xiu circled around the table and picked up the Demon Cores on the ground. After picking up two Demon Cores, he couldnt help but be taken aback when he saw what the last shot had hit to the ground. It wasnt a Demon Core, but a blue crystal ring. It was engraved with mysterious and strange patterns. Blue light flowed inside, making it look beautiful and demonic. Li Xiu wasnt unfamiliar with this thingit was a skill ring. Chapter 33 - Giant Demon Spirit Chapter 33 Giant Demon Spirit This was the most bizarre turn of events Li Xiu had encountered in his life. Not only could the metal sarcophagus drop Demon Cores, but it could also drop skill rings. Li Xiu knew that skill rings only had a chance of appearing after the final round in a trial. Furthermore, they could only be used on the spot and couldnt be taken out of the trial grounds. Now that the skill ring was lying on the ground, he might be able to take it out. Everything on him had unfortunately vanished after he entered the trial grounds. He only wore a tight white robe that appeared out of nowhere. There was nothing that could store the skill ring. Helpless, Li Xiu could only pick up the skill ring with his hand. To his pleasant surprise, the skill ring didnt react. He held it in his palm. The skill ring can really be taken out of the trial grounds. Li Xiu was pleasantly surprised. Before he could come up with any other idea, he was sent out of this bizarre place and returned to the blue stone gate. Bandit was standing there waiting for him. She didnt mention the trial upon seeing him, instead only to ask Li Xiu if he had obtained the Forfeit skill. No, there was no skill among the reward options. Li Xiu shook his head. Bandit didnt say anything else and only nodded. Lets go. We have to leave this place as soon as possible. Li Xiu stuffed his spoils into his pocket before taking the things he had plundered from the base. He headed for the tunnel that led to the outside world with Bandit. Bandit had already done packing. She carried a huge backpack and followed Li Xiu out. The two of them arrived at the spot where Li Xiu had discovered the Demon Spirit Egg. The tunnel outside was still blocked, making Li Xiu heave a sigh of relief. The Demon Spirit hadnt returned, and the Longevity Heaven personnel hadnt arrived. They still had time to evacuate. Li Xiu grabbed the Demon Suit box and donned it. Then, he moved the rubble blocking the tunnel and slowly opened up a passage. Bandit also helped Li Xiu move the rubble to the back. After digging for dozens of meters, the tunnel ahead finally cleared. Although they were both exhausted, they didnt take a break. They followed the tunnel out of Abyss Base. The air mixed with the smell of mud and grass made Li Xius nose twitch. He took a few deep breaths before exhaling. There was no way to tell day from night in the base. Only upon exiting it did he realize that it was late at night outside. The stars filled the dark-blue sky, and a crescent moon hung there, emitting a bright white halo. Where do we go? Bandit looked at Li Xiu. She had been inside for three years and knew almost nothing about the outside world. All she could do was follow Li Xiu. Li Xiu sized up his surroundings. He had been drugged with anesthesia on his trip here. In fact, he didnt know where he was. He took out his phone and used the phones compass function to get his bearings. After confirming a direction, Li Xiu led Bandit into the deep mountain forest. It didnt matter where he went as long as he could leave the Abyss Base. There was no well-trodden path in this godforsaken place. Li Xiu led the way in his Demon Suit, chopping down trees and slaying snakes whenever he encountered them. It didnt take much effort. They walked until dawn, but the two of them remained deep in the mountains. They didnt find any traces of human civilization. Li Xiu wanted to continue, but when he turned to look at Bandit, he saw that her clothes were almost drenched in sweat as she panted. Furthermore, her clothes had been torn by the vines, revealing many bloody marks on her arms. She had probably been scratched by the vines. Although her physique was better than Li Xius, Li Xiu had the Demon Suit. It made things easier for him. Bandit had a stubborn personality. Although she had reached her limit, she didnt request Li Xiu to stop for a break. Lets take a break. Li Xiu found a relatively dry place to stop. He also needed to regain his stamina. Bandit sat down against a tree, got out a water bottle, and took a big gulp before panting heavily. Any plans for the future? Li Xiu asked after Bandits breathing calmed down. Kill God. Bandit stared at Li Xiu and slowly said, Does our agreement still count? Of course, but before that, I have to figure out who the Demon Suiter you mentioned is, Li Xiu said. Bandit glanced at Li Xiu and kept silent. She took out a compressed biscuit and ate it. Suddenly, Li Xiu pounced on Bandit and covered her mouth with one hand. He whispered into her ear, Dont make a sound. Bandit was already prepared to counterattack. When she heard Li Xius voice, she stopped and listened attentively like Li Xiu. Boom Boom They vaguely heard footsteps coming from afar. The sound was getting louder and closer. Li Xiu propped himself up and gestured for Bandit to carefully crawl into the grass beside him. The two of them lay in the grass and looked in the direction of the sound that grew louder and louder as they heard the sound of trees snapping and falling. The ground seemed to tremble with the footsteps. Every step was like an earthquake; their expressions fell with every step. Boom! A huge foot descended from the sky, shattering the tall trees. The ground sank nearly half a meter deep, leaving a huge footprint. Covered in a snow-white carapace, it had three eyes and a curved horn on its head. It was like a giant robot as it lumbered through the forest. Describing him as lumbering through the forest was a misnomerhe was trampling the forest beneath his feet. The giant trees that were more than ten meters tall were like weeds by the side of the road. They were crushed to pieces as huge footprints were left in his wake. Seeing the terrifying Demon Spirit walk past them, Li Xiu and Bandit lay in the grass, not daring to move a muscle. Li Xiu had no intention of fighting the Demon Spirit. From his experience, a Demon Spirit of this size was most likely above A-class, or even S-class. If he wore his usual S-class Demon Suit, he would still have a fighting chance. With his current Demon Suit, rushing out was no different from tempting fate. Thankfully, the Demon Spirit didnt discover them and walked straight past them. The duo secretly heaved a sigh of relief. Lets follow the direction the Demon Spirit took, Li Xiu suddenly said as he looked in the direction the Demon Spirit had gone. Demon Spirits typically didnt travel in groups, especially such terrifying Demon Spirits. As long as it was around, no other Demon Spirit would be in its vicinity. Li Xiu didnt know where they were, but there were Demon Spirits roaming freely. It was obvious that they were still very far from human civilization. They might encounter other Demon Spirits on the way. Not all Demon Spirits were as slow as the Demon Spirit they encountered. Some Demon Spirits could discover the existence of humans from hundreds of meters away. Killing ordinary humans was as easy as chopping vegetables. However, as long as one followed the path of the Demon Spirit, the chances of encountering other Demon Spirits were much lower. Furthermore, there was a high chance of reaching a human city. Typically, the descent of a Demon Spirit was ultimately followed by it turning up at human civilizations. Chapter 34 - Southern Cross Federation Chapter 34 Southern Cross Federation Qin Shi, something bad happened. A huge Demon Spirit has been discovered in the west. Its crossing the forest and heading for us. Its less than 150 kilometers away. A stout middle-aged man rushed into Tyro Citys gym and shouted at a woman who was working out. This gym was at least a thousand square meters, and it didnt only have one floor. The woman, Qin Shi, was the only one in the huge gym. The woman looked to be in her twenties. She was wearing sports tights with her hair tied into a neat ponytail. She was tall and muscular, and her body was curvaceous. Castellan, this isnt the first time Demon Spirits have attacked Tyro. Just prepare for battle. Whats there to panic about? Qin Shi grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from her face as she frowned. Its different this time. That Demon Spirit is huge-unimaginably huge Castellan Zheng De was panicking Theres nothing different. With me around, no Demon Spirit can threaten Tyro. Qin Shi put down the towel and grabbed the Demon Suit beside her. The Demon Suit box immediately lit up and disintegrated into a carapace that enveloped Qin Shis tall and muscular body. Soon, her body was completely enveloped by a fiery-red demon suit before she walked out. Qin Shi, I knew I could count on you. Tyro City is proud to have you. After dealing with the Demon Spirit, I will definitely hold the grandest celebratory banquet for you Zheng De said with a smile as he followed behind Qin Shi. Theres no need. Just prepare the rubies I deserve. Remember, I only want the ruby thats of pigeon blood standard. With that said, a terrifying energy spewed out from the back of the Demon Suit, lifting her body into the air and sending her in the direction Zheng De had mentioned like a fighter jet. B*tch, you only have eyes for rubies. Ill get you in bed sooner or later. Both you and the rubies are mine. Im not letting any go. Zheng Des eyes flashed with ruthlessness as he looked at Qin Shi, who was only a red dot in the distance. Tyro City was one of the five major cities of the Southern Cross Federation. The Southern Cross Federation produced gems, and Tyro was no exception. Before the advent of Demon Spirits, although this place produced gems, most people werent rich and their international status wasnt high. However, in the era of Demon Spirits, the Southern Cross Federation became one of the four major factions in the world due to its rich resources. However, the Southern Cross Federation was a federation. It didnt have any actual rulers. Instead, it was managed by the Castellans of the five major cities. Only when facing foreign enemies would they join forces. Beneath the five major cities were many minor cities that also had their own sovereignty. The situation was very messy. Qin Shi wasnt a Demon Suiter nurtured by Tyro. She worked for Tyros castellan only for the rubies. It could be considered an employment. It was strange. Although the Southern Cross Federation produced gems, there were very few outstanding Demon Suiters. There were very few local Demon Suiters who could use B-class and A-class Demon Suits, much less a Demon Suiter like Qin Shi who could control an S-class Demon Suit. Thankfully, the Southern Cross Federation was wealthy. The various major cities had recruited many top-notch Demon Suiters, and Qin Shi was one of them. Although there were very few Demon Suiters in the Southern Cross Federation, there were many trial-takers. This was related to the large number of gem resources and trial gates they controlled. Qin Shi traveled west and soon saw the gigantic Demon Spirit. It walked above the forest like a giant that could destroy the world. There were already more than ten Demon Suiters from Tyro fighting the Demon Spirit. It wasnt really a battle. More than ten Demon Suiters who controlled E- and D-class suits didnt even have the ability to fly. They stood on the ground and released Demon Light Balls at the huge Demon Spirit. The power of the Demon Light Balls struck the Demon Spirit, but they did nothing-not even a mark on the Demon Spirits snow-white carapace. The Demon Spirit that was attacked glanced at the Demon Suiter that attacked it. One of its three horizontally-aligned eyes shot out a Demon Light beam that immediately blasted the Demon Suiter into pieces along with the Demon Suit. Even the forest ten meters around him was reduced to ashes. This is the first time Ive seen such a huge Demon Spirit. If such a massive body rushes into a human city, just its steps will probably bring a destructive disaster to the city even if it doesnt attack. Qin Shi was somewhat surprised as she looked at the gargantuan body. As she floated in the air, Qin Shi didnt immediately begin attacking. Qin Shi watched coldly as the Demon Suiters were slaughtered by the Demon Spirit. She knew very well that Tyro didnt just have these few inferior Demon Suiters. Zheng De hadnt sent a true top-notch Demon Suiter at all. She was probably on her own in this battle. If she was unfortunately defeated, Zheng De would definitely kick her while she was down. After all, she had already plundered quite a number of high-quality rubies from him. A greedy fellow like Zheng De probably wished for her to die in battle and take back the rubies. Of course, Qin Shi wasnt just watching those Demon Suiters die. She had to first understand the abilities of this Demon Spirit. Otherwise, she would easily be injured by its unknown abilities. Defeat wasnt an option, so she had to be careful. After watching more than ten Demon Suiters die or be injured, Qin Shi already had a certain understanding of the power and behavior of the Demon Spirit. Without any hesitation, she transformed into a red beam of light and flew through the air. Her palms lit up with red light as she struck the two eyes of the huge Demon Suiter like red lasers. After Qin Shis analysis, that was likely the weakness of the huge Demon Spirit. Boom! The Demon Spirit looked up into the sky. The two eyes on both sides shot out snow-white demonic beams that collided with Qin Shis red Demon Light beams. The shockwave produced by the collision surged out, uprooting the surrounding trees. The soil also turned wavy as it undulated. Qin Shis body was thrown higher by the shockwave. Although it failed to injure her Demon Suit, it still made her frown. From this clash, she could sense that this was definitely an S-class Demon Spirit. Furthermore, it wasnt an ordinary S-class. A powerful physique with terrifying Demon Lightthis was one of the strongest Demon Spirits Qin Shi had ever seen. As Qin Shi was in thought, the Demon Spirits eyes constantly shot out demonic beams at her. She didnt choose to clash head-on. She drove the Demon Suit into flying quickly like a red butterfly in the sky, dodging the Demon Spirits repeated attacks. The butterfly propulsion method created by God is really useful. Qin Shi praised inwardly. This method of controlling a Demon Suits flight was created by the worlds number one Demon Suiter. Although the maneuverability was difficult for ordinary Demon Suiters given their mental strength and control, it was especially useful. Qin Shi had also studied it for a long time before mastering the butterfly propulsion method. This allowed her to minimize her losses in battle with Demon Spirits. This was also one of the reasons why she was seldom injured. Chapter 35 - Iron Demon Suit Chapter 35 Iron Demon Suit Qin Shi danced around the head of the huge Demon Spirit like a fiery-red butterfly. She grabbed the opportunity and spat out red Demon Light from her palms. Although it failed to hit the huge Demon Spirits eyes, it struck its head several times, leaving burning wounds on its snow-white carapace. Qin Shis Demon Suiters call sign was Phoenix. This S-class Demon Suits name was also Phoenix. Its Demon Light had a burning characteristic. Once the Demon Spirit was hit by the Undying Birds Demon Light, the wound burned with flames until the entire Demon Spirit was reduced to ashes. Qin Shi became one of the top hundred Demon Suiters thanks to this Demon Suit. However, the Phoenix had clearly met its nemesis today. The flames on the wounds quickly extinguished as the wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. How troublesome. To be immune to burning damage while possessing an extremely powerful self-healing ability. From the looks of it, I can only use that move. Qin Shi couldnt help but frown. She made the Demon Suit fly into the sky and temporarily exceed the attack range of the huge Demon Spirit. Qin Shis mind was highly focused as fiery patterns appeared on the Phoenix Demon Suit. Soon, they covered it entirely, making her look like she was wrapped in raging flames. The flaming patterns became brighter and brighter, and the flames that enveloped her body became redder and redder. In the next second, Qin Shi swooped down from the sky like a red meteor. With terrifying flames consisting of Demon Light, she charged at the huge Demon Spirit. Her speed increased as the flames on her became brighter. The huge Demon Spirit looked up at the sky as white demonic beams constantly shot out from its three eyes. However, the white Demon Light shattered upon collision with the flaming Demon Light. Boom! Qin Shi struck the head of the huge Demon Spirit like a burning stream of light. The red light produced by the explosion was like a constantly expanding sun, turning the entire sky red. Success! Qin Shi couldnt help but be delighted when she saw the huge Demon Spirit tilting to the side with half its head shattered. Qin Shis expression fell the next second. Sensing danger, she made the Demon Suit fly away, but she felt her body tighten as she was grabbed by a huge palm. Half of the huge Demon Spirits head had been shattered, and its wound was still burning with flames; yet, it grabbed Qin Shi with one hand. The immense power made Qin Shi feel that the Phoenix Demon Suit was cracking as though it would shatter at any moment. Qin Shi frantically unleashed Demon Light, but she failed to break out of the palm. The Phoenix Demon Suit emitted cracking sounds as cracks appeared in many places. Qin Shi knew that she had made a fatal mistake, but there was no chance of correcting it. She couldnt be blamed. She had never seen a Demon Spirit with its fighting prowess intact despite having half its head shattered. Just as Qin Shi thought that she was doomed, she suddenly heard the huge Demon Spirit let out a tragic cry. The grip on Qin Shi weakened significantly. Seizing this unbelievable opportunity, Qin Shi pumped Phoenixs power to its max. She struck out with her palms, burning a crack in the huge Demon Spirits palm. Demon Light spewed out from her back and feet as she rushed out of the crack and quickly rose into the sky. Qin Shi realized that the huge Demon Spirit had its head lowered as though it was searching for something. Tracing the Demon Spirits gaze, Qin Shi was surprised to discover that in the forest that had been destroyed by the battle, there was a running Demon Suiter. As the Demon Suiter ran, he condensed a Demon Light Ball and threw it at the huge Demon Spirits head. Qin Shi recognized that the Demon Suiter was wearing a very old-fashioned E-class armor. It was also a mass-produced one. It didnt have sufficient kinetic capabilities and wasnt fast. Its Demon Light attacks were uniform-Demon Light Ball and Demon Light Blade. Demon Light Blade could only be used in close combat. Although Demon Light Balls were considered long-range attacks, their range was very short. They only had an effective lethal range of less than a hundred meters. Furthermore, the trajectory of a Demon Light Ball was very unstable. It was very difficult to accurately hit the target. This Demon Suit was inferior to the suits the dozen or so Demon Suiters from Tyro City wore. Wearing such a Demon Suit implied that he was either cannon fodder or someone with insufficient talent. He couldnt activate high-level Demon Suits or didnt have a powerful boss who was willing to spend money on him. However, what the Demon Suiter subsequently did broadened Qin Shis horizons. The huge Demon Spirit was attracted by the Demon Suiter as white demonic light constantly shot out from its eyes. Although one of its eyes was damaged and it couldnt shoot out any more Demon Light, the Demon Light shot out from the remaining two eyes far exceeded the Demon Suiters capabilities in terms of speed and strength. From Qin Shis point of view, that old E-class Demon Suit probably couldnt even dodge a single attack, much less withstand the huge Demon Spirits white Demon Light. If they were to clash head-on, all the energy produced by the E-class Demon Suit would be as fragile as porcelain in front of the S-class Demon Spirit. Yet, the Demon Suiter moved quickly on the ground. Although his speed wasnt fast enough, he was so agile and his actions so fluid that it made ones scalp tingle. He dodged Demon Light attacks again and again. He brushed past the white Demon Light almost every time. It looked harrowing, but he always emerged unscathed. While dodging, he even had the time to throw out a Demon Light Ball. The Demon Light Ball slowly cruised through the air, straight for the huge Demon Spirit. It was obvious that the trajectory was extremely unstable, as though it had already deviated from the huge Demon Spirit. Even if the huge Demon Spirit stood still, it was impossible for it to hit it. Qin Shis take was completely shattered in the next second. The huge Demon Spirit also ignored it, believing that it was impossible for the Demon Light Ball to hit it. To its surprise, just as the Demon Light Ball was about to brush past the huge Demon Spirits head, it suddenly made a sharp turn and blasted into the huge Demon Spirits cracked wound. It was originally impossible for such a Demon Light Ball to injure a Demon Spirit of this size, but the wound was located at its relatively weak brain. The Demon Light Ball exploded on the brain wound. The huge Demon Spirit hugged its head and screamed in pain as Demon Light shot out crazily from its eyes. Qin Shi had never seen Demon Light Ball bending after being shot. She was dumbfounded. The Demon Suiter fled with all his might, dodging the chaotic Demon Light. At the same time, he threw out another Demon Light Ball. The Demon Light Ball flew towards the huge Demon Spirit. The huge Demon Spirit had learned its lesson and extended its hand to grab the Demon Light Ball. A miraculous scene happened. The Demon Light Ball seemed to have a life of its own as it circled around the huge Demon Spirits palm, drawing out a strange arc. It struck the huge Demon Spirits injured brain again in a trajectory similar to an uppercut. What are you waiting for? Qin Shi, who was watching this scene in a daze, suddenly heard a cold shout. Only then did she react and immediately attack the injured Demon Spirit. Chapter 36 - Gate of the Berserker Ball Chapter 36 Gate of the Berserker Ball It wasnt that Qin Shis reaction was slow, but that she was reeling from shock. She had never seen anyone control an E-class Demon Suiter with such finesse. Even the top ten Demon Suiters might not be capable of such feats other than God. In particular, the magic-like Demon Light Ball was unbelievable. For the first time, she realized that Demon Light Balls could be used in such a way. Even God had never displayed such techniques. The other party was clearly the controller of an E-class Demon Suit, but it made her feel that there was no need to worry. Qin Shi now understood why the huge Demon Spirit had suddenly released its grip on her. It had probably been struck by the Demon Suiters Demon Light Ball. Seizing the opportunity opened up by the huge Demon Spirits injury, Qin Shi launched an onslaught of attacks and blasted apart the remaining two eyes of the Demon Spirit. Under the barrage of attacks, the huge Demon Spirits damaged head was completely shattered. Its huge body collapsed, causing the ground to tremble. After finishing off the huge Demon Spirit, Qin Shi searched for the Demon Suiter, but she couldnt find him. Who is that Demon Suiter? Does the Southern Cross Federation have such a Demon Suiter? Qin Shi was filled with questions. While Qin Shi was fighting the huge Demon Spirit, Li Xiu had already left in the direction Qin Shi had come from. Fighting Demon Spirits was the duty of Demon Suiters. Li Xiu didnt wish to see a Demon Suiter capable of controlling an S-class Demon Suit be killed either, so he had helped. He never expected the other party to react so slowly. She stood there stunned for an extended period without rejoining the battle. This Demon Suit is too crappy. I have to think of a way to get an adequate Demon Suit, Li Xiu thought to himself. m Li Xiu now realized the benefits to the trials. The two Demon Light Ball strikes had used the principles of baseballthe first being a curveball and the second, a knuckleball. However, Li Xiu was probably the only person in the world who could do such a feat. You are indeed a very powerful Demon Suiter, Bandit, who had witnessed the entire battle, suddenly said to Li Xiu. Thanks for the compliment, Li Xiu replied with a smile. Im relieved. God is definitely not as good as you. As long as you have a high-level Demon Suit, killing him should be very easy, Bandit continued. Thats hard to say. Li Xiu smiled bitterly in his heart. Tyro City was rather prosperous. When he saw the words Tyro City, Li Xiu frowned. He naturally knew what kind of place it was. It was precisely because he knew this very well that he understood that his situation wasnt looking good. The Southern Cross Federation and the Space City he was stationed in had a rather bad relationship. There had even been many small-scale armed conflicts. Due to its geographical location, there had been no direct conflict between Tyro City and Space City. However, as one of the main cities of the Southern Cross Federation, the space tunnel between Tyro City and Space City had already been closed. If one wanted to return to Space City, he could only return by land or sea since the possibility of returning by plane was non-existent. Demon Spirits often appeared at sea, so the risk was higher. If there was no need, Li Xiu didnt want to take the sea route. If he walked on land, it was unknown how long it would take to return to Space City. There were many Demon Spirits lurking in the uninhabited areas along the way. It was probably not safe. I need to think of a way to get a Demon Suit that I can make do with first. Li Xiu had never been worried about Demon Suits previously. Space City was the city with the best Demon Suit technology. It was known as the holy land of Demon Suiters. Li Xiu could choose any of the best suits newly produced by all the top Demon Suit laboratories in Space City. This was also one of the reasons Li Xiu was willing to join Space City back then. There was the best Demon Suit laboratory in the world and the most advanced Demon Suits. He could use any of the new Demon Suit prototypes for training. Countless prototype S-class Demon Suits had been damaged by him during training. They had even been turned to scrap metal under his extreme tests. It could be said that Li Xiu had broken more S-class Demon Suits than the number of S-class Demon Suits any other Demon Suiter had seen in their lives. He had plundered some Demon Cores from the base. Although most of them were E-class and D-class, there were quite a number of them. In addition, he had obtained a few Demon Cores from the metal sarcophagus. It might be difficult to buy an S-class Demon Suit, but it was more than enough to exchange for an A-class. However, in the Southern Cross Federation, Demon Suits were contraband. It wasnt allowed to be sold privately. Li Xiu couldnt reveal his true identity in the Southern Cross Federation, so it was also a problem to find a channel to purchase one. Since he was already in Tyro, he could only take things one step at a time. Li Xiu led Bandit to a motel and prepared to understand the situation here before making plans. When they entered the motel, the motel owner was watching a soccer match and didnt have the time to entertain them. He only said that it was 300 bucks a night. How many days can this pay? Li Xiu took out a one-carat sapphire and placed it on the counter. The boss looked down and realized that it was a sapphire. His eyes lit up as he reached out his rough fingers to pinch the sapphire and rub it. Soon, a smile appeared on the bosss face. Sir, how long will you be staying?. Ill leave it with you. Ill stay here for the time being, so deduct the days from it. Get us two rooms and some food, Li Xiu said. Alright, Ill take you to your rooms. The bosss attitude was very warm as he led them to the rooms. The guest rooms here were rather simple. They were just wooden houses without any air-conditioning. There was only a noisy fan in each room, and it was the kind with metal fan blades. It was obvious that they were antiques. There was no bathroom in the room. If they wanted to go to the bathroom, they had to head to the yard behind where there was a public bathroom. The only good thing about this crappy motel was that it had a hot spring pool. It allowed Li Xiu to take a comfortable bath. The Southern Cross Federation was very rich, but ordinary commoners were poorer than peers in other places. How may I address you, Boss? Li Xiu asked when the boss came to deliver the food. Just call me Old Luo, Old Luo said with a smile. He had always been very easygoing with rich customers. Old Luo, is this very popular here? Li Xiu pointed at the phone in Old Luos hand. It was showing a soccer game. The players looked like locals. Its popular. Its rather popular. If one can make a name for himself in the league, he might have a chance of being fancied by the castellan. He might be brought into the Golden Ball trial grounds and reap both fame and fortune Old Luos saliva splattered as he spoke. His face was filled with excitement as though he had already reaped both fame and fortune and had many wives and concubines. From Old Luos description of his fantasies, Li Xiu finally knew why soccer was so popular in Tyro. Tyros castellan had a trial ground known as the Gate of the Berserker Ball in his control. It was different from the Sea and Sky Trials. The Berserker Ball was a trial ground that had been fully understood. The trials inside had already been figured out by others, so the danger had long been minimized. As long as one didnt tempt fate by attempting the final trial, there wasnt much danger. The Berserker Ball trial tested soccer. This was also why soccer in Tyro was so popular. The castellan had used the soccer league to select trial-takers to earn Demon Cores for him in the Berserker Ball trial grounds. Li Xiu originally wasnt interested in the Berserker Ball trial ground, but something Old Luo unintentionally mentioned drew his attention. Chapter 37 - Possible Reason Chapter 37 Possible Reason The reward from the Berserker Ball trial grounds can turn ordinary people into Demon Suiter? Li Xiu asked Old Luo in disbelief. Thats right. The number one Demon Suiter in Tyro City, Kunsha, was originally a trial-taker. It was because he passed the trial at the Berserker Ball trial grounds that he became a Demon Suiter. He was even rewarded by the castellan with an S-class Demon Suit. Thats a high-ranking Demon Suiter. Who doesnt want to become a rich, honorable, and high-ranking Demon Suiter? Unfortunately, I dont have the talent. Otherwise, I would have entered the Berserker Ball trial grounds and risked my life Old Luo wore a look of pity. It was unknown if it was because he didnt have the talent or because he hadnt obtained fame and fortune. Thats interesting. Li Xiu pondered. Back in the Sea and Sky Trials, although Li Xiu was attracted by the strange trial grounds and magical rewards, he still didnt understand why his good friend would persuade him to be a trial-taker on his deathbed. The trial grounds were indeed magical. The rewards were very attractive, but the effects on a Demon Suiter werent that great. In the end, the combat strength of the Demon Suiter depended on the Demon Suit and their technique. From Li Xius point of view, perhaps the bizarre admission ticket was the reason his friend had exhorted him to become a trial-taker. However, Li Xiu still hadnt completely figured out where the admission ticket led. He only knew that using the blood-patterned revolver to hit the metal sarcophagus gave him something. At present, he knew that he could obtain Demon Cores and a skill ring. Li Xiu hadnt used the skill ring yet. It was unknown what level it was. Although the three Demon Cores hadnt been appraised, with Li Xius experience, the levels of the three Demon Cores were different. One of the Demon Cores energy was clearly low-a D-class at best. It might even be an E-class. The remaining two could be anything from a B-class to an S-class. He would only know after appraising them. If the drop of the Demon Cores was random, and it was possible for any Demon Core class to drop, then what about the skill ring? If the skill ring was also random, it meant that as long as one was lucky enough or fired enough shots, one could obtain many skill rings, even S-class skill rings. Apart from the Demon Core and skill ring, was there anything else? All these questions attracted Li Xiu, making him want to continue exploring. Unfortunately, he couldnt go to the Sea and Sky Trials for the time being, but that didnt matter. Li Xius physique wasnt strong enough to pick up the blood-patterned revolver. He wouldnt be able to deliver more than a few shots using self-mutilation. He might even permanently injure himself. It wasnt worth it to exchange his life for a reward. Li Xiu originally planned on raising his physique before finding an opportunity to head to the Sea and Sky Trials. Now that he heard that someone could obtain the talent to become a Demon Suiter in the trial grounds, Li Xiu was extremely intrigued. Old Luo, what are the conditions to join your soccer league? Li Xiu asked. There arent any conditions. Anyone can participate. Outsiders are fine as long as a team is willing to hire you. Old Luo lowered his voice mysteriously and said, Have you played soccer before? If you have, you can give it a try. Even if you cant become a noble Demon Suiter, its not bad to get some benefits from taking the trial and training your body. My neighbor, Old Wang, has his body looking good after participating in a trial. His wife moans until midnight every day. The effects are even stronger than some aphrodisiacs Ive played a few times. I should be alright. Li Xiu wasnt interested in hearing him continue. He hurriedly sent him away. You want to join the Berserker Ball trial grounds? Bandit asked Li Xiu. She didnt understand why Li Xiu would take the risk to participate in the trials when he was already such a powerful Demon Suiter. This is the Southern Cross Federation. Its too far from Gods Space City. Furthermore, this place isnt connected to Space City, nor are there any high-speed trains or anything like that. Even the roads have long been destroyed by the Demon Spirits. If you want to meet God, we can only cross the land ourselves. Before that, I have to think of a way to obtain a high-level Demon Suit. Otherwise, if we encounter a Demon Spirit hidden in no mans land, the two of us will probably die, Li Xiu explained. What has this got to do with you going to the Berserker Ball trial grounds? The Demon Cores we brought from the base arent enough for you to buy a Demon Suit? If you dont have enough, I can give you everything here. Bandit placed her bag of Demon Cores in front of Li Xiu. Its not a problem of Demon Cores. Let me give you an example. If an ordinary person suddenly goes to someone and says that they want to buy a nuclear bomb, do you think they will sell it to you? Its the same for a Demon Suit, especially a high-level one. Its not something that can be bought with money. You need to do it through special channels, Li Xiu explained patiently. If its really as Old Luo said, theres a reward for becoming a Demon Suiter in the Berserker Ball trial grounds. Regardless of whether I can obtain the reward in the end, I can say that Ive obtained the reward of becoming a Demon Suiter and awakened my Demon Suiter talent. Even if Tyros castellan doesnt reward me with a Demon Suit, I can legally buy a Demon Suit from him. Bandit understood the situation and nodded. What if Tyros castellan doesnt sell it to you? Even if he doesnt sell it, its better to strengthen my body at the trial than waiting for an opportunity here, right? Li Xiu said with a smile. Im going too, Bandit immediately said. Ill go take a look at the situation first. After the meal, Li Xiu went out for a walk. Money talked. Soon, he figured out everything There were a total of twelve soccer teams in Tyro. They were basically controlled by wealthy families. The various interests were not simple. From a simple point of view, the twelve soccer teams were mules for Tyros castellan, but he was also picky with his mules. This was because it was very easy to clear the low-class trials in the Berserker Ball trial grounds. Even if one didnt know soccer, as long as ones physique was good enough, they could easily pass the trial. However, the high-class trials were different. Having physique alone wasnt good enough unless ones physique reached a crazy level. There were very few trial-takers like that. Furthermore, it was impossible to obtain a large number of Demon Cores. Therefore, Tyros castellan needed a large number of trial-takers with good soccer skills to obtain as many high-level Demon Cores as possible. After all, the E-class trial only rewarded E-class Demon Cores. It was the same for the other trial classes. If one wanted high-class Demon Cores, they had to pass the high-class trials. It was a little difficult, but it was easier than killing Demon Spirits. The bosses behind the twelve soccer teams could also obtain quite a number of benefits from it. Therefore, they were doing massive recruitments. They never let go of skilled players. They even established a youth training camp and a soccer training base for children. Chapter 38 - Any Position Will Do Chapter 38 Any Position Will Do What the hell! Li Xiu didnt believe that the trials didnt involve deaths. Even if the trials had been figured out, people would definitely die when participating in the high-class trials. Li Xiu was speaking from experience. One could survive if they did well in anything below C-class; but for trials above C-class, it sometimes wasnt possible. Giving soccer training to people from when they were babies was no different from nurturing a suicide squad. Of course, the background and interests of the twelve soccer teams were more complicated and darker than Li Xiu had learned. Li Xiu was just a passerby and couldnt effect any change. He could only take care of himself. He planned on trying his luck at the nearest soccer team. The soccer teams headquarters was much more dilapidated than Li Xiu had imagined. It was hard to imagine that a soccer team in a city where soccer was so popular didnt even have a professional club building. The field was in a large yard. Many children were leaning over the perimeter walls, watching the players inside train. There was a sign hanging at the entrance saying Berserker Soccer Team. There was a table beside the door with a tattered white cloth hanging in front of it. On it were the words Player Recruitment. Behind the table was a fatty who was almost no different from a ball. He was on his phone with his head lowered. Are you recruiting? Li Xiu walked to the table and asked the fatty. Yes, what position are you good at? The fatty put down his phone and looked up to size up Li Xiu. What positions are there? Li Xiu really didnt know what positions were available in soccer, nor did he know much about them. Are you messing around? You dont even know what the positions are? the fatty said unhappily. What I mean is that I can play any position. What positions are open? Li Xiu didnt want to change teams. Heading for another place was a waste of time. All he could do was squeeze out an explanation. After all, he only wanted to attract the attention of Tyros castellan through the team. Any team worked in facilitating his participation in the trial. You can play any position? Even as a goalie? The fattys tone wasnt too nice as he raised his eyebrows as though he was provoking him. That works too. Li Xiu nodded seriously. He was really good at being a goalie. Ignoring everything else, no one was better at judging trajectories than Li Xiu. As long as the other partys ball wasnt so fast that his body couldnt react in time, it wasnt difficult to block the ball. Alright, come in with me after you finish registering. Lets start with a tryout. The fatty took out a registration form for Li Xiu. It mainly requested his name and hometown. After registering, the fatty only took a glance and didnt ask anything before leading Li Xiu into the yard. Baal, this bro is trying out as a goalie. Test him, the fatty said to a man, who looked like a tank, practicing in the arena. The man was very muscular. Although he wasnt especially tallabout six feet tallhis body was built like a bulls. He resembled a tank when running. Him? Will he do? Baal sized up Li Xiu and tilted his head in disdain. Youll know once you test him, the fatty said with a twitch of his lips. The fatty knew very well that not anyone could be a goalie. Being a goalie wasnt too dangerous in the past, but now, there were countless trial-takers whose bodies had been strengthened multiple times. There were even skill-capable trial-takers. Who knew what kind of shots they could deliver? There were plenty of cases of goalies being crippled on the field. It was normal for many teams to change about five goalkeepers through a season. If one wasnt a trial-taker with an especially high level of body strengthening, playing the position of goalie was no different from having a death wish. Fatty mistook Li Xius words for arrogance and sincerely wanted to teach him a lesson. Therefore, he got the extremely strong Baal to test him. If Baal kicked the ball from a sufficiently close distance, it could kill. In a past competition, Baal had fractured a goalies sternum that resulted in his heart being punctured. The goalie died on the spot. Li Xiu changed into soccer attire and wore gloves and stood at the goalies position. Baal placed the ball at the penalty spot. The fatty stood outside the field and didnt stop him. He was prepared for a good show. Seeing Li Xiu stand in front of the goal in preparation to pounce, the fatty thought to himself, At such a close distance, its fine if you cant catch the ball. If you really do, Im afraid youll end up crippled even if you survive. The players who were practicing gathered around, and one of them said to him with a smile, Fatty, who is this person? You got Baal to test him with a penalty kick? Do you want him dead? The fatty curled his lips and said, Dont spout nonsense. How is this taking his life? He said that he can play any position, and it doesnt matter how the ball is delivered. Nice, he sure sounds arrogant. The players laughed. Those who dared to say that were either dreaming or crazy. Bam! As they were conversing, Baal did a slight dash before kicking the ball. He kicked without any technique; the ball shot straight into Li Xius arms as it tore through the air and produced a hum. Its strength made one shudder. At such a close distance and at such speeds, it was probably too late to dodge. Li Xiu had no intention of dodging as he used both hands to punch the ball out of the goal. Very strong! Although he had used great strength to punch the soccer ball, Li Xiu still felt his hands go numb from the impact. Not bad! When a player sitting on the bench spoke, all the players looked at him. It was quite rare to be praised by this person. This was because this person was Kunshatthe man who had become a Demon Suiter through the Berserker trial had the double status of being the number one Demon Suiter and number one player in Tyro. Such a person no longer needed to participate in soccer matches. However, Kunsha was different from those who wanted to use soccer to gain fame and fortune. He loved soccer, so even though he had become the number one Demon Suiter in Tyro, he still often participated in soccer matches. Baal, give it a few good shots. Dont mess around. When the fatty heard Kunsha say that, he hurriedly shouted at Baal. Baal cracked a smile at the fatty, but it was somewhat warped. He replied strangely, Am I not doing a good job? Oh no, Baals old habits are acting up again. Should we stop him? the fatty asked Kunsha. Although he was the manager of the team, he could only manage ordinary players. He could only defer to bigwigs like Kunsha. Theres no need. Baal wont be able to kill him, Kunsha said casually as he leaned back and covered his face with a towel. Cant kill him? Although it was Kunsha who said that, the fatty and the other players doubted him. They knew Baals strength very well, especially when Baal wore that expression. Those who were familiar with him knew that his crazy old habits were acting up again. Baal was a horror when that happened. Chapter 39 - Razor Ball Chapter 39 Razor Ball Baals tank-like body moved. The agility he displayed seemed incongruent with his body. His entire body leaned to the side as he placed all his weight on his left leg. He raised his right leg to its limits, fully pulling open the distance between his instep and the ball. Bam! The moment the back of his foot touched the ball, the soccer ball shot straight at Li Xiu like a cannonball. The ball flew at a low altitude. Wherever it passed, the grass on the ground was swept to the sides by the airflow, instantly reaching Li Xius abdomen. It was impossible to punch a ball at this height, and Li Xiu no longer had the time to dodge. Just as Fatty was about to call for a medic, he saw Li Xiu suddenly clasp his hands together and smash them at the soccer ball in front of him like a sledgehammer. The soccer ball changed its trajectory and bounced off the ground. Quick reaction. Unfortunately, his strength is lacking. The fatty was somewhat surprised. Not anyone could take on a shot like Baals. It was already pretty good that Li Xiu could handle the ball in such a way. However, Baals eyes became even more fervent. He took another ball and placed it at the penalty spot. Baal, dont do anything rash The fatty knew what Baal was up to and hurriedly stopped him. Li Xius performance was already rather outstanding. Although his physique was still lacking as a goalie, he could still be used as a substitute. If Baal really crippled him, not only would there be one less player to make him money, but it would also be troublesome. After all, there were laws in Tyro. It was impossible for someone to kill or cripple someone in public without repercussions. However, Baal didnt care at all. He ignored the fatty and raised his leg to strike the soccer ball again. This kick was even more violent. Furthermore, the mark of a skill lit up on his ring finger as circles of blood patterns appeared on his thumb. Shoosh! The soccer ball spun violently as it streaked across space like a raging beam, heading straight for Li Xiu. Dodge The fatty shouted at Li Xiu. He knew very well how terrifying Baals shot was. However, Li Xiu had no intention of dodging. He extended his hands and prepared to punch the ball out again. However, the moment his hands touched the ball, he immediately knew that something was amiss. The ball spun violently. Not only did it dissipate the force he delivered, but it also swept down and headed straight for Li Xius face. Sh*t. Im going to get an earful from the boss again! The fatty couldnt help but cover his face, unwilling to see Li Xius tragic state. Baals skill was a B-class Razor Ball. In general, a Razor Ball was actually a screw shot. However, the balls speed and arc were even more exaggerated than ordinary screw shots. Baals Razor Ball was a lethal skill. The soccer ball spun forward at high speeds. Once it encountered a force, it would spin downwards. With the way Li Xiu delivered his punch, the ball would head straight for his face. The friction produced would grind his face apart when the spinning ball smashed into his face. A goalies face was once mangled by Baals Razor Ball during a soccer league in Tyro. His nose and brow bones were flattened, and his eyes were destroyed. Not only was his career ruined, but he also became a disfigured blind man. He even suffered from mental problems due to the intense concussion. Bam! The sound of the soccer ball colliding sounded. The fatty had no choice but to lower his hand. He was already prepared to run over and deal with the subsequent mess. However, just as he took a step, he was stunned. This was because Li Xiu was standing in front of the goal while the soccer ball that Baal had shot out bounced out of the penalty box. Whats going on? the fat man asked in disbelief. He couldnt believe that Li Xiu had thrown out Baals Razor Ball without suffering any injuries. Fatty, where did you find him? This fellow is impressive! To be able to resolve Baals Razor Ball like that, interesting. Such standards are much better than that fellow from before. Arent we lacking a suitable goalie? I think hes not bad. The players discussed spiritedly, looking very satisfied with Li Xius performance. Whats going on? What happened? The fatty wore a puzzled expression. He regretted not watching the ball and was depressed. Baal wanted to shoot again, but the fatty couldnt care less. He rushed over to stop him. Baal, stop fooling around. This is our own goalie. If you want to act up, cripple another teams goalie in the arena, the fatty said as he pulled Baal back. Humph. Baal glared at Li Xiu before turning to walk towards the resting area. Unsatisfied? Then continue shooting until youre satisfied, Li Xiu suddenly said to Baal. Li Xiu had come here to attract the attention of Tyros castellan as quickly as possible. He wasnt here to silently make a fortune, so he couldnt keep a low profile. He had to be high-profile, and the higher, the better. When Baal heard Li Xius words, he turned around and stood in the penalty spot again without a word. The fatty failed to stop him and was pushed away by Baal. Baal kicked the ball at Li Xiu again. It was still a Razor Ball. This time, the fatty finally saw how Li Xiu threw out the Razor Ball. He punched the spinning soccer ball from below as it smashed towards his face. At that moment, Li Xiu suddenly lowered his head and leaped forward. His legs swung up like a scorpions tail. The Razor Ball moved along his back and was kicked by his scorpion-like legs, before being sent flying Holy sh*t, thats possible? The fattys mouth gaped open for a long time. Baal was already enraged. He pulled a basket of training balls over and shot them at Li Xiu one after another. However, the duration of B-class skills was limited. After kicking out a few Razor Balls, he could only kick out ordinary, powerful shots. Li Xiu threw Baals shot out again and again. Towards the end, Baal no longer aimed the ball at him. Instead, he tried scoring goals. At such a close distance, the chances of a penalty shot entering were much higher than the chances of being thrown out. However, no matter how Baal kicked, Li Xiu could save the ball. Everyone was dumbfounded. They had never seen such a goalie before. There were many good goalies in the league. It wasnt like there werent any goalies who could counter Baal. However, those goalies had one thing in common-their physiques were stronger than Baals, or they had special trial skills. Li Xius physique was clearly inferior to Baals, and he didnt use any skills; yet he could save the balls that Baal shot at close range. It was unprecedented. The fatty suddenly realized that he had found a treasure. Chapter 40 - Earning His Place Chapter 40 Earning His Place Baal stood in front of the goal, panting as he looked at Li Xiu. The ruthlessness and frenzy in his eyes had decreased significantly. At that moment, Li Xiu seemed much taller than before. He stood in front of the goal like a mountain. Anymore? Li Xiu stood in front of the goal and asked Baal calmly. Baals pupils constricted and the corners of his eyes twitched. Just as Fatty and company thought that Baal was about to fly into a rage and directly engage in a real-life duel, Baal suddenly grinned. Im done. Youre a f*cking monster. With that said, Baal turned around and walked towards the resting area without looking back. Bro, come, come with me. Lets go to my office and talk about the contract The fatty warmly pulled Li Xiu inside. The other team members looked at Li Xiu with curiosity. Kunsha was lying on a bench in the resting area with a towel covering his face as though he had long fallen asleep. Boss, Ive found a treasure. We have our starting goalie. The fatty pushed open the door and rushed into his bosss office excitedly. He suddenly realized that there were two other people in the office. He hurriedly stood at attention and restrained the excitement on his face like an obedient child. Shachu frowned, but she didnt reprimand the fatty. She only said to him, This is Pason and his manager, Miss Zheng. In the future, Pason will be our teams starting goalie. I expect good teamwork from you guys. Goalie? The fatty was taken aback as he sized up the man and woman sitting on the sofa. The woman was very beautiful. She had the classic appearance of a Tyroian. Her facial features were rather well-defined and not too soft. The man also looked like the typical Tyroian a resolute and ferocious look. He was tall but not fat. He looked like he was capable of delivering intense bursts of strength. Shachu, although we are good friends, friendship is one thing, but soccer is another. If there are other choices for the Berserkers goalie position, Pason can earn his place. Whoever is more suitable for this position will be the starter, Zheng Xiu said domineeringly. Theres no need. I know Pasons strength very well. Since hes willing to join my team, the position of starting goalie is naturally his, said Shachu indifferently. Boss, Miss Zheng has good intentions. Why dont we let them give it a try? the fatty whispered. He didnt know the origins of this Pason and Miss Zheng, but he thought highly of Li Xiu. Li Xius performance today had completely won him over. If it were any other time, he definitely wouldnt say no to Shachu, but today, he really wanted to keep Li Xiu on the team. This was because Li Xiu had made it very clear that if he wanted him to join the team, he had to be in the starting lineup. Otherwise, there was no room for negotiation. Shachu glanced at the fatty in surprise. This fellow was usually a wolf in sheeps clothing and never went against her wishes. Was Today, he was actually speaking up for an uncontracted newcomer. Furthermore, she had already said that she wanted Pason to be the starting goalie. It surprised Shachu. Fair competition. Thats very reasonable, Zheng Xiu raised her eyebrows and said indifferently. Whos the goalie you want to sign? Shachu asked after some thought. His name is Li Xiu, a foreigner who just arrived in Tyro, the fatty hurriedly said. Hows the strengthening of his body? What trial skills does he have? Shachu asked again. His body is about the same as an ordinary players, but his technique is amazing. Hes ridiculously good. In fact, Fatty had already embellished Li Xius physique. Li Xius physique was only considered below average among ordinary players. When Zheng Xiu heard the fatty say that, she laughed. Its good to be skilled, but are you sure that an ordinary players physique can keep up? Well How could Fatty be sure? Li Xius technique was good, but he knew what his team was up against in the league. There were people who were even more ferocious than Baal. Fatty couldnt guarantee that Li Xiu could last a season with his physique. How about this? Sign the person you choose as a substitute for Pason, said Shachu. He said that if I want to sign a contract with him, I have to give him the starting position, the fatty said with a bitter smile. He really wanted to sign Li Xiu, but he didnt want to pay any price for him. Shachu, dont make things difficult for yourself. How about this? Let the two of them give it a try and decide who shall be the starter. Zheng Xiu had absolute confidence in Pason. Alright, lets just treat it as getting Pason to meet the other players on the team. After Shachu said that, she said to the fatty, Arrange for a test for that person with Pason. The fatty gaped, at a loss for words. He eventually turned around and went out to make arrangements. Shachu, dont take this badly, but its no wonder your teams results havent been spectacular recently. Look at who you have. You cant keep coddling them. You clearly have someone as good as Kunsha. Would the team be in such a situation if you hadnt put in more effort? Zheng Xiu said with a smile. They are all old players left behind by my father. We owe them something, Shachu said indifferently. You are just too sentimental, Zheng Xiu said with a smile. Lets go. Let Pason meet everyone. Kunsha is also here today. Pason, you should want to meet him, right? Shachu stood up and said. Upon hearing Kunshas name, Pasons eyes lit up as he stood up. Shachu was more than 1.7 meters tall and wasnt short. Pason was a head taller than her and looked extremely oppressive. When the fatty returned to his office, Li Xiu was sitting in a chair waiting for him. Ahem, Bro, something cropped up. I didnt know that the boss had found a goalie. Im afraid it will be a little troublesome this time. The fatty scratched his head in embarrassment. In that case, Ill leave. When Li Xiu heard that the boss had already found someone, he knew that there was no chance. He got up and prepared to leave. Dont, dont, dont. Thats not what I mean. I like you, but I cant do anything when its a person the boss got. Our boss wants you to be tested with that Pason. Shell come personally to see whos more suitable to be the starter. The fatty hurriedly pulled Li Xiu back. Another test? Li Xiu frowned slightly. Thats right. One more test. I guarantee that as long as you perform well enough this time, the starting spot will definitely be yours. The fatty started drawing pretty pictures of the future. Since Im already here, lets give it another try. Li Xiu didnt mind. It would still take time to take the test with other teams. Furthermore, being able to perform in front of the teams boss was the best outcome for Li Xiu. He followed the fatty back to the field, but to his surprise, the field was in an uproar. Thats Pason, right? Many of the team members pointed at Pason, who was standing in front of Kunsha.