Chapter 142: Raven Feather Slash, Monster‑Like Power! (2‑in‑1)

The trial continues.

The black mist churns, and in the blink of an eye it coalesces into three low‑rank lordly Black Mist Giant Snakes.

The moment they form, they launch a fierce attack on the Death Spirit Giant Snake.

The second‑stage trial is to defeat three Black Mist Giant Snakes! Faced with their encirclement, the Death Spirit Giant Snake's soul fire flickers, its gaze solemn.

Compared with its earlier ease, the Death Spirit Giant Snake now looks slightly flustered.

It was struck by the Black Mist Giant Snakes several times.

But in the end it miraculously defeated all three Black Mist Giant Snakes without injury.

With almost no time to rest, the third‑stage trial arrives in quick succession!

This time, nine Black Mist Giant Snakes are born from the black mist!

They all charge at the Death Spirit Giant Snake, beginning close‑quarters melee.

Close combat ensues.

For the Death Spirit Giant Snake, the interior of the Bronze Pyramid feels cramped; when the number of opponents spikes to nine, there is little room to evade.

After two rounds of fighting, several of the Death Spirit Giant Snake's bone segments are battered by the Black Mist Giant Snakes' tails, death‑bitten, leaving cracks.

Under the coordinated assault of the nine Black Mist Giant Snakes, the Death Spirit Giant Snake struggles noticeably! Clearly, it is nearing its limit.

Boom! Boom! One of the Black Mist Giant Snakes turns into black mist, rushing toward the Death Spirit Giant Snake to tear at it.

After dodging, the Death Spirit Giant Snake spins, accelerates, death aura condensing between its teeth, and snaps back at the Black Mist Giant Snake.

At the same time.

Four other Black Mist Giant Snakes launch simultaneous attacks from its front, back, left and right.

Facing the four attacks, the Death Spirit Giant Snake does not dodge, but continues its fierce assault.

The Black Mist Giant Snake is bitten cleanly in two, and the fracture harbors death aura from the bite, preventing its recovery.

The Death Spirit Giant Snake also feels the pain.

The attacks of the other four Black Mist Giant Snakes slam solidly onto its body.

Six bone segments shatter.

At the cost of its own severe injury, it forcibly kills one Black Mist Giant Python.

Seeing this, both the Death Spirit Giant Snake clan and other undead creatures sense that the Death Spirit Giant Snake leader may have to stop here.

Immediately after, the Death Spirit Giant Snake repeats its old trick; this time it shatters its entire skeleton, paying with death, and forcibly replaces another Black Mist Giant Python.

Of course, the Death Spirit Giant Snake does not truly die.

Guided by the eerie blue soul fire, the shattered bones begin to reconsolidate.

The vast majority of undead beings possess abilities such as "Resurrection" and "Bone Reassembly".

However, during the "Resurrection" process, they are usually extremely vulnerable.

These Black Mist Giant Pythons lack independent intelligence, but combat instinct makes them launch a simultaneous attack at this moment! Yet the shattered bones of the Death Spirit Giant Snake oddly emit a eerie blue gas, enveloping a radius of several dozen meters.

When the Black Mist Giant Python contacts the gas, it is as if struck by strong acid, its black‑mist body continuously corroded!

In an instant, the five Black Mist Giant Snakes that launched the first attack all die! 【Corrupt Toxic Mist】

The Death Spirit Giant Snake leader's unique ability releases eerie blue toxic mist from its bones when it "Resurrects", preventing interference with its own "Resurrection".

This eerie blue toxic mist possesses the power to corrode spirit and soul; although the Black Mist Giant Snakes are wholly formed from death energy, the Corrupt Toxic Mist, like poison of the ankle bone, replaces the original black mist, becoming part of their bodies!

Normally, intelligent beings that detect the toxic mist will not approach lightly, opting instead to attack from range.

But these Black Mist Giant Snakes have no brains.

After the Death Spirit Giant Snake's bones reconsolidate, the remaining two Black Mist Giant Snakes are naturally no match.

The third‑stage trial is successfully passed.

At this point, the black mist inside the Pyramid deepens in color and quickly gathers together.

Soon, a pair of blood‑red eyes suddenly appear within the black mist.

The black mist forms a giant python over 50 meters long!

It is not only five times larger than the previous Black Mist Giant Snakes, but its body bears scales and patterns, making it appear far more lifelike, as if a truly intelligent transcendent being! The moment it is born, the Black Mist Giant Python initiates an attack, spewing clouds of toxic mist from its mouth to continuously block the Death Spirit Giant Snake's position.

The Death Spirit Giant Snake seeks a chance to counterattack, but the disparity in strength is too great.

After only two minutes of holding on, the Death Spirit Giant Snake is struck by a tail swipe from the Black Mist Giant Python, slammed hard onto the ground, and falls into a near‑death state.

"Sss!" (I surrender!)

Seeing the Black Mist Giant Python still attacking, the near‑dying Death Spirit Giant Snake hurriedly uses its soul fire to convey a surrendering thought.

The Black Mist Giant Python vanishes instantly, and at the same time the black mist enveloping the entire interior of the Pyramid dissipates, restoring the scene to how it was before the trial began.

Simultaneously, waves of black mist surge into the Death Spirit Giant Snake's body.

In the blink of an eye, the Death Spirit Giant Snake completes its resurrection, its injuries fully healed.

Every being that participates in the trial receives healing after it ends.

In front of the golden giant snake statue, a "Black Apple" appears.

Clearly, this is the reward for passing the trial.

【Corrupt Dark Fruit】

【First‑Tier Divine Medicine】

【After consumption, there is a certain chance to transform a being into an undead creature while retaining its pre‑death soul and consciousness】

【After consumption, a transcendent undead creature's internal undead power receives a slight boost】

From Chen Mo's perspective, information about the "Black Apple" quickly floats beside it.

"After passing the three‑stage trial, they only gave a First‑Tier Divine Medicine?"

Seeing that the Death Spirit Giant Snake leader, after clearing the three stages, only received a single First‑Tier Divine Medicine, Chen Mo feels that the giant snake ruler named Apus is being rather stingy.

The stone gate clearly said that passing the trial would grant abundant rewards, but now it seems that's all there is.

Of course, it could also be that this undead giant snake is too weak; the first three trial stages aren't very difficult, so the rewards are naturally modest.

After completing all the trials, there might be a decent reward.

"Sss!"

Regarding its trial results, the undead giant snake is still very satisfied.

The bronze‑pyramid‑level Divine Selection trial is extremely difficult; it has just revived, making it almost impossible to clear it immediately.

Reaching the fourth stage on the first attempt is already a very good result.

If it continues to train a bit more, there's a high chance it can become Lord Apus's Divine Selectee.

"Sss!" (Your Highness, it's your clan's turn now.) the undead giant snake said, already eager to see which subordinate the Ice Lion King will send.

It had previously sensed roughly once. It can feel that the soul flames of the undead creatures around the Ice Lion King are very young, all just newly born undead.

Including that Frosty Nether Crow!

Although this Frosty Nether Crow's transcendence level has already reached High Lord, once entering the trial, the trialist's transcendence level will be suppressed!

Such newly born undead creatures lack combat experience and have pitifully few abilities, making it impossible to pass the third stage! That's the main reason they dare to gamble with the Ice Lion King.

"Frosty Nether Crow, you go!"

The Frosty Nether Crow's overall combat power is almost 1.6 times that of the undead giant snake, and it has also completed the self‑discipline challenges 【Roaring Lion】 and 【Glutton Lion+】, so passing the first three stages should be easy.

As for the giant python in the fourth stage, with the Frosty Nether Crow's strength, Chen Mo thinks there's a great chance it can defeat it.

"Crow!" (Alright!) the Frosty Nether Crow is eager to try.

At this moment, the undead giant snake leader slithered its body to the Frosty Nether Crow, speaking in a senior's tone:

"Sss!" (See? This is Lord Apus's blessing! If you achieve the same results as me, you can also receive Lord Apus's blessing.) Seeing the undead giant snake leader's smug expression and the first‑grade divine pill he held, the Frosty Nether Crow couldn't help but show a strange look.

That's it?

When it first served His Majesty as a "guide", His Majesty rewarded it with dozens of Nether Flowers! The effect of those Nether Flowers is almost identical to this first‑grade divine pill! This being named Apus is really stingy, isn't it? And with just this reward, undead giant snake leader, are you satisfied? The Frosty Nether Crow now clearly is a well‑fed man who doesn't know a hungry man's hunger.

Sensing the disdain in the crow's eyes, the undead snake grew restless and said sarcastically, "Looking forward to your performance."

"Crow!"

The Frosty Nether Crow answered, then opened the huge backpack strapped to its back.

Inside the backpack were various mutated spirit herbs and spirit fruits.

There were Soul‑nourishing Grass that speeds up death‑energy recovery, Swift‑speed Fruit that briefly boosts speed, Undead Flowers that enhance necrotic abilities, and several Nether Flowers that raise spiritual power.

The trial rules do not forbid the use of medicines or items.

Since it's not specified, it is allowed.

Of course, this can't be considered cheating.

The Frosty Nether Crow deliberately showed off in front of the undead giant snake, then swallowed all those spirit plants.

After using these spirit plants, the Frosty Nether Crow's overall combat power increased by roughly 1,000 points.

The undead giant snake's eyes went blank, shocked inside.

Isn't this cheating? And cheating openly! Moreover, it suddenly realized...

Why does this Frosty Nether Crow, despite just becoming an undead creature, already have a High Lord transcendence level!

It's all from "drug‑taking"! Does this undead giant lion treat its subordinates so well?

This made the undead giant snake leader a bit envious.

Had I known, I would have surrendered earlier.

"Crow!" (Your Majesty, I'm up!) the Frosty Nether Crow flapped its undead wings, entered Lord Apus's pyramid, then poured its death energy into the golden statue at the very center.

【Apus Trial is about to begin】

【The trial consists of six stages】

【Clear each stage, and you receive a reward】

A dispassionate voice echoed in the Frosty Nether Crow's mind, and it suddenly felt its transcendence level revert to Low Lord status! This place has a rule that, once the trial starts, the trialist's transcendence level is forcibly suppressed to the Low Lord realm.

No wonder the undead giant snake looked smug after defeating a Black Mist Giant Snake earlier.

【Choose whether to enable Recording Mode】

【After enabling Recording Mode, your entire trial will be broadcast live】

That voice sounded again in the Frosty Nether Crow's mind.

"Crow!"

The Frosty Nether Crow chose to enable Recording Mode without hesitation.

Let that stinky snake see its strength! 【The trial is about to start】

【Trialists, please prepare】

Black mist swirled all around.

The first stage trial is the same as what the undead giant snake faced: a low‑rank Lord‑level Black Mist Giant Snake.

"Crow!"

At the moment the Black Mist Giant Snake materialized, the Frosty Nether Crow did not rush to attack.

Instead, it calmly flapped its wings, and a cloud of black ghost mist appeared around it, spreading rapidly outward.

【Dark Mist】

The dark mist can quickly heal undead creatures and accelerate their "revival" speed.

Even if the Frosty Nether Crow's entire skeleton is shattered, it only takes a few dozen seconds to "revive"; with the dark mist, only a few seconds! This mist can last about half an hour, so taking advantage of the simple first‑stage trial, it releases it first.

It is, after all, an intelligent crow!

At this moment, the Black Mist Giant Snake lunged forward, opened its massive gaping maw, and unleashed a black‑mist breath toward the Frosty Nether Crow.

This giant snake formed from condensed death energy also has flight ability! The Netherworld Fire on the Cold Ice Nether Raven's wings rose up, immediately erupting with astonishing speed, instantly rushing out of the attack range of the Death Breath.

After dodging the Death Breath, the Cold Ice Nether Raven's speed did not decrease in the slightest, and it dove straight toward the Black Mist Giant Snake.

【Raven Feather Slash】

This is a technique the Cold Ice Nether Raven has mastered for a long time.

Because, according to the experience of the Nether Giant Snake participating in the trial, there is no rest during the trial, and there is fundamentally no time to recover death energy.

Once the death energy inside is exhausted, one can only engage in close-quarters combat.

Therefore, every strand of death energy inside is extremely precious.

The Raven Feather Slash consumes relatively little death energy, and its damage is not bad.

Facing the Black Mist Giant Snake of the first level, the Cold Ice Nether Raven is confident it can defeat it with its own physique, so it immediately engages in close combat.

The Black Mist Giant Snake tried to dodge by turning sideways, but the Cold Ice Nether Raven's speed was superior.

The wings blazing with Netherworld Fire turned into sharp blades, piercing straight through the Black Mist Giant Snake's body and cleaving it in two!

Although the rules inside the pyramid suppressed the Cold Ice Nether Raven's extraordinary level, they did not suppress its physical prowess! Under the buff of the Gluttonous Lion +, the Cold Ice Nether Raven's physique became terrifyingly strong, not to mention it had also consumed a spirit fruit that increased speed and strength before the trial.

Speed and strength are completely beyond what the Black Mist Giant Snake can match! The pallid fire quickly spread along the broken parts, preventing the Black Mist Giant Snake from recovering in a short time.

Immediately afterward, the Cold Ice Nether Raven used the Raven Feather Slash again.

I slash slash slash slash! Soon, the Black Mist Giant Snake was cut into several sections, completely losing its vitality.

Not far away, the black mist gathered, and three black mist giant snakes' silhouettes appeared in three vortices.

The trial of the second level begins! (End of chapter)