Chapter 144: Trial Rewards, the King's Method [Black Mist Legion]

Unfortunately, once the trial began, the four bronze doors of the Pyramid were completely sealed, preventing any telepathic communication with the Ice Nether Crow.

Otherwise, Chen Mo would certainly have let the Ice Nether Crow choose to give up outright.

The Ice Nether Crow's own value far exceeds the reward obtained by passing the trial.

Moreover, after clearing the fourth trial, the Ice Nether Crow had already helped him win the gamble!

That result is already quite good.

There's no need to push so hard.

The scattered bones, drawn by the Soul Fire, slowly drifted closer.

However, on the eve of reassembly, the relentless assault of the Black Mist Giant Python caused countless cracks to appear on all the bones.

Crack!

Finally, accompanied by a series of crisp shattering sounds, every bone—including the skull—broke apart! Even with the Gluttonous Lion+ buff, after two revivals the Ice Nether Crow's bones had reached their limit!

Having lost its bone, the Soul Fire carrier, the Ice Nether Crow felt its vitality draining away, its Soul Fire gradually dimming.

This is the true taste of death.

Yet its consciousness grew ever calmer.

"Is it over?"

"No! As long as we successfully unleash Bone Reassembly, we can reverse the situation!"

The Ice Nether Crow thought to itself, its mind flashing with countless images like a rapid tour.

It had originally been an ordinary crow; after its spiritual energy revived, it successfully awakened, gaining spiritual intellect, yet remained weak.

During a hunt, it was targeted by a mutated blue hawk.

It should have died there.

Fortunately, at the last moment, Lord Ice Sparrow appeared, rescued it, and thereafter it earned the Lion King's favor and training, launching a crow life that seemed overpowered!

It is now the commander of the First Legion of the Undead Army of the Ice Lion Kingdom!

It won't fall easily!

It will give its all to repay Lord Ice Sparrow's lifesaving grace and the Lion King's mentorship! Under the relentless onslaught of Black Mist Giant Snakes, the Ice Nether Crow's Soul Fire burned ever more fiercely.

Seeing this seemingly miraculous scene, the Undead Giant Snakes were stunned.

Its body may be shattered, but its will remains.

Relying on its unyielding will, the Ice Nether Crow still succeeded in activating Bone Reassembly.

The bone fragments, nearly reduced to powder, rapidly coalesced under the pull of the Soul Fire.

In the end, the Ice Nether Crow miraculously completed its resurrection! "Crow!"

After reviving, the Ice Nether Crow released the Song of Death again, its sharp, piercing caw echoing through the hollow Pyramid.

The shockwave empowered by Roaring Lion slowed the Black Mist Giant Python's attack rhythm while continuing to apply the curse's power.

After dying three times in succession, the Soul Fire in the Ice Nether Crow's eye sockets had grown considerably dimmer.

More importantly, its bones had become increasingly fragile, requiring a long time for full recovery! It could no longer withstand the Black Mist breath assaults of three Black Mist Giant Snakes!

No chance of revival! No margin for error either! "Crow!"

Finally, the eight‑minute curse duration elapsed.

The Ice Nether Crow chose to detonate the curse; the powerful curse energy erupted on one Black Mist Giant Python, instantly slaying it!

Immediately after, the Ice Nether Crow continued to unleash Death Eye Curse, naturally targeting another Black Mist Giant Python.

The remaining two Black Mist Giant Pythons naturally launched another fierce assault.

Through the increasingly intense combat, the Ice Nether Crow gradually adapted to the Black Mist Giant Python's attack patterns and rhythm, handling them with growing ease.

Moreover, with one Black Mist Giant Python gone, the pressure on the Ice Nether Crow dropped sharply.

This time, the Ice Nether Crow never revived, remaining merely grievously wounded, yet it endured for eight minutes! The Death Eye Curse erupted again, and another Black Mist Giant Python fell.

The last remaining Black Mist Giant Python was naturally no match for the Ice Nether Crow.

Using its evasive movement, it was again slain instantly by the Ice Nether Crow's curse!

Fifth trial cleared!

"They actually cleared the fifth trial"

Outside, whether the Ghostly Jackal, the Undead Giant Snakes—those undead leaders—or Chen Mo and the transcendent beings of the Ice Lion Kingdom, all were moved by the Ice Nether Crow's feat.

Even the Sphinx, the lion‑bodied, human‑faced beast silently watching the "gamble," felt a hint of surprise.

The combat power this crow displayed, though still short of that of divine offspring, showed an unyielding will sufficient to offset its innate gap.

With a bit of training, it should be able to pass the bronze-level trial and become a Chosen of the Gods.

The future looks promising!

Who would have thought this Undead Giant Lion not only possessed exaggerated strength, but also had such a fierce general at its side!

Within the Pyramid, the Black Mist quickly coalesced, undergoing another transformation.

All beings were curious about the sixth trial's challenge. The fifth trial's three Black Abyss Giant Pythons were already extremely hard to defeat; the sixth trial shouldn't involve nine Black Abyss Giant Pythons, right!?

On the eve of the sixth trial's start, the Ice Nether Crow felt its internal spiritual power revive once more, its life tier returning to that of a High‑Lord.

The rule power that suppressed its transcendent rank vanished completely!

And before it, all the Black Mist within the Pyramid gathered together.

In the end it turned into a colossal python over a hundred meters long, covered in golden scales! Every scale on its body was vivid, golden flames blazing in its pupils as if to incinerate everything in the world.

This was no ordinary golden python, but the phantom of the Pyramid's ruler!

Apus! "Sss!"

The moment the golden python appeared, all the Undead Giant Snakes outside bowed in reverence; it was the deity they worshipped.

Who would have thought the final stage of Apus's trial was Apus's own phantom!

After the Golden Giant Python formed, it immediately launched an attack.

Its speed was extreme; Frost Dark Crow could not even catch a glimpse of it.

It is hard to imagine such a massive body possessing extraordinary agility.

Boom! Frost Dark Crow let out a screech, simultaneously dashing at top speed to dodge, yet it was still struck straight by the Golden Giant Python.

After several revivals, the already somewhat "osteoporotic" Frost Dark Crow was instantly shattered by the collision, falling into a near‑death state.

Realizing there was no chance of defeating the Golden Giant Python before it, Frost Dark Crow mentally chose to abandon the trial.

As it stands now, it is still no match for that Golden Giant Python.

When Frost Dark Crow gave up, strands of black mist rolled toward it from all sides, surging into its body.

Just like the earlier Undead Giant Snake, Frost Dark Crow's injuries instantly healed completely.

This is not a healing ability of any undead type.

It is the power of the Rules.

Only totem‑grade sentient beings can possibly wield this ability.

The inner world of the Pyramid once again fell silent, and Frost Dark Crow's gaze turned toward the location of the Golden Altar.

In front of the Golden Statue's altar appeared a black beast bone inscribed with mysterious runes. This is the reward for passing the Fifth Trial.

"Crow!?!"

Frost Dark Crow observed for a moment, unable to comprehend what it was, then looked around, found no other rewards, and flew out of the Pyramid carrying the black beast bone.

Outside the Pyramid, countless undead beings stared at Frost Dark Crow, the soul‑flames in their eye sockets flickering, their gazes showing admiration.

It is not only Frost Dark Crow's strength, but also its displayed combat skill and astonishing will!

"Crow!" (Your Majesty, I gave it my all, Crow!) Frost Dark Crow still felt a bit regretful for not clearing it in a single run.

Otherwise, the expressions of these Pyramid "natives" would surely have been even more spectacular!

"That's already quite good. Crow, you don't need to fight so desperately next time; for the kingdom, your life is more precious."

Chen Mo used telepathy and said gently.

"Crow!"

Frost Dark Crow nodded seriously.

He felt a warm sensation inside.

He didn't expect His Majesty the Lion King to value him so much! "Crow!?" (Your Majesty, what is this beast bone?)

Frost Dark Crow recalled his "loot", hurriedly grasped the black beast bone with his claws and placed it before Chen Mo.

"This beast bone carries an undead‑type spell; if you infuse death energy into it, you can learn the spell."

Seeing the runes, Chen Mo recognized what it was.

He didn't expect the Fifth Trial reward to be an undead spell.

He also didn't know what rank the spell was or what effects it had.

"Crow!" (Your Majesty, for you!)

Seeing the silver soul‑flame flickering in the eye sockets of the undead giant lion, Frost Dark Crow sensed that Your Majesty seemed somewhat interested in the black beast bone.

Without much thought, he decided to present the beast bone to Your Majesty.

After all, Your Majesty has now become an undead being as well, and can likewise learn undead spells.

Chen Mo nodded.

He was somewhat curious about the spell's effect.

Moreover, after mastering it, with the title Teach Lion+, he can more easily have Frost Dark Crow and other undead leaders learn the spell.

Seeing Frost Dark Crow's offering, the Frost Lion nearby seemed thoughtful.

"Frost Dark Crow, you should become the Legion Commander of the Undead Legion!" Chen Mo touched the beast bone and began to learn.

Immediately, death energy surged within him, sketching over twenty black spirit sigils in the void, successfully releasing the spell.

As the sigils formed, black mist swirled before the undead giant lion; the death energy coalesced into a black‑mist giant lion over 50 meters long!

This black‑mist giant lion resembled Chen Mo somewhat, though vastly larger, exuding a clear King‑tier high‑rank aura! The spell recorded on the beast bone is "Black Mist Legion," a King‑tier spell.

Since spells have ranks, this knowledge came to Chen Mo after he advanced to the King Realm and inherited the Suanni bloodline.

A spell's rank mirrors the Transcendent ranks, divided into Transcendent, Lord, King, Heavenly Disaster…

Earning a King‑tier spell as the Fifth Trial reward is already quite good.

It seems it's not Master Apus being stingy, but rather the Undead Giant Snake being too weak.

The effect of "Black Mist Legion" is to condense death energy into one or multiple combat‑capable black‑mist beasts.

A black‑mist beast can persist for a long time, until the death energy is exhausted.

Chen Mo's current limit allows him to create King‑tier high‑combat‑power black‑mist giant lions, though the consumption is considerable.

Such a black‑mist giant lion would consume half of his death energy.

However, the Lying Flat Lion grants Chen Mo an ultra‑strong mana‑recovery ability, so this is no problem.

This means that with abundant death energy, Chen Mo can mass‑produce King‑tier high‑level black‑mist giant lions!

Although these black‑mist giant lions can only understand the simplest commands and lack true self‑awareness, they are nonetheless King‑tier high‑level entities!

They can crush the vast majority of King‑tier mid‑rank and lower beings.

"Crow!" (Your Majesty is mighty!) "Roar!"

Seeing the terrifyingly imposing black‑mist giant lion, the Ice Lion clan and the Undead Legion bowed in worship.

In terms of size, this black‑mist giant lion even exerts a greater impact than Chen Mo's own lion!

Chen Mo touched the beast bone again, releasing "Black Mist Legion" while memorizing the flow of death energy.

"Black Mist Legion" is not difficult to release; with his current comprehension and insight, he mastered it after only two attempts.

After completely mastering the 【Black Mist Legion】, Chen Mo gazed toward the Spectral Hound and other undead leaders.

Immediately, his voice echoed in the minds of these undead leaders——

"You lost."

"Now, you are all my clan."

"Howl!" (Your Majesty, it is an honor to become your retainers; we wish to crush all enemies for you.) The Spectral Hound leader first knelt on one knee and said respectfully.

"Hiss!" (We accept the loss, Your Majesty; we also wish to submit to you!) The Undead Giant Snake leader likewise bowed his head to the ground.

Soon, the undead creatures emerging from the Bronze Pyramid also knelt down one after another, choosing to submit.

Watching the excitement and reverence shining from the souls' fire of the Spectral Hound leader and other undead beings, Chen Mo was stunned for a moment.

What's with the eagerness and anticipation in your eyes?

Weren't you unwilling to submit to the Ice Lion Kingdom before? How did you suddenly change your attitude?

I still liked your previous unruly and untamed appearance.

"Spectral Hound, I appoint you as commander of the Undead First Legion Spectral Wolf Legion."

"Undead Giant Snake, you and the Undead Snake Legion are the Second Legion."

Chen Mo did not make things difficult for these undead creatures; he simply organized them by clan into ten undead legions.

"Crow?"

The Nether Ice Crow was somewhat doubtful.

"Am I not the commander of the First Legion?" At this moment it heard Chen Mo speak again:

"From now on, you all fall under the jurisdiction of the Undead Legion commander, the Nether Ice Crow."

Moreover, you are now members of the Ice Lion Kingdom. Regarding the Ice Lion Kingdom's statutes, you may consult the Nether Ice Crow.

Hearing this, the Nether Ice Crow stared blankly for a second.

"I've been promoted again and again!? And all these undead creatures are now my soldiers!?" In an instant, it felt delighted yet also felt immense pressure.

"I must not betray Your Majesty's trust!"

Seeing that almost all undead creatures had submitted to the Undead Giant Lion, the Sphinx, who had been silently observing from afar, felt a bit gloomy inside.

These undead creatures are the retinues left by the rulers from countless ages ago, waiting for the spiritual energy to revive, to select the strongest among them and become the God's Chosen.

As a result, they have all now been subdued by this external Undead Giant Lion! (End of chapter)