Chapter 148: Tricking the Female War Goddess Into Escaping

Boom! Boom! As the battle progressed, the divine temple continuously let out massive roars.

Although the projection existed, apart from Sphinx, no other living being could capture the figures of Chen Mo and the Sekhmet statue.

In their eyes, they could only see pillars inside the divine temple constantly collapsing; under the impact of powerful forces, these stone pillars made of special materials and incomparably hard were reduced to rubble and dust one after another.

It was as if the entire divine temple was going to be torn down by these two giant beasts! Over the next half hour, the two clashed hundreds of times in succession, and Chen Mo grew more alarmed the more he fought.

Because in this close-combat exchange, he was on the back foot the entire time.

This Sekhmet statue's speed and explosive power far exceeded all the golden statues from before! Its combat style was simple and brutal to the extreme!

No flashy spells or skills—just fist-to-flesh close-combat attacks.

In terms of combat technique and combat awareness, it was even stronger than him!

This Sekhmet statue was an out-and-out body cultivator.

"But it's not a big problem. With my current defensive ability, it cannot deal me a fatal injury."

"This kind of battle will only make my Suanni Battle Method more refined!"

Chen Mo thought to himself.

An opportunity to hone himself like this was extremely rare.

On Blue Star, he had almost no opponents of the same rank.

"It would be great if I could bring this golden statue out."

Chen Mo was even secretly planning in his heart to talk this golden statue into leaving with him.

After all, since he could intercept a portion of the River Styx soil used to shape the golden statue, then theoretically, bringing this lion-headed female war goddess out should also be possible!

That way, he would have a professional "sparring partner"!

In the brief moment his mind wandered, the Sekhmet statue seized the opportunity—a terrifying flame fist lunged straight at Chen Mo's skeletal frame.

The powerful impact blasted Chen Mo flying, slamming him heavily onto the divine temple's floor, creating a deep crater.

The deep red flames carried on the flame fist also swiftly spread along Chen Mo's bone frame to his entire body.

Chen Mo immediately mobilized ice-attribute spiritual power to seal it in ice, but it still dealt him no small amount of damage.

Sekhmet was not an undead creature, but an out-and-out fire-attribute being who commanded pure flame energy.

Chen Mo thought no more and devoted his full attention to this battle.

Boom! Boom! The two mighty existences clashed at close quarters, fist to flesh.

Such high-intensity combat continued for a full hour more.

The entire divine temple was completely unrecognizable; apart from a few ruined golden statues protected by a mysterious force, all the pillars had been reduced to rubble and dust.

"Exhilarating!"

Although Sekhmet's fighting spirit remained high, she was ultimately somewhat fatigued, and many cracks had appeared on her body; the fire-attribute spiritual power within her was also nearly depleted.

Chen Mo, however, grew braver the more he fought.

The battle situation had also shifted from him being on the back foot at the start to an even match.

In this high-intensity combat, his 【Suanni Battle Method】 was continuously refined, and his combat experience was rapidly improving! Moreover, on the self-discipline panel, the progress bar of 【Martial Dao Ancestral Lion】 was gradually rising.

Live combat sparring was naturally also a form of 【Martial Dao Ancestral Lion】 self-discipline.

Sekhmet was somewhat surprised by Chen Mo's endurance.

This undead lion opposite her had powerful defense, constitution, and recovery—that was one thing—but she never expected his stamina to be so terrifying as well, simply like a "perpetual motion machine."

But this made Sekhmet thoroughly enjoy it.

She hadn't had such an exhilarating battle in a long time—or rather, she had never had one! This undead giant lion really suited her taste! "Then let me bring down the curtain with my strongest strike!"

The Sekhmet statue thought, and then she spoke:

"Careful! This next punch of mine is called the Great Sun Divine Fist. It will be very strong."

As soon as her words fell, all the remaining fire-attribute spiritual power within the Sekhmet statue swiftly surged toward her right fist. From her fist's center, boundless light and boundless heat erupted, like a blazing sun! In an instant, endless white light illuminated the entire divine temple, leaving the whole world with nothing but blinding incandescent white.

From the aftershock alone, Chen Mo felt as if he were submerged in magma, every breath filled with scorching heat.

The skeletal bones across his entire body were burned glowing red, like red-hot iron, radiating a searing aura.

The next second, the Sekhmet statue had already appeared in front of Chen Mo.

Still just a simple swing of the fist.

The Sekhmet statue blasted the "sun" in her hand toward Chen Mo.

"It's over."

Yet the next second, she saw an incomparably tyrannical aura suddenly erupt from the undead giant lion ahead, and his appearance rapidly changed.

Flesh rapidly grew between the crystalline snow-white bones.

Flowing white long fur stirred without wind, and golden lion eyes commanded awe without anger, appearing majestic yet mysterious.

【Ancient Revival】.

This was the ability Chen Mo had awakened after advancing to High-Rank King.

It stimulated the hidden power within his bloodline, briefly obtaining the power of the Suanni to erupt with astonishing combat power! For a short time, it could elevate his physical body, attack intensity, and many other abilities by a full major rank.

Chen Mo's original physical fitness and bodily strength were already no less than those of a calamity-tier being.

After using 【Ancient Revival】, his various attributes nearly doubled! His life tier underwent a transcendence, and his comprehensive combat power briefly reached 400,000! And the revived ancient Suanni bloodline naturally restored Chen Mo to his Suanni form.

At this time, the Great Sun Divine Fist had already blasted onto the white-furred giant lion's body.

Boom! The "sun" in Sekhmet's hand erupted with endless heat, but what was truly lethal was actually the astonishing power contained within this punch.

It could even annihilate a large city! This was already entirely an attack intensity that only a calamity-tier being could unleash.

Yet amidst a sea of fire, the Suanni's figure slowly emerged.

The white giant lion that took this terrifying strike head-on did not retreat even a single step! Though it landed, it caused no damage whatsoever!

After using 【Ancient Revival】, Chen Mo's physique briefly reached the level of a mid-rank calamity being!

"How is this possible!!"

At the moment the Sekhmet statue showed surprise, Chen Mo swung his claw, heavily striking its chest, and the immense power directly shattered its chest together with the golden battle armor! The force it carried, compared to before, was several times stronger! With just one blow, the Sekhmet statue was heavily wounded!

"It's time to end."

Seeing that Sekhmet was nearing its limit, Chen Mo decided to hold back no longer.

"Anyway, I've practiced enough."

At this moment, the Lion Beast Battle Technique has been fully mastered, and a breakthrough should not be possible in the short term.

If there were proficiency levels, the recent battle would have raised its mastery by a whole level.

"Awesome!"

After being heavily wounded, the Sekhmet statue was not angry but delighted.

Even its gaze showed a deep appreciation.

"Again!"

Even though it had been heavily wounded and exhausted, the Sekhmet statue still took the initiative to step forward.

Thus the two giant beasts clashed again.

After releasing the ancient restoration and activating perfect form, Chen Mo's combat power reached a terrifying 400,000! This is already close to the combat power of a mid-stage Heavenly Disaster-level living being!

Naturally, the Sekhmet statue was no longer its opponent.

With just two punches, Sekhmet was knocked to the ground by Chen Mo.

Her golden armor had completely shattered, and the body forged from Netherworld River Soil showed countless cracks, as if it could break apart at any moment.

She was completely exhausted.

"I lost."

The Sekhmet statue laughed and said, "In this battle, I am utterly convinced of my defeat."

Since Anubis's trial was established, in countless ages, you are the second challenger to have defeated me.

Do you want to leave with me? The outside world is experiencing a spiritual energy revival, with countless powerhouses rising. There are many as strong as me.

Chen Mo sent an invitation via telepathy to Sekhmet.

He knew this lion-beast female war god craved strong enemies and battle, so he wanted to coax her out with the lure of a 'powerful opponent.'

"Sorry, although I also really want to leave with you."

Sekhmet's eyes held a hint of regret.

"But because of the rules' restrictions, I cannot leave here."

Moreover, as the guardian of the eighth level of Anubis's trial, my purpose in being created is to defeat challengers or be defeated by them.

Thank you for letting me taste the joy of battle once again.

As a token of thanks, I can give it to you.

Saying this, Sekhmet threw the imitation sun spear she held, which landed right in front of Chen Mo.

This is her most precious possession.

Since her birth, this lion beast before her eyes is the first creature to have made battle so thoroughly enjoyable.

【Imitation Sun Spear】

【Quality: Heavenly Disaster Level】

【Imitation of Sekhmet's sun spear, forged with solar fire, containing endless light and heat, possessing extremely strong lethality against undead and shadow creatures】

Obviously, this imitation sun spear is a rare treasure.

Chen Mo, however, shook his head and did not accept it.

This is a fire-element treasure, which is of little use to him.

His own followers also lack fire-element beings, and their strength is still a hundred and eighty thousand miles away from the Heavenly Disaster Realm.

What he coveted even more was the Sekhmet statue itself.

Seeing Chen Mo not accepting his 'gift,' the Sekhmet statue felt somewhat disappointed and guilty.

She also wanted to go out, but was bound by the trial's rules.

"The final trial is about to begin; I will soon fall into slumber."

The voice of the Sekhmet statue echoed in Chen Mo's mind.

"I wish you success in passing the final trial."

"Don't forget to go to the Sandy Sea World. My true form will surely like you. Also, remember to keep your current appearance when you go to the Sandy Sea World..."

As a fire-element living being, she does not like undead creatures.

Chen Mo's original form very much matches her aesthetic.

Its voice grew ever weaker.

Having said that, the Sekhmet statue slowly closed its eyes.

This time, Chen Mo did not go to collect the Netherworld River Soil that shaped the Sekhmet statue, but let it return to the statue's base on its own, then gradually restored to its original form.

The outside world.

Watching the Sekhmet statue fall, the Sphinx's gaze was complex, and it lowered its head without speaking.

What unfolded before its eyes had completely overturned its cognition.

This lion beast actually defeated the perfect form, without holding back, the war god Sekhmet statue! Lion beast, possessing a divine aura!

As for the upcoming ninth-level trial, can it pass?

If it could defeat the statue of the great Anubis, it would also be witnessing history.

However, what followed was the lion beast's operation, which left it stunned.

Because the ninth-level trial had just begun, it was already over.

Chen Mo voluntarily gave up the trial.

He still wanted to spar a few more times with Sekhmet.

Anyway, the treasure for comprehending the origin of death is already in hand, so whether he can pass the ninth level doesn't matter.

After all, after passing, it's highly likely he won't be able to challenge again.

If he doesn't pass, there's still a chance to challenge again.

Moreover, in the earlier levels, he could still harvest another batch of Underworld River soil.

Strive to scoop all the Underworld River soil from all the golden statues clean!

The consciousness in the Anubis statue had just awakened when it discovered that the "challenger" Suanni had actually chosen to give up the trial! Unlike the Thoth and Sekhmet statues, which were born with self‑will from divine blood, the Anubis statue is where Anubis stored part of his consciousness in the statue.

It can truly represent the divine spirit, and even communicate with the main body.

When he discovered that a challenger had passed the eighth‑level trial, he woke up, eager to see which God's Chosen could actually defeat the Sekhmet statue.

As a result, just as he woke up, this God's Chosen directly chose to give up!?

What the heck!?

Moreover, he could sense that the challenger's condition was fine; it wasn't because of severe depletion or heavy injuries that he had to give up the trial.

He couldn't quite figure out what this challenger was thinking.

But since the challenger voluntarily gave up the trial, he couldn't force them.

So, he prepared to continue sleeping.

Just before sleeping, seeing the shattered golden statues all around and the Trial Divine Palace completely reduced to ruins, he couldn't help but feel speechless.

Since the establishment of the Anubis Trial, this is still the first time such a situation has occurred.

The situation before his eyes made the Trial Divine Palace seem like it had been 'zero‑yuan purchased'! He wasn't angry either; to him, Underworld River soil wasn't anything precious.

The Anubis statue waved the scepter in its right hand.

From the golden scepter actually flew out countless Underworld River soil, quickly repairing the damaged statues.

The temple stored a large amount of Underworld River soil.

In trial battles, the golden statues will certainly consume some material; these stored Underworld River soil are used to repair the statues.

Seeing this, Chen Mo was overjoyed.

Sure enough, his choice to give up the trial was correct!

At the same time, before the Anubis statue, the golden altar rose again.

This time, there was only a crystal bottle on it, containing a golden liquid like flowing sand.

【Underworld River Water】

【Quality: Disaster-level】

【Introduction: Legendary Underworld River water that buries all dead souls, rich in death‑origin energy, can help King‑level undead beings break through.】

Obviously, the effect of Underworld River water is better than that of Underworld River soil.

Chen Mo naturally accepted it without hesitation.

After finishing the trial, Chen Mo walked out of the pyramid.

Because he held the Judgment Scale, he discovered he had gained partial authority over the Golden Pyramid.

Open, close the trial gate.

At the same time, it can expel all living beings within a 20‑kilometer radius centered on the Golden Pyramid.

Similar to the region lord of the Great Snow Mountain Secret Realm.

(End of chapter)