Inside the snow mountain cave, Chen Tian's ultimate move was a counter-attack. A special magic array formed beneath his feet, enveloping him in protection. This array absorbed all incoming attacks and converted them into a special sword energy. Once the absorption and conversion were complete, Chen Tian could unleash the stored energy with his sword, returning the damage to the attacker. This time, the Ice Phoenix was effectively defeated by its own power.
The Ice Phoenix possessed ice immunity, so Chen Tian's technique converted all its ice-elemental attacks into sword energy. While it appeared to be the same move, its essence had changed. The Ice Phoenix's immunity was rendered useless. Chen Tian's interface popped up, displaying his score: Ninety thousand points acquired!
"Continue the trial?"
Chen Tian unhesitatingly selected "Yes." Higher rankings in the snow mountain cave trials yielded greater rewards. He was curious to see what prizes awaited him. The moment he confirmed, his figure dissolved into starlight and ascended into the sky. Chen Tian opened his eyes to behold a fairyland. Verdant hills and clear waters replaced the previous confines. He stood on solid ground, the earth feeling remarkably real. The surrounding environment sparked a sense of déjà vu, a fleeting memory he couldn't quite grasp.
As the familiar scenery unfolded, Chen Tian's memory began to stir. After a few minutes, it clicked. He had been here before, in the Divine Realm. He recalled this being the core region of the Elemental Sprites. But why was it a trial now? Chen Tian dismissed the thought, as the Elemental Sprites were still slumbering, and his presence wouldn't cause harm. In his past life, as a human, Chen Tian knew that the Elemental Sprites harbored a deep hatred for humans, and their homeland was strictly forbidden to them.
Elemental Sprites sounded similar to regular elves, but their differences were profound. Elemental Sprites could manipulate all elements, whereas regular elves could only control one. The disparity in their elemental control and capacity was vast. Chen Tian walked on the ground, this being his first time in this particular area. Suddenly, he sensed a familiar aura—the aura of an elf. Chen Tian's figure shot towards the distant source of the scent. He mused, "How could an Elemental Sprite awaken prematurely? According to the contract, shouldn't they awaken after the great war?"
Chen Tian was perplexed. The contract clearly stated that the Elemental Sprite clan would emerge after the final battle, awakening when all was peaceful. How could one awaken ahead of schedule?
Chen Tian headed towards the source of the aura. However, before he was halfway there, he encountered a problem: he was lost. He couldn't discern any path, only dead ends. This was a barrier set by the Elemental Sprites, a passage only they could open with their unique abilities. Chen Tian could only gaze at the walls, mountains, trees, and oceans surrounding him, with no visible route to his destination. With a loud "Bang," a massive explosion rocked the sky. Chen Tian looked up at the detonation.
A battle was underway. Chen Tian couldn't ignore it. He quickly opened his interface and used data modification to forcibly create a path. He was still in a game trial, and since this world was being treated as such, Chen Tian possessed the ability to alter its data. A wide path materialized, and Chen Tian transformed into a beam of light, charging towards the explosion site. At the scene of the blast, a childlike boy clutched his arm, facing a figure shrouded in black energy.
The figure menacingly declared, "There exists a being unknown to me within my territory. Boy, tell me how you arrived here."
"You are the one! This is our homeland. Why are you here, and where are my kin?"
"Kin? What kin? In the thousands of years I've been here, I haven't seen a single soul. This is my domain, leave at once."
"Thousands of years? Impossible. I just woke up, and thousands of years have passed."
The boy and the figure were engaged in a conversation that spanned dimensions, one an Elemental Sprite, the other the game's final boss. They couldn't communicate effectively, leading to a misunderstanding. The two then engaged in combat.
"If you refuse to leave, then you shall stay here forever."
The figure lunged at the Elemental Sprite, its palm transforming into a long blade. The Elemental Sprite had never witnessed such a technique, never imagined a creature could turn its own hand into a weapon. As the blade approached, the Elemental Sprite sighed, "If only I had not just awakened and my strength was restored, and if my kin were here to replenish my essence. You mere ant, do you think you are my match?"
"Before this king, you are also an ant. Die!"
As the blade neared the Elemental Sprite's face, a ray of light intervened. Chen Tian's hand met the oncoming blade. The black-energy-shrouded figure cried out in surprise. Chen Tian flicked his wrist, sending the figure reeling backward. Simultaneously, the black energy around the figure dissipated.
It revealed a grotesque youth with bone spurs protruding from his back. His bent bone spurs served as legs, no different from a normal person's. His hands, which had transformed into blades, returned to their original form in the next instant. Two massive black horns adorned his head, and a pair of pitch-black eyes fixed on Chen Tian.
"Hero, you have finally arrived. Now, it is time for our life-or-death duel."
As the youth uttered these words, Chen Tian's interface appeared, unnoticed by him. Chen Tian's gaze was fixed on the Elemental Sprite behind him. Then, he exclaimed, "Remarkable! An Elemental Sprite that has manifested from a treasure? No wonder there was an aura. Little one, have you only recently awakened?"
"Who are you? How do you know my true form?"
The youth appeared wary, as if frightened of Chen Tian. Chen Tian calmly replied, "Don't worry. I am acquainted with your ancestors. I will explain the details after I defeat this fellow. You, go to the side for now."
"Alright."
Upon hearing that Chen Tian knew their ancestors, the youth's wariness completely dissipated. After all, anyone who knew their ancestors must be a close friend and wouldn't harm the Elemental Sprite clan. However, this human before him had a familiar face, as if he had seen him before, though it was a memory from a long, long time ago. He couldn't recall the specifics.
He decided not to dwell on it.
Chen Tian turned to face the boss. His interface confirmed that this demon-like individual was the final boss of this stage. Defeating him would allow him to proceed to the next. However, the boss's stats were a cause for concern.
Boss: Demon Lord
Level: Emperor Rank 99
HP: 9 Gold Points
Strength: 10 Gold Points
Speed: 15 Gold Points
Constitution: 35 Gold Points
Weapon Mastery: 158 Gold Points
Skill Mastery: 300 Gold Points
Abilities: Demonic Power, Demonic Blessing, Demonic Bloodline
Traits: Fixed Damage, Hand Claw Transformation
Weapon: Claws, Demonic Bone Spurs
Skills: Demonic Roar, Demonic Proliferation, Blood Moon's Light, Demonic Divine Body.
Chen Tian stared at the panel. Gold Points? This was impossible to fight! Chen Tian would have to employ other powers if he wanted to stand a chance. Gold Points were a measure used at the highest level of cultivation, a numerical value thousands or tens of thousands of times greater than Chen Tian's current stats. Even a single Gold Point was beyond his combined attributes. Was the second stage already this overpowered?
"Alas, it seems I must resort to other means."
Chen Tian sighed. He had intended to enjoy the game, but the second stage boss was too formidable. Chen Tian couldn't defeat him with his current strength; he might even die.
Chen Tian's game character's lifespan could be reduced, and he dared not play so recklessly.
No matter how much lifespan he had, it wouldn't withstand constant death!
Chen Tian took a deep breath and decided not to rely on his game character's strength. This opponent was beyond the capabilities of his game character's power.
He couldn't comprehend what the developers of Time Epoch were thinking, creating such a statistically dominant boss. It was as if they were deliberately preventing players from defeating it.
If the developers could hear Chen Tian's words, they would undoubtedly cry out, "We are wronged!"
This boss was intended for group play, a guild boss, not a solo encounter.
Who knew why it had appeared in single-player mode. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Chen Tian and the Demon Lord still stood in the sky. Chen Tian's body exuded the power and aura of the Divine Realm, which immediately dispelled any lingering reservations from the Elemental Sprite. Chen Tian was from the Divine Realm, and perhaps he could learn from him about the whereabouts of his kin. Upon awakening, he found his entire region devoid of his people.
Even after thousands of years, Elemental Sprites had long lifespans, so extinction was unlikely. Something must have happened.