Triopals
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Chapter 61
🕑 Added 2025-02-12 08:38:32 +0000 UTCNo one could defeat Adrian at the top position.
Nevertheless, there were notable developments on the leaderboard. In second place, someone had broken through ten thousand points. Nathan wasn't sure who it was, though he suspected it might be one of the Artificers. From third place downward, scores ranged from five thousand to a few thousand points.
Looking at his own score of less than a thousand points, Nathan felt somewhat discouraged.
His friends were having similar experiences. Zeryn's case was particularly intriguing, with his score languishing below a hundred points. Nathan couldn't believe this sword prodigy would perform so poorly. The only explanation was that he must have encountered some time-consuming challenge.
Zahra and Xander were at Nathan's level, yet to make their breakthrough. The Verdant Spire Sect had Keira maintaining their presence in the top 10.
Unlike Nathan, Evelyn only briefly checked her ring before deactivating it. She seemed less concerned about the current situation.
"Do you think defeating other contestants brings in points?" Nathan asked.
"In the nature of cultivator worlds, that's not even a question worth asking," Evelyn confirmed.
Nathan nodded, contemplating the future volatility of the rankings. Especially in the final days, when points from monsters, trials, and items would become scarce, people would become targets.
He was wary of groups like Lachlan's and wouldn't consider pursuing this dangerous direction. Even if he were lucky enough to expand his team, humans always carried more variables, making them far less predictable than monsters.
After sufficient rest, the three-member team departed, continuing their journey.
During their exploration, they encountered their first method of earning points that didn't involve life-or-death combat. This trial was specifically designed for Herbalists.
The valley where it took place was shrouded in a green mist. Upon approaching, one could feel its sharp assault on the nostrils. Outside stood a statue of a person holding a crooked staff. Up close, its exterior reflected great age. When approached, the statue would open its mouth in greeting and present the challenge.
First was answering questions about various medicinal herbs and their properties. The list was extensive. Nathan, believing he had this knowledge, decided to test himself. Sucking on an anti-poison candy to withstand the statue's proximity, he held a stone tablet that displayed missing information about various plants. Sometimes only names were shown, other times just images, or brief descriptions – his task was to fill in all the missing information.
Other cultivators were present. Guardians like Evelyn stood at a distance while their Herbalists participated in the trial. Currently, four others were simultaneously solving the challenge alongside Nathan.
The beginning was easy, but the requirements from the stone tablet gradually became more demanding. Nathan felt slightly dizzy from having to answer continuously. [Cooking] was a skill he valued, but it apparently wasn't enough to help him overcome this hurdle. There were several reasons, but the biggest current obstacle was his insufficient [Cooking] level.
The Tier 2 Herbalists present here had mostly already encountered Tier 3 herbs. Nathan was completely self-taught, never having attended any formal institution. Thus, when the challenge touched upon Tier 3 roots or leaves, he was completely lost. Even trying to reason from his vast foundation of Tier 2 medicinal knowledge like when dissecting Shardscale Drake wasn't enough. His errors accumulated until he lost nearly all his points, and the tablet before him dimmed, flying back to the statue's hand.
He had failed.
Two others failed with him. Their faces were gloomy, muttering to themselves, wondering where they went wrong. They couldn't even stay to discuss like students after exams. In response to their expectant gazes, Nathan just shook his head and left. Unlike the others, he clearly understood his shortcomings and mistakes. Engaging in discussion would only further expose his inadequacies.
When he returned to Evelyn's side, one of the two remaining competitors finally completed the test. The other watched regretfully as their tablet was mercilessly taken away.
The ancient statue made creaking sounds as it moved, turning to lead the successful young person deeper into the poisonous mist.
After some inquiry, Nathan learned this trial wasn't as simple as it appeared. What lay within the poisonous mist was the most challenging part. Yesterday, someone had already attempted it, yet it remained here today. According to analysis, once completed, this trial would disappear. Therefore, entering the mist didn't guarantee success; it was merely advancing to the next stage.
Nathan completely abandoned any remaining hope for the trial before him. He understood his own level well enough. Unless he had the [Herbal Specialist] skill or something similar, there was no chance. [Cooking] alone wasn't sufficient. The skill's limitations were most apparent in cases of non-consumable preparations, such as those for inhalation or topical application, where its effectiveness was minimal.
Without much regret, Evelyn and he continued searching for their own opportunities. The other three stayed behind to wait for the results, hoping they might get another attempt.
"Is it getting hotter, or is it just me?" Nathan asked as they ventured deeper into the mountain range. His [Cold Resistance Aura] made him more sensitive to surrounding temperatures.
Evelyn nodded, her face showing slight discomfort.
As they walked further, the terrain beneath their feet changed. Normal earth and stone gave way to a hot, black surface. Stretching before them was an apocalyptic landscape. Mountains of various sizes wore two colors: black and orange. Lava flowed down mountain slopes and across the ground. Occasional tremors could be heard, followed by eruptions of deadly hot liquid onto the surface.
Nathan reached forward to feel the air. There seemed to be an invisible barrier. Extending his hand forward, he felt intense heat, yet on this side, just inches away, the temperature remained normal.
"Your call," Nathan said to Evelyn.
The girl narrowed her eyes, focusing on what lay ahead. She sat down before the invisible barrier, crossing her legs and closing her eyes completely. Nathan was somewhat surprised by how much she trusted him.
After a period of probing, Evelyn's breathing became slightly labored.
"There's a treasure in there," she said.
"Related to your element?"
"Yes, likely ice-based, not just water."
"Shall we proceed then?"
"You don't have to come along. The environment ahead is quite harsh."
"Consider it training."
With that, the two stepped directly into the volcanic terrain.
A hissing sound filled Nathan's ears. Evelyn's ice aura was battling against the heat. Despite this, beads of sweat appeared on her face.
Nathan wasn't faring any better. His shoes melted upon contact with the ground. After a few steps, he decided to go barefoot. His tough and resilient skin proved to be more effective material. The downside was the pain and burning sensation. The heat radiating from the ground wasn't ordinary; it seemed to affect him down to his bones.
This situation wasn't unexpected, so he gritted his teeth and endured. This was one of the training methods specific to Physical Cultivation, placing oneself in extreme environments to temper various aspects. Through this torturous process, he would increase his fire resistance. It would also enhance his body's operational capacity, preventing his internal organs from overloading when he pushed them beyond their normal limits.
Argentius wasn't well-suited for this environment, especially in cat form. Nathan still didn't want his partner to return to its original state, particularly after learning that this transformation required a very long recovery time due to its connection with organ adjustment and mana sealing.
For the first time, it actively stayed near Evelyn. The blue-haired girl's eyes lit up when she saw this, extending her hand in invitation. The usually thick-skinned Argentius obediently jumped up, its four paws clinging to her arm. Evelyn's facial muscles twitched as if she couldn't contain her emotions.
"Not a word," Argentius warned Nathan.
He responded with a smirk. Evelyn increased her power to provide more protection for her furry friend.
Nathan furrowed his brows and spoke up.
"We should keep our distance."
"You should practice speaking more clearly," Evelyn said.
"This is easier to demonstrate."
He moved away from Evelyn until he noticed the change in Argentius and Evelyn's expressions. Both looked at him strangely, suddenly realizing they had been affected by Nathan all this time.
Nathan then moved closer to the two. The heat once again made them uncomfortable.
He moved away, and the cooling sensation from Evelyn strengthened.
"Understand now?" he asked.
Both human and beast nodded, their eyes showing a hint of resentment. One for directly resisting her power, the other because it had just endured unnecessary heat with its fur coat, which easily retained heat. Now, having already committed, the tiger monster couldn't escape Evelyn's grasp.
Nathan pretended not to notice his teammates' expressions, contemplating the effects of [Cold Resistance Aura]. He had always known this skill helped his allies, but only now did he understand its mechanism. It granted cold resistance to individuals around him, rather than necessarily making the space around him warmer when near Evelyn.
So they maintained their distance as they advanced. One side remained cool and comfortable, while the other was drenched in sweat. Nathan had to constantly replenish water and use Qi Armor to reduce evaporation from his pores.
As they ventured deeper, the area's residents emerged to greet them. Monster-like creatures resembling lizards with slick black skin stared at them with blazing red eyes. Magma Hoppers, according to Evelyn's identification. Just as Nathan heard the name, one of the creatures leaped up, landing on another lava pool, moving closer to his position.
The Magma Hoppers flicked their tongues like flames, observing these creatures from a different ecosystem with curious eyes. But their curiosity lasted only briefly; upon recognizing the differences between them, they immediately launched their attack.
With bodies longer than a meter and a half, they both crawled and jumped between hot spots on the ground to approach their enemies. And in this area, such hot spots were abundant.
In just moments, more than ten Magma Hoppers had surrounded the group.
Nathan pulled out a new pair of vambraces for protection, not daring to be careless. Evelyn raised her guard, concentrating her ice power. The hot air weakened her strengths somewhat, the strain showing on her face.
A Magma Hopper jumped forward, its mouth spewing a bright red liquid that radiated intense heat. Nathan dodged to the side, letting the creature slide past him due to its momentum. Then he struck its belly with his strength. His power killed the monster instantly. However, its danger came immediately after.
The creature's body exploded, revealing a sac that expanded and contracted. Inside was black and red magma.
[Tingling Sense] and [Adrenaline Boost] kicked in as Nathan leaped away, barely avoiding the sac's release of gas, followed by an explosion that created a small lava rain.
He only managed to shout when he saw Evelyn successfully eliminate one on her side.
"Watch out!"
A blast echoed where the girl had been, mist erupting to block Nathan's view.
He tackled another Magma Hopper, using his feet with skilled technique to kick the creature away, causing it to crash into a small boulder and die. The resulting lava didn't affect him.
Looking toward the mist, a figure flew out leaving a white trail. Evelyn landed gracefully not far away, largely unharmed. As the mist dissipated, it revealed a structure like a black stone sculpture with arches, dotted with small points.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned back to the remaining Magma Hoppers. Now aware of their attack pattern, he only needed to move and dodge their fire breath, then instead of killing them on the spot, kick them into the terrain to die at a distance. A few went berserk and self-destructed when close, forcing him to use the mana barrier from his vambraces for defense. The protective screen was just enough for him to retreat and quickly replace another mana stone.
Just when it seemed the battle would conclude, the Magma Hoppers stopped, no longer advancing recklessly. They stood on hot spots where lava flowed. They flicked their tongues and let out a howl. Then hell seemed to descend around them.
The lava lakes and pits became violent, shooting up like water columns around Evelyn and Nathan. Without much thought, both immediately ran diagonally in one direction, while still ensuring their path led deeper inside.
Lava particles fell like rain from the sky. Moreover, the erupting columns could appear anywhere. The combination meant Nathan had to maintain intense focus, his feet moving at high speed while leaving enough space to react to any situation.
To deal with the rain from above, Evelyn released cold air around her. What fell became earth, rocks, and various minerals. For Nathan, these were merely irritants. Evelyn deflected them with a mana shield covering her entire body.
Suddenly, a stream of lava shot directly at Evelyn.
Nathan spotted a boulder near him. His hand grabbed it. The surface heat seared his skin, producing the smell of roasted meat and sizzling sounds. Gritting his teeth, he used all his strength to lift the boulder. Rock fragments fell on his feet just as he threw it at the lava stream.
The flying rock caused the lava to splash around, but it no longer flowed directly toward Evelyn. It gradually pushed back the stream, completely blocking the damage. The boulder crashed to the ground. Climbing onto it was a Magma Hopper much larger than the others, its skin glowing with luminous veins, its flame tongue erupting into a saw-like pattern on its back.
The Tier 2 Magma Hopper's nostrils flared, its tongue extending toward the group that had moved far from its territory.
It dared not advance further, for beyond lay the domain of beings far more powerful than itself.
Nathan and Evelyn could finally catch their breath when they saw the lizard-like monsters had stopped pursuing.
Nathan took out water to drink, sharing some with Evelyn. She seemed unable to maintain a stable state in this harsh environment, needing replenishment from external sources.
After regaining some strength, all three advanced toward where Evelyn sensed the treasure. The surrounding heat seemed to intensify progressively. Nathan's skin felt constantly burned. He wanted to remove his clothes for relief but thought better of it in front of a lady. His Qi Armor remained in a state of constant erosion, similar to when hit by Moon Scars from Lunar Shadow, continuously fluctuating.
Evelyn only appeared better externally, but in terms of endurance, she also struggled. After a while, she spoke up.
"We should turn back."
"Want to see what it is before deciding?" Nathan wiped his eyes to clear the salt from his sweat. "Can you sense how close we are?"
They were on a hillside, the ground sloping down to the right. Ahead lay only black earth and lava pits. In the distance stretched a mountain range.
After a moment of sensing, Evelyn nodded.
"We're close."
Without another word, both continued. Argentius lay listlessly on Evelyn's arm. Though cool, it had to use mana to protect itself whenever Evelyn used her powers. At least that was easier to handle than the deadly heat outside her protective circle.
As they walked into a valley, Evelyn suddenly glided forward, pulling Nathan behind a wall-like rock formation nearby.
Triggered [Tingling Sense]. One credit given.
Triggered [Adrenaline Boost]. One credit given.
Goosebumps rose on Nathan's skin, despite the melting heat. A strange chill ran from his nape to his feet.
This feeling is so familiar, he thought in horror.
His eyes fell on his companion, Argentius, who had once brought such a sensation when it appeared in Moirath Forest. Now, even the former Forest Lord had its fur standing on end.
Evelyn's face hardened, becoming tense. Those crystal-like pupils seriously gazed toward the valley.
From a cave in the cliff face near the valley's clearing came deep, heavy thuds that shook the ground. Sand and mineral fragments jumped as the being inside moved.
Thud after thud. A horn black as obsidian emerged, reflecting sunlight and the red flames around it. Then, a head with an elongated snout and razor-sharp jagged teeth appeared. Flames shot from between its teeth. Next, the long neck with black stone scales emerged. Its body was larger than Argentius in original form. Its tail whipped behind it, each swing spraying lava around.
The monster threw back its head and roared. Its eyes literally spewing fire, glared obliquely upward with malice.
"Run," unlike previous times, it was Evelyn who spoke up.
Naturally, there was no objection.
Nathan turned and ran. But [Tingling Sense] continued to alert him. Recognizing the danger had drawn near, he disregarded that he might harm Evelyn and grabbed her arm once more, throwing her forward. That motion barely helped her escape the cone of magma the monster breathed out.
The rock wall they had hidden behind melted like an ice cube. As it lost shape and became liquid, it revealed a horrifying sight - burned skin, roasted flesh, bones nearly exposed.
Nathan bit his lower lip hard, struggling to maintain a shred of clarity. He endured the pain, and ignoring everything else, leaped forward. Blood and skin separated from his back as he cut through the air. Groaning throughout the journey, he finally reached the bewildered Evelyn.
"Ice on my back," he requested, his voice hoarse.
Evelyn didn't spare any strength, creating the densest ice membrane possible and pressing it against the back of the young man whose clothes were in tatters, with only a piece remaining over his stomach.
The cold made Nathan arch backward. He thought he would pass out right there until the roar from behind made his eyes snap open.
"Let's go."
Evelyn and he immediately headed toward the green forest area.
After running for their lives for over half an hour, they finally escaped. The ground returned to brown, with patches of green vegetation here and there. The air around was humid and cool.
Nathan collapsed, inhaling the earthy scent like life itself. He panted from pain and exhaustion.
"I'm sorry," Evelyn dropped down beside him, her hands trembling as she wanted to touch his back but feared making the wounds worse.
"It's fine," Nathan remained there, back facing the sky, waving his hand. "Seeking opportunities in danger, right?"
"But this danger was my suggestion," Evelyn said shakily, still unsure what to do.
"I'll recover quickly," Nathan reassured her. "What happened was unavoidable, don't overthink it. Didn't you still follow me despite facing Lachlan?"
"That's because I owed you. You don't owe me anything."
"Has anyone ever told you you're stubborn?" Nathan's cheek pressed against the ground, making his smirk look somewhat funny.
Evelyn didn't respond, her face maintaining its panicked expression.
"I didn't expect to see that expression," Nathan teased, trying to change the subject.
"You'd better be quiet to let your wounds heal faster," Evelyn frowned.
"Who told you that?" Nathan glared. "Talking more helps me heal faster."
As if truly believing him, Evelyn quickly said,
"Then keep talking. I'll listen."
So Nathan continued speaking honestly, despite the constant aching of the burns on his back. He really wanted to stay quiet and treat his wounds but couldn't bear to let Evelyn feel guilty for something that wasn't anyone's fault. So he kept chattering about various topics, avoiding mention of their recent encounter.
After a long while, when he felt his shoulders could move comfortably again, he asked Evelyn to remove the ice layer covering his body.
His back, full of firm and healthy muscles, emerged with a layer of new skin. His healing ability remained exceptional as always.
He suddenly felt a tingling sensation on his back. When he turned his head, he discovered it wasn't from the new skin growing but from Evelyn's intense stare. He immediately took out another shirt to put on. His Spatial Pouch had been singed but was largely unaffected.
"I was just admiring your recovery speed," Evelyn explained.
"I didn't say anything," Nathan teased again. "I just felt the wind was cold, so I put on a shirt."
The girl nodded, as if she truly only had that thought and didn't understand any other implications from Nathan's words.
He shook his head, letting out a laugh, and stood up. They then found a resting spot beside a stream to replenish the water they'd depleted in the volcanic area.
While sitting and lowering his water bottle to the stream, Nathan heard a heavy sound echoing from not far away. He perked up his ears, focusing on listening. The sound was like continuous pounding.
When he showed his puzzlement to Evelyn, she used her spirit to investigate. Though unable to observe directly, she reported information about an area of lush green in one direction.
With preparations complete, the team headed in that direction to investigate.
"The monster in the volcanic area must have been a Lava Drake," Evelyn said after much contemplation.
She had to repeatedly verify against her knowledge to avoid wrong conclusions.
"A genuine Tier 3, right?" Nathan asked with a grimace.
"No doubt about it. Its power was overwhelming."
"We found a Tier 3, but our chances of defeating it for points are practically zero."
"We'll have to find another way then."
While making small talk, Nathan felt his face tingling. Not an unpleasant sensation like needle pricks, but rather quite comfortable.
Before his eyes unfolded the most magnificent natural scene he'd ever witnessed. In the distance appeared the largest waterfall he'd ever seen. The water thundered down, spraying tiny white particles. Its force was so strong that even from afar, Nathan still felt these strange raindrops. Around were wet, rugged rock formations. A pool formed right below the waterfall, clear enough to see the bottom, yet shallow enough for someone to stand in without sinking. The surrounding trees thrived, vegetation bursting with vitality.
Evelyn beside him also marveled at this overwhelming scene.
However, both stopped from advancing too deep. Not for any reason except the noise level. Like the volcanic area's border, just a hand's width away, everything would change from environment to temperature to terrain. Once they stepped through the invisible membrane, the noise level immediately increased. The impact sounds were enough to make someone dizzy if they stayed inside too long. That's also why such a location lacked living creatures or other contestants.
After some calculation, both tried to enter. Nathan relied on his Physical Cultivation to adjust his ear organs slightly, helping him not receive too much sound. Evelyn had it easier, using a type of mana to envelop her head. The main issue was that both might as well forget about communicating.
The rushing and rumbling sounds grew increasingly stronger. Water spray hitting their skin began to feel heavier, no longer giving the refreshing sensation they felt from outside.
Nathan and Evelyn stood on an earth outcrop, very close to the pure white waterfall. The water source dropping down was endless - looking up, they couldn't see its origin, as if it all poured down from the sky, falling from clouds. The sonic vibrations gave way to the terror of physical impacts.
The waterfall was like a white curtain, swaying with each falling rhythm. Squinting carefully, Nathan could see the rock face behind the water curtain had small protrusions, extending from one end to the other, from bottom to top.
Is this meant for climbing? Nathan wondered.
He signaled Evelyn to stay put while he jumped onto the path right under the waterfall. When he got close, his chest immediately felt somewhat constricted.
To test, he extended his hand forward, letting the water strike directly onto his hand.
When the impact hit his skin, considered the most resilient and sturdy among his peers, he withdrew his hand.
The brief contact point turned red, as if he'd just taken a hammer to his entire forearm.
Blinking in disbelief, Nathan guessed this must be one of The Shifting Trials' challenges.
He put his hand back into the waterfall. This time, he tried to endure it longer. Only when his arm was completely numb after nearly a minute did he withdraw. A stream of essence sneaked into his body. The amount wasn't large, but that was because he only used one body part. If he immersed himself fully, the effects would surely be greater.
He led Evelyn outside the noisy area to relay his experience. He theorized that mana shields could be used to withstand the water pressure. The longer and more one endured, the greater the corresponding rewards. For Evelyn, she could absorb both mana and essence simultaneously to level up. The waterfall's reward might be similar to the stream Alaric rewarded his new inner disciples with, requiring no herbs for neutralization.
Their higher aim was that if they could climb up, perhaps they would earn bonus points. The two named this area The Pressuring Fall and began discussing how to proceed.
They didn't notice a strange presence inside the waterfall. Or more accurately, even if they wanted to, they couldn't have seen him.
This mysterious person wore an old white robe, holding a rod that looked both fragile and weak. Remarkably, he was lounging right in the middle of the falling water as if the pressure that troubled the two young people was barely a mosquito bite to him.
He swung his legs, eyes full of interest as he looked toward Nathan. The rod in his hand swung out like a fishing pole. He pretended to block his rod-holding hand with his other hand, patted his chest, and said excitedly.
"Let's see what these youngsters can do."
No one heard him, only the endless rumbling of water crashing against rock.
Comments
Triopals
Ummm. Hold my beers!!!
GhostlyVulture
I may be speaking to early but I think I’m gonna like mystery man
