Swallowing the Stars: Starting with the Battle of Geniuses

Chapter 119 Two Choices, Knight's Trial, Simulator's First Possession of the Silver Demon King

While the winners were still exchanging glances, Hunzhen strode ahead, crossed the main gate, and entered the temple.

The remaining five were all terrified.

With four layers of pressure from deep-sea diving, lasting for five years, even at his best, he was only at 50% of his peak strength.

Looking at Hunzhen again, judging from his aura, he is exactly the same as when he first arrived here, without any weakening.

It was as if this erosion, which they considered like tigers and snakes, was nothing to Hunzhen.

Upon entering the hall, the pressure from the deep dive suddenly vanished, as if driven away and suppressed by an invisible field.

Looking from the main gate into the magnificent interior of the hall, one sees a long, narrow corridor on both sides, with huge steps ten meters high, forming a path leading directly into the rooms inside the temple, much like a pilgrimage route.

From the high platforms on both sides, behind the huge elephant-leg-like stone pillars, pairs of indifferent and emotionless eyes swept over.

The densely packed figures, clad in armor and leaning on silver spears, stood silently like statues, watching the six people entering through the main gate without uttering a word, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Imperial bodyguards.

These four words popped into the minds of all six of them.

At a glance, the number of guards exceeded ten thousand.

There are only eleven winners of the Grand Martial Arts Tournament in an era, and the second test eliminates nearly half of them. Logically speaking, having several hundred people at the same time would be considered a lot.

There is only one possible exception: after becoming a royal guard, one's lifespan is different from that of ordinary lower-class races.

Hunzhen observed that four of the other five people showed excitement upon seeing so many imperial guards, while only one person remained calm.

Judging from their changing expressions, it was clear that this was not a closely guarded secret. However, Hunzhen had never intended to become a royal bodyguard from the beginning, and had no direct interest in the matter.

Whoosh—.

A flash of silver light streaked past, and a man with luminous wings on his back, wearing a silver robe, and resembling an angel, suddenly appeared.

Apart from Hunzhen, no one else has been able to find any trace of him.

Hunzhen saw that the person was clearly formed from thin air using energy.

"Pilgrims."

The angels addressed the six as such.

In the blink of an eye, the space seemed to shrink and compress, and the corridor receded rapidly relative to them, as if by teleportation, and the angel led them to the door of the next room.

It was a door of light that radiated a crystal-like glow. With a wave of the angel's hand, the door suddenly split in two, transforming into two large doors of the same size, each with different reliefs carved on the top of the door frame.

The left gate is carved with a pair of silver wings of light, while the right gate is carved with a curled-up silver human figure.

"Now, you have two choices."

He waved his left hand, and a halo of light enveloped the winged relief on the left door: "Become one of us. Or—"

With a wave of his right hand, a halo of light enveloped the human-shaped relief on the right door: "Try to pass the knight's test."

"Now...make your choice!"

Faced with the angel's words, one of the men who had been so excited when he saw the royal guards stepped forward, bowed deeply, and asked, "Your Excellency, are there any additional tests to become a royal guard?"

Although he had already received a positive conclusion from their supporters, he couldn't help but ask questions as the "evolution" he had been longing for was right in front of him.

Throughout history, as the highest-ranking royal guards, angels are responsible for protection. As long as the rules are not broken, they will not attack without permission. Naturally, he would ask questions if he had any doubts.

Otherwise, if there is some secret information within the Silver Temple that cannot be leaked, and they are unaware of it, causing them to miss an opportunity, wouldn't it be too late to regret it?

The angel calmly replied, "There are no additional trials. However... the Royal Guards cannot leave Silver City, and their power will weaken the further they are from the Silver Temple. After leaving the Silver Temple, the temple's blessing will gradually diminish over time, until the blessing completely disappears, marking the guards' demise. And once they leave Silver City, this ending will occur sooner. Any further questions?"

This means that once you become a royal guard, you will be confined to the small territory of Silver City forever, and even if you have a long lifespan, you will never be free.

It's no wonder that many nobles no longer participate in the Grand Martial Arts Festival.

For the Abyss royal family, who are unafraid of death, even with reverence for the gods, freedom may be more important to them.

"No further questions, thank you, sir!"

As soon as that person left, another person asked a question.

"Lord Angel!"

Another member, also eager to become a member of the Imperial Guard, asked, "I want to know, does becoming a member of the Imperial Guard mean an endless lifespan!"

The angel nodded slowly: "As long as the temple remains, the guardians will be eternal."

Upon receiving a positive reply, the group aiming to become imperial bodyguards were overjoyed.

Only Hunzhen felt a chill in his heart.

"Why does it look so much like the previous 'Flame Jade'?"

Thinking of the guards' mechanically indifferent expressions, Hunzhen thought to himself, "Becoming a royal guard is the path to becoming a temple spirit?"

As they were pondering, the only other man besides Hunzhen stepped forward and asked, "Your Excellency, could you reveal the details of the knight's trial?"

Unexpectedly, the angel did not answer, but instead said, "You will know when you step through that door."

After confirming that the six had no further questions, the angel turned into a statue and remained silent, as if simply waiting for their choice.

Without much hesitation, the six people split into two groups: four entered the light gate on the left and two entered the light gate on the right, thus completing the separation.

……

"After a year of survival, the door will open."

The resounding sound, like a grand morning bell and evening drum, echoed endlessly, and then fell silent.

Behind the light gate on the right, Hunzhen and another person stepped into the arena, which resembled a giant crown of thorns.

Their escape route vanished completely, and at the edge of their vision was a huge, tightly closed metal gate—the very gate the grand voice had spoken of.

The arena's vastness and immense size are comparable to the surface area of ​​a star, far exceeding the arena of the previous Grand Martial Arts Festival.

The land is not flat; rather, it is full of strange rocks, caves, and grottoes, forming various natural hiding places.

There were no plants or trees, and the land was barren and desolate.

Only the chaotic and turbulent abyssal energy flows freely in this space.

Such violent energy is something that even the weaker Abyss royal family would probably not dare to absorb and refine casually, let alone ordinary inferior races.

Alongside this, several times the pressure outside the temple adheres to the abyssal energy, following it like a shadow.

This energy, however, is slumbering on this land in numerous bizarre, twisted creatures that can only vaguely resemble humans, breathing in and out with each breath.

The moment Hunzhen and his companion stepped into the arena, countless slumbering, twisted creatures opened their eyes.

Eerie and terrifying hissing and roaring echoed one after another.

The man standing beside Hunzhen felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing that voice, as if a great crisis was about to befall him. He turned to Hunzhen and said, "I am Huxker. Lord Hunzhen, even if you are powerful, you still need rest and support. To survive in this Thorn Prison for a year alone is far more difficult than us supporting each other. May I follow you?"

Despite being a fellow winner, Hughkel was perfectly clear about his own position. Compared to Hunzhen, who could crush ordinary nobles, he was at most an assistant.

Upon hearing this, Hunzhen glanced at Hughkel.

What he said was true.

Even with their formidable strength, they are ultimately not knights or members of the Abyss royal family. In such an environment, their strength is significantly weakened, and the inability to properly refine the rampaging Abyss energy makes it impossible for them to replenish and recover.

Even with level nine combat power, if one doesn't employ survival strategies, recklessly wastes energy, or engages in continuous head-on conflicts with those twisted creatures, it would be difficult to survive for more than a year.

But... that was just ordinary level nine combat power.

If Hunzhen maintains the level of strength he previously displayed, relying solely on his Yuan Shen weapon, he could easily survive alone in this Thorn Prison for a year.

Moreover, he can choose to recover health and mana once a day, so theoretically the biggest problem is actually insignificant to him.

You can't hit someone who's smiling.

Since there was no conflict of interest between them, Hunzhen didn't mind giving Hughkel a ride.

The latest novel is first published here!

"OK, but before that—"

Hunzhen raised a finger in a "shh" gesture and glanced ahead: "They're here."

Roar~——!

A sinister, incoherent roar followed.

Three dark, twisted figures darted across several massive mounds of earth.

Using instinct to move at high speed with the help of cover, their quick approach makes it difficult to aim at long-range attacks.

A primordial spirit weapon appeared in the sky at some unknown time, its beam of light bursting forth and instantly splitting into three thousand beams, blocking the twisted creature's path and dismembering it at high speed.

However, the scattered limbs still seemed to possess the characteristics of life, with arms and feet continuing to run forward until they were completely annihilated after being activated a second time by the beam of the Yuan Shen weapon.

Hunzhen took a deep look at the completely lifeless ashes and said to Hughkel, "We should find a secluded place to hide from these brainless bastards' attacks."

Hughkel readily agreed.

As he continued to move and clear away the twisted creatures, he couldn't help but wonder, "What exactly are these life forms? They're neither abyssal beasts nor intelligent, yet they attack us relentlessly..."

"They are the 'failed' who failed to become knights, or rather... 'mad demons'."

Hunzhen didn't hold back and casually told Hughkel this cruel truth, part of the truth.

"They... are us, the defeated ones?" Upon hearing this shocking truth, Hughkel turned pale.

Although the truth was not surprising according to the process of elimination, the thought of becoming that monster if he failed sent chills down Hughker's spine.

But I wouldn't regret it.

As a powerful domain lord who has secured a winning spot, he naturally wouldn't easily regret his decision.

Past records show that the failure of those who wanted to become knights was somewhat predictable.

Whether they die as monsters or in some other way, it's all the same for the losers.

Rather than becoming a caged bird with only a lifespan as a royal guard, he would rather risk becoming a monster and try to become a knight.

Hunzhen watched as Hughkel's expression changed from grim to resolute, but said nothing more.

He didn't intend to tell Hughkel that just a month later, the man would die from the unbearable pressure of the Thorn Prison, his flesh and blood breaking apart.

Life is precious, but everyone must be responsible for their own choices.

But did Hunzhen ever consider that in the last moments of his life, Hughkel also longed for rest, missed his hometown and old friends... Despair, pain, regret, all sorts of emotions would have erupted.

Has Hunzhen ever cared about these things?

No, Hunzhen only thinks about himself.

Hunzhen knew nothing at all.

He only cares about himself and the simulation results.

Not striking back at someone who's smiling, accompanying Hückel to the last stretch of his life—that was the last vestige of Hunzhen's kindness and gentleness.

Because, not long ago, the simulation record finally contained the textual explanation he wanted.

[In the second year, the gates of the Thorn Prison opened, and behind them you obtained an Abyss Crystal Core of the Silver Demon Clan. The second and final test was to carry this Abyss Crystal Core through the Abyss Passage within this temple to the bottom of the Abyss, consume the Abyss Crystal Core, and activate the sacred relic called the "Colorless Core" to become a knight.]

……

In the fifth year, at the bottom of the abyss, you finally accepted the radiation of the "Colorless Core," becoming a knight/demon, and consumed several abyssal crystal cores you had stored to raise your knight bloodline level.

In the eighth year, you returned to the seventeenth level of the Abyss. During the Knight Conferment Ceremony, all the royal bloodlines who wished to recruit you were present. However, to the surprise of all the Abyss royals present, the Silver Demon King, a deity of the Silver Demon Clan who almost never spoke at Knight Conferment ceremonies, attempted to exceptionally confer upon you the unprecedented title of "Chosen Knight," making you the only knight in history to be directly conferred a knightship by an Abyss deity.

[You don't know why the Silver Demon King favors you so much, but this development is exactly what you wanted, so you abandoned your original plan to be bestowed with Milirat's title and became the first Chosen Knight.]

[In the tenth year, as a chosen knight who was closer to the gods than even the royal guards, you found the moment when the protective forces within the Silver Temple were weakest, ambushed the Silver Demon King, successfully broke through his soul defenses, and successfully performed the secret technique of possession.]

[The terrifying will of the abyss and the powerful soul of the Silver Demon King retaliated against you. Even though you are no longer the same as before, you still failed to possess him after only a few days. The Soul Heart Jade was activated, and you had to settle for second best. You possessed the prince "Laurgials", a backup target you had disliked for a long time, and began your journey of escape.]

[This simulation has ended]

Please select the inheritance direction.

【1. Material Inheritance (Gained intermediate-level Void Demon bloodline, life gene multiplier increased to 38 times, spacetime compatibility increased to 6 times)】 (Author's note: Intermediate-level Demon bloodline is the peak of material in this simulation. Even without the life gene multiplier bonus from the Life Source Fruit, the royal bloodline could not be inherited due to incomplete body possession.)

[2. Soul Inheritance (Spatial perception greatly improved, willpower greatly improved, comprehension of the Body Seizure Technique greatly improved, comprehension of the Seventy-Two Levels of Primordial Spirit greatly improved...)]

3. Forgo the profits from this simulation.

The so-called significant improvement is not a percentage relative to the current level of understanding of Hunzhen, but a judgment based on a ten-year timeframe. Terms like "extremely significant" or "significant" may sound impressive, but they are not things that can bring about a qualitative change to Hunzhen at this stage in just one or two times.

Hunzhen didn't waver and directly chose to inherit the soul.

Not to mention that he is currently on the seventeenth level of the abyss, and has not even come into contact with the so-called sacred object "Colorless Core", obtaining the demon bloodline could easily lead to a terrible turn of events.

You see, that Silver Demon King has a "strange fondness" for him and may already be secretly watching him.

Hunzhen decided to go through the proper procedures and become a knight in a simulated way first.

However, seeing the explanation in the simulation record, Hunzhen couldn't help but feel a little excited.

"finally……"

"We're finally getting close to our goal!"

—The possession attempt failed just a few days later.

With just this one sentence, he declared that all of Hunzhen's efforts to date would be rewarded.

(End of this chapter)