The woman introduced herself as Irene Moon, an apprentice from a small immortal faction that was wiped out in a battle. She had fled through the wilderness for a long time before finding a glimmer of hope. However, her journey led her to the Undersea Sovereigns, three malevolent immortals who feed on others' life essence. They targeted her due to her severe injuries, which worsened through their battles.After sharing her story, Irene said, “In any case, I must thank you. My injuries are stabilized now. Please take me to Purecastle. They can help me fully heal.”“It just so happens that I’m also heading to Purecastle. I’ll accompany you. It’s better to have someone to look out for you along the way.”They continued their journey, though their progress was slow due to Irene’s injuries. It took them three days to reach Purecastle's territory. Along the way, they passed through small towns where Adrian noticed posters from Daemaxim seeking him. To avoid trouble, he had to change his ap
After considering the request, Irene said, "If you want to join Purecastle, there might be other ways. You don’t necessarily have to participate in the trial."Adrian was surprised. "How?""Well, that's a secret. You'll find out eventually. Since you saved me, it's only fair that I help you a little," Irene replied.Just then, a group of people in white robes approached. When they reached Irene, the leader bowed and asked, "Lady Irene?"Adrian was caught off guard. 'Lady Irene? They know her?' he thought, suddenly recalling Irene's earlier words and realizing she must be connected to them.Irene nodded. "Yes, that’s me.""In that case, please come with us. Master Eiden instructed us to wait for you, and we can't neglect our duty," the leader said.The group began to escort Irene away, but she stopped them and said, "Wait a moment, Orson. I need your help with something.""Yes?" Orson Thatcher frowned.Irene recounted her recent experiences and added, "My friend here saved my l
Irene was at a loss for words at Adrian’s response. After a moment, she sighed deeply and said, "Well, fine. Be careful then."Orson added, "Please do your best, Mr. Adrian. I look forward to seeing you among the ranks of Purecastle." With that, he and his group escorted Irene into Purecastle.As Adrian watched them depart, he smiled and said, "Hm, Purecastle, huh? This should be interesting."As Orson had mentioned, Purecastle’s recruitment this time was substantial. Normally, they only took in three hundred new apprentices each year, but this time the number had been expanded to one thousand. Anyone who could pass the trials, regardless of their background, would be made an apprentice.Before the trials began, Adrian observed the other participants. He noticed several individuals with impressive strength among them, even those he couldn't completely underestimate.The trials were divided into three stages. The first stage required participants to traverse a canyon. Those who cou
Despite the approaching group, the young man remained calm and composed. As they charged at him, he smiled and said, "One thing you need to learn is that in a fight, having more people doesn’t necessarily mean having more power."He waved his hand, and a whirlwind suddenly rose from the ground. The wind appeared so abruptly that everyone was caught off guard. The fierce gust drained their strength, making it impossible for them to launch any offense.The young man in white stood poised and elegant, untouched by the chaos around him."Damn it. What kind of sorcery is this? Let us go!" the leader, Magath Goldstein, shouted in frustration.The young man raised an eyebrow and replied, "Sorcery? It seems like you're all talk. If you lack the power, you should go back and avoid embarrassing yourself here."With another wave of his hand, a gust of wind swept through the area again. This time, it didn’t harm them but instead threw Magath and his group off balance, sending them tumbling aw
Sensing Adrian's confusion, the young man explained, "I mentioned earlier that the trial may seem easy but is actually very difficult. It’s quite challenging to pass without a partner.""So, you sought me out?" Adrian asked.The young man nodded with a smile. "Yes.""But we don’t know each other, and there are so many others here. Why did you choose me?" Adrian inquired."Because I have a good feeling about you. What do you say? If we team up, passing the trial should be a breeze," the young man said, his words enticing.Adrian found the offer quite tempting. Although the exact difficulty of the trial was unknown, it was clear it wouldn't be simple. Teaming up would certainly improve their chances of success."Alright, I accept your offer," Adrian agreed.The only remaining question was about the young man's background. However, Adrian was not easily intimidated. If the young man had ulterior motives, Adrian was confident in his ability to handle the situation."Since we’re tea
“Tyron, I think it’s time we join forces,” Adrian said, his power beginning to intensify around him.Tyron smiled and replied, "Sure.”He snapped his folding fan shut and thrust it forward, releasing a beam of energy that shot out like lightning. At the same time, Adrian unleashed his own attack. Their combined forces converged in mid-air, creating an immense power that seemed capable of splitting the heavens. The energy surged forward, striking the formation with incredible intensity.Another thunderous explosion followed, causing the white mist to disperse. This time, the mist spread even further than before. However, just as the pair were about to break free, the mist once again rapidly reconvened and trapped them.“This is getting ridiculous!” Adrian exclaimed in frustration.Tyron, however, remained calm and gently fanned himself. “If brute force can’t break through, perhaps we should try a more subtle approach.”“A subtle approach?” Adrian repeated, then felt as if a light
As the last of the dense mist dissipated, Adrian and Tyron found themselves standing in a massive valley. Steep cliffs and jagged rocks surrounded the valley, creating an intense feeling of oppression.Looking around, Adrian noticed that there was no one else nearby. “It seems we’re among the first to break through the formation,” he said.Tyron nodded in agreement. “Since we have a head start, we should definitely make the most of this advantage.”With that, they reached a consensus and quickly moved forward.The participants of the trial were still navigating the maze of white mist. While the formation was not overly difficult, it required an understanding of its principles. Those who grasped the nuances, like Adrian and Tyron, could break through without too much trouble. If someone couldn't pass this stage, it meant they were not yet qualified to join Purecastle.As Adrian and Tyron pressed on, more participants began to emerge from the formation. Among them was Magath.Magat
“It seems we must defeat this giant serpent to pass this trial,” Tyron commented.“It’s just a mere beast. There’s nothing to fear. Watch me!” Adrian replied. With a shout, he leaped into the air.While everyone else was terrified by the sight of the giant serpent, Adrian boldly charged forward.“Look, there’s someone up there!” the crowd exclaimed in shock as they saw Adrian attacking the serpent.“Is he insane? He’s throwing himself to his death!”“Who cares? That’s one less competitor. It’ll bring us closer to victory!”Adrian ignored their comments and faced the giant serpent head-on. The massive head loomed over him, ready to devour him in a single bite. The serpent seemed intrigued by this small creature daring to confront it and didn’t immediately attack. Instead, it studied Adrian closely.“What are you staring at? Never seen your master before?” Adrian barked, his sword glowing with energy as he slashed forward, aiming for the serpent’s vulnerable spot.Sensing the dan