Chapter 276: The Final Trial

Kael gathered his Slaughter Intent.

He then gathers soul power in his other hand mixing with his slaughter intent in a way he hadn’t attempted before.

The two energies merged.

Slaughter Intent and soul power became one—darker, denser, sharper than either alone. Kael’s soul sense expanded violently, and the guardian hesitated sensing the dangerous energy.

He combined it with his soul power—threading Slaughter Intent through his soul sense like poison through water. The two energies merged, and Kael directed them toward the guardian.

"Slaughter Gaze."

The guardian paused.

Not long— just a fraction of a second. But against an opponent at Early Soul Tempering Realm, a fraction was everything. The guardian’s burning eyes flickered. Its form shuddered—twitch—as the Slaughter Intent pressed against its consciousness.

Kael moved.

His body cultivation carried him forward with Tier 4 Peak physical speed that no mana required. He closed the distance before the guardian could react, drawing one Shadow Slayer blade from his back.

Soul power coated the edge. Slaughter Intent saturated the metal.

The blade turned black-red—humming with combined spiritual and intent-based lethality.

"Sky Rending Technique, First Form—Falling Star."

SLASH!

The blade descended. The guardian’s eyes widened—those burning orbs tracking the strike—and it twisted sideways.

But it was too late.

The slash carved through the guardian’s right arm. The limb dissolved—pfft—scattering into particles of soul energy before the guardian could reform it.

The guardian retreated. Its expression didn’t change—but its movements became more cautious.

Kael didn’t give it breathing space.

He pressed forward. The guardian raised its remaining arm to block, soul power condensing into a shield.

Kael didn’t care about the shield.

"SOUL SEVERING BLADE!"

This time, everything went into the strike. Soul power. Slaughter Intent. The full weight of his spiritual capacity concentrated into a single edge.

SLASH!

The blade cut through the guardian’s soul shield like paper. Cut through its remaining arm. Cut through its torso.

BOOM!

The guardian’s body ruptured. Soul energy erupted outward—whoooosh—and the construct dissolved completely. Particles of blue-white soul energy swirled through the air like fireflies, drifting toward Kael.

They entered his body.

Vvvvm.

The absorbed soul energy settled into his soul core. His soul core drank deeply, pulling the energy inward, expanding his reserves.

Kael sat down crossed legged immediately as he closed his eyes.

The soul power from the guardian integrated steadily. His soul core pulsed—thump... thump—growing denser, more structured. The boundary between Mid Soul Core and Late Soul Core thinned.

He pushed against it. He was close—so close—but the breakthrough needed a catalyst. A push.

Just a little more...

His eyes opened.

[CONGRATULATIONS. SECOND TRIAL COMPLETE. SOUL MIRROR LABYRINTH CLEARED IN 43 MINUTES. RANK: EXCELLENT.]

[REWARD: SOUL CONDENSATION CRYSTAL. ABSORBING THIS CRYSTAL WILL ACCELERATE SOUL CORE REFINEMENT, INCREASE SOUL SENSE RANGE BY APPROXIMATELY 10 METERS.]

[THIRD TRIAL CHAMBER BELOW. THE FINAL TEST.]

A Soul Condensation Crystal materialized before him—small, fist-sized, radiating dense soul energy. It was deep violet, perfectly crystalline, and warm to the touch.

Kael’s physical sight returned. The blackness lifted, and the chamber materialized around him.

The far wall of the chamber rumbled. GRRRRR. Stone ground against stone as a hidden passage opened. A staircase descended into darkness—narrow, steep, the walls covered in increasingly complex runes.

Kael looked at the crystal in his hand. Then at the staircase.

He didn’t know what the third trial would demand. Walking in with his soul power just short of a breakthrough was a risk.

He sat back down.

May as well solve that first.

The crystal dissolved into his soul core over hours.

Hhhh... hhhh...

His soul power fluctuated—rising, settling, rising again. The boundary between Mid and Late Soul Core was like a membrane—flexible but stubborn. He pressed against it. The guardian’s absorbed energy pressed from the other side.

Two days passed.

THRUM!

A powerful soul force emanated from Kael’s body. The labyrinth walls vibrated—hummm—and the runic floor pulsed in response. His soul core expanded—crack—the membrane shattered.

[Soul Cultivation Breakthrough: Late Soul Core Realm.]

[Soul Sense Range: 50 meters.]

Kael opened his eyes.

A smile spread across his face.

He stood, stretched his neck—crack—and walked toward the staircase.

The labyrinth had dissolved after the trial—the walls, corridors, and traps all fading into the chamber’s polished floor. Only the center remained with one feature.

The far wall rumbled.The descent was long. The air grew colder with each step. The soul energy grew denser. The walls were covered in runes so complex they looked like language rather than formations. They pulsed with faint violet light, responding to his presence.

He reached the bottom.

The third trial chamber opened before him—a circular arena which was 60 meters in diameter. The floor was made of a rare alloy. The walls rose 20 meters high, lined with spectator seats carved from stone but they were empty, waiting for an audience that would never come.

Whirrr.

[THIRD TRIAL: COMBAT MASTERY. THE CANDIDATE MUST DEFEAT THE SECT GUARDIAN.]

[THE SECT GUARDIAN WILL MATCH CANDIDATE’S CULTIVATION.]

A figure materialized on the opposite side of the arena.

It solidified from soul energy—until a complete being stood before Kael.

A tall, elderly man. His features were sharp. A long silver beard that fell to his chest. He wore the robes of the Immortal Soul Sect—deep purple with silver embroidery, immaculate despite being a construct.

His aura was immense. Even suppressed, even restrained, the soul power radiating from this figure was staggering. Kael’s soul sense pressed against it and bounced back.

Equal to Cassandra. Maybe higher. And his soul power is at least equal to the Gra-Khazul Patriarch.

This was a being of tremendous spiritual power, condensed into a construct designed to test candidates.

The elder’s eyes settled on Kael. Then his aura shifted—contracting, compressing, reducing. His mana cultivation dropped to Mana Heart Rank 4. His soul power settled at Peak Soul Core.

The guardian raised his right hand. Soul energy condensed—solidified—shaped itself into a blade. A soul sword. Pure white, translucent, humming with spiritual density.

Then the guardian spoke.

Unlike the mechanical voice, an aged, deep voice resonant with authority came out.

"Show me what you’ve got, candidate."