" Take this, HOLY BRICK!!!!!"

Ray threw the mind-blowing brick with all his might.

The brick flew straight at the Stone Guardian. It was obstructed by the countless flying debris, but somehow, the flying brick still reached its target and hit the stone Guardian right on its temple.

Groooooo

Successfully hitting the Stone Guardian's temple, the Mind-blowing brick effect didn't disappoint. The stone Guardian lost his mind for a sec, and his balance became unstable.

Grooooo

It wasn't known whether the flying brick's strong effect or the Stone Guardian's bad luck was too terrifying. But the Stone Guardian, whose balances became unstable, fell down and hit the sharp stone thorn.

Crash, crackle, crack, crackle!!

-1000

*critical damage*

The sharp stone thorn pierced the Stone guardian's head and dealt a critical damage, reducing the Stone Guardian's Hp to 0.

[ Stone Guardian]

[ Hp: 0/5000]

[ DING!!! Your party has defeated Stone Guardian, Schwarz exp +3000, exp+3000, stone amulet]

[ DING!!! You have completed the trial of Stone Guardian. Get the blessing of stone.]

[ DING!!! You have complete the sub-mission clear the trial of stone guardian, exp+500]

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A wave of notification hits Ray's mind, and a big surge of light went into his and Schwarz's body.

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[ Spirit beast Qilineko (Schwarz)]

[ A type of spirit beasts that dwells in the darkness. It was seen as an advent of calamity by some people.]

[ Lv: 22]

[ Exp: 70/720]

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[ Name: Ray Carmelo ]

[ Title: One for all, All for one* ]

[ Lv: 27]

[ Exp: 1000/2600]

.

[ A new feature will unlock when the host reaches Lv. 30, Please work hard.]

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Ray looked at his and Schwarz's stats, and his mood turned into an elated one. He could feel that Schwarz has gotten a lot stronger from the previous battle. Furthermore, all her wounds have been healed because of the level up.

" Meow."

Knowing her wound has been healed, Schwarz didn't waste any more time and jumped at her master. She was delighted that she got stronger and could protect Ray better.

" Ray."

" I know, I know. I wouldn't do anything risky like that anymore."

This time, it was Rena who pounced at Ray. Tears flew down from her eyes and wet her cheeks. It looks like all of this was still too much for her.

Ray looked at her warmly. He tightened his embrace at her and consoled her that everything was fine.

" Congratulations, challenger, you are the first one to clear this trial in the last 100 years. Please work hard on the other trials."

The voice came again out of nowhere and woke the three from their warm embrace.

" Wait, other trials?"

Ray was fully immersed in the joyful feeling that he didn't check the system notification carefully. Now hearing the voice mentioning other trials, he was pretty shocked.

" Hooo, it was strange that you come here without knowing the other trial. Like the name suggests, the trial of the guardian consists of 5 trials. Stone, Iron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. You have just completed the stone trial, so you must work harder to complete the other 4."

" What, wait."

Ray heard the voice, and his mind was full of disbelief. He quickly checked the mission information and was bizarre when he found 5 other sub-missions under the trial of guardian mission.

[ - Find the hidden ruins and finish the trial of guardian (0/1)]

-> finish the trial of stone guardian (0/1)

-> finish the trial of iron guardian (0/1)

-> finish the trial of bronze guardian (0/1)

-> finish the trial of silver guardian (0/1)

-> finish the trial of gold guardian (0/1)

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This realization made Ray's joyful mood instantly turned into sorrow. He thought that he finally cleared the mission and only need to finish the boss. Only to hit the fact that he needs to clear the other 4 trials.

" Don't be sad, o brave challenger. The fact that you have finished the trial of stone means that you are worthy of finishing the other trial as well. But I am rather curious; your plan was only successful because of luck and is full of loopholes. What would you do if your plan wasn't successful."

The voice's question made Ray fall silent. It was true that he didn't think that far. He put all his bets on the luck accumulated and didn't have any backup plan.

He was still trying to figure out something when suddenly a ripple appeared in the air.

" If it was to happen, then I will be the one to take action."

The sudden voice was not unfamiliar to them. Ray and co look at the voice's source and found Xiansheng floating in the air.

" Xiansheng? How could you.."

" Of course, there's always a way, Ray. As a former God, having a small trick like this isn't that special. In fact, if you three were ever to come into danger, I could come out by breaking our contract and help you guys. It's just a broken contract could never be restored again."

After saying those words, Xiansheng turned silent once again and looked at Ray and co with looks full of acknowledgment.

It seems that in the trial before, they didn't only clear the trial of stone, but also cleared a small trial from Xiansheng.

Of course, Ray was pretty happy with Xiansheng's revelation. It meant that they have another backup in a dangerous situation, but Ray also didn't want to depend on it. Doing that will result in their contract being broken, and Ray would want to avoid that as much as possible.

" Then, it seems my worry was useless after all. O brave challenger, I hope luck will always be on your side in your future journey. This is the time of farewell, and may we meet again if fate allows us."

Along with the voice, bright lights came and enveloped their bodies.

Unbeknownst to them, during the time the bright light enveloped them, a small fire flashed and disappeared through Rena's body.

When the bright light eventually disappears, they have been transferred outside the ruins.

"*Sigh*, now we have cleared the first trial, we still need to find and clear the other 4."

Ray said with a tone full of disappointment. Even though all of this trial has tempered him and make him stronger, he still missed the warm taste of home.

" Hohoho, every journey has its finals day, don't rush Ray. But seeing you have cleared the first trial, there is a place I wanted you guys to visit, and it might also help you guys in your journey."

" Eh, where is it? Does it have a warm bed and a nice place to relax?"

Ray's and Rena's eyes turn bright from Xiansheng's words. The exploration has placed no small burden on their mind and body, so a short break would always be welcomed.

" I don't know about the warm bed, but there should be a place to relax. Now to our next destination, the phoenix tribe village."

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