“Your time,” said Fen with a smile as an hourglass appeared in his right hand. He tossed the device into the air and then watched as it grew into a ten-meter giant. The hourglass, suspended in the air by an unknown force, trembled slightly, and the first piece of sand trickled through. “Starts now!”

Vwoosh!

Rao Wu’s pupils dilated, and his hairs stood on end as he sensed massive danger. “Scatter!” The youth instinctively shouted. He, Xian Da, and Ju Tu quickly jumped in various directions, barely dodging the administrator’s attack as he crashed into their previous locations.

Fen’s eyes gleamed as he turned to Rao Wu. “Decent reaction speed. You trained well. But how will you react to this!?” The lycan’s arms suddenly blazed with flames, which he then swiped down.

VwoooSh!

Three flaming claw marks flew out of Fen’s had and blazed towards Rao Wu, who suddenly felt like he was stuck in place.

“Ugh!” Rao Wu was not new to this feeling. As the tests progressed, he faced more and more opponents that could use battle techniques. Warriors ‘locked down’ their opponents with soul energy before unleashing their techniques. They did this to prevent their adversaries from escaping. After all, battle techniques cost a lot of soul energy. They wouldn’t be economical if the enemy could easily dodge them.

Fortunately, getting locked down was not an automatic death sentence. If a soul trainer was strong enough, they could break free with their soul energy or unleash a technique of their own to counter the opponent.

Strangely, Rao Wu chose neither option. Instead, he gripped his dagger and watched the incoming flames with a calm expression.

“First Pillar!” BOOM! At the critical juncture, a translucent, meter-wide pole suddenly smashed into the flame claws from the side, causing a massive explosion. Ju Tu jumped out of the blast wielding a brass staff and swung in Fen’s direction. “Second Pillar!” Following its shout, a pillar broke out of the pole and flew toward Fen. If one looked closely, they would notice that there were actually two pillars superimposed on each other.

“Nine-Pillar Stack!” Fen’s eyes sparkled as he admired the technique. However, rather than dodge, he raised his left hand and stopped the attack. “Teaching your soul pets battle techniques. Unconventional. But—" Fen’s lips perked up as he lightly squeezed. Praack! Cracks appeared along the pillar, and it shattered to pieces. “—Not quite there yet.”

Ju Tu grimaced as it watched Fen easily destroy its attack. Nine-Pillar Stack was the battle technique Rao Wu bought for it. The technique unleashed nine pillars, each more potent than the last as the attacks stacked on each other. Unfortunately, because Rao Wu just bought it, Ju Tu could only go up to two pillars. It needed more time to master the rest.

“Ooh, where’s that spunky wolf?” Fen grinned as he glanced at a rapidly approaching shadow. “You should not get too cocky, child. There’s no such thing as an invincible technique.” With those words, Fen gently tapped the ground.

Vwooom!

Black spikes broke out of the ground in succession, rapidly rushing toward the advancing shadow.

Sensing impending danger, Xian Da quickly jumped out of its shadow and retreated, barely dodging the spikes as they zipped past. The Dusklight Wolf stared at Fen with fear in its eyes. “How!?”

“Your ability links you to the shadow realm,” explained Fen as he took a step forward. “Anyone who can access that realm can also attack you.” With a smile, he glanced at the hourglass. “That’s one minute gone. Sorry, but lesson’s over. From now on, you must do your best to survive.”

Boom!

A trepidatious aura burst out from the lycan administrator as he raised his hand. “Chains of Gehenna, bind my enemies.”

Rao Wu swiftly jumped back as black chains shot from several tiny, disc-shaped black portals that appeared around the room. The chains, as if possessing minds of their own, relentlessly hunted down the trio, seeking to tie them up.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Rao Wu and Ju Tu desperately smashed the chains that came too close while avoiding the rest, while Xian Da alternated between jumping in and out of its shadow to slip past the chains. The Dusklight Wolf did not dare stay in the shadow realm too long because it felt similar energy coming from the chains. These strange black chains could definitely pierce into the shadow realm!

Fen could have been satisfied with tiring the trio out, but that was not the lycan’s style. After hampering their movement, he charged in for the kill. Naturally, his first target was the soul trainer, Rao Wu.

Fen crossed through the chains in the blink of an eye and then appeared in front of Rao Wu, fist drawn back for a deadly punch. “Grit your teeth, kid!”

Bang!

Fen’s punch struck brass, and he turned to see Ju Tu stubbornly blocking its path with its staff. “Good block!” Fen praised the block but then raised his left palm towards Rao Wu’s head. “Chaos Burst!”

Rao Wu went cold like someone dunked him in water. Still, despite his fear, the child mustered the resilience to drop to the ground just as a massive force blasted out of the administrator’s hand.

Boom!

The black shockwave blew up a small crater in the ground behind Rao Wu. The child, however, did not bother acknowledging the lucky break before charging for Fen’s legs. Wielding his dagger, he rapidly stabbed out. Rao Wu’s dagger seemed to double in size as terrible energy appeared around it. “Cruel Thrust!”

Execute was the first skill of three that Rao Wu learned from the technique he bought, Executioner’s Manual. Rao Wu’s strong foundational skills made it easy for him to pick up the skill near-instantly, but it would take some more time before he could master the next two levels, Mammoth Strike and Execute.

Fen looked at the Rao Wu’s incoming blade with mirth. He grabbed Ju Tu’s staff and yanked it closer while he kicked at the youth.

Bang!

To Rao Wu’s surprise, Fen easily shattered his attack with a single kick, and the remnant force sent him flying towards waiting chains. Fen, meanwhile, turned his attention to Ju Tu, who he had forced closer. He clenched his fist and then punched at the Silver Primate.

Ju Tu, however, let go of the staff and then crossed its arms. Its fur hardened as the punch came in, significantly softening the blow. Still, Ju Tu coughed up blood as the blow rattle its organs.

Fen, not one to miss opportunities, raised Ju Tu’s staff and smashed down!

Bang! Shockingly, a spearhead blocked the attack from hitting Ju Tu’s head. Fen, surprised, looked to his right. “Oh, so that’s how it is.” Fen nodded in understanding when he saw Rao Wu riding on Xian Da’s back. Apparently, the Dusklight Wolf saved Rao Wu from the chains and then rushed back to assist Ju Tu.

Rao Wu utilized Xian Da’s charging momentum to knock Fen’s arm skyward and then stabbed at the lycan’s chest after skillfully repositioning his hand.

Bang! Fen released the staff and then slapped Rao Wu’s spear to the side. With gleaming eyes, he stamped on the ground, once again sending those shadow spikes to impale the incoming duo.

Hup! Rao Wu jumped off Xian Da’s back as the Dusklight Wolf sharply veered to the left, and then used the spikes as footholds to sprint across. Within moments he jumped over Fen and then stabbed out with the spear.

“Good move,” Fen praised. “But, you can’t dodge now!” Loud howls erupted as he swiped upward with his arms, creating powerful, slicing winds to tear Rao Wu to shreds. However, just before he released the attack, Fen quickly diverted one half of the attack to his right as he praised, “Smart!”

At that moment, Xian Da appeared from the right, having just swiped its aura-covered claws toward Fen. The Dusklight Wolf did not dare get too close, but the long-range Soul Blade attack was enough to draw some of Fen’s attention.

Soul Blade was the claw technique Rao Wu bought for Xian Da. Like Punishing Claws, it coated the wielder's claws (or hands) with soul energy. However, unlike Punishing Claws, the wielder could send out that soul energy in a long-range attack akin to a wind blade.

Xian Da’s sneak attack forced Fen to divert a portion of his attack to counter that move, or else he would get hit. The lycan’s pride refused to allow even that little loss.

Boom! Xian Da’s Soul Blade struck Fen’s Tempest Winds, causing an explosion of sharp winds that nearly sent the Dusklight Wolf flying. Fortunately, it descended into its shadow in time for the worst of the winds to pass through.

Meanwhile, Rao Wu’s eyes gleamed as he pointed his spear down at the incoming wind storm. He would not have stood a chance against the full blow, but he should counter this much.

A resplendent glow burst around Rao Wu as his soul aura exploded and then rapidly condensed around his spear. Contrary to Fen’s assumption, Rao Wu was not helpless in the air. He specifically jumped because one of his spear techniques could only be activated mid-air. “Dark Descent!”

Rao Wu spear burst with light and then charged down with him in tow. The aura-covered blade pierced through the incoming windstorm like a needle through a balloon and then descended on a stunned Fen.

The lycan chose to retreat, but he suddenly sensed danger and looked over his shoulder to see a staff barrelling toward its back. He then glanced to his left to see the still bloody Ju Tu gritting its teeth at its swung with all its might.

Fen’s eyes gleamed as the lurking Xian Da also jumped out of its shadow and then pounced at Fen’s left side. “What is this, checkmate?” Fen grinned in appreciation of Rao Wu’s talent. Indeed, not many soul trainers could reach this level of synergy with their soul pets. It almost made him let Rao Wu win.

Almost.

“Still not enough!” Fen shouted as he stamped his feet on the ground. Immediately, those shadow spike endlessly shot up around him, forming a thorny flower that repelled the eager challengers.

Bang! Ju Tu and Xian Da, caught off-guard, fell victim to the sudden move. Fortunately, Ju Tu hardened its furs on time, allowing it to escape with only a few significant injuries. Xian Da was not as lucky. As a servant-ranked monster, it had no business challenging an Emperor-ranked in the first place.

Furthermore, a wolf’s natural defenses were not high. They were a species that excelled more in offense. As a result, Xian Da nearly perished on the spot as the spikes gored several holes through its body.

The Dusklight Wolf crashed to the ground, throwing up massive amounts of blood as the spears struck its lungs and heart. However, a green glow covered its body, and those injuries recovered in a second.

The Undying Heart. Xian Da would never get tired of thanking Rao Wu for giving it this ability. Even though Xian Da could only use it once every 24 hours, the ability had saved its life on countless occasions.

“Tsk. I thought I eliminated him for certain.” Fen clucked his tongue as he nonchalantly caught Rao Wu’s descending spear. He looked at Xian Da with a strange gleam in his eyes as he flung Rao Wu and his spear toward Ju Tu. “He’s more tenacious than I thought.”

Rao Wu groaned as Ju Tu caught and then cushioned his fall. He thanked Ju Tu as he dropped to the ground and then looked at the hourglass.

Five minutes left.

Rao Wu grimaced as he turned to look at Fen. ‘Still that long?’

Ju Tu asked as he grimly stared at the unfathomable administrator. “Can’t we stall? We’re halfway there.”

Rao Wu, however, shook his head. “Do you think we’re the strongest or most coordinated candidates to make it this far?”

Ju Tu hesitated, but then shook its head. “No.”

“Right? Yet, 23 candidates before us died here.” Rao Wu shivered and then stared at the grinning Fen. “Something’s not right. I think the only way to pass this test is to knock him out.”

“What!? Are you crazy!?” This time, it was Xian Da who responded as it ‘popped out’ next to them. “We can’t even touch him. How is that possible?”

Rao Wu’s brows scrunched together. “I’m not sure, but judging by how the past tests went, I believe that’s our best bet. I think the test creator favors active rather than passive or reactive people. We wouldn’t have made it this far if we were the type to wait things out. I don’t think we should change the way we do things now.” Rao Wu paused and then added, “Besides, I’m not sure, but I have a feeling he’s been getting stronger the longer we fight. If that’s the case, I don’t want to see what his final attack will be.”

“Alright.” Ju Tu readily agreed as it brandished its staff. “Let’s do it.”

Rao Wu nodded and then whispered into both soul pets’ ears. He then glared at Fen, who had been watching them with smiling eyes. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Here we come!” After he spoke, the trio charged at Fen and began launching their strongest attacks.

Fen glanced at the hourglass. “Four minutes left.” He responded to the trio’s challenge with a grin and unleashed his dangerous combos, linking shadow spears, wind blades, and explosive blasts with unprecedented skill.

Just like Rao Wu suspected, Fen was indeed getting stronger with each passing second as he freed up more and more soul energy, allowing him to unleash these soul-sucking techniques in quick succession.

Rao Wu, Ju Tu, and Xian Da bitterly fought back, but they could not put a scratch on Fen. In fact, as time went on, Fen forced the trio further on the defensive as his attacks took on a whole new dimension.

By the ninth minute, Ju Tu’s fur was caked with blood as it had borne the brunt of the attacks they couldn’t dodge.

But things were only about to get worse.

“Such a shame.” Fen’s disappointed voice rang out at the nine-minute mark. “I really thought you would be different.” Boom! First, Fen expelled everything in his surrounding with a burst of soul energy, sending the trio several meters back. Then, the lycan raised his hand and called out, “Blades of Gehenna! Smite my enemies!”

Following Fen’s shout, five massive black portals appeared around him and then indiscriminately shot out black wind scythes at Rao Wu and co. The trio tried to dodge, but Fen’s abundant soul energy managed to lock them all in place.

“GUO!” Ju Tu immediately hardened its fur, crossed its arms over its chest, and then stepped in front of Rao Wu and Xian Da. The wind blades slammed into the Silver Primate, ripping up its brilliant fur and dyeing it red with blood.

“Ju Tu!” Tears welled up in Rao Wu’s eyes as he watched Ju Tu’s blood rain down like a fountain. He hated himself for being so weak, but he couldn’t take the Silver Primate’s place.

From afar, Fen nodded with praise in his eyes. “A noble sacrifice,” he said as he once again raised his hand. This time, a black ball that resembled a black hole began to form above him. “Unfortunately, it is ultimately meaningless.”

Rao Wu’s hairs stood on end as he glared hatefully at the black hole. That was it! That was most likely the move that killed the previous contestants! Rao Wu cursed all of Fen’s ancestry to damnation! How was this fair!? What kind of monster could survive that attack!

However, just when it seemed like Rao Wu was in the pits of despair, his eyes suddenly gleamed with determination. “NOW!”

Boom!

Rao Wu and his soul pets erupted with power as he rapidly unleashed Soul Burst and Overdrive.

“GUO!” Ju Tu suddenly roared through the pain and jammed its hands together, creating a sonic explosion that knocked away a few wind blades. Ju Tu’s attack only managed to create an opening for a brief millisecond.

But that was enough!

With a roar, Ju Tu picked up its staff and then flung it at the immobile administrator.

“Targeting me at my strongest! Bold!” Fen’s eyes burned with battle intent as he reached out and caught the staff with his free hand. However, his expression shifted when Xian Da burst out from the staff’s thin shadow, bit his leg, and then half sunk into the shadow realm to secure itself.

Fen stared at Xian Da in shock and disbelief. He actually got hit! Enraged, he screamed as he raised his second foot to strike the Dusklight Wolf. “You little—”

Vwoosh!

Fen’s eyes jumped, and he promptly ignored Xian Da to focus on a spear hurtling at his face. “Good plan!” Fen praised the collapsing Ju Tu, “but not good enough!” Fen expertly dropped the staff and then knocked the spear down.

But the surprise was far from over!

“Ju Tu, come back!”

Rao Wu shockingly jumped out of the spear’s shadow and then grabbed Fen’s free hand. Powered by Overdrive, the youth’s strength was too much for the out-of-balance administrator to counter.

But that wasn’t all there was to Overdrive. The skill also had one crazy advantage.

“Raven, come out!”

Within the blink of an eye, Ju Tu returned to the soul space, and Raven burst out of her summoning circle in an electric frenzy.

Instant Summons!

Overdrive boosted its users’ strength and speed and sped up the summoning process to the point it was near-instantaneous.

As a result, Fen could not react to Raven’s sudden appearance in the sky before the bird unleashed its most powerful skill without regard for Rao Wu or Xian Da.

“Lightning Tempest!” Terrible, purple lightning bolts broke out of the raven’s wings, forming miniature lightning birds as they repeatedly struck the exposed administrator.

As a servant-ranked monster, Xian Da was the first to get knocked unconscious by the lightning. Fortunately, it had completed its job of ensuring Fen did not dodge the attack, so it happily passed out while wishing Rao Wu good luck.

Rao Wu and Fen, meanwhile, gritted their teeth as the birds rapidly electrocuted both of them. Rao Wu, powered by Overdrive, held on through sheer force of will, whereas Fen’s pride prevented him from going under.

Rao Wu, enraged by Fen’s tenacity, roared, “Would you just give up!”

“Like hell I will!” Fen growled in anger and then shouted, “Just die already!”

Rao Wu nearly coughed up blood at this bastard’s shamelessness. Suddenly he began to suspect that the test wasn’t meant to be this difficult. Most likely, the creator assumed Fen would let some students pass, but the bastard was too proud to lose! “What kind of instructor are you! Can’t you cut your student some slack!?”

“Student? Who’s my student!? Who would take some smelly fox as a student!?”

“Did you just call me a smell fox!?” Rao Wu growled in anger. It wasn’t like he had any particular specie pride or anything, but somehow Fen saying that pissed him off at his core. “Fine! I didn’t want to do this! You forced me!”

Fen snorted in disgust as his teeth cackled. “What’re you going to do? Piss yourself?”

“Why you!” Rao Wu had indeed had enough. With no options left, the young man pulled out the move he buried as soon as he learned it. Rao Wu's eyes suddenly turned soft as a strange light appeared in them. His lips then softly curled upward as he cooed, “Look into my eyes.”

Fen’s soul trembled as a powerful seductive force, drew him towards Rao Wu. “FUCK!” Fen recovered a heartbeat later in fear and rage. “You DAMN FO—” bonk!

Fen collapsed to the ground, revealing Rao Wu holding the spear he dropped. The youth’s lips weakly curled upwards as he rested the spear on his shoulder. “Damn it. That felt dirty.” However, he soon grinned when he looked at the unconscious administrator. “Hehe, take that. I—” thud!

Rao Wu collapsed and fell on his face as the Overdrive’s backlash combined with the electric shower knocked him out.

However, the still flying Raven glanced at the golem, which opened its mouth and said, “Tenth Test Complete!”

And so, Rao Wu, against all odds, became the first to complete the Harbinger Test’s Infernal Difficulty by combing wit, courage, and utter shamelessness.