Grand Elder Waller did not slow his pace as he guided the remaining disciples forward, and soon they arrived before another do that rose high into the sky like a colossal fortress.
This structure was far larger than the previous one, its curved surface shimring faintly with layered protective formations that rippled like transparent waves. The scale of it alone was enough to make several disciples unconsciously straighten their backs, as if the very size of the do was a silent reminder that what awaited inside would be far more demanding than the first trial.
As they entered, Max's eyes imdiately swept across the interior. The space within was vast and circular, with tiers of elevated platforms surrounding the arena. Standing upon those platforms were elders from the Thirty Six Halls of the Black Dragon Palace, each one exuding a steady and imposing aura.
Their expressions were calm, yet their gazes were sharp as blades, observing every disciple who walked in as though weighing their worth in a single glance.
Aside from the elders, there were several young figures positioned near the front, standing with a confidence that set them apart from the rest. Their robes were finer, their bearing more composed, and the aura around them carried a depth that Max could not fully perceive
No matter how carefully he observed, their cultivation levels remained blurred in his senses, as though concealed by an invisible veil.
However, among those figures, one face imdiately caught his attention.
Lucia Gris stood quietly to one side, her posture elegant and composed.
'It seems they are the geniuses of the Seven Families,' Max concluded silently.
The realization did not surprise him. If this trial was of great importance, it was only natural that the most outstanding talents of the great families would be present to observe or perhaps even participate in so capacity. Their presence elevated the atmosphere further, turning what was already a serious trial into sothing that felt almost ceremonial.
Soon, the group of disciples led by Grand Elder Waller fully entered the do and gathered at the center. The space above them flickered faintly, and large screens began to illuminate one by one, floating and hovering in midair.
They ford a circular array around the arena, their surfaces shimring with light as if prepared to display scenes from within the trial.
At the very center of the do, a single path extended forward.
It was golden.
The path glead as though forged from molten tal that had solidified into a flawless surface. Its brilliance was not blinding, yet it carried an undeniable presence that drew the eyes of everyone present. It stretched forward in a straight line, disappearing into a curtain of distorted air at the far end, as if leading into another realm entirely.
Max's gaze sharpened as he focused on it.
Unlike the heavy, ancient pressure that had emanated from the dragon skull, the aura radiating from this golden path was different in nature. It was not oppressive in a suffocating way. Instead, it felt fierce, scorching, and restless, like a dormant volcano barely restrained beneath a thin crust of stone.
He could feel heat brushing against his senses even from a distance. It was subtle at first, like standing near a furnace whose flas had not yet been fully unleashed, but beneath that subtlety was a terrifying intensity waiting to erupt.
'The pressure is related to flas,' Max assessed inwardly as he narrowed his eyes.
His body, which carried both draconic essence and a deep connection to flas, reacted instinctively. The energy within his veins stirred, not in hunger this ti, but in recognition. This was not the ancient dominance of dragon might. This was sothing purer and more destructive.
The second trial was nad the Path to Eternal Flas.
Max's gaze remained fixed on the golden path before him as the thought settled in his mind.
'Is that the Path to Eternal Flas?'
The golden surface seed almost alive, faint ripples of heat distorting the air above it. Even without stepping onto it, he could sense that this path would test far more than physical endurance. It would test control, resistance, and perhaps even one's affinity with fla itself.
As silence spread through the do, and as the eyes of elders and geniuses alike focused upon the disciples who had survived the first trial, Max felt the tension in the air thicken.
The true challenge had only just begun.
"The content of the second trial will be explained by your respective elders."
Grand Elder Waller's voice echoed across the vast do with composed authority. He did not offer further clarification, nor did he spare the disciples an additional glance.
His duty for this phase had ended. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the elevated platforms where the elders of the Thirty Six Halls were gathered, his figure gradually rging into the presence of the higher authorities.
The disciples remained standing for a brief mont before movent began to ripple through the crowd. Groups separated instinctively, each disciple heading toward the elder of their respective hall. The once unified group from the first trial now fragnted into smaller circles, tension and anticipation thick in the air.
Max moved calmly toward Lady Virelila, his steps steady and unhurried. His expression had returned to its usual composure, yet his eyes remained observant, carefully noting the subtle reactions of those around him. So disciples looked nervous, their gazes flickering toward the golden path at the center of the do. Others carried expressions of determination, as if convincing themselves that they were prepared for whatever awaited them.
Just as Max reached Lady Virelila, a familiar presence approached with quick and confident steps.
"So, how was the first trial? Did you struggle there?"
Lucia's voice carried an unmistakable liveliness as she stepped into the space between Max and the hall elder, her eyes bright with curiosity. There was no hesitation in her tone, no formal restraint despite the presence of elders nearby. She seed completely at ease within this environnt, as though she belonged here as much as any of the high ranking figures.
Max glanced at her briefly before answering.
"It was fine."
His response was calm and asured. There was no boastfulness, nor was there false modesty. To him, the first trial had simply been what it was.
He then asked, his gaze sharpening slightly, "What are you doing here?"
Lucia folded her arms lightly, a faint smile forming at the corner of her lips.
"I am here to observe the second and the last trial," she said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "So records will be broken today for sure."
Her tone held certainty rather than speculation. It was as though she already knew sothing that others did not.
Max narrowed his eyes at her words.
"Records will be broken?" he repeated slowly. "Which of the disciples here is so strong that they could break records in the second and third trials?"
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