Similar to the previous rumors he had heard, they explained tales of John's feats, from fighting Vildren to claiming the arena from Alderen. The Heaven Scrying Sect youth thanked the group, before making his way through many different groups.
Each group told similar tales of what had happened, adding further veracity to the claims.
"Could the rumors truly be true? Everything seems to verify the rumors, but I cannot make such an unprecedented adjustment to the list before seeing his strength with my own eyes. If I make such a change on rumors and they end up false, the reputation of the entire Heaven Scrying Sect would become tarnished. I cannot be careful enough with this matter."
After thinking through the issue, the youth found a seat in the stands and waited like everyone else. He was hoping that someone would challenge John, allowing him to verify the claims. However, much to his and the others disappointment, no new challengers arrived over the next twenty hours.
With the Jade Dragon Empire realm being incredibly vast, this town was only one of dozens of initial trial points that the youths of the Alliance could stumble upon. As such, only a very small portion of the overall participants made their way through this town. The number of newcomers stumbling on this town had already died down to near zero numbers, as everyone had made their way this far into the desert thus far, or even further.
Everyone knew the trials deeper in the realm would most likely be more rewarding, and so very few youths made an effort to find the other trials at the start of the realm.
Gong!
Twenty hours later, the sound of the arena bell sounded out once more, signaling the end of the round and start of the next one. John's eyes opened as the formation barrier faded away.
Bang!
Bang!
Two youths landed on the arena platform, having arrived quite recently. They both ran up to John, their faces full of excitement and enthusiasm.
"You two finally arrived huh?" John said as he watched Adam and Chase approach. "What took you two so long?"
It had been forty hours since the group had entered the town, and only now did Chase and Adam reveal themselves after entering their respective trials.
"We both just left our trials," Chase explained to John, his voice slightly apologetic as if he had done something wrong. "Sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?" John asked, before changing the subject. "What were your trials like anyways, for them to take both of you that long?"
"My trial was incredible," Adam exclaimed, his hands waving in all directions as if he could not contain his excitement. "My trial had multiple levels, and I was given six hours on each level to construct a formation that solved a certain task. Passing each level gave me Jade Marks, with more being granted for higher levels. The first level was a healing formation that healed to a certain level. The second was a sealing formation, capable of sealing a beast at my cultivation level. The thir-"
"Alright I get it," John replied, cutting Adam off. If he allowed it, Adam would talk for hours on end when it came to formations. "And what about you?" John asked as his gaze shifted to Chase.
"Mine was the same," Chase replied, clearly excited to talk about the trials, but keeping his calm much better than Adam. "I also had multiple levels and six hours each per trial, with the task of creating a pill that met certain conditions."
"I see," John replied as he understood why they had taken too long to leave. "I'm guessing that with both of you taking so long within your trials, you made it to the final levels?"
"Of course I did," Adam replied proudly as he puffed out his chest. "Those meager formation trials could not stop a genius such as myself."
John, as well as Iris rolled their eyes at Adam's prideful boasting, but neither said anything to disparage him. Adam was clearly happy for the first time in a while after dealing with the Starforge Clan, and so neither wanted to knock him down from his happy state.
"Same here," Chase confirmed. "Although the final levels were quite challenging. What about you? We just got here recently, although we heard some rumors about what had happened."
Gong!
The sound of the arena bell sounded out once more, signaling the start of the next round.
"What's that bell?" Adam asked as he noticed the formation barrier pop up around the arena.
At this point, Iris chimed in and quickly explained what had happened, as well as the point system for the arena. Adam and Chase couldn't contain their laughter at certain points of her story, especially when she detailed her battle with that uncouth youth, as well as John's displays against Vildren and Alderen.
"Haha, the idiots," Adam replied after stifling his laughter. "They're both lucky we're all part of the same Alliance, or their fates would have been much worse for targeting John like that."
He had seen many times what John was capable of when it came to dealing with enemies, and knew the two of them had gotten off lightly.
"So you want us to get Jade Marks from this arena as well?" Chase asked as Iris finished explaining everything.
"That's the plan," John replied. "After you both get your points, we'll venture deeper into these lands in search of more opportunities. Chase, you'll go first, then Adam afterwards."
"Hey, why Chase first?" Adam cried out in protest.
"Who cares who goes first," Iris harrumphed in displeasure at Adam. "You'll both get the same amount of points in the end."
"Fine," Adam replied, although clearly grumpy.
His antics were ignored by the group, while Chase hopped on the central platform. Two hours quickly passed by, and the sound of the bell once again boomed over the arena.
Chase felt the strange sensation on his chest once again, and quickly lowered the collar of his robe to inspect the new number, while John and the rest gathered around.
"Huh? Why'd it do that?" Adam asked as he saw the brand on Chase's chest had split into two different sections, one with his Alchemy symbol, and one with the Warrior symbol.
"I wondered if it would work like this, and it seems like my guess was right," John said as he stared at the brand. "The different trials all test one of the four pathways, and the points do not mix."
"That's disappointing," Chase chimed up, "I have no interest in the warrior marks, as participating in future warrior trials will only take time away from alchemy trials. Not only that, but my fighting talents are quite meager, and so I won't accumulate much warrior points anyways."
"I could always assist you like I did here," John chimed up after a moment of contemplation.
"That won't do," Chase quickly shook his head in protest at the idea. "That will waste your time from proceeding further into the realm, which I will not accept. Not only that, but I'm sure there will be trials that you cannot assist in, which I will be forced to give up on. My only passion in life is alchemy, and so with what we now know of these trails, it will be all I focus on."
John remained silent for some time as he stared at Chase, who had clearly made up his mind. Part of his reasoning was that he wanted to only focus on alchemy, but he could tell that Chase did not want to be a burden to his progress through these lands.
"I'm the same," Adam replied after a while, breaking the silence. "You know I hate fighting, so formations will be all I focus on in these lands as well."
"If that's how you both feel, then I won't argue against it," John said as he stood up from his seated position. "In that case, I think we're just about done with this town. Our adventure further into these lands continues."
Iris, Chase, and Adam all nodded their heads in agreement, and the three left the arena. John made his way to Hareu in the stands, who smiled as he watched him approach.
"Finally done with this trial?" Hareu asked.
"Yep, its all yours," John replied. "I can act as protector so you can get some points as well if you want," he continued. He had seen how Hareu had attempted to protect Iris against Vildren, and felt the need to repay him for that.
"No need," Hareu said while shaking his head. "Your display of power has made me realize that I have been taking it too easy. Only with steadfast cultivation, and continuous battles will my strength improve. I'll fight in the battles to come, and earn my position atop that platform with strength."
A look of approval appeared on John's face as he reached out and patted Hareu on the shoulder.
"Good, that's the attitude a cultivator should have. I wish you good luck," John said to Hareu before turning around and leaving the arena with his friends in tow. Those in the stands all watched him leave, while their faces lit up with various emotions.
"He's gone…he's finally gone!" a youth exclaimed, tears nearly streaming down his face from elation.
"Haha, finally! We can finally enter the arena! Lets go!"
Many similar cries of excitement drifted over the arena, as one hundred youths quickly made their way into the arena. The sound of a bell boomed once more, while the sound of heated battle broke out within the coliseum for the first time in many days.
