"The same three have placed at the top again!" many exclaimed, coming to a quick realization that the results of the first trial did not seem to be a fluke for the three still taking part in the second trial.
Many had scoffed and dismissed the results of the first trial, namely the Forbidden Alliance, Monsters, Barbarians, and many of the neutral powers. They eagerly anticipated the results of the second trial to prove their guesses right, but the truth was the complete opposite. The best performers for both the first and second trial were the same.
"Just what type of trials are they taking?" a Forbidden Alliance elder grumbled.
"It's probably something dumb like who can cook the best or who can be the best servant, otherwise how could Lua and Rahze lose like this twice in a row," someone nearby replied in equal disappointment.
However, they all knew a realm so mysterious, as well as guarded by the powerful Divine Source Monastery, could not be something so simple.
Many hours passed by after Zeras received his score before the stele rumbled once more. Everyone rushed into the streets to get a glimpse of the gargantuan stone stele, which was once more updating its numbers.
Their eyes raced across the stele as the information appeared.
-Name: Lilian Celestria
-Cultivation: Peak Dao Transformation
-Age: Twenty-Six
-Dao Name: Goddess of Death
-Trial One: Eight Hours. Nine Minutes. Thirty-Six Seconds
-Trial One Score: Eleven
-Trial Two: Fifty-Eight Hours. Twenty-Two Minutes. One Second
-Trial Two Score: Eight
-Total Score: Nineteen
"The Astral Empire girl huh?"
"She came second in the first trial, and third here! As expected of someone from the Astral Empire!"
"Both her and Zeras are doing great in this trial. I'm sure the Astral Emperor is quite pleased with the talent his children are displaying to everyone!"
The crowd discussed the new result, which eventually turned to who they thought would come first in the second trial. After his stunning performance in the first trial, the overwhelming guess was John, who the crowd had finally come to realize that he was truly a monstrous genius to the level that even the enemy factions could no longer deny it.
…
Sweat dripped off John's face and onto the ground, freezing in mid air before instantly melting, freezing once again, and then vanishing into a mist. The space around him continued to assault his body with a thousand different sensations, each excruciatingly agonizing to his body and mind.
He had lost track of time, as the only thought that consumed his mind was the pain he felt. His skin felt like it was being flayed off, while a million knives stabbed at each inch of his internals. It was like he was being roasted alive, as well as frozen to death. Dropped into a pit of pure death, eaten alive bit by bit. If there was a form of torture that existed that he wasn't feeling at the moment, John would be surprised.
Not only that, but his mind and soul felt as if they were about to burst apart. It was the most excruciating pain he had ever felt in his soul, which wavered like candle in the wind, ready to be snuffed out at any moment.
Despite the fact that he had endured countless painful trials and tribulations, this one was no doubt the most painful he had ever endured. Even someone as strong in body and mind as him was on the edge of collapse.
He had no idea if he was the last participant remaining, or if others still yet lingered on. His mind was too consumed with pain to think of anything else than the pain, and a singular word that kept repeating in his mind, keeping his sanity in check.
Endure!
Endure!
Endure!
The word echoed like a drum, constantly reminding him of his sole objective; endure as long as possible. He wanted to give up countless times already, but each time the word repeated again, firming his resolve against the tormenting pain once more.
Pain was part of the cultivation pathway, and one who was not able to endure until their body was falling apart and mind was collapsing was not someone who would be able to walk to the pinnacle of the cultivation pathway, which was his singular goal in life.
All other goals he had would be accomplished if he achieved his primary one, and thus this trial of tormenting pain was just another building block on that pathway to the pinnacle.
The seconds ticked by, each second feeling like an hour, and an hour like a year. Time lost all meaning for John, who finally felt himself nearing his breaking point. It wasn't that he didn't want to continue enduring, but it was that he couldn't. Everyone, even someone as monstrously talented as him had his limits, and those limits were quickly being reached.
His mind and soul wavered, feeling as though he was about to lose consciousness, or even his life. His body trembled and knees wobbled as he tried to stay standing upright, doing his best to not drop to his knees.
Endure!
His teeth were barred and chattering violently, an uncontrollable reaction to what he was feeling at the moment. His body and robe were fully drenched in sweat, as if he had stepped into a pool with his clothes on.
Endure!
That one word kept him going, although it almost seemed to have lost meaning to him at this point. It was as if he know longer recognized what the word meant, and only his instincts were keeping him standing at this point.
Endure!
His eyes opened for the first time in a long time. A red tinge seemed to coat his vision, as if blood were coating his eyes. His body began to sway more and more, while his mind truly felt as if it had reached the limit. At this rate, he would only be able to endure for minutes more. He didn't know if that was enough, but it was all he had left.
As if a heavenly gift had been suddenly bestowed upon him, the pain suddenly vanished. It was such a sudden end to the pain that he didn't even realize it had stopped for a short while. His hazy and near collapsed mind finally started to clear up, and he finally realized that the pain had truly stopped.
He felt absolutely nothing anymore, but that nothingness was the most glorious sensation he had ever felt in his life, as if he were being bathed in the most heavenly and vibrant of waters. A euphoric feeling that he would never forget for the rest of his life.
