Chapter 1326: Challengers of the Past  

Bu Wentian slowly stood up. "I'm a little curious how you managed to find your way to the trial-taker's chamber. I left four disparate clues that would guide prospective challengers to the chamber, three in the fourth realm, and the final one in the third."

"Is that so? There are many methods of finding this chamber, then?"

Bu Wentian shrugged. "One alone would have dramatically reduced the number of challengers."

Zhang Lie asked curiously, "Why not release information on this chamber to the public?"

Bu Wentian shrugged. "Challengers that are far below the minimum standards would only perish. It takes both intelligence and strength to make it to this chamber."

Indeed, just the seven lifeforms guarding the entrance to the chamber wasn't something that an ordinary hunter could take down.

Bu Wentian asked, "The fourth realm's clues are hidden in a nursery rhyme, a mural, and a stone cliff. Which clue guided you to the chamber?"

"I found the clue in the third realm, rather than the fourth."

Bu Wentian gaped. "The 500,000-piece puzzle? I made it out of boredom to mess with third-realm hunters, but you actually managed to use that clue to find the trial-taker's chamber? I really have to praise your perseverance..."

Zhang Lie asked, "I've been very curious as to the purpose of this chamber."

"To pick out the strongest hunters of the fourth realm, of course."

"And then?" Bu Wentian shrugged. "That's it."

Zhang Lie hesitated.

Bu Wentian sighed. "I was hoping to cultivate any hunters with potential, but there were slim pickings. Of the five challengers who passed the sixth trial, only the couple went beyond the fourth realm. I have to say, the husband of the pair was quite interesting, only barely weaker than I was at the time. Now, however, I do wonder why I bothered constructing this chamber."

Bu Wentian opened a portal. Zhang Lie followed him to a raised platform, one similar to that of the sixth trial.

Before the platform was a stone tablet on which six names were carved. The name on the very top was Zhang Lie; the second was Zhang Yangyan, his father; the third was Han Lingxin, his mother; the fourth was Azathoth; the fifth was Aforgomon; and the sixth was Bast.

Bu Wentian continued, "I've replicated the eidola of the five successful challengers based on their records during the trial. The strength of each eidolon corresponds to their combat strength when they took the trial. Just like some games from the Milky Way, the rewards for this final trial will be provided in stages. Defeating the first eidolon yields a copper chest, defeating two yields a silver chest, and..."

Zhang Lie asked, "You came from the Milky Way?"

Was Bu Wentian a genetic hunter?

"You'll learn about all this later. Don't interrupt needlessly. If you want to receive the letter left behind by that couple, you'll have to defeat three eidola and receive a gold chest. Defeating four grants you a platinum chest; all five, a diamond chest. Your father only received a platinum chest."

Zhang Lie nodded and stepped forward.

"Of course, you may choose not to participate in this optional trial. The rewards from the first six trials will still be provided as stated. If you fail this optional trial, however, and do not defeat even a single eidolon, you will lose all prior rewards. Do you wish to continue?"

Zhang Lie didn't stop moving forward. He had participated in this trial largely because he wanted to investigate his parents' whereabouts, and since he knew that they had left a letter behind, Zhang Lie would get that letter at any cost.

"You said that, of those challengers who passed the sixth trial, three did so by drawing out the match and barely surviving the bejeweled vase's ultimate attack. The other two managed to perish together with Radiant Sun in the final explosion that resulted. I was the only one who could smash that vase apart, and I see no reason I will lose to their eidola." Zhang Lie stepped onto the middle of the platform."

Bu Wentian nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand.

"Let the final trial begin."

On the stone tablet, Bast's name lit up. The projection of a silvery cat of light appeared, one that seemed to be made of starlight and moonlight. It gradually took on a human's form with a cat's head.

The human body was a female one. A gold lion-headed shield was held in her left hand, and a bell in her right. Starlight and moonlight gathered around the relics.

Bast began to dance in an unusual fashion, and the bell in her right hand started to chime.

The sound of the bell was a pleasing one. Zhang Lie saw her transform into a beautiful lady, and her cat's head into Li Qianlin's head. Zhang Lie jumped up in shock—the bell had a mysterious ability to charm others.

Zhang Lie struck immediately, not holding back.

Pale blue genetic energy rippled about Zhang Lie's arms. He flicked his wrists, causing a frightening aura to descend on the stage. The stage seemed to darken, and a fish the size of a whale materialized.

"[Fists of the Silent Sea: Soar]!"

A howling gale swept over the arena. As more and more genetic energy gathered around Zhang Lie's arms, it looked as though he were at the heart of a whirlpool. A huge wave soared into the air. As Zhang Lie punched forward, the fish slammed its huge tail on the ground and sent a torrent of water surging. Ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The towering waves looked like enraged black dragons, flooding the area. magic

Bast defended with the golden lion shield. Pale blue genetic energy crashed into the shield, resulting in a huge rumble that caused the arena to shake and the void to tremble.

As the waves burst apart, the air filled with echoes of Zhang Lie's signature genetic energy, shattering space and swallowing up all life in its vicinity. Bast's bell rang violently and incessantly.

It was no wonder that Bast had managed to survive Radiant Sun's ultimate attack—her defenses were impeccable.

The golden lion shield glowed with light, as though absorbing the strength of Zhang Lie's attack. Starlight and moonlight filled her with surprising strength, like that of an erupting volcano.

"[The Boundless Blade: Yawning Wave]!"

Zhang Lie extended his pointer finger like a sword, and water-attuned genetic energy gathered around it. As he waved his finger, sword energy erupted like a wave, tearing apart the starlight.

A raging shark swam forth toward Bast, who leapt up high to evade. The shark swam after her, forcing Bast to defend with her shield once again.

While she was occupied, Zhang Lie had transformed into a bolt of light, appearing behind her as the shark attacked from the front.

The golden lion shield radiated light once again, shattering the manifestation of the shark. Bast clawed at her assailant with her bell-wielding arm.