128: Chapter 128 Ten seconds? What can you do in ten seconds?!

The third round of the Assessment soon came to an end.

The blue wall of light dissipated, and only two Examiners walked out.

Evidently, during the combat Assessment just now, another Examiner had been unfortunately eliminated.

At the same time, on the side of the Eclipse Clan Trial Takers, their numbers had sharply dwindled to fifty or sixty people.

Immediately after, the fourth round of the Assessment began.

The mechanism selected again, this time choosing three of them; the task was to provide guidance and conduct an Assessment on the Trial Takers' teamwork.

Among the three, Gu Changming and Hill were not included; the two of them were left out.

In this round, perhaps because the overall level of the remaining Eclipse Clan Trial Takers was not low, only about ten people were eliminated.

For the fifth round of the Assessment, the remaining seven of them were all bypassed.

The scene reflected within the wall of light showed the Eclipse Clan members firmly defending a glowing core, resisting a tide of low-level monsters.

It was unclear which aspect of these Eclipse Clan Trial Takers was being assessed.

The sixth round was also the final round.

[Final Round Assessment: Trial of the Final Sentry]

[Assessment Content: This stage is the final screening phase. Two Examiners will play the role of 'Gatekeepers' and engage in a restricted battle against all remaining Trial Takers.]

[Assessment Description: The Gatekeepers' duty is to reduce the number of Trial Takers to ten within the allotted time, then cooperate to be killed by the opponents. Note: Death in this Assessment carries no penalty.]

Seeing the name and rules of the sixth round Assessment appear, Gu Changming rolled his shoulders, preparing to move.

He and Hill had already been bypassed before; by rotation, it should be their turn.

However, before he could take a step, two beams of white light suddenly descended, yet they did not fall upon the two of them.

In an instant, all four of them were stunned, not expecting such an arrangement.

But soon, they all shrugged.

Since it was chosen by the Assessment mechanism, there was nothing to say.

The two Examiners were sucked away by the white light, transforming into two stone statue guards to watch over the outer palace gates.

After a quick glance, Gu Changming withdrew his gaze and refocused his attention on the edge of his panel.

The grey progress bar had now reached a certain point.

[Invasion Progress: 97%]

Only three points left; it should be finished in time.

It was a pity he wasn't chosen; otherwise, it wouldn't just be 'possible,' it would have definitely been in time.

The final round of the Assessment proceeded smoothly. After reducing the number of Trial Takers to ten, the two Examiners tacitly stopped their hands, then put on a performance of exhausting their strength before their forms dissipated under the onslaught and they were teleported back to the palace.

The moment they returned, a notification popped up simultaneously in front of Gu Changming and the others:

[All Assessment rounds have been completed.]

[Rewards will be distributed upon returning to your original worlds.]

The group scanned the notification, then looked at each other.

However, before they could even exchange a word of courtesy, a new notification box surfaced:

[Please select one person to play the role of the Final Guide and present rewards to the Eclipse Clan Trial Takers who passed.]

[Once completed, you may return to your respective worlds.]

As this notification appeared, the gazes of the other five people fell squarely on Gu Changming and Hill.

The Assessment was already over; this final chore was clearly an extra 'dispatch mission' with no additional reward.

Of everyone present, only the two of them had just been bypassed; such a troublesome matter should naturally be handled by one of them.

Facing the gazes of those people, Gu Changming acted very naturally and shifted his gaze toward Hill.

Just as he expected, Hill really was a good person.

"I'll do it," Hill smiled and took the initiative to accept.

Gu Changming smiled.

Then, he refocused his gaze on the nearly stagnant progress bar at the very edge of his vision.

Click.

That final tiny bit of the progress bar finally filled up at this moment.

[Invasion Progress: 100%]

[Invasion Effect: You may initiate a complete blackout of the current Assessment process for a maximum of ten seconds at any point in time.]

Seeing this description, the slight smile at the corners of Gu Changming's eyes faded.

This is the effect?

Even if it can be used at any point in time, it can only be used during this Assessment, and this Assessment is about to end!

And this is the only improvement?

He had waited so long, thinking there would be some special function after a successful invasion.

It was just an increase from the three seconds he had tried before to ten seconds.

Just ten seconds—ten seconds, what could he possibly do?

"Hill," Gu Changming turned to look over, "I'll do it instead."

Hill was somewhat surprised. "Hmm?"

Gu Changming continued, "You're a good person; you shouldn't be coerced by your own kindness. I only looked at you just now, and you took the matter upon yourself... To be honest, I don't feel right about it."

Hill looked at him with a startled expression. "No..."

"Let's not stand on ceremony," Gu Changming interrupted him, his tone gentle yet firm. "Let me do it."

After saying that, he stepped forward.

Hill watched his back, stunned for a moment, a trace of emotion inexplicably rising in his heart.

Though it was just a trivial matter, it caused ripples in his heart.

To think he had misunderstood him before, feeling that Gu Changming's thought of 'annihilating' the Trial Takers during the second round was a bit extreme.

But looking at it now... deep down, he must be a good person with noble character.

...

Just as Gu Changming reached the open space ahead, a golden light enveloped him.

As the light flowed, his silhouette changed rapidly; his skin turned pale gold, his hair transformed into self-illuminating fine gold threads, and four neatly arranged eyes appeared in his eye sockets.

He had transformed into the appearance of an Eclipse Clan member.

Almost simultaneously, an invisible barrier rose in front of Hill and the other Examiners, isolating them; they could only watch from the side and could not participate.

Not ten seconds after Gu Changming transformed into the Final Guide, a clear sound of footsteps came from the side of the palace.

Soon, ten figures emerged from the passage at the side of the palace.

It was precisely those ten Eclipse Clan members who had just passed the trial.

Among them were two figures familiar to Gu Changming: Aila and Luo An.

Just as in the second round of the Assessment, they kept a considerable distance from each other, with the other eight Eclipse Clan members blocking the middle, as if fearing they might start fighting if they weren't careful.

After walking in, the ten Eclipse Clan members surveyed this magnificent palace with somewhat startled gazes.

Finally, their gazes fell in unison on the only figure in the hall, Gu Changming.

At the same time, Gu Changming raised his gaze and looked toward them.

He also assumed a formal posture, strictly following the requirements of the Assessment mechanism, and began to play the role, speaking his lines.

"Travelers who trek through the long night and discern the path in the glimmering light, listen well."

"What you have experienced is not meaningless slaughter. Every choice made is a vein of the trial, branded upon the soul."

"This place is the 'Hall of Final Sight'."

"I am the witness of your trial."

"I have witnessed your arrival. Now, it is time to deliver the promised items to those who deserve them."

Gu Changming held his hand up, palm facing upward, continuing to recite the lines.

"Now, please step forward and receive the rewards you have earned."