32: Chapter 32 The Mark of a Prodigy! The Hidden Trial, Here I Come!

At the foot of the mountain outside the Ancient Trial Tower, a temporary camp.

Blood Wolf sat on a large rock, toying with two curved daggers in his hands, their blades glinting coldly in the sunlight.

The scar on his face twitched slightly as he stared with gloomy eyes at the ancient stone gate atop the mountain.

A full eight hours had already passed.

From the moment Lin Feng entered the Dungeon until now, the stone gate hadn't shown the slightest change.

"Boss, do you think that kid died inside?" Skinny Monkey approached and asked cautiously.

He was the Scarface who had narrowly escaped Lin Feng's hands yesterday, his face still bearing unhealed wounds.

Blood Wolf glanced at him but said nothing.

A chubby team member nearby grumbled, "If you ask me, he's definitely dead! The Ancient Trial Tower has been hanging around for three years, and not a single person who went in has come out alive. That kid might be a bit strange, but he can't possibly break this curse."

"Exactly, exactly," another member chimed in. "Boss, it's not doing us any good just waiting around here. How about we send two people back to the city to inquire, find out what that kid's background is?"

Blood Wolf finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Shut up."

Everyone immediately fell silent.

Blood Wolf stood up, walked to the edge of the camp, and looked up at the stone gate.

"The Dungeon entrance is still there, which means the Dungeon hasn't been cleared," he said slowly. "Wait a bit longer."

Skinny Monkey's eyes lit up. "So he's either still fighting inside... or he's already dead...?"

"Possibly," Blood Wolf nodded. "Let's wait and see..."

He sat back down on the rock and closed his eyes.

"If he really does come out alive..." Blood Wolf opened his eyes, a fierce glint flashing within. "I'll personally skin him alive."

Skinny Monkey shivered.

He remembered Lin Feng's terrifying strike yesterday, the scene of him instantly killing four companions.

"Boss, if that kid really manages to clear the Dungeon and comes out... can we beat him?" Skinny Monkey asked quietly.

Blood Wolf smiled, a savage grin.

"What do you think my Blood Wolf Group has relied on to survive in Donghai City for three years?"

He patted the curved daggers at his waist.

"A B-Rank Talent [Bloodthirsty Frenzy], a Level 25 Rank, plus over thirty brothers."

"Even if he's strong, just one person, how strong can he possibly be?"

Hearing this, the team members nodded one after another, their confidence restored.

Only Skinny Monkey remained uneasy inside.

He always felt that kid named Lin Feng wasn't that simple.

...

Inside the Dungeon, the white hall.

Lin Feng didn't know how long he had slept.

When he woke up, his head still felt a bit swollen, but it was much better than before.

He struggled to sit up, took out a mana potion from his Storage Pouch, and drank it down.

The cool liquid slid down his throat, bringing a hint of refreshment.

[mana +40]

[Current mana: 320/3750]

He took out another Concentrated Meat Chunk and slowly chewed.

His health points began to slowly recover.

After eating three chunks of meat and drinking the potion, Lin Feng finally felt like he was alive again.

He stood up and stretched his limbs.

"Time to check the loot."

Lin Feng walked towards the center of the hall, where seventeen glittering items were scattered.

Getting closer, he froze.

They weren't equipment, nor were they Materials.

They were seventeen... badges?

Each badge was palm-sized, made of a material that was neither metal nor jade, with intricate patterns carved on the surface.

In the center of each badge was a blurred humanoid silhouette.

Lin Feng picked one up, and information automatically appeared.

[Prodigy Mark · Thunder Battle Physique (A-Rank Special Material)]

[Source: The battle mark of a Prodigy with the Thunder Battle Physique]

[Use 1: Upon absorption, temporarily gain partial characteristics of this Physique (Duration: 1 minute)]

[Use 2: Can be used as equipment enchantment material, granting special attributes]

[Use 3: Unknown (Requires higher authority to unlock)]

[Description: The battle mark of a Prodigy-level Physique possessor, containing their Origin power]

"Prodigy Marks?" Lin Feng's eyes lit up.

He quickly picked up the other sixteen.

[Prodigy Mark · Life Body]

[Prodigy Mark · Indestructible Vajra Body]

[Prodigy Mark · Wind Spirit Physique]

[Prodigy Mark · Ice Saint Physique]

...

Seventeen marks, corresponding to seventeen Prodigy-level Physiques!

"Struck it rich..." Lin Feng's hands were trembling.

The value of these marks was immeasurable!

Although they only granted temporary characteristics, they could be life-saving at critical moments.

For example, absorbing the [Life Body] mark would probably grant powerful recovery abilities.

Absorbing the [Indestructible Vajra Body] mark would cause defense power to skyrocket.

"Let's see if they can be fused."

Lin Feng took out two marks, one in each hand.

He activated his Talent.

Buzz—

[Detected fusible items: Prodigy Mark ×2]

[Special Material Fusion]

[Minimum consumption: 500 mana]

[Maximum consumption: 500,000 mana]

[Warning: Prodigy Mark Fusion carries extremely high risk, may trigger Physique conflicts]

"Five thousand mana minimum?!" Lin Feng sucked in a cold breath.

His total mana was only 375 points, not even enough for the minimum consumption.

Not to mention the maximum consumption of five hundred thousand—what Rank would one need to reach that?

"Looks like Fusion isn't possible for now," Lin Feng shook his head regretfully.

He carefully stored the seventeen marks, placing them in the deepest part of his Storage Pouch.

These were his true trump cards, not to be used lightly.

Next, Lin Feng looked at the crystal ball in the center of the hall.

The crystal ball was still emitting a soft glow, seemingly waiting for his choice.

[You have the following choices:]

[1. Clear the Dungeon immediately, claim all rewards, and leave the Dungeon]

[2. Enter the 'Hidden Trial' (Final Challenge)]

Lin Feng fell into deep thought.

If he left now, he could obtain the rewards for the S-Rank Mission: 500,000 points, a c-rank explorer badge, plus the Dungeon rewards.

Added to the gains from his journey: eight purple-grade equipment pieces, seven A-Rank enchantment Materials, two S-Rank Materials, and seventeen Prodigy Marks.

He would have wealth and resources.

Outside, the Blood Wolf Group would still be waiting.

Although with a c-rank explorer badge, the Blood Wolf Group wouldn't dare to act openly, they would definitely try something underhanded.

Moreover, had his own strength improved?

His Rank was stuck at Level 1; he needed a class Awakening or Talent evolution to continue progressing.

He had updated his equipment quite a bit, but those were external aids.

His true core strength—skills, Talent, Physique—hadn't undergone any qualitative changes.

"This trip to the Dungeon yielded great harvests, but the improvement isn't significant," Lin Feng murmured to himself.

Apart from learning the skill Fusion technique, other aspects indeed hadn't seen any major Breakthroughs.

And skill Fusion consumed too much, only usable as a trump card, not for regular use.

"If I go out now, I'll have to face the Blood Wolf Group's ambush and find a way to break through the Level 1 Bottleneck."

"If I continue to challenge the Hidden Trial..."

Lin Feng looked at the crystal ball.

"The final challenge... the rewards will be beyond imagination."

He was tempted.

High risk, high reward.

This had always been his principle.

"Besides, the Blood Wolf Group is waiting outside."

"If I go out, it'll be a fierce battle."

"Might as well stay here and grow stronger, then go out when I'm strong enough to crush them!"

Thinking this, Lin Feng's gaze became resolute.

He walked up to the crystal ball and reached out his hand.

"I choose—the Hidden Trial."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the crystal ball erupted with a blinding light!

The entire white hall began to shake.

The floor, walls, dome... everything was twisting and reassembling.

Lin Feng felt like he had been thrown into a washing machine, the world spinning.

A few seconds later, the shaking stopped.

He opened his eyes and found himself standing in a brand new space.

It was a circular platform, only ten meters in diameter.

The platform floated in the endless Void Realm, surrounded by a brilliant starry river, countless stars twinkling in the distance.

In the center of the platform stood a stone stele.

Ancient text was carved on the stele, but Lin Feng could understand it.

[Hidden Trial: The King's Gift]

[Trial Content: Accept the test of the Ancient King]

[Reward for Passing: The King's Legacy]

[Penalty for Failure: Become part of the Trial Tower (Permanently)]

[Hint: Once this trial begins, it cannot be paused or exited]

"The King's Gift..." Lin Feng murmured.

He looked behind the stele.

There, a figure slowly materialized.

It was a middle-aged man wearing ancient royal robes, a crown on his head and a scepter in his hand.

His face was blurred, his specific features unclear, but those eyes—

As brilliant as stars, as profound as the Universe.

Just being looked at by him made Lin Feng feel his very Soul tremble.

[Ancient King · Phantom (???)]

[Rank: ???]

[Health Points: ???]

[attack power: ???]

[Defense Power: ???]

[Description: A will projection of the Ancient King, possessing unfathomable power]

"Young man."

The King spoke, his voice resonating directly in Lin Feng's mind, grand and majestic.

"You have cleared the nine trial floors, proving you are qualified to accept my test."

"But I must remind you—my test is completely different from the previous trials."

"It does not test your martial prowess, nor your techniques."

"It tests your heart."

Lin Feng clenched his fists and took a deep breath.

"May I ask, what is the test?"

The King smiled faintly.

"Simple."

"Answer three questions for me."

"If your answers satisfy me, you receive the Legacy."

"If your answers do not satisfy me..."

The King paused.

"You will become nourishment for the Trial Tower, just like those seventeen before you."

Lin Feng's heart tightened.

But he did not retreat.

"Please ask."

The King nodded and slowly began to speak.

The first question had arrived.