Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Chapter 1426  Meeting Lucia Again!

Grand Elder Waller did not slow his pace as he guided the remaining disciples forward, and soon they arrived before another dome that rose high into the sky like a colossal fortress.

This structure was far larger than the previous one, its curved surface shimmering faintly with layered protective formations that rippled like transparent waves. The scale of it alone was enough to make several disciples unconsciously straighten their backs, as if the very size of the dome was a silent reminder that what awaited inside would be far more demanding than the first trial.

As they entered, Max's eyes immediately swept across the interior. The space within was vast and circular, with tiers of elevated platforms surrounding the arena. Standing upon those platforms were elders from the Thirty Six Halls of the Black Dragon Palace, each one exuding a steady and imposing aura.

Their expressions were calm, yet their gazes were sharp as blades, observing every disciple who walked in as though weighing their worth in a single glance.

Aside from the elders, there were several young figures positioned near the front, standing with a confidence that set them apart from the rest. Their robes were finer, their bearing more composed, and the aura around them carried a depth that Max could not fully perceive

No matter how carefully he observed, their cultivation levels remained blurred in his senses, as though concealed by an invisible veil.

However, among those figures, one face immediately caught his attention.

Lucia Grimes stood quietly to one side, her posture elegant and composed.

'It seems they are the geniuses of the Seven Families,' Max concluded silently.

The realization did not surprise him. If this trial was of great importance, it was only natural that the most outstanding talents of the great families would be present to observe or perhaps even participate in some capacity. Their presence elevated the atmosphere further, turning what was already a serious trial into something that felt almost ceremonial.

Soon, the group of disciples led by Grand Elder Waller fully entered the dome and gathered at the center. The space above them flickered faintly, and large screens began to illuminate one by one, floating and hovering in midair.

They formed a circular array around the arena, their surfaces shimmering with light as if prepared to display scenes from within the trial.

At the very center of the dome, a single path extended forward.

It was golden.

The path gleamed as though forged from molten metal that had solidified into a flawless surface. Its brilliance was not blinding, yet it carried an undeniable presence that drew the eyes of everyone present. It stretched forward in a straight line, disappearing into a curtain of distorted air at the far end, as if leading into another realm entirely.

Max's gaze sharpened as he focused on it.

Unlike the heavy, ancient pressure that had emanated from the dragon skull, the aura radiating from this golden path was different in nature. It was not oppressive in a suffocating way. Instead, it felt fierce, scorching, and restless, like a dormant volcano barely restrained beneath a thin crust of stone.

He could feel heat brushing against his senses even from a distance. It was subtle at first, like standing near a furnace whose flames had not yet been fully unleashed, but beneath that subtlety was a terrifying intensity waiting to erupt.

'The pressure is related to flames,' Max assessed inwardly as he narrowed his eyes.

His body, which carried both draconic essence and a deep connection to flames, reacted instinctively. The energy within his veins stirred, not in hunger this time, but in recognition. This was not the ancient dominance of dragon might. This was something purer and more destructive.

The second trial was named the Path to Eternal Flames.

Max's gaze remained fixed on the golden path before him as the thought settled in his mind.

'Is that the Path to Eternal Flames?'

The golden surface seemed almost alive, faint ripples of heat distorting the air above it. Even without stepping onto it, he could sense that this path would test far more than physical endurance. It would test control, resistance, and perhaps even one's affinity with flame itself.

As silence spread through the dome, and as the eyes of elders and geniuses alike focused upon the disciples who had survived the first trial, Max felt the tension in the air thicken.

The true challenge had only just begun.

"The content of the second trial will be explained by your respective elders."

Grand Elder Waller's voice echoed across the vast dome with composed authority. He did not offer further clarification, nor did he spare the disciples an additional glance.

His duty for this phase had ended. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the elevated platforms where the elders of the Thirty Six Halls were gathered, his figure gradually merging into the presence of the higher authorities.

The disciples remained standing for a brief moment before movement began to ripple through the crowd. Groups separated instinctively, each disciple heading toward the elder of their respective hall. The once unified group from the first trial now fragmented into smaller circles, tension and anticipation thick in the air.

Max moved calmly toward Lady Virelila, his steps steady and unhurried. His expression had returned to its usual composure, yet his eyes remained observant, carefully noting the subtle reactions of those around him. Some disciples looked nervous, their gazes flickering toward the golden path at the center of the dome. Others carried expressions of determination, as if convincing themselves that they were prepared for whatever awaited them.

Just as Max reached Lady Virelila, a familiar presence approached with quick and confident steps.

"So, how was the first trial? Did you struggle there?"

Lucia's voice carried an unmistakable liveliness as she stepped into the space between Max and the hall elder, her eyes bright with curiosity. There was no hesitation in her tone, no formal restraint despite the presence of elders nearby. She seemed completely at ease within this environment, as though she belonged here as much as any of the high ranking figures.

Max glanced at her briefly before answering.

"It was fine."

His response was calm and measured. There was no boastfulness, nor was there false modesty. To him, the first trial had simply been what it was.

He then asked, his gaze sharpening slightly, "What are you doing here?"

Lucia folded her arms lightly, a faint smile forming at the corner of her lips.

"I am here to observe the second and the last trial," she said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Some records will be broken today for sure."

Her tone held certainty rather than speculation. It was as though she already knew something that others did not.

Max narrowed his eyes at her words.

"Records will be broken?" he repeated slowly. "Which of the disciples here is so strong that they could break records in the second and third trials?"