Read Novel Full Chapter 1640 End of the Second Trial!
Chapter 1640 End of the Second Trial!
Inside the battlefield, the space around Max began to distort the moment his reflection was destroyed. The thin line that had split his opponent faded into nothingness, and the shattered remnants of the copied figure dissolved into particles of light that scattered into the air before vanishing completely.
A faint hum echoed across the arena as the trial formation responded.
Max stood where he was, his sword still lowered, his aura already returning to its restrained state. There was no sign of excitement or relief on his face, as though what had just occurred was nothing more than a simple exercise.
A moment later, a beam of light descended from above and enveloped his figure.
The battlefield blurred.
The next instant, Max's body disappeared from the arena.
Back in the square of the Violet Star Palace, a ripple of energy spread through one of the portals as Max stepped out from within it. His arrival drew immediate attention, as many of the disciples and elders who had just witnessed his battle instinctively turned toward him.
For a brief moment, the noise of the plaza diminished.
Some looked at him with awe, others with confusion, while a few could not hide the lingering shock in their eyes. The image of that single strike still lingered vividly in their minds, refusing to fade no matter how hard they tried to rationalize it.
Max, however, did not react to any of it.
He simply walked forward calmly, his expression unchanged, as though the countless gazes directed at him held no meaning.
High above, Elder Cael observed his return with a quiet gaze before shifting his attention back to the trial.
"The next batch will proceed," his voice echoed across the entire square, steady and authoritative.
At his command, the formation around the plaza flickered once more.
The portals that had dimmed after the previous group began to glow again, their surfaces rippling with energy as a new set of names was called out. Disciples who had been waiting stepped forward one after another, their expressions ranging from determination to tension as they approached the entrances.
Some walked with firm steps, their eyes filled with resolve after witnessing the battles before them. Others hesitated briefly, clearly shaken by the difficulty of the trial, yet forced themselves forward under the watchful eyes of the elders.
As they entered, their figures vanished into the portals, and almost immediately, new images appeared on the massive screens in the sky.
Another wave of battles began.
Two identical figures clashed once more in each displayed arena, their techniques colliding as sparks of energy erupted across the screens. The sounds of impact, though muted by the formation, still carried a sense of intensity that could be felt by everyone watching.
The cycle continued.
Batch after batch of participants entered the Heavenly Reflection Arena, each one facing the same merciless trial. Some managed to hold their ground, others were quickly overwhelmed, and a rare few showed signs of breaking through their limits under the pressure.
Yet despite the many battles unfolding, a subtle shift had taken place within the crowd.
Every now and then, gazes would drift back toward Max.
The memory of his single strike remained etched in their minds, becoming an unspoken standard against which all others were now measured.
And no matter how fierce the battles on the screens became, none had yet reached that same level of quiet, overwhelming dominance.
Time passed as the final batches of disciples entered the Heavenly Reflection Arena, and one after another, the battles displayed across the massive screens gradually came to an end.
Some emerged victorious after long and exhausting struggles, while others were forced out of the trial with pale faces and unwilling expressions, having been completely suppressed by their own reflections.
As the last participant exited the portal, the formation above the square slowly dimmed.
The enormous screens flickered once, then dissolved into countless streams of light that faded into the sky, leaving behind a heavy silence that lingered over the entire plaza.
All eyes turned upward.
A powerful aura descended once more as Elder Cael stepped forward, his figure appearing high above the square. His gaze swept across the gathered disciples, pausing for a brief moment before he spoke.
"The second trial has concluded."
His voice echoed clearly, carrying an undeniable authority that silenced even the faintest whispers.
"What you have experienced is a battle against yourselves. Some of you have endured. Some of you have failed. A very few… have surpassed the limits."
A subtle pause followed his words.
Then, with a simple motion of his hand, the sky above the square trembled once again.
A massive screen reappeared.
This time, it did not display battles.
It displayed rankings.
Names began to form one after another in glowing light, arranged from top to bottom, each position radiating a faint brilliance that reflected its standing.
Beside each name, a single detail appeared.
The time taken to defeat their reflection.
The moment the list stabilized, the entire plaza seemed to freeze.
At the very top—
Max Morgan.
And beside his name—
5 seconds.
A ripple of shock spread instantly through the crowd.
"Five seconds…?"
"That's not even enough time to exchange more than one move…"
"How is that even possible…"
Voices rose, disbelief clear in every tone as eyes locked onto that number again and again, as though trying to confirm it was not an illusion. And it wasn't. They had seen with their own eyes how Max had destroyed his own reflection with a single sword move.
Because of this, they were shocked a bit but not surprised.
Below his name, the second rank appeared.
The name shone brightly, yet the number beside it told a completely different story.
Jonathan - 3 minutes and 42 seconds.
And below that, the third rank—
Ray Willer - 5 minutes and 18 seconds.
The gap was so vast that it felt unreal.
Even those who had performed well in the trial found their expressions turning stiff as they stared at the difference. What had taken them several minutes of struggle had been reduced to mere seconds in Max's case.
High above, Elder Cael observed the reactions calmly before speaking once more.
"The rankings reflect not only victory, but efficiency, control, and the ability to surpass one's limits."
His gaze shifted slightly, landing briefly on Max's figure below.
"A difference in seconds may represent a difference in understanding that cannot be bridged easily."
In the distant pavilion, one of the elders from the Celestial Forge Pavilion exhaled slowly, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Five seconds… he ended it almost instantly."
Another elder shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "No. It was not simply speed. It was a complete suppression. The moment he moved, the outcome was already decided."
Back in the square, the murmurs only grew louder.
Some disciples clenched their fists, unable to accept the gap. Others simply stared, their expressions blank as they struggled to process what they were seeing.
Meanwhile, Max stood quietly among them.
His gaze rose briefly toward the rankings, yet there was no change in his expression. It was as though the result held no meaning to him at all.
However, to everyone else present, that single number beside his name had already etched itself deeply into their minds.
Max was looking at the rankings and noticed Ray Willer who had killing intent towards him ranked third this time and Julie ranked fourth.
A faint glint passed through Max's eyes as he noted the time displayed beside their names.
"Only a few seconds of difference between them," he muttered softly, his voice low and thoughtful.
Although the gap between them was small, it was still enough to decide the ranking. In a trial like this, even the smallest difference represented a clear distinction in control and efficiency.
Just as Max was about to shift his gaze away, a voice cut through the air behind him.
"Max, is it?"
The tone was calm, yet carried an unmistakable arrogance, as though the speaker already stood above everyone else present.
Max turned.
A tall figure was approaching him.
The man's presence was imposing, his frame straight and unyielding as he walked forward with steady steps. His eyes were locked onto Max without the slightest attempt to conceal the hostility within them.
Max recognized him instantly.
Ray Willer.