Cle’s mind went blank, and he tumbled off the lion’s back.
He had imagined the final trial countless times, but never had he foreseen the current situation.
It was utterly preposterous!
They had failed the challenge before even fighting?
The next second, the surrounding sea of fire completely dissipated, revealing the crimson mountain wall in the distance.
Above, a ball of flame still hung, sealing the exit.
They were inside a mountain peak!
“You guys…”
Everyone exchanged glances, utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend the situation for a moment…
“Huh?!”
But at this moment, Cle’s expression jolted as he looked towards Chen Shu in the distance.
The latter was separated from his teammates by thousands of meters. He seemed to have found the culprit…
“Why are you there?”
Cle called out, a strange anger brewing in his heart.
The final trial he had eagerly awaited was gone just like that…
“Did you ruin the final trial?!”
Upon hearing this, the others all turned, their gazes unfriendly.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about?”
Chen Shu shrugged, seemingly as clueless about the situation.
Just then, various medicinal herbs appeared above Chen Shu and his three teammates, raining down as if from the sky.
“You still say it wasn’t you?!”
Cle and the others’ eyes turned red. It was indeed because of these people!
“Don’t be so surprised! Herbs falling from the sky is normal weather!”
Chen Shu pouted and said, “Didn’t you check the weather forecast?”
“You scoundrel!!”
Cle gritted his teeth, his anger escalating.
*Screech!*
At that moment, a colossal wind blade instantly struck, tearing through the body of Cle’s contracted spirit beast, erupting in a splash of blood.
“My dear, it’s best not to be impulsive!”
Chen Shu’s expression was calm as he instructed the Spatial Rabbit to slowly collect the herbs.
Cle and the others looked on with reluctance, greediness stirring in their hearts.
The herbs from before were at least Silver-grade, with some Gold-grade ones mixed in, making them priceless!
However, ultimately, under Chen Shu’s pressure, they had no choice but to give up.
Just then, a spatial portal appeared ahead, clearly connecting to the outside.
This also marked the official end of the ruins!
“Let’s go!”
Chen Shu said, preparing to leave the ruins first.
If Cle and the others left first, they might spread the news upon exiting, making it difficult to escape.
But as Chen Shu and his group approached the portal,
He suddenly stopped.
Beside them, there was another ancient stone platform, but it only had a single hole, unlike the stone platform at the entrance.
“Huh?”
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow, a thought dawning in his mind.
He held two keys to the ruins, but their sizes were clearly different from the hole above.
“Could it be…”
“Chen Shu, what’s wrong?”
A Liang and the others looked puzzled, not understanding what Chen Shu was trying to do.
Chen Shu did not reply. A blue stone appeared in his hand.
It was the ruin key from the Apocalypse Auction, which had not been used until now.
He placed the stone into the hole on the platform, where it fit perfectly.
“Hmm?”
Cle and the others also paused slightly, not rushing to leave, as if waiting for something.
At that moment, a piece of information appeared in everyone’s minds:
[Ruin Hidden Trial Activated! Please prepare yourself, opener!]
“Huh?”
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow, surprised that it was a key to a hidden trial!
Cle and the others were also overjoyed, quickly summoning their contracted spirit beasts, not expecting the ruins to continue.
*Boom boom boom!*
Just then, the surrounding crimson mountain walls turned azure, like pieces of crystalline ice.
The flames burning above also turned into massive ice blocks, sealing the exit.
The temperature inside the entire mountain peak dropped rapidly, transforming from a fiery land to a frozen one in an instant.
*Screech screech!*
In an instant, frost surged from the surrounding mountain walls, gathering in an open space.
The frost fused with each other, faintly coalescing into a form.
“A new life form?”
Chen Shu murmured to himself, simultaneously having his Erha unleash【Flame Blast】.
Rule Five of the Bandit’s Code: Strike first, strike last and be struck!
*Bang bang bang!*
Five fireballs shot out, instantly annihilating a wisp of frost.
“Effective?”
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow and shouted, “If you want rewards, attack with all your might!”
Cle and the others hesitated for barely a moment before having their contracted spirit beasts attack in unison, aiming to shatter it.
They thought the ruins were ending in frustration, but encountering a hidden trial meant they had to cherish it exceptionally.
*Boom boom boom!*
Various skills bombarded it ferociously, but to no avail.
“What the heck?!”
Everyone was greatly shaken, momentarily baffled.
Were they really this pathetic?
Chen Shu’s minor skill had an effect, yet all of them combined couldn’t even chip away at a wisp of frost?
“Damn it, you guys are really useless!”
Chen Shu yelled, his tone filled with contempt, but he had already made a judgment.
The previous ruin notification had only asked the opener to prepare, proving it had nothing to do with anyone else.
This was essentially a hidden trial for him alone…
Even though the others couldn’t damage it, they could at least draw its attention.
“Damn it! I don’t believe this!”
Cle immediately had his contracted spirit beast use its ultimate move, furiously blasting at the frost.
The others, unwilling to be outdone, also went all out.
Chen Shu was inwardly ecstatic.
“Uncle here, I love free labor the most…”
*Roar!*
At this moment, a hundred-meter-tall Frost Giant materialized, looking down upon the surrounding contracted spirit beasts with terrifying aura.
Its eyes glinted with anger as it fixed its gaze upon Cle’s three contracted spirit beasts.
Who knew this guy was attacking the most enthusiastically?
Instantly, its pupils glowed blue, and it unleashed a skill.
*Screech screech screech!*
The Fire Lion, in the midst of releasing its skill, trembled. Blue ice began to form on its body and spread rapidly, freezing it into an ice sculpture.
“Holy crap! That’s monstrous!”
Cle was startled and quickly recalled his heavily injured contracted spirit beast.
Seeing this, Chen Shu also had Erha return to Little Yellow’s mouth.
This move was too fast. If Erha were accidentally frozen, it would essentially be a failure.
As expected, having someone else help test skills made things much easier.
“Roar!”
At this moment, Erha let out a roar and unleashed a【Wind Blade】.
*Bang!*
The wind blade flew at extreme speed, instantly striking the Frost Giant’s head, but it was forcibly deflected, causing no damage.
“Such high defense!”
Chen Shu frowned. This creature was no weaker than the previous Flame Lord.
But now, the Frost Giant wouldn’t foolishly let him attack. One skill could potentially eliminate his contracted spirit beast.
However, at this moment, another notification appeared in his mind:
[Note: Sustained flame damage will disintegrate the Frost Lord’s defenses.]
“Hmm?”
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow. It did have a weakness.
As he pondered, two more of Cle’s contracted spirit beasts had already been eliminated.
“Use flame skills! It can weaken its defense!”
Chen Shu shouted, “Let’s work together! I don’t want anyone to leave empty-handed. We must get the final reward!”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions jolted, and they nodded heavily.
They hadn’t expected the Bandit to be a bit unreasonable but at least he still had some conscience!
*Boom boom boom!*
Various flame skills rained down, but in reality, they had no effect, merely drawing its attention.
“Not enough skills!”
Chen Shu frowned. His Erha only had three flame skills, and the others’ skills were useless.
It seemed unrealistic to significantly reduce the Frost Giant’s vast defenses.
*Screech screech screech!*
At this moment, three more Silver-contracted spirit beasts were frozen into ice sculptures and forced to retreat.
“No! I need to think of a way!”
A thoughtful look appeared in Chen Shu’s eyes, and a sudden flash of inspiration struck his mind.
“Got it!”
His expression changed, and he instantly took out a vial containing clusters of flame.
It was the enhanced burning potion rewarded by the system!