Alone and Infinite

"no--"

Li Xia shook his head. He had been trying to input more true qi, but the gloves did not react at all, only quietly maintaining the white flame.

"There are definitely ways to unleash it—"

I'm reminded of the special moves and super moves that every character in King of Fighters has, as well as their special attack mode.

"These gloves should have a corresponding skill to unleash their power; otherwise, they can only generate flames."

"Should we look for it?"

"There's no need. Trying to do too much at once will only lead to a waste of resources."

Li Xia looked at his fists and said seriously, "I already have enough skills. The Kusanagi Kyo Kobu Style and my style may not be suitable for me. It's more like a technique."

It could very well disrupt my current attack rhythm.

Moreover, this flame—which can reduce defenses—is already quite practical.

As they were talking, Li Xia felt a faint sense of malice spreading from the gloves. The sensation was so faint that it made him wonder if he was imagining things.

Is this a debuff from the gloves?

I simply sat down cross-legged, entered the cycle of Qi circulation, and carefully experienced my own state.

Skills are not just what is displayed on the panel; how to use them and how effective they are depends entirely on the individual.

Just like the circulation of Qi, the panel displays that you are restoring your true Qi, but once you enter the circulation, you will enter a very peaceful state.

At the same time, one's self-awareness will be greatly enhanced, and the Zhou Tian method is a very good way to stay calm when needed.

After a while, Li Xia slowly opened her eyes. She felt fine and there was nothing unusual about her.

In other words, the judgment just now has been passed.

Li Xia frowned, her joy at receiving the set somewhat diminished.

The main problem is that I don't know which factor to use. If it's willpower, that's fine, since I'm pretty good at it.

But what if it were something else?

Aowu keenly sensed Li Xia's doubts and spoke up:

"Your Highness, there's no need to worry too much about this. The Eight-Nine Arcane Arts are no joke; they're all about achieving physical immortality, with resistances that are ridiculously strong."

Even if it's just a guide to adjust the body, it still has the effect of increasing resistance.

I think even if it doesn't pass the judgment, the impact will be minimal after the reduction through 'unified primordial chaos'.

Li Xia nodded, "That's true."

However, it is still a potential problem, and it would be best to find a way to remove the debuff.

My gaze swept over the equipment's description.

Hmm. Kyo Kusanagi's resentful spirit.

I don't know if performing a religious ceremony will be effective.

The last two days were unusually uneventful.

Everything that needed to be done has been done, and everything that could be improved has been improved.

I've used up all the resources I have.

The only annoying thing was the constantly ringing communicator; the change of the top spot in the arena was causing a great stir in the small circle.

But there was no ripple throughout the second order, just like how many people don't pay attention to people they have no connection with in games or in life.

Ordinary apostles are not interested in being ranked first in the second-tier arena.

Their only concern is how to survive and become stronger in the world to come.

On the contrary, many guilds contacted me, offering extremely favorable conditions.

Li Xia was so annoyed that she finally shut down communication with strangers and only kept her contacts.

Even so, people often subtly hint at their intention to solicit business.

For example, the second-tier leader of the Nightingale Guild not only sends photos all the time, but also sends short videos of himself taking a shower.

Yes, uploading to cloud storage might be considered a violation.

In other words, Li Xia has an extremely strong will and a firm desire to pursue martial arts.

That's how they resisted the temptation.

I gave myself a two-day break.

For the past two days, Li Xia has been trying not to think about the future, not to think about boxing, not to think about anything at all.

I simply spent two days playing with Aowu and Heitan.

Let's play games together online and watch TV series and anime together.

With his addition, the Monster Hunter progressed extremely quickly, and it only took about a day before they were able to go and bully Nergigante.

It wasn't until Li Xia was watching anime that she discovered that Kurotan was actually a big fan of action anime.

When Deidara appeared in Naruto, Kuroko's eyes widened in amazement.

It seems they strongly agree with the idea that 'art is an explosion'.

Two days passed quickly.

Li Xia put down the controller and watched the game's ending CG with Heitan and Aowu.

"Let's go, it's almost time."

The huge square was packed with people and seemed unusually noisy.

The workers seized the last opportunity, standing by the circular plaza and shouting enthusiastically:

"Last five minutes! Last five minutes! Clearance sale!"

"A single choice, a single opportunity, a single thought—it could be a matter of life and death! Buying this could change your destiny!"

"Buy a bottle! Buy a bottle of my potion! Otherwise, you'll be forcibly executed!"

"We have all kinds of supplies and emergency items! Bullets, ammunition, water, bulletproof vests, rocket launchers, gas masks, and more!"

Some apostles were genuinely moved by this sentiment and couldn't help but walk over.

Even though they had made ample preparations before coming, they still exchanged their already meager Hall Points for supplies.

This anxiety stems from unease, from an innate fear of death.

But most people remained silent or whispered to their teammates.

Waiting for the moment when fate will pronounce its verdict.

"Why are there so many people?"

Awoo stretched out its head and said strangely, "I remember there were only a little over a thousand people here last time."

But this time it will be at least four or five thousand.

"That's normal. The Temple of Light is used to fine-tuning time by accelerating or decelerating time in derivative worlds."

"It seems like it would be easier to gather the apostles who are about to be promoted together."

Li Xia's conversations with those guild leaders weren't for nothing.

Occasionally, they also obtain information they were unaware of.

The central floor of the circular plaza slowly unfolds to both sides, and a huge door rises gently from the bottom.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

[Executioner, the maximum time allotted in the hall has been reached.]

[The battle for advancement is about to begin]

------------------

1. Monthly pass 2. Recommendation vote

Luckily, I didn't boast yesterday about taking Blackie to be spayed/neutered. I didn't expect it to eat a cat treat this morning.

There was no other way but to wait at the pet hospital for 7 hours.

It's a black eunuch now~

Chapter 205 An Unusual Beginning

Unexpectedly, the Temple of Light did not show the world they were about to travel to, as it had done before.

Instead, a completely new prompt appeared.

[Executioner, based on dynamic balance, you are about to participate in the Tier 2 advancement battle.]

Please pass through the Gate of the World and arrive at the meeting point.

The massive metal doors continued to rumble as they opened, revealing a curtain of light like water behind them.

They are definitely different!

Li Xia silently observed the movements of the apostles on the field, noting that it wasn't a portal-like structure but a vortex.

Even the classic "sign-holding support" team formation in the square was absent.

"Your Highness, these apostles should all be participating in the advancement battle."

Aowu clearly noticed this as well and couldn't help but whisper, "Teacher Ao didn't play low-level games before."

The few fragments it occasionally recalls are all from the ninth rank or higher, and even those are vague and unclear.

But one thing is certain: it has never had so many apostles in its memory!

Li Xia nodded without answering.

Even though the Temple of Light has gathered together the apostles who need to advance in the near future by adjusting the ratio of the flow rate of derivative time to the flow rate of temple time.

But this number is definitely not small.

There are approximately 100,000 second-tier apostles, which is roughly the top 5% of those with the strongest abilities who are promoted.

Looking down, I saw the somewhat nervous Blackie beside me. This was the first time the kitten had entered the world of the palace, and I had never experienced it before.

I and Aowu are already seasoned veterans.

He stroked its head, and the charcoal-covered body, which had been tense, slowly relaxed.

As the metal gate was fully opened, the apostles, in twos and threes or in groups, began to walk toward the 'water curtain' inside the metal gate.

As you step inside, ripples spread across the 'water curtain'.

"Go, go."

Li Xia stopped waiting and landed on his shoulder with a hoot. Black Charcoal also waved its paws a little to cheer itself up.

I joined the crowd and stepped into the 'water curtain'.

There was nothing unusual; I just felt a blur before my eyes, and the huge square had vanished.

Instead, there was an open-air platform, the sky was a hazy gray, and the surroundings were desolate.

Some of the apostles looked puzzled, while others nervously and quietly observed their surroundings.

They even secretly picked up weapons.

However, some apostles remained calm, clearly having already heard about it.

"Damn it, isn't the Hall of Light a place where you can teleport comfortably? Why did it have to be so uncomfortable when we teleported before?"

A voice muttered curses under its breath, drawing everyone's attention.

The short, stout apostle was momentarily stunned by the gaze; the apostles who came to participate in the advancement trial were all quite strong.

Even its weakest attribute is at least 15 points, indicating a remarkably sharp perception.

Being watched by so many eyes feels like being pricked with needles.

The short, stout apostle shifted uncomfortably, then suddenly straightened up and declared emphatically:

"What are you looking at? Did you enjoy the feeling of being transported to a derivative world before?"