Amidst the hall, every corner was strewn with severed limbs and shattered debris mixed with pulverized stone dust! The air hung thick with the stench of blood; it was a scene of utter carnage, like the aftermath of some great catastrophe.
Only when the billowing smoke and dust finally settled could I clearly survey the hall's interior once more. Near one corner, a massive crater had been blasted open—the very spot where I had unleashed my final strike to slay the Dark Bull Demon King.
Perhaps the sheer force of the erupting Dou Qi was astonishing, as the resulting chasm in the corner bore a shocking scorch mark. At its very center lay a patch of fine, black powder.
There, the gleaming Great Broadsword was plunged straight into the ground. Even though the duel was over, I could still feel the fierce, unparalleled killing intent lingering within it.
Surrounding the point where the Great Broadsword stood erect were several pieces of strange, shimmering crystal! I quickly gathered them up; they were identical to the crystals I had collected before, each about the size of a fist, perfectly shaped as hexagonal rhombuses!
It seemed that the Dark creatures, upon being slain, all left behind these peculiar crystals. And there were exactly seven of them—no more, no less!
But what on earth could these things be used for? After much contemplation, I still couldn't make sense of it, so I consigned the crystals to my spatial pouch.
Of course, I also took the Dark Bull Demon King’s weapon, that brilliant Great Broadsword, and the Three-Edged Water-Dividing Spike I had used as a throwing knife! These were treasures beyond measure!
After being busy for a while, I leaned against the corner, downed a healing potion, and began the slow process of adjusting and stabilizing the Qi within my body. Only once my physical state had recovered did I approach the teleportation array at the center.
The familiar white light flickered again! The magic teleportation array was activating!
It took quite a while for the strange white light to dissipate! However, when my eyes finally focused on the scene before me, I let out a sharp gasp.
Seven imposing figures still stood upright within the great hall! Looking closely, they were none other than the Dark Woma Patriarch, the Dark Two-Headed Vajra, the Dark Two-Headed Blood Fiend, the Dark Iris Patriarch, the Dark Skeleton Spirit, the Dark Yellow Spring Patriarch, and the Dark Bull Demon King—the seven guardian beasts that had been posted earlier!
Each one radiated aggressive killing intent, their visages contorted into ferocious scowls! Ah!
I jumped in fright! Could it be that the true trial of the Seven-Story Stone Tower wasn't seven levels, but eight?
And that this final stage required facing all seven of them simultaneously! The thought sent a cold sweat trickling down my spine!
Almost instinctively, I began circulating my Dou Qi. Yet, these seven figures didn't seem to move an inch!
It was only then that I realized something was amiss. Looking closer, I saw that these seven figures were merely statues.
But the carvings were executed with such startling realism that even the imposing aura they projected had been captured, causing me to startle the moment I saw them. Damn it all, they nearly scared me to death!
If those seven had been alive, it would have been disastrous! I almost collapsed onto the floor in relief!
It was only now that I managed to calm my spirit and meticulously examine my surroundings! The floor was paved with crystalline Cloud Scenery Stone, polished to a dazzling sheen.
The ceiling soared to a height of fifteen meters, intricately carved with the distribution patterns of strange constellations, along with lifelike depictions of soaring birds, running beasts, and mythical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, and Qilin. The surrounding walls were covered in complex magical diagrams, though I couldn't decipher what kind of magic they represented!
What confused me even more was the current situation! According to Jidu’s description, Xingye and Xingzhan were instantly teleported outside the Seven-Story Stone Tower after defeating the Dark Bull Demon King.
But what was going on with my situation now? There was no way this looked like the outside of the tower!
Moreover, this certainly didn't resemble the Guardian Dou Palace; the carvings and the Cloud Crystal Stones flooring were far too precious—even the Dragon Emperor’s Palace lacked such grand adornments. Even if the Ancient God Dragon Empire was immensely wealthy, they wouldn't use a place like this as a mere duel venue!
If it's not the fighting arena, and it's not outside the Stone Tower, then what in the world is this place? While pondering, I began to scan the hall, moving along the perimeter, attempting to uncover any useful clues!
No mechanisms, no magic teleportation arrays, not even a visible door or window. It was completely a sealed, mysterious space.
There was no discernible light source, yet the entire hall was bathed in a bright, soft illumination. Undeniably, this was an excellent location.
Not only was the decoration luxurious, but it possessed a certain... artistic taste!
But! Here was the problem!
I couldn't find an exit anywhere! Four walls—front, back, left, and right!
After searching for ages, I couldn't find a thing! I finally cursed out loud: "Damn you, Dragon Empire!
Why do you have to make things so complicated? No doors, no windows, no teleportation array, no hidden passages or mechanisms!
Now look, how am I supposed to get out!" Even someone who had weathered as many storms as I had was utterly bewildered by the situation! "They aren't messing with me, are they?" The hall remained deathly silent, offering no reply.
I could only slump down against the wall corner in resignation. I forced myself to calm down.
Clearly, the Seven-Story Stone Tower held some hidden secret! It was just that I hadn't figured it out yet.
And I had a faint feeling that the Night Luminescent Pearl, which Jidu, Xingye, and Xingzhan had sought in vain, might be hidden somewhere in this very chamber. Jidu had provided me with a detailed account of the cultivation and search process undertaken by Jidu, Xingye, and Xingzhan in the King's Forbidden Ground, yet neither of them had ever entered this specific hall.
This suggested that this hall was not accessible to just anyone. Considering that the guardian beasts I encountered in each preceding level were the strongest protectors from other Dark Halls, the path I took for this trial was entirely different from others.
It seemed I needed to thoroughly re-examine everything from the beginning. Having made up my mind, I probed every nook and cranny of the hall, but still found nothing unusual.
However, my attention soon settled upon the seven statues. These seven statues looked startlingly lifelike, especially their eyes, which seemed to hold sharp, piercing killing intent!
Looking closer still, I suddenly noticed something. Their gazes seemed to be fixed upon seven different directions.
Instinctively following the sightline of the Dark Woma Patriarch, I finally discovered a peculiar phenomenon. The Dark Woma Patriarch’s gaze appeared to rest upon one of the magical array diagrams carved onto the wall.
This diagram featured dozens of intersecting points, arranged in a pleasing, varying pattern of large and small nodes. This wasn't strange in itself!
But I noticed that some of these intersection points appeared sunken, each about the size of a fist. And upon counting them, I found there were exactly seven of these indentations!
Wait! Seven sunken spots, and each one large enough for a fist.
In a flash, I remembered the seven strange crystals that dropped from each Dark creature. Could these be the mechanisms?
The thought made me want to jump up! It had to be this!
The mechanism was the strange crystals dropped by each Dark creature! I hurriedly pulled out all the crystals I had collected, from the First Heaven trial to the Seventh Heaven trial, from my spatial pouch!
I decided to start with the magic array targeted by the Dark Woma Patriarch’s gaze. Carefully comparing the size of the crystal dropped by the Dark Woma Patriarch with the recessed points on the wall array, I selected the first one and fitted it into the corresponding indentation!
It was neither too big nor too small—a perfect fit! And the moment it settled in place, I heard a strange click.
Furthermore, the crystal, which had previously shone softly, suddenly blazed as brightly as a hundred-watt bulb! Ah!
I guessed correctly! So these glowing crystals dropped by the Dark creatures actually served this purpose!
Without further hesitation, I quickly slotted the remaining six crystals, matching them by size, into the six other recessed points on that single magic array diagram! Soon, the magic array inscribed on the wall, precisely where the Dark Woma Patriarch’s gaze rested, seemed to come alive, emanating a soft green light.
Next, following the line of sight of the Dark Two-Headed Vajra, I similarly located seven holes and inserted the seven crystals it yielded, matching them by size and shape! Then came the Dark Two-Headed Blood Fiend… Not long after!
Finally, as the last crystal dropped by the Dark Bull Demon King was set into the stone wall! The entire hall suddenly emitted a deep, resonant boom!
The surroundings became bathed in a clear, soft blue light! In the very center of the hall, a colossal circular magic array unfolded!
At the heart of the array hovered a single sphere, the size of a fist, suspended in the air. It was indescribably strange, dazzlingly beautiful, like an invisible vortex; the mesmerizing luster instantly captivated me!
It was the Night Luminescent Pearl! Though I had never seen one, I realized it immediately!
Yes, this was definitely a Night Luminescent Pearl, and judging by its glow, it must be the Blue Night Luminescent Pearl among the Seven-Colored Pearls! I never would have thought the Night Luminescent Pearl was hidden in such a secluded location; no wonder Jidu, Xingye, and Xingzhan couldn't find it!
My luck must truly be exceptional! As the Night Luminescent Pearl ascended, lines of ancient script simultaneously materialized within the grand array.
They were written in the common script of the Mafa Continent! Stifling the overwhelming ecstasy and excitement in my chest, I carefully examined the text!
Even though the treasure was within reach, I dared not act rashly! The closer one gets to victory, the more cautious one must be!
"Respected Warrior, upon seeing this text, it signifies that you have passed the King's Trial within the Seven Heaven Levels and have come face-to-face with this Blue Night Luminescent Pearl! This is a miraculous pearl, capable of summoning a powerful hero to become your companion in battle.
Her name is Moonshadow, slumbering in the lowest depths of the Heroic Land. Take this pearl and journey to the Heroic Land to awaken the hero who sleeps there!" The inscription detailed the pearl’s origin and described the exact nature of the hero it corresponded to.
It also contained both the incantation to awaken the hero and the spell to summon them! The entire text spanned over five thousand characters!
However, I committed every single word to memory without missing a beat! Then, I carefully retrieved the Night Luminescent Pearl!
It was crystal clear, radiating a soft blue light, and within it, I could faintly perceive strange streams of light surging back and forth, as if viewing another wondrous world of luminescence. Holding it in my hand, I felt an indescribable sense of comfort and warmth.
I could even feel a certain power slowly seeping out from the pearl and flowing into my body! So this is the Blue Pearl.
It truly is a rare treasure! I couldn't help but play with it, reluctant to let go!
After I removed the Blue Night Luminescent Pearl, the soft blue light of the huge magic array slowly began to fade. Almost simultaneously as the light receded, the forty-nine strange crystals embedded in the surrounding walls suddenly detached themselves, as if pulled by some invisible force, and drifted toward me!
And the Blue Pearl in my hand seemed to come alive, emitting a strange pulsation, like the beating of a heart! Ah!
What is happening now? I was startled, yet strangely, I felt a specific intent, and instinctively, I collected all forty-nine crystals.
Then, I stored them away in my spatial pouch! Only then did the Blue Night Luminescent Pearl in my hand cease its throbbing, and its light gradually dimmed, transforming into a simple, crystal-clear blue bead!
I quickly tucked the Blue Night Luminescent Pearl into my spatial pouch as well! At this moment, the massive magic array overhead shifted its appearance, and a line of large characters manifested where the text had been: "The magic teleportation array has been activated, respected warrior.
Take the Blue Pearl and depart!" Naturally, I didn't dare delay, and stepped into the array!