Hearing this, Wei Huan was suddenly reminded of the boundless, consecutive great tombs he saw when his consciousness descended to the Great Tomb through the Eye Demon Lord. The number of Undead he could summon on his own Great Tomb was decreasing, and it was likely that the Undead on the surface of the tomb would be completely cleared out by him soon.
As for how many were inside the tomb, he wasn't sure. But just considering those on the surface, the numbers clearly didn't match the quantity of the Dark Beast race. Not to mention how many Dark Beasts died in the past ten million years, even currently, the number of Dark Beasts is in the tens of billions, right?
This means that he will definitely face a situation where there are no Undead left to summon on his own Great Tomb. Does that mean that if he still wants to summon, he must go to other burial grounds? And are there other Tomb Keepers at those other burial grounds?
Wei Huan was lost in thought and didn't notice what Aglis said next. When he finally came to, the passage had reached its end, and light appeared ahead.
"Finally, something different. We must have walked about a hundred kilometers, right? Although it looked huge from the outside, I didn't expect the inside to be truly massive too."
Aglis, contrary to her reputation in the outside world, was a bit of a chatterbox, with a youthful innocence. Compared to Qi Jialu, who left a deep impression on Wei Huan, Aglis possessed a memorable charm, even though her current strength seemed average. Wei Huan often preferred silence with such talkative people who couldn't keep their mouths shut and would not engage in back-and-forth conversation. Aglis didn't mind, happily talking to herself.
Soon, they arrived before the white light, and several figures were moving within the dazzling radiance.
"Wei Huan, don't come closer." A familiar voice sounded first, and a different expression finally appeared on Wei Huan's face.
"Captain Fang?!"
As the voice faded, Wei Huan, gradually adjusting to the light, saw the familiar, burly figure walking against the light. It was Captain Fang William. He was covered in the Warlord's Armor, which not only made his already formidable body even stronger, but also shrouded him in a Holy Aura. As long as he was within that light, his strength, agility, endurance, and spirit energy all received a twofold increase simultaneously.
This was Captain Fang's unique ability as a Holy Knight, derived from his second awakened profession, the Prayerman. The dual professions of the "Farmer Sequence" and the "Prayerman Sequence" gave him more than just the abilities that two professions should have. Through years of effort, he achieved a more unique transformation. He called this ability [Knight's Halo].
Initially, the [Knight's Halo] could only increase attributes by less than one time, but now it could boost them by more than two times, and even enhance the attributes of his battle chariot. This is why Captain Fang is world-renowned, humanity's heavy-hitter on the grand battlefield, and always leads the charge. The ability to amplify the chariot's capabilities is terrifying.
Since his rebirth, Wei Huan had seen Captain Fang five or six times, and they had shared a drink together recently in the Vermilion Bird Pioneer Army. However, this was the first time he had seen Captain Fang in his full combat stance up close.
In a word: cool! It was the fighting posture every man dreams of.
Captain Fang, flashing his halo and dressed like Iron Man, called out to Wei Huan from a distance, warning him: "Don't come any closer. The light ahead is Holy Energy, and it will significantly restrain you."
Only then did he see Aglis and warn: "It's the same for you."
But Aglis's gaze was not on Captain Fang. Her sight had crossed over his shoulder, looking at the man who was also slowly approaching from behind.
"Yake."
Wei Huan and Fang William looked over simultaneously, but when Wei Huan clearly saw the newcomer, his pupils constricted slightly. Logically, he was very familiar with Yake, but at this moment, he suddenly felt very strange. This unfamiliarity didn't come from his appearance. Strictly speaking, his looks and demeanor hadn't changed; he was still the handsome, suave man, but Wei Huan could feel that the aura around him was no longer the power of flesh and blood but was instead filled with darkness and ominousness.
Perhaps Wei Huan's expression was too obvious. Yake, walking up, chuckled:
"After Aglis helped me complete the transformation, the Dark-based Hunter became a Night Elf. My strength will be greater in the dark. Also, I'm afraid I can't return your Platinum Demon Flute. It suits me well. I can cultivate both the War Expert and Summoning Master simultaneously. My next sequence might be to become a true War Archbishop."
The Hunter Sequence progression is Hunter, Beast Tamer, Demon Tamer, Summoner, and then Summoning Master/War Expert. At Sequence Six, it is the [War Bishop]. Wei Huan heard clearly that Yake said [War Archbishop]. Don't underestimate this reversal of two characters; the difference is obvious.
Archbishop is necessarily above Bishop, meaning Yake, through "degeneration," gained a more secretive sequence, achieving a greater advancement, much like Captain Fang William.
Setting aside the potential negative effects of this advancement, what shocked Wei Huan the most was the huge change in Yake, which made him realize more clearly that, thanks to his own efforts, the fate of humanity in the previous life was truly being rewritten.
Captain Fang continued: "That's why I told you not to come over. Yake and I came in one after the other. I can enter that white light, but when Yake tried to enter, he was affected by the white light and suffered significant damage. He hasn't fully recovered yet."
Yake nodded too: "Yes, that white light has a strong killing power against the Dark system."
Wei Huan then asked: "What is inside?"
Fang William said: "Incomprehensibly complex runes. But I went in and looked closely. It seems to require five challengers who can withstand the Holy damage to stand in fixed areas. It seems something needs to be done."
After speaking, Fang William looked helplessly at the two Dark system professionals who had arrived. Just as he was about to say something, his gaze suddenly fixed on the severely infected challengers who Wei Huan had protected all the way here using the abdominal cavities of the Burrow Beasts.
"You actually brought them too?" Fang William looked at Wei Huan with a complicated expression. "The world says the Knight is the embodiment of goodness, but your actions prove that it is Death that is merciful."
As soon as he said this, Aglis and Jones nodded simultaneously like pestles pounding rice.
Honestly, comparing Wei Huan's act of abandoning Cynthia with his action of protecting everyone else along the way, he indeed proved his inherent goodness through his actions. It is true that in times of chaos, kindness often holds no meaning, and according to the common worldview, people would think that in chaos, one must prioritize one's own well-being.
However, this kind of thinking is only suitable for lone wolves or the establishment of an extremely small team. But who are these people here?
They are Captain Fang of Daxia, Aglis, the number one powerhouse of Aosam, and Yake, who holds extremely high prestige among the populace. The people behind them are not just a few or a few thousand; they often represent the will of hundreds of millions of people, and even have the shadow of the state behind them. When they are inwardly convinced that Wei Huan's character is sufficiently noble, it often means the attitude of their respective nations is also leaning towards him. This level of prestige is something a lone wolf can never imagine.
If Aglis and Yake had some misunderstandings about Wei Huan before, or only regarded him as a powerful person stronger than themselves, then when they personally witnessed his seemingly unintentional actions—that orderly goodness and loyalty buried deep beneath a cool exterior—their character was inevitably moved. This is also why Aglis, who was arrogant and spoiled along the way, became a talkative young girl. When trust is born, the shell of pretense is naturally shed.
Yake understood Wei Huan better. After being reminded and also seeing the severely infected challengers, he showed a look of "I knew it" and said: "I'm not surprised, it seems."
Fang William said: "I also saw several severely contaminated challengers along the way, but unfortunately, I couldn't take them away. I only rescued one person who could barely resist the contamination on his own."
After speaking, Fang William looked at the figure slumping in the corner: "It was by spending a long time with him that I discovered my halo seems to have a purifying effect on this contamination. His condition is much better, but due to his own chronic condition, he probably still can't stand up." After a pause, Fang William looked at Aglis: "He is also one of the Sleepless, a Fallen Sorcerer, a Chinese person from Aosam."
Wei Huan glanced over, slightly stunned. His eyesight in the dark was good. If he wasn't mistaken, this person's hands and feet seemed to be broken, and his face was covered in scars. His face even had corrosive damage. With the presence of Angels now, how could such external injuries not be healed?
However, Wei Huan thought of his own facial damage. The Angel also told him that it was a manifestation of his Dark Energy, and to completely heal his face, he would have to dispel the Dark Energy there. Perhaps the other person's situation was similar to his. As a Fallen Sorcerer, one of the three major Dark professions, he probably couldn't easily allow the Angel to heal him.
As for the injuries to his hands and feet... he would probably have to wait for the Life Angel to appear for healing. He had already acquired the core material for the Life Angel, but it has only been half a year since humanity upgraded to the Tier 5 world. No one will be able to acquire that material to upgrade to Sequence Six in a short time. He would have to wait. Within a year, Mu Zhong's legs should be able to be healed.
Wei Huan glanced at the man's legs, which were severed almost at the root, and his right hand, which was broken off at the elbow. He felt a little sorry for him. Only his left hand could move, and three fingers were broken off that hand too. However, Wei Huan did not underestimate the other party. To obtain a Colossus fragment and have the courage to enter this world for experience, even though he was only Sequence Four, he must have some special means.
After another look, Wei Huan retracted his gaze. He didn't notice that a good while after he looked away, the man lying on the ground, seemingly resting with closed eyes, finally exhaled a long, shaky breath. His two remaining fingers on his left hand were deeply stabbed into his palm as he tried to adjust his rapid heartbeat and breathing, trying hard to pretend to be normal.
On Wei Huan's side, he had already placed the challengers he had casually rescued next to Captain Fang William as requested. He watched as they, under the constant shroud of Captain Fang William's halo, slowly recovered from their muddy state into distorted human shapes. They were recovering. This made Wei Huan happy.
He was not going to be humble, nor did he consider himself a cold person. If he were truly selfish, he could have completely focused on getting stronger alone after rebirth. The resources he unlocked were enough to raise an army and cultivate a faction that only answered to him. He could have been a king or overlord. But he didn't. His choice has always been only one. So, saving people, as long as it doesn't conflict with his ultimate goal, he is very willing to do it casually. If he could gain the trust of people like Captain Fang William, that would be an unexpected surprise.
Moreover, this casual act happened to become the solution to the current predicament. Now, no one knows how many people can make it here, or if this assessment has a time limit. But currently, five non-Dark system challengers are needed to enter that white light for the next step. The people he casually rescued became a crucial turning point to change the situation.
"Seeing those terrifying purple spots, the first reaction of most people is probably to stay away. By the time they confirm they can't escape and want to come here to investigate the truth, it's already too late," Yake observed the changes in these people, his expression relaxed. "Colonel Wei rescuing these people is his kindness, but it's a brilliant stroke of genius. Otherwise, we'd be trapped here."
Aglis leaned against Yake. Since there was no contamination here, Aglis had dispelled the blood mist around her, restoring her to her blonde, blue-eyed appearance. She was very beautiful, gazing at Yake obsessively: "Will we die together? That would be a lucky thing."
Yake smiled, raising his hand to rub Aglis's hair, his smile very gentle. However, the way they interacted didn't seem romantic at all, but rather like the way siblings interact. "We will get out. The essence of the Challenge World is to strengthen humanity, not to destroy it. As long as we unite, we can face all difficulties."
Wei Huan paused, startled. He suddenly understood why, since arriving here, he felt a constant internal resistance whenever he thought about killing and looting Colossus fragments, feeling that it was wrong. So that's it. Prompted by Yake, he finally realized.
That's right, the essence of the Challenge World is to strengthen humanity. And the Colossus assessment, as an orderly energy of nature, should not encourage them to kill each other. As far as it goes, everything—from the need for five non-Dark energy users to enter that empty room, to Captain Fang's ability to drive away contamination, including the fact that the people he subconsciously rescued could change the situation—all pointed to the concept of "Teamwork."
So, is completing the assessment through cooperation the true content of this trial?
For a long time, Wei Huan just listened silently to the conversation between the three of them, waiting for the people he brought to be saved. Finally, after an hour, someone completely recovered from the state of being a muddy blob into a fully human shape, with some human skin color returning.
Fang William's expression remained relaxed. Maintaining the halo was as easy as eating and drinking for him now. He only sighed: "So much time has passed, and no one else has come. It seems those who could make it have all arrived here."
Aglis said: "What about the people outside? Will they die?"
Fang William shook his head: "I don't know. We can't go back. I tried. We can't leave; we can only continue to move forward."
Less than half an hour later, the purple spots on someone's body had faded significantly, and they finally began to regain consciousness, opening their eyes. No need for words of thanks. Those who escaped danger knew that to leave this place alive, they had to enter the light-filled room with Captain Fang William. Although they didn't know what they would face next, it was a responsibility they had to face.
Finally, the third person was also able to stand up. Including Captain Fang and Jones, they helped these three people into the room full of light. They couldn't wait any longer. No one was sure if this assessment had a time limit or what the penalty for failure would be.
Wei Huan could not approach that room. The Holy Light energy was too harmful to him and his Undead. However, during the wait, Wei Huan involuntarily took a few steps forward. This time, he stood beside the man slumped on the ground and instinctively looked down at him.
This glance made Wei Huan notice a slight abnormality. The person seemed to be avoiding his gaze, which wasn't normal. Wei Huan took two more looks, then thoughtfully retracted his gaze.
Just then, the blinding light ahead disappeared. The remaining light became normal but no longer possessed lethality.
Captain Fang William walked out from inside: "Come on, this stage is cleared. Let's continue moving down."
Aglis quickly stepped forward, asking first: "What happened?"
Fang William said: "It was as we guessed. The five of us acted like a key to pass this stage. A little bit of my power was drawn, and we successfully passed."
"Does this really mean we have to unite?" Aglis wrinkled her nose and was the first to walk into the room they couldn't approach earlier.
Yake stayed behind. Three people were still lying on the ground, not fully recovered, and needed to continue receiving Captain Fang's treatment. They had to take them along.
Wei Huan summoned the Undead to carry these people, then turned to look at the man lying on the ground: "Do you need help?"
The man was silent for a few seconds, then spoke: "Thank you. Yes, I do." His voice was hoarse, as if sandpaper was rubbing in his throat.
Wei Huan summoned a Facehugger. The person laboriously turned and climbed onto it.
Wei Huan, retracting his gaze and continuing to move forward, frowned slightly. Having confirmed the abnormality, Wei Huan realized that this person was indeed strange. Someone who dared to participate in the assessment couldn't be without strength. His current physical state seemed like a disguise. Otherwise, how did he move before meeting Captain Fang? His current weakness was truly overdone.
However, Wei Huan didn't know how to probe the other party's secret for the moment, so he could only remain vigilant. Some Crows were summoned along with the Facehugger and would act as his eyes, watching all abnormalities around them.
The man lying on the back of the Facehugger also seemed to realize this, and a trace of annoyance appeared on his disfigured face. He secretly turned his head, glanced at the Ghost Crow flying in the darkness, frowned, and quickly retracted his gaze.
Wei Huan had entered the room that previously emitted the Holy white light. He found that without the white light, the material of this room was the same as the passage they had traveled through—a kind of black with variegated colors, a material unknown to Blue Star. The light came from the runes on the walls, which had now returned to normal illumination.
Wei Huan then noticed that the room was circular, and the floor had five very distinct circles, clearly where Captain Fang and the four others had stood. There was nothing else.
Moving forward again was another long passage, leading who knows where.
Captain Fang, riding a magnificent white horse, turned to look at them and said: "Let's go. There must be another assessment waiting for us ahead."
Wei Huan's gaze fell on the white horse. It was an illusion created by Captain Fang's ability. He wondered if they had read the same novel. In any case, Captain Fang had transformed his Holy Power into a horse, becoming a true Holy Knight. A mount that could soar through the heavens and the earth, with a speed no less than Dot-Mom's when galloping.
Aglis knew they had to hurry, and she reverted to her blood mist-shrouded state. In this state, her movement speed would also increase, and she could fly. Wei Huan also sat on the back of a Burrow Beast. He also summoned a large number of Burrow Beasts for the other challengers who lacked fast movement capabilities to sit on their backs.
Finally, only Yake remained. Yake was about to sit on a Burrow Beast when Aglis called out: "Yake, let me see your newly summoned Nightmare."
Yake thought for a moment and nodded. He took an object from his neck and placed it at his lips, blowing a powerful whistle. It was the Platinum Demon Flute he had traded from Wei Huan. As the sound of the Demon Flute faded, a black portal of light appeared behind Yake. The light spun, and then a cloud of black mist rushed out of the door. When the black mist solidified, a black steed, no less impressive than Captain Fang's, appeared beside Yake, affectionately rubbing its face against him.
Wei Huan noticed that the black horse had faint orange flames on its four hooves, and similar flames of light danced in its eyes. Moreover, it had a pair of pitch-black horns on its head.
"Nightmare..." Wei Huan murmured the word, guessing that if Xu Qingqiang knew that the Platinum Demon Flute could summon such a handsome mount, he would be insanely jealous.
Yake, flipping onto the Nightmare, looked at Wei Huan and asked curiously: "Are you smiling?"
Wei Huan snapped back to attention and smiled faintly: "Yes. This Demon Flute originally belonged to my friend. He called it his buffet."
Yake raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and said: "Major Xu?"
Wei Huan nodded.
Yake said apologetically: "Next time I see Major Xu, I will apologize to him personally and compensate him for his loss. The Platinum Demon Flute is very suitable for Dark Elves. It was through it that I mastered the summoning ability."
Wei Huan nodded. This was indeed a matter between the two of them, and he didn't need to intervene. Of course, the Nightmare was an unexpectedly cool summon.
"Alright, let's go," Captain Fang reminded from the front. Then he patted his white horse and said: "But I still prefer white."
Aglis laughed: "You just can't summon a black one. I hate Holy-based power. Your horse is too flashy and blinding."
"Hahaha!" Captain Fang laughed heartily. He shook the reins, and the white horse galloped, instantly moving far away like a bolt of lightning.
Wei Huan looked at the departing Captain Fang, then the blood mist-transformed Aglis, and the black light-shrouded Yake, and a wave of excitement suddenly welled up in him. He had finally made it here! He was standing with the heroic leaders of the previous life!