The Ancient Gods' Whisper

The throne of the Dark World no longer casts a shadow of its king. To commemorate the once-departed ruler, the tradition of tolling the bell was established. When the bell tolls, it signals a deathmatch with no retreat.

The king once quoted Caesar: "I came, I saw, I plundered, I conquered."

This, after all, is the law of the Dark World.

The tolling bell reverberated within the Holy Temple. After a moment of silence, the audience erupted with deafening cheers, as if they could already smell the heavy stench of blood in the air. Forgetting their high-society decorum, they became like drunken spectators at an underground fighting pit. Their fervor surged, blood rushing through their veins!

Bunny girls carried exquisite trays, serving champagne to the excited guests.

The king also once said battles of life and death should be accompanied by beauties and fine wine.

Beams of spotlight pierced through the darkness, illuminating the octagonal cage engulfed in an electrical grid!

The moment Gu Jianlin stepped into the cage, his identity was immediately investigated and displayed on a projection screen—because everyone needed to know who he represented as a candidate.

As long as he was backed by the Third Master, it would be considered within the rules.

Simultaneously, the private boxes of the six directors all lit up, and their gazes fell upon him from every corner.

The tolling bell still echoed. Gu Jianlin stood in the massive octagonal cage surrounded by crackling, molten currents of electricity. The audience's cheers and shouts thundered, blending a futuristic high-tech auction with the primal savagery of an ancient Roman colosseum.

Of course, there was only one reason why everyone was so worked up.

He was going to face five opponents alone!

Madness!

"I've seen plenty of people trying to win favor with the directors, but I've never seen someone as reckless as you," Ye Hua said, his gaze piercing. The dark hood concealed a face twisted with malice, a scar writhing like a centipede. "Or perhaps you don't understand the rules? When the bell tolls, blood must be spilled."

Starsight and Moongaze tilted their heads, their smiles eerily strange.

Nearby, Scar and Black Sniper stared at him with predatory intensity.

An elevated platform rose inside the cage, holding trays of secret medicine.

After consuming the medicine, their injuries were nearly healed, and their spirituality was restored.

"I know,"

Gu Jianlin said expressionlessly. "That's exactly why I'm here."

The audience buzzed with astonishment. His voice, amplified by the cage's speaker system, echoed in everyone's ears.

Five opponents at once—how could he possibly win?

"Interesting. These days, the reckless seem to be multiplying,"

came a raspy chuckle from the Fourth Master's box.

Meanwhile, the Third Master appeared as if struck by lightning, muttering, "Who the hell is this Gu Ting? Is he trying to show off? If he wanted to impress me, he didn't have to throw his life away, did he?"

Miss Lan cast him a sidelong glance, her thoughts conveying her disdain for his lack of self-awareness.

Playing with a copper coin in her hand, she considered the divination she had performed earlier. The calculation showed there was a 99% likelihood of securing the Moonstone Heart tonight, which is why she had been brimming with overwhelming confidence.

The words she had exchanged with that boy earlier were purely out of contempt for unworthy men.

But now, she couldn't sit still. She stepped out of the box.

Butcher and Ning Chen helped the injured down the stairs, their gazes filled with incredulity as they stared at the boy in the octagonal cage.

From her seat in the audience, Tang Ling crossed her arms, narrowing her strikingly beautiful eyes as she assessed the boy's back.

Her gaze seemed distant, as if realizing something.

Gu Jianlin wasn't acting on impulse. Of that, she was certain.

Chances were, it had to do with that Moon Princess.

"Aren't you worried?"

At some point, Miss Lan appeared at her back.

Even without Extreme Thunder in her arsenal, Tang Ling was unperturbed. She spoke indifferently: "Worried about what?"

"This time, the Mythical Weapon cannot be used."

Miss Lan calmly asked, "Aren't you worried that he'll die?"

The copper coin in her hand turned continuously, yet still revealed no answer.

"If he dares to enter, he will win."

Tang Ling chuckled lightly. "He's not an idiot."

Miss Lan was momentarily taken aback.

Meanwhile, the lights throughout the Holy Temple dimmed, leaving a single concentrated beam focused on the octagonal cage!

The battle began!

·

·

"Tonight, the bell tolls, and in the octagonal cage, no one leaves alive!"

The beautiful female host shouted excitedly into the microphone, "What madness—unseen in a century. This candidate named Gu Ting will face off against five. Let's bear witness to this bloody carnage!"

Amid thunderous roars, the platform ascended once more, suspending an array of alchemy weapons.

Gu Jianlin merely glanced at them before silently selecting a sheathed Tang Blade.

This was his first time wielding a blade. Until now, he had used chairs, thrones, or simply his bare hands.

Tonight, however, was an exception.

Tonight, he would test his strength without relying on Ancient God Transformation!

As the platform descended, a deathly hush enveloped the arena.

Only the heavy tolling of the bell lingered in the air.

"Let the carnage begin!"

BOOM! The electric grid erupted in dazzling arcs of light. High-voltage energy surged outward, encompassing every corner.

In this moment, the ring offered only life—or death.

Gu Jianlin hefted the Tang Blade in his hand, finding its balance just right.

"Tell me, how do you plan to win?"

Ye Hua locked onto him, smirking coldly.

Gu Jianlin offered a silent smile before making a single gesture.

He curled his finger: "Come."

For a split second, murderous intent flashed in Ye Hua's gaze. He growled, "Kill him!"

BOOM!

Starsight and Moongaze, both Fourth-Order Cloud Monarchs, immediately initiated Ghost Transformation. Pale ghostly flames ignited on their foreheads, their primal and violent instincts magnified exponentially as they dove toward him.

The Fourth-Order Cloud Monarchs wielded the skill Corpse Ghost Technique. In the absence of corpses, the ability might seem limited. But they wasted no time in summoning their Spiritual Bodies. From behind the duo emerged identical, monstrous ghost faces.

Scar charged forward, his right fist gathering terrifying force as he threw a powerful punch!

In the next instant, the roar of a sniper rifle echoed!

The Third-Order Hunter known as Black Sniper was already aiming his weapon with lethal intent!

This was a kill zone.

Not to mention the Fourth-Order Shura lurking hungrily in the background.

No one believed Gu Jianlin could win.

Because it was deemed impossible.

How could he win?

With a thunderous boom!

A black ghostly flame ignited on Gu Jianlin's forehead. The ferocious force of Ghost Transformation unleashed a torrent of negative energy, turning his body into an abyssal hell—a prison for slumbering devils clawing awake in a snarling frenzy!

Simultaneously, phantom-like chains circled his back.

The Lock of Nonexistence erased his presence, tricking the senses of all.

Within the domain of the Lock of Nonexistence, a shadowy silhouette shimmered haphazardly—until it trembled into form!

Qilin Forbidden Curse!

This was his trump card.

His shadow was always poised to awaken.

For a fleeting moment, the shadow coalesced into a solid presence. Although it was merely an illusory phantom, it seemed to breathe with life, its spirituality surging instantly to the Third-Order.

On the Ghost Slayer Path, the First Order is the Ghostly Soul, the Second the Shadow Ghost, and the Third the Ghost Slash!

Senses merged. Thoughts became one.

As the shadow awoke, an unfamiliar emotion surged within Gu Jianlin.

Breathing in the heavens, reigning over all, unrivaled supremacy!

Within his mind, the earth split and imploded. The heavens churned with infernal fire, as though the Netherworld's divine country was consuming the mortal realm. Thunderbolts raged amidst colossal blood-red slitted eyes, eyeing the cosmos with burning ambition!

The feral remnants of the Candle Dragon Venerable's emotions stirred, her instincts reignited!

As the Dragon's Roar spanned the heavens and the earth, the shadow solidified further, even forming distinct features.

Raven-black hair danced like a storm-bound tide. The absurdly beautiful face bore an androgynous allure. Blood-red pupils swirled with imperial malice, a seductive tear mole traced beneath one eye.

Suffocating black mist enveloped its body, embodying the elegance and dread of ghostly divinity!

A mesmerizing figure, overlooking all of existence.

For a moment, even Gu Jianlin was dumbfounded.

The shadow's visage—half of it resembled his own.

The other half clearly resembled the Old Monster!

This was the Authority of the Qilin Venerable, forged by devouring the Candle Dragon Bone.

Manifested into form through the Qilin Forbidden Curse!

Not enough. More!

The dazzling shadow unleashed the aura of the Ancient Wilderness, sprouting stately, menacing dragon horns atop its head. Blood-red slitted pupils burned in its mesmerizing gaze. The ethereal Dragon Roar now bellowed like rolling thunder!

Evolution State!

The world was fractured and wounded in his view, with vivid, intricate cracks mapping each detail.

The Divine Speed Force domain unfolded. Though its immense acceleration placed great strain on the body, skill enhancements diminished the aftereffects to nearly nothing, increasing his speed even further!

In Evolution State, all abilities experienced a dramatic escalation!

The next step was Virtualization!

Suddenly, the shadow distorted and disappeared like a watery reflection fading into nothingness.

This was the enhanced effect of Virtualization: invisibility!

All that could be seen was the black Tang Blade spinning in mid-air, drawing fleeting streaks in the void!

Slash!

CRACK!

Blood sprayed in a gruesome arc as the Third-Order Hunter's head soared skyward.

Battlefield rules: take out the healer first, then take down the overlord!

Gasps of shock and horror erupted.

Ye Hua, had he not been in Virtualization State, would undoubtedly have broken into a cold sweat.

The ghostlike speed! The chilling blade flashed again in a ghostly blur of bone-white light, accompanied by a splash of crimson!

The Ancient Martialist's head joined its predecessor, eyes wide in deathly astonishment.

Godlike precision!

Within a scant two seconds, the team of five was reduced to three.

Ye Hua's expression froze entirely.

The berserk Starsight and Moongaze betrayed disbelief, their faces painted with primal shock.

The only visible remnant of the attack was the ghostly Tang Blade, hanging eerily in mid-air.

Only Gu Jianlin could see it—the gorgeously ethereal silhouette, hovering amidst the mist, exuding an intoxicating blend of supreme monstrosity and ancient grace, forged from his cold indifference and brutal decisiveness, yet tempered by the remnants of that paramount Supreme.

A divinity incarnate.

Blood rained down like a crimson downpour.

The Candle Dragon Shadow wielded the Tang Blade with an almost dance-like grace, enacting a ballet of unparalleled brutality.

This was its first battle after awakening.

Gu Jianlin exerted no conscious control over its actions, merely allowing its instincts to dictate its every move.

As such, its movements were not just his—

But dictated by the vestiges of the Good Sister lingering within.

The Good Sister's strategies, her demeanor—they were mimicked perfectly.

And so, every slight tilt of the head, every gaze or flourish, radiated a beauty that stole breath.

"You asked me how I was going to win?"

Gu Jianlin spread his hands, his face devoid of emotion. "What do you think?"

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