Chapter 15: The Agony of Losing My Friend

"Control!"

In the silent darkness of the first trial's mine, Wei Cheng's thunderous shout echoed, his Mountain-Moving inner force transforming into the grandeur of towering peaks. Merged with the third tier of the Golden Bell Barrier, it instantly manifested as a tangible golden bell.

At that very moment, a shadow darted in like lightning—only to slam headlong into the bell, like a monk striking a gong.

Clang!

Cracks splintered across the bell’s surface, a dozen or more, but in the next instant, it was restored to perfection.

The stone fiend, however, was left dazed and senseless.

With the Mountain-Moving visualization and the third tier of the Golden Bell Barrier, his defenses had soared to new heights.

Wei Cheng pivoted, his fist flashing out—bang, bang, bang. Three punches, and the stone fiend perished on the spot, petrifying rapidly. Soon enough, a fresh Flame Stone dropped into his basket.

The process was almost suspiciously smooth.

"Control!"

...

"Clang!"

—

"Control!"

"Clang!"

—

After countless repetitions, Wei Cheng found himself shouting into the lonely tunnels until only his own echo answered him. No more stone fiends appeared. Grief welled in his chest—he had never imagined a day would come when he would mourn the loss of such steadfast companions.

He sighed deeply, hoisted the basket onto his back—twelve Flame Stones, more than enough.

Returning to the Bone Demon Cavern, he found, aside from the central tunnel, two others branching left and right. Yu Liang, Hu Hailong, and the others, refusing to admit defeat, were frantically clearing the northern tunnel.

Wei Cheng left them to their efforts and seated himself in meditation, cultivating the Mountain-Moving Heart Technique. With his current stash of resources, he could refine an additional thirty years’ worth of inner power.

No sooner had he completed a single cycle of cultivation than Yu Liang, Hu Hailong, and the rest returned, disheartened, from the northern tunnel.

"Wei, we ran into familiar faces. The other team still has forty-four members. They've gone completely mad—split into three raiding squads and are sweeping the caves in all directions. They're already preparing for the fourth-level trial."

"Also, we tried—different teams can't cooperate. As long as they claim the northern demon cave first, we can’t get in. Apart from talking, there’s nothing we can do."

"The fourth level?"

Wei Cheng raised his brows. If the Spider Demon was the first level, the Bat Demon the second, and the Bone Demon the third, then the next would indeed be the fourth.

"So we're not actually that far behind in progress."

"But, Wei, on their side, eight have already opened a third innate meridian, sixteen have opened a second, and all three classes are represented. We just can’t compare," Hu Hailong lamented, raking his fingers through his hair.

Comparing people only leads to despair—why was their team so lacking?

For a moment, all eyes drifted to Zhang Yong, once the reckless "Little Overlord." Damn it, it was this idiot who, in his youthful arrogance, believed the Purple Cloud Heart Technique was the strongest and snatched up all the resources. And what came of it? They were wiped out in the Bat Demon Cave, leaving those who cultivated the Mountain-Moving Heart Technique stunted, unable to protect those practicing the Spirit Swallow Heart Technique.

It was infuriating. They should have realized sooner—the three classes were clearly meant to complement each other.

Wei Cheng could only sigh inwardly—it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"If we clear the fourth trial, Zhang Yong gets no chance to touch the Stele."

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

A chorus of hands shot up, venting some of the resentment in their hearts.

"But what if the fourth trial requires the Spirit Swallow Heart Technique to counter it?"

The honest Baldy spoke up slowly, and their newfound optimism plummeted.

So frustrating! Still, they had no choice but to wait for Zhang Yong and Han Dong to accumulate enough inner power—two cycles’ worth—and open their second innate meridian.

Meanwhile, Wei Cheng continued to cultivate his own Mountain-Moving Heart Technique until his resources were exhausted.

By then, he possessed three cycles and thirty years' worth of inner power, plus the third tier of the Golden Bell Barrier and the Mountain-Moving visualization. He felt some confidence in facing the fourth trial.

Two days later, Zhang Yong and Han Dong both opened their second innate meridian. Their auras surged, and the Purple Cloud Heart Technique proved formidable—when Zhang Yong unleashed the Soaring Dragon Palm, a foot-long violet energy shone forth, striking over a dozen targets at once, like a true dragon in flight.

Zhang Yong was bursting with pride—until he heard the other teams’ progress, and instantly wilted.

"Let’s begin. Remember, once we clear the tunnel, don’t rush ahead. Golden Bell Barrier in the front, Iron Shirt on the flanks, Zhang Yong and Han Dong in the middle, Iron Head covering the rear. Keep discipline, don’t abandon anyone. We’re already too far behind—no more mistakes!"

Wei Cheng repeated his instructions, drilling the group several times.

The aim was simple: not to excel, but to survive.

There shouldn't be any problems. Wei Cheng planned to draw the monsters’ attention himself; behind him, Baldy and Hu Hailong had reached the second tier of Golden Bell, and Yu Liang the first.

Wang Wei, Cheng An, and Zhao Shuxin practiced Iron Shirt—they couldn’t face the enemy head-on, but could cover the sides.

Zhang Yong and Han Dong, poised in the center, could strike or defend as needed.

Soon, Wei Cheng cleared the rocks blocking the tunnel entrance. The path ahead opened up, and the Transmission Stele’s familiar glow beckoned.

But the trial's demon was nowhere to be seen.

Wei Cheng signaled, then took a step forward and bellowed.

"Control!"

His voice boomed like thunder, echoing through the vast cavern. He feared nothing from the stone fiends now; what unsettled him was the oddity of this trial. What could it be…?

But the mine remained silent—nothing stirred. Well, not quite nothing: there were stone tables and chairs, stone beds and stools, laden with water skins and bundles of flatbread. An unexpected bounty.

But no trial demon.

Step by step, Wei Cheng advanced, hyper-alert, until he reached the Transmission Stele. Laying a hand upon it, he waited—nothing.

A miraculous light descended, bathing him for five seconds, granting him greater vitality, purer spirit, and the fourth tier of the Golden Bell Barrier.

Then—nothing more.

Wei Cheng stood rooted, unable to believe his luck.

After a long moment, he summoned the others. No monsters appeared.

Only then did a possibility occur to him.

Could it be that the fourth trial’s guardian demon was the stone fiend? And all along this path, every stone fiend had already become his former companion…

"Zhang Yong, you’re out this round. Step back."

"Han Dong, you’re first."

"Xu, you’re second. Hu Hailong, third. Yu Liang, fourth. Wang Wei, fifth."

Though grief churned within him, Wei Cheng kept his expression calm—a good man can be unfathomable.

The others grew even more uneasy. Zhang Yong wanted to complain, but under their collective glare, kept silent.

Han Dong, as expected, obtained the third tier of the Soaring Dragon Palm.

Baldy and Hu Hailong both gained the third tier of the Golden Bell Barrier, Yu Liang the second, Wang Wei the first.

Unexpectedly, Cheng An also drew the first tier of the Golden Bell Barrier—the rewards for this trial were remarkably generous.

Next, Zhao Shuxin, Long Fengjun, Shang Zhi, and Liu Yan all received the Iron Shirt technique, finally progressing past Iron Head.

Perhaps the fourth trial’s difficulty prompted the Transmission Stele to be this generous.

"Wei, should we try the side tunnels?"

Zhang Yong, who'd gotten nothing, was eager; the others were interested too. They didn't know why this trial had glitched, but what if the side tunnels had glitched as well?

Wei Cheng refused outright. Baldy was right—the fourth trial should, in theory, require someone who cultivates Spirit Swallow Heart. Imagine the chaos if the stone fiends had attacked indiscriminately.

If he hadn’t lured and slain all the stone fiends in advance, their team might have been wiped out in this trial.

Even with his tangible Golden Bell Barrier, he couldn’t withstand three stone fiends attacking at once.

The main trial was like this; the other branches likely required agility as well.

Their team, lacking anyone with the Spirit Swallow Heart Technique, would only be courting disaster.

Wei Cheng didn’t believe he could handle it alone—and even if he could, how many would die?

Better to focus their efforts on breaking through the fifth trial.

"Let’s cultivate—strive for three cycles of inner power and open the third innate meridian."

Wei Cheng spoke calmly. The fourth-level trial had provided exactly fifty servings of water and flatbread—a reward they desperately needed.