C6 Tester

After an indeterminate amount of time, an ancient voice suddenly echoed in Chu Hen's ears:

"The path of the King of the Gods is now open. The tester, please take your place!"

The voice was cold, deep, and carried an air of authority that was hard to defy.

Chu Hen's eyelids felt incredibly heavy. He mustered all his strength to open them, only to find darkness enveloping him.

"Where am I?"

As his thoughts began to clear, a thunderous noise erupted around him, and he felt himself caught in a massive spinning force, as though trapped in the vortex of a hurricane.

When the tumultuous sound abruptly ceased, Chu Hen found himself tumbling into a patch of soft grass. His backside ached slightly, and his head throbbed, but his mind was alert.

"Where am I?"

He rubbed his sore spot and rose to his feet, gazing ahead.

In the distance, mountains and rivers painted a scene so picturesque it took his breath away.

Closer by, a village, a tavern, and a village flag painted a serene picture.

Yet, why was the flag motionless, hanging suspended in the air?

A gentle breeze wafted by, and Chu Hen, in disbelief, rubbed his eyes. The three gilded characters spelling "Isynlenor" remained still, and even the shadowy figures within the village stood rigid, like statues.

Indeed, it was a case of the mountains being vibrant from afar, yet the water silent up close.

"Thud... Thud... Thud... Thud..."

A shadow flickered before Chu Hen's eyes, followed by the sound of objects plummeting from the sky, and suddenly, four more people joined him in the grass.

"Damn!"

"A frozen space... It seems to be the doing of the King of the Gods." Chu Hen couldn't help but feel he had hit a streak of terrible luck. No, not just luck—misfortune. If only his strength hadn't failed him, causing him to collapse in a pool of blood... If only he hadn't carelessly taken that tiny sip, or even just a lick... Sigh!

This was the realm of the King of the Gods, a place for a grand test of wit and courage, where one could accumulate points and reveal the darker side of humanity through all manner of twisted tasks. One wrong step here could reduce someone to mere dregs in the eyes of the King of the Gods.

Chu Hen harbored no complaints about being transported to the Smoile Empire; over the past few days, he had come to regard Draseon as a second home.

With the Chu family's wealth, the fierce protection of his sister, and a twenty-first-century mindset, Chu Hen was confident he could find the secret to eternal life. And if not, he could still master martial arts, practice Qi, and delve into witchcraft, which would be more than enough to enjoy a life of leisure in another realm.

But now, he was confronted with the Path of Life and Death, courtesy of the dreaded King of the Gods.

"Shit!" Why on earth did that damn Chen have to die next to me, of all places? Could his spilled blood be the golden ticket?

Chu Hen looked down at his hands and shrugged in resignation. Even if he did inherit that so-called golden ticket, how could he possibly bleed himself out? And with other competitors around, who could guarantee they wouldn't turn on him?

"Mo Xie, Bo Luo Mo, Ruo!"

Nothing happened. The red jade bracelet on his right arm remained, but its once-hidden mystical power had vanished without a trace, leaving Chu Hen to ponder the implications of these new spatial rules.

"Welcome to the King of the Gods space!"

The voice, ancient and commanding, echoed in his mind, cutting through his reverie.

"This is the ultimate realm of rules. Here, you are a grain of sand, a blade of grass, a mortal, and a deity. Complete the tasks set by the King of the Gods Hall, and you can walk the King of the Gods Road to claim everything you desire."

"Everything I want?" Chu Hen was stunned by the unexpected promise. Was this golden ticket really that powerful? He chuckled to himself, imagining a triumphant return to his world, strutting with an air of invincibility and reaching the pinnacle of success. All those who once looked down on him, including his overbearing sister and the spoiled rich kids, would be groveling at his feet.

Lost in his daydreams of grandeur, Chu Hen was abruptly brought back to reality by the next piece of information.

"Fail, and you'll be erased, reduced to a mere speck of dust across countless worlds." A chill ran down his spine. The harsh truth laid bare his assumptions: there's no such thing as a free lunch. High rewards come with high risks, and the journey ahead would require relentless effort.

"Releasing tester information..."

A light screen swiftly unfolded in Chu Hen's mind, displaying Sanskrit characters scattered in pairs and clusters, seemingly imbued with a mysterious force. In a flash, the information was imprinted in Chu Hen's perception in an understandable form.

"Tester #0911: Chu Hen."

"Cultivation: Mortal Realm Fourth Level, Physique Augmentation Peak."

"Cultivation Method: 'Basic Returning to Origin'."

"Item: Red Jade Bracelet (Functionality erased)."

"Bloodline: Unknown, requires identification."

"Titles: None."

"Adaptive scenario setting, no barriers to communication."

"Taboo: Those who disclose information about the King of the Gods will be exterminated."

The information was straightforward and true, with the King of the Gods' mysterious powers leaving a profound impression on him. Yet, the most shocking revelation was the word "Exterminate" emblazoned in golden light.

"Ugh... Ah!"

A series of pained groans reached him, and Chu Hen turned to see several people on the ground beginning to stir. He surmised that these individuals, who had fallen at the same time as him and were only now regaining consciousness, likely possessed even less strength than he did.

"Brother, could you please tell me where we are?" A soft, frail voice caught Chu Hen's attention, prompting him to look at the girl in a tender pink dress, her figure svelte and her demeanor woeful as she rose from the ground.

"Uh..." Chu Hen was about to respond when the man next to the girl in pink clambered up, clumsily adjusting his damp sleeves and hem, his face a picture of confusion:

"What... What's happening? Where am I? Where is Miss Lianxiang? And who are you all...?"

"Young Master An, I'm right here," a tear-streaked girl, appearing to be around fifteen or sixteen, called out, clearly terrified.

"Lianxiang... Ouch, why did you hit me?" The disheveled man turned and stumbled toward the girl, only to be met with a black fist that connected with his face, sending him sprawling.

"Watch where you're going, or you might just run into someone like me," a burly man beside the girl warned, withdrawing his fist and fixing the man with a menacing glare, his expression anything but friendly.

The squad consisted of five members: three men and two women. Among them was a playboy, two seemingly fragile women, and one who came off as rather unfriendly. These were Chu Hen's initial impressions, and they left him with a sense of trepidation about the success of their mission.

"Cough... Folks!" Chu Hen cleared his throat and greeted them with a traditional fist cupping. His voice caught the others off guard, and they responded with looks of suspicion, unease, and worry.

With a resigned wave of his hand and an innocuous smile, Chu Hen tried to reassure them, "Like all of you, I've only just arrived and know very little. However, I'm willing to share what I've experienced so far. Together, we can... ahem... face these challenges united."

"What?" Young Master An, having just steadied himself, straightened his drenched clothing and retorted indignantly, "This is preposterous! The Road of the King of the Gods? Erasure? We are sentient beings, not to be fooled by such nonsense!"

Young Master An, who clearly fancied himself a scholar, spoke with a flamboyance that matched his exaggerated gestures. "Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous," he exclaimed. "Come, Lianxiang, we're leaving." With that, he attempted to whisk the young girl away.

Chu Hen couldn't help but inwardly grimace with distaste, wondering whether the girl was attracted to the man's wealth or merely charmed by his cultivated facade.

"Wait a moment, both of you. I have something to add..." The girl in pink regained her composure, her demeanor taking on an air of mystical wisdom.

"I've been fortunate enough to come across the fringe histories left by the sect. Tales of ghosts and goblins aren't unusual. As cultivators, we should face the unexpected with reason and maintain our composure," she stated with conviction, her piercing gaze revealing that Young Master An possessed a neglected, superficial cultivation at the second level of the mortal realm.

"I've heard my fair share of ghost stories, but this is the first time I've encountered something so outlandish, yet it feels real," the burly man commented dismissively, casting a scornful glance at the playboy as he spoke in his booming voice.

"Young Master..." the girl next to the dandy whispered timidly.

It was then that Chu Hen took a closer look at the girl. Though she was only around fifteen or sixteen, she stood tall and graceful, dressed in a light, flowing gauze gown topped with a rose-red brocade jacket, which accentuated her elegant figure. She radiated the air of a refined young lady.

"...My father used to say that the world is full of wonders and mysteries that never cease to amaze. The ancient scriptures also mention that everything in the world possesses a spirit. Could it be that what we're about to encounter is one of those ancient mysteries?" she mused.

Chu Hen couldn't help but inwardly commend her. Despite her soft-spoken manner, her insights far surpassed those of the hedonistic Young Master An, and even the burly man seemed to temper his aggression in her presence.

With four out of five agreeing, the dandy, Young Master An, gave an awkward snort and abandoned the idea of splitting up.

"Very well, since Young Master An has no objections... we must now unite more than ever. I suggest we each showcase our unique skills so we can benefit from each other's strengths and compensate for our weaknesses. Does that sound agreeable?" Chu Hen said, bowing with his fists clasped, his expression earnest.

"My name is Lianxiang, from Qin Village in Fleosil. I've been learning poetry and song from my father since childhood. After his passing, I performed at the Arts Hall. Young Master An has just redeemed my family and provided me with a home. As for my specialty..." Lianxiang's face flushed with shyness as she glanced at the dandy, then lowered her head, playing with her sleeve.

"Arts Hall?" Chu Hen reflected. A courtesan's life is one of either exceptional talent or extraordinary wit. This young woman, had she not faced some misfortune, would surely be a jewel of her community, now adrift in the world. Such a shame!

He then turned his gaze to the dandy.

Feeling uneasy under Chu Hen's scrutiny, the dandy stepped forward and declared, "I am An Yixi, from the An Family Fort in Zheng An County. My father owns several medicinal shops, and by the grace of the heavens, our business has expanded to Fleosil. As for my cultivation... I am at the second level of the Mortal Realm, specializing in Flesh Forging. In my youth, I also studied the classics of the sages..."

He paused briefly before adding, "I am grateful for the esteem of Master Meng, who has honored me with a title. However, I have yet to secure a position, so for now, I hold a nominal title. Miss Lianxiang is the one I had the fortune to rescue." He finished speaking, glancing around with a self-satisfied air that was unmistakable.

"My name is Han Meng, and I've reached the third level of the Mortal Realm." The burly, dark-skinned man was visibly impatient, his attention scattered, leaving others to wonder what was on his mind.

"I am..." The girl in pink lifted her chin, her voice tender, her gaze as soft as water, devoid of any harshness.

"Exactly, everyone has had their say, and you're the last one. Surely you're not keeping secrets from us, are you?"

An Yixi exclaimed, his eyes fixed on Miss Lianxiang, nearly drooling in his awe.

"In my travels, I've gone by the name Chu Sanke."

Chu Hen smiled, locking eyes with Lianxiang, who was intently watching him, and spoke with deliberate clarity.

"What? An alias?"

The revelation stirred the group. The hot-tempered Han Meng could barely contain himself and seemed poised to lunge forward.

"As for my cultivation, I am at the third level of the Mortal Realm with Core Enhancement, and all five internal organs are fortified." Chu Hen kept his smile as he turned his body, channeling the power of Physique Augmentation to activate his Core Enhancement. In a flash, the wild grass around him began to sway and whisper.

"Core Enhancement at its peak, with the release of body and Qi?"

He knew he was outmatched in terms of cultivation, but if it came down to a life-or-death struggle, the outcome was anyone's guess.

Han Meng glanced at the others and held back. A true gentleman wouldn't exploit another's weakness, but he didn't subscribe to that philosophy.

"Hmph, all smoke and mirrors."

An Yi Xi, who had become wealthy in the small county town, was well-versed in dealing with all sorts of people and adept at changing her tactics with the wind. Upon seeing Han Meng back down, she could only sulkily retract the punch she never truly intended to throw and stood to one side of Lianxiang.

Lianxiang, for her part, was taken aback, her eyes widening in astonishment. She remained silent, while Miss Ling Er, seemingly out of nowhere, had already adopted a look of compassionate concern.

"Attendant, please be alert. The mission has commenced," an ancient and majestic voice suddenly announced. Everyone immediately became alert, ready for what was to come.