Chapter 125 Hidden Surprises

Duncan's caution proved right.

As he ascended further, the fear became increasingly gripping. However, Duncan was also beginning to feel a strange sense of irritation. He wanted to find this thing that was causing him fear and strangle it ruthlessly.

His mind started having dark thoughts as his irritation spiked.

When he stepped foot on the one-hundred-and-first step, Duncan felt both his irritation and fear reach unprecedented heights. He fell into a sort of trance as he didn't like feeling this fear much and wanted to end it completely.

As the irritation in Duncan's heart reached a tipping point, killing intent began manifesting in Duncan's heart. Along with the killing intent, a black aura invisible to the naked eye started wafting out of Duncan's body.

Duncan's hesitant steps became firm as he narrowed his eyes and started walking confidently up the steps. With each step, the fear that gripped Duncan became increasingly strong, however, in retaliation, Duncan's killing intent and the black aura were soaring as well.

By the time he reached the one-hundred-and-thirteenth step, an illusion formed in Duncan's mind of three vague figures and a demonic ape. With a wave of their hands, a town below them toppled and turned to dust. Seeing this scene, Duncan's mind lost reason and Duncan started walking faster with a billowing black aura as if he wanted to reach those illusory figures.

With each step Duncan took, his killing intent soared and reached unprecedented heights. The illusory figures however remained at the same distance. However, the aura they exuded became more and more dreadful.

With the increase of their aura, they tried to force Duncan to step back. But, Duncan only stepped forward with red eyes and a billowing black aura. The immaterial black aura started to coalesce above Duncan and it formed a vague image of a face.

At the same time, Duncan's killing intent blanketed the entire hill and it was starting to affect the physical world slowly. Blackish-red streaks of dreadful intent started to leave marks across the rocks and trees.

By now, Duncan had already reached the hundred-and-twenty-fourth step. The next step he took would have a really profound effect. But, Duncan's eyes were only fixed on those illusory figures. He wanted to get his hands on those four images and tear them apart.

Duncan took the next step and the scene in his mind changed completely. He saw the four figures sitting in a bar with a large number of wine pots lining the tables. He felt as if they were inviting him to drink with them and were promising every wine known to men for him to sample.

Before Duncan could even think through the feelings, the killing intent that had almost materialized and was affecting the physical world lashed out and the picture of wine pots became distorted. Seeing this, Duncan's anger only spiked further and he stepped forward to teach these imbeciles a lesson.

The next step Duncan ascended showed him a different view. Right now, Bessa was lying on a bed naked and it was not just her. The woman he had seen beside his master when he came out of the cannibal cave was also lounging there. So was Shen Wulong's fiancé. Leia and countless other women he knew were also spread around the bed naked.

And they were all inviting him to bed.

Just as Duncan's heart was going to stir from the scene, he saw the four illusory figures watching from distance. Duncan's anger spiked seeing them and his killing intent once more lashed out tearing through the female images present and distorting them.

Duncan paid no attention to these distorted images and stepped forward once more. This time the vision that greeted him was different. He was standing in the starry sky. Everywhere he turned he saw countless wonders of the world beckoning him to explore.

He could see heavenly maidens lounging on the bed naked and inviting him to come down. He saw countless faceless people inviting him to drink some with them. He saw a variety of free-spirited people asking him to join them in exploring the world.

The offers that were presented to him were tempting to say the least. One particular offer from a Heavenly Maiden almost made Duncan's heart tremble. She was offering to join him on a tour over the world, where they would collect various herbs and she would concoct different wines for him to taste. She was even willing to indulge in all his carnal fancies.

But, just behind her, Duncan saw those four figures once more and Duncan didn't wait for his killing intent to act this time. He pushed the Heavenly Maiden aside and stepped forward angrily.

The moment Duncan did that, the world turned dark and a huge pressure descended on him. However, his killing intent battled with the pressure and brought it to a standstill. The stalemate continued and Duncan's killing intent really started materializing in the physical world.

The face on the black aura behind Duncan also started to become tangible. Suddenly, the formless eyes on the visage formed of black aura opened and a beam of black light struck out from it. It joined the materialized killing intent and pushed the formless pressure back with a mighty shove.

The darkness covering Duncan lifted completely and he was able to see once again clearly. Duncan realized that he was standing at the top step in a daze. He didn't know how long had passed as he stood there in a daze.

The pressure on him has vanished and so did the killing intent in his heart. But, Duncan instinctively knew that his killing intent had materialized in the physical world along with a black visage behind his head.

Duncan turned and looked, but saw nothing behind him. The entire thing confused Duncan. As Duncan was standing there confused. A streak of light came from the stele on the platform and slammed into Duncan's head.

Duncan was unprepared for such an attack. He staggered where he stood and his mind fell into a daze. It took a while for him to return to normal. When he opened his eyes, they had a surprised expression on them.

"That wasn't an attack. That was the reward for passing this trial," Duncan mumbled in surprise. "I actually passed this trial!!! Who knew? My soul was my strongest point. Definitely not me," Duncan chuckled softly and came towards the stele.

Duncan opened his bag and settled down in front of the stele. Retrieving the leftover blood wine, he wet his throat slightly. This last test had made him feel incredibly drained.

"I learned a lot from this trial," Duncan said to himself. "Not just what a soul attack feels like, but I also learned a lot about myself. I have a strong soul. That was really unexpected. But the most important thing is that I learned that killing intent can actually materialize in the physical world and affect it."

Duncan shook his head not able to believe what he was saying.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe this. The common consensus is that a killing intent can mentally affect an opponent. It can induce fear and even paralysis if it was particularly strong, but to physically affect the world…" Duncan shook his head and chuckled sardonically.

"Not just that. What was that black aura that looked like a face behind me? It even performed an attack. I still have a lot to learn about this. Regardless, it is good that my soul is strong. I can rest easy," Duncan said sipping some wine.

"And the reward for this trial is a soul art. I have yet to go through it completely, but I can already see how it can be used," Duncan said with a brilliant glow in his eyes. "If I can cultivate this and unleash it at the unexpected moment in battle, I can become incredibly deadly. This stuff is dead useful to me."

"Regardless, I wonder how many more trials are there on this hill. I don't think I will walk out of this hill soon," Duncan said looking at the sky.

Duncan rested for a bit and recuperated. He felt strangely drained after the last trial. Even eating one of those fruits couldn't restore the feeling of being empty. Duncan stood up after a while and made his way toward the next set of stairs.

When he came near the stairs, he was surprised to see no arch present. Confused a little, Duncan checked around and confirmed that there really was no arch. Duncan started ascending the steps fast and found that the steps were directly leading to the top of the hill.

Duncan increased the pace and within ten minutes he was at the top.

Looking around, Duncan saw that the top of this hill was cleared out by somebody. There wasn't anything noteworthy on the top apart from a lone statue. Duncan walked forward and reached the statue.

The statue belonged to a handsome cultivator who looked to be in his middle ages. His chin was sharp and he had a small goatee. In one hand he had a ruler and the other hand held a scroll. He gave off a feeling of a wizened master.

Looking at the statue and the words carved, Duncan realized this was the ancient cultivator who had left behind those three trials. Respect and gratitude bloomed in Duncan's heart and Duncan gave the statue a bow.

*****

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