[Metal Guard: Holds a shield, specializes in defense, can use shield strike and whirlwind shield attacks. It's recommended to counterattack after a shield strike.]
[Metal Swordsman: Expert in attacking, can perform combos, and dodges 100% of long-range attacks by rushing towards the enemy. Blocking and counterattacking are advised.]
[Metal Giant: A blend of offense and defense, with immense strength and extraordinary defense. Must be attacked with restraint for maximum damage.]
Li Taixing stood before the final trial, observing three metal figures. The first, a Metal Guard, towered at 2.3 meters tall, carrying a shield that matched its height. The second, a Metal Swordsman, was slightly shorter but held a long sword with a sharp, deadly air. Behind these two, a Metal Giant loomed—over 5 meters tall, radiating danger, despite being unarmed.
'How strong are these guys?' Li Taixing wondered, eyes narrowing.
[Golden Core Realm, synchronized with the host's realm.]
"Perfect."
[Tip: Defeating these three targets by yourself will bring unexpected rewards.]
Li Taixing paused. His original plan was to use his copied pets to handle them, but hearing the system's suggestion made him reconsider. 'I'll handle this myself,' he decided.
Unsheathing his Dou Ling Sword, he charged toward the trio. The Metal Swordsman, being the fastest, blurred into motion and was suddenly beside him. However, Li Taixing was ready. In a flash, he teleported behind it, his Seven Injury Fist connecting in rapid succession.
Boom!
The swordsman flew across the room, crashing to the ground and remaining still.
"Roar!" The Metal Guard charged next, swinging its giant shield down to crush Li Taixing, but it struck only air. Li Taixing teleported again, reappearing behind the guard, and launched into a flawless Tai Chi Swordsmanship.
Swish, swish, swish!
Three precise strikes cut into the back of the guard, and it fell with a thud.
Watching from his hidden chamber, the old man gasped in disbelief. "How… How is he this powerful?"
He had initially dismissed Li Taixing, but seeing the young man so effortlessly deal with the metal warriors, something changed. The greed in his eyes intensified. "This kid… He's a genius! He's the perfect vessel!"
Meanwhile, Li Taixing faced off against the final adversary: the Metal Giant. Swinging his Dou Ling Sword, he landed a solid blow that cracked the giant's metallic skin, but didn't kill it. He was about to strike again when something unexpected happened—the Eternal Lotus Fire appeared above the giant's head.
Boom!
The giant melted into a pool of molten gold under the fire's searing heat. The Eternal Lotus Fire floated back into Li Taixing's equipment slot, leaving him wide-eyed.
'Did it just act on its own?'
As he processed what had happened, two messages appeared. One pointed to the throne ahead, while the other directed him to a secret room on the left wall.
[Sit on the throne to pass the gold test, complete the Five Elements Secret Realm, and obtain the Five Elements Array.]
[A secret chamber is hidden here, containing an ancient monster and a powerful treasure.]
Li Taixing contemplated his next move. "Can I sit on the throne first and then check the secret room?"
[Yes.]
Without further hesitation, Li Taixing approached the throne and sat. However, just as he settled in, the information from the throne changed.
[Warning: An unknown ghost has entered the throne and is preparing to attack you.]
Simultaneously, the message about the secret room also updated.
[There is only a corpse inside, along with a powerful treasure.]
Li Taixing was stunned. "A ghost?"
A wave of unease crept up his spine. Ghosts were a different kind of enemy—unseen, intangible, and unpredictable. 'How do I even fight a ghost?' He instinctively thought of his Hunyuan Pearl.
[Hunyuan Pearl cannot resist ghosts, but rest assured, with the system, any attempt to take over your body will fail.]
"Oh?" Li Taixing relaxed slightly.
Suddenly, he felt a cold presence as the ghost made its move, sending icy chills through the air.
Buzz.
Li Taixing felt a sharp ringing in his head, and then a strange voice echoed in his mind.
"Is this… this boy's spiritual sea? Did I come to the wrong place?"
The ghost was utterly stunned by the sheer size of Li Taixing's spiritual sea. "Damn it, I wanted to seal his spiritual sea first, but this… This is like trying to seal an ocean! How long would it even take?"
After a moment of frustrated contemplation, the ghost decided to skip sealing and directly attempt possession. "I'll just take over his body. He's strong, but not strong enough to resist me."
However, as the ghost moved deeper into Li Taixing's mind, a brilliant, golden sun suddenly appeared, blinding the ghost.
"Ahh!" The ghost screamed in agony.
"This… This guy is more monstrous than I am! I have to get out of here!"
[Since you're already here, why leave?]
A chilling realization hit the ghost—it had been discovered. Panicked, it tried to flee from Li Taixing's body, but the system quickly intervened.
Boom!
With a final, agonizing scream, the ghost was obliterated inside Li Taixing's body.