Demon Cultivator in Abyssal Era

Chapter 179: Chapter 134: Trial Preparations 3

Chu Xiu walked to the statue of the Blood Pool fountain, where a Blood Attendant was kneeling beside it, specifically to serve him. Through the Gladiator Badge, Chu Xiu could communicate with it.

First, he needed to understand the exact rules of the arena. He had left too hastily before, and didn’t even ask about how to earn points or what they could be used for.

After some exchange, Chu Xiu quickly got a good idea.

In simple terms, the composition of points is divided into three parts: Foundation, Rankings, and Rewards.

Foundation points are given just for participating, with different tiers of events offering different point rewards. Rankings are issued monthly, based on personal standing among all Gladiators of the same tier. The final rewards naturally come from the gifts of the four mighty Gods.

Points can be used to exchange for the Blessings of the Gods.

Of course, matches don’t just happen at will; they are assigned by the Blood Attendant to prevent large-scale exploitation of weaker opponents for easy points.

This is just the most basic way to earn points. The four Gods have many tricks, such as the annual skills tournament, the once-a-decade full-scale martial arts competition, and various other creative challenge matches—all capable of earning considerable points.

The Blood Attendant handed him a heavy ancient book, which detailed all kinds of competitions and the Blessings that could be exchanged.

Chu Xiu looked at his current situation. Since he had just become a Gladiator, he only had a hundred foundation points. However, perhaps because he had previously defeated a legitimate Gladiator, his ranking was not at the bottom but at twenty-first among forty-seven people.

This hundred points couldn’t be spent, and since there were so few Warrior Tier Gladiators, he couldn’t find anyone to match with right away, so he aimlessly flipped through the book given by the Blood Attendant.

The various strange challenge matches opened his eyes, such as two Gladiators fighting in zero gravity outer space, dueling in a gigantic building filled with traps and enhancement artifacts, or dropping a hundred Gladiators on an abandoned planet for a battle royale, with the last ten survivors winning...

”These Gods really know how to play.”

Yet, as he marveled, he was also secretly amazed by the immense power of the four Gods; to them, even a planet was merely a plaything.

”No wonder the Bloody Arena is known as the most significant opportunity, for such direct contact with upper-level beings is rare.”

”I just don’t know what level the four Gods are equivalent to among the Awakened, or to what realm among Cultivators?”

Chu Xiu only knew that above the King Tier, there was a higher Tier, but what exactly it was and how powerful it could be, he had no idea.

However, he thought, the Eight Celestial Kings had monopolized Blue Star’s resources for a full thirty years, with so many Cause and Effect Points coming in daily; their strength should far exceed the imagination of ordinary people.

Not thinking about it anymore, Chu Xiu turned instead to examine the Blessings he might later have the chance to obtain.

Given his Warrior Tier access, the available Blessings were only a dozen or so, mostly quite basic, with only three that could be developed. The [Spark of Inspiration (B)]he had previously obtained was among them, along with [Mana Reserve (B)]and [Bullet Time (B)].

”I don’t really need Mana Reserve, but Bullet Time seems interesting.”

This Talent drastically increases one’s reaction speed for a short period, making everything around look as if time flow had slowed, playing a significant role in high-intensity battles.

Unfortunately, as Chu Xiu checked the price, it cost a full three thousand points. A Warrior Tier’s ordinary match only yields 20 points, and even if he rose to the top, it would barely grant a ranking improvement of a thousand or so points, combined with the monthly 100 or so regular points. Who knows how many matches it would take, until the end of time, to get it.

However, just as Chu Xiu was about to close the book, his eyes suddenly sparkled as he noticed something, letting out a light ”Oh.”

At the end of the book, a Blessing was recorded as follows:

[Pollution Cleansing: Slightly reduces Abyssal pollution, price 5000 points.]

It could reduce Abyssal pollution!

From a Corpse King he had previously slain, an S-Class trait had emerged, including the Polluted Attribute!

It was this Attribute that made Chu Xiu hesitant, not daring to fuse it.

Naturally, he had searched online for information regarding [Pollution], but found very little, having spent a long time locating an artifact called [Purifying Holy Water] at the King Tier, which had a chance to eliminate pollution. He never expected to find a method to remove pollution here.

This made Chu Xiu once again concede that the Bloody Arena was, no doubt, the grand opportunity only disclosed with [Legendary] blood, as problems many ordinary Awakened must pay dearly to solve, or even couldn’t solve at all, were easily addressed by the Endless Blood Pool.

The only trouble was its high price of five thousand points, even more than the most expensive Blessing! It showed just how precious something that could reduce pollution was.

”However, once I reach the Fierce Tier, earning points will be much easier, and five thousand points won’t be so out of reach.”

”This way, I can safely integrate that S-Class trait.”

At that moment, a notification sounded in his ear.

[Trial has been generated!]

[Trial World: β-2345674]

[Trial Participants: 4]

[Trial will begin in three days, please prepare in advance.]

”Finally ready.”

Chu Xiu let out a breath.

”This time, with only four participants in the trial, it shouldn’t be as troublesome as last time,” he thought to himself.

However, he noticed something else: the number of digits in the Fierce Tier trial’s world number was one less than that of the Warrior Tier trial. He wondered if the lower the number, the higher the world’s rank.

Not pondering further, Chu Xiu continued running dungeons over the next three days to maintain his condition.

Three days later.

[Ascension Trial is about to begin, please Trial Taker prepare for Deep Diving]

At the sound of the notification, Chu Xiu, equipped fully, entered the Awakening Space.

Just like with the Warrior Tier trial, upon entering the Awakening Space, he perceived a guide leading deep into the Abyss. Following the guide, Chu Xiu proceeded with Deep Diving as the space rapidly contracted. Soon, a cold notification echoed in his ears:

[Deep Diving complete, current depth: 1454]

”Deeper than last time.”

As this thought crossed Chu Xiu’s mind, his surroundings began to change rapidly. By the time he regained clarity, he found himself seated on a chair.

Instinctively trying to rise, he suddenly felt a resistance, discovering that he was, in fact, wound tightly by circle upon circle of iron chains!

These chains, three or four centimeters thick, robust enough to serve as anchor chains for a small fishing boat, were now being used to bind him tightly!

The chair he was seated in was also made of solid iron, firmly welded to the floor, making it absolutely immobile.

”Interesting.”

Chu Xiu chuckled lightly, looking around. He realized he was in a dimly lit small room, with only a single stub of a candle on the table before him casting a faint yellow glow that only illuminated a small area. Further away lay deep darkness, with only vague outlines of furniture visible.

Originally, with his Perception Ability, he could see clearly even in pitch-dark woods. However, something mysterious seemed to be restricting his perception in this place.

While Chu Xiu surveyed his surroundings, a ghostly face wearing an Evil Ghost Mask suddenly emerged right before him!

Startled, Chu Xiu had no time to react before the face slowly retreated.

It was then he realized there was another chair across the table, where someone had been sitting all along. It was this person who had suddenly leaned over in front of Chu Xiu. Wearing a ghost mask and adorned in a black robe, the person was hidden in darkness, using some eerie Skill, and Chu Xiu hadn’t noticed at first.

Under Chu Xiu’s vigilant gaze, the masked figure slowly spoke:

”Welcome to Death’s Gamble.”