Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1430 Path to Eternal Flames!
Previously on Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100...
"What's your take on this? How do you reckon you'll stack up against them?" Lucia inquired, her voice casual yet her stare piercing. A clear spark of interest gleamed in her gaze. "I sense you're quite the rival at heart, and I'm curious to see your performance facing them off."
Max exhaled steadily before replying. He avoided hasty words and kept any boastfulness out of his tone. The arrival of Isabella and Zain had transformed the dome's vibe entirely. What was once just an assessment for outer disciples now hummed with the tension of a larger unfolding event.
"Truthfully," Max responded evenly, "I've arrived here to claim powerful legacy methods and claim a spot as a true disciple. That remains my main objective. Regarding my matchup with them, well, the future alone will reveal the outcome."
His tone held no doubt or superiority. It rang with pure sincerity. Facing off against such elite figures wouldn't hinge on pre-trial banter. The verdict would come on that blazing golden trail pulsing with intense fervor right in the dome's heart.
Lucia observed him closely for an instant, her eyes tightening a bit as if probing for concealed drive under his steady facade. Following a short hesitation, she gave a nod.
"I understand," she remarked reflectively. "Becoming a true disciple holds the utmost significance. In under a decade, the Divine Realm's grandest event will unfold. Known as the Cosmic Ascension Conference - Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Star Systems, it allows entry solely to true disciples from great factions. If your sights are set truly high, then locking down that role ought to be your immediate priority."
The title hung heavily in the atmosphere.
Cosmic Ascension Conference - Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Star Systems.
Max prepared to question the meaning behind such an epic designation when a known voice cut into their exchange.
"Well, are you set, Max?"
Lady Virelila had approached unnoticed by the pair. Her aura felt serene but dominant, her look blending anticipation with subtle assurance.
Max pivoted to face her and inclined his head promptly. "I am."
"Excellent," Lady Virelila answered with a subtle nod of approval. Her attention moved from Max to the golden trail dominating the dome's core, and her face grew grave. "The second challenge, Path to Eternal Flames, commences shortly. Prior to starting, grasp the deeper essence of what this test embodies."
She let a momentary quiet fall over them, ensuring Max took in her statements with proper focus.
"The Path to Eternal Flames features thirty-six levels of rising challenge," she started. "Each level forms a Pillar of Eternal Flames. Every pillar extends a full thousand miles long. Clearing one pillar demands that a disciple cover all thousand miles while enduring its distinct fiery suppression and ordeals."
Max's gaze tightened faintly as he grasped the immense scope. Traversing a thousand miles amid fiery strain wasn't just about stamina. It meant a drawn-out battle against a crushing elemental might.
Lady Virelila went on in a steady, commanding manner. "For outer disciples, the key measure comes from the number of pillars they conquer. Scaling to the thirty-sixth pillar lies out of reach for outer disciples. Such intense trials suit core disciples, with their superior cultivation and base surpassing yours. Outer disciples typically need only the fifth pillar to qualify."
Her look intensified a touch.
"Yet qualifying falls short of shining brightly. To earn hefty prizes, earn deeper acclaim, and unlock elite legacy arts, strive past the fifth pillar. The more pillars you surmount, the richer the gains awaiting you."
Max absorbed her words without breaking in, his focus unbroken.
"As you delve further along the trail," Lady Virelila detailed, "the challenges grow ever more intricate. It's far from a mere stroll amid infernos. In every pillar, diverse fire-wrought creatures will emerge. Born from dense obsidian flames and ancient intent, these foes will assault without mercy, probing your fighting prowess and mastery of fiery essence."
Her tone dipped as she appended, "Meanwhile, the trail harbors chances for growth. Scattered through the pillars, legacy stones from bygone Black Dragon Palace forebears are concealed in select spots. These stones hold pieces of arts, wisdom on fire control, and even glimpses of superior dragon powers. The lucky or sharp-eyed might uncover and claim these gems."
The radiant glow from the trail danced softly in her eyes while she pressed on.
"That said, the deepest intent of the Path to Eternal Flames goes beyond testing grit or granting legacy arts. Its core worth stems from the groundwork it lays for grasping the Cosmic Path."
Max's face altered subtly upon hearing that phrase.
"The whole trail was forged by a long-ago forebear of the Black Dragon Clan," Lady Virelila stated. "That forebear had embarked on his personal Cosmic Path, attaining vast pinnacles. Prior to leaving the clan, he wove bits of his insight into this trail itself. The fiery suppression, the beast summons, the placement of legacy stones—all echo elements of his Cosmic Path."
She halted for a beat before resuming.
Her eyes eased a fraction, even as her voice stayed resolute.
"To you, this test offers a chance to build vital know-how. Though Cosmic Path insight eludes you presently, brushing against that forebear's lingering intent will sow kernels in your mind. Once you hit the Divine Lord Realm and start forging your Cosmic Path, you won't stumble in darkness. The echoes you collect here will light your way."
Lady Virelila wrapped up, "Tackle this test with wariness and drive alike. Endure it. Draw lessons from it. And where you can, surpass the limits set by others for you."
Her statements echoed as the initial hall disciples moved toward the golden trail's gateway.
Max's eyes locked on the flickering blazes before he nodded to Lady Virelila. "I won't let you down."