Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1648 Arriving before a tower!

Having personally experienced the true power of the Third Divine Vein, Max couldn't help but feel deeply satisfied.

As the violent energy of the Vein of Strength gradually settled within his body, he slowly flexed his fingers, feeling the terrifying physical force still coursing through his muscles and bones. Even now, every movement carried an explosive sense of power, as though his body had transformed into a weapon capable of crushing mountains barehanded.

What truly surprised Max was the sheer amplification the Vein of Strength provided.

The increase was far beyond what he had initially expected.

Before opening the Third Divine Vein, Max already possessed frightening physical strength due to his Black Dragon Chaotic Bloodline, his Dragon Scales Transformation, and the terrifying boost granted by his five thousand Draconic Essences.

Yet now—

The Vein of Strength had elevated that raw power to an entirely different level.

"If I combine the Vein of Strength with all five thousand Draconic Essences and activate Dragon Scales Transformation at the same time…" Max thought quietly to himself.

A faint glint appeared within his eyes.

"Then just how terrifying would my physical strength become?"

Even Max himself found it difficult to estimate the answer.

The thought alone was enough to make his blood stir slightly.

However, he quickly pushed the idea aside.

There was no point thinking too deeply about it now. The Survival Trial had only just begun, and there would be plenty of opportunities later to fully test the limits of his strength.

Soon, Max's gaze shifted toward the ranking screen floating before him once again.

[Name: Max Morgan]

[Killing Points: 6,820]

[Rank: 3]

Max raised an eyebrow slightly.

Even after eliminating so many participants and obtaining such a massive number of killing points in one go, he was still only ranked third.

This immediately sparked his curiosity.

"Who exactly is above me?" he muttered softly.

Almost as though the system had heard his thoughts, another translucent screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.

It displayed the current rankings in detail.

[Rank 1: Jonathan Myres — 15,672 KP]

[Rank 2: Ray Willer — 10,357 KP]

[Rank 3: Max Morgan — 6,820 KP]

[Rank 4: Julie — 5,632 KP]

…

"Hm," Max murmured quietly as he looked at the list. "So it's Jonathan and Ray."

The results themselves were not particularly surprising.

Jonathan Myres was the strongest true disciple of the Violet Star Palace and one of the most powerful participants in the entire Smelting Trial. As for Ray Willer, Max had already expected him to climb the rankings quickly considering both his strength and personality.

However, Ray's name reminded Max of something else entirely.

"That reminds me…" Max thought calmly. "Ray specifically said he intended to hunt me down."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"But how exactly is he planning to kill me?"

Within the Soul Sealing Painting, death was not real death. The moment a participant was defeated, their soul would simply be expelled from the painting and returned safely to their physical body outside.

In other words, being killed here only meant elimination from the trial.

Nothing more.

"So where does his confidence come from?" Max wondered briefly.

Ray's earlier words clearly carried genuine killing intent.

It did not sound like mere provocation.

For a moment, Max considered the possibility that Ray possessed some unknown method capable of affecting souls directly within the Soul Sealing Painting. However, after thinking about it for a while, he ultimately stopped dwelling on the matter.

No matter what schemes Ray possessed, Max had absolute confidence in his own strength.

If Ray truly came looking for him—

Then Max would simply crush him directly.

With that thought, Max calmly continued moving deeper into the forest.

Seven-colored lightning flickered faintly around his body as his figure traveled rapidly through the massive world inside the Soul Sealing Painting. Along the way, he occasionally encountered scattered monsters or small groups of participants, but none of them were worth slowing down for.

Some participants fled the moment they sensed his aura.

Others tried attacking him greedily after noticing his ranking.

Every single one of them ended the same way.

Eliminated instantly.

As time passed, Max gradually moved farther and farther from the region where he initially entered the trial.

Then suddenly—

His eyes narrowed slightly.

In the far distance, beyond the endless sea of ancient trees, he spotted something enormous rising into the sky.

It was a tower.

A massive black tower stood towering over the forest like an ancient giant. Its height was so absurd that even from an enormous distance away, it remained clearly visible above the treetops.

An unusual, overbearing aura emanated from the tower, immediately capturing Max's focus.

"Hm?"

Curiosity bloomed in Max's eyes with swiftness.

"What is that?"

Without a second thought, he altered his course, heading directly towards the imposing structure.

As his proximity increased, the tower's form became more distinct.

It appeared ancient and worn, as if it had stood for millennia. Its surface was coated in dark stone, punctuated by peculiar, luminous symbols that flickered intermittently.

However, Max's genuine surprise wasn't directed at the tower itself.

It was the pandemonium that enveloped it.

Even from a distance, the sounds of detonations, clashing steel, and enraged yells resounded through the vicinity.

Boom!

A potent shockwave exploded near the tower's base, while numerous figures engaged in fierce combat all around it.

Upon finally reaching a vantage point to observe the scene clearly, even Max was taken aback.

Hundreds of individuals had congregated around the tower.

The entire area had devolved into utter mayhem.

Disciples from various factions clashed everywhere, their blood consecrating the stony ground encircling the tower. Techniques erupted in the air continuously, accompanied by incessant screams and guttural roars.

Some participants battled each other with desperate ferocity, while others scaled the tower's exterior structure with rapid ascension.

It was then that Max noticed something peculiar.

The tower was perforated with openings.

Innumerable cave entrances dotted the vast structure's external walls, extending from the lower reaches all the way towards the sky. Some of these caves emitted a soft glow, while others radiated potent spiritual energy.

And the participants...

They were fighting like lunatics for possession of these caves.

"Get lost!"

"This cave is mine!"

"You think a pathetic disciple like you merits a cultivation cave on the upper levels?!"

Boom!

A young man, after his defeat, was violently ejected from the tower, his body plummeting to the ground below with a sickening thud.

In another area, a collaborative effort by several participants successfully repelled another group from a higher cave entrance.

The higher the cave...

The more intense the combat became.

Max silently surveyed the chaotic spectacle unfolding before him, his gaze gradually intensifying.

Evidently...

Those caves held immense significance.