CHAPTER 507: CHAPTER 507. ENTERING THE TRIAL

"What is this fundamental rule?" An Guan asked.

"The relationship between the elements," Amon answered. "I see a similar theme throughout the recorded pocket worlds discovered from roughly the same era. Added with the accounts from previous participants, I’m fairly certain I’m not wrong."

"Each trial stage indeed heavily showcases one type of the elements," Huang San said.

"How can we utilize this information?" An Guan asked.

"As Huang San mentioned, each sub-space will focus on a single element," Amon said. "The key to solving that particular sub-space is using the opposite element that trumps the element inside that sub-space."

"In that case, shouldn’t we look for participants with different elemental affinity?" Wu Di said.

"It’s too late for that. I can’t change my companions anymore," Huang San stated.

"Solving the sub-space doesn’t rely on our arcane arts," Amon informed. "We will have to look for the opposing element inside that sub-space to solve the challenge. However, that is not the only thing we will look for. We have another task."

"What else do we need to do aside from solving the trial stages?" Wu Di asked in bewilderment.

"We are to look for the exit points," Amon answered.

"Exit points? What exit points?" Wu Di asked.

"The hidden portal that will take us to the next sub-space. Throughout the millennia of using this pocket world, the Huang Clan didn’t realize that each sub-space has many exit points. Maybe they were aware of this issue at one point but didn’t think it was a big deal."

"Right, when a party solves a trial stage, they are randomly moved to a different trial stage," Huang San said. "Even if there are multiple exit points, they don’t matter since the transfer to the other spaces is random."

"That is how it seems on the surface, but it is not so," Amon said.

"Really?"

"Each sub-space is procedurally generated, so one will never know if they are entering a different sub-space or the sub-space they have entered before."

"So, how do you know?" Wu Di asked.

"I know it from the conclusion of my research," Amon replied.

"Does it matter which exit point we use?" An Guan asked. "The trial is about entering as many trial stages as possible, isn’t it? So long as we solve the challenge and clear the stage, we can win."

"That is true, but our progress is tracked by a built-in mechanism that came with the pocket world. If we navigate through the sub-spaces as the ancients who built this pocket world intended, our progress, which is broadcast to the outside world, might be more substantial. This can help us get the advantage over the other parties."

"You mean they can see what we do inside the trial?" Wu Di asked.

"No, what happens inside is not perceivable from the outside," Huang San answered. "Each party had their aether signatures recorded when they entered, so they will always move as one unit. If the challenge in a trial stage is completed, the entire party is transported together. As for the progress, it is observed from a platform that came with the artifact containing the pocket world. The platform tracks how many trial spaces each party had solved."

"How is a winner decided in the trial?" Xin Wuming asked.

"Each solved trial space is given three points, and each day spent inside the trial is worth one point. The party who wins is the one with the most points," Huang San answered.

"In that case, it doesn’t matter which exit point we use as long as we solve the trial space," An Guan repeated his statement.

"I have a feeling it will," Amon returned. "I’m sure the platform will display additional information if we enter the correct exit point. The observers outside might not fully understand what it means, but I’m certain this will work in our favor."

An Guan turned to Huang San, asking for his opinion. Huang San said, "All right. As long as it doesn’t cause our progress to become slower, we will humor your instruction to choose the correct exit point, but how do we identify it?"

"It has to do with the elemental relationship again," Amon said. "While solving the challenge requires us to use the opposite element, the correct exit point will feature an element in support of the element dominating the sub-space."

"Elemental support?" An Guan asked.

Amon nodded. "For example, if we enter a sub-space dominated by the earth element. We must solve it using something related to wood. As for the correct exit point, it will have fire elements marking the spot because fire supports earth. With all of us spread out and knowing what to search, finding one element should not be much longer than finding two."

Amon ended his explanation. Everyone looked at each other in silence until Huang San spoke, "Wow! I must say, my clan has been entering this pocket dimension for millennia, but we didn’t have such detailed information. You haven’t even stepped foot inside, but you know more than my clan ever did."

"That is the benefit of research and preparation," Amon replied.

"There is still a chance that all this hypothesis is wrong and everything is different inside, isn’t it?" Wu Di said, to which he received a rough push from Xin Wuming.

"Yo, man! What’s your problem?" Wu Di complained.

"Stop demoralizing us," Xin Wuming replied.

"I’m confident in the result of my research. The challenges inside the trial will be as I informed," Amon stated.

"I’ve never doubted you, brother!" Xin Wuming exclaimed.

"Tch!" Wu Di uttered without making further remarks.

"All right, I guess we have covered everything," Huang San said. "We have done everything we could to reach this point. Tomorrow will be the big day. We can’t afford to lose!"

"Yes," Wu Di added. "We will win! Because this trial has only two outcomes, win or lose!"

Xin Wuming rolled his eyes at Wu Di and said, "Thanks, genius. That’s really helpful. Now, shut the fuck up!"

"Again! What’s your problem, man," Wu Di repeated.

"Everyone, take your rest," Amon told them. "The ceremony before the trial begins early morning. We all must be at our best. You will not be resting much inside the trial."

"Sigh, I have a feeling you will be driving us to work with minimal sleep and rest," Wu Di said.

"That goes without saying," Amon responded.

*

The next morning, everyone gathered inside an inner courtyard of the palace. It was attended by high-ranking officials from both the civil and military courts. King Huang Ti, Prime Minister Zhu Yao, and the other princes and princesses were there as well. The four parties, led by Huang Zi, Huang Er, Huang Zhan, and Huang San, stood surrounding a large artifact.

Sima Fang was there with Princess Huang Er. Her eyes crossed with Amon, and she greeted him with a smile. Amon didn’t return in kind.

Before entering the courtyard, every participant was searched. They could bring weapons and armor but not space rings or other artifacts with spatial ability. While recovery potions were allowed, talismans were prohibited. The king didn’t want this trial to become a place where they competed using one-time-use resources. Amon brought his Xian Cloth, ceremonial dagger, Jue Body Suit, a new set of Alpha Flying Knives tied to his back, a belt filled with small flying knives, and the box filled with needles tucked inside his shirt.

Amon left his black space ring with Lin Li, who exited the capital and hid inside the nearby woods. She didn’t know how long Amon would be gone. Even though her human disguise was more advanced now, she preferred to stay among nature rather than among humans.

The ceremony began with the king delivering a speech. After the speech, Zhu Yao explained to the participants the basics of the trial and how they were graded. The rules were as Huang San mentioned during their meeting yesterday.

Before the trial began, King Huang Ti called for everyone to perform a solemn prayer that lasted several minutes. After the devout prayer, the king gave a signal. Two robed officers walked toward the large artifact.

They did something to the artifact, and it came to life. It hummed and emitted light. A group of soldiers brought carts filled with aer stones. They placed the cart next to the artifact inside a diagram filled with words of power. Light from the artifact showered the cart, and the aer stones turned into dense light, which flowed into the artifact.

The soldiers repeated this process countless times. Carts upon carts were moved. The carts came in filled with aer stones and left as empty carts.

As more aer stones were sacrificed, the light illuminating the artifact turned brighter and denser. It formed into a large oval portal.

After some while, the process was completed. The portal looked steady. Beside the portal was a platform, which was part of the artifact. A display that looked like a holographic screen was above the platform. It was similar to the screen inside Yuka’s prison.

The robed officer who operated the screen said, "Prince Huang Zi’s party, please proceed to enter the portal."

Huang Zi walked in front of his team but wasn’t the first to enter the portal. Jiang Bo volunteered as the first. Only after the major general disappeared into the portal did Huang Zi take his turn. His retinue followed him in closely. After all ten of Huang Zi’s party had entered, the robed officer operated the holographic screen.

Finished with the setting, the officer called the next party, which was Huang Er’s team.

When it was Huang Zhan’s turn, Da Niu had to bow down to enter the portal. His body was larger than the portal. Another one who had difficulty was the Qing Lion. It had to slightly squeeze itself to enter. Everyone in the courtyard still couldn’t wrap their heads around why the eighth prince chose to bring his tamed beast.

Huang San had the last turn. Xin Wuming took point to enter the portal before Huang San. Amon entered after Huang San, followed by An Guan, Yang Li, and Wu Di.