Chapter 504: Enduring Resolve

In complete honesty, he didn’t really mind the idea of the rift being a torture chamber. In his case, it wasn’t that bad a thing. He was more worried about Aubrey than anything else. He didn’t like the idea of her experiencing a torturous challenge.

He had several abilities that helped him deal with pain. He was also quite well adapted to it because of the nature of his skills and his years of training. But she didn’t have that luxury.

So, despite the pressure steadily increasing, he stayed still, sitting on the bench. It had already been about five minutes since it had begun; the field had slowly filled, and no matter what he tried or did, he couldn’t disrupt or destroy it.

It was actually quite similar to what he had experienced in the caverns not too long ago. The way the overwhelming quantity of mana had blanketed him was just like he was experiencing now.

The mana aspect was just one part of the situation, though. The way this field or domain pressured his soul and willpower was really the challenge. He suspected that was the true goal of this rift.

To test one’s willpower and resolve.

In that case, he didn’t think he would lose. Despite the field’s constantly increasing strength, he remained firm. He didn’t flinch, even as it became more painful.

His skin felt like it was actually getting roasted over a fire. But that sensation wasn’t anything new to him. He had quite literally burnt himself alive in the past. If he could withstand that, then this was nothing in comparison.

The pressure on his soul felt like it was squeezing him from all sides, trying to pop him like a balloon. However, he maneuvered all of his willpower and aura to his core. Then he hurdled up like a turtle and let it come to him.

His mind started to get a little woozy, but [Sage of Savagery] helped him keep focus.

Ten minutes into it, he felt something change. The previously slow but gradual increase suddenly ramped up. The additional pressure he experienced almost caught him off guard, but thankfully, he reacted in time.

He strengthened his aura and willpower just in time and grunted when the pressure truly started to get intense. It got bad enough that he wasn’t even cognizant of the pain on his skin anymore. All his focus kept him from breaking down his protective shell.

He closed his eyes as he withstood the pressure, only letting out the occasional grunt.

Finally, after what seemed like a long five minutes, he felt the pressure on him suddenly disappear like it was never there. The burning sensation on his arms vanished similarly, and his soul was no longer being assaulted.

He was confused and thought it was a trick, so he didn’t let his guard down. He made sure to keep his shell reinforced just in case something wanted to surprise him.

However, he frowned severely when he saw the notification.

Congratulations, you have completed the Endurance Challenge.

He scrunched his nose when he read through it. That was it? That was the entire challenge? He had been expecting a lot more than that.

He hated to be the one to complain, but that was way too easy. He didn’t know if that even qualified as a challenge.

A disappointed sigh followed, and he was about to stand up from his little bench when he was alerted by another notification. This one roused his curiosity again.

Notice: Unique conditions detected… willpower and the evolution of the soul have exceeded Tier 3 standards.

Evaluating…

Notice: Tier 4 cultivation not detected. Challenger meets the requirements of a Tier 3 cultivation. Does not exceed the restrictions.

Re-evaluating…

Notice: Would you like to complete the Challenge and collect your reward? Or would you like to continue the Challenge?

Warning: The Challenge has been modified and enhanced to fit the individual’s parameters better, significantly increasing the difficulty. This increase in difficulty means the rewards associated with the Challenge will significantly improve as well.

He furrowed his brows tightly together as he read the incoming messages. This was indeed a surprise. He hadn’t been expecting anything like this and didn’t know whether he should be pleased or not.

It was nice that even a Challenge Rift seemed to appreciate his high willpower as well as notice that his soul had undergone a second soul evolution already. He was also very curious about the rewards he would receive if he accepted.

The only thing that made him cautious was the emphasis this notification placed on this modified challenge being significantly difficult. From what he could tell, it was almost like the rift was telling him that if he chose to continue, he would experience something meant for Tier 4s rather than Tier 3s.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

With that being said, he was not deterred. He wanted to test himself and see just how far he could push his willpower and soul. This was a perfect opportunity to do so.

“Okay then. Bring it on,” he muttered with a chuckle and accepted the notification.

Commencing Modified Challenge…

Notice: Error detected…