Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Judge’s Trial
Ground Zero was a vast white platform. Everywhere Vahn’s eyes wandered, all he could see were white stone pillars and cultivators moving about.
At the very center stood a colossal stone statue, approximately 200 meters tall.
It had eight arms, two legs, and a face shaped like that of a human. Its physique was carved with the perfection of a Greek god, every muscle brimming with strength. One of its massive hands gripped a scepter, adding to the aura of power and dominance it radiated.
Even so, it was only a statue. That realization eased Vahn’s nerves slightly. For a moment, he had feared it might come alive. If it did, he was certain it could crush every one of them like insects.
"That’s the judge," Valzar informed Vahn in a nervous tone. "It judges our potential mercilessly, but rewards only the worthy."
Vahn appreciated the information with a small nod. And as his gaze turned ahead, he noticed a lot of people, young or old, gathered around the statue in a circular formation.
Sometimes they cheered; sometimes their faces spoke of loss.
"Let’s go, Silent Guy. We should join in too."
Saying that, Valzar rushed toward the circle of crowds.
Vahn followed soon after.The Jade Slip was still in his belt. If any life-threatening incident occurs, he could use it to escape.
Anyway, both of them somehow manage to squeeze through the circle.
Ahead of them participants walked toward the statue, their faces visibly distorted because of the palpating pressure radiating from the statue.
The function was simple. Get closer to the statue as much as possible. Similar to the Holy Ascension Stairway.
After asking around, Vahn learned that there are exactly 49 steps from the starting circle. Once someone reaches 25 steps, then a reward is guaranteed. And after that, with each step, the rarity of reward increases significantly.
There are even rumors that someone had received a Heaven Grade Cultivation Physique after crossing the 40th step.
But it was also said that no one had been able to reach 49 steps or touch the Judge’s Statue.
So the difficulty level could be imagined.
It meant only for the talented ones.
Just as Vahn was about to step forward, a commotion broke out among the onlookers.
"Oh Heavens! Isn’t that the 7th Prince, Helix Sunborn?"
"Yes, and not only him. The Sixth Princess, Camilia Sunborn is here too."
"Hey hey, can’t your dog see the new Holy Son of the Darkness Creed?"
"Huh, you’re right. He is indeed Holy Son Rudra. But what are these esteemed figures doing here? Do they also want to go through the Judge’s Trial?"
"Hmph, why else, peasants? Move aside!" A sudden bark echoed lik thunder.
It came from the entourage following the three royals. They began to make a way for the trio, shoving the people with arrogance and disdain.
"What are you gawking at? Move away, peasant!"
Vahn was violently shoved aside, treated like an abandoned trash can on the way. He stumbled but quickly regained his footing.
He clenched his fists and glared at their retreating backs with suppressed anger.
The crowd behind him still continued to gossip:
"I wonder how many steps they’ll pass?"
"Above 40 steps, of course. They aren’t the Heavens-chosen for nothing."
"Hehe... I can’t believe I’ll witness their glory with my own eyes. Truly a heaven’s blessing."
Vahn and Valzar also stepped forward, but their participation earned only quiet scoffs.
As Vahn took his first step, he noticed the Holy Son of Darkness, Rudra, had already crossed fifteen steps as if walking on a breeze. Not a frown creased his cold face.
"Truly magnificent! Holy Son is indeed worthy of his title."
The Seventh Prince, Helix, clapped behind Rudra with a bootlicking expression, yet he, too, had easily crossed ten steps.
Princess Camila then stepped forward, her blonde hair fluttering in the breeze. Her smile was gentle as she glanced at Rudra’s back with admiration.
"Royal Brother couldn’t have said it better. Your excellency Rudra truly possesses talent beyond mortal comprehension."
Rudra did not even glance back to respond, his expression as cold as usual. His dark hair fell over his shoulder with a refined but deadly grace.
From the looks of it, he considered everyone present to be beneath him. But truthfully speaking, his nature was like this. Almost everyone born from the Darkness Creed had this kind of attitude.
Vahn paid the royals no mind, his eyes fixed on his own path. He placed his foot on the first step.
Unlike the subtle pressure felt by the others, Vahn experienced almost nothing. The step felt no different than solid ground. The soft scoffs and whispers greeting his attempt vanished as he began to move.
One step. Two steps. Five steps.
He moved at a steady, unhurried pace. He was passing the milestones of 10 steps, 12 steps, as effortlessly as Rudra.
"Wait, who is that?" someone whispered.
"I don’t know him."
"But he’s already past the 15th step!" another exclaimed in disbelief.
Vahn finally reached the 17th step, standing in same place with the reigning champion, Holy Son Rudra.
Rudra, who had previously been the picture of cold composure, finally frowned.
He glanced to his side and narrowed his eyes as he recognized the peasant who had been shoved aside moments before. The distraction cost him a fraction of a second, but it was enough.
In the next moment, Vahn slipped past him.
18th step. 20th step. 25th step.
Vahn did not stop or even look over. He simply continued his walk, his movement completely unburdened. The aura superiority Rudra had projected moments ago shattered.
The Holy Son, the chosen talent, now saw a figure ahead of him, one who moved with a grace that made his own effortless strides seem like a heavy trudge.
The entire crowd was silent. The fawning praise for the royals was completely forgotten.
"28th step!" the Seventh Prince Helix gasped with his face pale. His bootlicking expression gone.
"How is that possible?" Princess Camila whispered as her admiration for Rudra replaced by sheer astonishment.
Even Valzar, who had just crossed the 20th step, stared at Vahn’s back in disbelief.
"Was I been speaking to a Holy Son-level prodigy all this time?"
He couldn’t help but find it ridiculous.
Meanwhile, Vahn finally reached the 30th step. Only 19 steps remained, still he didn’t feel any significant pressure.
The same strange phenomenon that occurred on the Holy Ascension Stairway was happening again. The invisible pressure seemed to fuel his spirit energy more.
He was now certain of the reason: his Void Refining Physique. His unique body was somehow converting the pressure aura of the trial into usable spirit energy.
This meant that the difficulty that crippled others was now a blessing to him.
However, the Holy Son Rudra hadn’t given up yet. He was already five steps behind Vahn, though clear lines of struggle were now visible on his face.
"Good. Come up. Let me show you despair," Vahn thought darkly, eager to exact some revenge for the earlier humiliation.