SEC Chapter 80 The Extraordinary Minotaur
Chapter 80 The Extraordinary Minotaur
Heavy footsteps echoed from the dark depths of the temple, reverberating as they trod on the weathered stone slabs.
A minotaur emerged from the shadows.
Xin Zang had seen minotaurs before; in the dueling arena of the Pure Land of Ten Thousand Buddhas, he was able to kill a minotaur using only his Heart Flame. But the pressure from the creature before him was unprecedented, far exceeding that of the extraordinary second-tier undead god messengers he had fought before. It was immense, unrestrained, and so directly reminiscent of a calamity about to descend.
Mountain torrents and landslides—such a realm exists even on the path to the extraordinary.
"Outsiders, you do not belong here," the minotaur spoke, his voice echoing through the valley. "Why have you set foot on Salmor's territory! Disturbing Salmor's tranquility and hindering Salmor's mission!"
It raised its head, its gaze passing over Xinzang and looking directly at the empty clouds above.
"Go tell your gods that he has crossed the line!"
The minotaur raised his giant axe and slammed it down.
The end of the axe handle struck the stone steps.
A shockwave erupted into the air. The shockwave spread outwards from the temple. Debris was hurled up, and the elite Sinker troops who had been waiting in formation behind them were thrown back and scattered by the force.
Shinzou remained standing on the steps.
He held the spear horizontally with both hands, the pure iron shaft curved, and dark golden flames spread out in front of him, blocking the frontal impact of the shockwave.
The minotaur's gaze shifted downwards, landing on the dark weapon.
"A weapon with potential?" The minotaur looked at Xinzang. "It seems your god trusts you greatly. Are you a divinely favored among mortals? A warrior blessed by the gods?"
It pulled the giant axe off the stone slab.
"Let me spar with you."
Before Xinzang could speak, the giant axe flew out of his hand, whirling through the air with a sharp sound, heading straight for Xinzang's face.
The difference in size and strength was like a chasm. The speed of this attack was completely beyond what Shinzo could currently withstand.
It happened just millimeters from the axe blade touching his head.
A dazzling divine light descended from the sky, transforming into a radiant pillar that enveloped the minotaur and his weapon.
The light flashed and then quickly receded. Along with the chilling sense of oppression, the minotaur vanished from his spot, seemingly teleported to an unknown location.
The temple was once again deathly silent, with only swirling dust remaining.
The divine light faded.
The minotaur Salmo was forcibly pulled into the void above the clouds.
It was forced to maintain a comical sitting posture. Beneath it was a cheap white plastic chair. Invisible threads of divine power extended from the backrest and four legs, firmly binding its massive body to the seat. The terrible posture made its face turn red.
"Newborn god, you shouldn't have interrupted a duel!" Salmo struggled fiercely, but the giant axe had already fallen to the side. It roared at Liang Jiu in front of it, "Salmo fears no power! Salmo is protected by the gods!"
The plastic chair remained motionless under its immense third-order extraordinary strength, but it was on the verge of being killed by its own power.
Liang Jiu examined its panel.
Name: Salmo
Race: Tauren
"Rank: Transcendent Third Tier"
"Introduction: A powerful... garbled... garbled... born in a powerful divine realm... Everyday Good Milk, high-quality milk from the divine realm, your best choice."
So it is true, the difference in rank between the gods is too great, so they cannot obtain all the information?
However, the one who can use a third-tier transcendent as a expendable resource in the examination must have at least a second-tier or even first-tier god behind him, who is probably also the operator of this terrain-based divine domain. This minotaur possesses complete intelligence, and we might be able to pry information about this abnormal divine domain from it.
"Or, bring up the person in charge of the test."
An unfamiliar male voice sounded from behind Liang Jiu, revealing his thoughts.
After hearing this, Liang Jiu did not turn around.
Divine power moved at will. Several white plastic chairs materialized out of thin air and hurtled backward at great speed.
The person did not dodge, but simply raised one hand and caught the chair that had hit the front of the chair.
Upon contact, the plastic chair's structure rapidly disintegrated. The emanating white threads of divine power spread like a persistent leech, winding and climbing along the man's wrist, forming a dense net that was gradually rebuilding a chair behind his buttocks.
The man originally intended to use divine power to shake the threads apart.
However, he soon discovered that the divine power that was originally surging within him was slightly sluggish and obstructed at the point where it came into contact with the silk thread.
The man looked surprised as he examined the net wrapped around his forearm.
"That's really creative," he commented.
Liang Jiu turned around to face the uninvited guest.
He conjured up a similar plastic chair behind him and calmly sat down.
As he took his seat, the threads wrapped around the man's arm tightened, intensifying the seal on divine power. In return, the flow of divine power within Liang Jiu's body was suppressed to the same degree.
"That's good, you know how to make choices." The man nodded as he watched Liang Jiu's actions.
next moment.
A vast power, far exceeding the realm of gods, exploded from the man's body.
The silk threads wrapped around his arm, along with the remaining plastic chairs on the field, were destroyed in one blow by this force, turning into scattered specks of light.
The man lowered his arm and looked at Liang Jiu, who was sitting on a plastic chair.
"The test is over, Liang Jiu." He pointed to the minotaur who was still struggling on another chair next to him. "Can you release my familiar now?"
"Who are you?"
"The vice principal of Longcheng No. 1 Middle School, the chief judge of this test, and the manager of Tiantianhao Milk Company," the man stated frankly.
Liang Jiu wasn't too surprised. He had already anticipated this when he read the difficult "GG" message on the Tauren's panel.
The tall, imposing man before him was hardly recognizable as someone from the mortal world. In his memory, the vice principal of Longcheng No. 1 Middle School was a balding, overweight middle-aged man. It seemed that in the void of the divine realm, gods usually made some kind of disguise.
A thought crossed my mind.
The magical threads binding the minotaur vanished along with the plastic chair. Salmo regained his freedom, picked up the giant axe from the ground, and retreated behind the man, becoming much more subdued and no longer shouting as before.
"Vice Principal, you must have been observing me for quite some time now," Liang Jiu said without rising, getting straight to the point. "In that case, you should also be aware of the students' doubts?"
The man looked at him, his attitude casual: "Of course, I'm a teacher too."
"Does the school use the technology to construct Gestalt races to control the alien species in this divine realm?" Liang Jiu asked.
"Gestalt race? That's quite fitting. It's like the explanation those technologically advanced gods would give. But in our system, it's generally called 'Concentric' technology."
His expression turned serious.
"But I must warn you, Liang Jiu. You are a promising talent, and you naturally understand the dangers of forcibly stripping away and unifying consciousness. The uses of this divine technology are extremely limited, and it can easily backfire on the divine realm itself if not handled carefully. As for the deeper aspects, I cannot tell you."
Liang Jiu nodded, not pressing further. Since the school was unwilling to elaborate, there was no point in delving deeper. Besides, the existence of Gestalt Familias blurred the distinction between gods and their followers; when one person simultaneously controlled both gods and their followers, something terrifying would inevitably be born.
"Thank you for your explanation, Vice Principal. I have another question. I wonder if you could teach me about the technology of creating special rift passages to replace the connection to the divine realm?"