Chapter 271: Silver Mark

[What?]

The symbol wasn’t stationary.

It traveled through the maze.

Fast.

Shen Tian smiled.

"So the sigil isn’t sitting somewhere."

[Looks like it’s being carried.]

"By what?"

The map shifted.

Then...

A huge wolf-shaped mark appeared.

Xu Ning slowly looked toward him.

[Something very large.]

Shen Tian’s smile widened.

"Perfect."

. . .

Lu Chen descended the staircase.

At the bottom...

He found a chamber.

Circular.

Small.

No enemies.

At the center stood a pedestal.

On top...

A silver Wolf Sigil.

Lu Chen froze.

His eyes widened.

For several seconds...

He didn’t move.

Then...

A slow smile appeared.

Finally.

No Shen Tian.

No trap.

No monster.

No trick.

Just...

The sigil.

He walked forward.

One step.

Two.

Three.

His breathing slowed.

He reached toward it.

Closer.

Closer.

His fingers touched silver.

BOOOOOOM!

Light exploded.

Lu Chen laughed.

"YES!"

The entire labyrinth shook.

The ancient voice echoed.

"SECOND WOLF SIGIL..."

Lu Chen’s smile widened.

"..."

The voice paused.

Lu Chen frowned.

Then...

"FALSE."

Silence.

His smile disappeared.

"What?"

The silver sigil cracked.

Then...

crumbled into dust.

Lu Chen stared.

Complete silence.

Then...

A stone door behind the pedestal opened.

RUMBLE.

Inside...

A single inscription.

THE WOLF WHO RUSHES TOWARD EASY PREY...

Lu Chen’s eyebrow twitched.

A second line appeared.

...FINDS THE TRAP.

Silence.

Lu Chen stood there.

Motionless.

Then...

His face slowly turned red.

"You..."

The chamber remained silent.

"YOU FUCKING..."

BOOOOOOM!

His fist destroyed the pedestal.

"...LABYRINTH!"

. . .

Several passages away...

Shen Tian stopped.

A distant explosion.

Then...

A faint scream.

Xu Ning looked toward him.

[Lu Chen.]

"Definitely."

[What do you think happened?]

Shen Tian looked at the map.

A small trap symbol briefly flashed near Lu Chen’s position.

He smiled.

"Something funny."

. . .

Lu Chen stood amid the broken pedestal.

Breathing heavily.

Dust covered him.

Then...

His expression changed.

He heard footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Not human.

THUMP.

THUMP.

THUMP.

The walls began vibrating.

Lu Chen slowly turned.

A massive shadow appeared at the end of the corridor.

Red eyes.

Huge.

A wolf.

But...

Not like the earlier creatures.

This one stood nearly twelve feet tall at the shoulder.

Black metallic fur.

Bone armor covering its head.

Silver chains wrapped around its body.

And hanging from those chains...

A glowing sigil.

The real one.

Lu Chen’s eyes widened.

Then...

His smile slowly returned.

"Found you."

The wolf growled.

GGRRRRRRRRR...

The entire corridor shook.

Lu Chen lowered his stance.

No hesitation.

No frustration.

Only focus.

"Come on."

The wolf charged.

BOOOOOOM!

. . .

Shen Tian’s map immediately lit up.

The huge wolf marker stopped.

Then...

Another marker approached it.

Lu Chen.

Xu Ning blinked.

[He found it.]

Shen Tian looked at the map.

"Good."

[You’re letting him fight it?]

"Why not?"

[Because he might win.]

Shen Tian smiled.

"Let him."

Xu Ning slowly narrowed her eyes.

[You’re doing that thing again.]

"What thing?"

[Where you let him work.]

Shen Tian pocketed the map fragment.

"Someone has to soften it up."

[You are shameless.]

"Efficient."

Xu Ning groaned.

Then...

Shen Tian started walking.

Not running.

Walking.

Calmly.

Toward the sound of battle.

. . .

BOOOOOOM!

Lu Chen flew through a wall.

Stone exploded.

He hit the ground.

Rolled.

Immediately stood.

Blood ran from his forehead.

The massive wolf lunged through the hole.

Lu Chen moved aside.

Its claws carved four trenches through the stone.

He countered.

Punch.

BOOM!

The wolf’s head snapped slightly.

Almost nothing.

Lu Chen’s eyes narrowed.

"Tough."

The wolf’s tail whipped around.

THOOM!

Lu Chen blocked.

Still...

He flew.

CRASH!

He struck another wall.

His arms went numb.

The wolf charged again.

Lu Chen grinned.

This...

This was what he wanted.

A fight.

No politics.

No women.

No Shen Tian.

Just something strong trying to kill him.

Lu Chen roared.

His Qi exploded.

He charged.

Fist.

Claw.

BOOOOOOM!

The entire corridor shook.

Lu Chen ducked beneath its jaw.

Knee.

THOOM!

The wolf stumbled.

Lu Chen grabbed one of the chains.

Pulled.

"COME HERE!"

He twisted.

The enormous creature crashed sideways.

BOOOOOOM!

Dust erupted.

Lu Chen jumped.

Both fists came down.

BOOM!

The wolf roared.

He hit again.

BOOM!

Again.

BOOM!

Then...

The wolf’s eyes flashed.

Lu Chen froze.

"Oh..."

Silver Qi exploded.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Lu Chen was launched across the corridor.

He smashed through stone.

Then...

Silence.

The wolf rose.

Its body changed.

Metallic fur expanded.

Bone armor thickened.

The sigil glowed brighter.

Lu Chen slowly pushed himself from the rubble.

His face became dark.

"Second phase."

The wolf roared.

AWOOOOOOOOOO!

Then charged.

. . .

Shen Tian reached an overlooking passage.

He stopped.

Below...

Lu Chen fought the giant wolf.

Xu Ning looked down.

[He’s doing well.]

Shen Tian leaned against the stone railing.

"Yeah."

[Very well.]

"He’s a good fighter."

Xu Ning stared at him.

[Was that praise?]

"I’m not blind."

Lu Chen dodged a claw.

Rolled.

Struck the wolf’s injured leg.

Then jumped onto its back.

Shen Tian watched.

No jokes.

No mockery.

Lu Chen really was dangerous when focused.

That made him more useful.

And...

More dangerous as an enemy.

Shen Tian’s green eyes narrowed.

Xu Ning noticed.

[Thinking?]

"Yes."

[About stealing the sigil?]

"Eventually."

[Host.]

"What?"

[You’re enjoying watching him struggle.]

Shen Tian looked offended.

"No."

Below...

Lu Chen got thrown through another wall.

Shen Tian smiled slightly.

Xu Ning stared.

[...]

"Maybe a little."

. . .

Lu Chen landed.

Coughed blood.

Stood.

Again.

The wolf charged.

He moved.

This time...

He didn’t attack the head.

Didn’t attack the armor.

He went for the chains.

One.

CRACK!

The first chain broke.

The wolf roared.

Second.

CRACK!

Third.

The creature spun.

Lu Chen ducked.

Grabbed the fourth.

Pulled.

Then...

He saw it.

Beneath the chains.

A weak point.

A silver mark beneath the throat.

His eyes sharpened.

"There."

The wolf lunged.

Lu Chen waited.

Closer.

Closer.

Then...

He moved.

Under.

Palm strike.

BOOOOOOM!

Qi exploded directly into the silver mark.

The wolf froze.

Its eyes widened.

Then...

Lu Chen roared.

Second strike.

BOOM!

Third.

BOOOOOOM!

The mark shattered.

The enormous wolf stumbled.

Then collapsed.

THOOOOOM!

Silence.

Lu Chen stood.

Blood covered his face.

His clothes were torn.

His breathing was heavy.

But...

He smiled.

Slowly.

Proudly.

He walked toward the chain.

The second Wolf Sigil hung there.

Real.

Glowing.

Lu Chen reached down.

His fingers touched it.

Then...

A voice came from above.

"Nice fight."

Lu Chen froze.

Absolute...

Silence.

His face went blank.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

He looked upward.

Shen Tian stood on the upper passage.

Hands in his pockets.

Green eyes amused.

Lu Chen stared.

His entire body began trembling.

"No."

Shen Tian jumped.

He landed lightly several meters away.

Xu Ning floated behind.

Lu Chen immediately grabbed the sigil.

But...

The moment he tried pulling it away...

The giant wolf’s body suddenly moved.

A final reflex.

One claw swung.

Lu Chen’s eyes widened.

He was exhausted.

Too slow.

Shen Tian moved.

THOOM!

He kicked the claw aside.

The massive limb crashed into the floor.

Lu Chen froze.

Shen Tian looked toward him.

"You’re welcome."

Lu Chen stared.

Then...

His expression became even angrier.

"I didn’t need your help!"

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"You were about to get flattened."

"I WOULD’VE MOVED!"

"Sure."

"I WOULD!"

"Then give me back the thank-you."

Lu Chen stared.

"What?"

Shen Tian smiled.

"Exactly."

Lu Chen’s jaw tightened.

Then...

He ripped the sigil free.

BOOOOOOM!

Silver light filled the corridor.

The ancient voice echoed.

"SECOND WOLF SIGIL CLAIMED."

Lu Chen’s eyes widened.

Then...

A smile appeared.

Finally.

Shen Tian had one.

He had one.

Equal.

One each.

The third sigil remained.

Lu Chen looked directly at Shen Tian.

His smile became vicious.

"Now..."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"We’re even."

Shen Tian looked at his own first sigil.

Then Lu Chen’s.

Then...

Back.

"Are we?"

Lu Chen’s smile faded slightly.

"What?"

The labyrinth shook.

RUMBLE...

The ancient voice echoed.

"TWO SIGILS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED."

Both men looked upward.

"FINAL SIGIL AWAKENS."

A massive roar traveled through the maze.

Not wolf.

Something deeper.

Heavier.

Then...

"THE FINAL SIGIL MAY BE TAKEN FROM THE BEAST..."

Lu Chen smiled.

Perfect.

Another fight.

Then...

The voice continued.

"...OR FROM ANOTHER WOLF."

Silence.

Lu Chen froze.

Shen Tian’s eyebrow rose.

Xu Ning’s eyes widened.

[Oh.]

The voice echoed.

"A WOLF MAY CLAIM A SIGIL FROM A DEFEATED RIVAL."

Lu Chen slowly looked toward Shen Tian.

Shen Tian looked back.

Silence.

Then...

Lu Chen smiled.

Not angry.

Not frustrated.

Something worse.

Relieved.

"There it is."

Shen Tian tilted his head.

Lu Chen continued.

"I don’t need the third one."

His Qi slowly began rising.

"I just need yours."

Shen Tian’s smile appeared.

"You sure?"

Lu Chen stepped forward.

"Very."

He cracked his neck.

Blood still covered him.

His body was exhausted.

But...

His eyes were alive.

Shen Tian looked him over.

Then...

"You just fought that thing."

Lu Chen’s expression hardened.

"You scared I’ll beat you anyway?"

Shen Tian laughed.

"No."

He slowly removed his hands from his pockets.

"I’m asking if you want an excuse ready."

Silence.

Lu Chen’s face darkened.

There he was.

The hatred returned instantly.

"Fuck you."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Better."

Then...

Lu Chen attacked.

BOOOOOOM!

Their fists collided.

The corridor shook.

Shen Tian slid half a step.

Lu Chen’s eyes widened slightly.

The wolf fight had done something.

Adrenaline.

Combat rhythm.

His instincts were razor sharp.

Lu Chen attacked again.

Punch.

Shen Tian blocked.

Elbow.

Blocked.

Kick.

Shen Tian moved.

Lu Chen changed direction mid-strike.

Shen Tian’s green eyes sharpened.

Faster.

Better.

Lu Chen was adapting too.

Shen Tian smiled.

"Now we’re talking."

Lu Chen roared.

"STOP SMILING!"

He attacked.

Shen Tian ducked.

Palm.

THOOM!

Lu Chen blocked.

Both slid apart.

Then...

The labyrinth shifted.

RUMBLE!

The floor beneath them separated.

A massive gap opened.

Lu Chen jumped.

Shen Tian did too.

They collided in midair.

BOOM!

Lu Chen punched.

Shen Tian blocked.

Shen Tian kicked.

Lu Chen crossed his arms.

Both landed on opposite platforms.

Stone bridges began moving.

Ancient blades emerged.

The trial had become part fight...

Part maze.

Lu Chen stared across.

"You wanted to steal my inheritance."

Shen Tian looked toward him.

"You threatened to kill me."

"That’s not the same."

"It is from my perspective."

Lu Chen’s eyes narrowed.

Then...

His voice became cold.

"You know what I hate most about you?"

Shen Tian sighed.

"We’ve done this speech."

"I’m serious."

"So was I."

Lu Chen stared.

Then...

"You make everything look easy."

Shen Tian paused.

That was different.

Lu Chen continued.

"I bleed."

"I train."

"I fight."

"I crawl."

"And you..."

His fists tightened.

"You just walk in."

Shen Tian’s expression slowly hardened.

Lu Chen stepped onto the moving bridge.

"You smile."

"You joke."

"You take everything."

"You don’t even look tired."

Shen Tian stared.

Then...

He walked onto his own bridge.

"You think I owe you struggle?"

Lu Chen froze.

Shen Tian continued.

"Because you suffered..."

"I need to suffer too?"

"No."

Lu Chen’s jaw tightened.

"Then what’s your point?"

"My point is..."

Shen Tian’s green eyes became cold.

"...your pain doesn’t create a debt the world has to repay."

Silence.

Lu Chen’s expression changed.

"You think I don’t know that?"

"I think you say you know it."

Shen Tian stepped forward.

"But every time someone chooses something you don’t like..."

"You act cheated."

"Qingya rejects you?"

"Shen Tian stole her."

"Rose disagrees with you?"

"Shen Tian poisoned her."

"You lose an inheritance?"

"Shen Tian stole what was yours."

Lu Chen’s Qi surged.

"IT WAS MINE!"

Shen Tian smiled faintly.

"There."

Lu Chen froze.

"That."

Shen Tian pointed toward him.

"That’s why you keep losing."

Lu Chen’s eyes became murderous.

"You want to know why I hate you?"

Shen Tian kept walking.

"No."

That answer hit harder than expected.

Lu Chen stared.

Shen Tian continued.

"I already know."

"You hate me because I don’t validate the story you’ve built about yourself."

Silence.

"I’m supposed to be spoiled."

"So when I train harder than you expected..."

"You get angry."

"I’m supposed to be weak."

"So when I beat you..."

"Blah blah blah!"

--------

(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

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