Chapter 533 - 343: Refreshing the Leaderboards, Constantly Getting Stronger

Chapter 533: Chapter 343: Refreshing the Leaderboards, Constantly Getting Stronger

A screen of light materialized.

Everyone saw a freshly updated leaderboard.

Current First Place: Xia Race, Han Ning — Clear Time: 2s.

Second Place: Blood Shark, Shakong — Clear Time: 5s.

Third Place: Barbaric Beast, Stone Tiger — Clear Time: 6s.

...

"Han Ning? Who’s that? How could he possibly have killed Mang Sha’s physical body in two seconds?!"

Deep within the 38th palace, a creature covered in multi-colored coral stared at the rankings on the light screen and muttered to itself.

"The Xia Race... I’ve never heard of such a race..."

Inside the 39th palace, a massive shadow sat enthroned, its expression cold.

"Han Ning... That guy has finally entered the Sea God Palace."

Ruiyue sat inside a colossal palace, her expression complicated as she looked at Han Ning’s name on her Escape Bubble.

It was a mixture of resentment, anger, and an unwillingness to concede defeat.

...

「Inside the first grand hall.」

Han Ning had expected the Secret Realm Manipulator to give him a special reward for breaking the historical record on the leaderboard.

However, after waiting for a good few minutes, no reward for clearing the stage appeared.

He stopped waiting and proceeded to the next palace.

「A few seconds later.」

He successfully cleared the second grand hall.

At the same time, the historical clear record for the second grand hall was also broken.

Han Ning’s name appeared in the first-place spot.

The third... the fourth... the fifth...

All the way to the nineteenth hall, every historical record for every grand hall Han Ning challenged was shattered.

All the Trialists inside the Sea God Palace saw this string of updated leaderboards on their Escape Bubbles.

Han Ning’s name gradually began to spread among the remaining Trialists.

...

"Interesting. So his Spiritual Power is exceptionally strong. He’s using a Spiritual Level that surpasses all historical Trialists to instantly kill the Guardians. No wonder his clear speed is so fast."

Far away in another dimension, in a city within the Celestial Sea built specifically for the council meetings of the Deep Sea Race.

A middle-aged Beast Master in a deep-blue silk robe watched Han Ning fight on the light screen, his eyes filled with admiration.

"By the standards for a Trialist, he’s completely overpowered. Is he really only in his early twenties?"

Hearing the middle-aged man’s tone, Bobo Man chuckled. "Lord Baka, Han Ning is here on my recommendation. You’d best not get any ideas about him."

They were in a spacious room. Around a round table forged from coral sat various beings in different attire, each with a unique appearance and exuding a terrifying aura.

Baka’s expression was unchanged. "It’s far too early for you to say whether or not he will join my Azure Dragon Family."

A Beast Master sitting across from Bobo Man, one who was unclothed and had a jellyfish for a head, spoke slowly,

"Little Bobo Man, don’t be so hasty. You’ll have to ask the Trialist himself which family he wishes to join."

This person was named Octo, and he belonged to the Tide-Calling Jellyfish family.

"That’s right. Anyone who didn’t know better might think the Sea Goddess Race was running this trial and could decide the Trialists’ fates as they pleased."

"And another thing... Little Bobo Man, is there anyone sitting here who isn’t your elder? Even your father has to speak softly to us. When did it become your place to interrupt?"

The speaker was from the Blood Shark Race, named Shark Lian, and she was the only female Beast Master in the group.

However, her sharp fangs and sinister, triangular eyes made her look even more ferocious than any of the males present.

Bobo Man snorted coldly and fell silent, watching Han Ning continue to advance through the trial, his thoughts unreadable.

’No, I can’t let him keep clearing the stages so easily. I must increase the trial’s difficulty just for him. Otherwise, according to historical precedent, a Trialist who breaks the historical records of over 30 grand halls earns the right to challenge the King directly, even if they don’t become the King by the trial’s end.’

Shark Lian’s tone was icy as she watched Han Ning clear yet another stage with ease.

"Historically, the top spot has never been taken by a Beast Master from outside the Deep Sea. I will not allow that to happen on my watch."

"Is he breaking the rules? What right do you have to change them arbitrarily?" Bobo Man, who had fallen silent, spoke up again, his voice thick with dissatisfaction.

"Shut your mouth! You have no place to speak here!" Shark Lian stared directly at Bobo Man, a cold glint flaring in her eyes.

Struck by her oppressive gaze, Bobo Man instantly felt a chill run through him as if he’d been plunged into an ice cellar. Fortunately, the Sea Goddess Race’s Clan Leader, who sat beside him, spoke up to ease the awkward atmosphere. "I think Bobo Man has a point. There is no historical precedent for changing the rules for an outsider, especially one who isn’t even from the Deep Sea Race."

Baka from the Azure Dragon Family nodded in agreement.

"Lord Xuanhai, what are your thoughts?" Shark Lian turned to the tall, silent figure seated at the center of the round table.

His entire body was shrouded in faint shadows, making it difficult for even those present to see his true face with the naked eye.

This was Xuanhai of the Ling Frost Family, who had succeeded Bobo Man’s father as the nominal Clan Leader of the Deep Sea Race.

"Bobo Man, I hear this young man is a friend of yours?" Xuanhai didn’t answer Shark Lian’s question, instead asking Bobo Man in a gentle tone.

His voice was clear and pleasant. As he spoke, his form emerged from the shadows: a figure with snow-white skin. Its upper and lower body were both humanoid, but its entire head and neck were encased within a perfectly black, spherical mask.