Chapter 51 Solo Combat Mode

In order to quickly and skillfully master his newly enhanced abilities, Su Hao made the resolute decision to head to the combat arena.

In his view, that was undoubtedly the best place to test his current strength. Only through genuine confrontation and tempering could he truly discover the level he had attained.

He slowly walked up to the door marked "Solo Mode" and gently placed his hand upon it.

[Combat session lasts fifteen minutes, cost 1,500 cosmic coins. Do you wish to begin?]

"Begin."

As 1,500 cosmic coins were automatically deducted, the door to the solo mode slowly slid open.

Upon entering the room, Su Hao couldn't help being slightly startled. The space inside was far more vast and expansive than it appeared from the outside.

The surrounding walls emitted a soft, ambient glow, casting a light like falling moonlight that illuminated the entire area while maintaining a mysterious atmosphere. It felt as though countless hidden secrets of trial were concealed here, quietly waiting for a fated individual to uncover them one by one.

Directly ahead lay an immensely open trial ground. The ground was etched with complex and mysterious patterns resembling ancient totems, winding and turning, with spiritual energy faintly and slowly flowing through them.

[Welcome to the Solo Trial Mode. This trial will dynamically adjust its difficulty based on your strength. Please prepare yourself.]

The system's mechanical and utterly emotionless voice suddenly echoed in the somewhat quiet room, breaking the momentary stillness.

It instantly brought Su Hao back to his senses, allowing him to focus entirely on the impending trial.

Su Hao took a deep, slow breath, expelling it to suppress the slight surge of excitement and anticipation for the unknown challenge in his chest.

He planted his feet slightly apart, standing firmly on the ground, and assumed a defensive starting stance. The posture was standard and steady, exuding the seasoned efficiency of a veteran of many battles.

At the same time, his gaze vigilantly swept across his surroundings, missing not a single corner where danger might lurk. Like a coiled cheetah ready to spring, he quietly awaited the official commencement of the trial.

Before long, the spiritual energy patterns at the edge of the arena flared with intense power, their radiance suddenly surging and instantly illuminating the entire trial ground as bright as day.

Immediately afterward, rays of light surged rapidly from beneath the ground like a gushing spring. These lights quickly condensed and shifted in mid-air, transforming in the blink of an eye into an adversary of peculiar appearance.

This opponent exuded the cold metallic sheen unique to machinery, made all the more stern under the illumination of the spiritual energy.

Points of spiritual energy light flickered at its joints like embedded, dazzling gems. The flashing frequency of these lights seemed to match the rhythm of a heartbeat, allowing it to move without the slightest stiffness, as if it had been imbued with true life, brimming with a unique agility and vitality.

Two pools of eerie blue light ignited within its eye sockets, glowing with the chilling malice of a ghostly fire from the netherworld, exuding wisps of frost and cold murderous intent. The moment it locked onto Su Hao, it charged toward him without the slightest hesitation like an arrow released from a taut bow. Its speed was so swift that it kicked up a faint whistle of wind, sounding like a horn blowing for the charge and adding a layer of tension to the atmosphere.

Seeing this, Su Hao's heart tightened slightly, yet not a trace of panic showed on his face.

With a fierce stomp of his foot, as if his legs contained thousands of pounds of force, Su Hao instantly transformed into a blur. Moving with the speed of lightning, he darted swiftly to the side, effortlessly dodging the opponent's aggressive first wave of impact.

Compared to before his strength had increased, his agile and nimble posture was noticeably lighter and faster. This discovery brought a quiet surge of satisfaction to Su Hao's heart, giving him a much more concrete grasp of his enhanced capabilities and heightening his anticipation for his performance in the upcoming trial.

"It seems this strength enhancement is truly effective, but this opponent certainly shouldn't be underestimated. I imagine there are quite a few formidable moves waiting for me further on."

Su Hao pondered quietly to himself, while his hands remained completely steady.

At some point, an elongated sword had appeared in his grasp—his usual weapon of choice. At this moment, spiritual energy surged along the blade, flashing with brilliance. It seemed to sense its master's determination to engage in a fierce battle, as if ignited with fighting spirit, pulsing brilliantly and impatiently yearning to trade blows with the enemy.

The opponent missed its first strike, yet showed no hesitation whatsoever. It rapidly adjusted its posture and lunged at Su Hao once more.

As it whipped its arms forward, the limbs morphed instantly like a transformer into razor-sharp blades. Cold light shimmered along the edges, tracing terrifying arcs through the air. The interwoven glints formed an aggressive, ferocious offensive that seemed intent on slicing the very space around Su Hao into fragments.

Su Hao's gaze narrowed, turning as sharp as a falcon's. Instead of retreating, he advanced, his footwork shifting unpredictably with ghostly agility.

Employing the newly upgraded free-combat techniques, he skillfully wove through the gaps in the opponent's airtight assault. Every step landed with pinpoint precision, allowing him to evade attacks while simultaneously securing the optimal position for a counter-offensive.

At the same time, the sword in his hand struck out opportunistically like a striking viper, aiming precisely for the opponent's joints the moment an opening presented itself. The swordsmanship was fierce and tricky, targeting vital points directly.

A loud, resounding *clang* echoed as the sword collided violently with the enemy's blade, instantly spraying a blinding shower of sparks that bloomed like fireworks.

Su Hao felt a massive wave of force travel up the blade, crashing against his arm like a surging tide and sending a slight numbness through his limb. However, having weathered numerous battles, he quickly stabilized his stance. Relying on his exceptional physical conditioning and combat experience, he used the recoil to pivot and slash at the opponent once more.

Through the seamless coordination of swordsmanship and close-quarters combat, Su Hao gradually gained the upper hand. Cracks began to spider-web across the opponent's body, spreading continuously. Its movements grew sluggish, and the previously fierce assault developed visible flaws, losing its former momentum.

Just when Su Hao thought he could easily dispatch this opponent, a sudden flash of light erupted from its body. Following that, as if guided by some mysterious force, it instantaneously morphed into a giant adversary possessing a much larger build and an even more formidable aura.

Towering in the center of the arena like a small mountain, the colossal opponent looked down at Su Hao from above.

It slowly raised an arm thick as a pillar, bringing it crashing down toward Su Hao with the overwhelming momentum of a collapsing mountain. The force of the swinging arm generated a powerful gale that made it difficult for Su Hao to breathe, as though all the surrounding air had been squeezed away by the sheer pressure.

Su Hao frowned, veins bulging slightly on his forehead, yet he showed not the slightest intention of backing down.

Resolve flashed in his eyes as he rapidly channeled the surging, tide-like power within his body, funneling it into his soles. With a fierce burst of strength, he vaulted high into the air like a great roc spreading its wings, instantly soaring upward to effortlessly evade the heavy, lethal strike.

Feeling an oppressive and powerful presence bearing down on him as though confronting an irresistible foe, Su Hao instinctively pushed his potential to the extreme. A wave of sword Qi erupted the moment he swung his blade.

Continuing his momentum, he slashed again, the sword Qi enveloping his body to form a massive canopy of light.

Instantly, the radiance transformed into a colossal sword projection. Possessing a tangible form and exuding a world-shattering aura, it chopped down fiercely toward the giant opponent.

With a deafening *boom*—

The sound was so thunderous it felt as though the god of thunder had beaten a war drum across the heavens. The sword projection collided with the giant adversary, instantly erupting into an intensely violent wave of energy that swept outward like a raging tsunami. The entire trial ground trembled violently, causing loose sand and stones to rattle down from the walls as if quaking from the intensity of the clash.

Su Hao landed firmly on the ground, his boots producing a dull *thud* upon impact. He bent his knees slightly to cushion the landing shock, then straightened up, fixing his gaze intently on the opponent now shrouded in dust and smoke. A hint of nervousness tugged at his heart; after all, this strike was the most powerful move he could currently muster, and he wasn't certain if it would suffice against such a formidable foe. He could only hold his breath and await the clearing of the dust.

As the dust and smoke gradually drifted away, deep fissures—resembling ferocious scars—were visible across the giant opponent's body, continuing to spread and widen. Finally, with a loud crash, the colossal adversary could no longer hold its ground, collapsing heavily into a heap of debris. The spiritual energy radiance that had once flowed across its body slowly faded, as if its life had reached its end and returned to nothingness.

Even Su Hao himself was astonished by this outcome.

[Congratulations on passing the first stage of the trial. Your performance and strength were exceptional. The difficulty will now be increased for the next stage of the trial. Please prepare yourself.]

The system's emotionless mechanical voice rang out once more. Su Hao took slightly heavy breaths, a fine sheen of sweat coating his forehead. Yet, a confident smile remained on his lips—a smile that reflected both an acknowledgment of his own strength and a fearless attitude toward subsequent challenges.

He tightened his grip on his sword, fixing a resolute gaze upon the center of the arena. Like a fearless warrior, he had readied himself to welcome the next round of challenges.

He knew deep down that only by enduring the tempering of these trials could he truly gauge the limits of his current strength, ensuring he could better protect himself and safeguard everything he cherished in the face of future unknowns and dangers.

At that exact moment, his body flashed, and he reappeared outside the combat room.

[Contractor, the fifteen minutes have elapsed. Do you wish to continue?]

"Continue."

Su Hao still felt a lingering sense of unfulfillment. In his mind, rigorous training here was far preferable to being slain by an enemy during a mission.

As another 1,500 cosmic coins were automatically deducted, the second combat session commenced.

Su Hao remained locked in continuous combat within the solo mode room, stopping only after successfully clearing the third stage within the allotted fifteen minutes.

Checking his assets, he saw that his cosmic coins were left with a little over 170,000.

He calculated silently in his heart: this combat room had consumed a total of 30,000 cosmic coins, and he had spent two and a half hours training here.