Tony sat cross-legged within the Hall of Martial Echoes while the Heaven Rank martial technique floated before him.
The scroll had already unfolded every movement,contained within the Heaven Piercing Finger.
For ordinary participants, merely understanding the introductory portion would require days of uninterrupted concentration. Even the greatest geniuses normally required several days before reaching Minor Success. That was precisely why the World Tree Spirit had looked at Tony with skepticism after seeing his choice.
Unlike sword techniques or movement arts, finger techniques demanded absurd precision. Every strand of life energy had to move perfectly. A single mistake would ruin the entire technique.
Unfortunately, the Heaven Piercing Finger had encountered the Truth Eye!
"How absurd... Such a dashing name, but a big flaw. Thankfully I have a suitable movement technique." Tony muttered lazily.
The moment Tony activated his eyes, the profound mysteries hidden inside the Heaven Rank martial art became as simple as reading words written on paper. Every secret revealed itself. Every flaw became visible. Every hidden principle exposed itself willingly.
Slowly he raised a single finger. Life energy flowed through his meridians according to the pathways revealed by the scroll. The Heaven Piercing Finger activated instantly.
A brilliant golden streak shot forward from his fingertip and crossed the hall in a fraction of a second. The attack struck the distant wall and immediately left behind a perfectly clean hole.
Tony merely glanced at the result before returning his attention to the technique.
Minor Success...!
"Not bad... It is definitely useful to put a hole in anything!" Tony muttered with a gleeful smile.
The requirement of the second trial had already been fulfilled. If he called the World Tree Spirit now, she would have no choice but to send him forward. Yet Tony remained seated. He had no intention of stopping.
The opportunity was already before him. A Heaven Rank martial technique wasn’t something he could casually obtain elsewhere. The Hall of Martial Echoes itself was likely one of the greatest inheritances hidden inside the World Tree. Since he was already here, there was no reason to leave after merely reaching the minimum requirement.
His Truth Eye continued analyzing every detail of the technique while his finger repeatedly moved through the air. Again. Again. Again. Hundreds of executions followed. The Heaven Piercing Finger gradually transformed from a technique he understood into a technique that belonged to him.
***
Meanwhile, inside the first trial, the remaining participants continued their desperate advance toward the glowing gateway.
The pressure remained suffocating. The life energy filling the trial continued crushing countless disciples. Yet the leading participants had already reached the final stretch.
Lily Frost reached almost the end gate. Thanks to Tony’s earlier interference, she had received an enormous advantage over the others. While many participants still struggled through the middle section of the trial, she could already see the exit waiting ahead.
Not far behind her, Kevin Ten was advancing with gritted teeth. The future Sword Saint looked utterly exhausted, yet determination filled his eyes. Every step felt like climbing a mountain while carrying another mountain on his shoulders, but he refused to stop.
Leo followed steadily behind them. Unlike Kevin, he remained calm. Every movement was measured. Every breath was controlled. The swordsmith’s son advanced at a constant pace while conserving every ounce of strength available to him.
At the opposite end of the trial, Elsa was suffering. The Demonic Sea Tribe Princess had never experienced such humiliation. Every time she remembered Tony dragging her backward, every time she remembered the slaps, every time she remembered her tribe members being thrown toward the rear of the trial, her anger intensified.
Her beautiful face twisted with fury as she pushed her cultivation technique beyond its limits. The pressure of the trial crushed her from every direction. Sweat covered her body. Yet she continued advancing.
Around her, the Demonic Sea Tribe disciples looked equally miserable. They had originally been among the leaders. They should have entered the second trial long ago. Instead, thanks to Tony, they were fighting desperately just to catch up.
Several Demonic Sea Tribe disciples silently swore revenge. Others silently cursed Tony’s ancestors. Elsa did both simultaneously.
Not far away, the Bald Monk continued advancing at his own pace. Unlike Elsa, he appeared strangely peaceful. Compared to the possibility of being killed by Tony, a difficult trial suddenly felt very manageable.
***
Meanwhile...
’Huh..’
Tony slowly pulled out his finger. Before him, the wall of the chamber now contained another perfectly circular hole. Completely pierced through.
There are already countless holes and Tony performed the Heavenly Finger to Major Success.
The World Tree Spirit stood nearby staring at it with a blank expression.
Tony merely looked at the result calmly. He wasn’t surprised. His Truth Eye had already shown him what would happen.
The spirit, however, looked utterly shocked. The walls of the Hall of Martial Echoes weren’t ordinary walls. They were formed from the essence of the World Tree itself.
"This bastard! How many tricks he has?!" The world tree spirit cursed loudly.
Every participant before Tony had merely left marks. Tiny scratches. Minor dents. Yet Tony had pierced directly through it using a Heaven Rank finger technique he learned only hours earlier.
For a long time, the spirit remained silent. Without saying another word, she waved her hand. As she was afraid of Tony putting more holes, she directly pushed him to final trail!
The entire hall disappeared... The world changed instantly. Darkness swallowed everything. Only endless darkness.
***
Hours later, Lily finally crossed the threshold. Golden light swallowed her... The pressure vanished. The white world disappeared. The Hall of Martial Echoes emerged around her.
Thousands of floating scrolls filled the enormous chamber. The World Tree Spirit immediately appeared before her.
Before the spirit could even explain the rules, Lily looked around anxiously. "Where is Tony?"
The World Tree Spirit stared for several moments. "He already passed."
Lily blinked. "What?"
"He completed the second trial. He has already entered the final trial."
Shock covered Lily’s face. She had just arrived... Tony had already left. The difference between them felt absurd.
Soon Kevin entered. His first question was identical. "Where is Brother Tony?"
The World Tree Spirit’s expression became increasingly strange. "He already passed."
Kevin froze. "Passed what?"
"The second trial."
Kevin stared blankly. Several moments later he burst into helpless laughter. "Of course he did."
Even Leo received the same answer after arriving.
Even several other talented disciples received the same answer. Every reaction followed a similar pattern.
Shock... Disbelief... Silence.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, Elsa finally crossed the threshold into the Hall of Martial Echoes. The moment she arrived, her eyes immediately searched the surroundings. Her anger had only intensified throughout the first trial.
The first thing she intended to do after entering the second trial was find him. Unfortunately for her, the World Tree Spirit appeared first.
"Where is Tony?" Elsa demanded immediately.
The spirit already knew what would happen next. "He already passed."
Elsa froze. The surrounding Sea Tribe disciples froze. "What?"
"He completed the second trial." The spirit pointed upward. "He has already entered the final trial."
For several moments Elsa simply stood there. Then her face darkened.
"TONY CLARK!"
Elsa’s angry roar echoed throughout the Hall of Martial Echoes. Several floating scrolls shook. The Sea Tribe disciples immediately stepped backward.
The World Tree Spirit explained the ruled and silently disappeared. There was no reason to remain.
***