My mom is waiting for treatment, and you're summoning me to be a hero?

The next day, today is the day the Glory Trial Tournament begins.

There is a secluded forest path along the main road leading from the church to the capital.

Ancient trees on both sides reach for the sky, their branches and leaves blocking out the morning light, leaving only sparse patches of light on the stone path.

There were no pedestrians, no carriages, and not even the chirping of birds could be heard.

Lin Mo walked here alone.

The black robe swayed gently in the breeze, and his steps were neither fast nor slow, making a soft sound as he stepped on the stone slabs.

next second...

Six figures suddenly sprang up from the dense forest on both sides!

too fast.

Lin Mo's hand hadn't even touched the hilt of the sword yet.

A poisoned dagger had already pierced his chest.

puff.

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.

The assassin landed in front of Lin Mo, the dagger piercing to the hilt, the tip even protruding from his back.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and then he froze.

There was no blood where the dagger pierced.

Lin Mo's body began to become transparent in the sunlight.

Like fog being blown away by the wind, it becomes fainter and fainter, more and more blurry.

"not good--"

The moment the assassin uttered those words, Lin Mo's figure vanished completely.

Clone.

The six assassins froze simultaneously.

They stood on the empty road, looking at each other in bewilderment.

The man in black robes has disappeared.

Only the morning breeze blows, carrying a few fallen leaves.

"withdraw!"

The leader gave a low shout.

But it was too late.

The moment they turned around, they saw what was behind them.

From the direction they came from, a figure suddenly emerged from the previously deserted forest.

Enveloped in black mist, its outline blurred, it wore semi-transparent full-body armor, and beneath its helmet were a pair of eerie green eyes.

"This...this is a level 70 spirit creature...a Ghost Guardian Armor?"

"How could there possibly be a soul creature of this level around the capital?!"

"Just one..."

As the words fell, a sound of armor clashing rang out.

From behind the dense forest, one by one, ghostly guards emerged.

The number is over a hundred!

And there's more to come!

Some floated in mid-air, some were hunched over, and some remained motionless, staring at them with empty eye sockets.

Each one exuded a heart-stopping aura.

This is the soul creature that Lin Mo fused with using his new skills.

【Ghost Guard Armor】: Formed from the fusion of the souls of seventeen fallen royal guards, it possesses the combat skills it acquired in life and has extremely strong defensive capabilities.

The six assassins' expressions changed.

They looked around and saw that the number of these ghostly guards had long exceeded one hundred.

They were surrounded.

The movements of those spirit beings were neither hurried nor slow.

We've just come this far step by step.

The speed didn't seem fast, but no matter how fast they ran, those things were always getting closer.

……

Not far away, Lin Mo heard the screams but remained expressionless.

Yin Xue flew high above Lin Mo's head, glancing towards the direction from which the screams came.

Before long, the blood flew back onto Lin Mo's shoulder.

"Your new skill is actually quite useful."

Lin Mo did not speak.

He simply continued walking forward, stepping onto the main road leading to the stadium.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting a long shadow behind him.

……

The Glory Trial Tournament was held in a giant arena in the eastern suburbs of the capital.

This arena can hold 50,000 people and is one of the largest buildings in the Holy Ancient Empire.

Today, this place is packed with people, and colorful flags are fluttering in the breeze.

Imperial nobles, envoys from all over the world, and ordinary people all gathered here.

Looking forward to this annual event.

Above the center of the arena, spatial laws intertwined, producing a crackling sound.

It seems like something is about to begin.

"Mom, what's that?"

"That's the secret space of the Glory Trial Tournament. The entrance will open with a 'boom' when it happens."

"Not only our Holy Ancient Empire, but all countries across the continent will open entrances simultaneously, allowing all powerhouses below level 70 to enter and compete."

"Wow, Xiao Bao wants to participate when he grows up!"

"Then you'd better study hard."

"What does this have to do with studying?"

……

The crowd was buzzing with discussion.

Meanwhile, in the VIP area at the very center of the stands.

Li Yishao leaned back in a velvet-covered chair, a string of prayer beads in his hand, a confident smile on his face.

Several trusted advisors sat beside him, talking in hushed tones.

"Your Highness, the men we sent have already departed."

Li Yishao nodded, his gaze drifting towards the arena entrance, a sneer on his face.

"That man in black robes... thinks he can rise to prominence by getting close to my brother? How naive."

An aide leaned closer and whispered:

"Your Highness, rest assured, those six are all veterans of the Dark Camp, the lowest level being over level 70. They work together seamlessly, and killing a wanted criminal who is only level 50 or so is more than enough for them."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Li Yishao's lips as he looked at the tightly closed curtains on the opposite stand, which was Li Yiguang's exclusive viewing area.

"I want to see my good brother's expression when the game starts."

He leaned back, waiting to see what would happen.

Time passed little by little.

The brave participants entered the arena one after another.

Some cheered, some booed, and the atmosphere in the stands grew increasingly heated.

One figure after another walked in at the entrance.

But the man in black robes never appeared.

Li Yishao's smile deepened.

"It seems to have worked out."

He said in a low voice.

The aides next to him also laughed.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on eliminating a major threat!"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Because another person walked in at the entrance.

Black robe.

Black sword.

A small pink and white spider was perched on my shoulder.

It was Lin Mo.

He walked steadily, neither fast nor slow, with no expression on his face.

The sunlight shone on him, making his cold, stern face exceptionally clear.

Li Yishao's smile froze in the stands.

He sat up abruptly, staring intently at the person.

The staff member next to him was also stunned, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word.

"How is that possible..."

Li Yishao's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"How could he still be alive?!"

He turned his head and looked at his staff.

His eyes were filled with disbelief and anger.

The staff member's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

"Your Highness...this...the people from the Dark Camp..."

"waste!"

Li Yishao slammed his fist on the armrest of the seat, his knuckles turning white.

He looked back at the entrance.

That person is walking towards the competition area.

He walked away so calmly, so naturally, as if nothing had happened.

Li Yishao's eyelids twitched.

He suddenly noticed that the person seemed to have glanced in their direction.

Just one glance.

very short.

But what was in those eyes sent a chill down his spine.

That's the look you give a dead person.

Lin Mo withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

Just then—

A shrill voice rang out from behind the square, shattering the eerie silence: "His Majesty has arrived—!!!"