My health recovery is incredibly fast.

The test content is very simple.

Each team must send at least three people into the test area. If they can withstand the attacks of the alien demons in the test area, they will pass. Killing alien demons, successfully establishing a stronghold, and successfully defending the stronghold are all bonus points.

Each team has a maximum testing time of 1 hour.

The testing teams are free to use any means necessary in the testing area; their only goal is to get as many points as possible.

Xia Zuo glanced at the [Elemental Star Network] team for a few seconds, then recalled the energy readings of the test area described by the arcane mage, and a few more guesses came to mind.

The test area is a closed space.

The average value of the shadow energy reading is 94.6, which means that if you randomly select a small area in the test area, 94.6% of the energy in this area is shadow energy, and the remaining 5.4% is other energy.

By inputting the peak, trough, difference, and amplitude of the readings into a specific energy formula for calculation, and then filling in the time coefficient, a key value can be obtained—the amplitude of single-phase polarization.

The single-phase polarization amplitude of Shadow Energy is 1.8, meaning that Shadow Energy can only interfere with elemental energies with a power exceeding 1.8.

If the power of an elemental energy is below 1.8, then elemental spells cast under this condition may appear in the test area.

What is the likelihood of that?

Um..

Xia Zuo did some mental calculations for a few seconds and came to a conclusion.

To cast elemental spells with a 100% success rate within the test area, two conditions must be met:

First, the spell's power cannot exceed 1.8; second, the duration of a single spell cast cannot exceed 1.6 seconds.

To use a somewhat inappropriate analogy, such a spell requirement is equivalent to turning a power switch on and off every 1.6 seconds, while the force used each time cannot exceed 1.8 units of force, otherwise the switch will explode with a bang.

This exquisite control over energy and magic is not as simple as manipulating energy to create intricate images or simulating vivid animals. It requires the caster to switch between casting and terminating spells quickly, frequently, and precisely.

Such demanding requirements for spellcasting are beyond the capabilities of humans.

Only a spellcaster's body, like the [Elemental Star Network], which is purely composed of elements, could possibly achieve this. No wonder the [Elemental Star Network] team is the only one among the teams present that uses elemental energy.

"It's starting." Rexol patted Shazor on the shoulder.

Xia Zuo snapped out of his daze and looked toward the testing area.

The Wild Hammer Alchemist team dispatched four metal rods.

The four sticks floated to the side of the dome and then landed on the ground. The surface of the sticks rippled with water-like patterns, and the metal sticks quickly melted and solidified, turning into "stick figures" with thin limbs and pointed heads.

"This is the [Transformation Metal] body of the Wild Hammer, one of the three most outstanding alchemical achievements of the Wild Hammer Alchemist Guild," Rexor introduced simultaneously. "You should know the other two: the Bionic Silver-Eating Insect and the Mimar Alloy."

Xia Zuo nodded, asking inwardly, 'Can Transformer Metal be mass-produced?'

"That depends on what kind of metal can survive for more than an hour in a magic-resistant field," Rexor said. "If a metal with a hardness below 100 meets the requirement, then mass production is possible. Otherwise, there's nothing we can do."

Four metal stick figures are ready.

They gestured for the sorcerer to press the timer, then walked towards the dome, passed through the crystal, and entered the testing area.

Purplish-black water stains immediately appeared on the silver-gray metal casing, resembling rust left by wind and rain, or some kind of severe skin disease. The purplish-black water stains spread rapidly, growing from dots to the size of a palm in just a few seconds.

This situation seems to have exceeded the expectations of the metal stick figure.

They stayed where they were, and after a brief discussion, they held hands and hugged each other.

The water ripple pattern reappeared on the metal casing.

This time, the four metal stick figures merged into one, becoming a larger, slightly more robust stick figure.

"I didn't expect that the Desolate Hammer had already developed a variant use for deformable metals..." Rexor remarked with some emotion. "After combining four deformable metals with a hardness below level 100, its hardness will temporarily increase to around level 120. Withstanding the erosion of shadow energy shouldn't be difficult."

Xia Zuo nodded slowly in agreement.

He had experienced the corrosive damage of shadow energy firsthand, which was about 4000 points per hour. Converted to the structural values ​​of metal materials, a hardness of 120 corresponds to a shadow energy damage reduction rate of 70.6%, and a total structural value of over 1176 points would be enough to withstand it for an hour.

The information from the Detection skill shows that the burly stick figure has a structure value of 3 points, making it easy for him to survive the Shadow Erosion.

The test area contains some remaining natural features—a half-collapsed stone house and some trees.

Building a stronghold in stone houses is a wise move, because these natural landscapes, steeped in high concentrations of shadow energy, embody tenacious natural laws, and their resilience is far greater than their outward appearance suggests.

It's like continuously pumping air into a sealed container. The air constantly compresses the objects inside. Those fragile objects that can't withstand the pressure will break down and burst first, while those that can withstand the pressure are all incredibly hard.

The only stick figure in the testing area walked steadily toward the half-tilted stone house.

"Clang, clang." A very faint clanging sound came from inside the dome.

Two dark figures flashed past the stick figure, whose body visibly swayed twice before regaining its balance and continuing forward.

He was just attacked by church assassins.

Because there was almost no medium for sound to travel in the test area, the fierce attack only produced a slight sound.

"Clang clang clang..." A series of attacks landed on the stick figure, only slowing his steps slightly, without leaving any damage.

Pure physical damage is negligible against metal materials with a hardness exceeding 120.

The demons then changed their attack strategy.

Three black tornadoes appeared around the stick figure, forming a triangular shape that surrounded it.

The black tornado spun rapidly, emitting a piercing shriek, and unleashed a barrage of sharp, shadowy blades.

The shadow blade shot out from the first black tornado, grazed the stick figure's body, and entered the second black tornado. It then accelerated within the second tornado's spinning motion before being shot out again, grazing the stick figure's body with even greater speed and force, before entering the third tornado for a new round of acceleration.

Launch, accelerate, launch again, accelerate again... The three tornadoes were like three high-speed spinning, powerful motors, increasing the flight speed of the Shadow Blades again and again, creating a veritable storm of blades around the stick figure.

Xia Zuo frowned slightly at the sight of the violent scene.

It wasn't because he felt he couldn't withstand the damage from the Shadow Blade Storm, but because the stick figure's performance far exceeded his expectations.

Under the watchful eyes of numerous testing teams, the stick figure showed no unusual behavior except for his unsteady gait and slightly unsteady steps, as if the storm of blades around him was just an ordinary tornado.

"What's going on, Master? How can a hardness of 120 perform like this?" Xia Zuo asked.

'Hmph.' Rexor scoffed inwardly. 'I reckon the Desolate Hammer created storage spaces within these transforming metal bodies, just like your Blood Element Guards. They've stockpiled bionic silver-eating worms and alchemical dragon blood in those spaces. This way, the transforming metals can repair their damage while moving.'

Rex Thorn paused, stroking his bald head. "I don't know much about the alchemy techniques of the Wild Hammer, but I estimate that as long as the metal's damage rate doesn't exceed the repair rate of the bionic silver-devouring worms, the deformable metal won't have to fear the Otherworldly Demons and Shadow Energy before the alchemical dragon blood runs out."

In short, the methods used by the Wild Hammer Alchemists to fight against the Otherworldly Demons have no combat skills whatsoever; they are purely based on spending money and research.

Stick figures are practically mobile fortunes...

They arrived in front of the half-collapsed stone house, reached out and touched it. Their entire bodies instantly melted into liquid metal, seeped into the cracks between the stone bricks, and merged with the stone house, which was protected by the laws of nature.

Next, the collapsed stone house slowly rose again, restored to its pre-collapse state, pulled back by the molten metal. With the help of the molten metal, the heavy beams and walls of the stone house were firmly anchored in the test area, impervious to the onslaught of the Shadow Blade Storm, and would never fall again.

The next step involves separating a small portion of the molten metal to create doors and windows, isolating the demons outside and creating an indoor area filled only with shadow energy.

Upon seeing this, everyone knew that the Wild Hammer Alchemist team was bound to achieve excellent results.

Only about 10 minutes of the test had passed, and it was clearly unrealistic to keep the test team waiting.

The sorcerer Arceus walked to the dome, placed his hand on it, and the flow of time within the test area instantly accelerated by more than ten times.

Xia Zuo activated the Sands of Time Vision and looked into the interior of the dome, where the Sands of Time vibrated back and forth at an extremely fast speed, a stark contrast to the Sands of Time outside the dome.

It turns out that Arcsut had mastered the laws of spacetime, and his power without attributes and his mastery of spacetime were extremely high. He could control the flow of time in the dome all by himself.

After the scene inside the dome shook violently for a short while, 50 minutes had passed inside the dome, which was the moment the test ended. The stone house protected by the stick figure still stood amidst the storm of blades.

The Wild Hammer Alchemist team undoubtedly received an excellent rating.

Aksut's hand, resting on the dome, projected several bright beams of light onto the storm of blades.

The blade storm froze instantly after being struck by the beam of light, forcing the three Shadow Fiends and two Church Assassins to separate from the tornado and fall to the ground.

Liquid metal flowed from the stone house, reforming into stick figures in front of the demons. They headed towards Arcsut and left the testing area.

Aksut withdrew the pillar of light controlling the demons and rotated his hand counterclockwise.

Time reversed within the dome, and the alien demon, as if pressed on a rewind button, returned to the tornado, then vanished along with it into the purplish-black shadow energy. The stone house, which had only recently been repaired, collapsed again, returning to its half-tilted state.

Two minutes later, the test area returned to normal.

"The testing of the Wild Hammer Alchemy Chamber team is complete." Aksut turned around and looked at the jelly-like figure sitting next to the metal rod. "The next testing team is the [Ever-Changing Body] team from the Transformation faction."

Rexol watched the four jelly-like figures heading towards the testing area and thought to himself, 'This team's test results should also be excellent.'

"Why, Master?" Xia Zuo scratched his head, squinting as he carefully examined the bouncy appearance of the jelly-like figures. "They don't look as hard as [Transformer Metal]."

Rexor stated, 'There are other ways to deal with Otherworldly attacks besides direct confrontation.'

Seeing that the bald man didn't say much, Xia Zuo calmed down and watched the test.

The moment Jelly Man stepped into the testing area, Xia Zuo knew the answer.

The four jelly-like figures stood at the edge of the testing area, not immediately heading towards the half-collapsed stone house.

They stood in pairs, about a meter apart, in a line, with their arms raised as if to embrace.

Their jelly-like shells, originally a yellowish-brown color, are rapidly turning purplish-black and eventually blending into the ambient color of the testing area.

'Master, did they absorb the shadow energy of the testing area and transform into the shadow energy itself?' Xia Zuo asked in his mind.

'No, no.' Rexol shook his head slightly.

'Within its ever-changing body lies the temple's shadow energy.'

'These shadow energies were extracted from the Dark Chamber plane by the Temple before the Shadow Fiend took control of it. They do not carry the energy ripples of the Shadow Fiend and are considered unclaimed. Whoever gets them can use them.'

'The Hundred-Faced Body's outstretched arms are a way of sensing the shadow energy ripples in the testing area, then adjusting the shadow energy ripples within its own body to match those of the testing area, and finally covering its entire body with its own shadow energy to achieve invisibility within the testing area.'

'Can the Shadow Demon detect the ever-changing body disguised as shadow energy?' Xia Zuo asked again.

"Unless the Shadow Fiend himself intervenes, it's absolutely impossible," Rex'thal said. "Using Shapeshifters to establish an advance base should be the most covert of all the options. However, the Temple's shadow energy reserves are too scarce, only enough to arm a maximum of about 80 Shapeshifters. This is the only, and unavoidable, weakness of this plan."

Chapter 90 Furnace - Inspiration, True Vision - Insight

The second test ended faster than the first.

After the Jelly Man became invisible within the test area, the Church Assassin and Shadow Fiend launched several rounds of guesswork attacks, all to no avail; they couldn't even touch the Jelly Man's shadow.

The demons had no choice but to circle around the stone house to prevent the jelly people from getting close.

Unfortunately, their methods were completely useless.

Just as water cannot harm water, air cannot sever air, and fire cannot burn fire, shadow energy cannot harm itself.