The Dawn of the New World

The tentacles were still attached to his spine and legs trying to hold him down but he ripped them off without much effort. But before he could leave the platform Mendax hurriedly stopped him.

"Looks like someone is in a hurry. Aren't you forgetting something?"

"???"

The merman looked at him in confusion until he blurted out, "Your MARK! The reason you came here in the first place? Get back in the middle!"

"Y-Yes!" more than a little embarrassed the merman ran back and waited patiently for the final part.

*Sigh*

With a disappointing sigh Mendax threw out the words without much thought or emotion behind them.

"By the power vested in me, I grant you access to the inner Sanctum as a hallowed-" he paused to look at the obelisk that shone with a dim light, "-'Servant' of the Nine!? Impressive! Welcome youngling, you may leave the platform now."

The merman gave another bow to Mendax and one to Lord Aekor before getting off the platform with his egg in hand.

Everyone from the 'Sect of the Deep' was delighted by the outcome. Not only did they get an influential new member but he got the rank of a 'Servant' which would give him a massive head start over the others.

"Will the second candidate please get on!" Mendax yelled as the platform reset itself to its original state.

The blood cleared out and the obelisks returned to the ground for the second round.

Hao Xuan felt Max's demented gaze trying to bore a hole into his face so he wanted to go next but surprisingly the pale man was a step ahead of him.

"Oh what a pleasant surprise. The candidate from the 'Sect of Pestilence' has stepped forth!" Mendax announced as Lord Aekor's avatar was replaced by Lady Purto's.

"There is no need to stand on ceremony. You may end it quickly," she annoyingly commented as if she was giving him permission.

Mendax ground his teeth but kept his composure, "If that is what the patron wants. Begin the examination!"

The tentacles shot out of the pool and attached to the pale man with a lot more power behind them. He shook back and forth like a sheet of paper but managed to keep his balance.

The rings came to life and started rotating one by one but every time the numbers stabilized on them Mendax's expression worsened. By the ninth ring he was black and blue.

"Is this...right?" he absentmindedly muttered out loud to which Lady Purto responded with much the same condescending tone.

"Of course it is. My master would not send just 'anyone' to these hallowed halls. Show the attributes!"

Mendax looked like he had bitten into a rotten apple but he still obliged since there was nothing he could do to change the outcome.

With a wave of his hand the numbers floated above the platform.

Physical Strength: 970

Cultivation Level: 320

Soul Power: 233

Several shocked gasps sounded from all around but the very next second a deathly silence fell over the island.

Physique Rank: Mythical

Constitution Rank: Exotic

Soul Rank: Rare

Even the attendants watching from the other side could not help but take a second look.

"Mythical?!" one of the shadows exclaimed.

Lord Aekor swiftly interjected as well, "Lord Mendax...are you certain there has not been a 'miscalculation' this time around?"

Mendax gave a hesitant nod, "Yes, there has not been an error."

"A 'Mythical rank' physique means there is only one of its kind in existence. Lady Purto, the 'House of Rot' has certainly been blessed...despite its recent losses," Lord Aekor gave a quick backhanded compliment but she didn't care.

"He has a lot of room to improve," she replied coldly.

Meanwhile, Mendax was moving his hands back and forth as if he was looking for something, "Aha, I see here that the candidate finished the final trial in less than 4 days. Your rewards must be plentiful," he tried to talk to the pale man directly but there was no response whatsoever.

The pale man stood rooted to the spot listlessly. If his chest didn't occasionally move one would think he was already dead.

"Ahem, then we shall calculate the rewards!"

With Mendax's signal the obelisks shot out once more and the runes on the obelisk with the 'Mark of Pestilence' started lighting up. They reached all the way to the top without much effort and then proceeded to light up the second obelisk to the right.

The same thing happened on the second obelisk, every rune from the bottom to the top lit up until the 'Mark of the Slumbering One' was ignited and then the third obelisk came to life.

Unfortunately, this is where the runes started to slow down and came to a slow stop at around the 20% mark.

*Cough*

"You have activated two full obelisks. You may make your wish."