Everyone couldnât believe their eyes when they saw Ink Crystal emerge from the Divine Concentration stele.
It was one thing for Desert River and Flaming Lotus to return quickly. However, n.o.body expected Ink Crystal to return so soon as well.
They had seen for themselves how strong Ink Crystal was. She was the undisputed number-one expert in this seasonâs Continental Champions.h.i.+p. n.o.body would find it strange even if she spent half a day inside the Divine Concentration stele. Yet, she had concluded her challenge less than 40 minutes after she started it. Just how difficult was the challenge for her to be defeated so quickly?
However, unlike everyone else, Garuda still did not give up hope. Quickly, he turned to the Divine Concentration stele to check Ink Crystalâs evaluation.
As someone who had experienced the central areaâs challenges in the past, Garuda knew that while time spent in a challenge could be used to estimate a playerâs evaluation, it wasnât always accurate.
Subsequently, Ink Crystalâs evaluation appeared on the Divine Concentration stele with a flash.
Garudaâs complexion brightened considerably when he saw this evaluation.
âThat gave me a scare. Thank goodness she received an A.â
Everyone else was similarly relieved upon seeing the evaluation shown on the Divine Concentration stele. This was especially so for Extreme Feather, Death Wind, and those visiting the Crucibleâs central area for the first time.
If even a Mortal G.o.d like Ink Crystal scored only a C- or B-rank evaluation, players who werenât even Half-step Mortal G.o.ds like themselves would have no hope of pa.s.sing the Three Great Legaciesâ challenges.
However, since Ink Crystal got an A-rank evaluation, players beneath Half-step Mortal G.o.ds would still have a chance at securing a C-rank evaluation. So long as they could get a C-rank evaluation, they could at least receive some rewards rather than leave empty-handed.
âŚ
âWhat an ignorant bunch!â Desert River, the bald young man of the Ink Crystal Party, sneered as he watched the members of the other parties sigh in relief. âDo they think that whatever we can accomplish, they can too? Do they think the term Half-step Mortal G.o.d exists for nothing?â
Flaming Lotus, the girl with the ponytail, nodded, surprisingly agreeing with Desert Riverâs words.
âIgnore them and focus on recovering,â Ink Crystal said as she consumed a Concentration Recovery Potion and sat down. âOnce theyâre done with their challenge and we receive our reward, we will leave immediately. We still have many things to do later.â
Hearing this, Desert River and Flaming Lotus stopped paying attention to the other parties and focused on their recovery while waiting for the other parties to finish their challenge.
âŚ
âGuild Leader, what should we do?â Gentle Snow asked s.h.i.+ Feng worriedly. âShould the three of us choose these three steles?â
âGuild Leader, I think these three steles are a little too difficult for us three. I think it would be better if we went for the other steles,â Fervent Samsara said.
âI agree. Otherwise, we could very well waste this precious opportunity,â Heavy Abyss added.
Gentle Snow, Fervent Samsara, and Heavy Abyss were well aware of their respective circ.u.mstances. They couldnât even match experts like Phoenix Flame in combat standards, let alone Half-step Mortal G.o.ds like Desert River. If even Half-step Mortal G.o.ds only had a chance to get a pa.s.sing evaluation, it was very unlikely they could pa.s.s the Three Great Legaciesâ challenges.
âNo, you should still go for these steles,â s.h.i.+ Feng said, shaking his head. Then, while looking at Ink Crystalâs group, he continued, âYou only need to avoid the Divine Law stele. Depending on which you are most proficient in, choose between the Divine Technique and Divine Concentration steles.â
s.h.i.+ Feng was certain that it didnât matter how well they scored in the other steles and statues in the central area. Even acquiring an S-rank evaluation for the other steles and statues probably wouldnât benefit them as much as acquiring a C-rank evaluation for the three tallest steles.
In his previous life, the Three Absolutes had clearly stated that the Crucible of the Ancients held the method to go beyond Tier 6. If any Legacies in the current Crucible held such a method, he felt it would have to be the three steles before him.
Not to mention, the Ink Crystal Party seemed to know a lot about the Crucible of the Ancients. Desert River and Flaming Lotus could have easily secured an S-rank evaluation had they challenged any other stele or statue. Yet, they insisted on the Divine Law stele. Moreover, they did not get upset even after acquiring a C-rank evaluation. This showed that merely acquiring a C-rank evaluation was already a worthwhile outcome.
Hence, it would be a shame for Gentle Snow, Fervent Samsara, and Heavy Abyss to not even try.
The Ink Crystal Partyâs choices also gave a general idea of the three stelesâ challenges. If players only sought to get good results, they should challenge their most proficient field rather than their weaknesses.
When Ink Crystalâs five party members chose the Divine Law stele, they did so to compensate for their weaknesses. On the other hand, Ink Crystal was incredibly strong in Concentration. The fact that she could accomplish Manifold Executions proved this. Hence, she got an A-rank evaluation, while Desert River and Flaming Lotus only got C-rank evaluations.
Meanwhile, Garuda and Elise evidently reached the same conclusion as they had their party members challenge the three steles based on their strengths. Then, the two challenged the Divine Concentration stele like Ink Crystal.
âLetâs go in as well.â
When s.h.i.+ Feng saw Garuda and the others finish choosing, he walked up and entered the Divine Law stele. His achievements in World Laws were undeniably better than his achievements in Concentration and technique, so the Divine Law stele was his best option.
Meanwhile, Gentle Snow, Verdant Rainbow, and Death Wind chose to challenge the Divine Technique stele, while Fervent Samsara and Heavy Abyss chose the Divine Concentration stele.
âAt least theyâre smart enough to go for their field of expertise after watching us suffer,â Desert River said, clicking his tongue when he saw the three partiesâ decisions.
Suddenly, Ink Crystal opened her eyes and looked at the three steles before her. Then, with a heavy expression, she said, âEven if they choose their strengths, itâs pointless. Apart from Garuda and Elise, the best the others can achieve is C-rank.â
Desert River and Flaming Lotus chuckled when they heard Ink Crystalâs words. They could imagine the looks of shock the three partiesâ members would wear once they were inside the three steles.
Inside, these people would learn just how weak they were.
They would also learn that even the peerless chosen ones of an entire race were nothing more than ants.