The creature was slightly surprised at John's confident demeanor. Although it couldn't detect the source, it could tell that John's power had increased between the first and second attack, allowing him to withstand the second attack, although barely.
However, it could not detect a cultivation based power increase this time. Its divine sense washed over John's body, inspecting it for some time before realization came to it.
"Ah...you unlocked your Limiter of Pain I see. Interesting. Perhaps with this, you truly can live through this trial," the creature mused out loud.
John ignored the comment, and stood there with absolute confidence in himself. His fighting spirit was fully ignited.
The creature slowly raised his finger once more and pointed it at John. Power equivalent to a Middle Meridian Forging expert began to quickly build up on it, which was more than twice as strong as the previous attack John had blocked. Like the last time, an intense blood lust emanated from the attack, attempting to drive John mad.
Supreme Battle Art!
Immortal Asura Transformation Art!
Heavenly Lightning Domain!
John's aura exploded out violently, filled with a dense battle intent and blood lust. His aura clashed against the aura of the attack, neutralizing a great portion of the negative effects it had on John's mind. The last bit washed over him, but John's firm will was able to ignore it.
The creature wasted no time, and unleashed the attack towards John. Its power was nearly overwhelming, and its speed even more so. The attack reached John in nearly an instant.
Eight lightning nodes lit up and sent out attacks to meet the attack head on. However, John did not have time to send out any lightning ruins.
The lightning domain attacks slammed against the Qi attack, but were almost immediately engulfed in the power of the creatures attack. In fact, the lightning domain attacks only reduced the power of the attack by less than ten percent.
John git his teeth and flared his body power to its absolute maximum state. With his Limiter of Pain unlocked, John felt an easier and more natural circulation of Qi in his body, strengthening it more than before. Not only that, but the newly activated parts of his body surged out with power, adding to his power and defense.
His battle axe, surrounded by the three powerful Dao's John had recently learned, cleaved downwards with all his might.
Time seemed to stop for a brief moment as John's axe met the attack, before…
BOOM!
The collision of the two attacks caused a massive explosion to radiate outwards, engulfing John in its power. Intense shockwaves and heat rocked his body, as the Qi attack continued to attempt to pierce John's defenses and end his life. His body was blackened by the power of the explosion, his skin completely singed.
His blood tumbled within his body, and his organs shifted, sending a wave of pain throughout his body.
John grit his teeth as he sent his full power into his arms, resisting the creature's attack. The power being transmitted through his axe and into his body was beyond immense. John felt as if his arms were going to shatter. The skin on his arms had already completely shattered away from his body, revealing nothing but muscle and bone underneath.
Crack!
A slight cracking sound rang out, followed by another, and another. John's body rapidly flew out of the explosion as the Qi attack continued to push him backwards. His arms continued to send out cracking sounds, as they began to give under the force of the attack.
Even with his Limiter of Pain unlocked, John was at the edge of life and death. John's body was several miles away from the attack site already, having been pushed backwards like a cannonball.
BOOM!
The Qi attack, as if it had reached the end of its life, exploded out violently directly in front of John's face. His body flew backwards out of the explosion, flying several more miles away as a smoke trail followed his charred body.
Bang!
John slammed against the hard earth, causing the ground to shatter. His body continued to travel within the earth, carving a long trench into it, only stopping after several hundred yards.
After a series of incredibly loud explosions, silence once again filled the area.
The creature stared intently at the location that John's body had come to rest, waiting to see what happened. While it could use its divine sense to check if John was alive or dead, it chose not to do so.
Several minutes passed by, without a single sound filling the area. A hand suddenly reached out from the ground, landing on the edge of the trench and pulling the rest of the body up with it.
The creature's eyes lit up, as it watched John slowly but surely crawl out of the trench. He inspected John's body, and even the creature, with all its experience, took in a deep breath.
His robes had been completely destroyed, leaving only his naked body beneath. Not a single inch of skin remained, revealing only muscle, sinew and bone. Even this layer of his body was charred, making him look like a burned corpse.
The creature had no idea how he had survived in such a state, or how he remained conscious through the pain he was feeling right now. All it did was stare at John in silence, impressed by the display he had just witnessed.
John's feet planted on the ground, as he stood there defiantly. Pain and exhaustion wracked his entire body, but the only thing he was truly feeling right now was a sense of victory. Despite the odds being against him, he had managed to live through this trial.
He stared at the creature with defiance in his eyes, as he popped a healing pill in his mouth. However, compared to the damage he had sustained, the healing pill was like throwing a bucket of water on a wildfire. It hardly made a difference.
The creature nodded its head, as if approving of John.
"I understand now why he chose you. Your attitude truly is worthy of being a Divine Talent, which is just as important as talent itself."
It raised its finger towards John once more, causing him to narrow his eyes. However, John made no moves, as he watched the creature take whatever action it was taking.
A strange energy emanated from the creature's finger, and instantly pierced out towards John. It reached him before he could react, and entered his body. John felt a strange energy, filled with incredible vibrancy, wash throughout his body. Wherever it went, it infused every cell with vitality, slowly but surely healing it.
"You'll never heal with those healing pills of yours," the creature explained.
John closed his eyes and allowed the energy to wash all throughout his body. Its efficacy at healing his body was dozens of times better than the pills he had on him. Several hours passed by, as the energy did its work.
John's charred muscles began to heal, and his skin began to reform on his body. Whenever a damaged cell was healed, John could feel that it was filled with even more vibrancy than before. It was as if his body was undergoing another transformation, similar to the one he felt when he had eaten the blood colored fruit.
After several hours, his body was finally fully healed. John gripped his fists, feeling the power of his body. Every cell brimmed with incredible energy.
'Its a good thing I unlocked my Limiter of Pain, or I truly would have perished in this trial. Just how crazy were the youths of the past for this to be a trial instead of a death sentence?'
Even with his heaven defying talent, John had just barely managed to live through this trial. If he had been even a slight amount weaker, he would have perished. With his two dantian advantages, John was not too shocked that he had managed to live through the trial, but could not imagine how those who did not have this advantage could do so.
'I'm sure my two dantian system is incredibly unique, so just how did the youths of the past manage to make it through this trial?'
John looked towards the creature that stood there silently in the distance.
"Was that the reward for passing the Divine Talent trials?" John asked.
"No," the creature immediately replied. "That was a gift from me. Think nothing of it. As for these Divine Trials...that was not the final trial. You still have one trial yet to take."
John's face remained emotionless as he heard this, as if he had been expecting such news.
"I figured as much. What is the final trial then? Also, how many youths have managed to pass this trial?" John asked.
The creature thought about the question for a moment before responding. "This temple is one of countless that are linked with the same trial system. The number of youths that have taken this trial is beyond counting. Even so, the amount of youths that have passed this trial, in all of history, can be counted on two hands," the creature replied.
John's face lit up with surprise. "So few?"
Before John could ask any more questions, the creature spoke up once more.
"And...your final trial...is to fight against one of these divine talents."