So far, the group that Krune and the others are helping haven't asked for help yet, at least not as a group. But it wasn't without cost, two of them had their slots taken. So those two still asked for help in exchange for the spirit stones. This is only the 22nd floor, but they are already struggling. It shows how weak the Makui Planet Foundation is.
Although Krune's group haven't attacked other teams for spirt stones anymore, they still bumped in some other teams that attacked them instead. But they couldn't be blamed, Krune's team usually had fewer contestants and even had a wisp. They all thought that his group got here by luck, so they decided to eliminate the competition for the doors earlier.
Thanks to that, their total income has already surpassed 300k spirit stones. Krune even asked for Rank Six Spirit Stones instead. Krune had long since used the day that they were in the Divine Path Sect before the exam to memorize all planets ranks and their names. That's how he always knows if they can pay or not.
From the 22nd floor onwards, Joty's group asked for help as a group quite a few times. Krune and the others then protected the slots they were in and followed right after that were transferred. Still, this situation only persisted until the 53rd level.
On that floor, Krune found a strong team approaching his group. It is not that Krune couldn't perceive the enemy team coming with his Divine Sense, it was just that his group didn't want to leave the next level door that they are in.
This door had a total of 51 slots, and the enemy team had a total of 40 contestants. So there is no way that they could let all of Krune's group pass it since some of their companions would stay behind. In an even fight, Krune's group could definitely fight back. Still, with this amount, it would be somewhat tricky since they are obviously a higher-ranked team.
Krune's group looked at each other.
"Fight or retreat? If we enter the slots, I doubt we would have a problem in a one vs. one battle."
"We do have that confidence, but Joty's group isn't the same. If we do like that, they are probably going to have their slots taken. Once that happens, there is a good chance that the enemy might have left behind some forces to deal with those who come out."
Joty Marcat and his group were in the conversation as well, so Krune looked in their direction and left the decision to them. It was evident that it would be somewhat dangerous to try to protect their slots against that number. At least it would if Krune and his group didn't show their real strength. Not only Krune, but Ao and the others also don't want to show their real abilities yet.
Joty understood what Krune meant and then talked with the others.
"I will be honest with you guys, we could ask Krune and the others to retreat with us and find a safer door. But the higher we go, the fewer the doors and the slots will be. In the end, there will be no way they can protect us. First of all, I believe there will be a moment that a door won't even have enough slots for us alone."
Joty then showed a serious face and said.
"There situation will only get more dangerous from now on, if you are not confident in protecting a slot, then you should find a place to hide and wait for the time to be over. That way, you will fail but won't die."
They had to make their decision fast, Krune already told that it will only take at most a minute for that team to arrive. They have to retreat to find a new door or enter the slots as soon as possible.
Joty was telling the truth, they already got that far with Krune's group help, it is now time to use all the strength they had been keeping. Everyone showed a determined face, immediately after, someone rushed inside a slot. Krune and the others saw that and smiled.
"That's how it should be done, if you came here to enter the Divine Path Sect, you have to have this much courage at least."
Joty and Krune's group all entered their slots, and the ten minutes countdown started. A moment later, the enemies that Krune had spotted finally appeared before them. They looked at the contestant inside the slots and were taken aback. First, because this is quite a small team. And second...
"Is that a wisp?"
Krune was already numb with that question, but that is okay. The more the enemy underestimate him, the easier his life would be. But surprisingly, the leader of the group suddenly said.
"Do not let your guard down just because it is a wisp. Do you really think that someone weak would reach this far?"
His name was Jano Filorie, the leader of the Vaspo Planet's group. Vaspot Planet is one of the top-ranked worlds, and it was even inside the top one thousand.
Someone in his group couldn't help but comment, though.
"They might have been lucky not to find any strong team and bump into doors faster."
But Jano shook his head.
"Don't forget the rules, the doors for the next levels only open when everyone on the previous floor has passed it or failed. Can you imagine what the chances of something like that to happen are?"
The guy who spoke immediately became silent. In the end, Jano just sent someone out to test Krune's strength. He had noticed through his Divine Sense that Krune's group had just entered their slots, so they still have a few minutes before everyone in Krune's team is teleported.
"Fino, you go. You have the best escaping abilities here, if something goes wrong, leave the slot."
Fino was a Wind, and Lightning cultivator from their planet specialized in speed and scouting. He nodded and went forward, but he couldn't help but feel the situation awkward. He didn't believe that a wisp could pose any kind of threat at all. Fino then immediately entered Krune's slot and said.
"Do you want to leave by yourself, or should I send you out?"
Krune, of course, just thought about this guy as an idiot. It was evident that this guy didn't put his leader's advice to the heart at all. Disdain was written all over his face. Krune just snorted and attacked straight away, he didn't even want to talk with this person.
The smiling face of Fino disappeared in the next second. That's is because Krune was who knows how much faster than him. He tried to use his Divine Sense to keep track of Krune, but even so, he could barely notice Krune's movement. Suddenly, he felt that death was looking at him. Krune had appeared right above Fino with several skills ready to shot. Every single skill was purposely aimed in a way that would make Fino's escape impossible.
Fino noticed the predicament he was in and immediately focused all his spiritual energy in defense. At the same time, he chose a direction to charge out. He knows that it is now impossible to avoid all attacks, so he wanted to break through by force.
Boom, swish, crack!
All sounds of different skills came out while Fino was being eaten by the barrage of attacks. In fact, Krune could have finished it in an instant. But he purposely held back to make it appear that he was strong but not too heaven-defying. Even the power of each skill was a lot lower than usual. One must remember that Krune's skills now can follow the target, so he definitely didn't need that many.
Fino finally rushed out of the affected area, his body was full of injuries, and he could barely keep himself awake. But he didn't stop and immediately rushed out the slot space. Krune didn't stop him, although Fino was really showing little concern to his wisp form, he still gave him the option to leave the slot space. That means that Fino didn't want to kill or cripple Krune to start with. He doesn't know, but that was the reason why he still has a chance at the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam.
At first, only Jano was looking at Krune seriously. But now, there isn't a single cultivator or demon beast in his group that wasn't doing the same. Even Janos himself isn't sure if he is Krune's match or not. Even if he can win, there is no doubt that a price will have to be paid. Not to mention that it was evident that Krune still hasn't shown his full strength. Janos then took a deep breath and talked.
"I'm Janos Filorie from Vaspo Planet, who might you be?"
Krune looked at him and simply replied.
"Krune, Makui Planet."
Immediately, everyone was taken aback! Isn't Makui Planet's Krune the new Major Core guy with an Elemental Core? Can a Major Core even appear in a wisp to start with? Although they wanted to deny such a notion, Krune's strength spoke for himself. Someone couldn't help but comment.
"What a waste of a Major Core."
Krune didn't give a damn for what that guy said, but his friends were different. Their faces became quite ugly after hearing that. Ao, Shinja, and Yusa even wished for that guy to come into their slots to get rid of him.
Janos didn't say anything and looked at the other contestants from Makui Planet. Krune is one thing, but what about the others?
"Harold, Yemy, Oskin, you guys go and test some of the other guys. If it turns out to be too difficult, we will find another door. It is still too early to put our lives in the line."
Those three nodded and selected a slot different from Krune each.
Joty, Shinja, and Mari were the selected ones. Mari was one of the winners of the Martial Gathering, she's the second princess of the Watzen Kingdom.
In Shinja's case, it was a massacre. She vented her bad mood on the guy who came. In the end, she even crippled his Dantian before kicking him outside.
Although Joty isn't as strong as Shinja, he was still one of the very few Core Formation Realm under the age of forty, so his battle was on even grounds. It was evident that if it continued, the ten minutes would be over, and Joty would pass this door.
But Mary's situation was the worst. She was totally on the losing side, and she definitely wouldn't be able to keep at that for ten minutes. She was pretty unlucky as well since the strongest of the three enemies had chosen her. Krune and the others looked at that and didn't say anything. They had already made it clear, everyone would have to rely on their own strengths. Mary knew that as well, so she couldn't blame anyone either.
In the end, she lost and was sent out of her slot. She looked at Jano's group outside and just sighed. Escaping from them wasn't an option. She used her everything in that fight just now, but even if she was at her peak, it would still be near impossible with her abilities.
In the end, Janos just asked.
"From those in the slots, which are the strongest ones other than Krune and that Pure Yin Body girl? If you tell me, I might let you leave with your life."
Mari was taken aback. She is really in a predicament now, and only death awaits her at the moment. The rest of the Makui's contestants inside the slots also narrowed their eyes, Krune included.
Mari couldn't be blamed since she still had a chance at life as long as she sells that information. But as a princess of the Watzen Kingdom, pride runs through her blood. She then just snorted and said.
"Go to hell!"
Jano's face became ugly after that. While everyone inside the slots got surprised that she didn't exchange the information for her life.
"Then you can go on your way."
Jano is a Fire, Earth, and Metal element user. Surprisingly, he uses a bow as a weapon. He then concentrated the fire element on his arrow while using the metal element to increase its sturdiness and piercing power. The earth element was mostly used for defense. He pushed the bowstring and then shot the arrow forward. But just as the arrow was about to kill Mari, everyone heard a familiar voice sent through Divine Sense.
"Sigh, why didn't you give the information? As long as you did, I wouldn't feel anything if you died."
Boom!
The arrow that was just about to pierce her heart was blocked by a flying shield filled with Water and Metal element.
Janos then looked at the direction that the shield came from. There, he could see a wisp coming forward. Around him, one could see several arcs of purple lightning running around his ethereal body and making sparking sounds.