Talented Martial Hero
Chapter 548 The Choice (Part One)

Just as Darren was slowly proceeding up the ladder, one step after the other, the middle-aged man flew up and landed right next to him.

"Hey kiddo, where did you learn to transform the state of your physical body into a virtual body?" The middle-aged man's face twitched in shock at this revelation. He was still trying hard to process what he had witnessed.

"Sir, with your skill and experience, I'm sure that you can figure it out yourself," Darren said smiling at him.

The middle-aged man paused for a moment and his eyes were deep in contemplation. After a while, his face broke into a happy grin as he realized the rationale behind it. He saluted Darren out of sheer respect. "You really are a genius. I just figured out how you were able to do it. I truly admire your skill and wit."

"Oh, come on. That was nothing. No one had thought about doing it in the past, which was why you couldn't think of it right away. It's actually pretty simple.” Darren smiled. His tone was as serene as his face was.

"Yes, you're right!" The middle-aged man chuckled. "You deliberately let me catch you, so that you could figure out this technique by watching me transform between the two states. Moreover, your understanding of this skill is so profound that even I could not catch you, which is indeed very impressive.

I had never thought that you were gifted in learning and understanding the rules with such ease. Congratulations, kiddo! You have made it! You can move on to the next floor!” The middle-aged man was excited and marveled at the ingenuity Darren had demonstrated when he made it through this test.

However, the reason why Darren could easily understand the technique of the middle-aged man was because of his own strong Spirit Power and silvery eyes to perceive the threads of rules. If it were anyone else who weren't gifted with such powers, they would have definitely failed this test.

"I guess I just got lucky. Well, if there is nothing else, I'll leave for the sixth floor now." Darren returned the courtesy and saluted back at the middle-aged man.

"Of course. I sincerely wish that you can make it all the way to the top!" The middle-aged man smiled.

"By the way, this technique can only be used on the fifth floor. Once you leave here and enter another space, you will not be able to use it again. Keep this in mind and make sure you don't use it in the upcoming battles against your new opponents,” the middle-aged man warned Darren about the limitation of the trick.

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you. I was glad that I had mastered a legendary martial skill. It's a shame that it can't be used again.” Darren felt slightly disappointed from the bottom of his heart. With that being said, Darren resumed his ascending up the ladder right away.

'This young man is truly remarkable. I have not seen anyone like him for a long time. I hope that he succeeds.’ The middle-aged man nodded as he was deep in thoughts.

'I have finally made it to the sixth floor. When I get through this test, I'll get to find out about the secret on the top floor, * Darren thought.

When he reached the sixth floor, Darren found that he was surrounded by black walls that had no roof. The place was flooded with darkness and emptiness. The place was quiet and depressing. "Where is the guardian of this floor?" Darren said aloud. Darren waited for a long time, but he couldn't see any guardian coming out to challenge him

"Damn, what the hell is that?"

Darren mumbled as he saw a small pond filled with rocks of different colors as he flew around in search of the clues.

"Ah!"

Darren winced as he was in pain and immediately flinched away from the pond.

When he unleashed his spiritual sense to check on the pond, he immediately sensed an aura of pure sword intent and blade intent that pierced Darren's spiritual sense, causing intense pain.

The power of the blade and sword intents of this level was strong and truly magnificent.

After a moment, Darren regained his composure and stared at the rocks in the pond, lost in his thoughts. Soon he realized what these rocks were. "These are blade cores and sword cores.” Darren gasped in shock.

Darren's jaw dropped in shock. The pond was filled with innumerable blade cores and sword cores, all of which were oozing power constantly. Some of the blade and sword cores were purple that were a rare kind and unique in this world.

The level of the sword core or blade core was ranked according to its color: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and purple. Purple was the highest level of all. Once the blade and sword cores of this level were acquired and condensed, one could activate the extreme sword intent or extreme blade intent even without cultivating it.

It was extremely difficult to condense a purple blade core or a purple sword core. There were millions of geniuses of sword cultivation, but only very few were capable of condensing a purple core.

Even Darren being the genius he was, could only condense green blade and sword cores, at this stage. Green cores were inferior to purple cores.

"What would be the task on this floor?"

Darren said aloud, after regaining his composure. That was the most important question to be answered before he could take a step further. He felt that the test on this floor would require him to do a task with the blade and sword cores.

"It is simple. You pick a pair of blade and sword cores for me to fit into this body. And then you should fight against this body in a battle. If you win this battle, you will pass this test and enter the next one,”

a shadow that had appeared next to Darren boomed loudly.