Seraphina glanced at him, her expression complicated. "You're too calm about this," she said softly.

"I've learned that not every opportunity needs to belong to me," Max replied. "Sometimes, it's enough to know that the right people got what they needed."

For a moment, silence hung between them. The sounds of distant elemental energy filled the air—the crackle of flame, the whisper of frost, and the faint echo of power emanating from deep within the valley where the twins were undergoing their trial.

Max looked in that direction, his expression thoughtful but serene. "If they succeed," he said, "they'll become pillars of our world. The Flame Spirit and the Ice Spirit—united under one inheritance. That kind of strength could change the course of the coming war."

Victor followed his gaze, his usual easygoing smile fading into a look of respect. "You really think that far ahead, huh?"

"I have to," Max answered quietly. "The peace or whatever it is we have now won't last forever. The stronger our people become, the more chances we'll have when that time comes."

Seraphina's eyes softened slightly. "You talk like elders you know," she said.

Max gave a faint smile, his tone calm and steady. "Maybe. Or maybe I've just learned what truly matters."

As he turned his attention back toward the glowing horizon, a faint tremor shook the valley once more. The flames and frost pulsed together, merging briefly before separating again. It was faint, but Max could feel it—a resonance that came from the heart of the trial, where Chris and Christine were still inside.

He didn't need to see them to know what was happening. The trial was testing them now, pushing them to unite what he had already balanced within himself.

In his heart, there was no resentment. Only a calm determination. Because while others were competing for inheritance, he was already walking a path of his own making—one that would eventually surpass every trial in the domain.

The path of Yin and Yang.

"This is the last trial site at the edge of the inner region," Max said, his voice calm as he surveyed the landscape stretching before them. The flames and frost of the Valley of Frozen Ash faded behind him, replaced by a new horizon cloaked in pale mist and faint distortions of space. The air here carried a heavy pressure, as though the world itself warned those who dared to move forward.

He turned toward his companions—Victor and Seraphina—and smiled faintly. "The path ahead will lead us directly to the core region. Let's head there, shall we?"

Victor frowned slightly. "What about Chris and Christine?" he asked. "If the trial doesn't end soon, they might not make it to the core region in time."

Max shook his head, his tone steady and reassuring. "You don't have to worry about them. They're still inside the Valley's trial, but once they finish, the trial itself will take them to the core region. That's how the secret domain works. It won't abandon anyone who's passed its tests."

Seraphina nodded, her expression thoughtful. "He's right. Besides, the Divine Platform won't activate until every remaining genius has reached the core region. Until then, the entrance will remain sealed."

Victor sighed softly in relief. "I suppose that makes sense."

Satisfied, Max turned his gaze forward. The faint shimmer of a barrier could be seen far ahead—an invisible divide separating the inner region from the core region.

They began walking.

At first, the journey was calm. The terrain was rugged but quiet, filled with faint traces of old ruins and broken paths that might once have belonged to past civilizations. The air was thick with residual energy, a blend of countless elemental forces intertwining. But the deeper they went, the heavier the pressure became.

Then the attacks began.

Without warning, the ground split open, and creatures of unimaginable shapes poured out from beneath. They were monstrous in form—some born of flame, others carved from ice, and some forged entirely from pure spatial distortion. Their eyes glowed red, blue, or silver depending on their element, and their roars shook the air like thunder.

The first wave caught several weaker geniuses off guard. They screamed as razor-like claws tore through their defenses, their protective shields shattering instantly. In a blink, the peaceful advance turned into a chaotic battlefield.

"Defend yourselves!" someone shouted from behind.

Flames, lightning, and swords of energy filled the air. The geniuses unleashed their techniques wildly, filling the space with explosive flashes of power. The scent of scorched earth and blood filled the air as the monsters kept coming—hundreds, then thousands.

Even Victor, with his Azure Dragon bloodline, looked grim. He unleashed torrents of blue flames that scorched through dozens of monsters, but for every beast he killed, two more emerged from the ground. His scales shimmered faintly as his aura surged, but sweat dripped down his forehead.

Seraphina stood beside him, her body surrounded by waves of crimson energy. Each swing of her blade unleashed arcs of destructive force that burned the monsters to ash, yet her breathing grew heavy with time. "There are too many!" she shouted, frowning as another group of beasts burst from the frozen ground.

"I know," Victor replied through clenched teeth, twisting his hand to summon a massive azure spear that he hurled into the crowd ahead. It exploded, sending flames roaring through the field.

Max, however, moved differently from the rest. His expression remained calm as he stepped forward, cutting through the waves of monsters without hesitation.

His black sword flashed through the air, trailing streaks of silver and red light. Every time he swung, a hundred monsters were torn apart—some burned, some frozen, and others crushed as the space around them collapsed.

The 4th-level concept of space, the 4th-level concept of flames, and the 4th-level concept of ice all moved in unison around him. His aura created a domain of pure destruction where no monster could survive.

"Stay behind me," he called out evenly, his voice carrying across the chaotic battlefield.

Victor and Seraphina followed his lead, using the opening Max created to move forward. The other geniuses nearby looked toward him in disbelief. They had seen him fight before, but the calm efficiency with which he annihilated these beasts was something else entirely.

Even the golden-crowned geniuses scattered among the crowd—those from other worlds—watched him carefully. They, too, faced the endless horde with composure, their strength allowing them to stand firm while others were forced to retreat or perish. Their auras blazed brightly like miniature suns across the battlefield, but none shone quite as steadily as Max's.

Hours passed like this. Every few minutes, another wave of monsters surged forth from the cracks in the earth, each wave stronger than the last. The geniuses were covered in blood, their clothes torn, their energies spent.

The ground was littered with corpses—both beasts and cultivators alike. The cries of the dying echoed across the vast battlefield, mixing with the roars of the monsters in a deafening symphony of chaos.

"This is madness," Victor said, panting heavily as he wiped the blood from his cheek.

Seraphina's face was pale, but her eyes burned with determination. "We can't stop now. The core region should be close."

Max, standing at the front, nodded. "You're right. Keep your focus."

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