Lin Fan clutched the *Ancestral Symbol* shard, its devouring Qi pulsing in harmony with the wolf core in his pocket. The Myriad Dao Secret Realm's maze twisted around him, stone arches looming under a mist that whispered fears through the *Devouring Illusion*. His **Qi Condensation Layer 8** and **Soul Awakening Stage 6** marked him as a prodigy, yet the Blood Fang Sect's trap and Chu Rong's seething envy threatened his path. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* roared, its voice unwavering:
> *"Task progress: 2935/1000 CP. New task: Navigate the maze's second trial and uncover the Blood Fang Sect's trap. Earn 2500 CP by the trial's end. Current CP: 2935."*
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed, a fire kindling within. "I'll tear their trap apart." His *Tempest Illusion Barrage*—infused with lightning, fire, wind, shadow, earth, thunder, claws, and illusions—fed on *Envy Absorption* and *Wrath Empowerment Meter*, thriving amidst Chu Rong's jealousy and his own fury. The *Ancestral Symbol*'s next fragment called to him, a beacon of Lin Dong's legacy.
Chu Xue moved beside him, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* slicing through the maze's mist, her ice-blue eyes scanning for threats. "The illusions are denser here," she said, voice steady. "Stay focused, or they'll consume you." Chu Rong trailed behind, his Core Manifestation Stage 3 aura dim, his face a storm of rage and envy. "You're stealing what's ours," he muttered, fists trembling.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 2960."*
The maze shifted, stone arches grinding to form a circular chamber. The second trial began—a *Devouring Mirage Array*, its illusions weaving Lin Fan's deepest fears: his parents, Lin Xiao and Su Mei, scorned and broken in Qingyang Town, their voices accusing him of failure. Lin Fan's anger surged, his knuckles whitening.
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 2980."*
His 60-meter divine sense, sharpened by *Soul Awakening Stage 6*, cut through the mirages, revealing three Rank 2 *Phantom Vipers* at Core Manifestation Stage 3, their venomous fangs glowing with illusion Qi. Lin Fan activated *Beast Copying*, eyes locked on their sinuous strikes.
> *"Observed: Phantom Venom Strike. Copied as Phantom Venom Fist (Mid-Grade). CP +35. Current CP: 3015."*
The vipers lunged, tails whipping. Lin Fan's *Tempest Illusion Barrage* erupted, its multi-elemental force clashing with their venomous Qi. Lightning crackled, fire roared, and illusions danced, felling two vipers. The third grazed his arm, venom searing his skin. Lin Fan gritted his teeth, his anger fueling the system.
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3035."*
He struck with *Phantom Venom Fist*, venomous Qi coating his punch, shattering the viper's core. Chu Rong's envy flared, his eyes wide. "How does he keep rising?"
> *"Beasts defeated. CP +50. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Current CP: 3110."*
The array flickered, revealing a hidden path. Lin Fan's divine sense caught a faint trap—a Blood Fang Sect formation, its killing intent cloaked in the mist. The system chimed:
> *"Threat detected. Blood Fang Sect trap uncovered. CP +30. Current CP: 3140."*
Chu Xue frowned. "That formation's deadly. It's targeting you." Lin Fan nodded, his anger at the Blood Fang Sect's schemes burning.
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3160."*
He spent 50 CP on a *Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 6)*, stabilizing his cultivation.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 3110."*
The pill pushed his Qi to the brink, triggering a breakthrough to **Qi Condensation Layer 9**. His aura surged, rivaling Core Manifestation prodigies.
> *"Cultivation breakthrough. Qi Condensation Layer 9 reached. CP +45. Current CP: 3155."*
The path led to a stone bridge over a chasm, its edges lined with illusion runes. A Rank 2 *Shadowspire Bat* at Core Manifestation Stage 4 swooped, its sonic screeches warping perception. Chu Rong hesitated, but Lin Fan used *Beast Copying*.
> *"Observed: Sonic Shadow Screech. Copied as Sonic Shadow Palm (Mid-Grade). CP +35. Current CP: 3190."*
The bat dived. Lin Fan's *Tempest Illusion Barrage* met it, illusions masking his strike. The bat fell, its core pulsing. Chu Rong's rage boiled, his *Blazing Lion Fist* trembling. "You're taking everything!"
> *"Beast defeated. CP +40. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 3275."*
Lin Fan's anger at Chu Rong's greed flared:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3295."*
Across the bridge, a Blood Fang Sect operative emerged, their Core Manifestation Stage 6 aura unveiled. "The shard belongs to Venerable Shadow Fang," they snarled, a blood-red spear gleaming. Their envy at Lin Fan's relic burned.
> *"Envy detected from Blood Fang Sect operative. CP +25. Current CP: 3320."*
Lin Fan fused *Sonic Shadow Palm* with *Tempest Illusion Barrage*, creating *Tempest Sonic Barrage*, a high-grade art blending sonic disruption with his elements.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Sonic Barrage created. CP +50. Current CP: 3370."*
The operative thrust their spear, blood Qi surging. Lin Fan's *Tempest Sonic Barrage* roared, sonic waves shattering the spear's momentum. Illusions cloaked his strike, landing a blow that sent the operative staggering. They fled, cursing. Chu Xue's eyes gleamed. "You're defying all odds."
> *"Victory achieved. CP +60. Current CP: 3430."*
The system confirmed: *"No detection of system. Host's secret is safe."*
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +15. Current CP: 3445."*
The bridge led to a cavern, its walls etched with devouring runes. A second altar pulsed, guarded by a Rank 3 *Devouring Mist Tiger* at Core Manifestation Stage 5. Its roar shook the cavern, illusions of Lin Dong's glory mocking Lin Fan's lineage. His anger burned:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3465."*
Lin Fan used *Beast Copying*:
> *"Observed: Devouring Mist Roar. Copied as Devouring Mist Palm (High-Grade). CP +45. Current CP: 3510."*
The tiger charged. Lin Fan's *Tempest Sonic Barrage* clashed, sonic waves disrupting its illusions. Lightning, fire, and claws tore through its hide. Chu Rong attacked, his *Blazing Lion Fist* aiming to steal the kill, but Lin Fan's strike felled the beast first.
> *"Beast defeated. CP +60. Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 3615."*
The altar revealed another *Ancestral Symbol* shard (2/9), its devouring Qi merging with the first. Lin Fan's wolf core blazed, enhancing his Qi by 15%.
> *"Relic fragment claimed. Ancestral Symbol Shard (2/9) acquired. CP +60. Current CP: 3675."*
Chu Rong's rage exploded. "You're hogging it all!" he roared, envy consuming him.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Rong. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Rong. CP +20. Current CP: 3720."*
Lin Fan's anger surged:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3740."*
He spent 50 CP on a *Soul Condensation Pill (Tier 5)*, pushing his soul cultivation.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 3690."*
The pill triggered a breakthrough to **Soul Awakening Stage 7**, his divine sense reaching 70 meters.
> *"Soul cultivation breakthrough. CP +40. Current CP: 3730."*
Chu Xue gripped her sword. "The Blood Fang Sect's trap is close. I sensed more operatives." Lin Fan nodded, his anger at their schemes fueling him:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +20. Current CP: 3750."*
The cavern's exit glowed, leading deeper into the maze. Illusions intensified, showing Lin Fan's family crushed under Chu Clan scorn. His resolve hardened. Chu Rong's envy and the Blood Fang Sect's operatives stalked him, but his *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* burned, feeding on their jealousy and rage.
"I'll shatter their trap," he vowed, *Tempest Sonic Barrage* crackling. "The *Ancestral Symbol* is mine."