Chapter 317

Chapter 317: Central Temple

"I must reach the Central Temple!" After brief consideration, Midi made his decision.

This choice stemmed not from impulse, overconfidence, nor greed—but from memories of his past life.

Though senior Thought Capturers could resist Heart-Seizing Demons and top-tier ones could suppress them, only the Legendary Thought Capturer could withstand the supreme expert of the Blue Truth Sect.

Such was the nature of mind-related abilities: sufficient resistance granted immunity, while falling short—even slightly—meant vulnerability.

In this Era without legendary heroes, Midi stood at the forefront. To challenge the sect’s supreme expert, he needed absolute mastery.

Failure to become the ultimate Thought Capturer would doom his Sea of Clouds journey to collapse.

He must become peerless.

He must rival that supreme power.

Facing eight small temples and one great temple, Midi chose the latter despite its risks.

Time to face the Mind Maze’s final trial.

Midi dissolved into shadows, vanishing into jungle foliage using Demon Shadow Flash from his Ghost Cry skills.

Though he’d rarely used teleportation since mastering Sky Sword Dance, flying proved too dangerous here. The Octagonal Island’s eyeball beams could pierce any defense, invading minds and triggering forced teleportation.

After endless flight across Sea of Clouds, Midi now walked like any mortal.

Unlike other trial participants scrambling for ruins, equipment, and treasures, Midi’s progress flowed smoothly. His initial survey from a high point had revealed optimal paths, avoiding chaotic struggles.

Few enemies blocked his way—occasional lone Star Exiles fell swiftly to skill bursts, eliminated within minutes.

But at a canyon approach to Central Temple, three Level 62 Star Exiles clustered together.

This choke point sat dangerously close to the eyeball tower. Combat here risked light-beam exposure with minimal reaction time.

Detour?

Midi dismissed the idea. The meticulous Mind Maze designer likely layered similar challenges across all paths.

Time to deploy Shadow Maze spoils—the Shadow Automatons.

Two cold metal pieces materialized in Midi’s palm, forging mental links to void-hidden constructs. Locking onto the Exiles, he issued silent orders.

From an Exile’s shadow rose a sleek automaton. Its hands morphed into curved blades that pierced armor plating, skewering the magical entity’s power core.

The Exile died instantly—no resistance possible.

Alarm triggered, the remaining two glowed with protective shields.

The second automaton materialized openly, pinning one foe while Midi teleported behind the last. His Frenzy-strike blades fell like stormwinds.

Instantly, the situation shifted: Midi fought one enemy alone while the two Shadow Automatons tangled with another.

Free from distractions, Midi swiftly defeated the Exile within a minute.

But the hovering eyeball seemed to sense the disturbance. It began scanning the canyon, its eerie glow set to sweep across the battlefield in thirty seconds.

"Faster!" Midi mentally commanded a full-force flanking assault.

The Shadow Automatons became streaks of cold black light, launching relentless attacks around the Star Exile while Midi charged head-on.

Working together, they finished the fight moments before the eyeball’s beam arrived. Midi ducked into hiding.

"Outdoor battles draw the eyeball’s notice," Midi observed, glancing skyward. "But these Shadow Automatons aren’t counted as ‘allies’."

No colorful clouds gathered above him despite summoning the constructs. Clearly, the Mind Maze’s creator had designed these machines to bypass detection.

Their performance stunned him. Though only level 60, they’d one-shot a level 62 Exile. Working in tandem, they could confront stronger foes directly. With such power aiding him, conquering the great central temple seemed achievable.

After several skirmishes, Midi and his automatons moved like clockwork. Battles ended quicker each time.

Upon reaching the Central Temple, Midi found rivals already there. Sandur, Rot, and two patrol members stood beneath a swirling rainbow cloud at the entrance.

"Spread out now," Midi warned. "Before that cloud triggers."

Though Sandur glared, Rot explained their situation. Teleported near the temple initially, they’d focused efforts here despite repeated failures.

"Two Kings of Shadows guard it," Rot sighed, showing fresh scars. "Impossible to break through."

Midi’s breath caught. One King could overpower Sandur. Two working together? With possible combo skills? Their group couldn’t attack as a team either – the rainbow cloud threatened even indoors.

"Try the eight outer temples," Midi urged. "Let me attempt this one." He dashed inside, the forming cloud leaving no time for debate.

Rot’s group scattered toward distant shrines.

Sandur watched Midi vanish, sneering. "Flying skills won’t save you here. Once I find my junior sister, Marcel’s countermeasure will let us bypass the clouds. This temple belongs to me."

After lingering resentfully, Sandur left – not to try other temples, but to seek his junior sister for a joint assault.

As for the level 54 outsider? Sandur smirked. No tactics genius could survive two Kings of Shadows head-on. Midi would retreat… or die trying.

Victory at the Central Temple? Impossible.