Way of the Knights

Chapter 429 - Aptitude Exams 1.3

---

A loud shattering sound occurred on Raven's surroundings. Booming sounds and a storm of shards occurred with him at its eye. 

Raven calmly watched as all of this occurred, for some reason he was completely aware that this event of the illusion shattering won't hurt him in the slightest, therefore he didn't even bother to move. 

A bright light exploded out of nowhere, momentarily causing Raven to be blinded. The sensation lasted for a few breaths of time, and when he regained his vision, he found himself in an entirely different place. 

He wasn't back at the first illusion where it showed him the devastation of his home and the death of his loved ones, neither he woke up and found himself exiting the curtain of light on which the exams where happening. 

Raven arrived at separate place. It was a large hall, filled with ancient and heavy atmosphere. He stood at the center of the hall. He looked around him briefly and saw that no one else is with him, he was all alone. Raven also noticed that the hall was filled with signs of battle from the past. 

He could see many scars of different weapons, he could see cracks and damages around him which caused the hall to seem like it was dilapidated but in truth it is not. 

There is an altar in front of him. The altar seems to be made out of materials that has a golden glow on it, making it look divine. There are a few steps of stairs on the altar, on top of it, there is a stout chalice which appears to be made out of precious materials, causing it to radiate a violet-golden glow. What's really eye-catching is that, there is black bamboo slip floating in the middle of the chalice. 

'Hmm, let's see. That guy said something about a 'nightmare, forced to learn something, and killing a hundred times'. If my guess is correct, then this should be the second part of the Aptitude Exams - Test of Knowledge. And that bamboo slip should be the thing that I have to learn.' 

As Raven was about to walk forward and retrieve the bamboo slip, an ancient and solemn voice boomed on his ears. 

"Champion, you passed the first part of the Aptitude Exams which is the Test of Courage. You've faced your worst fears and didn't retreat nor lost yourself in it, thus you've proven yourself worthy to continue this exams."

"You are at the place where the second part of the first exam will take place. Your task here is to learn whatever the contents of that bamboo slip you see has. In order to pass the Test of Knowledge, you must reach the 3rd Stage of whatever technique you receive."

"You will be given 9 days to comprehend the first stage. If you can't learn it within that time period, then there's no use for you to remain here. If you can do that, then you will earn 19 days to learn the 2nd Stage. 29 days will be given to you in order to reach the 3rd Stage and so on."

"Your time limit will begin once you receive the bamboo slip."

The ancient voice disappeared after saying that sentence, leaving Raven to ponder over things. 

'So my initial guesses were correct. This really is the second part of the exams. Test of Knowledge huh? I wonder what kind of technique I'll receive from here.'

Raven stopped hesitating and started moving towards the altar. He arrived in front of the chalice shortly after and saw that the chalice was actually empty, it only serves as a mount for the bamboo slip which contained the technique that Raven has to learn. 

He raised his arm and picked up the bamboo slip, as soon as he had the bamboo slip on his fingers, the ancient voice sounded within the halls once more.

"The 9 days time limit has begun. Good luck young Champion."

However, Raven doesn't seem to hear this at all. Instead, as soon as he grasped the bamboo slip, its contents were already flowing towards his psyche without pause, somehow surprising Raven. 

Needless to say, Raven immediately recovered from this started gathering the intact flow of energy, condensing them in one place until the transference ends. Once the bamboo slip stops relaying its contents to him, it instantly lost its luster and turned into flying ashes shortly after. 

Raven then began studying the recent information he received. It took five minutes of scanning and the technique was now part of his memory. He then opened his eyes, revealing a faint glint of surprise within them.

"This technique…[Allheaven Sealing Scripture]. Interesting, very interesting! How come that guy said he was forced to learn a useless technique? Did he learn a different one or maybe he didn't understand the essence of the technique at all."

[Allheaven Sealing Scripture] is something that really piqued Raven's interest. The premise of the technique is actually quite simple. It all focuses in the word 'Sealing'. 

The 'Sealing' here means to be in control. To control means exercising one's will onto something and ruling over its functions. According to the information he received, once someone cultivated this technique to its acme, they will be able to seal all manner of things, allowing them to exercise control over its movements. 

The first stage of the [Allheaven Sealing Scripture] is called 'All Forces Seal'. Once this seal appears, then every forces that contains a different signature from its user shall cease. 

Though the description of the first stage is simple, performing it is actually very challenging. To master this technique, one has to carve the 'All Forces Seal' on to their psyche. Every seal contained in the [Allheaven Sealing Scripture] are incredibly profound, each is just as profound as the [99 Destruction and Holy Seals].

"Would've been great if I could drink some Moonshine to increase my brain activity." Raven sighed in regret, drinking Moonshine at this point would've been extremely helpful for him but a pity he can't use his spatial ring within here.

'Well, at least I have my clones. Two clones including me should be suffice for this.' Raven inwardly thought, without wasting time, he then sat down beneath the altar started his training. 

***

One month later…

"All Forces Seal!" 

*Weng!*

Humming sounds droned around Raven. The source of this was from the finger he raised just now. If one looked closely, they would see a brilliant seal on his index finger. The seal was complex and profound, each stroke of that seal is filled with a sturdy and unquestionable Will. 

The moment this All Forces Seal appeared, a manner of things that are emitting some type of force ceased. The altar which were emanating a golden glow, had its brilliance dimmed. The faint movement of the wind around him ceased, and even the gentle fall of dust particles around Raven ceased on their tracks as well. 

Next, along with his index finger, Raven unfolded his thumb. Revealing another seal which radiate a stronger brilliance compared to the seal on his index finger. 

"All Living Beings Seal!" 

*Weng!*

Another droning sound erupted from Raven's body, this time its stronger and louder than before. There were no visible effects as soon as he performed this seal but should there any living being here aside from Raven, the moment this seal arrives, they will surely pause on their tracks. 

'All Living Beings Seal' is a restrictive seal that halts the movement of all living beings, no matter how big or small it is. The seal can be restricted if the restricted's Will and cultivation base is higher compared to the caster. 

Still, Raven wasn't done after this. Along with his index finger and thumb, he unfolded his middle finger and it was instantly covered by a brilliant light that was being emitted by the third seal. 

"All Elements Seal!" Raven roared, as soon as his voice emerged, the seal let out an even stronger brilliance and droning sound around his body turned even stronger. 

The activity that the third seal caused was too immense. The hall was flooded by the droning sounds from Raven's body. 

'All Elements Seal' caused the movement and activity of all elements to slow down or halt altogether - it depends on an individual's mastery. If one looked closely, due to the third seal's prowess. The wind halted on its tracks and appears to be struggling, the light of the altar was in a similar state as well as the other elements currently present within the hall. Under the power of this seal, Raven exercised his will to stop them on their tracks. 

With all three seals present, Raven seemingly ceased the momentum of them world. Aside from him, nothing was allowed to move. This sort of control brought a strange but satisfying feeling for Raven, causing him to smile. 

Raven then closed his fists and the seals were gone, the activity around him returned to its normal pace, but Raven was stuck in a deep thought. 

'I learned the first seal within five days even. The second seal took me ten days and the third seal took me twenty days. In total, it took me 35 days to learn all three seals even though I was given a total of 57 days time limit. Which means that I still have 22 days left.'

'Hmm…'

'Well, the voice didn't say that I have to leave upon mastering the first three seals, right?'