My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly! novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Third Gate: Strength!

Soon, Chun Ma was led through the place and into a dark room where the other participants were.

The sixty people who were there had decreased by at least a quarter, so there were around 45 children present, which wasn’t too bad of a number.

These children already proved their perseverance and willpower, so being able to cope with poison was naturally called for.

The only reason that they were eliminated was because of inexperience and talent.

If you don’t have the bodily talent for it, then you are as good as dead.

It was a cruel reality, but this was the true reality, and the demonic cult followed this practice wholeheartedly without missing a beat.

There is a saying in the Martial World: If you don’t have resistance to poison, then it’s better to quit before you even begin.

This was due to the sheer difficulty one would face without it.

Everyone and their grandmother used poison, it was simply too useful, especially within demonic cults.

As for the other factions, they operated in a world of their own.

When Chun Ma appeared before them, the children’s expressions were filled with surprise and utter shock.

The most stunned of all was, of course, that little twerp who had been smirking with joy just moments earlier.

"Hello," Chun Ma greeted, his blue pupils scanning each of them with gleaming eyes.

"H-how are you still alive?"

The little twerp spoke with a trembling voice.

"I came from the depths of hell to kill you," Chun Ma said in a ghostly voice.

"No... no, this can’t be..."

The little twerp collapsed to the ground, his face pale as chalk.

He pointed a trembling finger at Chun Ma with disbelief. "This can’t be happening... You can’t kill me. I’m supposed to become the Heavenly Demon... I need to rule over everyone!"

"Are you sure?" Chun Ma asked, stepping forward, saber in hand, its edge gleaming from the light of the dimly lit candle, ready to strike, poised as if to sever the boy’s head right then and there.

"Y-yes," the little twerp stammered, forcing courage into his voice. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.

Chun Ma just raised his saber. With the blade, he tilted the boy’s chin upward, forcing him to meet his eyes—

"Tell me," Chun Ma said coldly, "were you the one who declared my body dead... so they threw me into that poisonous river?"

"N-No..." the little twerp stuttered with his entire body trembling.

Chun Ma fell silent. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward Rim Soo-Yun, who stiffened slightly under his questioning eyes. She hesitated, but only for a moment.

The clans within the Heavenly Demon Cult were constantly locked in competition, fighting over every scrap of power and resource to gain the upper hand.

’This could be an opportunity,’ Rim Soo-Yun thought. ’If Chun Ma truly survived the Nether River... a powerful ally, I could gain.’

So she opened her mouth and spoke in a clear, crisp tone:

"He was the first to say it."

"I see." He nodded.

"Wait—!"

Swish!

The air split apart as the gleaming saber came down, merciless and cold. With a clean slice, it severed one of the twerp’s hands.