For a moment, all present fell into silence, their gazes fixed on John, filled with surprise.
Seraphina also looked towards John.
She wasn't surprised that John had entered the trial; in fact, from the beginning, she had felt certain that John would go in and was convinced he would obtain the heritage.
This was her confidence in John's abilities, even surpassing her confidence in her own.
It was blind faith, yet it proved to be effective.
However, the others didn't share this view.
Someone exclaimed in shock, "Has this Hidden Stars guy gone mad? You know there are only bosses inside!"
Another person sarcastically remarked, "The folks from Hidden Stars are as arrogant as ever. Just an iron-tier red glove dares to covet the dark god's heritage. Truly courting death!"
John naturally didn't care what others thought; he had already arrived at the base of the Bones Tower.
Gazing at the blood-red, arched tower door, engraved with complex patterns, John didn't hesitate and pushed the door open to enter!
Following John's entrance into the Bones Tower, Seraphina also stepped forward, following in his footsteps.
She had her own pride and didn't want to be left behind by John.
Alex, who originally wanted to mock the recklessness of this Hidden Stars newcomer, hadn't even opened his mouth when he saw Seraphina seemingly intending to enter the Bones Tower as well.
His eyes widened in shock, and he hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade her, "Miss Seraphina, please don't be impulsive. This person from Hidden Stars is a madman. Chief Baron has already said that the place is full of boss-level monsters, and yet this guy dares to enter recklessly. You are too valuable to take such a risk!"
The House Winters bodyguards also quickly stepped forward to stop her, urging Seraphina not to take the risk, as the trial was far too dangerous.
With eleven bosses inside, if anything were to happen to Seraphina, even if Theodore Winters was amenable, they would surely face dire consequences!
However, no matter how much they tried to persuade her, Seraphina didn't even glance at them and strode directly into the Bones Tower, embarking on the Heritage Trial!
Alex and the bodyguards were dumbfounded. If anything happened to Seraphina inside, once Theodore Winters emerged from the Bones Tower, they would be skinned alive!
Thinking of this consequence, Alex's face turned from pale to red, but he dared not say anything more.
He could only blame John, cursing, "This guy from Hidden Stars is mad enough on his own, but now he's dragged Miss Seraphina into it too. He's a lunatic!"
Hearing Alex's words, a strong man with a goatee shook his head and said, "He might not be a madman. Seeing the black mask on his face, his level is probably not high, which means the monsters in the trial won't be too strong either. If he possesses powerful artifacts, it's not impossible to clear the trial."
The words of this strong figure suddenly enlightened many.
Indeed!
The monsters encountered by the powerhouses are incredibly strong due to their high levels, but for lower-level awakeners, the chance of obtaining the heritage might not be so slim after all!
Another strong figure, clad in a long robe, nodded in agreement,
"This brother speaks the truth. The level of monsters within the secret realm adjusts according to the level of the awakener. Lower-level awakeners indeed have more opportunities, as the heritage secret realms are essentially designed for them."
With these words, even Alex, who initially had no plans to enter, felt tempted.
After all, there was nothing to lose, and accidentally obtaining the Crimson Demon's heritage could mean a huge gain!
Suddenly, many people became restless.
In no time, several more individuals entered the Bones Tower.
Seeing someone taking the lead, the crowd outside the tower surged in like floodwaters breaching a dam, with Alex also preparing to give it a try.
In matters concerning a heritage secret realm, few could remain indifferent.
Only House Fairfax, with its vast resources, could afford to be nonchalant.
Had it been any other major family, they likely would have forcibly sealed off the secret realm, let alone allow others to attempt the trial.
Such an opportunity might come only once in their lifetimes, and they were determined to seize it!
However, no one noticed that as the group entered the Bones Tower, the 12 blood suns hanging in the sky flickered like a pair of eyes.
The goateed strong man who had suggested John might not be mad, along with the robed figure who had chimed in, exchanged a quiet glance, their lips curling into sinister smiles.
The real show was about to begin!
Meanwhile, on the Corpse Plains.
"Whoosh!"
Lucas, enveloped in a crimson glow, streaked across the plains at high speed, the wild wind stirring the grass in his wake.
Monsters barely had time to react before he was far past them, and those that stood in his way were brutally splattered by Lucas's charge.
In the days following the disruption of his plans by John, Lucas's foundation had been damaged, yet his strength had surged rapidly.
Now at level 33, he had become a gold-tier awakener in just a few days, a testament to the Crimson Count class's unique traits.
For scions of wealthy families like him, leveling up was never the issue; the real challenge was enhancing their innate potential to reach greater heights.
Despite the significant boost in Lucas's powers, he was currently in a bit of a bind.
Chasing him was a figure as swift as he was, cloaked in gold, hounding him like a relentless maggot, making escape impossible.
In the midst of their pursuit, a rotund figure adorned in jewels taunted, "Lucas, did you skip your meal today? Why so slow? I heard House Carter stripped you of your heir status. Have they cut off your resources? Your pallor is as white as a sick man's, clear signs of malnutrition. Need me to send you some sea cucumbers to bolster your health?"
Lucas's expression darkened, but he kept silent, focusing solely on his desperate sprint.
Albertus, undeterred, continued unabated, "Oh, and I also heard that someone recently had you begging on your knees, not only slapping you twice but also breaking one of House Carter's secret techniques and damaging your foundation. Your aura seems unstable; did they slap you into oblivion?"
Lucas's face twitched.
Were it not for pressing matters at hand and not the time to entangle with Albertus, Lucas would have fought him to the death.
Albertus had a venomous tongue, adept at reopening barely healed wounds and mercilessly salting them, with a particularly malicious streak.
Yet Lucas remained silent, the bloodlust in his eyes intensifying, his inner rage and indignation forcibly suppressed.
He didn't entangle himself further with Albertus.
With Lucas stalling outside, he couldn't afford much time.
The Storm King's power was too formidable; Lucas had to seize this brief opportunity he had fought for to enter the secret realm and swiftly obtain the Crimson Demon's heritage.
Otherwise, once the Storm King caught up, all his efforts would be in vain.
Albertus leisurely followed behind Lucas, in no particular hurry.
Lucas had forcibly entered their House Fairfax's secret realm, and no matter what, House Carter would have to provide explanations and compensation once they returned to the imperial capital.
So, Albertus was quite relaxed.
He had already achieved what he wanted. If it weren't for some concerns that pushing Lucas too hard might drive him to a frenzy on the spot, Albertus would have long used an artifact to catch up and beat him.
Of course, even if Lucas was driven to desperation, it wouldn't matter much.
Although House Fairfax's Radiant Visage wasn't known for its combat capabilities, they were wealthy!
Albertus possessed a plethora of powerful artifacts: life-saving, offensive, defensive, attribute-enhancing, and more.
Many of these artifacts would make even top-tier powerhouses envious, showcasing the power of wealth!
Without these artifacts, Albertus wouldn't have dared to enter the Crimson Realm alone initially. After all, he was the sole heir of House Fairfax, extremely precious, and if anything happened, no one would be accountable.
On the Corpse Plains, the two engaged in a chase.
Soon, they passed through the Withered Forest, climbed Demonbone Peak, and arrived outside the Bones Tower.
When the crowd saw these two figures, they were all taken aback!
Someone exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on here? Have the young masters from House Fairfax and House Carter started fighting?"
Baron was also taken aback for a moment.
Although unclear about the situation, he still intervened to prevent the two from coming to blows.
Upon seeing Baron, Lucas was not only unflustered but also let out a sigh of relief.
He knew that as long as he could explain himself to Baron, he wouldn't face much obstruction thereafter.
Even if he was in the wrong in this matter, a senior figure like Baron wouldn't trouble him directly but would hold House Carter and its elders accountable instead. That would be a problem for later.
For Lucas, the most crucial thing now was to secure the Crimson Demon's heritage!
Gazing at the Bones Tower before him, his eyes blazed with fervor.
Obtaining the Crimson Demon's heritage would solve all his problems!
It was just unfortunate he hadn't found that detestable John. But he couldn't escape; Lucas knew his identity and address, and it was only a matter of time before he was caught!