Information regarding the demons was not available in the school library.
Therefore, Jiang Lin planned to use the remaining time he had in the Royal Capital to search for relevant materials.
Only then would he decide when to find a way to participate.
After a moment of thought, he looked at the two people present and asked, "By the way, have you two heard of the Demon Lord Trial?"
Hearing this, the big guy thought back for a moment and said, "I remember reading about it somewhere. The Demon Lord Trial seems to be a trial for demons.
"It’s roughly divided into two types: one for those seeking the title of Demon Lord, and the other for the followers of a demon god.
"Earning the title of Demon Lord is for those demons whose talent isn't necessarily exceptional, but who are extremely hardworking and eventually achieve high success.
"Once they complete the Demon Lord Trial, they are recognized by the world's will and gain the title of Demon Lord. This gives them significant influence among the demons, allowing them to be allocated a large territory and command a demonic legion.
"The other type is for those with extraordinary talent who have been chosen by a demon god as followers.
"They hold a status among the demons similar to ours.
"You should have received a similar notification when you completed your quest.
"They have a demon lord seed within them, just like we do.
"Their Demon Lord Trial is similar to the 'ascension ceremony' of the secret cults or the 'promotion quests' we have here.
"However, their Demon Lord Trial can be entered at any rank."
Hearing that the big guy was so knowledgeable about the subject, both Jiang Lin and Little Black listened intently.
"Big guy, do you know what the content of this Demon Lord Trial is usually like?"
The big guy recalled further, "I'm not sure about the former; no one ever told me. But for the latter, I've heard from other seniors who were also Apostles of God.
"Apparently, after entering the Demon Lord Trial, you are matched with other demons participating in the same trial.
"You plunder their demon lord seeds to strengthen your own.
"The demons who survive in the end gain the qualification to advance.
"As for the specific details, I don't know.
"Even though we are on opposing sides with the demons, the degree of opposition isn't as severe as it is with the secret cults.
"So, I rarely have contact with demons in general."
Hearing this, Jiang Lin fell into deep thought.
Then his Demon Lord Trial should belong to the latter category.
After all, there was a demon lord seed inside him.
But which demon god would be the one corresponding to him?
Wasn't he a follower of the God of Holy Light?
Nearby, Little Black, who was eavesdropping, also fell silent.
Why did it feel like... its hopes were becoming slim?
This kid had gone from rank-0 to rank-2, and it hadn't even broken through to rank-1 yet...
It must be because this stray cat it possessed had no talent!
Little Black comforted itself.
But that didn't make sense. With its knowledge as an evil god, how could its cultivation be so slow?
Soon, Little Black spotted the blind spot.
From the moment it possessed this black cat until now, only four months had passed.
Meanwhile, this beast next to it hadn't slept for a single night in those four months.
He was either cultivating or on the way to prepare for cultivation.
In just four months, he had forcefully raised himself from rank-0 to rank-2.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he broke through to rank-3!
Moreover, why was this guy so interested in the Demon Lord Trial?
Was he actually going to participate in it?
Given this guy's track record, it wouldn't be surprising if he secretly believed in a demon god as well.
Looking at it this way, including itself, this kid had connections with a righteous god, an evil god, and a demon god!
Was he trying to turn himself into a servant of three masters?
After the three of them finished their roast meat, Aria removed the soundproofing barrier, and the bustle of the street flooded back into their ears.
Jiang Lin wiped his mouth, having formed a preliminary concept of the Demon Lord Trial in his mind.
Afterward, he began to stroll through the streets of the Royal Capital with the other two.
After wandering for a while, Jiang Lin suggested to the big guy and Aria that he wanted to go to the library.
Aria's eyes lit up. "The largest library in the Royal Capital is the 'Royal Knowledge and Magic Library.' It’s near the Temple headquarters. You need certain conditions to enter, but I can take you in," she said confidently.
The big guy stroked his chin. "In that case, I'll head to the Temple's supply department to get reimbursed for the losses from this mission and replenish my gear. Contact me with a communication crystal when you're done wandering."
The three of them parted ways for the moment. Aria led Jiang Lin through several bustling streets to a magnificent white building.
The library was built of massive ivory stone, with an arched gate carved with patterns of books and stars. Several statues of ancient scholars stood before the entrance.
"This place houses a vast collection of texts from the Saintas Kingdom and surrounding realms, including history, magic, races, geography, and even fragments of forbidden knowledge.
"Of course, those require special clearance to view."
As Aria introduced the place, they walked to the library entrance.
The two were stopped, but Aria pulled out some form of identification, and the guards let them inside.
The interior was vast, with towering bookshelves arranged like a labyrinth. The air was filled with the scent of old paper and magical incense.
Many scholars dressed in high-quality clothing moved quietly through the aisles, with the occasional sound of low whispers or the rustle of turning pages.
Aria lowered her voice and asked Jiang Lin, "Is there any specific information you want to look for? I can help you find it."
Jiang Lin replied softly, "I want to search for more information about the Demon Lord Trial to understand the specifics."
Aria nodded in understanding.
She then skillfully found the librarian and showed her Alchemy and Rune Association Master Badge, saying, "Ma'am, I'd like to look up some information on demons and the Demon Lord Trial."
The librarian was an elderly woman wearing a monocle. She carefully verified the badge and nodded. "History and customs of demons are in Section Three. Trials and rituals are in Section Seven. Some documents have magical seals and can only be read, not copied or taken out."
After thanking her, Aria followed the directions to Section Three.
The bookshelves were several meters high, filled with heavy tomes, scrolls, and even stone rubbings.
Jiang Lin pulled out a few books with titles containing 'Demons' or 'Demon God Faith' and found a seat by the window to flip through them.
Aria helped him filter through the books. Her eyes, shimmering with silver light, scanned the pages rapidly to capture key information.
"This book, 'Social Structure and Power Systems of Demons,' mentions that the granting of the title of Demon Lord is related to the 'recognition of the world's will'...
"And this one, 'Research on Demon God Faith,' says that the Demon Lord Trial for followers usually takes place in an alternate dimension called the 'Abyss Corridor.' Time flows differently there compared to reality, and the trial could last for months or even years..."
Jiang Lin listened as he browsed quickly.
He discovered that detailed records of the Demon Lord Trial were indeed scarce. Most were vague, as if they had been intentionally obscured or suppressed.
That was until he opened an obscure notebook titled 'Interscholastic Rituals and Spatial Anchors.' His eyes suddenly stopped on a handwritten annotation:
"The Demon Lord Trial is actually a ritual for demon gods to select their proxies.
"Participants must enter the 'Abyss Corridor' and complete their evolution through killing and devouring the seeds of their own kind.
"The 'demon lord seed' of the final victor will evolve. The degree of evolution is related to the number of seeds devoured.
"This process is similar to the path of advancement for us Apostles of God, but it is far more bloody and cruel."
The handwriting of this note was vigorous and powerful, and a small hexagram symbol was drawn next to it.
"Aria, look at this."
Jiang Lin pushed the notebook over.
Aria leaned in for a closer look, the silver light swirling in her eyes.
"The material and ink of this notebook are at least two hundred years old...
"But the annotation was added later. It was likely written within the last thirty years.
"As for this special hexagram symbol, I don't recognize it."
Jiang Lin nodded.
After looking through a few more materials, Jiang Lin gained a clearer understanding of the Demon Lord Trial.
Participants must possess a 'demon lord seed' within them, and the seed must reach a certain level of activity.
The trial takes place in a location called the 'Abyss Corridor,' which is an independent alternate space. The flow of time is variable, and entrances appear randomly, usually summoned by demon god followers or through special rituals.
The content of the trial requires participants to hunt each other down and seize each other's seeds to strengthen themselves.
The final survivors complete the advancement of their seed and receive a demon god's blessing.
The mortality rate of this trial is extremely high, and participants may encounter abyssal monsters, environmental disasters, or even interference from other demon gods.
The two of them searched for a while longer until a message came through the big guy’s communication crystal.
"I'm all set on my end.
"Dinner is on me tonight. We're going to the 'Silver Moon Restaurant' for a feast!"
Aria's eyes lit up. "Silver Moon Restaurant? Not bad!
"That’s one of the highest-end restaurants in the Royal Capital. Let's go, Jiang Lin. Let's eat him out of house and home."
Jiang Lin smiled and agreed.
The three of them agreed to meet at the entrance of the Silver Moon Restaurant.
By the time they left the library, the setting sun had dyed the sky a golden red.
Jiang Lin glanced back at the hall of knowledge before turning to follow Aria.
The Silver Moon Restaurant was located in the noble district of the Royal Capital. It was a three-story white building with exquisite magic lamps hanging outside the windows. Through the glass, one could see the warm glow and shifting silhouettes inside.
When Jiang Lin and Aria arrived, the big guy was already waiting at the door. He had changed into clean casual clothes, but his burly physique was still striking.
"Come on, come on. I've already booked a table."
The big guy led them into the restaurant.
The interior was luxurious yet elegant, with crystal chandeliers casting a soft light. The air was filled with the aroma of fine food and red wine.
A waiter respectfully led them to a window seat on the second floor. Outside the window, they could see the night view of the Royal Capital—lights like stars and streets like rivers.
With a grand gesture, the big guy ordered the signature roasted dragon ribs, creamy mushroom soup, elven salad, and a bottle of aged wine.
While waiting for the food, the three of them discussed their upcoming plans.
"I'll be reporting back to the Alchemy and Rune Association tomorrow. The association should have a record of this mission; maybe I can exchange it for some research funds," Aria said as she sliced some bread.
The big guy took a sip of wine. "I have to go to the Temple headquarters to report my duties and hand in the mission report. Brother Jiang Lin, what are your plans?"
Jiang Lin took a bite of food. "I'm planning to wander around for a bit before heading back to school."
Hearing this, the two finally remembered that Jiang Lin was still a student at a middle magic academy.
The big guy and Aria were around the same age, about eighteen or nineteen.
However, both of them had graduated early from their middle magic academies and had not gone on to a high magic academy.
Aria had done so because she was a disciple of a 9th-rank powerhouse, so there wasn't much she could learn at school.
The big guy had been constantly performing missions assigned by the gods to raise his apostle rank, so he didn't need to study at a magic academy.
Furthermore, the big guy's status in the Temple was quite high, enough for him to access most secret texts and skills. His resources were abundant, so he only needed to spend time on his cultivation.
The big guy sighed. "School is better, after all. Back when I was a student, I participated in the National Youth Adventurer Competition and even took top three.
"Jiang Lin, does your school organize participation in that competition?"
Hearing this, Jiang Lin was somewhat surprised. Even as an Apostle of God, the big guy only took top three?
He had thought that with the big guy’s status, taking first place would have been a given.
So, he replied, "I haven't heard of it. Can you tell me more about it?"
The big guy said, "The event is for young adventurers under the age of seventeen. The winners can receive massive prize money and benefits. The first-place winner can even be directly granted a title of nobility.
"Although it's only the lowest rank of Viscount, it allows for an immediate jump in social class and comes with a small territory of one's own.
"Moreover, this title can be upgraded through future performance. It's a method for the Saintas Kingdom to select young talents."
Jiang Lin nodded. "Sounds good. I'll look into it when I have time."
After he finished leading the blood demons to invade Planet Teluofuto and completed his Demon Lord Trial with the demons, he would settle down for a while and check out this national youth competition.
He wondered what kind of strength he would have by then...
At that moment, the waiter began to serve the food, and the aroma of the roasted dragon ribs wafted over.
In reality, it was the meat of a sub-dragon magic beast called an 'earthfire lizard.' The meat was tender and juicy, with a charred and crispy surface.
The three of them chatted as they ate, and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.
After dinner, the big guy settled the bill.
The numbers on the bill made Jiang Lin click his tongue in secret. Clearly, high-end restaurants were not for ordinary people.
Walking out of the restaurant, the night breeze was slightly cool.
The streets of the Royal Capital were still lively, and the magic lamps stretched their shadows long.
Jiang Lin looked up at the starry sky.
Among these many stars, which direction would Planet Teluofuto be in?
And what kind of sight would that planet be?
He bid farewell to the big guy and Aria.
Then, he headed toward the Hall of Statues at the Temple headquarters, preparing to comprehend his exclusive holy art.
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