Chapter 40: The Rating Test is Part of the Probe
“The heretic trial begins.”
Skadi’s voice was as cold as arctic wind. Her pale fingers gripped the dark purple scythe, its blade flowing with ominous light.
Xien saw her arm was already covered in pale purple crystals, spreading from her fingertips to her neck like some deadly disease, refracting an eerie glow in the moonlight.
“Wait, I can explain—”
The sharp whistle of the scythe cutting through air cut off his words.
Xien felt his vision suddenly spin. He saw his headless body still standing there, blood gushing from the severed neck like a fountain.
His head hit the ground heavily, rolling several times before stopping face-up, looking directly into Skadi’s emotionless eyes.
“So… this is death…”
Xien’s consciousness began to blur. His last thought was of Skadi’s almost completely crystallized left eye, embedded in her socket like a purple crystal.
“Ah!”
Xien bolted upright from bed, cold sweat soaking his pajamas.
He tremblingly touched his neck, confirming his head was still properly attached to his body.
Outside the window, dawn’s faint light had just pierced through the clouds, coating the room in pale blue.
“Just a dream…”
He murmured, but the dream had been too real—the chill from Skadi’s scythe, the subtle sound of crystals scraping together, even the moment of weightlessness when his head left his body.
When Xien got out of bed, his legs went weak and he nearly collapsed. Only then did he realize his legs were still trembling uncontrollably.
In the bathroom, cold water washed over his tense nerves.
The young man in the mirror was pale, heavy shadows under his eyes. Xien stared at his reflection, but his thoughts returned to that remote street last night.
Skadi’s condition was clearly abnormal.
When magic users suffer mental exhaustion without timely suppression through potions and crystals, their bodies begin to crystallize—a typical symptom of demonization.
Last night, that saintess had at least 60% crystal coverage, far exceeding the safety threshold.
Xien wiped the water from his face, brow furrowed. His survival was partly thanks to this—if Skadi’s crystallization had been lower, she probably could have taken him down even on the verge of mental collapse.
But logically, at that degree of crystallization, Skadi should have lost all ability to act, yet she could still launch such powerful attacks…
He couldn’t figure it out.
Xien rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. This Dark Erosion Saintess was no easy opponent. He hadn’t expected his anti-magic user weapons to fail to kill her, and according to her words, she wouldn’t let him go. She might return any night, so he had to prepare thoroughly beforehand.
Coming out of the bathroom, he glanced at the time. It was time to prepare breakfast for the other saintess.
Xien forced himself to stop reminiscing. He tied on his apron and began frying eggs. The oil sizzled in the pan, and soon the aroma of breakfast wafted from the kitchen.
Cynthia pushed through the door. Today she wore the formal uniform of the Crimson Knight Order, her flame-like brilliant red hair tied high, making her look particularly spirited and imposing.
“Good morning, Lady Cynthia.”
“There’s a knight order rating test today.”
Cynthia took the coffee Xien handed her and suddenly said,
“Xien, you’re participating too.”
“Me? But I’ve only been with the knight order for a week…”
Xien’s fork stopped in mid-air.
“It’s just a basic test, don’t feel pressured.”
Cynthia sipped her coffee, her red pupils observing his reaction through the rising steam.
“At Morris Mountain. The rules are simple—climb from the base to the summit. Considering you have no magic power, you’re exempt from the monster hunting portion.”
Xien noticed that when she said this, her fingers lightly rubbed the cup’s rim—Cynthia’s little habit when thinking.
What was she probing for? There shouldn’t be any traces left from last night…
Could it be about the werewolf incident yesterday afternoon?
“I’ll do my best.”
Xien kept his head down, cutting the sausage on his plate to hide the doubt in his eyes.
“This is also to test the results of your training these past days. Give it your all.”

The knight order headquarters was livelier than usual, the corridors packed with female knights in full gear.
As soon as Xien appeared, whispers spread like ripples.
“Is that the captain’s new favorite?”
“I heard they went out together yesterday…”
“Nice body. Wonder what’s under those clothes—”
Xien pretended not to hear the increasingly explicit comments and hurried toward the registration desk.
Deputy Eileen was coldly checking the roster. When she saw him, her thin eyebrows nearly shot to her hairline.
“What are you doing here?”
Eileen’s voice was like ice chips. Ever since learning this guy was living with her beloved Lady Cynthia, she wanted nothing more than to kill him.
“Lady Cynthia told me to participate in this test.”
Xien handed over his registration form, adding,
“Just need to reach the summit, no monster hunting required.”
“Of course, ‘special treatment.'”
Eileen suddenly showed an unsettling smile, emphasizing certain words while secretly making a mark on the registration form.
She was thrilled inside. She’d been looking for a chance to teach this bastard a lesson, and now he’d delivered himself right to her door. A plan immediately formed in her mind.
Just arrange a few troublesome monsters for this guy in the test. He’d probably be scared witless, and if unlucky, might die or be crippled.
Then Lady Cynthia would definitely lose interest in him, and this bastard would be kicked out of the knight order like a dead dog.
This is what you get for daring to defile Lady Cynthia.
Xien frowned slightly. He noticed Eileen’s fingernail lightly scratch across the “Monster Distribution” column, leaving barely visible magical traces.
Ten minutes later.
At the teleportation array, Xien took deep breaths to adjust his state.
This test came too suddenly. Cynthia’s attitude was also intriguing, and Eileen’s little tricks were even more suspicious—she’d definitely modified something. But now the arrow was on the string; he could only respond as situations arose.
When his figure disappeared in the teleportation light, Cynthia in the captain’s office was gazing at a crystal orb.
The orb showed Xien appearing at the mountain base, looking around warily.
“Xien, let me see your true face.”
Cynthia lightly tapped the crystal orb, and the view switched to another angle—where three marked Rock Armor Wolves were deviating from their set route, moving toward Xien’s landing point.
She’d long known Eileen’s personality would lead her to sabotage the test, but she didn’t stop it, instead allowing it to see what Xien was hiding.
“If you dare deceive me, I’ll make you experience a fate worse than death.”