This was the most terrifying team of monsters the trial participants had ever seen.

However, including Waldo, everyone actually breathed a sigh of relief.

"So it’s just a few level five monsters. I thought it was level six monsters or Liuli! A false alarm!"

Waldo sneered.

He felt slightly relieved inside.

Then, he vanished from where he stood.

When he reappeared, he was already above Black Iron Castle, facing the five monsters from afar.

The five monsters naturally saw Waldo too.

Their aura, more unrestrained than ever, was released.

It was like an overwhelmingly thick sea of corpses and blood, surging towards Waldo.

If a level three trial participant were in the midst of this immense aura, they would probably lose their will to fight instantly.

The eyes of the five monsters, like torches, swept over the numerous broken corpses of monsters below Black Iron Castle, filled with murderous intent.

Clearly, they knew what had happened here not long ago.

"Die!" Waldo shouted coldly.

With one step, space compressed before him.

In a stride, he covered miles of distance, approaching close to the five monsters.

The five monsters were as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The five monsters roared, baring their teeth and claws. Their aura, like an erupting volcano, unleashed wild energy, intending to instantly kill Waldo and tear him to pieces.

However, at this moment, Waldo softly uttered four words:

"Stop the world!"

Whoosh...

Within a five hundred meter radius centered on Waldo, the raging winds suddenly halted, and the debris carried by the winds was frozen in space.

The contorted faces of the five monsters also froze.

One of the monsters had just lifted its foot, still suspended in mid-air...

Another monster raised its gigantic demonic claw, each claw resembling a massive blade, gleaming with a dark, icy light... also frozen in mid-air.

Yet another monster spread its wings, poised to pounce...

And a monster opened its fanged mouth, where terrifying scarlet energy was gathering.

It seemed as if it would spew out the next moment, annihilating everything.

But now, it was frozen right in its mouth...

At this moment, everything between heaven and earth had come to a standstill.

There was no sound, nor was there the passage of time!

This was Waldo’s tenth ability, [Stop the World].

It was also his only ability that could not be upgraded.

Undoubtedly, it was also his most powerful ability.

Before today, he had used it only once.

The reason for its rare use was mainly because Waldo seldom encountered any formidable opponents.

Now, Waldo had finally used it again.

The reason was simple.

These five monsters were indeed very strong.

Facing two level five monsters, he would probably be under considerable pressure.

Moreover, they were hard to kill.

If they weren’t completely dealt with, Waldo couldn’t be at ease to retreat and advance to a level five trial participant.

So, he simply used his trump card from the get-go, to settle the matter once and for all!

...

Waldo, like a war god wielding a red spear, enveloped in terrifyingly formidable power, struck mercilessly at the five monsters.

The formidable bodies of the monsters appeared fragile before Waldo’s spear!

In fact, the bodies of level five monsters were extremely robust.

Even Waldo’s spear wouldn’t normally be able to break through easily.

However, because of Stop the World, the monsters were utterly unable to activate their defenses.

As the spear pierced into their bodies, the fierce and powerful force, like floodwaters bursting a dam, rampaged within the bodies of the five monsters, wreaking havoc at will...

The five monsters let out mournful howls, collapsing powerlessly!

...

"Great!"

"So powerful! Damn, what kind of divine technique is this? In an instant, time stops, and those monsters just stand there, waiting for Lord Waldo to easily kill them..."

"Terrifying, is this really Lord Waldo’s true strength? It seems we had underestimated him before!"

"Amazing, truly worthy of being the number one trial participant! With such strength, it’s simply shocking and awe-inspiring!"

In Black Iron Castle, many trial participants naturally witnessed Waldo’s display of power.

Each of them showed expressions of shock.

Some were even close to exclaiming out loud.

The technique Waldo had used was unheard of and unseen before.

However, soon after, some trial participants realized a significant issue.

Even Waldo, so powerful and hiding many terrifying techniques, felt uneasy about the impending crisis.

Even taking the risk to break through to level five...

It was foreseeable how horrifying the coming crisis would be.

"All trial participants, stay alert. The real crisis will arrive soon. Before that, I must advance to level five to be assured of facing any formidable enemy!"

"Wait for my good news!"

Time resumed flowing around Waldo, and the surging energy gradually calmed.

Waldo extracted a few super Source stones from the bodies of the five monsters.

He also didn’t forget to continue instructing.

"During my retreat, no one is to abandon their post, or they will be severely dealt with! Also, maintain a high level of crisis awareness and stay on high alert!"

"If something happens that you can’t handle, call me!"

"Of course, unless the sky falls, do not disturb me unnecessarily!"

Hearing this, all the trial participants felt a chill in their hearts.

Waldo was truly planning to advance to level five.

At the same time, the real crisis was also about to descend.

In an instant, everyone became tense.

After Waldo finished speaking, he didn’t linger, but headed straight for a secret chamber at the center of Black Iron Castle.

Waldo, as the builder of Black Iron Castle, held the highest authority over it.

Without his command, no one could disturb him.

This place was also the quietest and safest in Black Iron Castle.

Perfect for his advancement to a level five trial participant.

Boom!

The door of the secret chamber closed.

Waldo officially began his journey to advance to a level five trial participant.

"Let’s begin!"

A burning determination blazed in Waldo’s eyes.

Once successful, his strength would undergo a tremendous transformation.

The impending crisis would also become less daunting.

...

Meanwhile.

Over three hundred kilometers away from Black Iron Castle, two figures were flying in the semi-darkness.

One was the handsome and young Liuli with three eyes.

The other was a small, purple-bodied level six monster leader, emanating a terrifyingly evil aura!

They flew unrestrained through the dark lands.

The fierce winds propelled their bodies forward at high speed!

Along the way, the level six monster occasionally took action.

Swiping its slender claws, horrifying claw marks immediately appeared in the sky, swiftly slashing towards the ground.

The safehouses on the ground were easily breached by these claw marks.

Quite terrifying.

"No trial participants?"

Liuli’s eyebrows raised again.

Along the way, they had encountered many safehouses.

Each time, the monster leader would strike, breaking the safehouses.

But without exception, there were no trial participants inside any of them.

Something was odd.

"Could they be hiding somewhere else?"