The clearing was silent.
Only the rustling of leaves disturbed the tense atmosphere.
Zhao Feng knelt on one knee, his breathing ragged.
Blood dripped steadily from a deep cut on his left arm.
His long spear, once polished and proud, had been broken in half. One piece lay beside him while the other had been kicked several meters away.
Standing opposite him was Li Tian.
Behind Li Tian stood two followers, both carrying bloodstained weapons.
Neither of them had suffered any noticeable injuries.
It was obvious.
This had never been a fair fight.
Hidden behind a towering tree, Lin Yuan silently observed.
He did not rush out immediately.
Gu Chen had repeatedly warned him:
"Never interfere without understanding the situation. A reckless hero dies before he becomes a legend." So he watched.
He listened.
He waited.
Li Tian casually weighed a Beast Core in his hand before smiling.
"A Rank One Beast Core."
"Do you know how many people would risk their lives for one of these?"
He tossed it into his storage pouch.
"Yet you managed to collect five."
"Thank you for your hard work."
One of his followers laughed loudly.
"Senior Brother Li is too kind."
"If it were me, I'd have taken his Identity Token too."
The other shook his head.
"That would end his trial immediately."
Li Tian chuckled.
"Where would the fun be in that?"
His gaze returned to Zhao Feng.
"I prefer watching people struggle."
Zhao Feng slowly wiped the blood from his lips.
"So this..."
"...is the pride of a Seventh-Grade Spirit Vein?"
Li Tian's smile disappeared,his face darkened immediately.
"You dare mock me?"
Zhao Feng spat blood onto the ground, struggling to stand up.
"I mock cowards."
"If you had challenged me alone..."
"I would have respected you."
"But bringing two lackeys?"
"You're afraid ,and nothing more than a coward ."
The two followers immediately became furious.
"Bastard!"
"You're courting death!"
Rushing forward to attack him again.
Li Tian raised a hand, stopping them.
Instead of becoming angry...
He smiled.
A cold smile.
"I've changed my mind."
"I won't just rob you."
"I'm going to make sure you never cultivate again, I am going to begin a nightmare to you anytime you try to cultivate"
He slowly lifted his sword.
Behind the tree, Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed.
According to Elder Mo's rules, candidates could fight.
They could even rob each other.
But crippling another cultivator...
That crossed the line.
Until now.
If he remained hidden...
Zhao Feng's cultivation path might end here.
If he intervened...
He would gain a powerful enemy.
His hand tightened around his sword.
"That's enough."
The calm voice echoed through the clearing.
Everyone turned.
Lin Yuan stepped out from behind the trees.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes were cold.
Li Tian frowned.
"You again."
One of his followers laughed.
"A Third-Grade Spirit Vein dares to interfere?"
The other shook his head mockingly.
"Village boys really don't know their place."
Lin Yuan ignored them.
His gaze remained fixed on Li Tian.
"The trial is to hunt Spirit Beasts."
"Not cripple fellow candidates."
Li Tian slowly sheathed his sword.
Then...
He began clapping.
"Wonderful."
"Simply wonderful."
"I was wondering when you'd appear."
Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
"You expected me?"
Li Tian nodded.
"I noticed someone following us."
"I hoped it was you."
His smile widened.
"Now I can settle everything at once."
Zhao Feng looked at Lin Yuan in surprise.
"Leave."
He forced himself to stand.
"This doesn't concern you."
Lin Yuan smiled faintly.
"It concerns me now."
For the first time since they had met...
Zhao Feng smiled.
Despite the blood covering his body.
Despite the danger surrounding him.
He laughed.
"You're either very brave..."
"...or very foolish."
"Probably both."
Li Tian drew his sword again.
The blade glowed with crimson spiritual qi.
Unlike ordinary weapons, this sword had begun absorbing its master's qi.
It was a Low Yellow-Grade Spiritual Sword
In the cultivation world, weapons were divided into ranks.
- Mortal Grade
- Yellow Grade
- Profound Grade
- Earth Grade
- Heaven Grade
- Saint Grade
- Emperor Grade
- Sovereign Grade
- Divine Grade
Each grade was further divided into Low, Middle, High, and Peak quality.
Most ordinary cultivators spent their entire lives using Mortal weapons.
Only wealthy clans or sect disciples could afford Spiritual Weapons.
Li Tian's family clearly possessed considerable wealth to be able to afford a spirit sword for him.
Lin Yuan looked down at the iron sword in his hand.
It was an ordinary Mortal weapon.
If their swords collided repeatedly...
His would eventually break.
Li Tian noticed where Lin Yuan was looking.
He laughed.
"Scared?"
Lin Yuan calmly replied,
"No."
"I'm thinking."
"About how much your sword will be worth after I take it."
For a heartbeat...
Silence.
Then Zhao Feng burst into laughter.
Even Li Tian's followers stared in disbelief.
None of them had expected such a reply.
Li Tian's face darkened.
"Good."
"I was worried this would be boring."
His aura erupted.
Spirit Foundation Realm.
The pressure swept through the clearing like a fierce wind.
Leaves scattered in every direction.
Lin Yuan slowly raised his own sword.
His cultivation was still lower.
His weapon was inferior.
He was outnumbered.
By every logical measure...
He should lose.
Yet not a trace of fear could be found in his eyes.
Deep inside his dantian...
The First Chain gave off a faint pulse.
Not enough to reveal itself.
Just enough to make Lin Yuan's spiritual qi flow a little more smoothly.
As if encouraging him.
The breeze suddenly stopped.
The forest grew unnaturally quiet.
Both young cultivators stared at one another.
Neither blinked.
Neither moved.
Then—
Li Tian disappeared in a flash of crimson light,and appeared almost immediately in front of Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan stepped forward instead of backward.
Their swords met in the center of the clearing.
CLANG!
The ringing sound echoed throughout the Spirit Beast Forest.
Candidates several hundred meters away instinctively turned toward the source of the battle