"Qing Lin, is it really wise for us to go this deep inside?" a cultivator from Qing Lin's group asked in a low, hesitant voice.
"Don't worry," Qing Lin replied calmly. "Even though the soul aura of the demon beast is immense in this part of the woods, it's not aggressive. If we proceed carefully, we might even find spirit herbs still untouched."
"Killing ferocious beasts doesn't yield as much as spirit herbs," she continued. "And don't fret—if we sense any danger, we'll retreat immediately."
Hearing Qing Lin's reassurances, the group's fear subsided somewhat.
But honestly… why is such a powerful beast present in this trial? Qing Lin pondered silently.
At a measured pace, they advanced deeper into the woods, following Qing Lin's lead.
After walking for some time, a voice broke the silence.
"Qing Lin! I'm sensing a spirit herb!" a cultivator exclaimed, pointing toward the mountain range.
"Let's go," Qing Lin said, changing direction and quickening her pace.
They leapt from one branch to another, heading straight toward the mountain.
meanwhile
"Hmm… what's that?" Jiang Mu's eyes landed on a glowing flower perched high on the mountainside, growing at the edge of a small slope, well beyond his reach.
It glowed with an icy hue, tinged faintly with blue.
Without hesitation, Jiang Mu climbed the mountain and approached the flower. He plucked it.
It's cold… he thought, staring at the flower in his hand.
He paused for a moment before a sudden grin appeared on his face.
Opening his clothes, he placed the flower against his bare chest and then dressed again.
"Haa… it's cool," he murmured. "Even though it's still hot outside, this flower makes it much more bearable."
There should be more flowers, he grinned again.
Ah no, what am I thinking? I should find my sister first.
He shook his head, banishing useless thoughts.
"Sigh… sister, where are you?" he murmured, gazing down at the soil.
"Strange… the sensation of the flower I felt has vanished," a voice came from the woods.
Someone is here. Jiang Mu's senses heightened. He quickly hid behind a rock, keeping a safe distance as he glanced toward the direction of the voice.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" five women emerged from the woods.
"It can't be mistaken," one replied. "The sensation was close, but it vanished suddenly."
"Someone must have plucked it before we arrived," another added, scanning the mountain range.
"Search the place carefully. There must be something useful," Qing Lin instructed her group.
With that, all of them dispersed, mostly searching beneath the mountain.
After some time, they regrouped.
"Have you found anything?" Qing Lin asked.
Sigh… no. I didn't find a thing, one of them answered, and the rest shared the same sentiment.
"Qing Lin, we should search elsewhere. She might have an affinity for plants, but given the current conditions, searching this huge mountain range is far too troublesome," another woman said, her tone exhausted.
Qing Lin paused, clenching her fists. "We have not come this far to return empty-handed." Her hands trembled as her fists clenched tightly.
Jiang Mu observed silently. Don't tell me they came for this flower… A drop of sweat slid down his chin.
Should I reveal myself and give them the flower? he wondered, glancing at them.
But sister had warned me never to interfere with cultivators. They are unreasonable people… should I retreat slowly? Jiang Mu retracted his gaze and shifted his leg slightly.
Crack—
Shit… was I busted? He watched them cautiously from behind the rock.
"It can't be helped. Let's go. We don't have that much time to think," Qing Lin said to her group.
Sigh… looks like they didn't notice me, Jiang Mu sighed in relief.
"Let's head to the next place."
With that, Qing Lin and her group disappeared into the woods.
Confirming their departure, Jiang Mu climbed down to the surface.
Sigh… for a moment, I really thought they had found me, he murmured, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Hahaha… cultivators are not a big deal," he laughed, his grin wide and trumpet-like.
"Caught you…!!"
A chilling voice whispered into his ear, carrying a presence that seemed capable of swallowing him whole.
Jiang Mu's eyes widened visibly as two cold hands grasped his shoulders.
Horrified, he slowly turned his head to meet the icy gaze of Qing Lin.
He tried to move, but his legs betrayed him. Fear held him petrified, unable to move a single muscle.
"Woah… I didn't expect a kid to be in this trial. He must be ten or eleven," another woman said as more from the group emerged from the woods.
"I've immobilized him. Check if he has the spirit herb," Qing Lin ordered, sitting down on a nearby rock.
"Yes!"
After a brief pause, one of the women spoke, "Found it," while Jiang Mu's eyes followed the flower as it was carefully tucked away into her garments.
"Have you found it?" Qing Lin asked, excitement lacing her voice as she stood.
"Umm… yes, but…" the woman hesitated. "After plucking the flower, he hid it close to his body. Its properties have mostly faded. It's practically worthless now."
Slank—
Qing Lin unsheathed her sword, her grip firm, eyes burning with anger.
"So that's how it is…"
"Then there's no reason to let him live," she declared, stepping forward and pressing the blade firmly against Jiang Mu's neck.
Wait… am I going to die?
Jiang Mu was petrified, unable to move a single muscle or utter a sound. His thoughts raced madly as his heart pounded wildly.
Move… move… move… please…
I still haven't seen my sister. I don't want to die yet.
Please… let my body move…
Jiang Mu closed his eyes, channeling all his strength into moving—but to his disappointment, it was useless.
Qing Lin's gaze remained cold as she raised her sword, her eyes burning with anger and disgust. The blade hovered, poised to slice through his neck…
But at that exact moment, blood splattered across the blade—and smeared onto Qing Lin's face.
"Blood?" Qing Lin murmured, instinctively touching her face.
Her eyes widened in shock.
From above, the severed hand of a cultivator from her group fell heavily to the ground.
"Ahhhhhhh!" a cultivator screamed, her voice filled with pain as blood poured from the gaping wound where her hand had been severed.
Qing Lin instinctively turned around, her eyes wide with horror.
"What's happening here? Who did this to you?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency as she stepped closer to the injured woman, gently pressing against the wound to stem the bleeding.
The attention of Qing Lin shifted, and unknowingly, she released Jiang Mu.
I can move… Jiang Mu fell to his knees, gasping in relief as he regained his breath.
What's happening here? His eyes trembled with fear as he looked behind toward Qing Lin and the injured woman.
"Really… what's happening here?" Jiang Mu stood up, his gaze flickering between them.
"Eat this. It should hold the bleeding for some time," Qing Lin said calmly, offering a pill to the injured woman, while another woman carefully tied the wound with a cloth.
Two women stood guard, one on each side of Qing Lin and the two others.
Suddenly, as if a dreadful shift had occurred, Qing Lin's gaze snapped upward, followed by the injured woman and the one treating her.
Jiang Mu swallowed hard, his hands and legs trembling violently with a shiver.
The air thickened, carrying an oppressive, gloomy weight, as though ready to swallow everything in its path. A stench of blood permeated the atmosphere, spreading through the air and falling like crimson rain upon them.
Then, two heads plummeted from the sky.
Jiang Mu, Qing Lin, and the two women gazed in horror at the two headless bodies standing eerily still before them, blood continuing to pour from the severed necks.
Qing Lin's eyes widened in fear. Only moments ago, these same bodies had stood guard around them.
No—no, something is not right… We should retreat immediately!
Suddenly, one of the women in the group spoke, fear lacing her voice, as she stepped back from the injured one.
"Yes… you are right," Qing Lin said, rising to her feet and steadying her composure, already forgetting that Jiang Mu remained close by.
As she prepared to retreat—
"Are you sure, humans?" a sudden, chilling voice reverberated from the woods, its soul aura locking onto them like a predator honing in on its prey.
Qing Lin slowly turned around, fear clearly etched in her eyes, as a shadowy figure gradually emerged from the dense forest.
What is that thing...? Jiang Mu stared, his heart pounding so violently it seemed he could hear its echo in his ears.
...…
"It's not good," Sun Yu said, his eyes fixed on the screen showing Qing Lin and Jiang Mu's situation.
"Yes, that beast is far beyond their league," Sun Ai replied, her expression calm and serene, though edged with concern.
All of them stood on the high platform, their gazes locked on the monstrous figure displayed before them. The atmosphere was tense, heavy with anticipation as they began to discuss the situation.
"That kid… how is he even there?" Ye Kaishan's eyes narrowed as he observed Jiang Mu's figure on the screen.
Don't tell me he followed his sister, Ye Kaishan thought to himself, his concern deepening. But more importantly… that beast…
Ye Kaishan observed carefully. The beast's blackened silver exoskeleton gleamed faintly, two long antennae twitching as its vertical red pupils scanned the area. Its two sword-like pincers moved with calculated precision, while its massive exoskeleton legs carried its monstrous frame across the terrain with terrifying power.
"Is this really alright?" Ye Kaishan asked, "This demon beast is far too powerful for a trial."
"You're right, Brother Ye," Sun Yu answered, his voice steady as he continued watching the screen. "But now it can't be helped. Until the trial ends, no one can enter or leave."
Song Yan's gaze remained cold and serious, unwavering as she stared at the unfolding scene.
"Do you know anything about this creature?" Ye Kaishan glanced toward song yan and asked through their soul link.
"It's a demon beast," Song Yan replied, her tone steady and serious, carrying the weight of experience. "It's an Abyssal Antarch."