Song Yan continued as she studied the insect-like figure on the screen. "There are known to be three types of beasts.
Ferocious Beasts. These creatures are rogue, possessing little to no intelligence, and their strength varies but generally remains below that of humans.
As their strength and cultivation increase, they transform into one of two types: Spirit Beasts or Demon Beasts.
They start from Soul Tier 1, and any beast lower than Soul Tier 3 is considered ferocious or wild, with some soul power comparable to Soul Breaking.
To be honest, the trial should have contained only these."
"But this time," she continued, "there are cultivators ranging from Initial Soul Realm to Soul Forging Realm, with most in the Soul Spirit Realm.
We've therefore increased the level of the trial.
Spirit Beasts of Tier 4 are also included in the trial. These beasts possess intelligence and rival Peak Soul Forging cultivators in power, though they are not entirely malicious. Despite their strength, they tend to be relatively kind, Song Yan explains calmly.
"And lastly, Demon Beasts. Evil by nature, cruel, and intelligent.
Lower-tier Demon Beasts enjoy toying with their prey before delivering the final blow," she explained, her expression growing more serious.
"Will he be alright?" Ye Kaishan frowned, continuing the question through their soul link.
Song Yan offered a faint smile. "There shouldn't be any accidents, and there's nothing we can do right now," she said, eyes fixed on Jiang Mu's figure on the screen.
Meanwhile, at the recruitment grounds…
"Hey, what is that thing? And why is there a kid in there? Isn't this trial only for female cultivators?"
The onlookers who had come to witness the recruitment competition began chattering among themselves.
On the other side, a group of five male cultivators observed. Three wore horrified expressions, while the two standing behind them had eyes that seemed dead, as though life had been drained from them.
"M—my cultivation journey ends like this?" one of them murmured, his eyes devoid of light.
The three cultivators standing before them looked desperate.
"Qing Lin, run as fast as possible. There's no chance to fight," the one in the center muttered, his eyes trembling.
The Abyssal Antarch stepped out from the woods, its 1.8-meter-tall body imposing and insectile.
Qing Lin swallowed hard, her gaze locked on the ant-like figure advancing toward her. She instinctively stepped back.
But in an instant, the Antarch vanished from sight.
As if jolted, Qing Lin looked down—and saw blood pouring from her left hand, mangled with bone protruding from the flesh.
The next second—
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Qing Lin's agonized scream echoed through the woods.
Hmm… was I too direct? The Antarch sat on a nearby rock, observing them all with detached amusement.
She dropped to her knees, clutching her left hand with the right. Her eyes radiated pure terror, reflecting the inevitability of death.
"Ho—not a bad reaction," the Antarch mused, amusement evident as it placed a hand beneath its chin and crossed its legs.
There's no chance to fight or retreat.
Qing Lin's mind raced. Her left hand was crushed.
With only her own strength , there was no way to contend.
The cultivator from her group stares at Qing Lin's hand, her eyes wide with shock.
Qing Lin's left hand is smashed, and the other one cut off. With only my own strength remaining, there is no way I can deal with it, the female cultivator thought, her hands trembling with fright.
Jiang Mu was no better off.
The moment the Antarch emerged, his legs buckled, and his breath became erratic, as if an invisible force pressed down on him.
The Antarch watches them with detached amusement, sitting on the rock.
Now, what should I do? it muses, moving its sword-like pincers together, producing a sharp sound like steel blades colliding.
The metallic clash sends a shiver down their spines.
Oh… I have an idea.
Suddenly, the Antarch rose.
"How about this—kill among yourselves, and the last one standing will be spared?" the Antarch proposed, grinning, its eyes narrowing.
The three cultivators stood in shocked silence.
Will I be spared? the female cultivator thinks wildly, her survival instincts kicking in.
They are both injured; I have the advantage, she reasons, glancing at Qing Lin and the cultivator beside her.
"Hmm… d—don't think we'll fall for that. We aren't that shallow to kill one another," the female cultivator spoke, her voice steady as she slowly drew her blade.
On her waist, she whispered to herself, "I'm sorry, you both."
Slank—
"I AM SORRY," Qing Lin declared, Her sword sliced through flesh and bone, severing the necks of her comrades. Their bodies collapsed, lifeless. her blade stained with the blood of her comrades as their necks were cleanly severed.
She stood upright, sheath sliding over her sword with a cold precision.
"Hehe… quite amusing, you humans," the Antarch grinned, watching the lifeless bodies of the two girls lie cold on the ground.
"As you said, I have killed them. Now let me leave."
" there are still two of you," the Antarch said, turning its gaze toward Jiang Mu.
"Haa… m—me? But I'm not a cultivator," Jiang Mu stammered, fear etched in his voice.
"It doesn't matter to me," the Antarch replied, amusement lingering in its tone as it looked at Jiang Mu.
Qing Lin's eyes narrowed, fixing on Jiang Mu with burning rage and murderous intent.
"This kid… it's all his fault. If we had found the flower earlier, we would have escaped this disaster!" she hissed.
"You piece of shit, die!" Qing Lin roared, slashing toward Jiang Mu.
Jiang Mu, already frozen by the monstrous presence, watched the blade reflect in his eyes.
—Sister, he murmured, his final words barely a whisper as the sword descended.
Crack—swish.
Suddenly, a figure rushes out of the woods, snatching Jiang Mu into her arms just as Qing Lin's sword descends, slashing into the figure's back.
"S—Sister!" Jiang Mu stammers, his eyes wide with shock as he stares at her face.
"Jiang Mu, are you alright?" Jiang An smiles gently, concern softening her expression as she looks at him.
"Sister…" Jiang Mu's gaze shifts to the blood seeping from his sister's back, sorrow and guilt welling in his eyes.
"How did you come here?" Jiang An asks calmly, though her voice trembles slightly.
"I'm sorry…" Jiang Mu's voice chokes as tears stream down his cheeks. "I followed you… and because of me, you're now injured," he confesses, his voice heavy with regret.
"D—don't worry. It's nothing," Jiang An reassures him, her tone gentle but strained. It's clear the wound on her back took a severe toll. "Your sister is strong. This will heal on its own."
Before Jiang Mu can respond, Qing Lin interrupts, her voice sharp with disdain.
"I thought someone had come. So it's you, beggar."
Jiang An's eyes meet Qing Lin's, unwavering. She scoops some soil into her hand and steps protectively in front of Jiang Mu.
"Stay behind me," she commands firmly. Jiang Mu nods in silent.
What is really happening here? Jiang An thinks, troubled. I was heading toward the mountain range when I heard the scream. I arrived, and Jiang Mu was already here, being attacked. If I hadn't come in time… I can't imagine what would have happened.
"And what is that monster?" Jiang An trembles as she glances toward the Abyssal Antarch. The creature sits casually, observing them as if they are nothing more than players in its twisted game, its gaze filled with detached amusement.
Her heart pounds loudly in her chest, each beat echoing like a drum. Every cell in her body screams at her to flee.
She shifts her gaze toward Qing Lin, her eyes hardening as she faces her.
"You beggar, why are you here? Don't tell me you also came for the trial," Qing Lin spits, her eyes filled with disgust.
"And that kid… is he your brother?" Qing Lin sneers, staring directly at Jiang Mu.
"It has nothing to do with you!" Jiang An's fist clenches tightly, unbeknownst to her.
Qing Lin notices the trembling fist and smirks. So he is.
"Well, it doesn't matter. I didn't kill you that time. Looks like you came here specially to die with your brother," she sneers, her grip tightening on her sword. Her eyes glint
"I said, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!" Jiang An throws the soil from her clenched hand directly into Qing Lin's eyes.
"Ahh! My eyes!"
Qing Lin cries, clutching her face, and drops her sword onto the ground.
"You disgusting beggar! What have you done?!"
"Brother, run!" Jiang An urges, grasping Jiang Mu's hand tightly as they dash towards the woods,
Noticing it, Qing Lin hurls her sword. The blade cuts through the air and embeds itself firmly into the ground, directly in front of the brother and sister.
slang—
Jiang An freezes instinctively, her eyes locked on the sword.
"Did you really think that would help?" Qing Lin rises, her eyes bloodshot, soil smeared across her face and tangled in her hair.
"I am a cultivator. These petty tricks won't work on me," she sneers, her voice dripping with anger and disdain.