A deathly silence ensued following the trial master's words.
Yet it didn't last long as the man snapped out of it, his expression contorting in anger.
"You expect me to kill him? And what? You're going to free me?" the man scoffed. "After everything I did to your subordinates, you expect me to believe you're just going to let me off the hook? Hahaha!"
Ling's brows furrowed as he took steady breaths, preparing himself for what was to come. He was weak, but he wasn't naive. He had lived in the sect long enough to understand how these people thought.
When given an opportunity for freedom, even as slim as it was, they'd take it.
<+1 Qi: 1/30,000>
30,000... Ling sighed. That's going to take me more than a week of non-stop cultivation to reach the next stage... I need to increase my talent somehow... or maybe find an alternative training method.
His thoughts were interrupted when the trial master suddenly laughed.
"Pfft... Remember, I gave you an opportunity, old Zhen, but you turned me down," the trial master said. In the very next moment, he brought his hand up and extended his palm.
Then, Ling felt it—the Qi in the air distorting under the weight of the trial master's presence.
The man's eyes widened as he raised his hands, attempting to block whatever was coming. But it was too late.
A low hum reverberated through the cave, but moments later, the silence returned.
The ground split open with a violent tremor, stone cracking like glass.
For a moment, Ling thought the trial master wanted to throw the man inside.
But the truth was far more brutal.
The man's body split in two, cut perfectly vertically from head to toe. His remains fell to either side of the fissure, blood and viscera splattering across the cold, hard floor.
The trial master dusted himself off before turning to Ling.
"This one didn't work. But maybe the next one will?" he mused, walking over to another cell and opening it up.
He was scrawnier, but the danger he gave off felt similar.
"I'm sure you heard my earlier offer," the trial master said, tilting his head. "Now choose. Death or freedom?"
The man didn't speak, but his silence signified obvious intent as he slowly turned to Ling and began walking toward him.
"I wish you good luck," the trial master said, unshackling the man and sending a thumbs up toward Ling. "If you survive this, then I'll know my judgment is not lacking."
"How wonderful..." Ling muttered, entering a battle stance.
It was clear the man in front of him was stronger, but not by much. At most, a single stage, maybe two.
The man approached with slow steps, and noticing the danger, Ling proceeded to kick off the ground and utilize his Stone Splitter Palm technique.
He used it for body tempering, but when used in combat, its power was noteworthy.
Ling's strike was inches from landing when the man retaliated, their palms crashing together and sending Ling stumbling back.
He was momentarily surprised, and that gave the man enough time to close the distance and send a fist straight at Ling's chest.
Ling redirected the fist downward before pushing the man away and regaining his stance.
Not long after, the man followed up with a kick. However, Ling was prepared as he caught it between his arms. Then, with a sharp twist, Ling broke the man's leg.
"Ugh..." the man groaned in pain, his frown deepening. "You're just like those demonic bastards... fighting dirty."
Ling tilted his head. "Are you stupid? Your life's on the line, and you want to fight fair?"
"Fighting fair is the only way to keep our dignity, young man," the man replied through gritted teeth as he stood on one leg, with the other limp and broken, the bone sticking out.
"Even now... honor must be upheld."
Ling stared at the man in silence for a few moments before letting out a sigh.
"I'll pass..."
The man looked at Ling with disapproval. "You are a disgrace to your parents."
"The same parents who tossed me aside when they found out I had no talent? Bummer," Ling added as he took one final shaky breath and approached the man.
"I'm sorry you had to suffer, but your suffering will end here," Ling stated.
The man leapt up on one leg and tried to strike Ling, but he was met with a punch straight to the jaw.
It shattered in an instant, causing the man to fall to the ground, dazed.
Yet his gaze kept lingering on Ling's figure, who, with his resolve steeled, leaned down and grasped the man's neck.
"You wanted dignity, so I'll give you a clean death."
With that, Ling clenched his hands around the man's neck. A loud crack resounded, followed by the man's head hitting the ground, lifeless.
And like the previous time, the interface appeared in front of Ling.
<+12,444 Qi: 12,445/30,000>
Several days' worth of Qi gained in a single kill... Ling thought, staring at his hands that had just ended the life of the man below him.
Guilt? None. Hesitation? Not even once. Except for his slightly faster heartbeat, Ling was fine.
I heard people change when they become cultivators... is that what happened to me?
Soon, the trial master approached, placing a hand on Ling's shoulder.
"You did good. Don't forget this is only a single kill of many to come," the trial master said in a calm voice. "I knew I saw something in you. You'll make a fine asset, but for now, follow me."
Ling took one last look at the body on the ground, and then at the remaining prisoners, before following the trial master.
He hated how his fate was being decided by someone like the trial master, but until he got strong enough, he had no choice but to listen.
They walked in the direction of Ling's room; however, midway through, they forked to a different path, one he didn't recognize.
"Are we heading to another trial?" Ling asked, wary.
The trial master turned his head, a smirk appearing on his face.
"I'm taking you to meet your new friends. They're also people who showed great potential in this harsh environment," the trial master replied, and after taking one more corner, he halted.
A cool breeze drifted past Ling, carrying with it the faint scent of moss and falling water. As he turned the corner, his eyes widened.
A place like this exists underground...?