After that line of warning appeared—
The sky above the Trial Realm changed.
The world had been marked.
Deep within the clouds, pale gray lights slowly opened like enormous pupils.
They didn't radiate pressure.
Yet every instinct screamed that something was watching.
"…What are those?"
Someone whispered.
No one answered.
They simply stared upward.
[External Observation Complete][Target World: Trial Realm][Evaluation: Combat Potential — Developable]
It wasn't a declaration of war.
It was an appraisal.
A calm, mechanical voice echoed across the Trial Realm.
"This world's rules are crude.""Individual combat efficiency is low.""Suitable as an experimental combat resource."
There was no insult in the tone.
Which made it even more humiliating.
Zhou Tieshan leaned against a broken tree and laughed weakly.
"…That tone."
"Sounds just like those merchants who used to say I couldn't forge good steel."
Mortal Sect — Outside the Gateway
Su Wan's expression darkened.
"They're not from the Immortal Realm."
"They didn't even bother pretending to follow 'order.'"
Xiao Xuanyin lowered his gaze slightly.
Then he raised his hand.
Not to attack.
To authorize.
"From this moment on…"
"The Trial Realm's battle permissions are open for public viewing."
Su Wan blinked.
Then she understood.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"You want everyone to see this?"
Xiao Xuanyin nodded.
"They like evaluating things."
"Then let them evaluate it openly."
The next second—
The Trial Realm's battlefield was broadcast.
Across the Human Realm.
Across the edges of the Immortal Realm.
Even across several Outer Domain observation nodes.
Every entity with observation authority witnessed the same scene.
Bloodied humans.
A devastated battlefield.
And the aftermath of a brutal high-risk counterkill.
For a brief moment—
The Outer Domain observers fell silent.
"Unexpected result.""Low-tier individuals completed a counterkill without command structure."
The First Outer Domain Squad Arrives
There was no warning.
No buildup.
Three shadows descended directly from the sky.
Humanoid figures clad in dark armor.
They landed silently.
Perfectly synchronized.
"Execute test."
The leader spoke calmly.
"Target: surviving units."
The air tightened instantly.
"They're using us as test subjects."
Zhou Tieshan slowly pushed himself upright.
His legs trembled.
But he didn't step back.
"…Those monsters earlier."
"They probably thought the same thing."
The three outer soldiers raised their hands simultaneously.
A suppression field expanded instantly.
"Strength lock.""Speed restriction.""Reaction threshold reduced."
Zhou Tieshan suddenly felt his body grow heavy.
Like returning to the days before he ever cultivated.
"So this is their trick?"
Someone gritted their teeth.
The outer soldier replied coldly:
"This is a fair test."
At the exact moment the suppression completed—
The Trial Realm reacted.
Not by attacking.
But by acknowledging.
[External Invasion Detected][Combat Permissions: Fully Unlocked][Hidden Rule Activated: Home Field Advantage]
Heat burst through Zhou Tieshan's chest.
The suppression was still there.
But now—
He could stand.
"…Heh."
He lifted his head and grinned savagely at the armored soldiers.
"Now it's your turn to get beaten."
Humans Strike First
There was no formation.
No strategy.
Zhou Tieshan rushed forward.
He grabbed a broken blade from the ground and swung.
BANG!
One outer soldier staggered back half a step.
Just half a step.
But that step sent shockwaves through the observation channels.
"Anomaly detected!"
"A low-tier unit broke through the suppression field?!"
The Outer Domain commander spoke sharply.
"Adjust parameters."
"Maximum—"
He never finished.
Another trial fighter had already lunged forward.
"Don't just focus on him!"
At that moment the outer soldiers realized something terrifying.
None of these humans were trying to fight alone.
They had no honor code.
No dueling rules.
No elegant battle structure.
They only followed one principle—
Win.
"Pin his left arm!"
"I'll finish him!"
For the first time—
An outer soldier was forced to retreat.
Not because he was weak.
But because he had never been hunted before.
Xiao Xuanyin Speaks
At the height of the chaos—
A voice crossed the boundaries of worlds.
"Listen carefully."
Xiao Xuanyin's voice wasn't loud.
Yet every observer fell silent.
"What you are seeing right now…""Is not a resource.""Not a test subject.""It is humanity."
His tone was calm.
But carried absolute judgment.
"From the moment you stepped into the Trial Realm…""You became our enemy."
The Outer Domain communication channel erupted with alerts.
[Target World Threat Level: Re-evaluating][Recommendation: Request High-Tier Purge Authorization]
Far beyond the void—
A terrifying existence slowly opened its eyes.
"…A human world?"
"How interesting."
"Let's see if they can survive a real cleansing."
Back in the Trial Realm—
Zhou Tieshan planted his foot on a fallen outer soldier.
He looked up at the sky.
And spat blood.
"Come on."
"Stop sending cannon fodder."