The mist in the depths of the Forbidden Mountains swirled endlessly, cutting off all sight beyond ten feet. The spiritual energy here was so dense it felt tangible, yet an invisible sense of oppression hung in the air, warning all who entered that they had stepped into the most dangerous zone of the training camp.
Lin Mo moved forward slowly, his steps calm and steady. The automatic cultivation function of the system ran without pause, continuously converting the rich surrounding spiritual energy into his own power. His cultivation base was steadily improving, and every breath brought him closer to the middle stage of the 5th Level of Qi Refining. The low-grade true spiritual root in his dantian hummed softly, absorbing energy far more efficiently than any ordinary disciple could dream of.
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Host: Lin Mo
Cultivation Base: 5th Level of Qi Refining (460/1200)
Spiritual Root: Low-Grade True Spiritual Root
Steady Points: 300
Skills: Basic Body-Tempering Technique (Mastery), Advanced Body-Tempering Technique (75%), Steady Strike (Level 1), Cloud Step (50%)
System Function: Steady Auto-Cultivation (Unlocked)
System Store: Unlocked
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After walking for nearly an hour, the sound of rushing water reached his ears. Through the thin mist, he saw a clear spiritual pool hidden among the mountains. The water shimmered with a pale blue light, and spirit herbs that could only grow in extreme spiritual energy bloomed beside the pool. This was a top-tier resource spot in the Forbidden Mountains, enough to drive any inner sect disciple crazy.
But Lin Mo did not approach immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a powerful and familiar aura lingering by the pool.
A moment later, the mist dispersed, and a figure in a white robe stepped out from behind a rock. It was Li Chen, the top inner sect disciple, with his hands behind his back and a cold smile on his face. Beside him stood Chen Feng and the other two disciples who had fled earlier, their faces filled with malice as they stared at Lin Mo.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Lin Mo," Li Chen said slowly, his voice cold and arrogant, like a king looking down on his subject. "Chen Feng told me everything. You killed the Scarlet Flame Tiger and took its high-grade crystal. You even dared to ignore his orders. Do you really think you can run wild in my territory just because you have some trivial strength?"
Chen Feng stepped forward and pointed at Lin Mo, shouting loudly, "Senior Brother Li, this man is arrogant and lawless! He openly defies you and monopolizes the resources of the Forbidden Mountains! He should be expelled from the training camp immediately!"
The other two disciples echoed in agreement, trying to fan the flames.
Lin Mo stood still, his gaze calm as he looked at Li Chen. He felt no fear, only a faint sense of coldness. Li Chen had sent people to kill him in the ancient ruin, and now he blocked his way here. This grudge could no longer be resolved peacefully.
"This spiritual pool is ownerless. Whoever finds it owns it. I killed the Scarlet Flame Tiger with my own strength, so the crystal belongs to me," Lin Mo said calmly, his voice clear and firm. "As for defying you… you are just the top inner sect disciple, not the ruler of the sect. I have no reason to obey your every command."
The crowd was shocked. No one had ever dared to speak to Li Chen like this. Even the elders of the sect treated him with courtesy, let alone ordinary disciples.
Li Chen's smile faded, and a terrifying coldness spread across his face. His cultivation base at the 7th Level of Qi Refining burst out without reservation, pressing toward Lin Mo like a towering wave. The powerful aura made Chen Feng and the others retreat quickly, their faces pale with fear.
"Bold!" Li Chen shouted coldly. "A nobody who climbed up from the outer sect dares to contradict me? Today, I will teach you what it means to respect your seniors!"
He took a step forward, and the ground under his feet cracked slightly. In an instant, he appeared in front of Lin Mo, his right hand condensed with sharp spiritual energy, slapping toward Lin Mo's face. This slap carried the full power of the 7th Level of Qi Refining, enough to seriously injure or even kill a 5th Level cultivator.
Lin Mo's eyes sharpened. He did not hesitate to activate Cloud Step, his body turning into a faint blur, narrowly dodging the attack. Li Chen's palm landed on the rock behind him, smashing the boulder into pieces.
"Your movement technique is quite good," Li Chen said coldly, his eyes filled with killing intent. "But it's useless. In front of absolute strength, any trick is meaningless."
He attacked again, his fists like storm clouds, covering all of Lin Mo's escape routes. Every punch carried the power to shatter metal and stone, leaving no room for mercy.
Lin Mo's mind was clear. He knew he could not fight Li Chen head-on. The gap between the 5th Level and 7th Level of Qi Refining was too huge. He could only rely on Cloud Step to dodge continuously, looking for an opportunity to counterattack.
Dodging again and again, Lin Mo's body moved through the gaps of Li Chen's attacks like a willow branch in the wind. His advanced body-tempering technique provided him with amazing agility and reaction speed, allowing him to barely hold on.
[Ding! Host is evading high-level enemy attacks. Cloud Step progress increased to 70%!]
[Ding! Host is under high-pressure combat. Advanced Body-Tempering Technique progress increased to 85%!]
The system's prompts sounded continuously, and Lin Mo's skills were improving rapidly in the life-and-death battle.
Li Chen's attacks became more and more violent, but he could not hit Lin Mo. His face grew more and more ugly, and his anger burned like fire. He, the proud top inner sect disciple, could not even hit a mere 5th Level cultivator? It was a great shame.
"Trash! Don't keep dodging! Fight me head-on!" Li Chen roared.
Lin Mo's eyes flashed. He seized a moment when Li Chen's attack was exhausted, suddenly stopped dodging, and poured all his spiritual energy into his sword.
"Steady Strike!"
A bright white light burst out, carrying all of Lin Mo's current strength, slashing toward Li Chen's arm. This was his strongest attack, and he put all his hopes on this strike.
Li Chen's face changed slightly. He did not expect Lin Mo to dare to counterattack, and the power of this strike far exceeded his expectations. He quickly retreated, but the sword still grazed his arm, leaving a shallow bloodstain.
The entire scene fell into silence.
Everyone stared at the bloodstain on Li Chen's arm in disbelief. Lin Mo, a 5th Level cultivator, had actually injured Li Chen, who was at the 7th Level of Qi Refining!
Li Chen looked at his arm, his eyes filled with monstrous killing intent. He had never been so humiliated in his life.
"Very good… very good…" Li Chen said word by word, his voice trembling with rage. "You are the first person who dares to hurt me. Today, I will crush you into ashes!"
He raised his hand, and a fierce spiritual light condensed in his palm. This was his ultimate move, enough to kill any disciple below the 7th Level of Qi Refining.
Lin Mo's heart sank. He knew he could not block this attack.
At this critical moment, a loud bell suddenly rang through the entire Forbidden Mountains.
The bell rang three times, clear and far-reaching.
Li Chen's expression changed drastically. He abruptly stopped his attack, his face full of unwillingness.
"The training camp assembly bell… it's the time for the mid-camp assessment!" Chen Feng exclaimed.
The rules of the training camp strictly prohibited fighting after the assembly bell rang. Violators would be immediately disqualified and expelled from the sect.
Li Chen stared at Lin Mo, his eyes filled with endless malice.
"Lin Mo, you're lucky this time. But this grudge is not over. Wait until the final ranking battle. I will personally crush you in front of the entire sect!"
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left with Chen Feng and the others.
Lin Mo stood in place, slowly sheathing his sword. His back was already soaked with cold sweat. Just now, he had been on the edge of life and death.
But he did not back down. He had injured Li Chen, and he had proved his courage and strength.
[Ding! Host has confronted Li Chen and survived. Steady Points +500!]
[Ding! Cloud Step has broken through to Mastery!]
[Ding! Advanced Body-Tempering Technique has broken through to Mastery!]
Lin Mo looked at his system panel, a faint smile appearing on his face.
This battle had brought him huge gains. His strength had taken another step forward.
The mid-camp assembly was about to begin. All disciples would gather to count their resources and determine their temporary rankings.
Lin Mo took a deep breath and walked toward the direction of the bell.
The storm was just beginning. In the final ranking battle, he would face Li Chen again.
This time, he would not retreat.