Linfei entered the dense shadows of the Azure Forest as the barrier dissolved, his senses honing in on every rustle and flicker in the undergrowth. With sharpened focus and pulsing Qi, he tracked a pack of spirit wolves weaving between the gnarled trees. The beasts moved as one, shifting formation to pursue deer, then turning with snarling precision at Linfei's approach.
He crouched, blending Swift Serpent Steps and Iron Fist Boxing, launching a surprise attack on the nearest wolf. His fists met fur and muscle; Qi-empowered strikes stunned the leader, scattering the pack. Linfei pressed the advantage, knocking two more wolves aside and capturing spirit cores as proof of the hunt.
Elsewhere in the forest, three silent figures dressed in black slipped between the mossy trunks—assassins sent by Lin family elders. Sharp eyes and poisoned blades, their mission was clear: eliminate Linfei. They blended with the shadows, stalking closer whenever a fight or distraction drew Linfei's focus.
In another corner, the Bai family's young genius, Bai Xun, faced off against a massive spirit tiger. His blade danced in arcs of blue flame, his Qi shaping into defensive walls. The tiger roared and pounced, but Bai Xun's skill was supreme. In an intense flurry, he subdued the beast, claiming its striped pelt and rare core, solidifying his place among the tournament elites.
Yet, not all participants were so fortunate. Cries rang out as monster attacks claimed lives—spirit boars trampling careless cultivators, venomous insects swarming those separated from their groups, and cruel claws ripping through defensive lines. Some died to the forest's dangers, others fell to the brutality of fellow contestants who ambushed rivals for monster cores and higher ranks.
At one clearing, a broad-shouldered brute shattered a stone-skinned lizard with his bare hands. Bellowing in triumph, he carried spoils toward the ranking pillar, his strength a warning to others.
Throughout the chaos, Linfei moved deliberately—defending, hunting, outwitting packs and lone predators. The forest pulsed with deadly opportunity; only those who endured its trials would step forward into glory. And through the branches, hidden eyes watched, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.