The forest's shadows deepened as Linfei stalked through the thickets, hunting a beast rumored to roam the region—a towering horned boar with fiery breath. Each step was measured, his senses attuned to the subtle shifts in the underbrush and the restless energy of nearby monsters.
Twisting through the trees, he suddenly sensed movement behind him—three competitors emerging in perfect formation, eyes gleaming with ill intent. "Hand over your belongings, Linfei," the tallest sneered arrogantly. "You're outmatched, so spare yourself the pain."
Linfei's fists clenched. "Dream on."
The trio lunged in coordinated attack, blending their martial arts skills seamlessly—striking from opposite angles, one targeting to snatch, another to disable, and the third providing cover with slashing blows. The fight erupted in a flurry of clashing force and defensive maneuvers.
Drawing deep on the silver ring's energy, Linfei mirrored their assassin-like agility and tactics. Dodging snatches, he countered with clean and powerful palm strikes that sent the first assailant sprawling. He grabbed a fallen weapon and disabled the second assailant with a precise joint lock, leaving him groaning. The third fled, dropping a rare monster core in his panicked haste.
Elsewhere in the vast Azure Forest, the ferocity of the tournament was palpable. Bai family's prodigy engaged in a tense battle against a gargantuan spirit tiger, dancing between pounces with expert bladework. Nearby, a broad-shouldered man crushed a rocky-scaled beast with bare hands, his roars echoing through the canopy.
Yet the ruthless contest left many fearing for their lives. Young combatants, overwhelmed by the ceaseless dangers of monsters and ruthless peers alike, quietly withdrew from the fray, unwilling to gamble their future further amid the brutal wild.
In hidden corners of the forest, shadows twisted into shape—assassins exploiting the chaos. Their leaders bribed weaker contestants with silver and promises, using them as cannon fodder to mask their deadly schemes targeting Linfei. The game of survival and sabotage was only beginning.