As the first trial neared its end, Linfei moved swiftly through the battered forest, the aftermath of conflict evident in broken trees and exhausted contestants. Amid the chaos, a woman with a chilling aura strode into the clearing—her dark blue robe embroidered with a silver tanghua flower. She was introduced as Tang Yue, the Tang family's icy prodigy.
Her eyes, cold as winter frost, scanned a pack of slavering spirit hyenas circling the carnage. With measured calm, she launched her signature palm technique, the Frozen Lotus Palm, sending blasts of condensed Qi that instantly froze the leading hyena mid-charge. Precise, fluid strikes cascaded from her hands, shattering the beasts and leaving crystalline devastation in her wake. Contestants watching trembled at her ruthless efficiency—she dispatched the entire pack in moments, cold and unyielding.
Elsewhere, participants sprinted desperately through the thinning woods, hunting last monsters or ambushing rivals for any remaining cores. The sky glowed with sunset, signaling the imminent close of the first trial. The cruel nature of the tournament was laid bare: those too slow or timid were either driven out or fell prey to savagery. Disturbed by the relentless violence and shifting alliances, many young cultivators chose to quit, shaken by the true harshness of martial arts.
Finally, the spirit barrier rippled at the edge of the forest, heralding the first round's end. Survivors—bloodied, weary, and hardened—emerged from the shadowy wilds, clutching monster cores, weapons, and battered pride. Tang Yue strode silently to the ranking pillar, her frosty demeanor inspiring awe even among her fellow elites.
For many, this trial was a brutal awakening—a test and lesson in the merciless world of cultivation. Scarred, yet wiser, they knew that strength and resolve must guide them further on the path. Linfei, Tang Yue, and countless others now prepared to face what came next, their ambitions burning brighter against the darkness.