"Pu—!"
Yefan didn't even have time to catch his breath before Chu Tianyu's ambush struck home. A blade pierced his chest, and scarlet blood burst forth violently.
His entire body was soaked in blood. Even the silver robe he wore was dyed a horrifying crimson.
The overwhelming pain blurred his vision. Unable to support his own weight any longer, Yefan collapsed to the ground.
"Fan'er!"
At the exit of the Demonic Beast Forest, Xuan Changxi sat rigidly in place. Through the crystal orb before him, he witnessed the scene—and nearly exploded with rage, rising to rush into the forest.
"Elder Xuan, please calm yourself. During the selection trial, no non-participant is permitted to interfere…"
Chu Tianyang spoke calmly, though a cold sneer curled in his heart.
"Calm?!" Xuan Changxi roared. "Chu Tianyang, you actually have the nerve to say that?!"
He raised his hand, nearly slapping the shameless man before him.
"Elder Changxi," an enforcer from Xuan Spirit Sect stepped forward, blocking his path."Since your son has not crushed his jade token, it means he has not given up—and his life is not in immediate danger. Please restrain yourself."
Xuan Changxi froze. After a long moment, he slowly lowered his hand.
All he could do now was pray that Yefan would survive this calamity.
The Demonic Beast Forest.
Rain poured down relentlessly. The already slick ground turned soft and treacherous—one misstep was enough to sink into a mud pit.
"Chu Tianyu!"
Xuan Zhenxi arrived just in time. Seeing the scene, he roared in fury and slashed forward.
"Blazing Slash!"
"No need to shout so loudly—I can hear you just fine, Xuan Zhenxi!"
Chu Tianyu laughed maniacally. Forming a hand seal, he opened his mouth—and a torrent of water-attribute qi surged from his dantian, blasting outward.
"Water Flow Bullet!"
Fire and water collided, restraining one another. For a brief moment they stalemated—then both shattered and dispersed in a violent burst.
"You bastard!"
Chu Tianyu had orchestrated everything—using his younger brother to lure the Wind Wolves, setting an ambush to kill Yefan.
How could Xuan Zhenxi not be enraged?
He stomped forward. The muddy ground failed to slow him in the slightest. Fire qi gathered violently around his body, the terrifying pressure evaporating the rain before it even reached him.
Chu Tianyu hurriedly formed seals, preparing a water shield.
But—
Yefan, who lay beneath the grass, was not unconscious.
With a sudden burst of terrifying strength, he reached out and grabbed Chu Tianyu's ankle, locking it in place.
"You worthless trash—let go!"
Chu Tianyu drew his sword and slashed downward, cleaving into Yefan's arm. Blood sprayed as unbearable pain crashed through Yefan's body, forcing a scream from his throat.
"Go keep company with the poisonous bugs!"
Chu Tianyu kicked Yefan free, sending him flying into the cave.
All of this happened within mere breaths—but it delayed Chu Tianyu just long enough.
Before he could fully form his water shield, Xuan Zhenxi's attack arrived.
"Blazing Fist!"
Like a bolt of lightning, Xuan Zhenxi appeared before him.
Boom!
A flame-wreathed fist smashed into Chu Tianyu, blasting him several meters back—only for Chu Tianxi to rush in and save him.
"Awoooo—!"
Behind them, the Wind Wolves continued their pursuit.
At this point, even Xuan Zhenxi realized the truth.
The real culprit was Chu Tianxi.
He had spread beast-attracting incense on himself, deliberately luring the Wind Wolves toward Yefan and Xuan Zhenxi.
"Damn it!"
Xuan Zhenxi was furious that he couldn't finish Chu Tianyu here—but the situation left no room for pursuit.
He turned sharply and rushed toward the cave.
"You're still too naive… Xuan Zhenxi."
After being rescued, Chu Tianyu swallowed a healing pill and vanished into the forest with Chu Tianxi.
As Xuan Zhenxi neared the cave, dozens of Wind Wolves were already waiting.
Howls erupted as they closed in from all directions.
"So that's it…!"
Only now did Xuan Zhenxi realize—when Chu Tianyu exited the cave earlier, he had already scattered beast-attracting incense here.
With no time to think, Xuan Zhenxi swung his greatsword wildly, drawing the Wind Wolves away from the cave.
Hold on, Yefan…Once I clear them out, I'll come back for you.
Inside the cave—
"Ugh…"
Yefan finally regained consciousness, slumped against the stone wall. He opened his eyes weakly, but the torrential rain and deep night rendered the cave pitch-black.
"The pouch… dropped outside during the fight. With my current condition—and the Wind Wolves still waiting outside…"
He coughed violently.
"Looks like I'll have to endure this…"
Raising a trembling finger, Yefan summoned a tiny flame.
"At times like this… even a Mystic-grade spiritual root has its uses."
Even on the brink of death, he managed a bitter joke.
The faint flame illuminated the cave—
And his scalp tingled.
Poisonous insects and scorpions crawled across his arms and legs.
Yefan tried to brush them away—but he was too slow.
His face turned deathly pale as venom spread rapidly through his body. His vision darkened once more.
"So heavy… my body…"
As consciousness slipped away, fragments of memory surfaced.
"Who is he?"
"Isn't he Elder Changxi's adopted son?"
"Why did the sect let someone like this in?"
"Only a Mystic-grade spiritual root?"
"Trash!"
"Freeloader!"
"Get out of Xuan Sect!"
Then—
A figure in an orange robe appeared.
"He's my brother!"
"Who dares touch him?"
"Aren't I still here?"
"With me around, you'll crush everything in your path!"
"Brother…"
As Yefan's eyes nearly closed, he saw it—
A glowing sphere of light in the darkness.
Like a temptation.
Like salvation.
Driven by instinct, Yefan crawled toward it. Blood smeared across the ground with every inch he moved.
The moment his fingertip touched the light—
BOOM!
A violent surge of spiritual energy erupted, instantly shattering the poisonous insects into foul-smelling sludge.
The light seemed to sense Yefan's condition. A gentle green radiance enveloped him.
Before his eyes—
His wounds began to heal.
(To be continued…)