Elder Qingshan's voice carried across the clearing one final time.
"Those who passed, you have a choice."
The hundred qualifying disciples turned their attention to the five sect representatives.
"Option one," Elder Qingshan continued. "Follow your chosen sect's representative now. Return with them to the sect. Be accepted as outer sect disciples immediately."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"Option two. Make your own way through the mountain range to reach the Immortal Sword Sect. The journey is approximately three hundred kilometers through territory filled with Fourth and Fifth Rank spirit beasts. Those who survive and arrive within one week will be accepted as inner sect disciples."
Whispers erupted immediately.
"Inner sect?"
"That's—that's two full ranks above outer—"
"But the beasts—"
"Fifth Rank are King realm beasts"
Elder Qingshan raised his hand and silence fell.
"Choose now."
Long Chen stood near the back of the crowd, weighing his options.
Outer sect was safe. Guaranteed. He'd get training, resources, access to techniques. Everything a normal cultivator needed.
But inner sect...
The difference wasn't just prestige. Inner sect disciples received better pills, higher-grade techniques, personal instruction from elders. They had access to secret realms and forbidden areas.
And more importantly—faster growth.
'I need to get stronger, yes but not by killing myself. This is not my world.'
He was about to step toward the sect elder when something stopped him.
A voice. Thin. Directed. And only in his head.
*Don't follow them.*
Long Chen's eyes flicked sideways. Dugu Jian stood twenty meters away, hands clasped behind his back, looking straight ahead.
The mental transmission had come from him.
*Take the mountain route. Trust me.*
Then the connection cut off.
Long Chen's jaw tightened. He didn't know what Jian was planning. Didn't know why the Protagonist wanted him to choose the dangerous path.
But Jian had warned him about the Clan Master before. Had proven himself trustworthy, and he knew how strong he was, at least in that aspect.
And honestly? Long Chen had been leaning toward the mountain route anyway.
He stepped forward, separating himself from the main group heading toward the sect representatives.
A few other disciples made the same choice. Maybe ten total.
Then nine of them looked at the Fifth Rank beast territory ahead, reconsidered, and rejoined the safe group.
Only two remained.
Long Chen.
And Dugu Jian.
Elder Qingshan's eyebrows rose slightly. "Only two? Brave. Or foolish." He gestured toward the mountains. "Head northeast. The sect lies beyond the Beast king Pass. You have one week."
The other disciples—the ninety-eight who'd chosen safety—began boarding their respective sect's transportation. Flying boats. Spiritual constructs. One sect even had a massive bird that could carry twenty people.
Within minutes, they were gone.
Long Chen and Dugu Jian stood alone in the clearing.
The sect representatives departed last, their figures vanishing into the sky without a backward glance.
Silence settled over the mountain range.
Jian turned and started walking. Long Chen followed, keeping a few meters of distance between him.
They walked for maybe twenty minutes before Long Chen finally spoke.
"Why?"
Jian glanced back, a faint smile on his face. "Why what?"
"Why tell me not to follow them? Why take the dangerous route?"
"Two reasons." Jian's smile widened slightly. "First—to get rid of rats. Second—to collect treasures along the way."
Long Chen's eyebrows drew together. "Rats?"
"Yes, rats."
That wasn't an answer. Long Chen opened his mouth to press further when he felt it.
Spiritual pressure. Heavy, oppressive and coming from ahead.
Two figures stepped out from between the trees.
Long Chen's breath caught.
The Clan Master, Dugu Han. His robes pristine, his expression calm, his presence radiating King Realm cultivation that pressed down on everything nearby.
And beside him, another elder. Long Chen didn't recognize him, but the man's aura matched the Clan Master's strength.
King Realm. Both of them.
Dugu Han smiled pleasantly. "Young Clan Master. And... Long Chen. How fortunate that you chose this path."
Long Chen's hand moved instinctively toward Demon Dweller's hilt. His mind raced.
'They followed us. Waited until we were alone.'
"Clan Master," Jian said calmly, not a trace of surprise in his voice. "Elder Feng. I didn't expect you to make the journey personally."
"Of course I did." Dugu Han's smile didn't waver. "I'm here for the treasure that changed your fates."
"Treasures? Do you really believe a treasure can change my fate." Dugu jian said with a smile on his face.
"Oh still denying? And how about you Long Chen, care to tell me what that golden liquid that increased the springs spiritual energy was? Or that dragon apparition you claim is your martial spirit."
Long Chen's chest tightened.
'Wow this fool thinks my bloodline is a treasure and wants to steal it." Long Chen thought to himself.
And now, with no witnesses, no sect representatives, no one to interfere...
'He's going to take it.'
Long Chen felt something twist in his stomach. Not fear exactly. Something else. A cold calculation mixed with—
Was that excitement?
Dugu Jian's mental voice entered his head again.
*Change of plans.*
Long Chen's eyes flicked toward him.
*I didn't expect two King Realm experts. We'll have to split them up and take them separately.*
Long Chen's mouth went dry. 'Split them? Take them separately, Is he insane?'
*You take Elder Feng. I'll handle the Clan Master.*
'I'm at the Qi Gathering Realm! He's King Realm! That's—'
"Three full realms higher, I know.* Jian's mental tone carried amusement. *You'll manage.*
'How—'
*Don't give me that crap, you may be complaining but I can see no fear in your eyes . I can tell.* Jian's eyes met his briefly. *So stop. And try not to die.*
The mental connection severed.
Long Chen stood there, mind spinning. Jian wanted him to fight a King Realm cultivator. That was suicide. Impossible. No amount of talent bridged that gap.
But...
Long Chen looked down at his hands. Felt the qi circulating through his body. Felt Demon Dweller's weight at his waist. Felt his dragon bloodline trembling beneath his skin.
And deeper, in a place he didn't want to examine too closely, he felt something else.
That dream. The battlefield. The killing intent that had seeped into him before his martial spirit shattered it.
It hadn't left completely.
Ever since that night, something had changed. When he fought, when he killed, there was a moment—just a flicker—where it felt... good.
Not satisfying like completing a task. Good like scratching an itch he hadn't known existed.
The thought should've terrified him.
Instead, Long Chen felt his lips curl into a faint smile. His entire being trembling in what he could only title as…
Excitement!! Extreme excitement
'Why not?'
He'd survived assassins. Climbed the tower. Crippled Shenlie. Faced Dugu Jian and walked away.
A King Realm expert?
That was just another challenge.
And somewhere deep in his chest, beneath the rational fear and tactical thinking, something whispered that it wanted to try.
Wanted to see blood.
Wanted to fight.
Wanted to win.
Long Chen's hand closed around Demon Dweller's hilt, and for just a moment, the cursed blade pulsed in response.
Almost like it was pleased.
"I'll take elder Feng," Long Chen said quietly.
Dugu Jian's smile widened. "Good."
The Clan Master's expression shifted. The pleasant mask slipped, replaced by something colder. "You think you can fight us? Children playing at war."
"Maybe," Jian said. He took a step forward, and suddenly his aura exploded outward. Peak Qi Gathering Realm, dense and refined, but that was not all, his aura started increasing.
Foundation Establishment
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
It finally settled at stage 6 just as his cultivation Aura settled, an indescribable pressure surrounded him, immediately the pressure appeared, everyone's sword threatened to fly out of their sheath.
Sword Intent. Real. Fully formed. Pressing down on the clearing like a physical weight.
The Clan Master's smile vanished completely. A trace of caution now on his face . "Foundation Establishment and you've already comprehended Intent? Worthy to be my son. No wonder the two I sent after you didn't survive."
"Son? If only you knew who I was" Jian's hand moved toward his sword. "Come weakling show me all you have."
Dugu Han's eyes narrowed. "Elder Feng. Take the servant. I'll handle my son."
Elder Feng nodded. He stepped forward, spiritual pressure rolling off him in waves. King Realm Stage 1 at minimum. Maybe higher.
He looked at Long Chen with something between pity and contempt. "This won't take long."
Long Chen drew Demon Dweller.
The cursed blade sang as it left its sheath, and for the first time since claiming it, Long Chen didn't suppress the whisper of killing intent that came with it.
He let it flow. Let it mix with his dragon bloodline. Let it sharpen his focus until the world narrowed to two things:
Him.
And the enemy in front of him.
Elder Feng's expression shifted slightly. Just a flicker of uncertainty.
Long Chen's smile widened.
"Oh No," he said quietly. "It won't."