The senior disciple's voice echoed through the courtyard as he announced the final trial: the Beast Life Essence Hunt. A wave of excitement and anxiety rippled through the aspirants. Those who had survived the first rounds of combat now faced the true test of their potential.
"To become an outer disciple of Lotus Cloud Sect, you must prove your ability to hunt spiritual beasts and extract their life essence," the senior disciple explained, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "In a moment, we will open a separate space, a majestic forest where spiritual beasts roam freely. Each of you must hunt and extract five life essences. Only then will you pass this trial."
The murmur of excitement grew louder. Spiritual beasts were known for their cunning and power, and the process of extracting their life essence required skill beyond brute force. It was a test of intelligence, combat ability, and mastery of Qi.
Shen Yuan stood silently among the crowd, his cold gaze fixed on the portal that was forming at the center of the courtyard. He had no doubts about his ability to pass this test. After all, his year of cultivation with the "Dark Qi Condensation Art" had prepared him to deal with far more than simple beasts. If he couldn't hunt some grade 1 beasts, then he should forget about his path as well.
Grade 1 beasts were the spiritual beast equivalent of the Foundation Establishment.
As the portal shimmered to life, the senior disciple continued, "Be warned—spiritual beasts are not to be underestimated. The life essence hunt is dangerous, and only the strong will return. Now, enter the forest and let the hunt begin!"
Without hesitation, Shen Yuan stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the portal. The sensation of space warping around him lasted only a moment, and then he found himself standing in the middle of a vast and majestic forest, with tall mountains and valleys here and there.
The forest, which was a separate space, was a world unto itself, with towering trees that seemed to reach the heavens, their leaves glowing faintly with spiritual energy. The air was thick with the presence of spiritual beasts, their roars echoing in the distance. A soft mist clung to the ground, swirling around the ancient roots and fallen leaves.
Shen Yuan moved silently, his senses sharp. The forest was beautiful, but it was also a battlefield. He could sense the life force of the beasts all around him, their Qi signatures radiating from different directions. His goal was clear—hunt five, no more, no less. Efficiency was key. No showing off or anything, just hunt and hunt until victory.
As he moved deeper into the forest, he spotted his first target: a silver-furred lynx prowling along a rocky ridge, its fur shimmering with spiritual energy. It hadn't yet noticed him.
With a flick of his wrist, Shen Yuan summoned his Qi. Dark energy surged through him, and his body blurred as he moved. The lynx only had time to turn its head before Shen Yuan struck, his palm infused with dark energy. The lynx let out a final yelp as its body went limp, the life essence already being extracted by Shen Yuan's cold grasp.
One down.
Shen Yuan continued his hunt, moving from one beast to the next with surgical precision. A thunder-horned rhino, a flame-winged sparrow, a jade-scaled serpent—each fell swiftly to his power, their life essence absorbed into his storage bag.
By the time he had gathered four life essences, he noticed something unusual. A powerful aura was nearby, not from a beast, but from another aspirant.
Shen Yuan narrowed his eyes as he recognized the figure in the distance—a tall, slender youth wearing his iconic blue robe, named Tang Jiyan. He remembered how Tang had made him feel intimidated, which didn't frustrate Shen Yuan. Instead, it made a smirk appear on his face, as devilish as a moonless night. As Shen Yuan watched, Tang Jiyan struck down a massive boar-like beast, its life essence surging into his storage bag.
Tang Jiyan's face was calm, but his eyes shone with determination. He had already collected five essences, and now, with a swift motion, he captured a sixth. The sheer audacity of it didn't go unnoticed by Shen Yuan. How dare he show off?
"So, this Tang Jiyan is aiming to show off," Shen Yuan thought, a cold smirk tugging at his lips. "Six essences? He's trying to make a statement!"
But Shen Yuan had no interest in competing over numbers. His goal was simple: pass the test, and then move on to his true path. He turned away from Tang Jiyan, his focus back on his own task.
This time, his final beast was a golden-eyed eagle. It was famous for its speed and was said to be venerable among grade 1 spiritual beasts. Alas, it met Shen Yuan today.
The beast rushed towards Shen Yuan, its speed at least similar, if not close to, Shen Yuan's. As it approached dangerously close, Shen Yuan jumped over it and, with a swift, deadly dark-Qi-infused fist, cut off its head. Blood gushed everywhere, painting the serene green into that of blood red. As the life essence flowed into his storage bag, Shen Yuan felt a surge of satisfaction. He could sense the energy brimming within the pouch, and with a final glance around the forest, he made his way back to the portal, traveling over 50 km in just a few steps.
When he arrived, a few other aspirants had already returned, their expressions ranging from exhaustion to quiet triumph. Among them was Tang Jiyan, who stood confidently, his storage bag glowing faintly with the six life essences he had collected.
As Shen Yuan approached, Tang Jiyan's eyes flicked toward him, his expression unreadable.
"You only collected five?" Tang Jiyan asked, his tone laced with subtle challenge.
Shen Yuan met his gaze without flinching. "Five is what was required. No more, no less."
Tang Jiyan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I suppose that's one way to look at it. But those who want to stand out will always go beyond what's required."
Shen Yuan said nothing, his expression calm. He had no need to prove himself to Tang Jiyan. Their paths were different, and he had no interest in petty rivalries. But even so, he noted the youth's ambition—Tang Jiyan would be a rival, whether Shen Yuan acknowledged him or not.
The senior disciple appeared once the last of the aspirants had returned. He scanned the group, his eyes pausing on Tang Jiyan and on Shen Yuan for a moment before addressing everyone.
"Well done. You have completed the Beast Life Essence Hunt. Those who have returned with the required five life essences—or more—have passed this trial. You are now outer disciples of the Lotus Cloud Sect."
A wave of relief washed over the group. Some collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, while others, like Tang Jiyan, stood tall, radiating confidence.
Shen Yuan, however, remained indifferent. He had passed the trial, as expected. But in his heart, he knew this was only the beginning. Lotus Cloud Sect was merely a stepping stone in his journey to true power.
And as he glanced once more at Tang Jiyan, a flicker of anticipation stirred within him. Rivals or not, the path ahead would be one of conflict, and Shen Yuan was prepared for it.