Night had settled over the Nine Azure Sect. Most of the newly accepted disciples had retired to their assigned quarters in the outer court, preparing for the following day's trial. Some were already asleep, while others remained awake, discussing what awaited them in the Black Wood Forest.
Inside Room 407, Lin Feng sat cross-legged on a straw mat. The room was small, with little furniture beyond a wooden bed, a table, and a few personal belongings. Moonlight entered through the gaps in the wooden shutters, illuminating the ring resting on his right middle finger.
It was the same worn black ring he had found in the mountain ravine.
However, it no longer looked like an ordinary piece of rusted iron. Faint crimson lines had appeared beneath its surface, glowing and fading in a rhythm that seemed to follow his heartbeat.
Lin Feng stared at it.
He had been waiting since the evening, hoping to hear the mysterious voice again.
"Boy."
A rough voice suddenly sounded inside his mind.
Lin Feng flinched and looked around the room. After confirming that nobody else was there, he lowered his gaze towards the ring.
"Senior? Are you awake?"
"Awake? Hmph. You nearly exhausted what little remained of my soul energy when you activated that Dark-Attribute Heavenly Spirit Root during the examination."
The voice sounded irritated, as though Lin Feng had personally inconvenienced it.
Lin Feng hesitated before asking, "So it really was you? I thought I had imagined that voice yesterday."
"Of course it was me. Who else did you expect to find inside that ring?"
Lin Feng looked at the ring again.
"Then... what exactly happened during the examination?"
The voice gave a dry laugh.
"That old fool Elder Han thinks you reached your current cultivation through your own efforts. He doesn't know that my Immortal Fiend Technique has been helping reconstruct your physical foundation while you sleep."
Lin Feng looked down at his hands.
He had noticed some changes in his body over the past few days. His muscles felt stronger, and the physical strain he usually experienced after working in the kitchens had become much less noticeable.
"Does that mean the technique has been improving my Body Tempering cultivation?"
"At least you understand that much."
Lin Feng remained silent for a moment before remembering something.
"Tomorrow is the Trial of Survival. Ye Xuan didn't look particularly happy about my result. If he decides to cause trouble in the forest, what should I do?"
"Let him come if he wants."
The voice sounded unconcerned.
"Someone who has spent his life relying on his family's resources might not be as capable as he thinks. But don't underestimate him simply because he's wealthy. Resources can make a considerable difference in cultivation."
Lin Feng nodded slightly.
"There's something else you should know. The Black Wood Forest isn't just home to ordinary beasts. There are things in that place that even I had reason to avoid in the past."
Lin Feng's expression became serious.
"Then what should I do?"
"First, improve your cultivation. Reach Body Tempering, Level 6 before sunrise."
"Before sunrise?"
"Did I stutter?"
Lin Feng hesitated. Advancing another level overnight would not be easy, even with the technique's assistance.
The voice continued before he could respond.
"And don't assume that reaching Level 6 will make you invincible. You still have a long way to go. If you make a foolish decision tomorrow, I won't be able to save you from every consequence."
Lin Feng took a breath and closed his eyes.
He had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
As he began cultivating, the ring gave off a faint crimson glow. The Qi he absorbed was gradually used to refine his physical constitution, strengthening the foundation he had already developed.
The room eventually fell silent.
Elsewhere, in a private pavilion reserved for important guests and noble descendants, Ye Xuan stood on an open balcony overlooking the sect grounds.
The night was quiet. Far beyond the surrounding buildings, the Black Wood Forest formed a dark outline against the distant mountains.
A man dressed in black leather armour approached from behind. He stopped a few steps away and bowed.
"Young Master."
Ye Xuan didn't turn around.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes. Three servants from the inner court, each at Body Tempering, Level 6, have been included among tomorrow's participants. They will enter the forest with the other candidates."
Ye Xuan held a cup of aged spirit wine in one hand.
"And Lin Feng?"
"We'll make sure he doesn't return."
Ye Xuan took a moment before responding.
"Don't act carelessly. He's only a kitchen servant, but his result during today's examination attracted considerable attention. If anything goes wrong, the elders may investigate."
"Understood."
"Once he reaches the deeper part of the forest, make it look like an encounter with a spirit beast. There shouldn't be anything connecting us to his disappearance."
The man bowed again.
"It will be done."
Ye Xuan finally turned his head slightly.
"And don't involve the others unnecessarily. I have no interest in creating problems with the entire group over one person."
"Understood, Young Master."
The man withdrew into the darkness.
Ye Xuan returned his attention to the forest.
"A kitchen servant who happens to possess a good spiritual root..."
He took another sip of wine.
"Does he really think that makes him my equal?"
His expression remained cold.
"Spiritual roots are only the beginning. Family background, resources, experience, and the ability to make difficult decisions all matter. A good starting point doesn't guarantee a good future."
He placed the cup on the nearby table.
"Let him learn that tomorrow."
Ye Xuan had little interest in the other candidates either. Mu Chen and Chu Wan'er might have shown promising results, but he considered the Nine Azure Sect only the beginning of his cultivation journey.
His ambitions extended far beyond its boundaries.
The following morning, the sound of a horn echoed through the outer court.
The newly accepted disciples gathered at the northern gate. More than a thousand youths had assembled, many carrying their belongings and looking towards the entrance ahead.
A massive wall made of ironwood separated the sect's outer territory from the Black Wood Forest. Beyond its gates lay an extensive wilderness that had remained largely untouched by ordinary settlements.
The forest covered a vast area. Its dense canopy consisted mainly of iron-leaf trees, whose overlapping branches blocked much of the sunlight. Various spirit beasts inhabited its depths, and certain areas were known for their poisonous vapours and the remains of ancient structures.
For the new disciples, it would be their first opportunity to experience the dangers outside the sect's protected grounds.
Elder Han stood on a timber watchtower overlooking the gathering.
"Everyone, pay attention. I'll explain the rules of the trial once, so listen carefully."
The conversations gradually stopped.
"You have three days to complete the trial. Each of you has been given a wooden Sect Token. To qualify for formal admission into the outer court, you must collect at least five tokens from other participants or return with the core of a Level 2 Spirit Beast."
A few candidates exchanged uneasy glances.
Collecting tokens from other participants meant that they would have to compete against one another. Some might cooperate, while others would inevitably resort to taking tokens by force.
Elder Han continued.
"Taking another participant's token is permitted. However, deliberately killing another candidate is forbidden. The forest contains enough dangers without adding unnecessary conflicts between yourselves."
He paused before explaining the next rule.
"If your Sect Token is broken, a rescue elder will be dispatched to your location. However, doing so will immediately end your participation in the trial. You will be disqualified and sent back to the mortal settlements."
A wave of nervous murmuring passed through the gathering.
Some candidates looked towards the forest with renewed caution. Others appeared more concerned about the possibility of losing their tokens to stronger participants.
Elder Han waited until they had settled down.
"Remember, this trial is meant to test your judgement and ability to survive. Don't assume that the strongest candidate will necessarily be the one who succeeds."
He raised his hand and gave the signal.
"Open the gates!"
The massive ironwood doors began to move. Their heavy hinges groaned as the entrance gradually widened, revealing the dark forest beyond.
The candidates began entering.
Some hurried forward, hoping to get ahead of the others. A few formed groups before crossing the entrance, while others preferred to wait until the crowd had thinned.
Within minutes, the gathering had begun to disperse into the forest.
The Trial of Survival had officially begun.