The morning wind was crisp as Lin Chen stepped out of his quarters, arms raised in a lazy stretch.
"Ahhh… Another fine day to make people nervous," he yawned, joints popping like firecrackers.
His lips quirked into a smirk.
"Wang Fei? Zhang Kui? Hah. Forgotten already. The new boogeyman's name is Lin Chen now."
---
As he strolled through the outer sect grounds, whispers rippled behind him.
"That's him… the one Elder Mo summoned."
"They say he's already accepted a Hidden Trial mission."
"Didn't he flatten Zhang Kui? At 4th stage Qi Condensation?"
"Shh! Don't make eye contact—he slaps first, asks questions never!"
Lin Chen chuckled as he passed.
"Good, good. Fear keeps the mosquitoes away."
---
At the mission hall, an elder disciple in gray robes blinked when Lin Chen walked in.
"You… Lin Chen? You're here to pick up your trial token?"
Lin Chen leaned an elbow on the counter, grinning.
"Unless you think I came here to join the choir."
The elder disciple flushed, fumbling with scrolls.
"H-Here! Your mission token. The Hidden Trial starts in three days, location's marked here—"
Lin Chen plucked the token with two fingers.
"Much obliged. By the way—"
He leaned in, eyes gleaming like a fox.
"—any other suicidal maniacs signing up for this trial? Or am I the main character?"
The elder gulped. "Y-You're the only one from outer sect. Inner sect has… a few. But even they're cautious."
Lin Chen gave a theatrical sigh.
"Alas. Surrounded by cowards."
---
On his way back, he paused by the spirit stone exchange pavilion.
"Time to gather that 'one thousand spirit stones' entry fee Elder Mo wants," Lin Chen muttered.
His grin turned sharp.
"Which means… time to visit a certain gambling den."
---
Within an hour, Lin Chen swaggered into the sect's underground gambling house — a dim place where disciples bet spirit stones on duels, beast fights, and anything else they could gamble away.
The owner, a squat man with oily hair, paled when he saw him.
"L-Lin Chen?! Didn't you… weren't you just—"
Lin Chen slapped a pouch on the counter.
"Ten spirit stones on me to win today's open challenge. Multiply it by… oh, let's say fifty."
The owner gaped.
"F-Fifty times?! That's a thousand-stone payout!"
Lin Chen's grin was pure predator.
"I like big numbers. Don't you?"
---
Soon, the challenge ring was set.
His opponent: a sneering inner sect disciple named Mu Yan, 6th stage Qi Condensation — two realms higher than Lin Chen.
"You're that noisy outer disciple?" Mu Yan scoffed. "You must have a death wish."
Lin Chen yawned, rotating his shoulder.
"Nah. I just want to pay for my next vacation. You're the donation."
---
The bell rang.
Mu Yan lunged, his Qi swirling like wind blades.
The crowd tensed.
But Lin Chen—
Stepped aside with lazy grace.
SLAP!
His palm cracked across Mu Yan's face so hard the man spun mid-air.
The ring fell silent.
"Did he just… slap an inner sect disciple?!"
"Again?!"
---
Mu Yan staggered, bleeding from the mouth.
"You—! That's it—!"
SLAP!
Lin Chen's left palm met Mu Yan's other cheek, sending him sprawling.
The crowd lost it.
"Double slap?! The legend grows!"
---
Lin Chen dusted his hands.
"Next time, brush your teeth before challenging me. Your breath was slower than your fists."
The referee, stunned, raised his hand.
"W-Winner: Lin Chen!"
---
Back at the counter, the owner's face was ashen as he counted out a heavy sack.
"One… thousand… spirit stones…"
Lin Chen winked.
"Pleasure doing business."
He hefted the sack onto his shoulder.
"Entry fee? Handled. Now to prep for this Hidden Trial."
---
As he left, the whispers followed like a growing storm.
"Lin Chen… he's unstoppable…"
"Slapped an inner sect disciple today. Who's next? An elder?"
"Is he still outer sect? Feels like he's already outgrown it…"
---
High above, in a distant pavilion, Elder Mo watched through his spirit mirror.
His thin lips curled into a faint smile.
"Hmph. Slapping inner sect now, are we? Good… good… cause if he survives the Hidden Trial…"
His eyes gleamed coldly.
"…he might just shake the heavens sooner than expected."
---
Lin Chen, meanwhile, cracked his neck as he walked toward his quarters.
"Two days left till the trial…"
His grin turned sharp.
"Time to get serious."
---
[End of Chapter 10]