The runes on the stone floor flared brighter as Jian Wushen stepped fully into the center of the platform. Each glowing mark pulsed like a heartbeat, echoing through the vast arena. The air thickened, spiritual pressure descending like a heavy mountain upon his shoulders.
Three trial guardians materialized before him, their forms towering and imposing. One carried a greatsword, another a halberd, and the last a long spear. Their bodies flickered with pure spiritual light, their eyes hollow yet filled with killing intent.
The crowd leaned forward, their gazes fixed on the lone figure standing calmly in the center. The whispers began again, hissing like snakes in the silence.
"That's him, the spear carrier…"
"Hmph. I wonder if he'll faint before even drawing his weapon this time."
"Just watch—he'll embarrass himself in front of everyone."
Jian Wushen heard it all, but his expression remained unreadable. Slowly, he reached back, his hand closing around the shaft of the Immortal Spear. The weapon responded instantly, a faint hum resonating through the air. A ripple spread outward, subtle but undeniable, like a pebble dropped into still water.
Some of the elders straightened slightly in their seats. Their sharp eyes narrowed, catching the disturbance. But they said nothing.
With a smooth motion, Jian drew the spear from his back. The golden tip gleamed under the sunlight, its surface etched with faint, intricate patterns that seemed to shift when one stared too long. The moment the weapon left its place, the murmurs of mockery faltered.
There was something about the spear—something ancient, something untamed—that silenced tongues before words could form.
Jian Wushen lowered his stance slightly, both hands gripping the shaft. His gaze locked on the guardians before him. His heart slowed, his breathing deepened. For a moment, the world seemed to fade, leaving only himself, his spear, and the three figures before him.
The first guardian moved.
Its halberd swept downward with crushing force, the air tearing as the weapon cut through it. The ground cracked beneath its weight, the strike aimed to split Jian Wushen in half.
He did not retreat.
The Immortal Spear flickered, thrusting forward with blinding speed. A straight, clean motion—no wasted effort, no hesitation. The golden tip collided with the halberd mid-swing. A sharp clang rang out, followed by a shockwave that sent dust and sparks flying across the platform.
The guardian staggered back two steps.
Gasps erupted from the audience.
"He stopped it!"
"With just one thrust!"
"Impossible—didn't he collapse earlier?!"
Jian Wushen's arms trembled slightly from the force, but his eyes remained calm, unwavering. He pressed forward, his spear moving again—swift, precise, merciless. The golden tip pierced into the guardian's chest, light exploding outward as the towering figure dissolved into fragments.
One guardian, destroyed.
The arena fell silent for a breath before erupting in chaos.
"He… he actually defeated one!"
"Wasn't this the same guy everyone mocked a moment ago?"
"What's going on here?"
Jian Wushen exhaled slowly, his hands steady on the spear. He turned, his gaze sliding to the remaining two guardians. The greatsword-wielder roared, its massive blade descending like a collapsing mountain. The spear-wielder lunged at the same time, its weapon thrusting with deadly precision.
The pressure doubled, the killing intent thick enough to suffocate.
But Jian Wushen's lips curved faintly, almost imperceptibly.
This is the path I chose. A path where mockery becomes fuel, and failure becomes fire.
He stepped forward.
The Immortal Spear danced.
His weapon swept in a wide arc, deflecting the greatsword with a screech of colliding force, before spinning in his hands to parry the incoming spear. Sparks flew, spiritual energy surged, and the arena shook under the exchange.
The disciples watched with wide eyes, unable to believe the sight before them. This was not the faltering youth who had nearly collapsed earlier. This was a warrior, standing tall against the guardians with unshakable resolve.
Each clash rang like thunder. Jian's arms ached, his muscles burned, but his spirit only grew sharper. He felt the Immortal Spear resonate with him, each movement flowing smoother than the last, as though the weapon itself guided his hands.
He spun, the golden tip blurring into streaks of light, striking against the spear-wielder's shoulder. Cracks spread through the guardian's body of light before it shattered completely.
Two guardians down.
The crowd roared.
"Unbelievable!"
"He actually defeated two!"
"Is this really the same Jian Wushen everyone mocked?"
Elders exchanged sharp glances. Some who had dismissed him earlier now leaned forward, their expressions dark with intrigue.
The last guardian advanced, its greatsword raised high. The air seemed to collapse under its strike, the sheer force enough to make disciples in the audience flinch instinctively.
Jian's body screamed with exhaustion, his breath ragged, but his eyes blazed with unyielding fire.
He lowered his stance, gripping the Immortal Spear tightly. His aura surged—not vast, not overwhelming, but sharp, focused, like a blade honed to perfection.
"Break!"
His roar shook the arena as he thrust upward. The golden tip met the descending blade. Light exploded, blinding for an instant.
When the brilliance faded, the guardian stood frozen. A crack split down its body before it shattered completely, fragments dissolving into the air.
Three guardians. All destroyed.
Silence. Absolute silence filled the trial grounds.
The disciples stared, their mouths agape. The whispers of mockery that had filled the air minutes ago had vanished, replaced only by stunned disbelief.
Even the elders, seasoned and composed, could not mask their surprise.
Only Zhang Yifeng remained calm. His eyes, sharp as ever, lingered on Jian Wushen for a long moment before shifting away.
Jian stood alone in the center of the platform, his spear lowered, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His gaze swept over the silent crowd.
He said nothing. He did not need to. His spear had spoken for him.
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