The incident at the eastern trial grounds did not remain hidden for long.
By dawn, the Azure Cloud Sect was buzzing with restrained tension. Three inner disciples were dead. A hidden formation had collapsed. And Lin Yuan's name, once spoken with curiosity, was now whispered with caution.
Lin Yuan, however, slept peacefully.
When he opened his eyes, the system notification was already waiting.
[Major System Quest Triggered]
[Quest Name: Artifact Hunt]
[Quest Type: Forced Progression]
[Description: Retrieve the sealed artifact within the Black Spine Mountain Trial Zone]
[Time Limit: 7 days]
[Failure Consequence: Suppression of system rewards for 30 days]
Lin Yuan sat up slowly.
"A forced quest," he murmured. "So this is their counterplay."
The system responded without emotion.
[Quest triggered due to increased faction hostility]
[Objective designed to accelerate host's breakthrough beyond suppression threshold]
Lin Yuan smiled faintly.
In other words, the system was pushing him forward before the sect could tighten its grip.
Black Spine Mountain was no ordinary trial zone. It lay beyond the outer sect boundaries, a jagged stretch of land filled with spiritual beasts, unstable terrain, and ancient ruins left from a previous sect era. It was officially labeled as "high risk," which conveniently meant deaths there were rarely investigated.
Perfect.
Lin Yuan rose, changed into plain robes, and exited his quarters before sunrise. As expected, he did not get far before encountering resistance.
An outer elder stood at the main path, hands clasped behind his back.
"Lin Yuan," the elder said calmly, eyes sharp. "You are forbidden from leaving the sect until the Inner Sect Trial concludes."
Lin Yuan stopped.
The system immediately analyzed.
[Authority Level: Outer Elder]
[Intent: Restriction, not execution]
[Recommended Action: Bypass without confrontation]
Lin Yuan bowed respectfully.
"Elder," he said, voice steady, "I have received a sect-issued task related to trial preparation. It concerns Black Spine Mountain."
The elder frowned. "No such task—"
Lin Yuan produced a jade token.
It was blank.
But the moment the elder's spiritual sense touched it, the token pulsed faintly, releasing a fabricated authorization signature generated by the system.
The elder stiffened.
"…Very well," he said slowly. "Do not disappoint the sect."
Lin Yuan bowed again and walked past without another word.
Once beyond the sect gates, the atmosphere changed immediately. The spiritual energy grew turbulent, thick with danger. Jagged peaks rose in the distance like broken fangs.
Black Spine Mountain.
As Lin Yuan crossed into its outer perimeter, the system's interface expanded.
[Trial Zone Entered]
[Environmental Hazard: High]
[Reward Multiplier: x2.5]
He took a deep breath.
Almost instantly, movement stirred among the rocks. A low growl echoed as a spiritual beast emerged—a Black-Fanged Wolf, its body wrapped in dark energy, eyes glowing with hunger.
Lin Yuan did not slow.
The wolf lunged.
Lin Yuan stepped forward instead of back.
His fist crashed into the beast's skull with precise timing, amplified by system-optimized force. Bone shattered. The wolf collapsed mid-leap.
[Kill Confirmed]
[Reward: Cultivation Points +5,000]
More movement followed.
This was not coincidence.
The system warned him.
[Hostile Density Abnormally High]
[Conclusion: Trial Zone artificially stimulated]
Someone had seeded the mountain.
Either to kill him.
Or to exhaust him before he reached the artifact.
Lin Yuan's eyes sharpened.
"Then I'll clear the path."
He advanced deeper into the mountain, eliminating threats with ruthless efficiency. Beasts fell. Traps failed. Ancient mechanisms triggered only to be dismantled before they could fully activate.
Hours passed.
By the time Lin Yuan reached the inner ravine, his robes were stained with blood—not his own.
At the ravine's center stood a stone altar, half-buried and covered in ancient runes. Chains of spiritual energy wrapped around a black object hovering above it.
The artifact.
The system spoke with rare emphasis.
[Target Identified: Sealed Dao Fragment]
[Classification: Incomplete Heaven-Grade Artifact]
[Warning: Will attract high-level attention upon activation]
Lin Yuan approached without hesitation.
As his hand reached toward the chains, the air distorted violently.
A presence descended.
An inner sect disciple stepped from the shadows, cultivation fully revealed, pressure crashing down like a mountain.
"So you really came," the man said softly. "I was wondering which beast would kill you first."
Lin Yuan straightened.
Another enemy.
Another obstacle.
He smiled faintly.
"Move," Lin Yuan said. "Or die."
The man laughed.
The mountain shook.
And the artifact began to react.