The arena was alive with tension.
Even after Li Tian's clash with Zhao Feng, spectators whispered in astonishment. A Third Meridian Realm cultivator holding his own against a Fifth? Impossible. Noble heirs muttered nervously, while others scowled in disbelief.
Zhao Feng's crimson qi still roared like a storm barely restrained. "You… are not normal," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Li Tian's expression remained calm. "I fight only to survive."
From the high platform, the white-haired Imperial elder observed quietly. His eyes narrowed. "Extraordinary talent… yet he conceals something," he murmured.
Hidden in the shadows of the crowd, a figure stirred. Subtle movements, almost invisible, revealed the intent of a skilled assassin. A thin dagger-shaped qi blade shot toward Li Tian, its killing intent focused and silent.
Li Tian's senses flared. He twisted instinctively, barely evading the strike. The dagger hissed past him, meant to end the trial before it began.
The elder's eyes followed the attack. With a sharp gesture, he released a wave of suppression qi, reaching out toward the assassin.
The air pulsed. Energy struck the assassin mid-flight, forcing them to stumble and release a faint scream of surprise. The hidden dagger crumbled in their grasp.
"Stop!" the elder's voice boomed, calm yet commanding. "If you continue, you will die!"
The assassin's eyes widened, realizing the elder's power was far beyond their calculations. With a sudden burst of agility and a faint flash of qi, they vanished into the crowd, slipping through gaps in the formation.
Li Tian exhaled slowly. He had felt the threat, but the assassin had escaped. Even the elder could not catch them without disturbing the arena's order.
The spectators, unaware of the danger, focused on the next round. Li Tian's opponent stepped onto the arena floor: a young woman from the Golden Lotus Sect. Third Meridian Realm, precise and elegant, her aura refined and deadly.
The heiress bowed. "Li Tian," she said softly. "May the best cultivator win."
Li Tian inclined his head. "I will fight honestly."
From the stands, Zhao Feng's glare never wavered. The elder returned to the high platform, still alert, but he could not pursue the assassin without disrupting the trial.
And far beyond the Imperial Capital, golden eyes blinked in the shadows. The Black Serpent King had sensed the stir of power. "The boy is drawing attention… let the trial begin fully," it hissed.
The Meridian Trial was no longer merely a test.
It was a battlefield.
And Li Tian—still only at the Third Meridian Realm—stood at its center, ready to face both visible and unseen enemies.
If you like, I can now write Chapter 19, where Li Tian begins the duel with the Golden Lotus Sect heiress, showing his skill and strategy while navigating both the fight and the hidden threats.
Do you want me to continue with Chapter 19?