Chapter 9:Into the Spirit Beast Forest
1574 Words
The first bell echoed across Azure Cloud Sword Sect before dawn.
Its deep chime rolled over the mountains, stirring every disciple from sleep. Moments later, two more bells followed, their solemn rhythm announcing the beginning of the annual Spirit Beast Forest Trial.
Lin Chen stepped out of his small courtyard with his iron sword strapped across his back. The cool morning breeze carried the scent of pine and damp earth. He raised his eyes toward the mountains beyond the sect.
Hidden behind those peaks lay the Spirit Beast Forest—a place where opportunity and death walked hand in hand.
His expression remained calm.
For most outer disciples, today's trial was a competition.
For him...
It was another battlefield.
As he walked toward the Martial Plaza, he quietly circulated the Voidheart Scripture. Spiritual qi flowed through his meridians with greater ease than before, strengthening his body little by little.
His cultivation had not advanced since defeating Wang Hu, but his foundation had become far more stable.
That was enough.
A hurried breakthrough built on unstable foundations would only create weaknesses later.
When he reached the plaza, hundreds of disciples had already gathered.
Excited voices filled the air.
"I heard someone found a hundred-year Spirit Flower during the last trial."
"My senior brother said there are hidden caves inside the forest."
"I just hope I don't run into a Second-Rank spirit beast."
Lin Chen listened silently as he passed.
Rumors were common before every trial.
Some were true.
Most were not.
Near the front of the crowd stood Zhao Feng.
Dressed in spotless robes, he was surrounded by several disciples eager to flatter him. When he noticed Lin Chen approaching, his lips curved into a faint smile.
"Junior Brother Lin."
His voice carried across the nearby crowd.
"I heard you've been making quite a name for yourself."
Lin Chen stopped a few steps away.
"Is there something you need?"
Zhao Feng chuckled.
"Nothing at all."
"I simply wanted to wish you good luck."
"The Spirit Beast Forest is dangerous."
"It would be unfortunate if something... unexpected happened."
Several disciples exchanged uneasy glances.
Everyone understood the meaning hidden behind his words.
Lin Chen merely nodded.
"I'll remember your concern."
Without another word, he walked away.
The smile on Zhao Feng's face slowly disappeared.
One of his followers leaned closer.
"Young Master, should we move as planned?"
Zhao Feng watched Lin Chen's back.
"Of course."
"This forest is large."
"If someone disappears inside it, who would suspect anything?"
A powerful aura swept across the plaza.
Conversations stopped instantly.
Elder Han stepped onto the stone platform with his hands behind his back.
His sharp gaze swept over every disciple.
"The Spirit Beast Forest Trial lasts three days."
"You will hunt spirit beasts, gather medicinal herbs, and collect beast cores."
"The jade token you receive will record your harvest."
"The ten disciples with the highest scores will be rewarded."
He paused.
"Remember one thing."
"The forest does not care whether you are talented or weak."
"If you act recklessly..."
"You will not return."
Sect attendants distributed jade tokens.
Once every disciple received one, the massive stone gates slowly opened.
Beyond them stretched an endless sea of ancient trees.
Without waiting for instructions, eager disciples rushed inside.
Some formed teams.
Others disappeared alone.
Lin Chen remained where he was until nearly half the crowd had entered.
Only then did he begin walking.
Someone nearby laughed.
"He's too cautious."
Another shook his head.
"Or maybe smarter than the rest of us."
Lin Chen ignored both comments.
The first to enter a battlefield was not always the last to leave it.
The moment he crossed into the forest, the atmosphere changed.
The air became cooler.
Dense spiritual qi filled the surroundings, nourishing every tree and blade of grass.
Birdsong echoed overhead.
A narrow stream flowed somewhere in the distance.
Everything appeared peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Lin Chen slowed his steps.
He crouched beside a broken branch lying across the path.
Fresh footprints.
Dozens of them.
Most belonged to disciples.
Others...
Much larger.
Spirit beasts had crossed this trail during the night.
He chose a different direction.
Less traveled paths often held greater rewards.
After walking for nearly half an hour, he discovered several stalks of Blue Spirit Grass growing beneath an old cedar tree.
He carefully harvested them before placing them into his storage pouch.
Just as he stood—
Crack.
A dry twig snapped behind him.
Lin Chen didn't turn.
Instead, he continued walking as though he had heard nothing.
A few moments later...
Another twig snapped.
Then another.
Different footsteps.
Four people.
Maintaining equal distance.
Keeping him surrounded without revealing themselves.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So..."
"It seems Zhao Feng couldn't even wait until nightfall."
Without slowing down, Lin Chen disappeared deeper into the forest.
Behind the trees, four black-clothed figures silently followed.
The hunt had begun.
The forest gradually fell into silence.
Lin Chen neither hurried nor slowed his pace. Since his pursuers believed they remained hidden, he allowed them to continue following. An impatient enemy was easier to defeat than a cautious one.
After another quarter of an hour, he reached a shallow stream. Crystal-clear water flowed over smooth stones, while patches of wild herbs lined the banks.
He crouched beside one of them.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Moon Dew Herb."
Although only twenty years old, it could be refined into a Body Recovery Pill. It wasn't valuable to powerful cultivators, but for outer disciples, it was a precious resource.
He carefully dug out the roots and stored the herb.
Just then, the bushes on the opposite bank shook violently.
A deep growl echoed through the trees.
An enormous wolf stepped into view.
Its silver-gray fur stood on end, and a pair of long fangs protruded from its jaws. Crimson eyes locked onto Lin Chen as it bared its teeth.
A Second-Rank Iron Fang Wolf.
The beast circled slowly instead of attacking immediately.
"It knows how to hunt," Lin Chen murmured.
The wolf suddenly sprang forward.
Its claws slashed toward his throat.
Lin Chen shifted half a step to the side.
The attack missed.
Before the beast landed, his sword flashed from its sheath.
The blade struck the wolf's shoulder with the flat instead of the edge.
The force knocked the beast sideways.
It rolled across the ground before quickly regaining its footing.
The wolf growled again but didn't charge.
Instead, it stared at Lin Chen for several breaths before slowly backing away into the forest.
Lin Chen sheathed his sword.
"There is no reason to kill a creature protecting its territory."
A beast core was useful.
But unnecessary s*******r was not strength.
Hidden among the trees, the four followers witnessed everything.
The youngest frowned.
"He let it go?"
"It was worth several points."
The scar-faced leader narrowed his eyes.
"He wasn't showing mercy."
"He simply judged it wasn't worth wasting his strength."
The more they watched Lin Chen, the more uneasy they became.
This wasn't how an ordinary outer disciple behaved.
Every decision was calm.
Every movement served a purpose.
It was as though he had experienced countless life-and-death battles.
The sun slowly dipped below the mountains.
Golden light faded from the forest, replaced by cool shadows.
Lin Chen eventually found the ruins of an old stone pavilion.
Three broken pillars still stood, while half the roof had collapsed years ago.
He examined the surroundings before nodding slightly.
Only one narrow path led inside.
It was an ideal place to rest.
He lit a small smokeless fire and heated a pot of spring water with a few medicinal leaves.
The faint herbal fragrance drifted into the night air.
Then he sat cross-legged and began circulating the Voidheart Scripture.
Spiritual qi quietly gathered around him.
His breathing remained slow and steady.
Far beyond the firelight, four dark figures emerged.
The scar-faced leader raised his hand.
"No traps."
"No formations."
One disciple whispered excitedly,
"He's cultivating."
"This is our chance."
The leader hesitated.
Something felt wrong.
Lin Chen had been cautious throughout the entire day.
Would someone like that truly expose such an opening?
Another disciple tightened his grip on his sword.
"If we hesitate any longer, dawn will come."
The scar-faced man took a deep breath before nodding.
"We strike together."
The four men spread out silently.
Twenty steps.
Fifteen.
Ten.
Five.
Just as they prepared to attack—
Lin Chen opened his eyes.
Without turning around, he spoke calmly.
"You've been following me since I entered the forest."
His words froze all four men in place.
"I ignored you because I wanted to know whether this was your idea..."
"...or Zhao Feng's."
The scar-faced leader's pupils contracted.
How...
How could he know?
Lin Chen stood slowly and picked up his iron sword.
His face remained expressionless.
"I'll give you one chance."
"Leave now."
"I won't pursue you."
The clearing fell silent.
The four men looked at one another.
For a brief moment...
They actually considered retreating.
Then the youngest disciple gritted his teeth.
"He's bluffing!"
"There are four of us!"
The scar-faced leader slowly drew his sword.
His killing intent surged into the night.
"Kill him."
The other three unsheathed their weapons at the same time.
Four killing auras instantly locked onto Lin Chen.
He calmly raised his sword.
The night breeze stirred the fire.
Leaves rustled overhead.
No one moved.
The first strike would decide who walked out of the forest alive.
- Writer
