The moment Feng Li crossed the spatial entrance, the familiar sounds of Guan Capital vanished. For a brief instant, his surroundings dissolved into a blur of shifting light, and a strange pressure swept across his body as though he had been pulled through an invisible current. His feet soon touched solid ground, and as the distortion gradually faded, the world around him came into focus.
He found himself standing in the middle of a vast forest. Tall trees stretched in every direction, their enormous branches spreading across the sky and blocking much of the sunlight. Some of the tree trunks were so wide that several adults would have been unable to surround them with their arms, while strange vines hung from the branches and unfamiliar vegetation covered the ground. The air carried a rich spiritual energy, considerably denser than what he had encountered in most places around Guan Capital. The place felt ancient!
Feng Li remained still for a moment, allowing his senses to settle. He could hear the distant calls of birds, the rustling of leaves, and occasional sounds that seemed to come from much deeper within the forest. However, there was no sign of the competition grounds, the spectators, or any of the contestants who had entered through the portal alongside him. Even after turning around to examine the space behind him, he found nothing but trees and thick vegetation stretching into the distance.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he looked around. "So they really did separate everyone," he murmured, finding the arrangement quite reasonable. Allowing five thousand contestants to enter the same area would have created unnecessary chaos from the beginning, especially if some of the stronger participants immediately gathered their companions and began controlling the resources around the entrance. Scattering everyone across the secret realm would give each contestant an opportunity to explore, although it would also make finding familiar faces considerably more difficult. The thought of this made him a little worried. There were stronger contestants who came in; Feng Xue might not be able to escape if she were to come across them.
Feng Li looked up through the branches, trying to determine the direction of the sun before examining the ground around him. He paid attention to the plants, the shape of the terrain, and the faint traces left by creatures that had passed through the area. He had no idea how far Feng Xue or the others had been placed, and they could easily be several mountains away. Although he wondered how they were doing, he knew there was little point in wasting time searching for them without even knowing where to begin.
He brushed a few leaves from his sleeve and started walking. The first thing he needed was a better understanding of his surroundings, and he could search for the hidden tokens while doing so. Rushing blindly through an unfamiliar forest was not particularly wise, especially when the beasts inhabiting the secret realm had been deliberately selected as part of the trial. The white-robed elder had mentioned that some of them reached the Peak Nascent Soul Realm, meaning there were creatures here that even the strongest contestants would have to approach with caution.
Feng Li was not in a hurry to test the limits of his abilities. He had entered the challenge to compete and broaden his experience, not to prove that he could defeat every creature unfortunate enough to cross his path. As he continued deeper into the forest, he occasionally noticed small spiritual creatures moving through the undergrowth, while larger shadows passed between the trees at a distance. Most of the creatures he sensed were relatively weak, but their presence suggested that the forest had its own natural balance, with stronger beasts likely occupying territories where spiritual energy was more concentrated.
After walking for some time, Feng Li stopped beside a particularly large tree and placed his palm against its rough bark. A faint spiritual fluctuation travelled through the ground beneath his feet, so subtle that an ordinary cultivator might have overlooked it. He lowered his gaze and carefully followed the direction from which it seemed to originate, noticing that the fluctuation appeared briefly before disappearing and returning after a short interval.
It was not especially powerful, but it was different from the surrounding spiritual energy. Feng Li crouched and moved aside some of the vegetation, revealing a narrow trail that ran between the roots of several trees. The soil had been disturbed recently, and the marks left behind were much larger than those of the small creatures he had encountered earlier. He studied them for a moment before straightening, his interest gradually growing as he realised that whatever had passed through the area had travelled along the same path repeatedly.
"Could it be that I've already found something?" he wondered aloud, a faint smile forming as he followed the trail. He kept his pace steady, watching the ground and the surrounding trees as the vegetation gradually became less dense. The terrain began sloping downward, and after travelling some distance, he reached a shallow depression surrounded by large rocks. A small stream passed through its centre, with clear water flowing over smooth stones before disappearing beneath a cluster of exposed roots.
The spiritual energy in the depression was noticeably denser than that of the surrounding forest. Feng Li stopped before entering, allowing his eyes to move across the rocks and vegetation while searching for anything unusual. At first, he noticed nothing that immediately caught his attention, but then a faint glimmer appeared beneath a large exposed root on the far side of the stream. It was brief and almost hidden by the movement of the water, yet the fluctuation it released was familiar enough for him to recognise.
His expression brightened as he realised what he was looking at. He had found one of the hidden tokens, and judging by its position, it was not particularly far from where he stood. However, he did not rush forward to retrieve it. The disturbed soil he had noticed along the trail continued into the depression, while the marks became considerably deeper near the stream. Several large stones had been displaced, and the surrounding vegetation showed signs of having been crushed by something heavy.
Feng Li followed the marks with his eyes until they reached a rocky opening on the opposite side of the stream. The entrance was partially concealed by hanging vines, and the darkness within made it difficult to see what lay beyond. He glanced once more at the token beneath the root before looking back at the opening, then let out a quiet breath. "Well, that explains why it hasn't been picked up yet," he remarked, already suspecting that the token had a guardian.
He took a few careful steps forward and allowed his spiritual sense to spread through the depression. The moment it reached the rocky opening, something shifted inside, followed by a low growl that rolled through the area. The surface of the stream trembled, and several small stones moved as though struck by an invisible force. Feng Li immediately withdrew his spiritual sense, his gaze fixed on the opening as he waited to see what would emerge.
The growl came again, louder this time, and the vines covering the entrance were suddenly pushed aside. A massive beast stepped out of the darkness, its body covered in thick, dark scales that overlapped like pieces of armour. Four powerful limbs supported its enormous frame, while a long tail dragged behind it and left a deep mark in the soil. Its broad head carried a pair of curved horns that extended backwards from its forehead, and its amber eyes fixed upon Feng Li as hot breath escaped from its nostrils.
The beast took another step forward, causing the ground beneath its claws to crack. Feng Li's expression became more serious as he examined the aura surrounding it, recognising that the creature's spiritual energy was unusually powerful and concentrated. It was not merely a high-level Soul Transformation Realm beast. Its cultivation had already reached the very peak of the ninth rank, making it a Peak Rank 9 Soul Transformation Realm beast.
Feng Li briefly glanced toward the token beneath the exposed root before returning his attention to the creature. He now understood why it had remained undiscovered, or at least why no one had managed to retrieve it without dealing with the beast first. The creature had made the depression part of its territory, and anything approaching the stream would inevitably draw its attention. It lowered its head and released another growl, showing no interest in understanding why a human had entered its territory.
Feng Li did not immediately attack. Instead, he observed the beast's movements and the way spiritual energy gathered around its body. Its thick scales offered considerable protection, while its powerful limbs suggested that it possessed impressive physical strength. Even its tail looked dangerous enough to crush a large tree with a single swing, and the sheer size of its body meant that a direct collision would not be something he could take lightly.
Before he could study it further, the beast suddenly charged. Its enormous body crossed the distance with surprising speed, sending dirt and broken vegetation flying behind it. Feng Li shifted to the side just before its horns reached him, allowing the creature to pass close enough for the wind from its movement to strike his clothes. The beast crashed into the rocks behind him, producing a heavy explosion that shattered several large stones and sent fragments scattering across the depression.
Feng Li landed a short distance away and turned to face it, but the creature had already twisted its body with remarkable agility. Its long tail swept toward him, leaving him little time to evade. He raised both arms to block, and the moment the tail struck, a tremendous force travelled through his body. He was sent sliding backwards across the ground, his feet carving two long trenches through the soil before he finally stopped beside a tree.
He lowered his arms and flexed his fingers, feeling a dull ache spread through his shoulders. The attack had carried considerably more force than he had anticipated, although it had not caused any serious injury. Looking back at the beast, he let out a quiet breath and remarked, "That is quite a bit stronger than it looks." The creature, naturally, paid no attention to his words and charged again, its claws digging into the earth as it closed the distance.
This time, Feng Li pushed away from the tree and met it from the side, driving his fist into its shoulder. A dull metallic sound rang out as his knuckles struck the thick scales, and although lfx bsbaees klxjascrk much of the impact, the force still wzhv the beast's body shift. It staggered half a step, then turned its head and snapped toward him. Feng Li withdrew quickly, avoiding its jaws by a narrow margin, then landed on a large rock and began examining the creature more carefully.
Its defence was impressive, but not absolute. The scales covering most of its body could disperse considerable force, though the joints and areas around its limbs seemed less protected. The beast also relied heavily on direct attacks, using its size and physical strength to overwhelm its opponents. Feng Li's gaze settled briefly on its front legs as he considered his next move, having found a possible weakness he could exploit. He was only relying on his rank-eight soul transformation realm; otherwise, this would have been a simple extermination!
The beast released a furious roar, and the spiritual energy surrounding its body began to change. The scales along its back glowed faintly while the ground beneath its feet trembled. Before Feng Li could close the distance again, several sharp stones erupted from the earth around him, shooting upward with enough force to tear through the surrounding vegetation. He leapt away as the first wave emerged, but more stones followed from different directions, cutting off the paths he might have used to escape.
One projectile grazed his sleeve, while another struck the rock beneath his feet and shattered it. Feng Li twisted in the air, landed near the edge of the stream, and narrowly avoided a third stone that shot toward his chest. He looked at the beast and then at the broken stones scattered around the depression, realising that its control over earth energy was stronger than he had initially expected. If he continued allowing it to control the battlefield from a distance, the fight would become unnecessarily troublesome.
The creature charged once more, apparently unwilling to give him time to think. Feng Li waited until it had committed to its movement before stepping forward at the last moment, slipping beneath the sweeping horns and driving his shoulder into one of its front legs. The impact was not enough to break the limb, but it disrupted the beast's balance. Its massive body tilted to one side, and one of its claws dug deeply into the soil as it struggled to regain its footing.
Feng Li immediately followed with a punch aimed at the less protected area behind its front leg. The blow landed, and the beast roared in pain as its body shifted under the impact. It swung its head violently, forcing Feng Li to withdraw before its horns could catch him. He landed near the stream with his breathing still steady, while the creature turned toward him with considerably more hostility than before. A faint line of blood had appeared beneath the scales near its shoulder, and the spiritual energy surrounding its body had become increasingly turbulent.
Feng Li looked at the injured area and smiled. "At least you can be hurt," he said, sounding rather pleased with the discovery. The beast answered with another furious roar, lowering its body as it gathered an even greater amount of spiritual energy. The surrounding earth began to tremble, and stones scattered across the depression slowly rose from the ground. Even the water in the stream was disturbed, its surface forming ripples that spread toward the banks.
Feng Li's expression became more focused as he watched the energy gathering around the creature. The next attack was clearly stronger than the previous ones, and he had no intention of allowing it to strike him unprepared. He shifted his stance and concentrated his Qi, but he had no plans to use the Heavenly Indestructible Fist against a beast of this level. Revealing such a powerful technique merely to obtain his first token would be unnecessary, particularly when he had not yet understood the full extent of the dangers waiting elsewhere in the secret realm.
Instead, he gathered his strength into his right arm and waited for the creature to attack. The beast thrust its head forward, releasing a wave of earth energy that carried dozens of sharp stones toward him. Feng Li moved through the first group, avoiding the most dangerous projectiles while allowing the force of the attack to pass around him. One stone struck his shoulder, and another grazed his side, but he continued advancing rather than allowing the creature to push him away.
The beast appeared surprised by his decision to approach, and that brief hesitation gave Feng Li the opportunity he needed. Before it could gather another attack, he reached its front legs and twisted his body, striking the same injured area with all the force he could muster. This time, the impact was considerably stronger. The creature's front leg buckled beneath its weight, forcing its massive body to drop toward the ground, and Feng Li immediately stepped around its head to deliver another concentrated strike against the side of its neck, where the scales were thinner.
A deafening roar escaped the beast as its tail swept across the ground in a desperate attempt to throw him away. Feng Li jumped backwards, but the tip of the tail still caught his lower body. The force sent him tumbling across the rocky ground before he managed to regain his balance. He rose slowly, brushing dirt from his clothes, and took a moment to assess his condition. His body could endure attacks of this level, but that did not mean he could afford to receive them carelessly.
The beast was also in a considerably worse condition. Its injured leg trembled beneath its weight, while the blood near its neck had become more visible. It attempted to stand firmly, but the damage had affected its ability to move, and its movements were no longer as quick as they had been at the beginning of the fight. Nevertheless, its amber eyes remained fixed on Feng Li, and the hostility in them had not diminished. For a moment, the two faced one another across the depression, neither making an immediate move.
Feng Li could have continued exchanging attacks until one of them collapsed, but there was little reason to prolong the fight. The beast had already revealed the limits of its movements, and he had identified the places where its defence was weakest. He adjusted his stance and moved first, accelerating toward the creature before it could gather enough spiritual energy to release another wave of earth attacks. His fist struck its injured front leg once more, and the beast's remaining balance finally collapsed.
Its enormous body fell heavily against the ground, shaking the surrounding rocks. Feng Li moved toward its head, avoiding the desperate movement of its horns, and delivered a final concentrated blow to the side of its neck. The creature's roar weakened, and its limbs struggled against the ground for a few moments before gradually becoming still. The spiritual energy surrounding its body began to dissipate, leaving only Feng Li's heavy breathing and the steady sound of the stream flowing through the depression.
Feng Li stood a short distance away, watching the beast carefully. He did not approach immediately, knowing that even a seriously injured creature could deliver a dangerous final attack if given the opportunity. Only after he was certain that it could no longer move did he finally relax his stance. He looked down at his clothes and noticed that one sleeve had been torn, while a small patch near his shoulder was stained with blood. The fight had not left him seriously injured, but it had certainly required more effort than he had initially expected.
After shaking his arm once, he turned his attention back toward the stream. The token was still beneath the exposed root, exactly where he had seen it before the fight began. Feng Li walked over and crouched beside it, brushing away the surrounding soil before carefully pulling the small object free. It was a dark, palm-sized token bearing a faint spiritual inscription across its surface. The moment it entered his hand, a subtle fluctuation spread through it, confirming that it was one of the items placed inside the secret realm.
He turned it over a few times before putting it away, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. "So this is the first one," he remarked, looking back at the fallen beast. There was nothing particularly extraordinary about the token's appearance, and it did not radiate an unusual amount of spiritual energy. It seemed to serve exactly the purpose the white-robed elder had described, identifying itself as one of the items that would determine the contestants' ranking in the first round.
However, the circumstances surrounding its discovery gave him something to think about. This particular token had been guarded by a Peak Rank 9 Soul Transformation Realm beast, and there was no telling how difficult it would be to obtain some of the others. A few might be hidden in places where contestants could retrieve them without fighting, while others could be protected by beasts considerably stronger than the one he had just defeated. The difference between contestants would therefore not simply come down to cultivation. Knowing when to fight, when to retreat, and where to search would matter just as much.
Feng Li looked toward the forest beyond the depression. The distant sounds he had heard earlier were still present, although several seemed closer now. Somewhere beyond the trees, another creature released a roar that echoed through the forest, followed by a second sound from a different direction. He remained still for a moment, listening carefully, before shifting his gaze toward the deeper parts of the woodland.
The secret realm was clearly much larger than the small area he had explored so far, and he had only just obtained his first token. He still had no idea where the other contestants had been placed, how many tokens were hidden throughout the realm, or how quickly the number of survivors would begin to decrease. He also could not be certain whether anyone nearby had heard the battle and decided to investigate. The noise had been considerable, and it would be unwise to assume that he was the only one who had noticed it.
After adjusting his clothing, Feng Li stepped away from the stream and took one last look at the fallen beast. There was no reason to remain in one place for too long, especially when the fight might have attracted the attention of other creatures or nearby contestants. He had obtained what he came for, and staying longer would bring him little benefit. With that thought, he turned and entered the forest again, leaving the depression and its defeated guardian behind.
He had come into the secret realm expecting danger, but the first encounter had already reminded him that the trial would not be as simple as searching for hidden tokens. Every opportunity could come with a price, and every decision could determine whether a contestant advanced or was forced to leave. For now, he had obtained his first token, but thousands of other contestants were scattered throughout the same vast realm, each pursuing the same goal.
Feng Li continued deeper into the forest, his expression carrying the same curiosity he had shown when he first arrived. The first encounter had given him a taste of what awaited him, but it was only the beginning of the challenge.