The moment Lian Hong defeated Jin Xiaoyu with a single, decisive strike, an invisible tremor rippled across the entire courtyard.
It wasn't caused by qi.It wasn't caused by noise.It was caused by fear.
Fear of the unknown.Fear of the impossible.Fear of a servant who fought like an elite.
The whispers that erupted were no longer mere speculation—they were shock, awe, and disbelief intertwining like wildfire.
"He beat Xiaoyu too?""That makes three wins!""He's not even breathing hard…""Is he… a monster?"
Zhou Shan buried his face in his hands.
"I take back everything I said… This guy isn't human…"
Lian Hong stood quietly in the center of the arena, his calm breaths forming faint clouds in the cool air.
His aura remained stable.Unshaken.Dominant without trying to be.
The servants stared at him with wide eyes.
The outer disciples watched with growing curiosity.
And from the inner courtyard's shade—Wei Changbai watched with silent rage.
On the raised platform
Overseer Chen stood with arms crossed, eyes fixed on Lian Hong. His normally stony face carried a rare expression: intrigue.
"That boy," Chen murmured, "has changed… dramatically."
An elder standing beside him—Elder Lin, one of the exam supervisors—stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"You've trained thousands of servant disciples," the elder said. "Have you ever seen footwork like that among them?"
Chen shook his head.
"Never."
Elder Lin's gaze sharpened.
"A servant showing this level of combat awareness… And his qi fluctuations are too stable for a beginner."
Chen grunted. "He's Third Layer. That's certain."
"A Third Layer servant, moving like an outer-sect prodigy…" Elder Lin muttered. "Interesting. Perhaps we've found a rare seedling."
Below them, the trial continued.
But almost everyone's attention was fixed on a single youth—the one whose presence overshadowed dozens of others without saying a word.
Lian Hong stood with quiet confidence
His body felt lighter.His senses sharper.His blood surged with strength.
The Third Layer breakthrough had transformed him—and the system rewards had carved that power into his very bones.
Suddenly, a panel blinked into view:
[Ding!New Quest Condition Unlocked:"Dominance Display"]
Lian Hong's eyebrow twitched.
He opened the quest:
––––––––––––––––––[Quest: Dominance Display]Objective:• Defeat every remaining opponent without receiving a single hitReward:• 1× Skill Enhancement Stone• Attribute Points ×5• Unknown Passive––––––––––––––––––
A Skill Enhancement Stone?
Lian Hong's heartbeat quickened.Stones like that could push techniques into higher ranks—or unlock hidden forms.
A priceless reward.
He closed the panel.
He was more determined than ever.
The overseer rolled open the next bamboo slip
"Next match—Lian Hong versus—"
He stopped.
The crowd leaned in.
Against who?
"—Hong Feng."
A heavy silence fell.
Then—
"No way… Hong Feng?!""He's the captain of the servant fighting squad!""He's Fourth Layer!""Almost qualified for outer disciples last year!""This is suicide!"
Zhou Shan screamed internally.
"Lian Hong! Don't fight him! He's HUGE!"
Hong Feng stepped forward from the crowd.
He was big.He was tall.He was muscular in a way no servant had any right to be.
If Wu Dahai was a boar, Hong Feng was a young tiger.
His aura radiated heat.Unyielding.Pressuring.
He walked into the arena with a casual menace, cracking his neck.
"So," Hong Feng said, eyes narrowing as he stared at Lian Hong, "you're the one causing a commotion today."
Lian Hong didn't respond immediately.
He simply measured the man.
Solid foundation.Strong physique.Stable qi of Fourth Layer.
A genuine threat—not like the previous opponents.
Good.
He needed pressure.
He needed risk.
He needed this challenge.
Hong Feng smirked.
"It's been a while since I had someone interesting to fight. The overseer doesn't let us beat up outer disciples, so I only get to test my fists on servants."
Lian Hong tilted his head.
"So you enjoy hitting weaker people?"
Hong Feng shrugged.
"It's not my fault the sect gave you all such fragile bodies."
The overseer raised his hand.
"Ready—"
Hong Feng grinned.
Lian Hong's eyes sharpened.
"—Begin!"
Hong Feng exploded forward—
FAST.
Far faster than any servant disciple had moved today.
His fist tore through the air with a thunderous crack, aimed straight for Lian Hong's jaw.
The crowd gasped.
"That punch—!!""He's going to kill him—!""Lian Hong, MOVE!"
But Lian Hong didn't panic.
Time slowed in his perception.
His instincts whispered:
Left slip.Half step pivot.Counter at the ribs.Don't overextend.
〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉—activation.
Lian Hong shifted.
Smooth. Precise.Like flowing water.
Hong Feng's punch grazed empty air.
The older boy blinked.
"What—?!"
Lian Hong appeared on his left flank.
His fingers curled.
Qi surged.
He struck.
Not a full-power blow—but a perfectly placed one.
BAM!!
His fist slammed into Hong Feng's ribs.
Hong Feng staggered backward, gasping as pain crashed through his body.
The crowd erupted.
"H-He hit Hong Feng!""What kind of speed is that?!""How can he fight a Fourth Layer head-on?"
Zhou Shan fainted on the spot.
Hong Feng spat blood, face twisting in disbelief.
"You damn brat… How did you—"
But Lian Hong didn't give him time.
He surged forward.
Hong Feng roared and threw a sweeping kick—Lian Hong ducked under it.
Hong Feng swung a backfist—Lian Hong flowed around it like water.
Hong Feng charged—Lian Hong sidestepped ruthlessly, exploiting every weakness.
His movements were perfect.Efficient.Elegant.Deadly.
Every strike from Lian Hong hit exactly where it should.Every defense was precise.
Then—he struck Hong Feng's chest.
BOOM!
Hong Feng flew backward, crashing into the arena stones.
Silence.
Hong Feng lay on the ground, breath knocked out of him.
The overseer didn't move.
The crowd didn't breathe.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Lian Hong lowered his fist.
Expression calm.
Voice steady.
"Fourth Layer.But undisciplined."
The overseer swallowed, then raised his arm.
"Winner—"
He hesitated, staring at Lian Hong with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"—Lian Hong."
Wei Changbai's expression twisted
His voice was low, trembling with fury.
"So you did come back."
His killing intent spilled out—an invisible, sharp aura that made nearby disciples shiver.
"I will not allow it."
And in the shadows of the courtyard
A higher-ranking elder—an inner-sect master wearing a deep-red robe—watched the entire fight with narrowed eyes.
"…Interesting."
His voice was soft, but held immense weight.
"This year's trial seems to have produced a true talent among the servants."
He turned, the hem of his robe brushing the stone floor.
"Perhaps I should watch the finals myself."