Silence fell so heavily across the courtyard that it bordered on suffocating.Even the wind seemed unwilling to break it.
Hong Feng—servant squad captain, Fourth Layer powerhouse, a tyrant among the lower ranks—lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in disbelief.
And above him stood the quiet boy who had once been invisible.
Lian Hong.
Expression composed.Aura steady.Breath controlled.
As if beating Hong Feng had been nothing more than morning exercise.
The shock spread slowly at first—
Then exploded.
"What… what did we just see?""Hong Feng lost? In less than ten exchanges!""No servant disciple should have that kind of movement!""He fought like an inner-sect prodigy!"
Some disciples instinctively stepped back from Lian Hong, as though he were a beast disguised as a human.
Zhou Shan clung to a pillar, face pale.
"I… I am officially terrified… Lian Hong is not the same species as us…"
High above the arena
From the raised platform, Elder Lin leaned forward.
His eyes glittered.
"This level of perception… this calmness… and Third Layer strength used with such precision."He stroked his beard, contemplating deeply."I was prepared to see a few promising seedlings today—but not a… rare gem."
Overseer Chen, normally impossible to impress, let out a slow breath.
"That footwork isn't something any servant should know."He glanced at Elder Lin."Should we… investigate him?"
Elder Lin smiled lightly.
"There is no need."His gaze sharpened."Whatever secrets he has… he will reveal them naturally as he grows."
He turned his head slightly.
"And if the boy can outperform outer disciples, we would be fools not to recruit him."
Overseer Chen stiffened.Recruit… directly into the sect's inner cultivation programs?
That level of privilege was reserved for true geniuses.
He looked again at Lian Hong—who stood with calm, unwavering confidence despite every eye on him.
Perhaps… the boy deserved it.
Meanwhile… at the inner courtyard
Wei Changbai's expression darkened with every passing second.
The more the crowd praised Lian Hong—
The colder Wei's expression became.
"That bastard…" he whispered under his breath."He really did come back."
He remembered it clearly.
The fall from the cliff.The body broken beyond repair.The life fading from Lian Hong's eyes.
He had died.
Wei Changbai made sure of it.
So why—why was he standing here now?
Alive.Stronger.More skilled.
"Impossible… he can't rise again."Wei's grip tightened around his sleeve."I'll crush him myself. Slowly."
Even the disciples standing near him flinched.
The air around Wei Changbai had turned frigid.
Back at the arena
Hong Feng was carried away by two overseers, still coughing blood, his eyes glazed with disbelief.
He managed to choke out:
"That… that wasn't human reflexes. That movement… those counters… you…"
He spat blood again.
"…you're a monster…"
He was dragged away before he could finish.
Lian Hong said nothing.
But inside, the system whispered calmly:
[Ding!Dominance Display — Progress: 3/3 opponents defeated][All objectives cleared.]
A new panel slid into view:
––––––––––––––––––[Quest Complete: Dominance Display]Rewards:• Skill Enhancement Stone ×1• Attribute Points ×5• Passive Skill Unlocked––––––––––––––––––
The rewards appeared instantly.
Lian Hong suppressed a smile.
A Skill Enhancement Stone.He could use it on 〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉…or 〈Crimson Meridian Breathing〉…
Or save it for a future Earth-Rank technique.
He exhaled once, steadying his excitement.
The next prompt appeared:
[New Passive Skill Acquired:Battlefield Awareness]
He opened the details.
[Battlefield Awareness]Your perception expands by 15% during combat.Allows instant recognition of surrounding threats within 6 meters.Increases reaction speed in chaotic environments.
In plain terms—
He had gained a battlefield radar.
His advantages were compounding rapidly.
Overseer Chen raised his voice
"Next round—combat evaluations will now proceed with intermediate matches!"
But his voice lacked its usual harshness.
He glanced at Lian Hong several times—each time with something resembling… respect.
Elder Lin spoke softly from the platform:
"Send him more opponents."
Chen stiffened. "Elder Lin…?"
"We need to see how deep his foundation goes."
Chen hesitated.Then nodded.
He unrolled a new bamboo slip and announced:
"Next combat evaluation—Lian Hong versus three opponents simultaneously."
The courtyard erupted.
"Three?!""That's insane!""He just fought Hong Feng!""Is the overseer trying to kill him?"
Zhou Shan nearly fainted again.
"Why!? Why is fate so cruel to him!?"
Lian Hong simply walked into the arena.
No hesitation.
No fear.
His heartbeat was steady.
His breathing smooth.
Three servant fighters stepped forward—each one Second or Third Layer, chosen among the top 20%.
They circled him, tense and sweating.
Lian Hong looked at them and spoke lightly:
"If you hold back—"His eyes sharpened."—you'll lose instantly."
The three disciples tensed.
Overseer Chen raised his arm.
"Begin—!"
Three figures charged at once.
A coordinated attack.High-level teamwork.Fast footwork.
Under normal circumstances, they would overwhelm anyone below Fourth Layer.
But they weren't facing a normal opponent.
They were facing someone who had died once—and returned stronger.
Someone with a system.
Someone with predator's instincts.
Someone reborn.
Lian Hong stepped forward.
A single breath—a ripple of qi—and a spark of killing intent flickered in his pupils.
〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉—activation.
The first attacker swung—
Miss.
The second tried to flank—
Counter-hit.
The third attempted a sweep—
Intercepted.
The arena filled with the sound of precise impacts.
BAM!CRACK!FWUSH!
Within five heartbeats—
All three attackers crashed into the ground, groaning in defeat.
The crowd couldn't speak.Their minds struggled to understand.
The overseer's hand trembled as he lifted it.
"W-Winner… Lian Hong."
It wasn't shock anymore.
It was awe.
Hushed, reverent awe.
Elder Lin stood
For the first time in years, excitement touched his calm face.
"That settles it," he murmured.He looked toward Overseer Chen.
"That boy must not remain a servant disciple."
Chen nodded slowly. "I agree."
But Elder Lin wasn't finished.
"This year's trials…just became much more interesting."
He turned toward the inner courtyard.
"I should notify the Sect Master."