When Lian Hong returned to the elite training grounds the next morning, the atmosphere had completely changed.
It wasn't the usual pressure of competitive geniuses.
It was heavier.Sharper.Charged with a predatory hunger.
Dozens of elite disciples turned to stare at him the moment he entered.
Zhou Shan shrunk behind him, trembling like a leaf.
"Bro… I swear… they're looking at you like you're a walking treasure chest that drops rare loot…"
Lian Hong ignored the stares and walked forward.
Then he saw it.
A large stone slab had been erected at the center of the grounds overnight.
On it were engraved dozens of names.
The Challenge Board.
Zhou Shan's voice cracked.
"Bro… t-that's the Outer Sect Elite Challenge Board! They only put this out when something big is coming!"
Whispers spread around them:
"They activated the board.""This is to force ranking fights.""They're all aiming for him.""Newcomer's going to suffer today."
Lian Hong stepped closer.
At the top of the stone slab was a single line:
ELITE PLACEMENT PRELIMINARIES – SEVEN DAYS.
Below that—
Rows of names were carved with glowing qi.
But one detail caught everyone's attention.
Three names were glowing brighter than the rest.
Mu Yanting (Rank 1) – green
Xu Jian (Rank 2) – white
Chi Yao (Rank 7) – red
Zhou Shan gulped audibly.
"Red means 'hostile challenge'… green means 'authoritative challenge'… white means 'neutral challenge'… Bro, you got all three colors. That's… impressive… in a 'you might die' kind of way…"
Then—
a fourth name appeared suddenly, glowing dark purple.
The crowd gasped.
"Purple!?""That's lethal intent!""Someone wants the newcomer dead!""How is that allowed!?"
Zhou Shan screamed:
"BRO RUN—PURPLE MEANS SOMEONE IS TRYING TO KILL YOU!"
The purple name glowed:
Anonymous Challenger
The system chimed instantly:
[High-Level Kill Challenge Received][Issuing Cultivator: Unknown – Concealed Identity][Danger Level: Extreme]
Lian Hong's eyes narrowed.
The masked man.
He was sending a message.
Mu Yanting Steps Forward
Rank 1, Mu Yanting, approached the board.
His presence alone silenced the entire grounds.
He touched the green rune beside his name.
The stone slab brightened.
A line of qi text appeared:
MU YANTING –Challenges Lian Hong in three days.Evaluation combat.Rules: Full footwork, limited strikes.Objective: Measure newcomer's ceiling.
Whispers erupted:
"Senior Brother Mu is testing him personally!""That's huge!""This is like a high-level examination!"
Zhou Shan wiped tears.
"Bro… Mu Yanting's tests are famous. Half of them end with broken ribs…"
But Mu Yanting looked directly at Lian Hong.
"You passed yesterday.But your climb is too fast."
His eyes gleamed with an edge sharper than blades.
"I want to see if your stability is real."
Lian Hong didn't blink.
"I accept."
Mu Yanting nodded once, then walked away.
He had no intention of humiliating Lian Hong.
He wanted to measure him.
That was more terrifying.
Xu Jian's Challenge
Xu Jian stepped up next.
His white rune glowed softly.
XU JIAN –Challenges Lian Hong in five days.Friendly duel.Rules: No killing intent.Objective: Evaluate technique and potential.
The crowd murmured.
"Xu Jian wants a friendly duel?""He's evaluating talent again.""He sees Lian Hong as a potential future rival."
Zhou Shan clutched his heart.
"Bro… this is the nice one… but also the scary one… because Xu Jian never goes easy…"
Xu Jian walked up to Lian Hong and smiled.
"I look forward to our exchange."
Lian Hong replied softly:
"Likewise."
Chi Yao's Challenge – Murderous Intent
Then Chi Yao approached.
His red rune burst like flame.
He slammed his palm onto the board.
CHI YAO –Challenges Lian Hong tomorrow.Rules: None.Fight until incapacitation.Objective: Crush.
The crowd roared.
"Tomorrow!?""He wants to kill him!""Chi Yao's matches are basically executions!""This is bad!"
Zhou Shan almost fainted.
"BRO… TOMORROW…? TOMORROW…!? WHY ARE WE NOT RUNNING!??"
Chi Yao walked up to Lian Hong.
Face twisted in a cruel smile.
"Tomorrow morning," he said."I will break your bones one by one."
He leaned in closer.
"And there are no rules to protect you."
Lian Hong didn't back away.
He answered:
"I'll make sure you don't step into the circle alive."
Chi Yao's grin widened in fury.
"GOOD."
The Purple Challenger Appears
Before the tension could break—
a chilling gust swept across the grounds.
Every disciple froze.
Even Chi Yao stiffened.
A masked figure stepped forward.
Silver mask.Dark green robe.Cold eyes.
The same Inner Sect cultivator who confronted Lian Hong yesterday.
Silence crashed over the training ground.
Footsteps halted.Breaths stopped.
Mu Yanting and Xu Jian both straightened defensively.
This was someone beyond outer sect level.
The masked man walked directly to the stone slab.
His aura pressed down like invisible chains.
He tapped the purple rune.
A new line of glowing text formed:
SHADOW MASK –Challenges Lian Hong in seven days.Rules: None.Objective: Termination.
The crowd erupted:
"He wrote TERMINATION!?""That's— that's an execution order!""How is the sect allowing this!?""He's from the Inner Sect! Who dares stop him!?"
Zhou Shan screamed behind Lian Hong:
"BROOOO—THE FINAL BOSS SHOWED UP TOO EARLY!!!"
The masked man turned toward Lian Hong.
His voice reached only Lian Hong's ears:
"You have seven days."
Then he spoke aloud:
"If he survives the others."
And he vanished.
Mu Yanting's Decision
Rank 1 clenched his jaw.
He looked at Lian Hong.
"In seven days… you will face someone you cannot defeat."
Xu Jian added quietly:
"If you survive Chi Yao and me and Mu Yanting…you'll still face death."
Chi Yao smirked.
"Perfect.He won't make it to day seven."
Zhou Shan was sobbing internally:
"Bro… we don't even need enemies… the schedule itself will kill us…"
But Lian Hong looked at the board calmly.
Three challenges from geniuses.One from a killer.Four battles in seven days.No safety.No retreat.
Only survival.
Only ascent.
He turned around.
His voice steady.
"Then I'll survive all four."
Mu Yanting exhaled sharply.
Xu Jian smiled faintly.
Chi Yao laughed madly.
The entire elite group trembled with shock.
And high above the training ground—
from the cliffside shadows—
the young master with the jade flute watched with interest.
He murmured:
"Good.Struggle harder."
He raised the flute to his lips and whispered:
"Let's see how far you can climb…before I take everything away."