Bloody Prelude

When the ultimate weapon representing the academy's enforcement power, the "Golden Armored Warrior," was torn apart into scrap metal within a mere nine breaths, before anyone could react, by the terrifyingly artistic combined attack of the "Rebel Mortal" class, a final assessment, the most shocking and perspective-shattering in Cloud Creek Academy's history, concluded in a way filled with infinite absurdity and fantasy.

The final result was already self-evident.

Chu Tianxing didn't even bother to announce the assessment results, which had become meaningless.

He simply took a deep look at the young man who had remained calm from beginning to end, as if he had only done something trivial, and the group of monsters behind him, who were equally imposing and solemn. He left them with a "Prepare yourselves well," filled with endless relief and anticipation, and then hastily departed with the Discipline Hall elder, who had been so shocked he was questioning his life.

He knew.

His "drawing a snake and adding feet" assessment had not only failed to serve any testing purpose but had almost caused him to lose his face, which he had preserved for over a hundred years!

The energy these young fellows possessed had long surpassed his imagination!

And with Chu Tianxing's departure.

The entire Tingzhu Pavilion returned to its usual tranquility.

However, the raging fire that had already been ignited in the hearts of all "Rebel Mortal" class members showed no signs of subsiding; instead, it burned even more fiercely and brilliantly!

They knew.

The real war was finally coming!

Three days later.

The central training ground of Cloud Creek Academy's outer court.

This was the most spacious and sacred place in the entire outer court. Normally, it was only opened to the public during academy competitions or certain extremely important gatherings.

And today, this massive training ground, capable of holding one hundred thousand people simultaneously, was packed with people, every seat taken!

All the outer court students, whether they were newcomers who had just enrolled or seniors who had been cultivating here for many years, whether they were lone wolves or core members of major factions, had all gathered here without exception!

They all wore the same expression on their faces.

-- Excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and a hint of... fear of the unknown, hidden deep in their eyes!

Because today was the day the Cloud Creek Academy's grandest and most brutal trial ceremony, held every three years, officially began!

-- The Bloody Trial officially commenced!

On a massive platform to the north of the training ground, forged from some unknown black divine iron, Chu Tianxing and dozens of academy higher-ups, whose auras were equally powerful, were already present.

Their expressions were extremely serious, and their gazes, filled with supreme authority, slowly swept across the boundless sea of one hundred thousand students below, like a black tide!

Below the high platform were the clearly demarcated faction formations!

At the very front were the top ten factions in the outer court!

"Danxin Society," "Divine Weapon Pavilion," "Wind and Cloud Alliance"...

Powerful existences that had achieved brilliant results in previous trials had all dispatched the most elite core forces under their command!

Each with a solemn aura and sharp eyes, they were clearly well-prepared!

And in the very center of all the top factions, a slightly suppressed and somber formation stood out, appearing out of place.

That was the former number one overlord of the outer court—the Heavenly Martial Society!

Although they had lost their former supreme dominance and overwhelming presence after the "Black Wind Mountain Range" battle, which had severely wounded them.

Still, a starving camel is bigger than a horse!

As the old faction with the deepest foundation in the outer court, their lineup this time was still not to be underestimated!

Especially Chen Xuan, who had temporarily replaced Wu Tianxiong, who had become crippled, as the new president of the Heavenly Martial Society, the Chief Instructor of the Heaven Class!

Although this person usually kept a low profile and his reputation was not as resounding as Wu Tianxiong's.

His true strength had also reached the unfathomable peak of the Body Refinement Ninth Level!

At this moment, he sat with his eyes closed at the very front of the team, his face, which had always been calm, showing no hint of emotion.

But the faint, cold, and deadly terrifying aura emanating from him, like a venomous snake, made all the students around him who dared to peek at him feel a chill!

However, just as everyone's gaze was subtly shifting between these dozen or so top faction formations, speculating on who would be the ultimate winner of this "Bloody Trial."

A very faint but rhythmic and peculiar sound of footsteps, without any warning, slowly came from the entrance of the training ground.

The sound was not loud.

But it seemed to carry a strange magic.

It instantly drowned out the noisy clamor of tens of thousands of people in the venue!

The entire, previously bustling training ground fell silent in an instant!

Everyone subconsciously stopped their discussions and slowly turned their heads towards the eerie sound of footsteps, which sounded like the Grim Reaper tolling a funeral bell.

Then, they saw a scene they would never forget in their lives.

Thirty young men and women, dressed in uniform black combat attire, but with a vividly blood-red silk thread embroidered on their backs with an ancient script—"Rebel"—filled with infinite rebellion and soaring ambition!

They marched in neat formation with silent steps, like an undefeated royal army returning victorious from the depths of hell!

Silently, they walked into this final battlefield, which could make gods and demons turn pale!

Their faces showed no unnecessary expressions.

Their gazes were calm, undisturbed by even the slightest ripple.

As if the sight of a hundred thousand people, enough to make any normal youth's blood boil and heart surge with excitement, was...

...merely a group of chickens and dogs they could crush with a flick of their wrists!

This was Rebel Mortal!

The moment this immortal legend, which had risen from the lowest ranks of the outer courtyard in less than two months to forcefully drag the former overlord, the Heavenly Martial Society, off its throne, appeared on the training grounds.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

On everyone's face, a complex, eerie expression of reverence, fear, and a hint of fanaticism appeared in unison!

They were like weak sheep who had seen a true Mighty Lion enter their territory, instinctively parting to create a wide, clear path for them!

And as the Chief Instructor of the "Rebel Mortal" class, Lin Xiao was the undisputed absolute focus of the entire scene!

He walked calmly at the very front of the team, his deep eyes, like an ancient well, not even lingering for a moment on the faces filled with awe and fear around him.

He walked directly to the core area reserved for the major top powers!

Then, under the stunned gazes of everyone, filled with endless shock and a subversion of their worldview.

He calmly stopped before the new president of the Heavenly Martial Society—Chen Xuan—who had his eyes closed, as if he had long since cast aside life and death.

"You are the current person in charge of the Heavenly Martial Society?"

Lin Xiao spoke calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion, as if stating the most ordinary fact.

Chen Xuan, who had been like an old monk in meditation, finally slowly opened his tightly shut eyes.

Revealing a pair of narrow, sinister eyes filled with coldness and malice, like a viper's tongue!

"So what if I am?" His voice was hoarse and unpleasant, like two rusty iron plates grinding against each other, sending chills down one's spine.

"Go back and tell the person behind you."

Lin Xiao ignored the palpable killing intent that was almost solidifying.

He calmly extended a finger, pointing remotely at the familiar figure within the Heavenly Martial Society's formation, who was sitting with a gloomy expression not far away.

—Zhao Wuji!

"I've reserved his life."

"If he doesn't provoke me during this trial, then so be it."

"If he dares to appear before me again..."

Lin Xiao paused, his deep eyes narrowing slightly, a flicker of emotionless, icy killing intent flashing within them!

"I will personally send him down to accompany his good brother, Li Tianyi!"

With that, he no longer glanced at Chen Xuan, who was already trembling all over and had a ashen face from being enraged by his overbearing and bloody declaration of death.

He directly led the twenty-nine companions behind him, who also had grim expressions, to an empty spot and sat down cross-legged.

Closing his eyes to rest.

As if the public declaration of war, which was enough to shake the entire outer courtyard, had just happened...

...was merely a trivial post-meal chat.

"You... you bastard!"

It wasn't until Lin Xiao and the others had completely disappeared from his sight.

That Chen Xuan finally reacted to the immense humiliation, which felt like the sky collapsing and the earth shattering!

He clenched his fists tightly, his face, already contorted with excessive anger, filled with endless ferocity and malice!

"Lin! Xiao!"

He spat out these two words from between his teeth, his voice so cold it could freeze a person's soul!

"For this Bloody Trial, I, Chen Xuan, hereby swear!"

"If I don't tear you and that damned 'Rebel Mortal' class to pieces and scatter your ashes!"

"I will not be human!"

On the high platform.

Chu Tianxing, who had taken in the terrifying conflict about to erupt below with his own eyes, showed no change in his usually stern face.

In fact, a hint of an imperceptible playful smile flashed in the depths of his eyes.

This was the effect he wanted!

A stagnant pool needed a catfish to stir up the waves!

And only a crucible of blood and competition could truly cultivate peerless wolf kings capable of supporting the academy's future!

He slowly rose from his seat, gradually releasing his Spiritual Movement Realm pressure, which was as vast as the sea!

In an instant, it overwhelmed all the noise and killing intent in the arena!

"Silence!"

His resonant voice, filled with supreme authority, boomed like rolling thunder in everyone's ears!

"The time has come!"

"I declare Cloud Creek Academy's 372nd Bloody Trial now officially..."

"Begins!"

With that, he and the dozens of academy elders beside him attacked simultaneously!

They poured their immense, terrifying spiritual energy, vast as a misty ocean, into the ancient altar that stood a hundred zhang tall in the center of the training ground!

"Buzz--!"

An ancient hum, as if from the primordial wilderness, resounded!

The ancient altar, which had always appeared unremarkable, instantly lit up with a blood-red pillar of light capable of piercing the very heavens!

Within the pillar of light, a phantom portal, filled with endless mystery and desolate aura, slowly took shape!

The other side of the portal was an unknown world filled with endless bloodshed and death!

--The Bloody Secret Realm!

"You must all be well aware of the trial rules!"

Chu Tianxing's voice rang out again!

"Once you enter, your survival is your own destiny!"

"Your only mission is to survive! And within these ten days, hunt as many Bloody Demonic Beasts as possible in the secret realm and seize the Blood Crystals within their bodies!"

"Or... snatch the identity tokens of your fellow disciples!"

"Ten days later, the secret realm will close! The final ranking will be based on your total Blood Crystals!"

"The top one hundred will receive generous rewards!"

The top ten will directly obtain the supreme qualification to enter the inner sect!

"Now..."

He paused, his eyes filled with authority slowly sweeping over the one hundred thousand young faces below, already boiling with hot-blooded excitement and soaring fighting spirit.

"--Enter the secret realm!"