Troublemakers

Jun Xuehan walked through the barren mountains, a faintly thoughtful look in his eyes.

Before entering, there had still been some useful information in the instructor's words, though very little of it.

For example, Jie Kaer had said there were soul beasts in the barren mountains. That meant soul beasts were not the main point here; what lay beyond them was the real focus. Otherwise, Jie Kaer would never have mentioned the soul beasts.

As he pondered, Jun Xuehan suddenly heard a faint sound behind him. It seemed to be footsteps.

He was not taking the main road through the barren mountains, but a very secluded path. The students from the Training Camp who had formed teams were all chasing speed and better results, so they would basically never take a detour. They would all use the main road. After all, a straight path was shorter than a winding one; everyone understood that.

Therefore, there was an eighty percent chance that whoever had followed him was here to cause trouble.

Jun Xuehan turned to look behind him and saw that three people had caught up: Long Qiang, Yin Bing, and Yan Xing.

"Tut, tut. Jun Xuehan, why are you walking so fast? Wouldn't it be better to wait and travel together?" Yan Xing chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery.

"We all know why you're here. Why put on an act?" Jun Xuehan swept his gaze across the three of them and released his martial soul.

The Silver Dragon Spear appeared in Jun Xuehan's hand. One yellow and one purple Soul Ring flashed beneath his feet. He spun the Silver Dragon Spear once, its cold gleaming tip pointing directly at the three before him.

"A Thousand-Year Soul Ring!" The three stared at the purple Soul Ring beneath Jun Xuehan's feet, shock flashing through their eyes.

"So what if it's a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? He's still only a Soul Grandmaster. The three of us are attacking together—three against one. We still have the advantage." Yin Bing spoke indifferently as he released his martial soul, the Black Spirit Profound Serpent.

Two yellow Soul Rings flashed beneath Yin Bing's feet as he charged straight at Jun Xuehan.

Long Qiang and Yan Xing exchanged a glance. Their martial souls, the Demon Wolf and Iron Arm Bear, emerged from their bodies. Two Soul Rings flashed around them as they likewise rushed toward Jun Xuehan.

Jun Xuehan narrowed his eyes. The silver spear in his hand danced, spear flowers blooming in midair as he met the three attackers head-on.

Yan Xing, of the Assault System, confronted Jun Xuehan directly and engaged him in a head-on clash. Meanwhile, Yin Bing and Long Qiang attacked from the left and right, flanking him with seamless coordination.

Facing the attacks of all three, Jun Xuehan wielded the Silver Dragon Spear without a single opening. Three parts defense, seven parts offense—the battle fell into a stalemate, with neither side gaining the advantage.

Yin Bing's first Soul Ring flashed. His body suddenly became extraordinarily flexible, and with a twist of his waist, he dodged the thrusting Silver Dragon Spear in an unbelievable motion. He then raised his leg and swept it toward Jun Xuehan, who was about to withdraw his spear.

A barrier condensed from Soul Power appeared around Yan Xing's body. As he forcibly withstood Jun Xuehan's attack, he seized an opening and threw a powerful, heavy punch at Jun Xuehan.

Long Qiang's eyes turned a deep green, and a wolf howl burst from his mouth. Hearing it, Jun Xuehan felt as though his Spiritual Sea had been struck, and he could not help but falter for a moment. However, he quickly came to his senses. With no time to think, he unleashed Dragon Spear Wind and Rain, blocking all three of their attacks.

Though he had blocked their assault, the tremendous force still drove Jun Xuehan back roughly two meters.

Just as Long Qiang, Yan Xing, and Yin Bing prepared to press their advantage, the Thousand-Year Soul Ring beneath Jun Xuehan's feet flashed. Wind-element energy rapidly gathered at the tip of the Silver Dragon Spear in his hand.

"Second Soul Skill: Dragon Spear Wind Element Domain!"

Jun Xuehan steadied himself and charged directly at the three. Yan Xing continued to meet him head-on, but the instant he came into contact with the Silver Dragon Spear, he felt as though he had been thrown into a storm. Even the gentle breeze blowing around him seemed to transform into Wind Blades, intent on tearing his body apart.

The Silver Dragon Spear struck upward, sending Yan Xing flying into the air in an instant. As Yan Xing was launched, the Silver Dragon Spear swept sideways, knocking Long Qiang and Yin Bing away. Then the spear smashed down from above, violently slamming Yan Xing into the ground.

The immense force and attack power left a slight depression in the ground. The sound of breaking bones and Yan Xing's screams rang clearly through the barren mountains.

Jun Xuehan looked at Long Qiang and Yin Bing, who had fallen to the ground. He drove the Silver Dragon Spear directly into Yan Xing's left shoulder, triggering its Devouring Ability. It immediately began absorbing Yan Xing's Soul Power to restore Jun Xuehan's condition.

His depleted Soul Power replenished, Jun Xuehan pulled out the Silver Dragon Spear, spun it to fling away the blood on it, and headed straight for Long Qiang and Yin Bing.

With one sweep of the Silver Dragon Spear, he sent Yin Bing flying sideways into an ancient tree. Looking at Long Qiang, who was just about to rise from the ground, Jun Xuehan brought the Silver Dragon Spear down directly onto him. A crisp crack of shattering bones rang out. Before Long Qiang could scream, Jun Xuehan kicked him in the neck, knocking him unconscious.

His silver eyes turned toward Yin Bing, the last one remaining. There was no warmth in them, only an utterly pure, icy chill.

Yin Bing climbed to his feet, took in the situation before him, and immediately said, "Wait, Jun Xuehan. Those two are already considered eliminated. The strongest people left in the Training Camp are only us and Zong Ming. If we join forces, securing the top three spots will basically be a certainty. The more friends you have, the more paths you have. There's no need to take things this far."

Jun Xuehan chuckled. "Join forces? Do you think you're worthy? If I had lost, I don't think the three of you would have shown me any mercy."

As he spoke, the Silver Dragon Spear shot forward. Its sharp tip pierced directly through Yin Bing's left shoulder. Bright red blood flowed out, running down Yin Bing's arm and dripping onto the ground.

The second Soul Skill's tearing effect made Yin Bing feel a ripping pain spread from his shoulder through his body, while the bleeding wound was also extremely difficult to heal.

Jun Xuehan withdrew the Silver Dragon Spear and turned toward the depths of the barren mountains. As for Yan Xing, Yin Bing, and Long Qiang, he could not be bothered with them. Their injuries made it basically impossible for them to continue the trial anyway.

If they were lucky, they could hide in the barren mountains and perhaps wait for the instructors to rescue them. If they were unlucky, then that was another matter.

Yin Bing watched Jun Xuehan's departing back. He tore a strip of cloth from his clothes and staggered over to examine Yan Xing and Long Qiang's injuries. Though he was filled with resentment, Yin Bing could not afford to care about that now. He only prayed that no soul beasts would appear and that their lives would be spared.