An Unexpected Injury

### Chapter 18: An Unexpected Injury After his harrowing, hard-fought battle with Su Ling, Mu Chen's reputation soared in the Spirit Road competition. Every battle he fought became the focus of everyone's attention, and countless cultivators came to regard him as a formidable rival. Yet behind that glory lay danger, as precarious as treading on thin ice. In the matches that followed, Mu Chen cleared hurdle after hurdle and cut down opponent after opponent. His strength and tenacious fighting spirit set him apart from the other contestants. He gave every battle his all, constantly drawing out his own potential and growing more adept at using his newly grasped techniques and the cultivation art from the ancient scroll. As the competition entered its more crucial stages, the rivalry grew fiercer. The remaining contestants were all outstanding talents painstakingly nurtured by their respective clans and factions, and none could be underestimated. Mu Chen understood this well, so he prepared thoroughly before every battle, analyzing his opponent's characteristics and the tactics they might employ. In one important battle, Mu Chen faced a cultivator who specialized in concealed weapons and traps. His name was Lin Yu. Dressed in a tight-fitting black outfit, he moved like a phantom. The cunning and malice in his eyes sent a chill down the spine. Once the match began, Lin Yu did not launch a direct attack as the other opponents had. His figure flickered as he darted across the arena, leaving trails of afterimages behind him. Mu Chen kept his eyes fixed on him, not daring to let his guard slip for an instant. He knew that Lin Yu's strange movements had to be laying the groundwork for some sinister scheme. Suddenly, Mu Chen felt a faint tremor beneath his feet. Alarm shot through him, and he immediately realized it was a trap. He hurriedly channeled his spiritual energy and leaped upward. The instant he jumped, several spikes sprang from the ground where he had been standing. A poisonous gleam shimmered on their tips; the consequences of being pierced by them were unthinkable. Mu Chen steadied himself in midair, but before he could land, Lin Yu attacked. Several concealed weapons shot from his sleeves, flying toward Mu Chen like raindrops. They came in various shapes, some resembling throwing darts and others needles. Each radiated sharp fluctuations of spiritual energy, making it clear that they had been specially refined. With nothing to push off against in midair, Mu Chen could only swiftly draw a short blade from his Storage Ring, pour spiritual energy into it, and swing it to fend off the projectiles. Clang, clang, clang! The ringing was relentless, and sparks flew as the concealed weapons struck his blade. Though Mu Chen successfully blocked most of them, a few still grazed his body, leaving bloody lines across his skin. Seeing that his concealed weapons had failed to achieve the desired effect, Lin Yu's lips curled slightly into a cold sneer. He employed his movement technique again and charged toward Mu Chen. The instant he closed in, he swept both hands outward, releasing a cloud of black smoke. It spread rapidly, enveloping both him and Mu Chen. Blinded by the smoke, Mu Chen could only rely on his spiritual perception to sense the movements around him. Lin Yu, however, seemed thoroughly familiar with the smoke and moved freely within it. He quietly circled behind Mu Chen, a sharp dagger in his hand, and thrust it toward his back. At the critical moment just before the dagger struck, Mu Chen suddenly sensed danger behind him. Relying on instincts honed through years in perilous environments, he tilted his body to one side. The dagger scraped across his back, slicing through his clothes and leaving a deep wound. Blood instantly soaked his clothing, and the searing pain drew his brows into a tight knot. Though his strike had missed its mark, Lin Yu did not stop attacking. He continued his assault within the smoke, his dagger darting toward Mu Chen's vital points like a nimble serpent. Mu Chen's injuries hampered his movements. He could barely evade Lin Yu's attacks, and several more wounds appeared on his body. By then, the smoke had begun to disperse. Mu Chen knew he could not remain on the defensive like this. Gritting through the pain, he focused his mind and tried to find an opening in Lin Yu's defenses. During a brief gap between Lin Yu's attacks, Mu Chen seized his chance and struck back. He gathered the spiritual energy remaining in his body into his hand and unleashed a palm strike toward Lin Yu. Lin Yu had not expected Mu Chen to launch such a powerful attack while injured, and he hurriedly dodged. Even so, the force of Mu Chen's palm strike caught him and drove him several steps backward. "Hmph, you think you can defeat me like that?" Lin Yu said coldly after steadying himself. He charged toward Mu Chen again, ready to launch another round of attacks. Mu Chen knew he was in terrible shape. But he did not give up. Only one conviction remained in his heart: he had to win this match. He steadied his breathing and prepared to meet Lin Yu's attack. Just as the two were about to clash again, a beam of spiritual energy suddenly shot from the edge of the arena. It moved with incredible speed, coming from an exceptionally treacherous angle as it hurtled straight toward Mu Chen. Fully absorbed in countering Lin Yu's attack, Mu Chen never noticed the sudden ambush. The beam struck Mu Chen's shoulder, its tremendous force sending him flying. He crashed heavily to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth. This injury was even more severe. The beam had nearly pierced straight through his shoulder, and blood flowed without stopping. An uproar swept through the entire square. No one had expected such an unforeseen incident amid this fierce match. Mu Chen's companions rose anxiously to their feet, wanting to rush over and check on him, but the competition guards blocked their way. A flicker of delighted surprise crossed Lin Yu's eyes when he saw Mu Chen wounded. He did not let the opportunity slip away and charged toward him again, preparing to deliver a fatal blow. Lying on the ground, Mu Chen watched Lin Yu rush toward him, a glint of resolve flashing in his eyes. He knew he could not allow himself to be defeated like this. Even if he died, he would fight to the very end. Just before Lin Yu reached him, Mu Chen summoned his last ounce of strength, took a healing pill from his Storage Ring, and swallowed it. The pill melted the moment it entered his mouth, and a warm current spread through his body, temporarily easing his injuries. He clenched his fists and prepared to face Lin Yu's attack once more. This battle had reached the critical moment between life and death.