Chapter 208:
Xiao Yang had finally stepped into the Nine-Tiered Trial once again. This was not just a mere feeling of déjà vu; it was truly living through this moment a second time. This was the first trial of the Grand Sixty-Year Tournament. At this stage, no one would engage in reckless combat.
Before them stretched a vast forest, seemingly endless in every direction. At the forest’s entrance stood a massive stone stele, upon which three large characters were engraved—“Ten Thousand Beast Forest.” This forest marked the outermost perimeter of the first trial of the Nine-Tiered Trial. It spanned a hundred miles in diameter, appearing eerily tranquil at first glance. However, hidden beneath its deceptively calm surface were countless remnants of battle. Scattered among the weeds and stones were countless bleached bones. Even around the stone stele, skeletal remains lay in disarray.
Lin Wangchuan inadvertently stepped on a broken sword. Among the bones were shattered weapons of all kinds. The Grand Sixty-Year Tournament had been held every six decades for an eternity, its countless iterations having claimed an untold number of lives. Even though they had mentally prepared themselves for the dangers ahead, the sheer number of bones strewn across the ground still sent chills down their spines.
Xiao Yang, however, remained unfazed by the sight. Unlike the others, he had firsthand experience of the perilous nature of the Ten Thousand Beast Forest. Yet, this time, the treacherous domain was nothing more than his personal hunting ground.
"Let’s go." Without hesitation, Xiao Yang strode into the forest. Lin Wangchuan and Song Qiang exchanged glances before following him. Jiang Ting, Qin Fei, and the disciples of Azure Sun Sword Sect trailed behind. Nie Ruhua and Hua Mengli, along with their fellow sect members, also moved to follow Xiao Yang.
Others, however, hesitated. Their cautious nature was understandable—the bones littering the ground served as undeniable proof that the forest was a death trap. As its name suggested, the Ten Thousand Beast Forest was undoubtedly teeming with ferocious creatures. The spiritual energy in this region was as rich as that of a cultivation sanctuary, meaning the beasts that thrived here had to be formidable. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many corpses scattered across the landscape. Some of the bones bore distinct bite marks, a testament to the savage fate that had befallen their owners.
The first trial’s expanse was far greater than what they had seen from the celestial platform. From a distance, the trial grounds had appeared smaller, but upon entering, it became evident that this was a vast and self-contained realm.
Li Xingyao gazed at Xiao Yang’s departing figure before silently leading the ten disciples of Soaring Sword Sect into the forest as well, keeping a measured distance behind Xiao Yang and his group. Ling Xian’er was also among Xiao Yang’s party, her expression as detached as ever. She seemed uninterested in everything around her, quietly following behind him.
"So the great Soaring Sword Sect is using us to clear the way for them?" Qin Fei scoffed as he glanced over his shoulder. Xiao Yang remained silent, continuing to lead the way. The others soon noticed that Li Xingyao and her fellow disciples were indeed following them.
Meanwhile, outside Yuanwu Immortal Domain, just beyond the gates of Yuanwu Mountain, a massive light screen had appeared. This screen, formed by an illusory projection technique, displayed the trials in real-time for all to see. Everyone gathered at the mountain gate could now witness how the contestants fared in their challenge.
"This unfilial son…" Xiao Zhanshan and his family were among those watching. They had already spotted Xiao Yang’s figure. "That’s Brother Xiao Fei… and Sister Jiang Ting!" Chu Yue exclaimed in surprise. "Why is Soaring Sword Sect following after Senior Brother? What do they want?" The disciples of Azure Sun Sword Sect were also watching with growing concern.
"Could it be that Li Xingyao intends to cause trouble for this brat?" Xiao Zhanshan’s expression suddenly darkened. The crowd was stunned by his words. Xiao Yang’s victory over Li Xingyao had already spread across the entire Northern Territory. Rumors had long circulated that after her defeat, Li Xingyao had returned to Soaring Sword Sect to undergo secluded cultivation, solely for the purpose of challenging Xiao Yang again and reclaiming her honor. Was she planning to confront him now?
Xiao Yang walked steadily through the forest, occasionally pausing before continuing forward. Eventually, he stopped at a clearing. "Senior Brother, why are we stopping here?" Jiang Ting stepped forward and asked. Xiao Yang ignored her. Feeling snubbed, Jiang Ting’s expression darkened with displeasure.
Xiao Yang sat down cross-legged on the ground. Moments later, Li Xingyao and the disciples of Soaring Sword Sect arrived. The crowd grew tense at the sight of her. Everyone knew of the grudge between her and Xiao Yang. Li Xingyao had once sought to prove her dominance over all young cultivators of the Northern Territory, only to suffer a humiliating defeat at Xiao Yang’s hands during her very first challenge. What was supposed to be a grand display of her unparalleled swordsmanship had instead turned into a colossal joke.
As Li Xingyao approached, the tension thickened. Yet to everyone’s surprise, she merely glanced at Xiao Yang, then walked past him without a word, leading her group deeper into the forest. The crowd was bewildered. Li Xingyao hadn’t challenged Xiao Yang.
"Senior Brother, why are we stopping here?" Song Qiang asked. "Let’s rest before we continue," Xiao Yang replied casually. The others were dumbfounded. They had only just entered the forest and traveled a few miles, yet he wanted to stop and rest? No one understood what Xiao Yang was up to.
At the gates of Yuanwu Mountain, the spectators watching through the projection screen were equally puzzled by Xiao Yang’s decision. Meanwhile, beyond Xiao Yang’s group, Li Xingyao’s party was about to have a stroke of misfortune.
Whoosh! A shadow suddenly shot up from the ground. With a violent eruption of dust and dead leaves, something coiled around one of Soaring Sword Sect’s disciples and yanked them underground in an instant.
A chilling scream echoed from beneath the ground.
“What…?”
Li Xingyao and her disciples were stunned.
The remaining disciples of Soaring Sword Sect immediately scattered, each summoning their flying swords with vigilance.
Brilliant sword light illuminated the dark forest as a foul stench of decay spread through the air.
The overwhelming sword aura disturbed the quiet night, drawing the attention of Xiao Yang’s group.
Xiao Yang remained as calm as ever, as if he had anticipated the danger all along.
In contrast, Jiang Ting, Qin Fei, Lin Wangchuan, and the others were visibly shaken.
Everyone instinctively unsheathed their weapons, preparing for battle.
Something lurking beneath the ground had dragged one of Soaring Sword Sect’s disciples into the depths.
But what exactly was attacking them?
Even Li Xingyao hadn’t been able to see it clearly.
Moments later, the screams ceased.
Boom!
The ground suddenly exploded as a figure was thrown into the air, crashing into a massive tree before falling limply to the ground.
Li Xingyao's gaze locked onto the lifeless body.
It was the very disciple who had been dragged underground moments ago.
His body was covered in blood, grotesquely twisted, with two deep puncture wounds on his neck. His corpse was shriveled, his face frozen in terror, as if he had been completely drained of blood.
Outside the Nine-Tiered Trial, on the celestial platform, a large light screen had appeared, displaying the events unfolding in the trial.
The leaders of the ten great sects sat cross-legged before it, with Li Fuyou seated at the forefront.
None of them appeared surprised by what they saw.
“Fairy Li, who would have thought that the first casualty of this Grand Sixty-Year Tournament would come from Soaring Sword Sect?”
Chu Zhenbei, the sect master of Guiyuan Martial Sect, sneered.
Li Fuyou remained motionless, her eyes closed in meditation, ignoring his provocation entirely.
Chu Zhenbei frowned in displeasure.
Jiang Qitian, however, wore a solemn expression.
His daughter, Jiang Ting, was also inside the Ten Thousand Beast Forest.
He had not wanted her to participate in such a perilous tournament, but Jiang Ting had insisted.
Now, he could only watch.
Back in the forest, Li Xingyao and her disciples leaped onto the surrounding trees, keeping a vigilant watch on the ground.
The earth trembled as something slithered beneath the surface, moving rapidly through the soil.
Jiang Ting and the others watched from a distance.
Had Xiao Yang stopped here earlier because he knew something dangerous lay ahead?
The group exchanged skeptical glances, their eyes falling on Xiao Yang, who remained seated.
How could that be possible?
How would Xiao Yang know there was danger ahead?
This was their first time stepping into this place.
Jiang Ting, Ling Xian’er, and Qin Fei would never have imagined that Xiao Yang had lived through this life once before.
He knew this forest like the back of his hand—the locations of hidden dangers, the areas to avoid, and the lurking places of deadly beasts.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Li Xingyao erupted as a massive black shadow shot upward, lunging straight for her.
A massive python, covered in jet-black scales, revealed itself.
“Hmph!”
Li Xingyao sent her flying sword slashing toward the incoming beast.
“A python?”
The others gasped.
The black-scaled python seemed to recognize the lethal power of the flying sword, twisting its upper body away to avoid the attack.
However, its lower body was not as lucky—the blade severed its tail with a flash of sword light.
The snake let out a painful hiss and immediately burrowed back into the ground.
This was no ordinary python—it was a Bloodthirsty Earth Python, capable of burrowing through the soil like a shadow.
Soaring Sword Sect’s disciples scattered, unleashing their flying swords in pursuit.
Nine blades rained down upon the ground, striking deep into the soil.
Forced out of hiding, the Bloodthirsty Earth Python emerged once again.
With nine disciples attacking in unison, a net of sword light formed around the massive creature.
In an instant, the python was sliced into countless pieces, its remains falling to the ground.
A putrid stench filled the air.
Li Xingyao and her disciples were left breathless.
That disciple had died so unfairly—ambushed from below, with no chance to defend himself.
Outside Yuanwu Mountain, those watching the battle through the light screen were utterly stunned.
The Ten Thousand Beast Forest was truly terrifying.
Even Soaring Sword Sect, the strongest of the ten great sects, had suffered a loss.
The eleven disciples of Soaring Sword Sect were among the most talented warriors in the Northern Territory.
Each of them had reached the Divine Martial Realm.
Even the disciple who had been drained of blood had been at the early stages of the Divine Martial Realm.
This was the power of Soaring Sword Sect.
Among the ten great sects, only Soaring Sword Sect had the ability to produce such a high number of sword cultivators.
By comparison, Azure Sun Sword Sect had only nurtured two top talents—Xiao Yang and Qin Fei.
Yet Soaring Sword Sect had sent ten such geniuses.
And Li Xingyao had already broken through to the Half-Step Saint Martial Realm.
Their strength far surpassed the other sects.
The other sects spent sixty years cultivating one or two Divine Martial Realm successors.
This was why every sect fought so desperately for victory in the Grand Sixty-Year Tournament.
Whoever won first place would gain access to the best training grounds, the best cultivation techniques, and the best resources.
With such advantages, they could nurture countless prodigies in the future.
Having dealt with the Bloodthirsty Earth Python, Li Xingyao pressed forward into the depths of the Ten Thousand Beast Forest with her remaining nine disciples.
Once they passed the hundred-mile expanse of this forest, they would reach the second trial.
Only those who survived all nine trials would qualify for the final battle and compete for the Ascension Token.
Li Xingyao had no time to waste.
"Xiao Yang, I will be waiting for you at the base of Yuanwu Tower."
Her voice drifted back.
Xiao Yang slowly rose to his feet.
He gazed in the direction where she had disappeared, the corners of his lips curving upward.
Li Xingyao was certainly confident.
Then again, confidence came hand in hand with great power.
“Let’s move.”
Xiao Yang resumed his path forward.
All around them, terrifying roars and beastly howls erupted throughout the forest.
The presence of so many intruders had stirred the savage beasts lurking in the shadows.
The once-silent Ten Thousand Beast Forest had erupted into chaos.
Countless beasts howled and roared from every direction.
Fear spread through every warrior in the forest.