The morning sun cast golden light over the Su Clan's mountain, illuminating the stone steps leading to the Trial Grounds. The air buzzed with excitement as disciples gathered, their voices echoing through the valley. Today was the day of the annual Clan Trial-a test of strength and skill that determined a disciple's standing within the clan. For Su Chen, it was more than just a trial. It was a chance to prove himself, to show the clan that he was no longer the broken-meridian failure they mocked.
As he approached the Trial Grounds, Su Chen felt the weight of dozens of eyes on him. Whispers spread through the crowd, a mix of curiosity and skepticism. After his confrontation with Su Hao and Zhang Feng yesterday, word had spread like wildfire-everyone wanted to see if the "awakened loser" could back up his newfound power.
"Look at him," someone muttered. "Do you think he's really gotten stronger, or was yesterday just a fluke?"
"Fluke, definitely," another replied. "A shattered meridian can't be fixed. He's probably using some cheap trick to impress the elders."
Su Chen ignored them. He focused on the Reverse God Meridian, feeling its steady hum in his chest. The spiritual energy flowed through him like a river, stronger and more controlled than it had been yesterday. He had spent the night meditating, familiarizing himself with its power-testing its limits, refining his control. By dawn, he had discovered that he could not only absorb spiritual energy at an inhuman rate but also concentrate it into precise, devastating attacks.
"Su Chen!" a voice called out.
He turned to see Lin Yue walking toward him, a smile on her face. Lin Yue was a mid-tier disciple with three intact meridians, known for her kindness and impartiality. Unlike most, she had never mocked Su Chen for his broken meridian.
"Are you ready for the trial?" she asked, her eyes filled with genuine concern.
Su Chen nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"The trial this year is different," Lin Yue said, lowering her voice. "Su Kun changed the rules last night. Instead of individual duels, it's a team-based survival challenge in the Misty Forest. Teams of three, and the last team standing wins."
Su Chen's eyebrows raised. A survival challenge? That played right into Su Kun's hands. He could easily stack the teams against him, ensuring he was paired with weak disciples or pitted against overwhelming odds.
"I heard Su Hao is teaming up with two inner-clan disciples," Lin Yue continued. "Each has four meridians. They've already declared that they're going to 'teach you a lesson' in the forest."
Su Chen's jaw tightened. He should have expected as much. Su Hao was desperate to regain his pride after yesterday's humiliation, and Su Kun was more than willing to help him eliminate a potential threat.
"Don't worry," Lin Yue said, placing a hand on his arm. "I asked to be on your team. And I convinced Wang Lei to join us too."
Wang Lei was a quiet disciple with three meridians, known for his skill with traps and stealth. It was a solid team-nothing extraordinary, but not weak either.
"Thank you," Su Chen said. He was surprised by her kindness. In the cutthroat world of the Su Clan, loyalty was a rare commodity.
Before he could say more, a gong sounded, echoing through the Trial Grounds. The crowd fell silent as Su Kun stepped onto a raised platform, flanked by two clan elders. He wore a silk robe embroidered with the Su Clan's emblem, his face set in a stern expression.
"Disciples of the Su Clan," Su Kun's voice boomed, amplified by spiritual energy. "Welcome to this year's Clan Trial. As you know, the rules have changed. You will form teams of three and enter the Misty Forest. Your goal: survive, collect as many Spirit Crystals as possible, and eliminate other teams. The team with the most Spirit Crystals at sunset wins. But be warned-the forest is dangerous. 妖兽 (Monster beasts) roam freely, and treachery lurks around every corner. Only the strongest, smartest, and most loyal will prevail."
His eyes scanned the crowd, lingering on Su Chen for a moment. There was a cold glint in his gaze, a silent threat. Su Chen knew what he meant-treachery would be encouraged, especially against him.
"The teams have been assigned," Su Kun continued, waving a hand. A list of names appeared on a stone wall behind him. "Find your teammates and report to the forest entrance in fifteen minutes. May the strongest win!"
Su Chen quickly found his name on the list: Team 7-Su Chen, Lin Yue, Wang Lei. And sure enough, Su Hao's team was listed as Team 1-Su Hao, Zhao Gang, Li Ming. Two of the clan's top inner disciples, both with four meridians. It was a death match, plain and simple.
"Let's go," Wang Lei said, appearing beside them. He was a tall, lean boy with sharp eyes and a serious expression. "We need to plan."
The three of them walked toward the forest entrance, huddling together to avoid being overheard.
"Su Hao's team will come for us first," Lin Yue said. "We need to avoid them until we're stronger. The forest is big-we can hide, collect Spirit Crystals, and wait for them to wear themselves out."
Wang Lei nodded. "I know the forest well. There's a cave in the western section where we can set up camp. It's hidden, and there are plenty of Spirit Crystals nearby. But we have to be careful-there's a pack of Ironclaw Wolves that patrols the area."
Su Chen listened, his mind racing. He wasn't interested in hiding. He wanted to face Su Hao head-on, to show the clan what he was capable of. But he knew Lin Yue and Wang Lei were right-they were outmatched in terms of raw power. For now, patience was the best strategy.
"Agreed," he said. "But we shouldn't just hide. Let's use the forest to our advantage. Wang Lei, can you set traps? Lin Yue, you're fast-you can scout ahead. I'll handle any monsters we encounter."
Lin Yue and Wang Lei exchanged a glance. They could hear the confidence in his voice, a confidence that hadn't been there before.
"Alright," Lin Yue said. "Let's move."
The Misty Forest loomed ahead, its trees towering into the sky, their branches intertwined like gnarled fingers. A thick mist hung in the air, reducing visibility to a few meters. The moment they stepped inside, the sounds of the clan faded away, replaced by the rustle of leaves, the hoot of an owl, and the distant growl of a monster.
Wang Lei led the way, his steps light and silent. He moved with the grace of a cat, his eyes scanning the ground for tracks and traps. Lin Yue followed close behind, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, her senses alert. Su Chen walked at the rear, his Reverse God Meridian flaring to life. His senses sharpened, far beyond what a normal human's should be-he could smell the iron tang of monster blood a kilometer away, hear the scuttle of insects beneath the soil, and feel the faint pulse of spiritual energy from the Spirit Crystals hidden in the trees.
"This way," Wang Lei whispered, turning down a narrow path. "The cave is just ahead."
As they walked, Su Chen spotted a glimmer of blue light in the distance-Spirit Crystals. He pointed them out to the others, and Wang Lei quickly climbed the tree to collect them. Each crystal was the size of a fist, glowing with pure spiritual energy.
"These are high-quality," Wang Lei said, handing the crystals to Lin Yue. "Each one is worth ten points. We already have fifty points, and we haven't even reached the cave."
Su Chen smiled. With his inhuman sensing ability, they would be able to collect more crystals than any other team. But as they turned to leave, a low growl echoed through the trees.
"Ironclaw Wolves," Wang Lei said, his face pale. "Three of them, by the sound of it."
The mist parted, and three large wolves emerged. They were the size of horses, their fur black as night, their claws sharp as steel. Their eyes glowed with a feral red light, and their jaws dripped with saliva.
"Stay back," Su Chen said, stepping forward. He could feel the Reverse God Meridian surging, spiritual energy coiling in his fists.
"Su Chen, wait-they're too strong!" Lin Yue said. "Each has the strength of a three-meridian cultivator. We should run!"
But Su Chen didn't run. He charged forward, his body moving at an inhuman speed. The lead wolf lunged at him, its jaws snapping shut, but Su Chen dodged to the side, his fist slamming into its ribs. There was a loud crack, and the wolf yelped in pain, collapsing to the ground.
The other two wolves attacked simultaneously. Su Chen spun around, his spiritual energy flaring into golden light. He punched the second wolf in the head, crushing its skull, then kicked the third wolf in the chest, sending it flying into a tree. In less than ten seconds, all three wolves were dead.
Lin Yue and Wang Lei stared at him in shock, their mouths hanging open. They had never seen anyone defeat three Ironclaw Wolves so quickly-so effortlessly. It was inhuman.
"What… what are you?" Wang Lei whispered, echoing Zhang Feng's question from yesterday.
Su Chen turned to them, his golden spiritual energy fading. "I'm someone who's tired of being underestimated," he said. "Now let's get to the cave. We don't have much time."
As they continued toward the cave, Su Chen could feel a familiar chill down his spine. They were being watched. Not by monsters, but by humans. Su Hao's team was nearby, and they had seen everything.
The trial had just begun. And the real danger was not the monsters in the forest-it was the treachery of the Su Clan.
Su Chen clutched the jade pendant around his neck, feeling its warmth. He was ready. Whatever Su Hao and Su Kun had planned, he would face it head-on. With the Reverse God Meridian, with his new teammates, he would not just survive-he would win.
Because he was no longer the broken boy they had mocked. He was the wielder of the Reverse God Meridian. And in the Misty Forest, he would show the world just how powerful a "non-human" cultivator could be.