"Senior Lin Tian, I was wrong. Please, I beg your generosity—return the Nether Spirit Cat to me."
Facing Lin Tian, the outer disciple spoke with utmost sincerity. In just ten days, he would be entering Xuanwu Valley for the trial. Without his strongest ally, he knew that stepping into the valley now would leave him utterly incapable of competing with the other disciples.
With only ten days to spare, attempting to capture a spirit beast of Nether Spirit Cat's caliber was clearly impossible. Lin Tian's actions had, without a doubt, completely derailed his future. Yet he harbored no resentment toward Lin Tian. His anger was directed solely at himself—for foolishly trusting the words that led him to place his Nether Spirit Cat before Lin Tian's three-tailed spirit cat in the first place.
"The Nether Spirit Cat has now signed a contract with me. Returning it to you is clearly impossible. However, I can allow you to borrow it temporarily during the Xuanwu Valley trial," Lin Tian said, glancing at the disciple. "But if you wish to borrow it from me, you must first tell me who has been orchestrating this from behind the scenes."
At this, Lin Tian's gaze darkened. He had always adhered to a principle of peaceful coexistence, avoiding conflict with the outer disciples. But now, having made no move himself, the other side had come looking for trouble. Lin Tian was no saint; if someone sought to confront him, he would show no mercy.
"The one targeting you is the outer disciple number one of Beast Peak—Sheng Tianlong."
"Sheng Tianlong?" Lin Tian's brows furrowed at the unfamiliar name. He could not fathom why this person would set his sights on him.
"Though Sheng Tianlong is indeed the recognized top outer disciple of Beast Peak, your earlier performance was simply too extraordinary. Many even began comparing you to Sheng Tianlong. Over time, resentment grew in his heart. More importantly, Sheng Tianlong shares a close bond with Gao Zhenhao. His move against you, while partly fueled by personal grudge, is primarily to aid Gao Zhenhao."
"Gao Zhenhao?" Lin Tian finally understood. With the Coldwater Sword in his possession, the feud between him and Gao Zhenhao had reached a point of irreconcilable tension. Sheng Tianlong acting to assist Gao Zhenhao was entirely predictable.
Given Sheng Tianlong's position, Lin Tian could not hope to intervene. Yet with the Xuanwu Valley trial imminent, he had no time to dwell on grudges. He needed to focus entirely on increasing his strength to seize greater resources within the valley.
Over the next ten days, Lin Tian remained confined to the Refining Room, emerging only to craft vast quantities of spirit liquid and to reinforce his hidden trump cards.
Soon, the Xuanwu Valley trial commenced. Arriving by flying boat, Lin Tian observed the valley's perimeter teeming with densely packed disciples, all casting curious, calculating glances—each eager to seize as many resources as possible during the trial.
Upon passing through the valley's gateway, Lin Tian appeared amidst a desolate mountain range. Though no one else was in sight, he could distinctly sense the unusual aura permeating the surroundings. According to Elder Dao Yi, the Xuanwu Valley trial differed from ordinary trials—it carried a tangible risk to life.
Besides treacherous terrain, deadly spirit beasts roamed the valley. Yet the greatest danger lay in the disciples themselves. In Xuanwu Valley, all restrictions were lifted. Old grudges long suppressed within the sect were now free to surface, and disciples would seize this opportunity to settle scores.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Tian pressed onward. Though he saw neither beasts nor other cultivators at first, intermittent roars echoed from the distance, a reminder that many had already encountered the valley's spirit beasts.
After some time, Lin Tian's eyes brightened. Unexpectedly, he discovered rare spirit herbs thriving amidst the desolation. He stepped forward cautiously, scanning the area, when suddenly a cold, piercing gaze fixed upon him. The next moment, a shadow hurtled toward him at incredible speed. Lin Tian's face changed instantly, and he took several steps back, drawing the Coldwater Sword from his spatial ring.
A frigid aura emanated from the blade, freezing the surrounding spiritual energy and slowing his opponent's advance. Upon seeing the beast clearly, Lin Tian understood why no signs of life were present in this area: before him was a black hawk at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Stage.
Clang!
As the Coldwater Sword collided with the black hawk's talon, a tremendous force reverberated through Lin Tian's body. Only after retreating several steps was he able to stabilize himself. A mouthful of blood spurted forth, and his expression grew stern. Normally, the Coldwater Sword's power would be sufficient to face a beast of this level without fear. Yet the hardness of the black hawk's talons far exceeded his expectations. The previous clash had even left faint scratches along the sword's blade—a remarkable feat, considering the Coldwater Sword's precious materials. Ordinary spirit weapons could never sustain such damage.
Moreover, with the hawk airborne, Lin Tian could not deploy his array formations. His range of options was severely limited.
As the black hawk dived again, Lin Tian gritted his teeth and swung the Coldwater Sword, channeling vast amounts of spiritual energy into it. A chilling aura burst forth, radiating from him in all directions, slowing the hawk's movements significantly. Yet just as he prepared to strike again, an unexpected anomaly occurred.