Chapter 28: Blood on Jade, Shadows in the Stands

morning sun. Dozens of floating platforms hovered like celestial lotuses, each etched with mystic runes. The arena's center pulsed with an ancient formation—the power of countless battles buried in its stones.

Disciples crowded the coliseum that encircled the sky-ringed battleground. Inner Sect elders watched from high pavilions, their expressions unreadable. Murmurs rippled through the crowd as a single name flared upon the formation in the sky.

LIN FENG

The final participant.

And the most controversial.

The Whispered Storm

"That's the cripple from the Outer Sect, isn't it?"

"Didn't he come from a dirt village with no backing?"

"He beat Shen Yao at the Trial Summit. There's something strange about him."

"Bah, probably a treasure. He's nothing without it."

"Well, we'll see soon enough. The arena strips most artifacts of their power."

Over a hundred new disciples would be tested today. Each challenge would pit groups of five into a randomized scenario. The goal: Survive for one hour or until incapacitated.

Failure meant humiliation—or worse.

Into the Arena

Lin Feng stood atop one of the outer floating pads as his name flared red in the air. Four other names joined his: Ji Xun, Wei Rong, Mu Lian, and Cao Yuan.

He glanced sideways.

Ji Xun's smirk was venomous. A direct disciple of Elder Zhen Yun, he was known for his cruelty.

Wei Rong and Mu Lian shared a brief nod with each other—clearly aligned.

Cao Yuan looked nervous, eyes darting toward Lin Feng before quickly averting.

[System Alert: Hostile Intent Detected ×3.]

[Formation: Bloodjade Wildlands. Objective: Survival.]

The ground shifted.

The floating stone under their feet cracked, sending them into freefall.

Moments later, they landed in a vast expanse of crimson wilderness. Gnarled trees bled sap, and wild spirit beasts howled from distant ravines. The sky shimmered a haunting violet, lit by two ghost moons.

[Arena Lock Activated.]

[External Interference Nullified.]

[Warning: Spirit Sealing in effect. External treasures suppressed.]

Lin Feng rose, dusting himself off.

He didn't panic.

He smiled.

This was the perfect place to fight.

Predators Unleashed

Ji Xun struck first.

A burst of emerald flame shot from his palms, sweeping across the dry foliage. Mu Lian and Wei Rong darted forward behind the cover, while Cao Yuan hesitated.

"He dies first," Ji Xun growled. "Then we settle rank among ourselves."

Mu Lian hurled a chain-blade infused with wind elemental energy. Lin Feng leaned sideways, his footwork fluid as water.

He vanished.

Reappeared behind her.

[Skill Activated: Ghost Step – Tier 2]

Mu Lian gasped, turning—too late.

A single palm struck her lower ribs. The force sent her spiraling into a blood tree, unconscious before she hit the ground.

Wei Rong cursed and lunged, wielding twin tiger-fang daggers. Lin Feng didn't retreat. He surged forward.

Their blades clashed.

Then stopped.

Wei Rong's eyes widened.

[Counter Technique: Void Reversal – Successful]

His momentum turned against him, his body flipped violently into the air. A stone spike erupted from the ground as if called by Lin Feng's will.

Wei Rong hit it chest-first.

He didn't rise again.

Face-to-Face

Ji Xun snarled, summoning the full force of his cultivation—mid Qi Sea Realm, burning with fire qi.

"You little insect! You dare shame me!?"

His aura blazed, melting the earth around him.

But Lin Feng's gaze was calm.

"Have you ever seen a forest burn without wind?"

Ji Xun blinked. "What are you—?"

[System Skill Activated: Wind Spiral Pulse – Tier 3]

A cyclone burst from Lin Feng's hand, feeding oxygen to Ji Xun's own fire and then hurling it back tenfold.

The explosion lit the wildlands ablaze, searing half the field into scorched ash.

Ji Xun screamed, rolling to extinguish the flames, his robes in tatters. His pride burned hotter than his skin.

Lin Feng walked forward, each step like the toll of a bell.

Ji Xun lunged with a final roar.

[Skill Chained: Ironleaf Guard → Qi Burst → Dragon Coil Grip]

Lin Feng sidestepped, deflected, and caught Ji Xun's wrist in a grip that cracked bone.

He yanked forward—and drove his palm into Ji Xun's core with surgical precision.

The fire inside Ji Xun died.

Literally.

A Choice

Only one remained—Cao Yuan, still crouched behind a stone outcropping, shaking.

Lin Feng turned to him.

The boy trembled. "I—I wasn't part of their plan. I swear. I didn't want to fight you."

Lin Feng stared at him, silent.

Then he nodded.

"Then you live."

Cao Yuan dropped to his knees in relief.

Victory Declared

The Jade Formation flared above as the timer ended.

[Match Complete.]

[Rank Assessment: Exceptional.]

[Bonus Award Granted.]

[System Reward: Skill Token ×1 | Cultivation EXP +5000 | Inner Circle Merit Badge]

Watching from Above

In the pavilion high above, Elder Qiu Yulan watched Lin Feng's match unfold.

Her eyes glinted with something unreadable.

"Impressive," muttered another elder, a skeletal man wrapped in black robes. "Too impressive."

"Agreed," said a voice behind them—Li Yan, arms crossed. "His growth is beyond logic."

"You've been watching him?"

"I've been studying him."

Qiu Yulan rose. "Then keep studying. If he continues at this rate, he won't just rise…"

Her gaze turned distant.

"…He'll change the very balance of the sect."