The East Sky Academy's main plaza was carved from a single slab of pale jade stone, its surface glowing faintly in the morning sun. Students gathered in tight circles, murmuring with anticipation. Today was the Monthly Outer Disciple Trial—an event where aspiring students fought for the right to ascend to the inner court.
But today's trial was different.
Everyone knew why.
Lin Feng.
The "cripple reborn," as some called him. His defeat of Lu Yao, his mysterious rise in cultivation, and the whisper of "Void" around his name had turned him into a campus legend. And legends drew eyes.
In the central pavilion, Instructor Tian reviewed the list of trial participants. He frowned slightly.
"Lin Feng was only recently promoted to Body Refinement 3rd level. This trial may be premature."
Instructor Zhu stood beside him. "He's the talk of the academy. If we block him, we'll look biased."
Tian sighed. "So be it. But he'll have to prove his worth."
Behind them, academy elders from the inner court gathered silently. One of them—a man with a long white beard and a scar across his face—watched the arena without blinking.
He was not here for the trial.
He was here for Lin Feng.
Lin Feng stood at the edge of the arena, arms folded. His robes were freshly washed, his expression unreadable.
Beside him, Ruoxi stood quietly under a parasol, eyes scanning the crowd.
"You shouldn't be here," he said.
"I'm not. I'm a shadow today," she replied.
He smirked. "You're a very talkative shadow."
She grinned slightly. "Try not to die. That would ruin the drama."
A gong rang out.
"First match: Lin Feng versus Yan Shou!"
Cheers erupted.
Yan Shou was no small name. A muscular youth with fire-imbued fists and a reputation for brutal, bone-breaking attacks.
Lin Feng stepped forward.
Across the ring, Yan Shou grinned. "You may have beaten Lu Yao, but I'm not a pretty-boy swordsman. I break things."
"We'll see," Lin Feng said calmly.
"Begin!"
Yan Shou charged.
His fists ignited in flame—spiritual fire from a mid-grade Fire Root. His style was direct, forceful, and built on years of pounding through opponents.
Lin Feng sidestepped, letting the first strike graze his shoulder.
The second punch came from below—he caught it.
Gasps.
Yan's eyes widened. "You—!"
Lin Feng's hand pulsed with golden light.
"Soul Suppression."
Yan Shou's legs buckled as the force hit his spirit, not his body. He collapsed to one knee. Lin Feng struck with his palm—not to kill, but to send a clear message.
Yan flew back ten paces and hit the ground.
Silence.
Then roaring applause.
The trials continued.
Lin Feng fought again.
And again.
One enemy wielded chains—he disarmed her with a flick of soul force.
Another used illusion—he shattered it with his Void Perception.
A twin brother pair attacked in sequence—he disrupted their rhythm and forced them into each other's fists.
By the fifth match, he hadn't taken a single serious hit.
The instructors whispered among themselves. "He's not just powerful… he's strategic."
"It's like he's seen all their techniques before."
Ruoxi watched from the side, smiling faintly. "Because he probably has."
But not everyone was smiling.
From the shadow of the elder's pavilion, a tall figure in black and green robes whispered to a subordinate.
"Are the assassins in position?"
"Yes, master. On your signal."
The man sneered. "Void energy cannot be allowed to reawaken. We lost too much last time."
He raised a finger.
In the arena, the gong rang again.
"Final match! Lin Feng versus—"
A scream cut through the air.
An explosion rocked the jade steps.
Smoke. Chaos. Screams.
From the rooftops, three masked figures dropped into the ring—cloaked in dark qi, their auras twisted and unnatural.
Demonic cultivators.
"Lin Feng!" one of them hissed. "Your soul belongs to the Abyss!"
He stood calmly, even as students fled.
Ruoxi moved toward the ring—but a fourth assassin intercepted her.
"Four-on-one?" Lin Feng said, raising an eyebrow. "How generous."
The lead assassin laughed. "Your soul remnant reeks of the Void Lord. We came to erase you from this world."
Lin Feng cracked his neck.
Then smiled.
"I was hoping someone would help me break through."
He stomped his foot.
Soul force erupted.
The jade arena trembled.
"Void Origin Method: Spiral Pulse."
A vortex of golden and black energy spiraled from his body, slamming into the nearest assassin.
The man screamed as his limbs twisted inward—soul and flesh turned against each other.
Lin Feng dodged a blade aimed at his spine, caught it between his palms, and shattered it.
The second attacker drew blood—just a scratch on Lin Feng's arm.
It was enough.
The scent of blood.
The taste of battle.
Something in him snapped open.
A flash of light burst from his chest.
[MONARCH CORE — STAGE ONE UNLOCKED.]
His body surged with power.
Soul, body, qi—synchronized.
He turned. Struck. A pulse of pure Void energy surged forth.
The second assassin disintegrated.
The third tried to flee.
Lin Feng pointed.
"Soul Anchor."
Chains of black light wrapped the fleeing figure, dragging him screaming into the ground.
The elder in green robes rose, fury in his eyes.
Ruoxi broke free from her attacker, her blade drenched in blood. "Lin Feng—behind you!"
The final assassin had leapt from the crowd, sword raised high.
Too close.
Too late.
Until Lin Feng snapped his fingers.
The world turned silent.
Everything slowed.
And from behind his back, a blade of pure black light formed.
He thrust backward.
The assassin froze.
Then shattered into glass.
Time resumed.
Students stared in stunned silence.
Lin Feng stood alone in the ring. Blood on his robes. Smoke rising. Eyes glowing faintly.
He turned to the elder in green.
"I don't know who you are," he said. "But I'll find out."
"And when I do—"
His voice dropped.
"I'll return the favor."
To be continue...