Dashing Student

Inside the cave mansion, the flickering candlelight cast shadows on an aged face full of wrinkles.

Master Xuanming slowly opened his eyes, a trace of eerie green light flickering within his gaze.

With a gentle motion of his frail, stick-like fingers, the jade bottle in Zhao Kai's hand flew into his palm.

"Fresh blood?" Master Xuanming's hoarse voice carried a hint of disdain: "Soul blood is fundamental; what use is mere fresh blood?"

Before the words fell, his expression suddenly transformed.

Under the candlelight, the fresh blood in the jade bottle revealed a faint golden glow, with Yin Yang Qi vaguely circulating within.

Master Xuanming abruptly stood up, his wide black robe fluttering without wind.

"This... what is this?" He trembled as he dripped the fresh blood into his palm, closed his eyes to sense for a moment, and then a terrifying gleam erupted in his eyes: "Innate Yin Yang Spirit Body!"

Zhao Kai had never seen his master lose composure like this, and cautiously asked, "Master, what is the Innate Yin Yang Spirit Body?"

Master Xuanming took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his excited mood: "This is a once-in-a-millennium rare constitution, with naturally balanced Yin Yang Qi inside. If its essence blood can be refined into Yin Yang Xuan Pill, it could help your master break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck!"

As he spoke, a trace of greed flashed in his eyes: "Kai'er, for tomorrow's assessment, you must find a way to capture this person alive. Remember, it must be alive!"

Zhao Kai showed a difficult expression: "But Master, that Chen Nan is very strong, capturing him alive might be very difficult!"

"Useless!" Master Xuanming shouted angrily, waving his sleeve, and a terrifying aura swept out, sending Zhao Kai flying several zhang (units of length): "You can't even handle a mere second-level Foundation Establishment junior, what use are you?"

Zhao Kai quickly crawled up, bowing on the ground: "Please calm your anger, Master! I will do my utmost!"

"That's more like it!" Master Xuanming took out a pitch-black jade talisman from his bosom: "This is the Soul Locking Talisman, which can temporarily restrain his movements."

"Take it, make sure to find an opportunity to act during the assessment."

"Once he passes the assessment, it will be hard to make a move!"

Zhao Kai received the jade talisman with both hands, feeling its icy coldness pierce his bones, as if countless anguished souls were wailing inside. His heart chilled, and he hurriedly placed it into his storage bag.

"Remember." Master Xuanming's sinister voice echoed within the cave mansion: "If you mess this up, you'll accompany your senior brothers in the 'Ten Thousand Souls Banner'!"

Zhao Kai trembled all over, cold sweat seeping from his forehead: "Yes, Master!"

At the same time, in the bamboo grove, Chen Nan suddenly shivered and awoke from his meditation.

He looked around in confusion, feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Under the moonlight, the wound on his chest had mostly healed, but a strange layer of gloom loomed over his heart.

Chen Nan clenched his fist, a determined gleam in his eye: "No matter what, I must pass tomorrow's assessment!"

The next morning, before the morning mist had dissipated, Liu Yan brought thirty disciples who passed the first two rounds to the summit of the main peak.

Standing in the crowd, Chen Nan's chest wound had healed seven or eight percent, but the inexplicable sense of crisis in his heart grew even stronger.

He had a premonition that Zhao Kai definitely wouldn't let him go easily and would surely cause trouble!

"The third round of assessment starts now." Liu Yan's voice carried no emotion: "Among the thirty of you, only ten can stay, and the three who perform the best will be directly promoted to Inner Sect Disciple."

With a wave of his sleeve, a pitch-black stone door suddenly appeared before everyone; it was covered in strange runes, exuding a menacing aura.

"This is the Gate of Life and Death; behind the door is the sect's forbidden area, Bone Forest," Liu Yan said. "Within the forest are ten Primordial Heaven Orders, including three Inner Sect Disciple tokens and seven Outer Disciple tokens!"

"You have two days; before sunset tomorrow, those returning with tokens will advance."

"Remember, the forest is fraught with peril, and powerful monsters live there; if anyone is afraid of death, now's the time to withdraw!"

Chen Nan's pupils narrowed.

It's not an assessment, it's cultivating Gu!

Thirty people vying for ten tokens mean at least twenty would be eliminated, and possibly... perish!

The danger level far exceeded that of the second round.

The remaining twenty-nine also looked at each other, seemingly not expecting such strong monsters inside, causing many to feel fearful and uneasy.

But ultimately, no one chose to back out.

After all, having reached the third round, about to become a disciple of the Yuantian Sect, who would lightly give up?

"Now, enter the forest!"

With Liu Yan's command, the stone door rumbled open.

Without hesitation, Chen Nan rushed in, instantly engulfed by the icy cold.

A foggy forest lay before him, ancient trees twisted like ghostly claws, and scattered with white bones, giving a startling sight.

Chen Nan's figure moved like lightning, leaping into the dense shrubbery.

He held his breath and concentrated, restraining his aura to the extreme, even deliberately slowing his heartbeat.

The stench of decay entered his nostrils, but he remained still, watching his surroundings warily through the gaps in the branches and leaves.

"Rustling..."

From not far away came urgent footsteps; two third-layer Foundation Establishment cultivators swiftly approached, their faces full of malice.

"Obviously saw that kid heading this way; why can't we find him?" A burly cultivator with phoenix-like eyes frowned.

The other person chuckled, "The forbidden area's not that large; let's search slowly then; whatever happens, we must capture him alive for Senior Brother Zhao."

"This way, we won't just become Inner Sect Disciples of Yuantian Sect, but also gain the Great Elder's favor; then we'll have cultivation resources in abundance!" Saying so, he flew off into the distance.

Chen Nan sneered.

As expected, Zhao Kai couldn't hold back and already enlisted two third-layer Foundation Establishment experts.

Though he's entered second-layer Foundation Establishment, the difference in realm is not vast, but he has a hunch the opponent was prepared this time.

Unless absolutely necessary, direct confrontation should be avoided!

He intended to change his hiding spot when suddenly, he froze, the feeling of dread surging in his heart.

A nauseating warm air crept slowly from behind.

He slowly turned to meet a pair of crimson beast eyes.

A huge iron-backed grey wolf stood, its grey-black fur erect like steel needles, sharp fangs stained with drying blood.

Silently stalking behind Chen Nan, it now crouched low, growling threats from its throat.

"Damn, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment beast." Cold sweat seeped from Chen Nan's forehead; this wolf's power rivaling the fourth or even fifth layer; with his current strength, winning a direct attack was unlikely.

The wolf scraped the ground with its front paws and suddenly leaped to attack!

Chen Nan prepared long ago, rolled aside to evade the lunge, and struck with a palm, terrifying True Qi erupting like a volcano, hitting the wolf's abdomen!

"Awoo!" The wolf roared in pain, turning to pounce again.

Chen Nan fought while retreating, trying to lure it towards the two middle-aged men.

Yet the wolf seemed to see through his plan, abruptly shifting tactics, spewing a stinking green poisonous mist!

"Not good!" Chen Nan urgently held his breath and retreated, but inhaled a wisp of poison.

Instantly dizzy, his limbs began to weaken.

The iron-backed grey wolf seized the chance, clawing at his chest, sending him flying several zhang, the situation growing increasingly dire!