Dashing Student

After orchestrating the deaths of those two, Chen Nan let out a long breath of relief, his chest heaving violently.

Ignoring the droplets of sweat on his forehead, he suddenly sprang into action, shooting like an arrow toward the distance.

The night wind howled past his ears, dispersing the lingering scent of blood on him.

At this moment, the only thought in his mind was: Escape! The farther, the better!

The terrifying image of the giant python lingered in his mind.

Even though he was so weak that breathing was painful, he dared not pause for even a moment.

Chen Nan was well aware that in his current state, even a slight flick of the python's tail could shatter him completely.

After running over ten miles, confirming no danger behind him, Chen Nan finally staggered to a stop.

He leaned against an ancient tree, panting heavily as sweat soaked his clothes.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows on his pale face.

"Temporarily... safe..." he swallowed with difficulty, his throat dry as if scorched by fire.

With trembling fingers, he retrieved two Qi Gathering Pills from his bosom and swallowed them.

The elixir pills transformed into a warm stream within his meridians, easing his exhausted fatigue.

Chen Nan leaned against the tree trunk and sat down slowly, closing his eyes to meditate.

He knew that leaving the Bone Forest was the safest choice now, but reason told him that the dangers awaiting outside might be even greater than those inside the forest.

"Zhao Kai, again and again, you have sought to take my life. Someday, I'll carve you into a thousand pieces, or else the hatred in my heart will never fade!"

Chen Nan's eyes were cold, filled with deep-seated animosity.

In truth, he could easily leave the perilous Bone Forest.

But for Chen Nan, before the test ends, the outside world was far more dangerous than the Bone Forest itself.

After all, the test period ends by tomorrow evening, and even if he returns with the Primordial Heaven Order now, he wouldn't become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Yuantian Sect.

Anyway.

If Zhao Kai saw him return alive, he certainly wouldn't let it go and would surely devise ways to kill him!

Therefore.

The safest strategy is to wait until the test ends to leave!

---

Next day.

The sunset cast its final glow at the entrance of the Yuantian Sect, coating the stone tablet at the entrance of the Bone Forest with a layer of blood-red hue.

Liu Yan stood in front of the array, his apricot yellow robe gently swaying in the evening wind.

More than a dozen test disciples had already gathered behind him, each bearing wounds of varying severity.

"I got it! I really got it!" a young man excitedly waved the silver token in his hand, though his right arm was still wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth strip, the joy in his eyes was undeniable.

Others also clutched their spoils, their faces filled with fatigue and excitement.

On the fringes of the crowd, a few empty-handed disciples stood dejectedly.

One of them had bruises on his face, staring blankly at the ground—just two hours ago, the token he had painstakingly found was snatched away, without even a chance to resist.

Lin Qingzhu stood by the teleportation array, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

The sunset painted a golden edge on her delicate side profile but couldn't light up the worry in her eyes.

"Young Master Chen, why haven't you come out yet?" she murmured softly, her gaze never leaving that dark forest.

Suddenly, she seemed to sense something, quickly looking in a certain direction, only to lower her eyes in disappointment.

At this moment.

Zhao Kai swaggered over with two sidekicks, the Jade Pendant at his waist jingling with his steps. He glanced at the disciples who had emerged, frowning.

He initially thought those two should have completed the task, but their figures were nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly.

A sense of foreboding arose in Zhao Kai's heart!

As the final ray of sunlight vanished over the horizon, Liu Yan raised his hand to close the teleportation array.

Just as the array's glow was about to dissipate, a haggard figure stumbled out.

"Young Master Chen?" Lin Qingzhu cried out in surprise, her eyes instantly filled with tears.

Though Chen Nan's tattered clothes were stained with blood, his eyes remained bright as stars.

Zhao Kai's face immediately darkened to the point of dripping.

He stared fixedly at Chen Nan, his pupils suddenly contracted—this fellow's aura... had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage Third Layer!

"This is impossible..." Zhao Kai's fingertips dug deeply into his palm.

He recalled clearly, during the first round of assessments Chen Nan had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage First Layer, advancing two levels in mere days?

An unprecedented sense of crisis surged in his heart, making cold sweat seep down his back.

At this moment, Chen Nan also noticed Zhao Kai's gaze, their sights meeting in the air, as if sparks exploded.

Chen Nan's lips slightly curled, displaying a meaningful, cold smile.

This expression made Zhao Kai's heart skip a beat, unconsciously he took half a step back, a chilling sensation creeping up within.

At this moment, Zhao Kai could confirm that Chen Nan had definitely encountered the two disciples he had bribed, both at Foundation Establishment Third Layer.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be using that smile to look at him...

But!

Those two possessed the Soul Locking Talisman given by their master, not to mention Chen Nan was just at the Foundation Establishment Stage Third Layer, even at the Fifth Layer he would become a fish on the chopping block.

"What on earth happened? Why did those two fail?" Zhao Kai's face was grim, clearly unwilling to accept this reality.

"Chen Nan, did you complete the task?" Liu Yan asked with interest, he was responsible for the assessment of new disciples and was quite satisfied with Chen Nan's performance.

"To Senior, this disciple has obtained the Primordial Heaven Order." Chen Nan smiled as he handed the token to the other.

"Damn it!"

Seeing Chen Nan obtain the Inner Sect Disciples' token, Zhao Kai's anger erupted instantaneously, as Chen Nan's talent was already terrifying.

If he became an Inner Sect Disciple and apprenticed with a powerful elder, it wouldn't be long before he surpassed Zhao Kai.

If that really happened, his life would be in danger!

"Well done, well done." Liu Yan's smile widened upon seeing Chen Nan obtain the Inner Sect Disciples' token: "You have extraordinary talent and have achieved impressive results, surely an elder within the sect will take you as a disciple."

"I'd estimate, given your talent, combined with guidance from a renowned teacher, you will definitely coalesce a Golden Core within a century."

A Golden Core within a century, a rarity in the entire Kunlun Mountain Small World.

Clearly, Zhao Kai didn't want Chen Nan to become a Yuantian Sect disciple, he snorted heavily: "Senior Brother Liu, this person cheated, this token is not what he obtained in the Bone Forest!"

"Yes, this is my identity token!"

These words were spoken.

Like a stone cast into a calm lake, instantly causing an uproar, everyone's eyes showed disbelief.

Chen Nan glared at the other with a dark expression: "Zhao, how did this token become yours?"