The forest no longer felt like a place of quiet growth. It had become a battlefield where every step carried danger and every shadow could hide an enemy.
After his clash with Han Wei, everything changed.
At first, it was only whispers.
Then those whispers spread.
And soon, the entire trial ground knew one name—Lin Chen.
The one who had forced Han Wei to retreat.
Whether the story was exaggerated or not didn't matter. In a place like this, reputation alone was enough to attract trouble.
And trouble came quickly.
Lin Chen walked deeper into the forest, his pace steady, his aura restrained. But he knew it was useless to hide completely now. The moment he stepped onto this stage, he had already been seen.
Ahead, the air shifted slightly.
He stopped.
Five presences approached from different directions, not bothering to conceal themselves. Their movements were coordinated, deliberate. These were not ordinary disciples acting on impulse.
They had come prepared.
One of them stepped forward, his eyes cold. "So it's you. The one who fought Han Wei."
Another smiled faintly. "That means everything you have… is worth taking."
Lin Chen looked at them calmly. There was no tension in his posture, no sign of hesitation.
"Then come take it," he said.
That was all.
The next moment, all five moved at once.
Their coordination was precise. They attacked from different angles, cutting off his retreat paths and closing every gap. It was a formation designed to overwhelm instantly.
Lin Chen didn't retreat.
Instead, he stepped forward.
The first strike came from the left, fast and direct. He shifted slightly, letting the attack pass by with minimal movement, then countered immediately. His strike landed cleanly on the attacker's side, breaking his balance.
But before he could follow through, a second attack came from behind.
Lin Chen turned, raising his arm to block. The impact was heavier this time, forcing him half a step back.
The pressure didn't stop.
A third strike came in, then a fourth. Their attacks overlapped seamlessly, leaving no room to breathe.
Lin Chen's eyes sharpened.
This wasn't chaos. It was controlled.
They were working together to limit his movement, forcing him into a confined space where their numbers could dominate.
A faint exhale left his lips.
"Not bad."
The next moment, everything changed.
Instead of continuing to defend, Lin Chen suddenly accelerated forward, breaking their rhythm completely. He charged directly toward the strongest among them.
The unexpected move disrupted their formation.
Just for an instant.
But that was enough.
Lin Chen's strike landed heavily, forcing the man back. The formation cracked, and the balance shifted.
Lin Chen pressed forward without hesitation. His attacks became faster, sharper, each movement flowing into the next with increasing pressure.
One of them was pushed back.
Then another.
But they didn't collapse.
"Hold together!" someone shouted.
Their formation tightened again, this time more cautious, more controlled. They stopped rushing and instead began to contain him, slowly closing in.
Then they attacked again.
This time, the pressure was even greater.
Lin Chen's movements slowed slightly under the constant assault. A strike slipped through his defense, landing on his shoulder. Another hit his ribs.
Pain spread quickly, but his expression didn't change.
Because he could feel it.
The same sensation as before.
Pressure pushing against his limits.
A faint smile appeared.
"Again…"
He stepped forward once more, not resisting the pressure, but accepting it.
The next exchange exploded with force.
Lin Chen's aura changed—not outwardly, but internally. His movements became more precise, more efficient. Every action carried purpose.
Then he broke them.
The first opponent fell under a clean strike, unable to recover.
The second was forced back, his guard shattered under continuous pressure.
The third tried to retreat, but Lin Chen closed the distance instantly and brought him down.
The fourth hesitated—and that moment of hesitation was enough.
Only one remained.
The last disciple stood frozen, fear visible in his eyes.
"…Monster," he muttered.
Lin Chen said nothing.
There was nothing to say.
The outcome had already been decided.
Moments later, the forest fell silent again.
Lin Chen collected the resources without emotion. Spirit stones, herbs, and items—all taken cleanly.
The system responded faintly, its presence growing stronger with each gain.
He could feel the accumulation building.
But before he could move further, something changed.
A new presence appeared.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
It didn't hide.
It didn't rush.
It simply existed—and that alone was enough to create pressure.
Lin Chen slowly lifted his gaze toward the deeper part of the forest.
His eyes narrowed.
Because this time—
It was different.
Not like the five.
Not even like Han Wei.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
The real trial—
Was only beginning.