After absorbing the White Winged Tiger Beast Armor, Li Changjin returned to the firewood shed.
"Mother!" he called out to the woman inside. "Mother! I… I won't be bullied anymore!"
"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow, a faint smile appearing. "Changjin… looks like my son has finally grown up."
"Mother… tomorrow is the Sect Tournament. Do you think I can defeat those cultivators stronger than me?"
She looked at him gently. "I believe in you. As long as you persist, you can achieve anything."
Meanwhile, inside a cave dwelling of the Qingxuan Sect—
"Mother! I'm born with level seven talent! Hahaha!" Wang Chen laughed proudly.
"Of course! Talent like yours is rare even in Cangling! That trash Li Changjin can't even compare to you," his mother sneered.
"Tomorrow's tournament… victory is mine!"
The next morning, sunlight bathed the sect in brilliance.
"Today is the Sect Tournament! All participating disciples, register now!" announced the Qingniao Elder.
"Heh, Li Changjin! You still dare to sign up? I'll turn you into a sieve!" Wang Chen mocked.
"We'll see who ends up as the sieve," Li replied coldly.
"Now, the draw begins!"
Two strange stones rose into the air, names spinning across their surfaces.
"First match! Li Changjin versus Qing Yun! Both contestants, step onto the arena!"
Li stepped forward and faced his opponent.
"Qing Yun, I know you look down on me. But today… I'm not the same person anymore!"
"Tch. Big words," Qing Yun scoffed.
Moments later—
"The match begins in five seconds! Killing is forbidden!"
As the signal fell, Qing Yun immediately activated his Beast Armor.
"At such a young age… and already possessing two Beast Armors!" the elder exclaimed in surprise.
"Li Changjin! You just 'awakened' yesterday—and failed at that—and you still dare step into this tournament? You're asking to be humiliated!"
"Less talking!" Li roared.
"Earth Beast Left Arm Armor—activate! First Skill: Earth Spikes!"
Five massive spikes, each as large as a tiger, crashed down from above—
BOOM!
They struck Li directly.
"Heh… trash," Qing Yun sneered.
"…Wait. Something's wrong!" the elder suddenly shouted.
From within the dust and shattered earth—
A figure stepped out.
A white-clothed youth.
Li Changjin.
"Qing Yun! You tried to kill me!" Li roared.
"So what? The elder is my grandfather! The rules don't apply to me!" Qing Yun sneered.
"White Winged Tiger Left Leg Armor—activate! First Skill: White Wing Slash!"
Ten blade-like streaks tore through the air, crashing down upon Qing Yun—
BOOM!
He was struck instantly, collapsing unconscious.
"Li Changjin! How vicious!" the elder shouted angrily.
"He attacked to kill first!" Li shot back.
"Li Changjin! I will kill you myself!"
"Azure Phoenix Right Leg Armor—activate! Azure Phoenix Slash!"
The elder unleashed his Life Beast Armor—a power only obtainable at Tier Five, far beyond ordinary Beast Armors.
The pressure alone shook the entire arena.
"Who dares harm my successor?"
A voice echoed.
Master Beast appeared—wrapped in a terrifying killing aura.
"Black Abyss Beast Armor—First Skill: Abyssal Bloom!"
"What are you?!" the elder demanded.
"I am… the one who protects my successor."
To be continued…