C53 - Battle at the Ravine

The three figures descended slowly. Gu Lie walked at the center. The scarred disciple followed on his left, while the spear-wielding disciple covered the opposite side.

They weren't rushing. They didn't need to. The ravine was narrow, and the cliffs rose high on both sides.

Ye Chen and Lin Xu had nowhere to escape without passing through them. Gu Lie stopped several meters away. His eyes moved toward the small jade bottle in Ye Chen's hand.

"You completed the mission."

Ye Chen placed the bottle inside his travel bag.

"Yes."

"Hand it over."

"No."

The answer was simple. Gu Lie's expression didn't change.

"I expected that."

The scarred disciple stepped forward.

"You've already earned points from the Cloud Leopard and the Phantom Silk Spider. Give us the mission reward and we won't make things difficult."

Lin Xu laughed.

"You chased us through half the forest last night."

The scarred disciple's face darkened.

"That was yesterday."

"And?"

"Today is different."

Ye Chen studied them. Something was wrong. Gu Lie had come directly to the spring. That meant they had followed the mission markers. But how?

The three bronze markers had been arranged deliberately. Perhaps they weren't only meant to guide participants toward the hidden mission. They might also have served as a trail.

Ye Chen's gaze moved toward the rocks above.

There.

A tiny red mark had been painted on the stone. Someone had tampered with the mission marker.

Gu Lie noticed his gaze. A faint smile appeared.

"You figured it out."

Ye Chen looked back at him.

"You marked the route."

"Of course."

"Then the mission wasn't secret."

"Not anymore."

Gu Lie slowly drew his saber.

"That's the point of a trial."

The atmosphere changed. Lin Xu moved beside Ye Chen. The spear wielder lowered his weapon. The scarred disciple spread his stance.

Four weapons. Four cultivators.

The first strike came from the spear. It shot forward like a serpent. Ye Chen twisted sideways. The spearhead passed his chest. He immediately stepped inside the weapon's range.

His sword flashed.

The spear wielder withdrew just in time. At the same moment, Gu Lie attacked. His saber descended with tremendous force. Ye Chen raised his sword.

Clang!

The impact shook his arms. He was forced backward. Gu Lie followed with another slash.

Ye Chen blocked.

Another. Then another. Each strike was heavier than the previous one. Gu Lie's strength was overwhelming. Ye Chen couldn't compete directly. He changed his approach. Instead of blocking the next strike, he stepped aside. Gu Lie's saber cut through empty air. Ye Chen counterattacked. His sword struck Gu Lie's shoulder. But the blade stopped against a layer of spiritual energy.

Gu Lie smiled.

"Too weak."

His knee struck Ye Chen's abdomen. Ye Chen was thrown backward. He landed hard against the stone wall.

"Ye Chen!"

Lin Xu charged forward.

The scarred disciple intercepted him. Their swords collided.

Meanwhile, the spear wielder attacked Ye Chen again. Ye Chen rolled away. The spear struck the ground.

Stone shattered.

He rose. His breathing remained steady.

Gu Lie advanced.

"You've improved."

Ye Chen said nothing.

"You weren't this difficult to deal with yesterday."

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed.

Yesterday.

Gu Lie had watched them. He had learned from their movements. That meant today's battle would be different. Gu Lie attacked again.

Ye Chen retreated.

One step. Two. Three.

He deliberately allowed himself to be pushed toward the narrowest part of the ravine.

Gu Lie followed. The saber swept sideways. Ye Chen ducked. The blade struck the wall. For the briefest moment, Gu Lie's weapon was trapped between the rocks.

Ye Chen attacked.

His sword struck Gu Lie's wrist. The saber dropped slightly. Gu Lie's expression changed. Ye Chen immediately retreated.

"You're using the terrain."

Gu Lie's eyes became colder.

"Smart."

He kicked a loose stone. It flew toward Ye Chen. Ye Chen turned his head. The stone passed his cheek. At the same instant, Gu Lie charged. Ye Chen barely raised his sword. The saber struck. His knees bent. The stone beneath his feet cracked. He was being pushed backward.

Then Lin Xu appeared.

His sword struck Gu Lie's side. Gu Lie twisted away. The attack missed his body but cut his robe.

Gu Lie glanced at Lin Xu.

"You two work well together."

Lin Xu grinned.

"We've had practice."

The scarred disciple rushed toward him. Their weapons collided again. Ye Chen saw the opening.

He moved toward the spear wielder. The disciple thrust. Ye Chen stepped inside the spear's reach. His elbow struck the man's chest.

The spear dropped.

Ye Chen kicked it away.

The disciple stumbled. Ye Chen's sword stopped against his throat.

"Yield."

The disciple froze.

Gu Lie shouted.

"Don't!"

But it was too late. The spear wielder lowered his hands.

"I yield."

A faint glow appeared around his trial token. A voice echoed through the ravine. Participant voluntarily withdrawn from combat.

The spear wielder stepped backward.

Gu Lie's expression became ugly.

"This isn't over."

Ye Chen lowered his sword.

"Then don't make it worse."

The scarred disciple suddenly attacked from behind. Lin Xu barely blocked the strike.

The two exchanged several rapid blows. The scarred disciple was faster than expected. His short blade struck Lin Xu's shoulder.

Blood appeared. Lin Xu gritted his teeth. Ye Chen turned. But Gu Lie moved first. His saber blocked Ye Chen's path.

"Your opponent is me."

Ye Chen's expression hardened.

Gu Lie attacked.

The saber descended.

Ye Chen blocked.

The force pushed him to one knee.

Gu Lie pressed harder.

"You're talented."

Ye Chen's eyes remained calm.

"But talent isn't enough."

Ye Chen suddenly relaxed his grip. Gu Lie's saber slid past his blade. Ye Chen stepped forward. Their shoulders collided.

He struck Gu Lie's chest with his palm. Gu Lie stumbled backward. Ye Chen followed.

One sword strike. Two. Three.

Gu Lie blocked them all. But his footing changed. Ye Chen noticed. His right leg was slightly slower.

The previous wound?

No.

The terrain.

A small crack beneath his foot. Ye Chen understood.

He wasn't trying to overpower Gu Lie. He was forcing him into disadvantageous positions.

Again. Again. Again.

Gu Lie finally realized what was happening. He stopped attacking. Instead, he stepped backward. Ye Chen didn't pursue.

Both men stared at each other.

Blood dripped from Ye Chen's forehead.

Gu Lie's shoulder was cut. Neither had won.

Then a thunderous roar came from deep within the forest.

Everyone froze.

The sound was enormous. The entire ravine trembled. Loose stones fell from the cliffs.

Birds erupted from the distant trees. Even Gu Lie's expression changed. The scarred disciple stopped fighting. Lin Xu looked toward the forest.

"What was that?"

Ye Chen's face became serious.

He felt it.

A powerful spiritual pressure was approaching. Something far stronger than the Cloud Leopard. Far stronger than the Phantom Silk Spider.

The Spirit Spring suddenly began to vibrate. The water rippled violently. The blue crystals beneath the surface began glowing.

Gu Lie looked at the spring.

Then at Ye Chen.

For the first time, there was no hostility in his eyes. Only caution.

"Forget the fight."

Ye Chen nodded.

"Agreed."

The roar came again.

Much closer.

A shadow moved across the top of the ravine. Something enormous was approaching.

Gu Lie gripped his saber.

"Whatever that is..."

Ye Chen looked toward the narrow exit.

"...we need to leave."

But before anyone could move, a massive claw descended from above. The entire cliff shook. And the first day of the Outer Court Trial suddenly became a battle for survival.