"You're well-informed, Elder Xu. But I also heard that the Xiao Clan's second Young Master, has also broken through to the Second Layer of Martial Master Realm. Seems the next generation is making progress all around."Hu Sun replied smoothly, as he glanced over toward the Xiao Clan's group, he added with a faint grin,
The air grew just a little more charged with unspoken rivalry. Each elder was subtly asserting their clan's strength, but before the tension could build further, Elder Mo waved his hand dismissively, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Enough talk. Let's not delay the competition. The younger generation is eager, and the mountain awaits. Let's begin."Elder Mo said.
"Agreed"Elder Hu nodded, stepping back to gather his clan's participants.
With that, the formalities ended. The three clans prepared to send their young warriors into the wilderness of Tiger Mountain.
Elder Mo stepped forward, his presence calm but commanding, drawing the attention of all the young cultivators gathered before the looming Tiger Mountain.
"Good. Now that everyone is here, I will repeat the rules of the competition"Elder Mo announced, his voice echoing clearly across the open field.
Hearing this, the young generation from all three clans—the Xiao Clan, Hu Clan, and Mo Clan—hurried to assemble at the base of the mountain. The tension in the air was thick with anticipation and quiet determination. Everyone understood that this competition was not just about collecting Monster Cores—it was a stage to prove themselves, to bring honor to their clan, and to rise in reputation.
Once everyone was gathered, Elder Mo looked over the young cultivators and continued.
"The rules are simple. Your goal is to hunt monsters within Tiger Mountain and collect their Monster Cores. At the end of the competition, the clan with the most cores will be declared the winner. You have one full day to gather as many as you can—so make your time count."Elder Mo explained, his expression grew stern, and his voice sharpened slightly.
"Let me be absolutely clear—this is a test of strength, not cruelty. Killing fellow participants is strictly forbidden. If any one of you is found guilty of intentionally harming or killing another cultivator, the punishment will be severe and immediate."Elder Mo added and let his words sink in.
Then Elder Xu stepped forward, adding his voice to the announcement.
"And one more thing. I advice everyone to operate in the outer region of Tiger Mountain. The inner region is off-limits to all participants. That area is home to Tier 3 monsters and far too dangerous for your current level. Ignoring our advice could cost you your life."Elder Xu said.
A hush fell over the group as the young cultivators nodded in understanding. The gravity of the competition was now crystal clear.
With that, the competition was officially about to begin.
Xiao Wei stood silently among the crowd, his eyes steady and focused as he listened to the rules being repeated by the elders. Unlike many of the other participants whose eyes burned with ambition and competitive spirit, Xiao Wei's thoughts were calm—collected.
He wasn't here to prove anything to the Xiao Clan or other Clans, nor was he interested in winning the competition for Xiao Clan sake. In truth, he held little affection for most of the clan members, especially after how they had treated him in the past. There was no reward waiting for him at the end—no grand prize or title he cared about.
Xiao Wei was here not for glory. He is here so that he can sharpen his Martial Techniques and gain more battle experience. That's what really matters to him.
At that moment, Elder Mo raised his voice, addressing the entire assembly of young Cultivators from the Xiao, Mo, and Hu Clans.
"Alright! You all know the rules. Now go—enter the mountain and give it your best!"Elder Mo declared with a firm wave of his hand.
Without hesitation, the crowd surged forward, energy buzzing in the air as the young warriors dashed toward the towering trees and dense forest of Tiger Mountain.
Xiao Wei didn't rush.
He moved at his own pace, eyes scanning the forest with quiet determination. This wasn't a race for him—it was another step toward his future.
As Xiao Wei approached the entrance to Tiger Mountain alongside the other young cultivators, a sudden wave of murmurs rippled through the gathered crowd. Several young generation turned their heads, whispering to one another as their eyes landed on him.
A sharp voice cut through the buzz.
"Isn't that the Xiao Clan's so-called trash? Xiao Wei?"Elder Mo scoffed openly, his gaze filled with disdain.
"Yes. He has already broken through to the Sixth Layer of the Martial Apprentice Realm"Elder Xu, who stood nearby, calmly responded.
But before anyone could react, a loud laugh erupted from the Hu Clan's side.
"Hahaha! So what if he reached the Sixth Layer? With that cultivation, what can he possibly do in Tiger Mountain? Even the weakest monster in the outer area could tear him apart!"Hu Sun said mockingly, his voice raised high enough for everyone—especially Xiao Wei—to hear.
A few others chuckled, clearly amused by the remark. Their scornful eyes followed Xiao Wei, expecting some kind of reaction.
But Xiao Wei gave them none.
He had heard every word—Hu Sun wasn't exactly trying to be discreet—but his face remained expressionless. There was no anger, no embarrassment. Just silence and steady steps forward.
Without another moment's hesitation, Xiao Wei stepped into the shadow of the trees and vanished into the depths of Tiger Mountain—alone, quiet, and determined.
Inside the dense forest of Tiger Mountain, the atmosphere was filled with the roars of distant beasts and the rustling of wind through ancient trees.
The moment Xiao Wei entered, he wasted no time. Using Water Flow Steps, his body became a blur, gracefully darting through the foliage as he made his way toward the border between the outer and inner areas of the mountain.
Unlike the others who spread out to hunt for Monster Cores, Xiao Wei had a different plan in mind.
A few days earlier, he had used his Shadow Bird to scout Mo Clan members who secretly buried Monster Cores near the inner area, intending to retrieve them later during the competition to boost their score unfairly.
Though Xiao Wei didn't have any strong loyalty to the Xiao Clan, it didn't mean he would just stand by and let others cheat their way to victory. He wasn't here to help his clan—but that didn't mean he'd let someone else win with ease too.
After a few minutes of careful searching along the border, he arrived at the hidden location he had memorized.
"This should be the spot"Xiao Wei murmured to himself.
He crouched down and began to dig with his hands. The soil had been disturbed recently, and it didn't take long before he struck something solid. One by one, gleaming Monster Cores began to appear under the dirt. Xiao Wei's eyes narrowed slightly as he picked them up, inspecting each briefly before placing them into his Storage Ring.
After gathering all the Monster Cores from the hidden stash, Xiao Wei carefully began to refill the hole. He made sure to smooth out the dirt, packing it down so that no trace of digging could be seen. The leaves and debris he had brushed aside earlier were now spread neatly over the spot, blending it perfectly with the rest of the forest floor.
He stood up and brushing the dirt from his hands.
"Looks just like before"Xiao Wei muttered under his breath, satisfied with the result.
Without wasting another second, Xiao Wei activated his Water Flow Steps again, his body flickering through the trees like a passing breeze.
"They think they can win this competition so easily… not when I'm here"Xiao Wei whispered to himself, his voice calm.
With that, he vanished deeper into the outer area of the forest, leaving behind nothing but untouched earth and silent woods.
Ten minutes later, the forest grew quiet once more as the sound of footsteps broke through the trees. A group of twenty people, clad in the dark robes of the Mo Clan, slowly approached the clearing. Leading them was none other than Mo Nan, the second Young Master of the Mo Clan.
Mo Nan looked around cautiously and then gestured toward the ground.
"This is the place"Mo Nan said coldly.
One of the men beside him stepped forward and asked.
"Second Young Master, should we dig up the monster cores now?"
"Yes, hurry up"Mo Nan ordered impatiently.
The man quickly got down on one knee and began digging at the marked spot. But after just a few inches, his hands hit something hard. His expression changed.
"What's taking so long?"Mo Nan barked.
The man froze, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Young Master… there's nothing here—just rocks!"he said.
Mo Nan's eyes narrowed dangerously. He marched forward, shoved the man aside, and looked into the hole himself. Sure enough, buried beneath the surface was nothing but stone and tightly packed dirt.