The sky had turned an eerie shade of crimson, the setting sun casting long shadows through the dense forest.
The air thrummed with an unnatural energy, thick with the scent of damp earth, blood, and something more, something primal. Xiao Lian stood at the edge of a ruined temple, the stone steps worn from time and battle. This was the final battleground, the last test of the trial.
She wasn't alone. Around her, the remaining competitors, only six left, gathered in tense silence. Each of them bore wounds, their robes torn and bloodied from the previous trials. But there was no time to rest. The true battle was about to begin.
A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air. The ground trembled. Xiao Lian's fingers twitched as she steadied her breathing, her heart pounding against her ribs. Her SIS activated instinctively, her vision sharpening as she scanned the surroundings. The beast was near.
Then, from the depths of the temple ruins, it emerged. A Crimson Fang Serpent. The beast was massive, at least thirty feet long, its thick, scarlet scales gleaming under the dying sunlight. Twin fangs, dripping with venom, protruded from its mouth, and its golden eyes burned with an animalistic hunger. It coiled around the temple stones, its body moving like liquid shadow, its presence radiating pure, unfiltered killing intent.
Xiao Lian exhaled slowly. This was no ordinary spirit beast. This was a high-tier predator, the kind that only the strongest cultivators could defeat.
And now, they were expected to take it down. The Strategy Begins. She didn't move immediately. Instead, she observed. Her competitors were already shifting, spreading out to surround the serpent. Some clutched their weapons tighter, others steadied their stances, waiting for someone to make the first move.
Xiao Lian narrowed her eyes, allowing SIS to analyze every detail.
[Weaknesses…]
Her vision pulsed, highlighting different points on the beast's body. Its underbelly was softer than its back scales. Its eyes, though sharp, had limited peripheral vision.
Most importantly, it relied heavily on its venom, meaning if it were exhausted or forced into prolonged combat, it would slow down.
A plan formed in her mind. She didn't need to defeat it alone. She just needed the others to do most of the work for her.
The first attack came swiftly. One of the disciples, a tall warrior named Shen Kai, leaped forward, his sword glowing with Qi as he aimed for the serpent's head.
The beast reacted instantly. It's s tail lashed out, moving faster than the eye could follow. It struck Shen Kai mid-air, sending him crashing into the temple wall with bone-crushing force. He groaned, spitting blood as he struggled to rise.
That was all it took. The other competitors charged in, seeing an opening. Swords flashed. Spears stabbed.
The Crimson Fang Serpent hissed in fury, twisting its body in a blur of red and black. It struck at them mercilessly, its fangs snapping, its tail smashing through stone and wood alike.
Xiao Lian stayed back, carefully weaving through the chaos. Her mind was focused.
She needed them to weaken it, to force the beast into a state where it would be vulnerable. Minutes passed, though it felt like hours.
The serpent was powerful, but the competitors were relentless. Wounds began to appear on its body, shallow cuts at first, then deeper slashes. Its breathing grew heavier, its movements just a fraction slower.
Perfect.
Xiao Lian made her move. She darted forward just as another competitor, a spear-wielding disciple, lunged at the beast. The serpent turned, its tail snapping toward him, only for Xiao Lian to subtly redirect the attack, causing the strike to miss.
To the others, it looked like luck. To Xiao Lian, it was calculated precision.
She positioned herself carefully, never directly engaging, always ensuring that the beast was forced to expend more and more energy.
And then, the moment came. The serpent hesitated. For just half a second, its head dipped lower than usual, its breathing ragged. Its tail, once a blur of motion, lagged slightly behind its movements.
It was tired. Now. Xiao Lian surged forward, faster than anyone had anticipated. Her dagger flashed in the fading light, aiming straight for the beast's eye.
The Final Blow, The serpent roared, twisting violently but she had already anticipated it. At the last moment, she redirected her strike, her blade sinking deep into its underbelly, right where its scales were weakest.
A sickening crack echoed through the clearing as her weapon pierced through flesh and bone.
The serpent convulsed, its body thrashing wildly. Its tail slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves through the temple ruins. The remaining competitors stumbled back, their eyes widening as they realized what had happened.
Xiao Lian held on, twisting the blade deeper.
The serpent let out one final, ear-splitting shriek, before its massive body collapsed. Silence. For a moment, no one moved.
Then, slowly, Xiao Lian withdrew her blade, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps.
It was over.
The other disciples stared at her, a mixture of disbelief and resentment in their eyes. They had all fought, all bled, but she had delivered the final blow.
She had won.
Ji Ren, who had remained at the edge of the battlefield, finally stepped forward. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable as he studied her.
"Clever," he murmured. "You didn't just fight the beast. You fought the battle itself."
Xiao Lian wiped the blood off her blade, her hands steady despite the adrenaline rushing through her veins. "I told you," she said with a smirk, "intelligence always wins."
Ji Ren chuckled, but there was something sharp in his gaze. "Be careful, Xiao Lian."
She arched an eyebrow. "Of what?"
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Of what happens when the others realize that they weren't just fighting a beast tonight."
Her smirk faltered, just for a fraction of a second. Because she understood exactly what he meant. She hadn't just defeated the Crimson Fang Serpent. She had outplayed everyone. And now, she wasn't just another competitor. She was a threat.
.
.
.
As the trial overseers arrived, announcing her victory, Xiao Lian felt the hugeness of every gaze upon her.
Some looked at her with grudging respect. Others, with simmering hatred. This was only the beginning. Winning had come at a cost. And in the world of cultivation, a single victory often painted a target on one's back.
Xiao Lian lifted her chin, her grip tightening around her blade. Let them come. She had won this battle. And she would win the next.
No matter the cost.