Ning Shao extended her slender fioward the glimmering yellow stone, a subtle flicker of Spiritual Qi flowing from her fiips like threads of silken light. The stone absorbed her energy, its surface pulsing faintly before fring to life with a radiant glow.
In an instant, a translut panel materialized in the air before them. It shimmered like liquid crystal, its edges rippling softly as if carved from flowing water.
The panel was vast, nearly as tall as a man, with intricate ruched along its blowing faintly with the spiritual energy.
The surface was smooth, refleg flickers of dim light from the surrounding chamber, but at its heart, shadowy images began to coalesce.
As the surface solidified into sharp crity, the se of a dense forest emerged, its opy so thick that sunlight barely pierced through. It was unmistakably the Whispering Grove.
Withierialized vision stood a young man of anding presence, his figure radiating an aura of quiet dominance.
His long, raven-bck hair, secured at the back with an ornate, expensive-looking hairpin, framed a face so fwless and seemed sculpted from the dreams of a celestial artisan.
His features carried ahereal grace, his sharp, peing eyes brimming with the calm iy of a being touched by the heavens.
In his hand, he held a sword—sleek, perfectly banced, and radiating a quiet but undeniable aura of mastery.
The swleamed with a silvery sheen, exuding a sense of destiwined with its wielder. Even a gnce from a Master Swordsman would reveal the truth: this was no ordinary Sword Cultivator.
He was born to and the sword, a prodigy fated to transd all limits and asd to heights no other could rea the path of the Sword.
Yes, he was her than Yang Lie, the protagonist of the novel and a peerless sword prodigy.
Yet, he was not alone in the se—five ures in opposite of him, each the distinctive robes of the Inner Sect, their attire marking them as a cut above the Outer Sect disciples.
One of them stepped forward—a man ed, imposing stature. A long, jagged scar sshed across his left eye, lending a menag edge to his fierce gaze.
With a smirk twisting his lips, the scarred man spoke in a rough, mog tone. "Hey, you're that brat, aren't you? The oirring up too much attention in the sect tely—the same one who made short work of that loser Xue Taiyang and mao ruin several of Young Master Niu Ling's pns."
Yang Lie's eyes remained calm, his expression unmoved by the man's taunts. His voice, quiet yet sharp, cut through the tension. "Hmm. Yes, that would be me. But tell me—who exactly are you?"
The man's smirk deepened as he stepped closer. "We've finally found you. You've got guts, I'll give you that. Barely two months since you joihe sect, and you're already bold enough to wander into the Whispering Grove of the Mystic Evergreen Forest."
Yang Lie let out a slow breath, frustration flickering in his eyes as he muttered under his breath, "Damn my luck. First, I got injured because of that bastard Ming Yuen. Then the sect punished me fhting without a formal duel. I've been itg to e here for days, but deys e my Foundatioablishment Realm Experience Card and a Rare-Grade trump card. A few days ago, I barely escaped with my life for the sect mission, nearly falling to a Demonic Soldier Ra And now..."
His eyes swept over the figures surrounding him. "Inner Sect disciples, Huh!" he noted grimly. "Judging by their expressions, they're not here for a friendly chat."
Trouble seemed to dog his steps, an unwele shadow he couldn't shake. "It was never like this before—wherever I went, opportunity awaited me. Everything began spiraling out of trol after I got tangled up with that bastard Xue Taiyang."
His jaw tightened, resolve hardening in his eyes. "I o finish the Main Sario Mission as soon as possible."
He narrowed his gaze. "What do you people want from me?"
The man who stepped forward sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "Young Master Niu Ling initially sought only to humble you and graciously offer a pce at his side. But you dared to insult him repeatedly—and had the audacity to spurn his generosity. Now, you've left us no choice. Your fate is sealed. You'll die here."
"So, you've e to kill me," Yang Lie replied, his tone calm, almost bored, as if the decration of his immi death was a mundane observation. His eyes, however, remained sharp and focused.
The scarred man chuckled darkly. "You cat quickly. At least you'll die knowing the reason."
Yang Lie's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Bold words. Let's see if your as match them."
Suddenly, a familiar chime echoed in Yang Lie's mind.
[Ding! The Host has triggered a Random Quest.]
.
[Objective:] Eliminate all individuals sent by Niu Ling to take your life.[Reward:] 2,000 System Points.[Failure Penalty:] None.
.
Yang Lie's lips curled into a faint smile as he mused inwardly, "Oh, how delightful. A quest to hahese fools. And the reward? Not bad at all. With these System Points added to my current stash, I finally afford a new sword teique."
"Attack him—all at ohe scarred man barked, his voice a harsh and.
