Scarlet flames rained from the sky like miniature waterfalls, piercing the void and striking the ground. Black smoke rose from the earth as rocks burned, testament to the inferno's terrifying heat.
The Fiendfire Spirit Bird's clan was renowned in fire Dao—some terrifying individuals could incinerate the heavens with their flaming bodies.
Wings spread, the bird swooped without warning, intent on teaching Daoling a lesson about the inviolable might of ancient fiendbeasts.
"You haven't even broken through to Soul Convergence." Daoling snorted, meeting the descending talons bare-handed to test his physical strength.
"Hmph, courting death!" the bird snarled. How dare this human confront its attack? He clearly didn't know the meaning of fear.
Clang!
Metallic ringing echoed as sparks flew from Daoling's fist. The Fiendfire Spirit Bird's heart sank—its talons felt like they'd struck divine metal, unable to pierce his skin.
"What a terrifying physique!" Shock turned to avarice. "Excellent! You'll make a fine battle servant. Watch how I subdue you!"
"Empty boasting. Show me your full strength!" Daoling sneered. The bird had slaughtered countless in Zone 10, a devil that surely hoarded numerous tokens. It was cunning, fleeing to the sky when faced with强者 (powerful foes), preying on the weak to plunder their tokens.
The bird screeched, spewing a massive ball of Fiendfire like a lava torrent. Daoling stood firm, his aura erupting like a god-demon, shaking ancient trees and shattering rocks—the Fiendfire extinguished instantly.
"What?!" The bird nearly panicked, feeling a dreadful chill surge forth—its natural克星 (nemesis).
"Break!" it roared, spitting a scarlet treasure seal that clashed with the incoming cold energy.
"Smash!" Daoling's golden fist surged, divine power reversing the vacuum and shattering nearby trees. The treasure seal, though formidable, was sent flying.
"Adamantine bones!" The bird fled in horror. This teen was more fiendish than any beast.
"Where to? Leave your treasures!" Daoling gave chase, hurling a 50,000-jin boulder skyward. A storm of rocks followed, but the bird's fiery wings and talons粉碎 (shattered) them.
Daoling leaped high, arms outstretched like a golden roc, blood energy roaring to disperse the clouds.
"What a terrifying human youth!" The bird recalled a fearsome divine禽 (bird), a Vermilion Bird, that had once suppressed it with a single talon strike. "If he grows stronger, he might even clash with a divine beast's offspring."
Flapping its wings, the bird vanished—only to be halted by Daoling's roar, which shattered the sky and knocked feathers from its body. Seizing the moment, Daoling's arm shot out like a dragon, snatching the beast-hide pouch hidden under its wing.
The bird fled to a distant mountain, only to choke on blood as it realized its hard-gathered tokens—collected over a sleepless night—were gone.
"Over 600 tokens!" Daoling's eyes blazed as he stowed the haul. With his existing tokens, he now had nearly 800. A few more plunders would suffice.
His shadow vanished, and Zone 10 erupted in chaos. A new powerhouse was rampant, plundering tokens—many mistook him for a Soul Convergence expert.
Outside the primeval forest, defeated participants trickled out, battered and bloodied.
"1,400 tokens?!"
In an open area, a purple-haired youth emerged from Zone 9, shaking the earth as he dumped a mountain of tokens. Elder Sun Xiangshan, the Starfall Academy's Third Elder, gasped in surprise. Murmurs rose—this youth was surely Zone 9's champion. What race was he?
"The top contenders from the other nine zones have emerged. Only Zone 10 remains. Who will be first?"
"Time is running out." The first-place reward—a 4th-grade elixir and Library Pavilion access—was coveted.
Vice-Principal Tao Kangning of Green Mountain Academy frowned. Their strongest contestant was in Zone 10, as was Dao Ling, whom he favored.
"Haha, Tao, trials are measured in deaths." Hua Zhicheng mocked, gesturing to his white-robed disciple, who'd ranked 98th in Zone 3—impressive for Green Mountain City.
Wang Ya chimed in: "Don't worry, Vice-Principal. Cousin Wang Ling is with Young Master Fei of the Wang Clan's main line. They'll be fine." She knew Wang Junfei aimed for first place and that Wang Ling had orders to kill Dao Ling, hence the delay.
Tao relaxed—with the Wang Clan's might, Wang Ling was safe. But where was Dao Ling?
Ye Yun clenched her hands, worrying silently for Dao Ling.
As time passed, a figure from Zone 10 presented 600 tokens, confusing Elder Sun. Where was the champion?
Then a shadow dashed out. Wang Ya's face turned ashen at the sight of Dao Ling. *He's alive? Impossible! Where is Wang Ling?* She trembled, not for Wang Ling's sake, but for the Blue Crystal—if Wang Ling was dead, her share was lost.
Ye Yun sighed in relief seeing Dao Ling alive.
"Does he even have five tokens?" Hua Zhicheng scoffed.
"Generous to say five. He probably hid in a cave till now." The white-robed youth sneered, still bitter about Dao Ling's defiance earlier.
"Hmm..." Elder Sun eyed Dao Ling, surprised by his robust physique.
Dao Ling stepped forward, carrying a large bag. What was inside?
Clatter!
A torrent of black tokens spilled out, freezing the atmosphere.