CHAPTER 141: 142....

The group found an inn not far from the training grounds. It wasn’t the fanciest place, but it was quiet and clean enough. Paper lanterns hung outside, their warm light flickering gently in the wind. Inside, the smell of food and herbs mixed in the air, calming but faintly tense from the number of contestants talking about the next trial.

They took a private room upstairs. Before anyone could sit, Feng Jiao Xue scanned the corners, her eyes cold and focused. Her Qi brushed through the walls as she checked for hidden arrays or traps. Jiang Li noticed and silently placed a talisman near the door.

"It will hide our presence," he said quietly.

"Good," Feng Jiao Xue nodded, then sat by the low table.

Xu Wenjun clapped his hands. "Let’s eat first before talking about strategies. My brain works better with a full stomach."

Mo Tianze snorted. "You just want an excuse to eat again."

"Exactly," Wenjun grinned as if that solved everything.

Lu Qing Yue sighed but let him be. After all, the trial would be tough. A bit of laughter now wouldn’t hurt.

When the food arrived, the room filled with the soft sound of chopsticks and the faint clinking of bowls. It was calm, but everyone’s mind was already running through possible plans.

After they finished, Lu Qing Yue took out a rough map she had drawn. "The small realm changes every year, but the trial is usually about teamwork. If it’s a forest again, we’ll need someone to scout."

"I’ll handle that," Mo Tianze volunteered with a light tone. "I can track people by scent, even if they hide their Qi."

The others blinked in surprise. Xu Wenjun let out a low whistle. "Remind me not to annoy you, brother."

Mo Tianze just grinned. "You already did."

Feng Jiao Xue spoke after a short silence. "We’ll focus on defense first. We need to survive before we try to earn points."

Xu Wenjun frowned. "But shouldn’t we go on the attack early? If we wait too long, others might get ahead."

"It’s not about who moves first," Feng Jiao Xue said calmly. "It’s about who lasts the longest."

Her words silenced the table. Even Lu Qing Yue nodded in agreement while Jiang Li gave a quiet "She’s right."

Just then, a faint flutter brushed against the window. Feng Jiao Xue’s eyes narrowed. With a flick of her fingers, a small strand of Qi shot out and hit something in midair. A small glowing butterfly fell to the table, wings fading into dust.

"Someone is spying on us," she said coldly.

The group stiffened. Lu Qing Yue frowned. "One of the teachers?"

"Or another team," Feng Jiao Xue replied. Her gaze swept toward the window again, sharp and alert.

The mood turned heavy. No one spoke for a while. The quiet hum of lanterns outside filled the silence.

Jiang Li stood and checked the hallway before locking the door from the inside. "We’ll take turns keeping watch tonight," he suggested.

"Agreed," Feng Jiao Xue said, her tone calm as always. "The trial has already begun."

Outside, the night grew darker. The lanterns flickered softly, reflecting in Feng Jiao Xue’s eyes as she stared out the window.

The room stayed quiet for a while after Feng Jiao Xue’s words. The sound of the lanterns swaying outside was soft, yet everyone felt the weight of what was coming.

Lu Qing Yue broke the silence first. "If we’re going to stay together, then we should assign roles. It’s better if we already know who will do what once the trial begins."

"That’s a good idea," Mo Tianze agreed while leaning against the wall. "We already know we’ll need someone to guard the crystal, someone to scout, and the rest to support or attack."

Xu Wenjun raised his hand lazily. "I’ll take offense. I’m good at close combat and my weapon works better at mid-range. If someone tries to steal the crystal, I can intercept before they even get close."

"Then you’ll be the main attacker," Lu Qing Yue said as she began listing mentally. "Mo Tianze, you can be our scout."

"Sure," he said easily. "I’ll use scent tracking to look out for ambushes."

Lin Zeyan hesitated before speaking. "I’m better at setting barriers and traps. I can also use earth spells to delay enemies or block their path."

"Then you’ll be our support," Lu Qing Yue nodded. "We’ll need that."

"What about me?" Jiang Li asked quietly.

Everyone looked at the calm swordsman. His presence always carried a certain weight, quiet but firm.

"You should stay close to whoever guards the crystal," Feng Jiao Xue said without thinking. "If anyone can protect it, it’s you."

Jiang Li gave a small nod. "Then I’ll stay by your side."

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t comment further, but she didn’t reject it either. Her gaze lowered to the crystal sitting on the table, its faint purple glow reflecting on her hand.

"I’ll hold on to the crystal," she said firmly. "Since the spell on it prevents storage, it’s best if I carry it myself."

Lu Qing Yue nodded in agreement. "That settles it then. I’ll take the rear guard position. I can use water spells to heal minor wounds and slow down enemies if needed."

"Then we’re all set," Xu Wenjun said with a grin. "Defender, scout, attacker, support, healer. Not bad."

"Don’t celebrate yet," Feng Jiao Xue said calmly. "The other teams won’t go easy on us. Remember, some of them have family backgrounds and resources stronger than ours."

Mo Tianze smiled lightly. "All the more reason to beat them."

"Confidence is good," Lu Qing Yue said as she folded her arms. "But don’t get careless."

The group began finalizing their plan. They talked about signal methods, escape formations, and how to move as one unit. Everyone listened carefully, adding their own ideas until the plan was clear enough for all of them.

When the discussion finally ended, it was already late at night. The inn had grown quieter, the faint hum of night insects filling the silence.

Feng Jiao Xue stood by the window again, watching the dim glow of the lanterns below. Mo Tianze was already asleep on one side of the room, while the others rested wherever they could.

She didn’t feel tired. Not yet.

Her eyes traced the faint moonlight spilling through the wooden window frame. "Three days," she whispered softly. "Let’s see who survives."

Her hand brushed over the crystal once more before she turned away.

While Feng Jiao Xue’s group stayed inside the inn to plan, the streets outside had already turned into a quiet battlefield.

The capital was still lively on the surface. Merchants called out to customers, the smell of grilled meat filled the air, and laughter could be heard from taverns. Yet beneath that noise, tension brewed.

In a narrow alley, two contestants clashed. The faint glow of spiritual energy lit the walls as one cultivator fell to his knees, clutching a broken number tag.

"W-wait! It’s not even the start of the trial..."

His words were cut off when the other stepped forward and pressed a glowing crystal against his chest. The light faded, and the fallen man’s mark dimmed completely.

"You should have stayed cautious," the victor muttered before vanishing into the shadows.

Across the city, similar scenes unfolded.

On a rooftop, a group of three surrounded a lone magician. The woman raised her staff, blue light swirling around her as she shouted, "Ice Bind!" The spell froze one of her attackers, but the other two moved faster.

A blade flashed. Her crystal slipped from her fingers, rolling across the tiles before shattering into pieces. The two looked at each other, their expressions cold.

"Another out" one said before collecting the fragments.

Further down near the market square, two cultivators were seen exchanging blows, drawing a small crowd before guards stepped in to stop them. But everyone knew the guards couldn’t watch every corner.

Even inns weren’t safe. Some contestants who thought they were resting woke up to find their teammates missing or unconscious. Rumors spread fast.

"Did you hear? Team Chen already lost two members."

"They said someone poisoned their drink last night."

"What? Before the trial even started?"

"Yeah. Guess the rule about not causing chaos doesn’t stop anyone brave enough to hide their hand."

Under the flickering lanterns, whispers grew like wildfire. Trust was becoming rare.

Inside another tavern, a cloaked figure sat by the window, eyes watching the street below. A faint smirk curved their lips.

"So this year’s batch is already thinning," they murmured. "Interesting."

They reached into their sleeve and pulled out a small black butterfly before letting it fly into the night. Its wings shimmered faintly with red glow as it disappeared into the distance , flying toward the inn where Feng Jiao Xue’s team stayed.

While the night deepens, it marks the start of the hunt for many other contestants, some still unaware that the game has long begun.