The earth trembled as he materialized upon the weathered stone dais. He cast a scornful gaze upon the assembled ranks of Hengyue Sect, his voice ringing with arrogant challenge. “Come then, whelps of the inner circle! I, Zhou Peng, am sufficient to face you all!”

A tumultuous roar erupted from the Hengyue disciples, faces flushed with indignation. Even the elder guardians of Hengyue Sect furrowed their brows, displeased by such blatant disrespect.

In stark contrast, the acolytes of Xuandao Sect wore expressions of unfeigned admiration and awe. Clearly, within their halls, Zhou Peng held a position of considerable esteem.

A dry cough echoed across the clearing as Elder Ouyang stepped forward. “Venerable Huanglong,” he boomed, “Zhou Peng here is my most promising disciple from Xuandao Sect! Let this contest be decisive. If any amongst your ranks can withstand him for even ten breaths, Hengyue Sect shall claim victory!”

A flicker of defiance ignited within the eyes of Zhang Kuang. With a burst of speed, he leaped onto the stone platform. “Arrogant whelp,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “I shall be your reckoning!”

Zhou Peng unleashed a mocking laugh that reverberated through the air. “You?” he sneered. “I sense only the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, a paltry veil barely concealing the eighth. Insufficient!” With a flick of his wrist, a shadow sprang forth. A viper, black as the abyss, uncoiled and swelled, transforming in the blink of an eye into a colossal python that blotted out the sun.

The python’s gargantuan head turned, its serpentine eyes locking onto Zhang Kuang. An uncanny force emanated from its maw, a ravenous suction that twisted the air itself.

Zhang Kuang was caught utterly off guard, his body rendered weightless. Before he could muster a single spell, he was yanked forward, helpless as a kite severed from its string.

Zhou Peng chuckled cruelly, his hand shooting out to seize Zhang Kuang’s throat. “Return and train for a decade more,” he taunted, “before you dare face me again!” With a contemptuous flourish, he hurled Zhang Kuang’s limp form back towards the Hengyue ranks.

A disciple clad in violet robes lunged forward, desperate to break Zhang Kuang’s fall, but he was no match for the force of Zhou Peng’s throw. The two tumbled across the ground, coming to a stop in a cloud of dust and shame.

Zhang Kuang lay still, his face drained of all color, his body wracked by tremors. A dark mark, like the imprint of cruel pliers, bruised his throat.

The violet-clad disciple who had caught him stared in horrified silence.

Venerable Huanglong felt a cold dread creep into his heart. Xuandao’s disciple was far too powerful. He sensed a practiced deception, the subtle masking of his true strength. Zhou Peng likely possessed a warding talisman, concealing the fact that he had ascended beyond the ninth layer, likely to the tenth level of the Qi Condensation Stage.

His gaze swept across his own inner circle disciples, each one a picture of apprehension. Hope dwindled within him. Even the most promising, currently training under the Jade Core stage elders, had only reached the tenth layer of Qi Condensation. He could fight, perhaps, but another defeat would shatter Hengyue Sect’s honor utterly!

“Alas,” Huanglong sighed inwardly, “Hengyue Sect is doomed this day. I must alert the two masters and make a decision swiftly. If the rumors Xuandao speaks are true…this hallowed Heng Yue Peak will be lost!”

Zhou Peng, drunk on victory, surveyed the assembled Hengyue disciples. “Who is next to taste defeat?”

The disciples remained rooted to the spot, their tongues tied, their heads bowed, unwilling to meet his gaze. None dared to answer his challenge.

Zhou Peng scoffed, his contempt boundless. But then, something caught his eye. A solitary figure, a disciple barely past the third layer of Qi Condensation, stood firm, unafraid to meet his gaze.

Wang Lin’s face was impassive as he stared back at Zhou Peng.

“What?” Zhou Peng sneered, his voice laced with malice. “Do you aspire to be my next plaything?”

Zhou Peng’s words drew all eyes to Wang Lin, and a murmur of disbelief rippled through the Hengyue ranks.

Venerable Huanglong sighed. He would have dismissed Wang Lin out of hand before, but now, compared to his other disheartened disciples, the boy possessed something far more valuable than skill: courage.

Zhou Peng, seeing the boy’s silence, pressed on. “This is the final challenge, Hengyue Sect! Is there truly no one amongst you with the stomach to face me? Is your vaunted inner circle devoid of any true warriors? I am deeply disappointed!”

From beside Venerable Huanglong, Uncle Daoxu spoke, his voice edged with barely concealed malice. “Junior Brother Sun, forgive my intrusion. Wang Lin, you shall represent us!”

Sun Dazhu sputtered in indignation. “Daoxu! Though you are my senior, you cannot cast me in this light! My disciple is barely on the third level of Qi Condensation! To send him against this monster is a mockery! Do not think I am blind to your schemes. Your own disciple lacks the mettle, and you fear his humiliation. You would sacrifice Wang Lin in his stead, a scapegoat for our inevitable defeat! A curse on you! I will not allow it!”

Daoxu’s brow furrowed, for Sun Dazhu’s accusations were not without merit. To be so openly accused before the Xuan Dao Sect was a bitter pill to swallow.

He cast a sidelong glance at Venerable Huanglong and spoke, his voice a whisper carried on the wind.

Venerable Huanglong sighed and made his fateful decision. “Junior Brother Sun, enough! Wang Lin, you shall step forward!”

Sun Dazhu whirled away, his face contorted with fury, and stalked off to one side, muttering curses to the heavens.

Wang Lin bowed his head, his voice resolute. “As you command!”

Taking a deep breath, he walked with measured steps towards the stone platform.

Laughter erupted from the Xuandao Sect ranks, a cacophony of mockery and scorn.

“Hengyue Sect has fallen so low that they send out children? This whelp is not worthy to even stand in the same light as our Senior Brother!”

“This weakling doesn’t even need Senior Brother’s attention. I could crush him with a single finger!”

“Senior Brother, they have surrendered. They send him as cannon fodder! Spare the boy a quick death, and send him swiftly on his way!”

Elder Ouyang and the two elders beside him exchanged looks of disdain. With a cruel smile, Ouyang said, “Venerable Huanglong, Hengyue Sect has reached its utter nadir this day!”

Huanglong’s face was grim. Without a word, he turned his back and walked away. He held no hope for Wang Lin. The boy was simply a sacrifice, a lamb led to slaughter to fulfill the final challenge. He had already conceded defeat.

Better to lose with a semblance of dignity than to cower in fear, lest the tales of Hengyue’s cowardice spread throughout the land.

Behind him, the older generation of Hengyue Sect shook their heads in shame, turning away from the impending humiliation. Even the inner circle disciples began to disperse, unwilling to witness the inevitable slaughter.