"Sorry... We just want to know the name, who killed Xiao Chen. If you know, please tell us the name," Ning Bing requested, his hand rubbing at the back of his head.

Lin Yuan and Chen Ming froze, petrified listening to the words of Ning Bing.

"Who are you?" Chen Ming immediately gabbled, raising his left eye brow. "Why do you both want to know the name of the person who killed Xiao Chen?"

"We are just curious to know who killed that bastard Xiao Chen," Ning Bing smirked, mocking Xiao Chen. "That Xiao Chen deserves that... We just need to thank the person who killed Xiao Chen." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

’This Ning Bing is a cunning bastard...’ Shen Yu Chi grinned, darting his head towards Ning Bing. ’He is trying to hoodwink these kids.’

"Haha.. His n—"

"Only master Mo Qinghe knows the name of that person," Lin Yuan asserted, interrupting the words of Chen Ming. "Come! I will take you to him..."

’This son of a bitch,’ Ning Bing thought, clicking his tongue.

"No need for that," Ning Bing muttered, taking a step back. "We need to attend a meeting in the city. We will come tomorrow to meet Master Mo Qinghe."

Ning Bing and Shen Yu Chi rushed back leaving the academy.

"Why did you stop me from saying your name, Lin Yuan?" Chen Ming hesitated, a confusing look lingering on his face.

"Because they are suspicious... Look at their dresses," Ning Bing elucidated, pointing his finger towards Ning Bing. "They dressed like guards and asked for the murderer’s name, and why Xiao Chen would do any harm to mere non cultivator guards like them. Probably, they are the guards of Xiao Residency trying to find his name with these cheap tricks."

Chen Ming stood in silence, his brain had a single thought: ’How can I be this dumb? Lin Yuan is correct!’

Lin Yuan observed Chen Ming was frowned.

"Okay... Leave about those bitch ass guards. Let’s go home!" Lin Yuan encouraged, rapping the back of Chen Ming. "We have our second trial tomorrow!"

Chen Ming was silent for a second.

"Haha... okay, Lin Yuan," Chen Ming giggled, ambling forward.

Lin Yuan and Chen Ming reached their homes, thinking about what would be the trial tomorrow.

****

At Xiao Residence...

"Where is my brother??" Xiao Lingtian yelled at his mother. "Are you both hiding anything from me?"

Xiao Yuelen tried to convince him, but Xiao Lingtian was anxious.

"Y-your brother is dead..." Xiao Renjie stuttered, his head down with shame, "He was murdered by a student in Cangxuan’s academy."

Xiao Lingtian enraged, offering a fierceful look to his father when he heard the word: ’Murdered by a student.’

"Who the fuck is he? I will kill that son of a bitch. Tell me his name, father?" Xiao Lingtian roared, punching the wall aside, leaving a spider web crack on the wall.

"We are still investigating it... Our guards are trying to find him by asking other students... But tomorrow there is a trial for them," Xiao Renjie expounded, his hands shaking with anger. "We will find the culprit after the trial."

"Hell with the trial!!" Xiao Lingtian yelled, taking a vicious step toward his father. "I will infiltrate and infringe the laws of the academy. I will kill every student if they resist to answer my question: Who killed my brother, Xiao Chen?"

"Come here, guard!" Xiao Lingtian beckoned, a muscled, battered guard stepped in. He is Chi Yao Li, the loyal guard of Xiao Lingtian. "Get the details of the trial tomorrow."

****

Next day

August month begins — Summer Season

The morning cicadas humming loud, clicking sound across the pathway to the academy. Lin Yuan and Chen Ming along with a few students walking towards the academy.

"I heard tomorrow the upperclassmen are returning to the academy from dungeon trial," A timid, bluish-white haired girl bellowed, clasping her hands in front of chest. "They are the strongest disciples ever in this academy."

Her name is Ying Yue, a calm and intelligent girl, Baby Beast Realm - Mid Stage Cultivator, holder of Lightning-Wolf beast.

"I heard one of them is from the Teng clan, and he has a legendary beast even though he was rejected by the ’River of Origin’," Another voice came out from the right side of Lin Yuan. It was white-haired beautiful girl, her large-sized boobs slightly exposed from her traditional robe. Her name was Su Wan’er, a Baby Beast Realm - Mid Stage Cultivator, holder of Boar beast.

Lin Yuan heard, looking straight nonchalantly. "Chen Ming... Do you know about those upperclassmen?" Lin Yuan asked. "How the hell did the Teng clan person get a legendary beast?"

"I just heard about them, but don’t know many details. Maybe he got it by luck, Lin Yuan," Chen Ming murmured, tilting his head towards Lin Yuan.

"Darn it... Lucky bastard!" Lin Yuan slurred, clicking his tongue.

After a few minutes, students reached the academy. The murmurs of students crippled across the training hall. Every student sat cross-legged on the floor, waiting for the master Mo Qinghe.

BAM!

The doors of the training hall slammed open, and master Mo Qinghe entered the hall elegantly. He maintained silence for a few seconds.

"Let’s begin your second trial!" Mo Qinghe’s voice boomed, straightening every student grabbing their attention. "The reward for this trial is 80 essence stones per head."

The words: 80 Essence stones, made the hair strands on the hands of students stand still in biting chill. Murmurs started again in the training hall, every student darting their heads to the right side and left side, talking with each other.

"80 essence stones?"

"It’s a ridiculous amount!"

"Damn we need to win it!"

"The trial is about for 3 days!" Mo Qinghe continued, his voice cutting through the murmurs of students. "The students should divide into groups of two, and enter the Blackwood Ravine forest, which is located on the other side of the city. Considering the incident that happened in the first trial, three assistant masters under me who are Spirit Beast Realm cultivators will have an eye on the groups to avoid internal conflicts. The goal is ’five Rank 2 Beast cores or two Rank 3 beast cores’ along with a bag of spirit herbs. And if any higher rank beast spotted... Run AWAY! Because we have an intel that there are 2-3 Rank 4 beasts spotted in that forest."

’Rank 4 beasts?’ Lin Yuan was shocked, thinking it was a jackpot. ’I will find and kill one for sure.’

"And there is an additional reward... Access to the academy library," Mo Qinghe solicited, walking towards the middle of the students. "Any questions?"

Students nodded their heads in a ’No’ gesture.

Lin Yuan stood up, strolling towards Mo Qinghe.

"Master, I and Chen Ming are a team," Lin Yuan professed, his eyes skittering towards Chen Ming. "Is there any specific time to start the trial?"

"Humph..." Mo Qinghe smirked; it was a smirk of arrogance known that Lin Yuan would come up with a question. "Trial begins tomorrow morning and ends in 3 days from tomorrow. If any failed to return the academy before 3 days. They are disqualified."

Lin Yuan let out a devious smirk on his lips, and returned to his sitting place. And after Mo Qinghe left the training hall, all students sprawled out of the hall, leaving the academy sluggishly.

****

Evening at the Xiao residence...

Sip!

Xiao Lingtian grunted, sipping a glass of Peach Blossom wine.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

After a few moments, Chi Yao Li stepped into the room of Xiao Lingtian. Xiao Lingtian rose, placing the glass aside.

"Any information, Chi Yao Li?" Xiao Lingtian questioned, his eyes grimaced.

"Yes, master. Tomorrow the second trial for the students began. It was held in groups of two students. And the place is Blackwood Ravine Forest," Chi Yao Li grinned, demystifying the details of the trail. "But, master Mo Qinghe sending assistance to discern the students, it maybe a prob—"

"Don’t worry about that," Xiao Lingtian sneered, skimming his glare towards the window. "I will be careful not to get caught, even if they find me... I will kill them along with the students. There would be a brutal massacre tomorrow, if the students didn’t say the name of the person who killed Xiao Chen."

Xiao Lingtian’s face glimmering with lethal malice. Even in the strong malice, a confusing, scary thought lingering in Xiao Lingtian’s mind: How can a fifteen year old brat kill two of their classmen ruthlessly?

****

Trial Day

Lin Yuan and Chen Ming started their stroll towards the Blackwood Ravine along with the other student groups. Every group has two members, and they are walking like partners.

Lin Yuan and Chen Ming are Group 1. Lian Nichang and Yun He are Group 2. Fenglian and Huo Ren are Group 3. Ying Yue and Su Wan’er are Group 4. Gu Shiyan and Mei Jian Li are Group 5. These five groups are marching towards Blackwood Ravine forest, which is 3 miles far from the western gate of Green Hollow city. All groups carried the supplies and food needed for the 3 days survival. And the assistant master of Mo Qinghe: Lou Zhen, Fen Lin, and Qin Yao Mei are following the group of the students from the backside.

"Let’s win this trial also, Chen Ming," Lin Yuan cupped his fists with a clapping sound.