Godslayer: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Cultivation System

The lush forest stretched below the cliff, and the sound of sweat and panting could be heard as Wen Ran climbed down. His foot occasionally pushed the rocks loose, making him almost fall several times, but no matter how difficult the task appeared, he held on. His white hair danced in the wind, the soft breeze brushing against his muscles, making him feel slightly more relaxed. All the while, he cursed the seniors who had left him here. He had sworn to take revenge for this, but not now. He needed to grow stronger first.

Naturally, it was Wen Ran, about halfway down with his climb.

I could drop down here, he thought, but my chances of survival are still low. I'd rather not take the risk.

His mind raced, considering every possible way to finish this trial faster. But no matter how he looked at it, it would take at least half a day to reach the city ahead. The roars of wild beasts echoed below, and Wen Ran couldn't understand why he had been treated this way. Was this some sort of extra test?

Little did Wen Ran know that a pair of eyes had been watching him all along. The aura of an ancient being surrounded this mysterious figure, who sat cross-legged in a palace in the city. A powerful and pure aura wrapped around the person, whose long black hair framed the face of someone who appeared to be in their sixties or seventies.

"This youngster is strong, talented, and extremely valuable, but if I don't make him suffer a little, he will look down on my sect." The old and ancient voice chuckled, its tone full of both amusement and forethought.

On the ground in front of him sat a small board with pieces of a game that resembled xiangqi. The old man lifted a piece, and it suddenly began to shine with radiant ethereal colors, as if the world itself was bending before the power of this single piece. The piece landed on its position, and a smile spread across the old man's face, as if he had orchestrated everything perfectly.

"Senior, are you sure you want to bully this junior so much? What if he starts to hate us?" A middle-aged man sat on the other side of the board, his posture refined and straight as an arrow. His thick, sharp eyebrows were like sabers, making him look handsome yet intimidating at the same time. His black hair stretched all the way to the bottom, which could make some mistake him for a woman. He picked up the piece on his side, but the moment he tried to make a move, he froze. The calm expression he had moments ago was replaced by a sign of defeat in his eyes.

"It's not about how hard the task is sometimes, it's about where the path takes us, little one," the old man spoke, his tone calm. He picked up a delicate tea cup and sipped from it, the aroma of exquisite herbs filling the air. He closed his eyes in relaxation. "His heart appears to be full of hate—indeed, even from where we sit, I can sense the turmoil within him. Yet, as the old saying goes, 'you can know a person's face, but not their heart.' How mysterious is that?"

The old man's gaze drifted into the distance, through the void. He could see Wen Ran, almost feeling his every thought. Yet, what puzzled the old man was how difficult this child was to read. He seemed more like a seasoned warrior than a junior at the Spirit Flow Stage.

"I have to admit defeat, senior. I can't say I fully understand what you mean by that." The middle-aged man respectfully bowed to the old man, showing both respect and awe toward him. "But I will take care of that child on your behalf. I hope that after another five years, your condition will improve, and you'll be able to teach him yourself. After all, senior, you haven't taken in a disciple for three thousand years. I do not understand why you would do that now, but this junior does not dare to question your decisions." He bowed several more times, and the old man smiled warmly in response.

The old man didn't speak a word. His mind and eyes seemed to be focused elsewhere. The xiangqi board sat alone between the two men, the only thing that connected them. But now that the game was over, the middle-aged man took his leave, a smile shone on his face, though his heart burned with jealousy. Why did the sect master decide to take that useless trash as his disciple, when he never even gave me a chance? This is unfair. The heavens are blind, and so is he.

The man cursed inwardly, already plotting against Wen Ran. To him, this junior had become his worst enemy.

Meanwhile, Wen Ran could feel his ears burn for some reason. He didn't know who he might have offended, but he had a feeling that someone must have been talking badly about him behind his back. Maybe the group of children are cursing me for leaving them? he thought, but he couldn't help but laugh inwardly. He quickly shook the idea off and focused on finishing his journey.

He let go and dropped onto a tall tree, his fingers and palms digging into the leaves and branches, softening his landing. Xiao Mo, however, was punching his head in frustration. She had to suffer through the scratches of sharp branches, making her curse Wen Ran in her heart.

The duo soon landed on the soft ground, both of them relaxing and letting out a deep exhale. Wen Ran scanned his surroundings carefully, the occasional sounds of beasts made him feel uneasy, but at the same time, he felt a surge of excitement. He would never run away from a battle, unless it was impossible to win. The thrill of the fight was something he had always embraced, and now, with the power growing within him, he was more ready than ever to face whatever dangers lay ahead.

"Let's go to that damn sect," Wen Ran muttered with determination. "I'll show them that they can't just mess with me!"