As soon as the five Core Formation elders from Xuantian Sect arrived with their disciples, the other six sects present in Maple Red Valley immediately straightened up.
"Hmph! You made us wait long enough! Xuantian Sect sure knows how to make an entrance!" A striking woman dressed in a pink gauze outfit snorted, her tone full of displeasure.
"Maple Red Valley is the farthest from Xuantian Sect," Qinglian Fairy responded sharply, without any hint of politeness, "Our delay was not without reason."
"If you knew it was far, why didn't you arrive earlier?" The woman in pink continued, pressing aggressively. "We've been waiting foolishly for two whole days and nights. Hmph!"
"Who told you to wait foolishly?" Qinglian Fairy, known for her unrestrained nature, didn't care about the setting and retorted bluntly, "The agreed time is the eighth of July. We did not exceed the deadline!"
"Fairy Hongfen, Fairy Qinglian, both of you, please say no more," interjected a white-browed monk clad in robes, stepping between the two women with his palms pressed together. "Amitabha! Now that everyone is present, let this humble monk begin the Seven Sect Trials."
"I am Guangzhi of Baoguang Temple. It is Baoguang Temple's turn to preside over this year's Seven Sect Trials. I will now announce the rules."
As he spoke, Guangzhi Monk raised his hand, sending out dozens of rays of golden light, which shot toward the gathered young cultivators.
One such golden light stopped in front of Lin Li, transforming into a golden token.
"This is your life token. Once you drop your blood on it, it will link to your life," explained Guangzhi Monk. "While the heavens cherish all life, cultivation is a path that goes against the heavens. Those who are brave must fight for it, and the rules of the Seven Sect Trials have always been harsh."
"However, in the spirit of mercy from our Buddhist sect, the rules this time are a bit different from previous years."
"This year, there is no need to kill your opponents. You only need to seize their life tokens. Thus, the death rate should be lower than in past years."
"The trial will last one month! During this month, all seventy participants from the seven sects must stay within the boundaries of Maple Red Valley. During this time, you can use any means to seize life tokens from your opponents. The final ranking will be based on the number of life tokens each sect's representatives possess at the end."
"Moreover, to add an element of surprise to the trial, I have scattered fifty life tokens throughout Maple Red Valley. So, obtaining life tokens is not limited to defeating enemies. If you're lucky or observant, you might find several tokens and gain an advantage."
"Now, the Seven Sect Trials officially begin! However, no fighting is allowed in this clearing. You may leave to conduct your battles or search for life tokens throughout Maple Red Valley."
...
"Remember, if your life tokens are taken by others, you will walk away with nothing. If you keep your own life token, the sect will reward you with spirit stones upon your return. But if you wish to obtain the precious Foundation Establishment Pill, you have only one path: acquiring more life tokens!"
Elder Zou advised the ten participants from Xuantian Sect, "At the end of the month, you must have at least three life tokens to qualify for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Do your best!"
"Three life tokens?!"
The four representatives from the Pill Sect and Tool Sect grimaced. For them, combat was not their forte.
If they were unlucky, they might not even be able to hold onto their own life tokens, let alone seize them from others!
"It seems we'll have to rely on luck and hope we can find some of those scattered life tokens in Maple Red Valley," they murmured amongst themselves.
Meanwhile, the two representatives from the Qi Sect turned to Lin Li and Hao Zheng. "What are your plans, Sword Sect brothers? Perhaps if we act together, we'll have a better chance…"
Before they could finish speaking, Lin Li interrupted, "No need. I plan to go it alone."
"What?" one of the Seal Sect representatives exclaimed, trying to dissuade him. "Lin Li, aren't you being too arrogant? This isn't just a sparring match between sect members! If you act alone and get surrounded by people from the other six sects, you could very well lose your life!"
Even Elder Zou was surprised by Lin Li's statement.
But Lin Li had his own reasons.
The Blood-Drinking Demon Sword was Lin Li's greatest secret. If he moved with a group, there was a risk it would be exposed.
Additionally, with the sword's energy, Lin Li could handle group fights with ease and wasn't afraid of being surrounded.
In fact, moving with others would force him to hold back, preventing him from using his full strength.
Moreover, there were bound to be beasts in Maple Red Valley. If he acted alone, he could use the sword to kill them and further improve his cultivation!
Thus, Lin Li firmly replied, "Apologies! I prefer to act alone."
With that, he turned and walked away. "I'll go check out other parts of Maple Red Valley and see if I can find some of the life tokens that Master Guangzhi mentioned."
...
The next day.
By the edge of a stream in Maple Red Valley.
A faint golden gleam caught Lin Li's attention.
"Hm? What's that?"
Lin Li's spirits lifted. Maple Red Valley was vast, designed for a month-long trial for cultivators.
Even after walking all day, he hadn't reached the valley's edge.
Though he had yet to encounter any beasts or opponents, the sight of that golden gleam excited Lin Li—it might be a life token!
If he could secure two more life tokens in addition to his own, he would qualify for a Foundation Establishment Pill once the trial ended.
His heart raced at the thought.
Lin Li hurried to the stream's edge and, as he bent down to pick up the shining token from the shallow water, a voice suddenly broke the peaceful silence behind him.
"Hahaha! Look what we've found!"
Lin Li turned to see a group of men dressed in scholar's robes.
At their head, a man holding a folding fan, with a refined face and a smirk, said, "A lone Xuantian Sect disciple!"
"People from Haoran Academy?" Lin Li's brow furrowed. "Were you following me?"
"Tsk, tsk! No need to make it sound so unpleasant!" the fan-wielding man clicked his tongue and smiled. "You chose to go it alone. Why shouldn't we have the right to take the same path?"
Then, his tone suddenly turned cold as he barked, "Hand over the life token you just found, as well as your own token!"
"Otherwise…"
"Don't blame us for being ruthless!"