Light.
Blinding at first.
---
Shen Luo stepped out of the collapsing underground passage, shielding his eyes.
The forest returned.
The trial grounds.
---
But something—
Felt different.
---
"…No," he murmured.
"*I'm* different."
---
The air brushed against his skin.
Every movement.
Every sound.
Sharper.
Clearer.
---
He exhaled slowly.
"…So this is what it means to survive."
---
### **The Forest of Trials**
Screams still echoed in the distance.
Faint.
Dying.
---
The trial wasn't over.
Not yet.
---
Shen Luo looked around.
Then—
He crouched.
Touching the ground.
---
"…Blood."
Fresh.
---
Not far.
---
His eyes narrowed.
---
"…Opportunity."
---
### **The Hunt**
He moved silently.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
---
A clearing appeared ahead.
---
Three disciples.
Two standing.
One on the ground.
Injured.
---
"…Please…" the injured one whispered.
"Don't—"
---
A blade fell.
---
Silence.
---
The two standing disciples laughed.
---
"Too easy."
"Outer sect trash."
---
Shen Luo watched from the shadows.
---
"…Three," he counted quietly.
---
The system flickered.
> "Multiple targets detected."
> "Risk Level: Moderate."
---
"…Moderate," Shen Luo repeated.
---
Before—
He would have avoided this.
---
Now—
---
"…Let's see."
---
### **First Strategy**
He didn't rush in.
---
Instead—
He picked up a small stone.
---
Flick.
---
It flew—
Striking a tree behind them.
---
*Crack.*
---
The two disciples turned instantly.
"Who's there?!"
---
Shen Luo moved.
---
Not toward them—
Around them.
---
Silent.
Precise.
---
### **Divide**
Another stone.
Different direction.
---
"Over there!"
---
One disciple ran.
---
The other hesitated.
---
That hesitation—
Was enough.
---
### **The Second Kill**
Shen Luo appeared behind him.
---
A hand.
A grip.
---
No words.
No warning.
---
*Crack.*
---
The body dropped.
---
Clean.
---
Efficient.
---
No wasted effort.
---
> "Target Eliminated."
---
Shen Luo didn't look down.
---
His eyes were already on the next one.
---
### **The Chase**
The remaining disciple slowed.
Confused.
---
"…Too quiet," he muttered.
---
Then—
He turned.
---
Too late.
---
Shen Luo was already there.
---
### **The Third Kill**
This time—
The disciple fought back.
---
A punch.
Wild.
Desperate.
---
Shen Luo stepped inside.
---
Too close.
---
His hand struck—
Not the chest.
Not the head.
---
The heart.
---
A sharp burst of force.
---
The disciple froze.
Eyes wide.
---
Then collapsed.
---
Silence.
---
### **Aftermath**
Three bodies.
---
Shen Luo stood among them.
---
Breathing steady.
---
No excitement.
No fear.
---
Only calculation.
---
"…Faster," he murmured.
---
The system flickered.
> "Karma Threads Increased: 3"
> "Cultivation Stabilized: Qi Condensation Level 2 (Peak)"
---
"…Not enough."
---
He crouched.
Placed his hand on one corpse.
---
Paused.
---
"…Test again."
---
### **Devouring Pulse**
The moment he made contact—
Energy flowed.
---
Stronger this time.
---
The body withered slightly.
---
Shen Luo's aura flickered.
---
Then stabilized.
---
"…So it works better on fresh ones," he noted.
---
No emotion.
Just fact.
---
He withdrew his hand.
---
### **The Watcher**
Far away—
At the edge of the trial grounds—
An elder stood.
---
Watching.
---
"…Strange," the elder murmured.
---
His gaze locked onto Shen Luo.
---
"…That disciple…"
---
Something about him—
Didn't fit.
---
Not his aura.
Not his movement.
---
But something deeper.
---
"…As if he's already killed too many."
---
The elder frowned.
---
"…I'll keep an eye on him."
---
### **Return to the Game**
Back in the forest—
---
Shen Luo stood still.
---
Then—
He smiled faintly.
---
"…This place isn't dangerous."
---
He looked around.
At the blood.
At the bodies.
---
"…It's useful."
---
His eyes lifted.
Toward the deeper forest.
---
Where stronger beasts waited.
Stronger disciples.
---
More danger.
---
More reward.
---
"…Let's continue."
---
And without hesitation—
He stepped forward.
---
Not as prey.
---
But as something else.
---
### **End of Chapter 5**