Walking down the mountain, Ken could easily distance himself from groups that aimed to ambush solo cultivators. His Sheathed Man technique hid his whereabouts as well as his token's aura, while nobody else could hide without having their token disclose their location.
Navigating down the mountain in a way that he doesn't enter anyone's detection range, he easily arrived at the closest building.
As Ken stepped into the Abyssal Armory, he found himself engulfed in an eerie atmosphere that permeated the valley. The valley itself had been meticulously leveled to create an even expanse, its floor paved with imposing stone bricks that radiated an ancient aura.
He walked through the echoes of the battles taking place throughout the grounds, ignoring their existence and acting as if he walked in the serene nature.
Large rocks were scattered strategically, providing both a visual spectacle and a reminder of the formidable trials that awaited. Each rock seemed like a sentinel, guarding the path toward the dojo buildings that dotted the landscape.
The buildings stood proud and distinct, like sacred sanctuaries dedicated to the mastery of weapon arts. Banners fluttered gently in the wind, revealing their purpose with bold inscriptions.
The "Sword Dojo" banner, adorned with intricate designs, beckoned Ken with its promise of honing his swordsmanship. Other banners hinted at the diverse array of weapons within, inviting practitioners to unlock their potential.
Fortunately, the portal did take into account his preferred weapon and sent him to the Sword Dojo, as the sign on the building proclaimed.
'It should include sparring or duels according to the name. I wonder if the main challenge is defeating the other disciples.'
The young boy wore his new white mask and entered the dojo. He had no doubt there will be some blood spilling inside, so it'd be a good chance to inaugurate the fancy eighth-grade mask.
The child entered the large one-floor building and felt something in his pocket. He soon recalled that the Inheritor Token was there, and he knew that he was recognized as the inheritor, and hoped that this identity will spare him time during the challenges.
He found himself standing in front of three doors with wooden frames and translucent paper, but somehow, they blocked the noise from inside completely. Each door had one large word written on it.
'Greatsword', 'Sword', and 'Expert'.
Thinking about it for a moment, he concluded that while the first two doors were self-explanatory, the third one was meant for anyone willing to take a risk and challenge themselves beyond normal.
'I can either pick the 'Sword' door or the 'expert' door.'
He didn't have to think too much. His swordsmanship took a huge leap ever since he battled 10,000 disciples of the Four Seasons Sect and later on when he battled in the secret realm.
He pushed open the third door meant for experts, ready for the challenge with his hand on his belt, where his sword was hidden.
"A newcomer?"
He heard a voice before he even stepped inside. Looking in front of him, he found himself in a very long corridor, around three kilometers long and 5 meters wide.
'It must be formations again; the building wasn't that large from the outside.'
Ken pondered as he looked around him, scanning his surroundings. He saw there were 11 people inside the room, and nearly all of them seemed anxious and tired. Moreover, they were all in the first 100 meters of the room while the rest of the corridor was empty.
"Kid, what's your stage?"
The man from earlier spoke again after Ken entered the room. Ken was hiding his stage, and the man had to touch him to check it forcibly.
"None of your business."
Ken ignored him and tried to understand the agenda of the room.
"It is-"
"Welcome to the Challenge of Reflexes. Reach the other side of the corridor to move to the next trial and win rewards!"
The familiar voice reverberated in the room, silencing those who tried to force Ken into whatever scheme they had. However, they returned to their plan when it stopped talking as if it never interfered.
"Kid, say again, what's your stage? If you try to keep it hidden, we will attack you together."
Everyone flared their auras, showing their stage. They were all Nascent Soul cultivators, but seven of them were at the low phase of it. Three were at the intermediate phase while a single person was at the high phase. Nobody was a peak Nascent Soul cultivator.
"As I said, none of your business."
"Let me see for myself then."
The man stepped forward hastily, attempting to catch Ken off guard. Hacking his sword diagonally, he tried to cut Ken from shoulder to waist. Ken instantly activated his Cloud Running technique as he leaned to the side to dodge, but to his surprise, it didn't work.
Something jammed his Qi, and the execution of the technique failed. Luckily, his leaning helped dodge the sword, but without the technique, it was only partial. The sword's tip left a deep gap in Ken's chest, and he stumbled back a few steps in surprise.
The enemy wanted to capitalize on the effect of surprise and attacked again, but Ken, showing his quick wit and fast thinking, already adjusted to the situation. Without relying on the technique, he deflected the long sword of his opponent to the side and kicked the man's guts, ignoring the signals of pain his wound sent to his brain.
"Haha, Rodrick, you had the advantage of surprise yet failed to finish him off. don't complain if we kill him instead."
Another man laughed at the one who attacked Ken and charged forward, trying to steal the easy kill. A wounded child didn't seem to be very intimidating.
To make things worse, Ken's control over Sheathed Man was interrupted by the formations of the challenge, and his ample amount of BP made everyone look at him with envy and malicious intent, fully declaring their interest in robbing the newcomer.
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