The arrow narrowly missed his knee

The allure of a single credit was astonishing; Lin Xi was not the only one eager to achieve a five-star record. 

... 

Clad in black armor emblazoned with a wolf's head insignia, Mu Shan Zi swaggered through the forest of the trial valley, wielding a formidable black-handled battle axe. 

He certainly had the audacity to boast. 

The black battle axe he carried was named "Kai Shan." This type of long-handled axe was the standard weapon for heavy infantry in the border forces, weighing sixty pounds and measuring approximately the same height as Mu Shan Zi himself. 

Such a hefty weapon was ideally suited for new recruits like Mu Shan Zi, as anything heavier would be beyond the capabilities of these fledgling practitioners. 

The extreme weight, combined with its imposing length and broad dual blades, made Mu Shan Zi believe it was undoubtedly the most suitable and powerful weapon for newcomers in the entire trial valley. 

Not long ago, he had vanquished an opponent with two swift, horizontal strikes, leaving them no chance to evade; they surrendered completely after the onslaught. 

Thus, he now adorned his black armor with four golden five-star badges. 

To prevent reflections in the darkness and to align with the unique forging techniques of the Empire, nearly all military-standard weapons were rendered in black. 

This color also represented the profound impact of the Yunjin Empire, known for its martial prowess, striking fear into the hearts of its enemies. Even as Mu Shan Zi strode confidently through the forest, clad in black armor and wielding a black axe, he exuded an aura of chilling menace. 

Suddenly, Mu Shan Zi felt an unsettling sensation on his back, as if someone were watching him. He whirled around abruptly, but the whispering wind revealed only emptiness. 

"Where is everyone? It would be best if someone showed up, then I could fell them with a single blow…" 

Yet just as Mu Shan Zi turned back, still muttering arrogantly, a sharp sound pierced the air—a black feathered arrow shot from the thicket, striking him forcefully in the left thigh! 

"Ah!" 

The searing pain elicited a horrified scream from Mu Shan Zi as he stumbled to the side, the long-handled axe slipping from his shoulder and crashing to the ground. 

"Who did that?!" 

Gritting his teeth, Mu Shan Zi glanced back, but he could only ascertain that he had been struck by a black feathered arrow, with no clue as to its origin. 

Perched on a tree less than sixty paces away, Lin Xi, now armed with a bow in his right hand, was unaware that the audacious black-armored warrior searching for opponents was his rival, Mu Shan Zi. 

After releasing an arrow, he held his breath, delicately resting his left hand on the bowstring to avoid any sound from its vibrations. 

Maintaining this poised stance for over twenty seconds, he watched as Mu Shan Zi, oblivious to his presence, began to curse and search the area. 

With utmost gentleness, Lin Xi released his left hand from the now motionless bowstring, quietly retrieving a black feathered arrow from his quiver, resting it on the bow without rushing to draw. 

As Mu Shan Zi limped past the left side of his tree, finally turning his back, Lin Xi remained remarkably calm as he drew the bow, aimed, and released a second arrow. 

"Crack!" 

The black feathered arrow struck Mu Shan Zi's right thigh with lightning precision, igniting a sense of pride within Lin Xi as he felt a surge of satisfaction. 

However, Mu Shan Zi was far from sharing Lin Xi's elation; with his left thigh still wracked with agony, the second arrow to his right thigh sent him sprawling to the ground, his voice muffled by the mud that now coated his face, the weight of the long axe pressing down upon him. 

"Who is it?! Sneaking around and shooting arrows from the shadows!" 

What drove Mu Shan Zi to madness was his inability to locate the source of the second arrow! 

"Are you truly a student of Qingluan Academy? You are nothing but a cowardly rat!" 

"Is your father a turtle? No wonder you cower, too afraid to show your face!" 

"…" 

Mu Shan Zi's insults were harsh, yet Lin Xi remained unperturbed. 

With the black-horned bow in his hands and the whispering wind rustling through the leaves, Lin Xi felt increasingly like a true windwalker. 

This was akin to an incredibly amusing game. 

Silently, he observed Mu Shan Zi, and upon seeing him finally cease his tirade and rise from the ground, Lin Xi deftly nocked another arrow and released it with remarkable stability. 

"Ah!" 

Mu Shan Zi screamed again, collapsing to the ground. 

This time, Lin Xi had struck his left thigh, as if cruelly twisting a knife into an already festering wound. 

"Who are you?! Will you dare to tell me your name? I will hunt you down for revenge!" 

"Do you know who I am?! I am Mu Shan Zi!" 

Despite his identity as a distinguished student, Mu Shan Zi could not ascertain Lin Xi's whereabouts, and his frustration boiled over into irrationality. 

"Mu Shan Zi?" 

Lin Xi was momentarily taken aback. 

Initially, he had thought Mu Shan Zi was on the brink of defeat and was preparing to reveal himself, sliding down from the tree to demand a five-star badge. However, upon hearing Mu Shan Zi declare his name, which matched his usual tone and demeanor, Lin Xi couldn't help but smirk. He swiftly drew several arrows from his quiver and, like an archer in a forge, unleashed them towards the now-seated Mu Shan Zi, who was frantically clutching his injured leg. 

"Ah!" 

Mu Shan Zi was mercilessly struck down by a barrage of arrows. 

This time, he finally realized the arrows were coming from the lush tree not far from him. 

However, the onslaught had left him pale and breathless. 

Once Lin Xi carefully tossed aside the long axe beside Mu Shan Zi and effortlessly retrieved a golden five-point badge from his shoulder, Mu Shan Zi finally caught his breath and screamed, "You're dead! I will—" 

"Ha ha!" 

Having already turned to leave and taken several steps, Lin Xi chuckled at the threat, then drew his bow once more, aiming for him. 

In a playful mood, Lin Xi intended to shoot for Mu Shan Zi's knee, but as Mu Shan Zi shifted, his aim faltered, and the arrow struck his calf instead. 

"Ah!" 

Mu Shan Zi howled like a pig being slaughtered. 

Lin Xi smiled innocently, shaking his head in disappointment, before vanishing into the forest like a gust of wind. 

"I will remember you, Silver Fox! I will have my revenge!" 

It was only after Lin Xi's figure had completely vanished that Mu Shan Zi dared to shout again. 

"I will remember you too, Wolf Head…" Lin Xi, cautiously navigating through the woods, couldn't help but smile at Mu Shan Zi's exclamations. 

... 

After unleashing a series of frantic cries, Mu Shan Zi attempted to push himself up to retrieve his long-handled axe. 

"Are you back again?" 

But upon turning, he was startled to see someone grasping his long-handled axe in their hands. 

"…" 

Mu Shan Zi initially thought it was Lin Xi, but upon noticing the small sword-like pattern on the stranger's chest and the two short blades discarded nearby, he fell silent, realizing this was a new opponent drawn in by his shouting, not Lin Xi. 

Watching the stranger approach with his former axe, Mu Shan Zi trembled with rage but dared not move, helplessly witnessing the newcomer strip a golden five-point badge from him. 

The student adorned with a small sword pattern took his badge and the long-handled axe before departing. Not long after, as Mu Shan Zi continued to shout in frustration, he was confronted by a black-armored warrior wielding a black flower spear, who emerged from the thicket and pointed the spear's tip at his chest, snatching another golden five-point badge from his shoulder. 

After the spear-wielding student with the black rose insignia departed, Mu Shan Zi, trembling with fury and left with only a single badge, picked up the two short blades from the ground. 

However, as he turned, limping away, the two short blades clattered to the ground. 

Not far behind him stood another black-armored student, brandishing a heavy "Black Bee" wolf-tooth club. With a resounding crack, whether intentional or not, the club struck the ground, shattering a nearby stone. 

Seeing Mu Shan Zi momentarily frozen in shock, the student adorned with a fierce tiger insignia stepped forward silently, swinging the club through the air with a whoosh. 

With trembling hands, Mu Shan Zi relinquished his last golden five-point badge, tossing it away. 

"Ah! I will remember you all! I will have my revenge!" 

Once the student wielding the "Black Bee" club disappeared, Mu Shan Zi shouted again, then abruptly froze, fearing further trouble. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he found his voice, cursing furiously, "You shameless scoundrels!" 

For he had no more golden five-point badges left; there was nothing left to steal. 

... 

Lin Xi was blissfully unaware of Mu Shan Zi's ensuing plight. 

Having already secured a five-star record, he had intended to exit and search for a wooden pathway within the trial valley. 

However, upon spotting a wooden path, Lin Xi changed his mind. 

For in his line of sight appeared a vast expanse of yellow—a continuous wall stretching through the valley. 

He recalled vividly that within the yellow enclosure lay the martial arts training area, and if he could break the records set by fellow students there, he would receive a credit reward, akin to exiting with a five-star achievement. 

"What lies within?" 

With this question in mind, Lin Xi stealthily approached the yellow wall.