Reckless Galloping  

"Silver Fox," four five-star ratings. 

"Thunder Python," four five-star ratings. 

"Black Bat," three five-star ratings. 

"Golden Sunflower," three five-star ratings. 

… 

Clad in a flowing red robe, Jiang Xiaoyi gazed intently at the public notice board before him. Compared to yesterday, the board displayed a remarkable transformation in both achievements and rankings. 

Many names that once graced the list had vanished, signifying defeats of the past, their records erased. 

The "Silver Fox" he scrutinized had indeed seen an increase in its performance, now boasting three five-star ratings. 

This further affirmed his intuition: the "Silver Fox" that had bested him twice was likely the chosen one of the Peacekeeping faction, the same Lin Xi who had triumphed over Qiu Lu yesterday! 

"If it truly is you… how could your strength have escalated so rapidly?" 

His feelings toward Lin Xi had shifted from mere rivalry after defeat to a profound sense of awe and curiosity. After all, if this "Silver Fox" was indeed Lin Xi… he had faced Lin Xi twice and had witnessed Lin Xi's confrontation with Qiu Lu. These encounters had convinced him that Lin Xi was not merely concealing his prowess but was genuinely advancing at an astonishing pace. 

"Could he be the fabled individual born with the potential of a true commander? Is that why the academy has deemed him the chosen one?" 

Suddenly halting in his tracks as he approached the Trial Valley, Jiang Xiaoyi was struck by this fleeting thought, causing his fingertips to tingle and dramatically altering his perception of the Peacekeeping faction's chosen one, who had previously garnered unfavorable reviews. 

Some might harbor envy towards their peers who surpass them, a jealousy that lingers for a lifetime, yet others, like Jiang Xiaoyi, born into a scholarly family, would instead feel reverence and admiration for those who excel beyond their own capabilities. 

The legendary true commander, even amidst thousands of soldiers, would gallantly traverse the battlefield, impervious to hundreds of layers of armor, as his adversaries could only watch in astonishment as he claimed the head of their general. 

With this thought, which sent a shiver through him, Jiang Xiaoyi inhaled deeply and continued toward the Trial Valley. Beyond merely enhancing his combat abilities, he now pursued an additional goal: to trace the footsteps of the Silver Fox and discern if he possessed the qualities of a true commander. 

A dragon-claw locust tree leaned against an oddly shaped boulder. Now clad in black armor, Jiang Xiaoyi emerged from behind the rock. Unlike the previous days, the students entering the Trial Valley were beginning to grasp the battlefield's brutality. Sometimes, even if one's martial skills surpassed those of their opponent, a single misstep or ambush could lead to irrevocable consequences; in battle, no one cared about your prowess—only life and death mattered. 

Many students, while seeking a suitable weapon, also endeavored to conceal any weapons they had already discovered but chose not to use, making it more challenging for others to find them. Consequently, although the academy had provided a plethora of weapons within the Trial Valley, the difficulty of locating a suitable one had significantly increased compared to previous days. 

Jiang Xiaoyi had been in the Trial Valley for a full twenty moments but had only now spotted his first weapon: a hooked spear hidden within the grass before the dragon-claw locust tree. 

"Crack!" 

Just as he prepared to seize the weapon, a sound of footsteps snapping a dry twig echoed from the forest opposite him. 

In an instant, a flurry of swift footsteps surged toward him, creating an atmosphere of palpable tension. Just as he concealed himself behind the boulder, two black-armored warriors wielding weapons burst forth from the trees, trampling over fallen branches and loose stones, stirring up dust and air with their powerful strides. 

Jiang Xiaoyi's pupils constricted in an instant; he abandoned the hooked spear, which lay merely a few dozen steps away, and recklessly pursued the two black-armored warriors. 

For he had recognized the insignia on their armor—remarkably coincidental… the figure fleeing ahead, wielding a black longsword, bore the very mark of the "Silver Fox" that had lingered in his mind! 

… 

… 

Jiang Xiaoyi had not misjudged; the fleeing figure ahead was indeed Lin Xi. 

And behind him, pursuing with a three-edged spear, was none other than "Golden Sunflower," a figure listed on the Trial Valley leaderboard. 

In truth, Lin Xi had entered the Trial Valley barely ten moments before Jiang Xiaoyi, but the first opponent he encountered, "Golden Sunflower," was the most formidable adversary Lin Xi had faced since beginning his training in the valley. 

In their initial clash, Lin Xi's longsword met the three-edged spear, nearly deflected away, while a kick from his opponent sent Lin Xi tumbling backward. 

The numbing sensation in his right hand and the excruciating pain in his chest made Lin Xi acutely aware of the vast disparity in strength between them; even when facing Qiu Lu, he had not sensed such a significant difference. 

Moreover, judging from his opponent's remarkably swift defenses and even faster strikes, the "Golden Sunflower" could either be a brute like Tang Ke or someone who had begun their training years earlier than Qiu Lu. 

Thus, Lin Xi chose to flee at the first opportunity. 

Initially, he intended to escape while searching for a more suitable weapon along the way, but this pursuit soon transformed into a perilous and exhilarating chase, akin to running through a field of spears. 

The enemy charged forth like a wild stallion, their speed overwhelming. 

Consequently, Lin Xi had no choice but to navigate the terrain, weaving through the dense forest, constantly altering his direction… even so, he remained only a few body lengths ahead of the black-armored warrior adorned with a golden sunflower insignia. 

"Golden Sunflower" matched his pace, and the two raced through the Trial Valley's thickets, thunderously galloping! 

Lin Xi found immense exhilaration in his sprint; he hadn't anticipated that, with the support of his soul power, he could run so freely for such an extended period. Aside from his heavy breathing, his body held up remarkably well, filling him with an indescribable sense of liberation. 

In the previous world, which youth had not wished to run recklessly under dim streetlights at midnight, reveling in the extravagance of their youth? Yet, just as that wild youth seemed endless, it could vanish in the blink of an eye. Who in that former world could truly run freely for long? 

Jiang Xiaoyi trailed behind the two, sprinting through the forest, panting heavily, each breath scorching hot. 

Yet the more he ran and the more he observed the two figures ahead, the more incredulous he felt. The black armor, when subjected to such vigorous movement, would rapidly deplete one's soul power. From their first encounter, Jiang Xiaoyi had sensed that the "Silver Fox" was slightly weaker than himself, his energy somewhat lacking. Despite the relentless sprint, Jiang Xiaoyi had exhausted most of his soul power, yet the "Silver Fox" still appeared unfazed! 

Jiang Xiaoyi understood that something had gone awry, disrupting the straightforward equation of one plus one equaling two, yet he could not fathom where the discrepancy lay. 

Suddenly, the trio, charging like thunder, experienced a peculiar tremor. 

The source of the tremor emanated from a thicket to Lin Xi's left, where a black stone longbow and a quiver filled with black-feathered arrows hung askew. 

Lin Xi noticed it, and so did "Golden Sunflower" behind him, as well as Jiang Xiaoyi, who was closely pursuing "Golden Sunflower." 

From Lin Xi's current direction, it was clear he intended to seize the longbow and quiver, yet Jiang Xiaoyi was acutely aware that even if Lin Xi managed to acquire them, it would be futile, for he could not create sufficient distance from "Golden Sunflower." 

The moment Lin Xi grasped the black stone longbow, "Golden Sunflower" would undoubtedly thrust the three-edged spear viciously into him. 

Driven by an inexplicable emotion, even Jiang Xiaoyi himself could not comprehend, an unusual fire ignited in his searing chest. With all his might, he hurled a large stone from the ground toward "Golden Sunflower," and despite being unarmed, he leapt forward resolutely, lunging at "Golden Sunflower." 

"Roar!" 

"Golden Sunflower," who had previously dismissed the unarmed Jiang Xiaoyi, let out a low, furious growl, evading the boulder as the three-edged spear, with a piercing whoosh, struck between Jiang Xiaoyi's neck, pinning him to the ground like a pinned grasshopper. 

Jiang Xiaoyi's face turned pale; the overwhelming force rendered him breathless. At that moment, Lin Xi, who had caught a glimpse of this scene, discarded his black longsword and leaped forward. In a roll, he seized the black stone longbow and drew an arrow from the quiver. 

Due to the urgency of his actions, he lost control of his balance and crashed into the thicket, letting out a muffled groan of pain from behind his silver mask. However, as his back slammed against the ground, he had already nocked the black stone longbow, drawing the string and holding the arrow. With a soft hum, the black arrow shot forth like lightning, striking "Golden Sunflower" squarely in the lower back. 

"Golden Sunflower" staggered slightly, and the three-edged spear withdrew from Jiang Xiaoyi's neck. Lin Xi, now unrestrained, slung the black quiver over his shoulder and resumed his furious sprint, shooting arrows with a chilling heart. 

He had no idea why Jiang Xiaoyi had come to his aid, nor did he notice the black rose insignia on Jiang Xiaoyi's armor, but the savage thrust from "Golden Sunflower" that pinned Jiang Xiaoyi to the ground, depriving him of breath and causing his limbs to twitch slightly, ignited a cold fire in Lin Xi's chest.