Codename Silver Fox

Next to the Apothecary Hall, with its yellow bricks and green tiles, lay a perilous cliff enclosed by a railing. A slender stone pillar extended a silvery cable into an unknown valley in the distance.

Having exhausted his ability to return to the tenth stop today, Lin Xi chose a clean stone to sit upon, keeping a safe distance from the railing at the cliff's edge, and unscrewed the cap of the white porcelain pill bottle in his hand.

Inside, the medicinal pill was roughly the size of a soybean, with a faint green hue and lacking luster, yet it emanated a unique, cool fragrance.

"I'm afraid I'm already one credit ahead of you... I wonder if you're inside?" 

Gazing at the pill in his hand and recalling Qiu Lu, who had challenged him to a duel in the Trial Valley, Lin Xi smiled faintly and decisively swallowed the Ningxiang Pill.

The precious pill seemed to dissolve into a flowing stream within his throat, transforming into a warm current that dispersed throughout his body.

"How extravagant..." Lin Xi murmured.

According to the words of his instructor, Xia Yanbing, two credits could be exchanged for items worth around one hundred taels of gold at the academy.

Thus, this Ningxiang Pill was valued at least at fifty taels of gold... which could cover the expenses of a middle-class family in Lulin Town for many years. Moreover, within the academy, this fifty taels only represented its cost value.

Some ingredients could be purchased, yet certain herbs were unique to Qingluan Academy, cultivated exclusively by them. Therefore, the academy's calculated cost only accounted for labor, while those rare herbs, which were already limited in supply, were essentially priceless.

As a result, although the academy's elixirs had their assessed value, they were simply unattainable outside.

Lin Xi patiently awaited, opting to close his eyes. Soon, he felt the flow of energy within his dantian noticeably intensify, and the gentle warmth enveloping him grew even more pronounced.

Thinking of the associate professor's thumbs-up gesture and her remarks about the weight of stone balls, Lin Xi couldn't help but smile as he grasped the stone beneath him and lifted it effortlessly.

The stone, weighing at least fifty or sixty pounds, rose easily in his hands.

"Little sister... I never imagined your brother would turn into a muscle-bound behemoth..." Lin Xi was momentarily stunned, envisioning the astonishment on his younger sister's face if she saw him easily lift such a large stone, her jaw likely dropping in disbelief.

"What are you doing?" a curious voice interrupted.

Lin Xi turned, momentarily dizzy, nearly dropping the stone on his foot.

Gao Yanan, the tall girl who made his heart race, stood before him, bathed in the golden light of the rising sun, her expression filled with curiosity.

"I..." Lin Xi stammered, feeling parched and flustered. After placing the stone down, he regained his composure slightly and looked at the girl in her gray robe. "I was just testing whether I could lift this stone."

"Oh," Gao Yanan smiled gently. "You're Lin Xi, right? I'm Gao Yanan; we met during the Chosen Trials."

Lin Xi took a deep breath. "Of course, I remember."

"Are you heading to the Trial Valley too?" Gao Yanan nodded and waved her hand towards him. "I'll be on my way."

"Alright." Lin Xi instinctively nodded, watching as Gao Yanan glided down the silvery cable without uttering another word.

Though the girl wore the simplest gray attire of the academy, she appeared to soar gracefully among the mountains, her silhouette captivating beyond words.

"Little sister... your brother must have looked quite foolish as a muscle-bound behemoth just now." Once her figure vanished from view, he sighed and muttered self-deprecatingly.

He hadn't anticipated that his first private conversation with Gao Yanan would unfold in such a scene. Regrettably, his ability to return to the tenth stop was already depleted; otherwise, he would have turned back to present himself better.

Not wanting to encounter Gao Yanan again in the valley and engage in a fierce battle, Lin Xi lingered at the cliff's edge for a moment before sliding down the silvery cable.

The cable stretched long, weaving through several peaks and descending into a lush, expansive valley.

To Lin Xi's astonishment, the end of the cable led to a temple-like structure, connecting to a grand hall supported by numerous white stone pillars.

After firmly pushing off against the thickly padded walls, Lin Xi landed smoothly with practiced ease. Suddenly, a frail old man in a black robe with a shock of white hair appeared from a door on the left.

"Lin Xi, come with me," the enigmatic elder called out, leading Lin Xi into a small, windowless changing room.

"Put on this mask and wear this outfit." The ordinary-looking elder seemed disinclined to engage in conversation. He opened the only cabinet in the room and handed Lin Xi a silver mask and a set of black leather armor.

Curiously, Lin Xi accepted the voice-changing mask and the black armor that Instructor Mu Qing had specifically mentioned. He noticed that the silver mask enveloped his entire head, with layers of silver threads woven intricately, the eye openings covered by a mesh that slightly obscured his vision, yet allowed for easy breathing.

The black leather armor wrapped tightly around him, completely concealing him, while a thick layer of soft fleece lined the inside. With considerable effort and the elder's assistance, Lin Xi learned to don the black armor.

After fastening some black straps for security, Lin Xi realized that his figure appeared considerably more imposing and bulky. Indeed, even Lin Xi himself would be unrecognizable in such an ensemble.

"Is this the voice-changing mask?" 

Dressed in the silver mask and black armor, Lin Xi exuded a chilling aura. Unable to resist, he uttered a phrase, only to be taken aback by the hoarse, sibilant quality of his voice, reminiscent of a distant serpent hissing, completely unlike his own.

"The unique weaving method allows the airflow to traverse through the texture, altering your voice." The elder inspected Lin Xi's attire with a serious demeanor. "You must remember every detail I'm about to share; failing to do so may result in losing one to five credits, depending on the severity of the infraction!"

"I will remember, sir." Lin Xi nodded, feeling quite unaccustomed to the peculiar sound emanating from the mask.

The elder continued gravely, "The Trial Valley is divided into two sections: the Free Combat Zone and the Martial Arts Training Zone. Except for the Martial Arts Training Zone, enclosed by yellow stone walls, all other areas are designated as the Free Combat Zone."

"In the Free Combat Zone, anyone you encounter is your enemy. Your only options are to flee or to fight," the elder elaborated, embedding three golden star-shaped badges into the three recessed slots on Lin Xi's right shoulder of the black armor. "If you are unable to escape and are defeated by your opponent, they will seize one of your golden badges. Conversely, if you defeat your opponent, you may take one of their golden badges, which you can then place into the slot on your left shoulder armor. As long as you possess four or more golden badges, you may end the trial at any time by stepping onto the wooden walkway in the Free Combat Zone. The wooden walkway is a safe zone, signifying the end of the trial, and no combat is permitted there. You need not concern yourself with the instructors' whereabouts; they will naturally escort you out, and your trial results will be recorded. However, without four or more golden badges, you cannot cease the trial unless all your badges have been taken. Your results will still be recorded. Do you have any questions?"

Lin Xi furrowed his brow. "What if my opponent refuses to concede and does not allow me to take their golden badge?"

The elder scoffed coldly. "No one will willingly surrender their golden badge; you must overpower them until they are unable to resist in order to claim it."

Lin Xi took a deep breath. This answer was not unexpected; he had initially thought that entering the Trial Valley would require only a single battle. However, it was evident that the martial skills honed within Qingluan Academy were forged through the crucible of life and death… indeed, far more brutal than he had anticipated.

"Your black armor and voice-changing mask must remain on at all times within the Trial Valley, even on the wooden walkway. Violators will incur a direct deduction of two credits!" the elder emphasized. "The Trial Valley is scattered with numerous weapons; you may seek out the ones most suited to you. All weapons there are authentic military-grade; if you wish to avoid losing two credits or having your head severed by a blade, remember this warning well!"

"All genuine weapons?" Lin Xi couldn't help but smile wryly, recalling a certain battle royale film.

The elder continued sternly, "The mask and armor will protect you from these weapons, but if struck... I assure you, you will not come out unscathed. Therefore, do not show mercy; treat this as a genuine battlefield. Remember, if you exit with five consecutive victories rated five stars or above, you will receive one credit as a reward. Conversely, if you exit with five consecutive victories yielding all five-star badges, you will incur a deduction of one credit!"

Lin Xi couldn't help but interject, "But if someone possesses overwhelming strength, wouldn't they easily accumulate credits?"

"All black armors are identical, yet each bears a unique mark." The elder tapped Lin Xi's chest, where Lin Xi then noticed a silver fox symbol outlined in silver dye. "Your armor is named Silver Fox; you will wear it every time you enter the Trial Valley. Trust me, concealing your identity will be beneficial to prevent inadvertently harming your friends... Furthermore, believe me, all students pursuing glory will not easily allow anyone to seize their achievements."

Lin Xi contemplated this deeply, beginning to understand while pondering, "What about the Martial Arts Training Zone?"

The elder glanced at Lin Xi. "Once you step onto the wooden walkway and leave the battlefield, you may choose to enter the Martial Arts Training Zone or conclude the trial. The Martial Arts Training Zone features numerous setups designed to enhance your reflexes, speed, and accuracy. Once you enter, you will understand; if you can break the records set by your fellow freshmen of the same discipline... for each record you shatter, you will earn one credit."

"Isn't that a lucrative opportunity to earn credits?" Lin Xi mused aloud.

The elder shot Lin Xi a stern look. "As long as you possess the ability... Now, repeat the rules you have heard, and prepare to depart!"