Devil's Shadow, Heaven's Bane

The rest of the group surged forward, but Shi Lihua intercepted, her needle-dagger flashing like a streak of lightning. She weaved between them with deadly grace, felling one with a precise strike to the throat. Blood sprayed, and the disciple crumpled to the ground, but there was no time to dwell on it.

The others closed in, their eyes wild with desperation.

Zhang Yan and Qian Feng were locked in a deadly dance, their blades clashing with a ferocity that shook the air. Qian Feng's strikes came like a storm, each one faster and more brutal than the last. Zhang Yan countered with instinct honed by battle, his movements fueled by the corruption burning within him.

The darkness whispered in his ear, urging him to unleash its full power, but he held back—barely.

The hatred in Qian Feng's eyes burned brighter with each clash, a reflection of Zhang Yan's own growing enmity. "You think you're special, Zhang Yan?" the rival spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You're just another pawn in this game and I'll be the one to crush you."

Zhang Yan's jaw tightened, his grip on his dagger turning white-knuckled. "We'll see."

Their blades met in a final, brutal clash, the force of it sending a shockwave through the air. For a moment, they were locked in a stalemate, their faces inches apart, their breaths mingling with the metallic tang of blood.

Then, a bell tolled in the distance.

A surge of force swept through the battlefield, tearing them apart. The oppressive weight of the trial lifted, and the surrounding forest began to dissolve into a crimson mist. The trial had ended.

The surviving disciples were wrenched from the battlefield, their forms fading as they were transported back to the Outer Circle's proving grounds.

Zhang Yan found himself standing in the blood-soaked arena once more, his dagger still clenched in his hand. Across from him, Qian Feng stood, his expression unreadable, yet the fire in his eyes remained.

"This isn't over," Qian Feng said, his voice thick with promise. "You've only taken the first step into darkness. I'll be waiting for you at the end."

Zhang Yan exhaled, his grip tightening on his dagger. "No. It's just begun."

The trial had forced them apart, but their hatred had only grown. Their next battle would not be interrupted.

And when that time came, only one of them would walk away.