While people were teaming up with each others, Wang Fei clapped to attract the attention of everyone once again.

"I want to remind you guys that despite the fact that we got rid of the strongest beasts, the risk of death remain. If you want to give up there is still time however once it starts it's too late to regret."

After this speech some youths left afraid but they were a grain of rice in the crowd of participants, the rest didn't budge.

"Good, then let's go." From the south side of the plaza, a path was opened up through the crowd of people. Wang Fei, the teachers and the participants departed for the jade forest.

The sun was at his zenith when they reached the place. Standing before the deadly woods Wang Fei gave instructions one last time.

"You can begin going in, after the time for an incense stick to burn your tokens will glow a pale blue light for a moment. It means the test officially started."

With these words spoken a vast amount of people flocked in like a herd of boar, Ye Mo was one of the latest to engulf himself in the jade forest.

In an instant no one remained beside the teachers.

-

Speeding through the land, Ye Mo was frowning. When entering the jade forest he felt someone watching him. After all this time in the slums making sure he remain hidden, ensuring that no one took notice of him was a second nature.

The jade forest was very dense and you could easily lose yourself if you didn't pay attention. Ye Mo purposefully drifted away from the flow of participants and took a path devoid of people. Soon he could sense a presence following him.

'As i guessed, im being tailed.' Ye Mo was calm, he was prepared for this kind of occurences.

The person was staying a distance away from him like he tried to stay out of Ye Mo perception but he underestimated his senses. Ye Mo kept playing dumb and trotting through the bushes until his token began emitting a pale blue light.

Stopping on an empty area Ye Mo called out. "You have followed me long enough now, come out."

High up on a tree, a boy revealed himself. Jumping down he landed in front of Ye Mo.

He was a fair-skinned youth around 14 year old. He wore a light green martial suit with a complex design, it was clear the silk fabric it was made from was of first-rate quality. His long dark blond hair was tied into a ponytail at the back of his head. Overall he was very good-looking. On his waist, a blade resided in it's scabbard.

"How did you notice me?" The youth asked a doubtful expression on his face. He seemed surprised to have been found.

"Does it matter?" Ye Mo answered nonchalantly.

"You're right, my name is Liu Huan from the Liu clan. My sister Liu Hualing disappeared in these woods 2 weeks ago and some bystanders saw you going there in the same period and coming back one day after she stopped all communications." At the end of his sentence Liu Huan was giving off killing intent as Ye Mo could feel the pressure weigh upon him.

"Tell me everything you know and i will spare your life but if i sense something's off just once i will kill you right away. If you have something to do with my sister disappearance and admit it honestly i will give you a clean death and you won't have to suffer. You know that we will find out at some point no matter what right?" Through all the hardships his clan was enduring Liu Huan matured quickly. No trace of a reckless 14 year old could be found on him. His tone was firm and he didn't give Ye Mo any leeway.

"What if i refuse?"

Immediately pulling his sword out of it's scabbard Liu Huan made his way towards Ye Mo, the pressure increasing on his shoulders. "I don't remember asking your opinion nor would i tolerate any resistance."

"Fine, i will tell you what i know no need to go through this." Stopping Liu Huan on his tracks Ye Mo conceded.

Lowering his sword Liu Huan listened attentively.

"This day, i went to the jade forest to hunt some animals but then..." Halfway through his sentence Ye Mo suddenly mustered all the strenght he could and rushed at Liu Huan like a beast. The ground cracking under his foot he moved at an inconceivable speed.

Liu Huan never lowered his guard and kept his sword in hand even against what seemed like an ordinary commoner but he could never have imagined this. In an instant Ye Mo stood before him, he barely had the time to raise his sword as protection before he could feel an immense strenght project him further.

'How is this possible, isn't he just an ordinary kid from the slums? How could he be this strong to go against me like that. Im already a 6th stage qi gathering realm at 14 year old, father said im a genius. Even against my peers from the other clans not many are my match so how could i be sent flying by this guy.' Many thoughts went through Liu Huan's mind before smashing against a tree, breaking it apart.

He kept stumbling on the ground multiple times before stopping himself in a cloud of dust.

Getting up the handsome young man was no more, at his place was a beggar in ragged clothes with a dislocated shoulder and a thin trail of blood seeping out of his mouth. His sword-wielding arm angled backward, his blade was of no use to him anymore.

"What you used... it's the Wind Flow technique of my Liu clan. So you did kill my big sister..." Liu Huan said quietly, but his bloodshot eyes and the bulging veins on his forehead betrayed his emotions.

It might not be evident for someone else, but Liu Huan could see there was no wind resistance in Ye Mo's movements.

"Nothing personal. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time." Said Ye Mo indifferent which enraged Liu Huan even more.

"But it doesn't seem like you mastered our martial art completely and since the start i didn't feel any qi from you so i think you actually don't have any cultivation which is why you can't complete the Wind Flow battle skill."

Ye Mo didn't react but Liu Huan wasn't done.

"Since you have no cultivation but still are this strong it means you cultivate a body refining technique but from the informations i got you're just a homeless kid with no relatives and i know that you were still starving on the streets not too long ago so my guess is that either you have a hidden master that imparted you some martial art which is highly improbable since there is no reason anyone would care about you, or you have lucked out an amazing body refining technique recently." In one go Liu Huan spilled most of Ye Mo's secrets out.

But all this gave them another reason to kill each other.

"A demon like you can't be left alive. I will show you the real Wind Flow battle skill." As soon as he said that he vanished.

Ye Mo just felt wind blowing on his body when Liu Huan was already behind him.

"Scorching Palm" Ye Mo could barely follow his movements however he had just turned around that he could see a blazing red palm heading towards him. Raising his guard the palm striked his arm burning his skin and marking his flesh, yet he didn't flinch and counter attacked with an uppercut.

Exchanging blow for blow both seemed evenly matched. One was a hurricane darting all around attacking through every angles, the other was a charging colossus never retreating one step. Wherever they went destruction followed and the area soon became a battlefield.

Despite that Ye Mo was slowly taking the advantage, as a body refiner his body was tougher and he took less damage than Liu Huan. He also had a better stamina, could keep up longer and heal faster. Also Liu Huan was fighting with one hand so he kept in motion at all time as to avoid getting caught which was very taxing to the mind.

'I can't keep this, he doesn't give me any time to use an healing or qi rejuvenating pill. I need to end this now or flee and get the board of elders to kill him. Here an opening!' After a couple more rounds Liu Huan started to feel in danger.

But just when he was planning to escape he saw a hole in Ye Mo's guard. Roaring madly he attacked with all his might. The temperature of the area increased exponentially as the burning palm buried itself on the chest of his foe however before it could reach the organs, his opponent grabbed the wrist of his hand imbedded on his torso.

'Shit, it's a trap!' Liu Huan could feel the embrace of death closing on himself.

The sizzling skin released the smell of burned meat but without waiting Ye Mo withstood the pain and followed with a roundhouse kick in the stomach.

Liu Huan flew like a rag doll before crashing against another tree. Ye Mo neared the crash site, the palm print on his torso releasing smoke.

"As they say, give them your flesh and take their bones. Compared to the first revolution of the fiend body, this kind of pain is nothing."