Chapter 4

When the words "genius" were mentioned, Bai Liang's voice became lower. For so many years, no matter how talented he was, there always seemed to be an invisible mountain blocking his path. Although that mountain now seemed so small, it made Bai Liang even more unwilling to believe. However, no matter how hard he tried over the years, there was always the shadow of that mountain around him.

When he was five, he could already sense soul power, and at that time, people said that Bu Li had already done so at the age of three. At nine, he had his first engraved beast, but there were still people around him saying that the youngest person in the clan to have an engraved beast was still Bu Li, who had his first one before his seventh birthday. When Bu Li mysteriously lost his soul power and his engraved beast disappeared, Bai Liang originally thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief and no longer hear the voices about Bu Li around him.

However, the nightmare continued. When he was fourteen and had his second engraved beast, he was already the youngest in the clan to have two engraved beasts. But it seemed like there was always an unknown voice saying that if Bu Li hadn't had an accident, this honor would have belonged to Bu Li.

Bu Li, these two simple words, became a demonic obsession in Bai Liang's heart. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed he could never surpass. Bai Liang looked at Bu Li, who was awkwardly dodging the tiger's attack on the ground, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes. The fierce light quickly disappeared, and Bai Liang immediately regained his composure. His brief loss of control went unnoticed by anyone. Raised with strict discipline from a young age, Bai Liang was deeply calculating and had barely managed to return to normal.

"No, he is still a genius sent by the clan to participate in the 'Remnant Clan Grand Trial.' How can I kill him?" Bai Liang muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a deep-seated hatred that had been gnawing at his heart for years. Although he couldn't kill Bu Li himself to clear the clouds from his sky, seeing Bu Li in such a sorry state, or even seeing Bu Li die in the "Remnant Clan Grand Trial" on the mirage, seemed to be enough.

"Then..." The young men around Bai Liang had no idea that the clan had arranged for Bu Li to participate in this "Remnant Clan Grand Trial." How could such a good-for-nothing participate in the "Remnant Clan Grand Trial"?

"Let him go, I am still young. In five years, at the next Remnant Clan Grand Trial, I should have my third engraved beast, maybe even my fourth. By then, I will win the championship and lead the Bai Ling clan out of these mountains!" His voice was not loud, and it seemed more like he was talking to himself than to the young men around him. Each word was more determined than the last, and no matter what lay ahead, it would be like the current miserable and bloodied Bu Li, trampled under his feet.

"Master Bai will surely succeed when the time comes!"

"Do you even need to say that?! Master Bai is not only a genius in the clan, but also the most talented among the hundred tribes of the Western Mountain. He will definitely lead our Bai Ling clan out of these mountains."

Leaving these mountains, leaving this impoverished land, was the ancestral wish of the hundred tribes of the Western Mountain. Unfortunately, the "Remnant Clan Grand Trial" only took place every five years, and only the tribe of the young man who stood at the end could leave these mountains.

By then, I will be even stronger and will definitely lead the Bai Ling clan out of these mountains! Thinking this, Bai Liang tightly clenched his fist, as if to affirm his resolve.

"Break his two legs, he can still run, can't he? Let him run as he pleases." Bai Liang said coldly, his anger not clouding his judgment but making him even more cruel.

Several young men, holding crude wooden clubs, responded and moved in. The sound of the clubs swinging through the air and the dull thuds as they struck Bu Li's body echoed, tearing his flesh and breaking even the hardest bones. White bone fragments protruded from the bloody mess.

It didn't take long before Bai Liang called the young men to stop.

"Let's go, if we keep hitting him, this kid will die." Bai Liang still felt a hollow emptiness in his heart, unable to understand why. Could it be that even though he was now a powerful engraved beast master and could kill Bu Li at will, he couldn't do what he wanted?

Without the mountain guard dogs, these young men didn't dare enter the forest. Even Bai Liang had to consider not only himself but also the many ordinary young men. If a few more died, it would be hard to explain when they returned. Forget it, let's go back, and we'll deal with Cai Xiaoxian later.

Bai Liang waved his hand listlessly and led the young men of the clan, dispirited, down the mountain toward the town.

Bu Li struggled to crawl to an old tree and leaned against it, sitting down. Every movement caused the numerous broken bones in his legs to grind against each other, producing excruciating pain that almost made him faint. He shouldn't die, Bu Liang thought, enduring the pain as he dragged his bloodied body through the grass of the forest. His longbow, short crossbow, and dagger were scattered nearby, but he had no strength to retrieve them.

Seeing Bai Liang and the others gradually walk away and down the mountain, Bu Li finally felt relieved. He placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled.

The whistle was not loud, and his ribs were broken, piercing his lungs. Each whistle brought a mouthful of blood, making Bu Liang's vision blur, almost causing him to faint.

There was no sound from the forest. Bu Li looked in the direction Bai Liang had left, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He reached into his chest to retrieve something, but even this simple action aggravated his wounds, causing intense pain that made even this small task seem insurmountable.

"Brother, I got lost... but fortunately, I heard your whistle." A silver bell-like laugh rang out, and Cai Xiaoxian, hearing the whistle, skipped out of the forest, her graceful movements and wild vitality blending together, reaching Bu Li in just a few steps.

Seeing Bu Li's injuries, Cai Xiaoxian was shocked. She hadn't expected Bu Li to be so severely injured this time. Her fingers trembled slightly, and tears streamed down her face like a flood.

"Stupid... stupid child, why are you crying? I won't die." Bu Liang managed a weak smile, trying to stroke Cai Xiaoxian's black hair to comfort her, but he couldn't lift his hand. His lungs felt like they were on fire, making it unbearably hot and difficult to breathe.

"Give me a cigarette." Bu Liang said in a broken voice.

Cai Xiaoxian nodded vigorously, her tears sparkling and splashing in the air. She took a small cloth bag from Bu Li's chest, retrieved a rolled cigarette, and placed it in his mouth. The crude paper cigarette was quickly soaked by the blood gushing from Bu Li's mouth. Cai Xiaoxian frantically took out a flint, struck it to create sparks, and lit the cloth, then lit the cigarette for Bu Li.