"Still in Core Formation? Is he crazy?"
"The Furnace will reduce him to ash."
"He's the one who beat up Zhan Kui and Huo Lian, right? Serves him right."
The two injured inner court disciples stood nearby. Zhan Kui had one arm still wrapped in reinforced silk while Huo Lian wore a twisted smile.
"Can't wait to see you scream," Zhan Kui said under his breath as Victor passed.
Victor didn't even look at him.
He approached the arena quietly but the moment he reached the inner perimeter of the trial field, something pushed back against him.
Hard.
It was like walking into a wall of pure pressure—one that wasn't visible, but felt as real as iron. His chest compressed, his knees buckled slightly, and for a moment, he couldn't even breathe.
An invisible barrier was woven into the formation around the Verdant Spirit Furnace.
"It's the spiritual gate," an elder murmured. "Only those at the Nascent Soul Realm or higher can approach the furnace."
Gasps erupted among the crowd.
