Degrade from Nobility to a Humble Slave

The fact was that Zen's assessment was extremely accurate.

For the Blooded Test, most people remained on the third layer. Very few disciples braved the fourth or fifth layer. The reasoning was simple, the initiates were not at the higher levels, which meant the beasts were too strong, and those participants would probably lose their lives before earning a single fragment. That was not a place the disciples wanted to be.

After deciding, Zen spent six hours wandering around on the third layer.

During that time, he harvested quite a few fragments.

First, he came across a demon crow that attacked him from the air, leaving Zen no way to avoid its attacks. When he tried attacking the demon crow, it would deliberately put distance between itself and Zen, making Zen raise his brow and shrug his shoulders.

As he scoured his mind for some way to deal with this demon crow, an idea popped into Zen's head. Falling to the ground abruptly, Zen pretended to be dead. He wasn't sure, but, he believed the demon crow was a scavenger that would enjoy feasting on a carcass. The minute the crow saw Zen sprawled on the ground, it believed Zen was dead and swooped down to feast. But, as soon as it was close enough, Zen punched it. The demon crow fell dead from the one punch Zen delivered.

Later, he met up with a tremendous ancient mammoth. Its monstrous frame was intimidating, the power it possessed was more so, and could lead to trouble for Zen. However, Zen wasn't afraid at all and relied on his instincts. Zen dispatched it quickly.

And after that, he met three black wolves...

a sky dragon...

and even a colossal gorilla...

For Zen, it took a little bit longer to deal with them, because while the beasts were strong, they weren't as smart as him. With a bit of creativity, it wasn't difficult

from his victories and needed only one more to pass the Blooded

was thinking that, a bloody porcupine appeared in front of him. Fury flashed in its savage eyes, while it drooled from out the corners of its mouth near protruding

would kill him. Worse yet, its skin was so thick and rough on the beast that it made killing it a formidable trial. In a short time, very few chances

working, it was unable to change how it engaged Zen. Time and time again, it charged

drain itself of virtually all

charge, Zen was barely on his feet when suddenly he felt the sensation that danger was nearby and cursed under his breath, "Damn it!" Instinctively, he rolled to one side.

shiny blue thread appear where he had been. Reacting slowly, the bloody porcupine ran headlong into the thread and was instantly sliced in half. It happened so fast, the creature didn't have time even to scream. Its eyes echoed its final seconds

face paled as he stared at the gradually disappearing long blue thread, thinking, 'Wow! That thread is sharp! If I'd

it's yours," Zen heard

dagger that had a long bright blue thread that kept coming

clear that the young

eyes from his dagger as he played with it, as he responded in a casual tone, "Me? My name is Ryan, and I am part of the Fang

as he told Zen his family affiliation. Zen soon understood what this man was here for. Ryan was another son of the Fang Clan like the ones who attacked him without

sent them tumbling to the ground. The tinging, pinging as they hit the surface sounded like shattered jade dropping, making a crisp sound as they did. Whatever Ryan's purpose was, the music that those shards

Test, a disciple needed ten pieces. Scattered here were dozens of purple fragments! A