novelraw Chapter 41 – Disqualify!
Chapter 41 – Disqualify!
In front of the gate of the Outer Sect Base, when Luo Xiu and his group arrived, it was already a sea of people.
Coming from the Martial Hall didn't grant any special treatment in the Outer Sect. The eighteen Hall Masters left Luo Xiu and the others there and entered the Outer Sect Base.
To ensure the fairness of the assessment, the chief examiner was an Outer Sect Steward, and the eighteen Hall Masters would also be observing.
Amidst the crowd, Luo Xiu could hear many people discussing among themselves.
"The Free Spirit Outer Sect only accepts three people each year. Even though everyone knows the chances are slim, so many still come to take the assessment every year."
"Yeah, I heard there are quite a few experts this time. Those guys from the Martial Hall are all at the second layer of the Qi Sea Realm!"
"What's so special about the second layer of the Qi Sea Realm? The Wang family from Yushan City has a genius who, at just fifteen, has already reached the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm!"
"No way, that's insane! Anyone under eighteen at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm is almost guaranteed entry into the Outer Sect. At just fifteen, my goodness!"
"Look over there, it seems like people from the Eighteen Cities Martial Hall, several of them are at the second layer of the Qi Sea Realm, so they have a good chance of passing the assessment."
Many eyes turned towards Luo Xiu and his group.
Not everyone enters the Martial Hall for training after the age of ten. Some families in the mortal world have their own legacies to train their descendants. Generally, those who enter the Martial Hall for training are of commoner origin or disciples of ordinary small clans.
At this moment, the gate of the Outer Sect Base opened, and an elder with white hair and beard stepped out, announcing loudly, "Everyone, I am Zhang Lüliang, the Outer Sect Steward, responsible for this Entry Assessment. Now, everyone line up in order for the assessment!"
"Wow!"
As soon as the assessment began, the crowd erupted into chaos, with many people scrambling to line up, hoping to be at the front and be the first to take the assessment.
Some disciples from the Martial Hall around Luo Xiu also started moving, desperately pushing forward.
"Zhang Lüliang?"
Staring at the elder in front of the Outer Sect Base gate, Luo Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly. It was this Zhang Clan Ancestor who sent three disciples to assassinate him.
"Get out of the way!"
At that moment, a loud shout came from behind Luo Xiu. A burly, muscular youth was pushing forward, causing many people who came for the assessment to be knocked over.
This burly youth was incredibly strong. Those who came for the assessment were all Qi Sea Martial Artists. Some were unwilling to accept being pushed and tried to retaliate, but they were slapped away, causing others nearby to feel intimidated and quickly make way for him.
Luo Xiu was also in front of this youth. A gust of wind came from behind, as the burly youth attempted to grab the black-clad boy and throw him aside.
"Hmm?"
Luo Xiu's expression turned cold. He slightly tilted his head, avoiding the grab.
"You dare to dodge? Get out of my way."
Seeing that the black-clad boy in front of him had dodged his grab, the burly youth sneered, his hand suddenly glowing faintly blue, True Qi gathering, fingers forming a claw.
What he was using was a Martial Technique, and combined with his brute strength, it was difficult for an ordinary second-layer Qi Sea Martial Artist to withstand.
"Get lost!"
Luo Xiu's gaze was icy. Before the burly youth's five fingers could grab him, his right leg suddenly moved.
"Bang!"
The burly youth felt a powerful force hit his chest, and his large body flew backward, knocking down several Martial Artists who came for the assessment.
In the world of martial arts, speed is invincible. With Luo Xiu's speed, no matter how advanced your Martial Technique is, before you can hit me, my attack has already injured you.
Seeing this, many people nearby looked at Luo Xiu with apprehension. Those who initially wanted to push ahead of him were secretly glad they hadn't provoked this black-clad boy.
"Kid, you're courting death!"
The burly youth got up, towering over Luo Xiu by three heads, like an angry lion, pouncing towards Luo Xiu.
Luo Xiu took a light step, easily dodging the burly youth's attack, then punched him in the abdomen. The thick True Qi erupted, causing the burly youth's body to bend like a shrimp, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Luo Xiu never showed mercy to those who relied on their strength to bully others. With a flick of his hand, he slapped the burly youth, sending him flying, two bloody teeth flying out.
Yuan Feishan, standing nearby, felt his face burn. Two days ago, he had been beaten by Luo Xiu in the same way. Although the swelling had gone down after applying ointment, there were still some bruises.
The burly youth got up again, eyes burning with rage, but he didn't dare to attack Luo Xiu again.
"Black-clad boy, I'll remember you. Just you wait!" Knowing he wasn't a match, the burly youth left a harsh word and slunk to the back of the line.
The few people in front of Luo Xiu felt uneasy, but Luo Xiu had no intention of pushing ahead, simply standing in his place.
In reality, no one managed the jostling for position in line because it was also a form of competition. On the path of Martial Dao, everything must be fought for. The stronger you are, the more you can obtain, and the more privileges you have.
The concept of the strong being revered was deeply ingrained!
There were hundreds of people taking the assessment, all under eighteen and at the Qi Sea Realm. Such talents were rare, with the Eighteen Cities Martial Hall producing one or two each year, while Yunlong Prefecture had hundreds annually.
Luo Xiu knew well that at fourteen, a Qi Sea Martial Artist was nothing among these hundreds. In the Free Spirit Outer Sect and Inner Sect, he was even more insignificant.
But he was confident because he had reached this level in less than a year, starting from the second layer of Body Refining!
This achievement was unparalleled in the Free Spirit Inner Sect, which was why the Master of Qingyun Hall valued him so highly, even offending Zhang Lüliang, the Outer Sect Steward, by decisively executing the Patriarch of the Zhang Clan for him.
Because Luo Xiu came from the Qingyun Martial Hall, the better he performed in the Free Spirit Sect and the higher his achievements, the more benefits the Master of Qingyun Hall would receive!
The first part of the Outer Sect Assessment was to test cultivation, similar to the Black Tablet of Qingyun Martial Hall.
The second part tested Martial Techniques, evaluating talent based on the level of Martial Arts practiced and the realm of comprehension.
The third part tested willpower, as a martial artist must have a firm will to achieve success. Though willpower is intangible, the Free Spirit Sect had ways to test it.
The final part was a martial competition, with the top three receiving significant bonus points.
After the four assessments, the chief examiner would rank the participants based on their total scores. The first place would receive three Qi Refining Pills and a fifth-grade Martial Art!
Luo Xiu wasn't concerned about the fifth-grade Martial Art. In the depths of Yaqi Mountain, from Martial King Buchen's treasure trove, he had obtained eighteen fifth-grade Martial Arts, as well as sixth and seventh-grade ones.
Recently, Luo Xiu had focused all his attention on the Swift Sword Art and Heaven's Life and Death Cycle, not having time to choose a suitable Martial Art.
"The Qi Refining Pill can help a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist break through a small realm, a decent pill."
Luo Xiu valued the Qi Refining Pill more, as he had many pills, but they were too advanced for his current cultivation level.
The testing stone tablet emitted brighter light based on the martial artist's cultivation level, indicating higher cultivation.
The first test scored based on the martial artist's age and cultivation.
"Sixteen years old, second layer of the Qi Sea Realm, 6 points!"
"Eighteen years old, second layer of the Qi Sea Realm, 3 points!"
"......"
Each of the four assessments had a maximum score of ten points. The Master of Qingyun Hall had told Luo Xiu that with his fourteen-year-old, second-layer Qi Sea Realm cultivation, he should score 8 points in the first test.
Every year, those at the first layer of the Qi Sea Realm had little hope, participating mainly to gain experience. To pass the assessment and enter the Outer Sect, one needed to be at least at the second layer, with most being at the third layer.
Suddenly, there was a commotion ahead. A short youth approached the stone tablet, placing his hand on it and channeling True Qi.
"It's Xu Ping, the young genius from the Xu Clan in Shuiyun City, said to be at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm!"
"Buzz!"
A brilliant light shone, eliciting gasps from the crowd.
"Fifteen years old, third layer of the Qi Sea Realm, 9 points!"
The entire place was in an uproar. Many young people at the second layer of the Qi Sea Realm felt despair, as it was clear that Xu Ping would take one of the three spots in the Outer Sect.
Soon after, another person caused a stir, a genius from the Wang family in Yushan City named Wang Can, also fifteen and at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm, scoring 9 points.
The cultivation test continued, and besides Xu Ping and Wang Can, two others were at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm.
However, one was already eighteen and received a score of 6 points, while the other, Mo Chuan, was fourteen and received a perfect score of 10 points, the first full score!
At this moment, it was Luo Xiu's turn.
He stepped forward to the stone tablet, placed his hand on it, and channeled his True Qi. The stone tablet emitted light.
However, unlike other second-layer Qi Sea Martial Artists, Luo Xiu's light was even more brilliant, comparable to the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm!
"Damn! Another third layer of the Qi Sea Realm. Does that mean we second layers have no chance?"
"No, this black-clad kid's True Qi fluctuation is clearly at the second layer, but the light is equivalent to the third layer. Could there be a problem with the testing stone tablet?"
The surrounding people murmured, expressing doubt about the result.
As the chief examiner, Zhang Lüliang cast his gaze over, frowning as he glanced at the list.
"Qingyun City Martial Hall, fourteen years old, Luo Xiu?"
Seeing this name, Zhang Lüliang's murky old eyes flashed with cold light.
Over two months ago, he had secretly sent three disciples to Qingyun City to kill this boy, two at the fifth layer of the Qi Sea Realm and one at the seventh layer. But after so long, those three disciples had yet to return.
Now, this boy named Luo Xiu appeared here. Could it be that his three disciples were in danger?
In reality, the lives of his disciples or the life of the Zhang Clan Patriarch didn't matter to Zhang Lüliang, who was at the ninth layer of the Innate Realm and had a lifespan of several hundred years.
What he cared about was face. Everyone knew he was the Zhang Clan Ancestor of Qingyun City. A mere teenager dared to have the Qingyun Martial Hall execute the Zhang Clan Patriarch, which was a slap in the face to him, Zhang Lüliang, so he believed Luo Xiu deserved to die!
Glancing at the Master of Qingyun Hall sitting nearby, Zhang Lüliang said in a deep voice, "Clearly at the second layer of the Qi Sea Realm, yet using tricks to emit True Qi comparable to the third layer. At such a young age, not walking the right path, disqualify him from the assessment!"
"What?"
The chief examiner's words caused an uproar among those taking the assessment.