Assessment

"Qing Xue, do you know him?"

"We met briefly before entering the Immortal Ascension Institute. I learned that his name is Zhang Yuzhen."

Shen Hao looked at Zhang Yuzhen warily. "Then you should be careful around him. He is the son of the Heavenly Martial King of the Great Xu Dynasty. His talent is exceptional, and he is an Internal Fortification Realm expert, capable of stepping into the Divine Courage Realm at any time. He is also ruthless and lecherous. Countless women have died at his hands."

Fang Qingxue narrowed her eyes, though no one knew what she was thinking.

"Open the gate."

Seeing the Heavenly Martial King's son step into the center, the several examiners exchanged glances and waved their hands at once. A streak of golden light shot from each of their hands into the pitch-black gate.

Crack—

As those streaks of golden light entered, the mist sealing the black gate abruptly dispersed.

A demonic figure standing as tall as one and a half men leaped out. It landed on the ground, savage and violent beyond measure, intimidating everyone present.

Fang Xuan carefully observed this so-called Divine Strength Puppet. Its entire body was pitch-black, its skin resembling a layer of black shell covered in scales. Two fleshy horns protruded from its head, while fangs jutted from its gaping mouth. Its hands ended in hooked claws, and its eyes were blood-red. Beneath its scales, its muscles bulged like steel plates. With the slightest exertion, its tendons and bones crackled explosively.

Its legs were especially long and possessed tremendous leaping power.

The moment the Divine Strength Puppet was released, its demonic might surged forth. Swift as a leopard and incomparably fierce, it became nothing more than a flickering black shadow as it lunged at Zhang Yuzhen with outstretched claws.

Zhang Yuzhen snorted coldly and snapped shut the purple jade folding fan in his hand. His blood and qi churned throughout his body as he stepped through the Dry Astral Step, driving the fan like a blade toward the Divine Strength Puppet's chest.

"Divide Gold Sever Jade."

A cold gleam flashed across the purple jade folding fan as it struck heavily against the Divine Strength Puppet's chest.

With a ringing clash of metal, Zhang Yuzhen's expression changed drastically, and he quickly retreated.

A huge hole appeared in the Divine Strength Puppet's chest, black blood flowing from it.

Yet the Divine Strength Puppet seemed entirely unaware of its injury. Its arms became claws as its five fingers repeatedly grabbed at Zhang Yuzhen, every move aimed at tearing out his heart, gutting his belly, and crushing his brain.

The onlookers' expressions turned grave.

"What powerful defense."

"I know that purple jade folding fan. It was polished from thousand-year-old purple jade and is several times harder than Xuan Tie. Yet it only managed to break through its defense and could not inflict serious damage. That is absurd."

"More than that, Zhang Yuzhen is at the Internal Fortification Realm. His strength is like a galloping horse. With that purple jade folding fan, he could punch a hole even through rock."

As he spoke, Zhang Yuzhen leaped in the face of the Divine Strength Puppet's attack. With a flick of his purple jade folding fan, three steel needles shot out from within, flying straight toward the puppet's eyes.

Pfft—

The steel needles struck true. Blood flowed from the Divine Strength Puppet's eye sockets, and the rhythm of its attacks was instantly thrown into disarray.

"Now! Qi Pierces the Long River."

Zhang Yuzhen stamped his foot and charged fiercely toward the Divine Strength Puppet. With a shake of his purple jade folding fan, sword qi surged forth like a rolling river.

Sssht—

The purple jade fan swept across the Divine Strength Puppet's neck.

Thud, thud, thud—

The Divine Strength Puppet's head fell to the ground and rolled away like a ball.

Zhang Yuzhen descended from the air as well, gasping heavily.

"Good! You have killed the Divine Strength Puppet and passed the test. Congratulations, Zhang Yuzhen, on becoming an Outer Sect Disciple of the Immortal Feather Sect." An examiner stepped forward and announced loudly.

Zhang Yuzhen beamed. After offering a salute, he withdrew from the circle of light.

With a wave of the examiner's right hand, a gust of wind hurled the slain Divine Strength Puppet back into the pitch-black gate. At once, crunching and tearing sounds came from within, sending chills down everyone's spines.

"Next."

Another candidate stepped into the center of the hall.

The gate opened again, releasing another Divine Strength Puppet that lunged out to kill.

After a while, the candidate fled from the circle of light with terror written across his face. His chest was already drenched in blood. Had he been a moment slower, his heart would likely have been torn out.

Blocked by the circle of light, the Divine Strength Puppet could not emerge and could only roar furiously within it.

"Unqualified."

The examiner coldly announced the result.

The candidate hung his head in dejection, his face pale.

"Next."

"Next."

"Next."

"Next."

Some passed, while others failed. Though many were injured, no lives were lost. Whenever someone faced mortal danger, the examiners intervened to save them.

However, once an examiner intervened, it meant the candidate had failed the assessment.

"I'll go."

Shen Hao stepped forward, holding a longsword as he stood in the center of the hall's circle.

"Release the Divine Strength Puppet."

Facing the frenzied Divine Strength Puppet, Shen Hao showed no panic whatsoever. The sword techniques in his hand were broad and forceful, yet every strike was deadly.

He stepped through an exquisite footwork technique, constantly weaving around the Divine Strength Puppet. He was not especially fast, but he always managed to evade its attacks at the most perilous moments.

Perhaps noticing Fang Xuan and the others' confusion, Shen Ruolan explained, "The footwork my imperial brother is using is called the Dragon Form Flying Tiger Step. It is one of the three great techniques of the Immortal Feather Sect's Outer Sect."

The Outer Sect's three great techniques were the Pine Crane Longevity Fist, the Dragon Form Flying Tiger Step, and the Flying Spirit Supple Bone Body.

Movement techniques, footwork techniques, and fist techniques all tempered the body. They merely differed in direction and emphasis.

The Fang Family had inherited only the Pine Crane Longevity Fist. As an imperial descendant, Shen Hao naturally received preferential treatment. After all, the Enshrined Experts they offered every year were not merely for show.

"Raging Waves Surging Tides."

Shen Hao shouted, and the treasured sword in his hand instantly pierced the Divine Strength Puppet's brow. It then collapsed to the ground, never to rise again.

"Divine Strength Puppet slain. Assessment passed," the examiner announced loudly.

Shen Ruolan hurried forward to support the somewhat exhausted Shen Hao.

"Congratulations," Fang Xuan said with a smile.

"Thank you."

"Imperial Brother, are you all right?" Shen Ruolan asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. I'm merely exhausted. A short rest will be enough. You must be careful later. If you truly cannot manage, then surrender. Entering the sect is important, but your life is more important."

"Mm."

Fang Qingxue glanced at Shen Hao, an almost imperceptible look of disappointment appearing in her eyes. She rose and walked toward the center of the hall.

There was not the slightest trace of panic on her face. Instead, she appeared calm and composed, a treasured sword held in her hand.

Fang Qingxue's appearance also made the eyes of the other candidates light up.

What a cold and aloof woman.

Not far away, Zhang Yuzhen turned his gaze toward her as well. When he sensed Fang Qingxue's icy, immortal-like aura, desire burned in his heart.

If I could press such a stunning woman beneath me and personally destroy that lofty air of hers, it would surely be exquisite.

"Release the Divine Strength Puppet!" an examiner shouted.

As the black mist dispersed, a new Divine Strength Puppet sprang out.

Unlike the others before her, Fang Qingxue did not wait for the Divine Strength Puppet to attack. Instead, she took the initiative.

With a dance of her sword, sword qi stirred in all directions.

"Kill."

Like a celestial maiden from the moon palace dancing lightly with a sword, her every swing resembled an ink-wash landscape painting. Her figure was elegant as a fluttering butterfly, yet her attacks were incomparably tricky and filled with killing intent.

After several dozen exchanges, she drove her sword into the Divine Strength Puppet's throat.