Assessment

"Qing Xue, you know him?"

"I saw him once just before entering the Immortal Stepping Courtyard. I know his name is Zhang Yuzhen."

Shen Hao looked at Zhang Yuzhen with a wary expression and said, "Then you need to be careful of this person. He is the son of the Heavenly Martial King of the Great Xu Dynasty. His talent is extremely high, and he is a master at the seventh level of Body Cultivation, Internal Fortification. He could step into the Divine Courage realm at any time. Moreover, he is ruthless and extremely fond of women. The number of women who have died at his hands is countless."

Fang Qingxue's eyes also narrowed slightly, lost in thought.

"Open the door."

Seeing the Heavenly Martial King's son stand in the center, the examiners exchanged glances, then simultaneously waved their hands. A golden light shot out from each of their hands into the dark portal.

Crack~

As the golden lights entered, the mist that had been sealing the dark portal instantly dispersed.

A demonic shadow, a full one and a half times the height of a person, leaped out and landed on the ground, incredibly fierce, violent, and intimidating to the entire scene.

Fang Xuan also carefully observed the so-called Divine Strength Puppet. Its entire body was black, its skin like a black shell covered in scales. It had two fleshy horns protruding from its head, fangs widening its mouth, and sharp claws like hooks on its hands. The muscles beneath its blood-red eyes and scales looked like steel plates, bulging in blocks. With a slight exertion of force, its tendons and bones emitted crackling sounds like explosions.

Especially this Divine Strength Puppet, its legs were very long and extremely elastic.

As soon as this Divine Strength Puppet was released, its demonic might was fierce, as fast as a leopard, and exceptionally ferocious. Only a black shadow was seen flashing, its five fingers reaching towards Zhang Yuzhen.

Zhang Yuzhen snorted coldly, closed the purple jade folding fan in his hand, his blood and qi surging around him. He stepped with the Dry Astral Step, and the folding fan, like a blade, pointed towards the Divine Strength Puppet's chest.

"Divide Gold Sever Jade."

A cold light flashed on the purple jade folding fan, striking heavily on the Divine Strength Puppet's chest.

Accompanied by the sound of metal clashing, Zhang Yuzhen's face changed drastically, and he quickly retreated.

A large hole appeared in the Divine Strength Puppet's chest, and black blood flowed out.

But the mysterious puppet seemed unaware of this injury. Its arms were like claws, its five fingers reaching towards Zhang Yuzhen, each move aimed at tearing out his heart, digging out his abdomen, breaking his intestines, and shattering his brain.

The onlookers also had solemn expressions.

"What powerful defense."

"I know that purple jade folding fan. It's made from thousand-year-old purple jade, several times harder than profound iron. It only managed to break through the defense and couldn't cause serious injury. That's too exaggerated."

"More than that, Zhang Yuzhen is at the Internal Fortification realm. His strength is like a galloping horse. Combined with the purple jade folding fan, he could even break a hole in a mountain rock."

As they spoke, Zhang Yuzhen leaped to face the Divine Strength Puppet's attack. He flicked the purple jade folding fan in his hand, and three steel needles shot out from its interior, heading straight for the puppet's eyes.

Puchi~

The steel needles hit their target directly, and a streak of blood flowed from the Divine Strength Puppet's eye sockets. Its attack frequency was instantly disrupted.

"Now, Qi Pierces the Long River."

Zhang Yuzhen stepped forward and rushed towards the Divine Strength Puppet. He shook the purple jade folding fan in his hand, and sword qi rolled away like a river.

Chi~

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

Dong dong dong~

The Divine Strength Puppet's head fell and rolled on the ground like a football.

Zhang Yuzhen also landed from the air, panting heavily.

"Good, you passed by killing the mysterious puppet. Congratulations, Zhang Yuzhen, you are now an outer disciple of the Immortal Feather Sect," an examiner stepped forward and announced loudly.

Zhang Yuzhen also showed a joyful expression. After bowing, he exited the light circle.

The examiner waved his right hand, and a gust of wind threw the killed mysterious puppet into the dark portal. Immediately, chewing and tearing sounds came from within the portal, making people's hair stand on end.

"Next."

Another examinee stood in the center of the hall.

The portal opened again, releasing a new Divine Strength Puppet, which pounced out.

After a while, the examinee scrambled out of the light circle with a terrified expression, his chest already covered in blood. If he had been a moment slower, his heart would have probably been dug out.

With the light circle blocking it, the Divine Strength Puppet couldn't get out and could only roar loudly within.

"Failed."

The examiner coldly announced the result.

The examinee was also dejected, his face pale.

"Next."

"Next."

"Next."

"Next."

Some passed, and some failed. Although many were injured, there was no life-threatening danger. In moments of life and death, the examiners would step in to help.

However, as long as an examiner intervened, it meant the assessment had failed.

"I'll go."

Shen Hao stepped out, holding a long sword and standing in the center of the hall's circle.

"Release the Divine Strength Puppet."

Facing the rampaging Divine Strength Puppet, Shen Hao showed no panic. His sword moves were wide and sweeping, yet each strike was lethal.

He moved with a subtle footwork, constantly weaving around the Divine Strength Puppet. His speed wasn't fast, but he always managed to narrowly evade the puppet's attacks at the most dangerous moments.

Perhaps seeing the confusion of Fang Xuan and the other person, Shen Ruolan explained, "Imperial Brother is using a footwork called 'Dragon Form Flying Tiger Step,' one of the three major external techniques of the Immortal Feather Sect."

The three major external techniques are the Pine Crane Longevity Fist, Dragon Form Flying Tiger Step, and Flying Spirit Supple Bone Body.

Body techniques, footwork, and fist techniques all have the effect of tempering the physical body, just in different directions and with different focuses.

The Fang Family only inherited the Pine Crane Longevity Fist. It was clear that as imperial disciples, they naturally received preferential treatment, after all, the annual tribute wasn't just for show.

"Raging Waves Surging Tides."

Shen Hao shouted loudly, and his treasured sword instantly pierced the Divine Strength Puppet's forehead between its brows. It then fell to the ground, motionless.

"Divine Strength Puppet killed, assessment passed." The examiner announced loudly.

Shen Ruolan quickly stepped forward to help the somewhat exhausted Shen Hao.

"Congratulations," Fang Xuan said with a smile.

"Thank you."

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

"I'm fine, just exhausted. I'll be fine after a rest. Be careful later. If you really can't do it, just surrender. The sect assessment is important, but your life is more important," Shen Hao advised.

"Okay."

Fang Qingxue glanced at Shen Hao, a hint of disappointment barely visible in her eyes. She stood up and walked towards the center of the hall.

There was no trace of panic on her face; instead, she was calm and composed, holding a treasured sword in her hand.

Fang Qingxue's appearance also made the participants in the assessment's eyes light up.

What a cold and aloof woman.

Zhang Yuzhen, not far away, also turned his gaze. Especially feeling Fang Qingxue's cold and aloof aura, like a fairy, his heart burned with desire.

If I could press such a beautiful woman beneath me and personally destroy her high and mighty demeanor, it would surely be incredibly satisfying.

"Release the Divine Strength Puppet," the examiner shouted loudly.

As the black mist dispersed, a new mysterious puppet darted out from within.

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

A dance of sword energy stirs the four directions.

"Kill."

Like a fairy from the Moon Palace lightly dancing with a sword, her sword swings were like splashing ink in a landscape painting. Her figure was elegant, like a fluttering butterfly, yet also incredibly tricky and filled with killing intent.

After dozens of moves, a single sword strike pierced the Divine Strength Puppet's throat.