Han Fei slowly approached the entrance to the Inner Court, carrying the unconscious Qi Xuanxuan in his arms.
"Senior Brother, does this mean we've passed?"
Gao Cheng came back to his senses and revealed a faint smile. "You killed three level-twenty-one demon beasts with one sword strike. Of course you passed."
As he spoke, Gao Cheng turned his head slightly and said to the hidden guards beside him, "Take the young lady to recover."
Han Fei said, "No need. I've already given her a recovery pill. I'll just carry her myself."
Seeing the resistance in Han Fei's eyes, Gao Cheng said helplessly, "She chose this path herself. It's useless even if you hate us. Those are the Inner Court's rules. Even if the Sect Master came, I would still do the same."
Han Fei said, "How would Han Fei dare resent Senior Brother?"
Gao Cheng said nothing further and turned to enter the Inner Court.
"You all, follow me."
No one moved until Han Fei entered first. Only then did the others silently follow.
Meng Qing said, "Perhaps this is the most beautiful princess carry. I'm so jealous."
After entering the Inner Court, everyone's most immediate impression was that it was ordinary—so ordinary it could not have been more ordinary. It was not even as prosperous as the other main peaks. Yet the density of spiritual energy was unmatched by the other peaks.
Gao Cheng said, "You are the eighty-eighth batch of Core Disciples, also known as Class Eighty-Eight. Above you are Class Eighty-Seven and Class Eighty-Six. Class Eighty-Five just graduated, and I was from Class Eighty-Five."
After Gao Cheng finished speaking, the Golden Mask hidden guards around them stepped forward and handed identity jade tokens for Core Disciples to Han Fei and the others.
Gao Cheng said, "You've just entered the academy today, so go rest separately for now. Gather at the main hall at dawn tomorrow."
Each Golden Mask hidden guard led one person toward their residence in the Inner Court.
At that moment, on a cliff above the valley, Qi Xiaotian stood with his hands behind his back, watching what was happening below. With his eyesight, he had taken in everything that had just occurred.
A white-haired old man beside him smiled. "Xiaotian, it seems your precious daughter has found someone she likes?"
Qi Xiaotian also revealed a faint smile. "Someone she likes? Perhaps..."
The meaningful words left the old man beside him somewhat confused.
Qi Xiaotian said, "Uncle Jian, is there any news from Asura Hall?"
The old man shook his head. "No. Dozens of hidden guard squads have scattered out, but there has still been no trace of Asura Hall."
Qi Xiaotian sighed. "Asura Hall has always been a major hidden danger to me. They have concealed themselves for nearly a hundred years. When they reappear, they should be even stronger, shouldn't they?"
Uncle Jian said, "..."
Inside a pavilion in the Inner Court, Han Fei laid Qi Xuanxuan down.
Qi Xuanxuan slowly woke up. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Han Fei, which surprised her somewhat.
"I... where am I?"
Han Fei said, "The Inner Court. Where else could you be? You passed the assessment, so I should be calling you Senior Sister now. All right, now that I see you're awake, I can rest easy. Get some proper rest tonight. I'll come see you again tomorrow morning."
Han Fei rose to leave as he spoke. After all, there was a distinction between men and women, so it was not appropriate for him to stay too long. Besides, his pavilion was right next door. If anything happened, he could arrive immediately.
However, just as he stood up, Qi Xuanxuan grabbed his wrist.
"Han Fei... can you stay with me a little longer?"
Han Fei silently sat back down. Neither of them spoke, and they simply looked at one another.
Just then, Qi Xiaotian walked in. Without even knocking, he headed straight to Qi Xuanxuan's room on the second floor, startling Han Fei.
Han Fei hurriedly rose and bowed. "Sect Master."
Qi Xiaotian smiled. "It seems I came at a bad time."
Qi Xuanxuan blushed, while Han Fei lowered his head and said, "Since the Sect Master has arrived, this disciple will take his leave."
With that, Han Fei turned and ran without looking back.
Qi Xiaotian sighed softly. He had merely wanted to check on Qi Xuanxuan, yet he seemed to have ruined something good. Of course, for now, he was fairly satisfied with Han Fei. Still, they were both young, so perhaps it was better to stop things early.
Of course, as soon as that thought crossed his mind, Qi Xiaotian hurriedly shook his head. "What nonsense am I thinking?"
After muttering to himself, he sat down and examined Qi Xuanxuan's injuries.
At dawn, after a night of recovery, Qi Xuanxuan had completely recovered. She had also bathed and changed into fresh clothes.
The moment she stepped out of the pavilion, she saw Han Fei waiting nearby. The two headed together toward the teaching grounds of Class Eighty-Eight.
The two arrived together at New Yuan Hall, where Gao Cheng had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Han Fei and Qi Xuanxuan arrive, he pulled a long face and said, "As expected of rising stars. Quite the airs you have."
Han Fei bowed. "I'm sorry, Senior Brother, I..."
Gao Cheng waved a hand. "Apologizing to me is useless. Waiting for you for a while doesn't matter to me, but some people will grow impatient..."
Whoosh! A streak of sword light shot toward Han Fei.
Han Fei pushed Qi Xuanxuan aside and tilted his head slightly, dodging the sudden thrust of the sword tip. He shifted sideways, widening the distance between them.
The attack missed, and the sword-wielding man came to a stop.
"First place in the martial tournament? You do have some skill."
Han Fei saw that the man wore a long robe patterned with circular designs. He figured the man was probably a senior brother from the Inner Court.
Looking around, nearly all the disciples of Class Eighty-Eight were lying on the ground, clearly injured.
Qi Xuanxuan said, "Han Fei, this is the Inner Court's show of force. He should be a senior brother from the Inner Court."
Gao Cheng said, "Oh, I forgot to introduce him. Shao Yun, nicknamed Young Master, is one year above you and a senior brother from Class Eighty-Seven. Considering the noble status of the Sect Master's Daughter, we could only send Young Master. He won't care whether you are the Sect Master's Daughter or not."
Han Fei frowned, finding it hard to believe Gao Cheng's words. Qi Xuanxuan was the Sect Master's Daughter. Who would dare injure her?
But Qi Xuanxuan said, "He's right. Shao Yun truly does not care about my status. His grandfather is the Great Elder. Even my father has to give the Great Elder some respect."
Han Fei nodded in understanding. "I see. Third-generation rich, huh? No, third-generation official would be more accurate."
Shao Yun snorted coldly. "You really talk too much. I'll allow both of you to come at me together."
As he spoke, Shao Yun immediately charged at Han Fei.
Han Fei looked disdainful. "Spirit Gathering Realm, eighth level. You're a whole major realm above me. Where do you get the nerve to say something like that?"
Having suffered Han Fei's insult, how could Shao Yun let it go? He raised his sword before his chest and shouted angrily, "Insolence! You dare speak so arrogantly!"
As he spoke, light flared from the blade. With a slash, sword light skimmed across the ground toward Han Fei.
Han Fei stepped back, then lightly tapped the ground with his toes, sending his entire body into the air.
In Han Fei's view, the sword light was traveling along the ground. As long as he left the ground, wouldn't he be able to dodge it easily?
But things did not go as planned. Halfway through its flight, the sword light abruptly rose from the ground, just like the Dragon Slaying Sword Art, capable of changing the trajectory of Sword Qi.
The sword light flew toward the airborne Han Fei. Having left the ground and lost his balance, it was impossible for him to change direction.
At that critical moment, another streak of sword light flew over and collided with Shao Yun's sword light midway. That strike had been launched by Qi Xuanxuan.
Bang! Spiritual energy rippled outward, making the entire New Yuan Hall tremble.
Gao Cheng said, "Hey, spar if you want, but don't tear down my New Yuan Hall. If anyone uses spiritual energy to attack again, don't blame me for being rude."
Upon hearing that, Shao Yun's aura immediately faded. Shao Yun, who was not afraid of the Sect Master's Daughter, was actually afraid of Gao Cheng.
Han Fei noticed that as well, and from then on, he concluded that Gao Cheng must also have a powerful background.
Since Shao Yun had stopped using spiritual energy, Han Fei naturally would not use it either. Neither of them used spiritual energy, relying only on combat techniques and moves. In that case, Han Fei, whose cultivation was lower, naturally benefited the most.
Han Fei drew his broken sword and clashed with Shao Yun.
However, what surprised Han Fei was that Shao Yun's combat techniques were clearly far superior.
Whoosh... Han Fei was not as fast as Shao Yun, so he could only repeatedly use Void Walking to evade Shao Yun's attacks.
The two remained locked in battle for a full quarter of an hour.
Han Fei was already beginning to tire. Although he was not using spiritual energy for attacks, using Void Walking so frequently was not a solution.
Moreover, because the gap in their levels was too great, even after Han Fei used Teleportation once, he still failed to hit Shao Yun.
Shao Yun was also growing anxious. He was a whole major realm above Han Fei, yet he could not quickly defeat him. It was a blow to his pride.
His right hand continuously swung his longsword.
Whoosh! The longsword spun through the air. Han Fei watched as Shao Yun's sword split into four, four became sixteen, and sixteen became sixty-four. Shao Yun's swords filled the entire sky.
Dividing Sword Technique
In his urgency, Shao Yun had already used spiritual energy, yet Gao Cheng did not stop him.
Qi Xuanxuan said angrily, "How despicable."
As Han Fei twisted aside to dodge, Shao Yun took the opportunity to kick him in the chest, sending Han Fei flying five meters away.
Whoosh! The sword tip stopped at Han Fei's throat.
Shao Yun said arrogantly, "You've only just become a Core Disciple. Don't be so arrogant, or you'll suffer for it."
After saying that, Shao Yun sheathed his sword and returned to the area occupied by Class Eighty-Seven.
Han Fei said, "You started cultivating ten years before me, yet you're still this weak. Remember this: within ten years, I'll definitely beat you senseless to repay today's humiliation."
Before you continue