In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.
Today was the day of the newcomers' retest.
Only after passing today's examination could they be considered outer disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect.
Early in the morning, Qi Shaolong, Tiedan, and Lin Bai went to the plaza to assemble.
Over the past month, the elders who had gone to various cities to recruit disciples had all returned.
They had recruited more than seven hundred new outer disciples for the Spirit Sword Sect.
But this examination would eliminate at least half of them.
"You won't escape death today!"
Lin Bai had just entered the plaza.
Xu Shangjie brought Xu Rui and several other arrogant-looking young men over to Lin Bai and said coldly,
Xu Shangjie had been keeping an eye on Lin Bai's movements. The moment he saw Lin Bai, he came over.
"He's Lin Bai?"
"He's the fool who said he would defeat Senior Brother Xiang Tianyi after three months."
"Senior Brother Xiang Tianyi won't even need to act. You'll die at our hands today, die in this examination."
"Who lives and who dies is still unknown." Lin Bai replied coldly to Xu Shangjie.
Xu Shangjie and Lin Bai were at daggers drawn, immediately attracting the attention of many people.
"Look over there! The five New Talent Kings have met."
"Yeah, the five New Talent Kings: Xu Shangjie, Mo Yi, Long Yao, Bai Huatian, and Lin Bai."
"Other than Lin Bai, all four of the other New Talent Kings have joined the Divine Alliance!"
"Judging by the looks of them, they seem to be planning to kill Lin Bai. Lin Bai is in danger."
There were a total of eleven New Talent Kings selected by the newcomer disciples.
Lin Bai was one of them.
Hearing the other disciples say this, Lin Bai realized that the four young men beside Xu Shangjie were indeed the other four New Talent Kings.
After taunting him a few times, Xu Shangjie and the other four walked away.
Qi Shaolong patted Lin Bai on the shoulder and said, "Don't be afraid. We'll walk together. If they dare come, we'll fight them to the death."
Qi Shaolong glared viciously at the backs of the five men.
"Heh. I don't even take the five of them seriously." Lin Bai shook his head.
After waiting for a long while, the newcomer disciples arrived at the plaza one after another.
An elder climbed onto the high platform.
Lin Bai was familiar with this elder. It was Ji Bei, who had saved Lin Bai time and again.
Lin Bai had a very favorable impression of Ji Bei.
If not for Ji Bei, Lin Bai would have likely died at Xiang Tianyi's hands that day.
"Today is the retest trial. The trial will take place in Qingyou Mountain, where demonic beasts have already been placed."
"All outer disciples must kill demonic beasts and obtain ten tokens to pass the trial. Once you return, you will become outer disciples."
"Of course, to spur you on, we have specially placed four demonic beasts in Qingyou Mountain that are in the True Martial Realm."
"The tokens placed on the True Martial Realm demonic beasts are Purple Tokens. One Purple Token is equivalent to ten Ordinary Tokens."
"In the end, the person who obtains the most tokens will take first place."
"Whoever takes first place will be rewarded with a Profound Grade martial skill by the sect."
"Disciples, work hard."
After hearing Ji Bei explain the rules, the entire plaza immediately erupted into discussion.
"Only first place will receive a Profound Grade martial skill?" Lin Bai asked in surprise.
Shouldn't the top three usually receive rewards?
Yet in this examination held by the Spirit Sword Sect, only first place would receive one.
"I'm taking first place!" A stunningly beautiful woman in the distance clenched her fist and smiled with red lips after hearing Elder Ji Bei finish explaining the rules.
This woman was also one of the New Talent Kings, but her background was extremely powerful. None of the other New Talent Kings dared provoke her.
Her name was Ye Suxin.
"Now, all disciples, follow me to Qingyou Mountain."
Ji Bei shouted and led the disciples away from the plaza.
Qingyou Mountain was right beside the newcomers' courtyard, three li away.
Every year, newly recruited disciples underwent their retest in Qingyou Mountain.
"Lin Bai!"
As Lin Bai walked toward Qingyou Mountain with Qi Shaolong and Tiedan,
a deep male voice came from behind.
"Li Jianxing." Lin Bai turned around and recognized the man.
"Lin Bai, you need to be careful. Xu Shangjie has incited many people to kill you during the examination."
"Moreover, of the ten New Talent Kings, everyone except you and Ye Guxing has joined the Divine Alliance. They're not people to be trifled with. You'd better avoid their edge for now."
Li Jianxing had come specifically to tell Lin Bai this news.
"Hmph. Xu Shangjie actually incited people to kill me? He wants to kill me, but why wouldn't I want to kill him?"
"As for the Divine Alliance, they'd better not provoke me. Otherwise, I'll definitely make them pay in blood!"
Lin Bai said coldly, "Li Jianxing, thank you for coming to tell me this."
Li Jianxing said apologetically, "Sorry. My cultivation is too low, and I'm not even a New Talent King. I can't help you."
"You just need to stay alive. Judging by this examination, many people will die." Lin Bai smiled.
Li Jianxing and Lin Bai's group arrived outside Qingyou Valley together.
"Wait for death."
As Xu Shangjie watched Lin Bai approach, a mocking, smug smile appeared in his eyes.
"Qingyou Mountain is now open. Disciples, your fate and fortune on this journey lie with heaven. Take good care of yourselves."
Ji Bei raised his arm and shouted. All the disciples surged forward and entered Qingyou Mountain.
Qingyou Mountain was ten times larger than Sky Ghost Valley.
Inside the mountain, scattered rocks formed the roads, and weeds grew everywhere.
Lin Bai, Qi Shaolong, and Tiedan had just entered Qingyou Mountain
when a group of martial artists emerged from the woods and surrounded the three of them.
"What are you trying to do!" Qi Shaolong roared.
"What are we trying to do? Naturally, we're sending you to meet King Yama."
"Lin Bai, you actually dared offend Young Master Xu Shangjie. You deserve to die."
"Young Master Xu said that whoever kills you and brings him your head can collect ten thousand spirit stones."
"You put a bounty on my head?" Lin Bai stared at the man in surprise.
"That's right. In this examination, aside from those demonic beasts, you're the greatest prey of all the disciples."
The man gave a cold laugh.
"So you want to kill me too?" Lin Bai sneered.
"Hahaha! I, Fang Mo, want those ten thousand spirit stones too!"
"Lin Bai, surrender and wait for death!"
"Brothers, don't hold back. In Qingyou Mountain, killing is permitted. Kill them!"
With a furious roar from Fang Mo, more than twenty martial artists behind him charged at Lin Bai.
"You're courting death!"
Qi Shaolong roared first. "Tiedan, get behind me."
Qi Shaolong shielded Tiedan while drawing his sharp sword and beginning his counterattack.
"Qi Shaolong, do you really have to get involved with Lin Bai?" Fang Mo shouted angrily.
"Lin Bai is my roommate, at least. If I let you kill him right in front of me, how could I ever hold my head up again?" Qi Shaolong roared with a bared-teeth grin.
Hearing this, Lin Bai felt warmth in his heart.
"Shaolong, take Tiedan and leave first."
Lin Bai drew his sword and stood in front of Fang Mo. "This bunch of trash isn't enough for me to kill alone. Stay out of it."
"Arrogant!"
Fang Mo flew into a rage. He was, after all, a figure ranked just below the New Talent Kings among the newcomer disciples this time.
Yet Lin Bai actually looked down on him so blatantly.
"Kill!"
Fang Mo roared. More than twenty martial artists surged forward, and in an instant, a storm of flashing blades and swords swallowed Lin Bai.
"Break!"
With one slash, Lin Bai shattered the combined attacks of more than twenty people.