Hero Among Men

(New book uploaded, urgently need collection and recommendation tickets!) Zhong Yue stood on the stage, visualizing the Dragon Totem Body Coiling Art. His spiritual energy had not yet dissipated, and faint cyan airflow seemed to circulate around his body, like a fierce flood dragon baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.

Visible to the naked eye, this was a manifestation of spiritual energy reaching a certain level, containing power!

The Qi Refiners of the Great Wilderness possessed extremely powerful spiritual energy, capable of shapeshifting. When spiritual energy transformed into a bird, it could fly; when it transformed into a beast, it could leap; when it transformed into a weapon, it could kill. Spiritual energy combined with true qi could form invincible divine abilities.

However, that was for Qi Refiners!

Zhong Yue's spiritual energy was hazy and visible to the naked eye. Although it was still far from comparable to that of a Qi Refiner, for an Outer Disciple, Zhong Yue's incredibly dominant spiritual energy left them deeply shocked!

"The Fire Epoch Palace Suihuang Visualization Chart taught to me by Xin Huo is indeed extraordinary!"

A ripple of emotion surged within Zhong Yue. He had only practiced the Fire Epoch Palace Suihuang Visualization Chart twice, and not only had he achieved Soul Egress, but the power of the Dragon Totem Body Coiling Art had also increased by who knew how much. It definitely surpassed the Sword Gate's visualization methods by an immeasurable amount!

The youths and maidens below the stage were even more dumbfounded, staring at him blankly. Only Shui Qingyan was overjoyed and excited, clenching her small fists and cheering Zhong Yue on, as if she herself had passed the assessment.

However, the examiners were whispering and deliberating, and had yet to announce the assessment results.

"This has never happened at the Sword Gate before."

Suddenly, a white-haired examiner pondered, "The purpose of our Azure Sky Hall's assessment is to test the soul strength and combat awareness of Outer Disciples. Zhong Yue used a body refining method to kill a foreign demon, which does not count as passing the assessment. In my opinion, he should be judged as having failed. What do you all think, fellow disciples?"

"Senior Brother Tian is right."

An examiner beside him chimed in, "If this counts as passing the assessment, it will disrupt the principles of my Sword Gate. My Sword Gate gathers spirits to refine Sword Qi to protect the Great Wilderness. If all other Outer Disciples were to refine their bodies like him and neglect the orthodox Sword Gate cultivation methods, disrupting my Sword Gate's rules would be a minor matter. If it damages my Sword Gate's legacy, the sin would be great. This assessment should be judged as a failure..."

Zhong Yue's heart sank. Suddenly, a young examiner stood up abruptly, his black hair fluttering, his aura erupting. He shouted, "Enough! Several Senior Brothers, I've tolerated you for long enough! It is extremely difficult for disciples from poor families to pass this Azure Sky Hall assessment; it's one in ten thousand. Those who die or are injured are all disciples from poor families! Disciples from great clans can use Totem God Pillars, but disciples from poor families have nothing. Where is the fairness? Since there is no fairness, what's wrong with using a body refining method to pass the assessment? Today, Zhong Yue must be judged as having passed!"

The white-haired examiner frowned slightly, "Junior Brother Zuo, you are being rather presumptuous..."

"I'll be presumptuous just this once!"

The young examiner's aura was wild. Above his head, a portal shaped like a sword suddenly appeared. The portal opened, and a fireball leaped out, like the sun. In the center of the sun was a bird-headed divine being, a foot tall – it was his Totem Spirit. He sneered, "Several Senior Brothers, you all come from prestigious families and control the Sword Gate. How can we from poor families ever get ahead? I also come from a poor family, and today I will stand up for the disciples from poor families just once!"

His Totem Spirit had a human body with a bird's head, bird-like feet, and wings. The moment it appeared, the entire Azure Sky Hall felt as if the sun had descended, dry and scorching, with raging flames filling the air!

"Senior Brother Tian, you have been a Qi Refiner at the Sword Gate for sixty years, while I only joined ten years ago. Today, I challenge you to see who is stronger: you, a Qi Refiner from a prestigious family, or me, a Qi Refiner from a poor family! Senior Brother Tian, do you dare to accept the challenge?"

"Zuo Xiang Sheng, you are overestimating yourself!"

The white-haired elder snorted coldly. Above his head, a sword gate also appeared, and he summoned his Totem Spirit. It was only a foot tall, but it was a tree-human, without feet. Its lower body was made of dense roots, and its hair was a canopy, with lush branches and leaves!

The auras of the two Qi Refiners erupted. Suddenly, the white-haired elder's tree-human Totem Spirit trembled slightly, and countless root tendrils danced in the air. The roots grew thicker and thicker, like flood dragons and giant pythons, twisting and rolling in the air, coiling towards Zuo Xiang Sheng!

In an instant, his Totem Spirit transformed into a towering ancient tree, bursting with vitality. The canopy covered the entire Azure Sky Hall!

Zuo Xiang Sheng's Totem Spirit also grew with the wind. The bird-headed divine being's body became enormous, its wings spread wide, and with a breath, it spewed forth a torrent of fire, igniting the countless roots!

Suddenly, the tree-human Totem Spirit raised its hands, and numerous giant trees appeared in mid-air. Each giant tree weighed tens of thousands of pounds and rained down upon Zuo Xiang Sheng!

Using wood as swords, it transformed into a wood-elemental sword array!

And from the bird-headed Totem Spirit's eyes, streams of Sword Qi shot out, using fire as swords, sharp and scorching!

The two Qi Refiners engaged in a fierce battle. Their auras pressed down on the Outer Disciples of the Azure Sky Hall, causing them to groan repeatedly. The other examiners quickly intervened to protect the disciples, shouting, "Senior Brother Tian, Junior Brother Zuo, stop, quickly stop!"

With their protection, Zhong Yue, Shui Qingyan, and the other Outer Disciples finally breathed a sigh of relief. The numerous Outer Disciples looked up, seeing the two Qi Refiners' battle intensifying, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.

The remaining examiners were at a loss, repeatedly trying to persuade them. One of them whispered, "To think that esteemed Qi Refiners would fight over an Outer Disciple! If this gets out, our Azure Sky Hall will lose all face within the Sword Gate!"

This was the first time in the Azure Sky Hall's assessment that a demon had been killed with bare hands, and also the first time that examiners had fought each other instead of the disciples.

"Should we help?"

"Help whom?"

"Naturally, Senior Brother Tian! Senior Brother Tian comes from a prestigious family, and the Tian Feng Clan has considerable influence within the Sword Gate..."

Just as the examiners finished their discussion, the white-haired elder suddenly let out a muffled groan and fell from mid-air, landing on the ground with a thud. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. He struggled but could not get up.

The examiners were startled. They looked up and saw Zuo Xiang Sheng standing in mid-air, flames raging around him, transformed into a bird-headed, human-bodied being with bird-like feet and wings, majestic and imposing, like a divine being amidst fire. His Totem Spirit had actually disappeared!

"You have already cultivated to the point of human-spirit integration?"

The white-haired elder's face turned ashen. He looked up at Zuo Xiang Sheng in mid-air, his eyes filled with both envy and fear. Coughing up blood, he said, "You and your Totem Spirit have merged into one. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly. You are in charge of the Azure Sky Hall, and I have nothing to say. But rules are rules. Zhong Yue did not win with his soul, which violates my Sword Gate's rules. I will report this to the Sword Gate's higher-ups and argue with you!"

Zuo Xiang Sheng strode down from mid-air, laughing heartily, full of spirit. "Senior Brother Tian, there's no need to alarm the higher-ups. Zhong Yue, being able to defeat an alien demon with bare hands, can easily defeat an alien demon with his soul. Since you have objections, let him try again! Zhong Yue!"

On the stage, Zhong Yue bowed and said, "This disciple is here."

"You will undergo the assessment again. You are not allowed to use body refining methods to kill the alien demons; only your soul!"

Zuo Xiang Sheng pointed his hand, and the Sword Gate on the high platform opened again. A demon leaped out from the gate. Zuo Xiang Sheng said solemnly, "I want you to find a path for us disciples from poor families, who do not rely on Totem God Pillars, to pass the assessment!"

"Dragon Coiling Technique!"

Zhong Yue let out a low cry, visualizing the Flood Dragon Totem. His spiritual energy transformed into faint cyan airflow that flowed all over his body, as if a flood dragon was coiling around him. He raised his hand and sealed the charging alien demon's arms!

Man and demon collided, muscles impacting with dull thuds!

"Soul Egress!"

The demon's arms were sealed, its speed greatly reduced. A flash appeared between Zhong Yue's eyebrows, and his soul leaped out, striking like lightning into the demon's brain. In the demon's Sea of Consciousness, a Sword Gate appeared, and a stream of Sword Qi shot out from the gate, slaying the demon's soul!

Zuo Xiang Sheng showed a look of approval and looked at the white-haired elder, smiling. "Zhong Yue's body is strong, and the alien demons could not harm him at all. As long as his soul can achieve Soul Egress, he can easily kill the alien demons. Senior Brother Tian, I said he passed the assessment. Do you have any objections now?"

The white-haired elder snorted coldly and remained silent.

Zuo Xiang Sheng took out an Upper Court Token and handed it to Zhong Yue, saying, "From today onwards, you are a Soul Egress disciple. You will receive ten Feather Spirit Pills from the Upper Court Medicine Valley each month. You have done well. It is difficult for disciples from poor families to become Qi Refiners. If there are more Qi Refiners from poor families in the Sword Gate in the future, your contribution will be immense!"

His words were not exaggerated in the slightest. The Sword Gate did not place much importance on body refinement. Outer Disciples from the Great Wilderness often failed the Soul assessment. For Zhong Yue to pass the assessment using body refinement techniques would undoubtedly stir a trend of body refinement among the Poor Family Disciples, leading more people to use this method in the future!

The number of Qi Refiners from poor families in the Sword Gate would surely increase because of this!

"You're fifteen this year, aren't you?"

Zuo Xiang Sheng pondered for a moment and said, "At your age, cultivating Spirit at sixteen is rather dangerous. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come find me."

Zhong Yue thanked him, thinking to himself, "This Uncle-Master Zuo is truly a hero."

He did not leave immediately but stayed to watch Shui Qingyan's battle from below the stage. On the stage, Shui Qingyan's robes fluttered, and it was as if waves were supporting her feet, keeping her airborne as she engaged the alien demon in a fierce fight.

She did not use her Totem God Pillar, but it was clear she practiced an extremely advanced visualization technique. Her speed was not at all slower than the alien demon's, only her strength was inferior.

Zhong Yue's method of defeating the alien demons was simple and brutal, pushing the explosive power of his muscles to the limit. In contrast, her movements were as graceful and light as an elf dancing.

Soon, Shui Qingyan found an opening in the alien demon's defense. Her Soul flew out, visualizing the Sword Gate to slay the alien demon with a sword!

"That little girl from the Shuitu Clan, she's only been here for a year?"

Several examiners exchanged glances. One examiner whispered, "Although she has the care of a Qi Refiner from the Shuitu Clan, this cultivation speed is truly astonishing. Passing the assessment without using her Totem God Pillar is rare for such an outstanding disciple in recent years."

As for Zhong Yue not using his Totem God Pillar, they overlooked it.

In their eyes, Shui Qingyan followed the orthodox path of the Sword Gate, while Zhong Yue's victory through body refinement techniques seemed somewhat unorthodox.

Shui Qingyan received her Upper Court Token and, along with Zhong Yue, excitedly left the Azure Sky Hall for the Sword Gate's Upper Court.

The Upper Court was divided into the Women's Court and Men's Court to prevent illicit affairs between Outer Disciples of opposite genders from living together and spending time together. After all, the Outer Disciples in the Upper Court were the key talents the Sword Gate focused on cultivating, and a chaotic atmosphere would hinder their progress in cultivation.

Shui Qingyan parted ways with Zhong Yue, saying reluctantly, "Brother Yue, remember to visit me often at the Women's Court!"

Zhong Yue nodded and walked through the Upper Court carrying his medicine basket, drawing countless gazes. He thought to himself, "I wonder if male disciples are allowed to enter the Women's Court... I should head to the Medicine Valley first and get ten Feather Spirit Pills to replenish my body. Otherwise, if my body remains frail, I won't be able to continue cultivating the Suihuang Visualization Chart!"