Combat Begins, Rock-Swallowing Behemoth!

Above the assessment plaza, the rotating vortex captured everyone's attention.

Such a phenomenon was utterly inconceivable to these young people from the Great Chu Dynasty.

The Imperial Family had arrived.

Led by Chu Yang, a group of noble scions were also staring intently at the vortex in the sky.

Chu Yang's expression was calm as he said, "This is a spatial passage to a Secret Realm. Inside the Secret Realm, it forms its own world, and there are special rules within. Clearly, the third practical assessment of Azure Star Academy this year will take place within a Secret Realm."

"Sixth Prince is indeed knowledgeable. He saw through the secret of this vortex at a glance, earning our admiration!" Someone immediately chimed in with flattery.

"Sixth Prince possesses extraordinary talent, and yesterday he already broke through to the eighth level of the Primal Energy Realm. This practical assessment will surely be a place for Sixth Prince to showcase his skills!"

"Of course! Of everyone participating in the third assessment, my Sixth Brother has the highest cultivation. Then it's me, at the fifth level of the Primal Energy Realm. This assessment focuses on individual combat power, which is the foundation of a martial artist, unlike the superficiality of the first two assessments!" Chu Jue's voice was loud.

He deliberately raised his volume and, while speaking, looked at Xia Wuji not far away, wishing he could devour him alive. He snorted coldly, but said nothing further.

Once inside the Secret Realm and the practical assessment began, he would settle the score!

He would directly take his life!

Just then.

A powerful pressure swept across the entire plaza. A middle-aged man from Azure Star Academy, accompanied by several Azure Star Academy disciples, flew over and landed on the high platform.

This middle-aged man was an elder of Azure Star Academy named Ouyang Sheng.

He had not appeared during the first two assessments.

This final assessment would be personally presided over by him!

Lin Piaoxue also stood behind Ouyang Sheng. She looked at Xia Wuji, winked, and gave him an encouraging smile.

Xia Wuji smiled faintly, acknowledging her gesture.

Ouyang Sheng's expression was cold. He scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on Xia Wuji for a moment. After all, he was the double champion of the first two assessments and deserved extra attention.

Then, Ouyang Sheng announced, "You have all seen the vortex in the sky. By passing through this vortex, you will enter the Secret Realm.

"The Secret Realm is the location for your third practical assessment. You will all remain within the Secret Realm and hunt Rock-Swallowing Behemoths generated by the Secret Realm's rules."

"There are three tiers of Rock-Swallowing Behemoths: one-eyed, two-eyed, and three-eyed."

"Hunting a one-eyed Rock-Swallowing Behemoth will earn you two points; hunting a two-eyed Rock-Swallowing Behemoth will earn you ten points; and hunting a three-eyed Rock-Swallowing Behemoth will earn you one hundred points!"

"The assessment period is seven days!"

"Azure Star Academy has decided to expand its admissions this time. There are thirty spots allocated to the Great Chu Dynasty. After seven days, rankings will be determined by points, from highest to lowest."

"Logically, the top thirty will become disciples of Azure Star Academy. However, do not be too naive. If, after seven days, anyone within the top thirty has fewer than sixty points, Azure Star Academy will not accept them!"

"There are thirty spots, but that doesn't mean we must fill all thirty!"

"Furthermore, the person who achieves first place will receive an additional reward, just like in the previous two assessments. After joining Azure Star Academy, they will have the opportunity to enter the Pure Origin Secret Realm for three days of cultivation!"

"Do you have any other questions?"

"Elder Ouyang, may I ask if there will be anyone from Azure Star Academy secretly protecting our safety during the practical assessment in the Secret Realm?" someone asked from below the high platform.

Immediately, many people's eyes showed a glimmer of anticipation.

Ouyang Sheng shook his head and said, "No."

"Casualties will occur every year during the practical assessment."

"If anyone cannot continue the assessment, they can crush the numbered token they received during registration and wait where they are. Someone will come in to bring them out."

"Other than that, there is no other protection. Therefore, anyone who wishes to withdraw now can leave directly!"

A small commotion arose in the crowd, but in the end, no one withdrew. Everyone had gone through the first two assessments and was only one step away from becoming a disciple of Azure Star Academy. No one was willing to give up just like that.

"Does anyone else have questions?" Ouyang Sheng asked again.

No one raised any further questions.

Ouyang Sheng then said, "Then, let us begin entering the Secret Realm!"

As his voice fell, he formed hand seals, and a powerful force was instantly injected into the vortex in the sky.

The vortex immediately stopped spinning, and a passage of light extended from within the vortex, reaching the ground.

Chu Yang instantly rushed towards this passage of light, and his figure then disappeared from everyone's sight.

The others also stepped forward one after another.

"Brother Huang, Young Master Xia, good luck to both of you, but also be careful."

Xu Lan said to Huang Hu and Xia Wuji.

Huang Hu grunted and said, "Brother Xia, you go first."

Xia Wuji nodded and replied, "You all be careful too."

As he finished speaking, Xia Wuji entered the passage of light. In an instant, the spatial power contained within the passage of light sent Xia Wuji into the Secret Realm.

Appearing in the Secret Realm, Xia Wuji looked around.

Everything here appeared desolate. The life force was thin, with only sparse, withered vegetation.

He couldn't see anyone who had entered the Secret Realm before him.

"It seems the teleportation into the Secret Realm is random," Xia Wuji muttered to himself. He then chose a direction at random, intending to find a Rock-Swallowing Behemoth first.

He hadn't gone far.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed.

"Hahaha!"

"To think I'd run into you so soon!"

"Heaven favors me!"

A man, wielding a long spear, appeared extremely excited. He charged towards Xia Wuji at an incredible speed.

The tip of his spear flicked up, pointing directly at Xia Wuji.

"The Twelfth Prince said I'd get three Yuan Crystals if I told him your whereabouts!"

"If I subdue you and hand you over to him, I'll not only get ten Yuan Crystals, but also the Great Chu Imperial Family's support for my cultivation resources after I join the Azure Star Academy!"

"Sea of Qi Realm, tenth level?" Xia Wuji glanced at him, disdain evident in his eyes.

The man laughed loudly, "You've got some sharp eyes!"

"I recall your recorded cultivation level during the assessment registration was Sea of Qi Realm, fifth level!"

"Xia Wuji, oh Xia Wuji, what's the use of your good character and comprehension? Your cultivation level is ultimately too low, and you've also offended a Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty!"

"Don't blame me; you can only blame yourself for being too arrogant, for being too weak, hahaha!"

The next moment, the man, who cultivated to the tenth level of the Sea of Qi Realm, charged forward. With a flick of his wrist, the spear tip instantly transformed into dense spear shadows, fiercely stabbing towards Xia Wuji's body.

Xia Wuji directly raised his arm and grabbed at the dense spear shadows with his five fingers.

Instantly, all the spear shadows shattered!

Xia Wuji's hand directly grasped the spear tip!

The man who attacked's expression changed drastically. No matter how hard he struggled, his spear wouldn't budge!

"You... you're not at the fifth level of the Sea of Qi Realm?" he exclaimed in shock.

"You can only blame yourself for being too weak," Xia Wuji echoed his words back to him. With a surge of power from his palm, the spear tip of this high-grade Precious Artifact was directly snapped by his bare hands!

He flicked his wrist.

The spear tip shot out, instantly piercing the man's head!

On the man's face, a mixture of terror, pain, unwillingness, and despair was etched. His body fell backward stiffly. After a couple of struggles, he breathed his last.

Xia Wuji stepped forward, collected a Yuan Crystal that was not fully charged and two bottles of Precious Pills, tossed them into his Storage Ring, and then burned the corpse with fire.

Just as he was about to leave.

"Rumble!"

The ground began to shake, cracks spreading. Immediately after, a giant stone figure, over three Zhang tall, emerged from the ground!

The target for the third practical combat assessment of the Azure Star Academy, the Rock-Swallowing Behemoth, had appeared!