After breaking through to the Primal Energy Realm, Xia Wuji's aura surged violently for a while, but after only a few breaths, it returned to normal.
He had exquisite control over the Sword Essence within his body. He did not need to be like other martial artists, who often required considerable time after every breakthrough—especially breakthroughs into major realms—to become familiar with and adapt to their newly gained power.
He opened his eyes and stood up. Looking at Chu Yang, who was hanging in the air and swaying, he flicked his finger. A streak of sword energy whistled away and severed the chains.
"Bang!"
Chu Yang's body fell to the ground.
"Hiss..."
Chu Yang, barely clinging to life, let out a pained hiss on the ground, his body curled into a ball.
"Xia Wuji... please... give me a way to live..."
Chu Yang groaned.
Xia Wuji said coldly, "You brought all of this upon yourself. I kept you alive until now only to see whether there were any blind fools who would dare to stand up for you."
"Since no one came to die trying to save you, you can die too."
"No... I'm the Sixth Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty... Don't kill me. You can't kill me... You..." Chu Yang shouted with all his remaining strength.
But Xia Wuji gave him no chance to continue.
"Swish!"
A flash of sword light streaked past.
A hole appeared in Chu Yang's forehead, and he died completely on the spot.
A moment later.
"Clang!"
A crisp sound rang throughout the entire secret realm.
"All those participating in the assessment, gather here at once!"
Xia Wuji looked toward where the voice had come from. Brilliant light shone from that area, clearly serving as a guide for everyone still inside the secret realm.
He immediately hurried over.
By the time Xia Wuji arrived,
quite a few young martial artists participating in the assessment had already reached the area.
Elder Ouyang Sheng of the Azure Star Academy, along with several disciples of the Azure Star Academy, was waiting for everyone to arrive.
At once, everyone's gazes turned toward Xia Wuji.
Everyone had already learned that during the practical assessment in the secret realm, Xia Wuji had slain Chu Jue, slain Chu Yang, and even killed a group of noble disciples from the Great Chu Dynasty along the way.
It could be said that nearly all of the strongest participants in this assessment had been killed by Xia Wuji...
The participants looked at Xia Wuji, fear showing in their eyes.
The few disciples of the Azure Star Academy, meanwhile, wore extremely complicated expressions.
As for Elder Ouyang Sheng of the Azure Star Academy, he was rather appreciative of Xia Wuji's performance. The path of martial cultivation was inherently cruel, and decisive killing was an indispensable quality for anyone who wanted to become a top-tier powerhouse.
What was more, Ouyang Sheng knew the full story and understood one thing very clearly: Xia Wuji was not a bloodthirsty butcher who killed indiscriminately.
Xia Wuji's gaze swept across the crowd, but he did not see Lin Piaoxue.
Ouyang Sheng had clearly guessed what Xia Wuji was thinking. He nodded at Xia Wuji and said, "Lin Piaoxue should have gone to Tian Xuan Peak of the Azure Star Academy long ago, so she set out once your third-round practical assessment began."
Xia Wuji cupped his hands toward Ouyang Sheng, then stood quietly where he was, waiting for Ouyang Sheng to announce the results of the third-round assessment.
After waiting a little longer,
the people who had taken part in the third-round practical assessment, held out until the end, and were still alive finally arrived.
Only fifty-two people remained.
Among those fifty-two people, only twelve had reached sixty points.
Although the Azure Star Academy had expanded its recruitment in the Great Chu Dynasty this year and planned to accept thirty people, Ouyang Sheng had already said that quality mattered more than quantity.
Thus, in the end, only twelve people could join the Azure Star Academy.
With 768 points, Xia Wuji had become first without the slightest suspense.
The second-place participant was a martial artist at the fourth level of the Primal Energy Realm, with 172 points.
Xia Wuji's first-place score towered over the rest by an entire tier.
"Xia Wuji, you came first in all three rounds of this assessment. You have already received the rewards for taking first place in the first two rounds. As for the reward for taking first place in the third round, once you reach the Azure Star Academy, you may go directly to the Pure Origin Secret Realm and cultivate there for three days," Ouyang Sheng said.
"Yes." Xia Wuji nodded to show that he understood.
While treating Huang Hu and Xu Lan's injuries, he had heard Huang Hu mention the Pure Origin Secret Realm of the Azure Star Academy. It was an extremely special cultivation ground, containing incomparably pure essence energy of Heaven and Earth.
It was said that cultivating there for one day was equivalent to cultivating outside for an entire month.
Outer Court Disciples of the Azure Star Academy did not have the qualifications to cultivate inside the Pure Origin Secret Realm at all. Even Inner Court Disciples could not enter whenever they wished.
Ouyang Sheng continued, "This year, the Azure Star Academy will also offer three Inner Court Disciple slots to the newcomers. These three slots will be contested by the top three participants from each assessment point."
"Once you reach the Azure Star Academy, the detailed arrangements will be announced."
"Also, rest today. Tomorrow, those who passed the assessment will set out with this elder for the Azure Star Academy!"
The next morning, at daybreak,
the twelve people who had passed the assessment boarded a flying vessel belonging to the Azure Star Academy.
The flying vessel shot through the air, traversing the sky at incredible speed as it headed toward the Azure Star Academy.
Even so, it took a full six days before they finally arrived.
When the flying vessel landed and everyone stepped out, wave after wave of exclamations immediately rang out.
The youths from the Great Chu Dynasty stared at the magnificent sight before them, their hearts shaken.
Xia Wuji also surveyed the Azure Star Academy before him.
The Azure Star Academy was situated among a range of mountains.
Peak after peak towered into the clouds, lofty and graceful.
Countless buildings stood among the various peaks, creating an extraordinarily spectacular sight.
Among them, seven peaks were the most majestic. They were the seven Star Peaks of the Azure Star Academy. The foremost was Tian Shu Peak, which was also the academy's main peak.
Moreover, extremely dense essence energy filled the surrounding Heaven and Earth. The cultivation environment here was countless times better than that of the Great Chu Dynasty.
"The top three participants stay behind. The rest will be taken directly to the Outer Court." Ouyang Sheng's voice rang out.
The top three had other arrangements. As for everyone below third place, they would all register in the Outer Court.
Outer Court Disciples were not assigned to any particular peak.
Only Inner Court Disciples were divided in detail.
"Elder Ouyang... I plan to... give up the chance to compete for an Inner Court Disciple slot," said the man from the Great Chu Dynasty who had placed second in the assessment.
He was only at the fourth level of the Primal Energy Realm.
If Xia Wuji had not gone on a killing spree during the assessment, he would never have made it to second place.
He did not have the courage to participate in the competition that followed.
"Elder Ouyang, I give up as well." A woman who had placed third in the assessment spoke up. She was only at the second level of the Primal Energy Realm and was even less willing to take part in the upcoming competition.
Both of them planned to honestly become Outer Court Disciples, advancing steadily and rising gradually in the future. For now, they had no intention of courting death.
Ouyang Sheng's expression remained impassive. "Then the two of you can go register in the Outer Court as well."
"Brother Xia, be careful." As Huang Hu headed to the Outer Court, he cupped his hands toward Xia Wuji.
Xu Lan also cupped her hands and bowed. "Young Master Xia, Brother Huang and I will wait for your good news. I wish you success in everything."
Xia Wuji hummed in acknowledgment and said, "I hope everything goes smoothly for you two after you join the Azure Star Academy as well."
After those people left for the Outer Court, a disciple of the Azure Star Academy looked at Xia Wuji and said, "Junior Brother Xia, come with me."
"Elder Ouyang, I'll be going first." Xia Wuji spoke to Ouyang Sheng.
Ouyang Sheng nodded. "Little fellow, I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you perform."
"I'll do my utmost and live up to Elder Ouyang's high hopes." Xia Wuji spoke, then left with the disciple of the Azure Star Academy.
Before long, Xia Wuji was brought to a courtyard.
Originally, three people were supposed to live in this courtyard, but now Xia Wuji was the only one there.
The man responsible for bringing Xia Wuji there smiled and said, "Junior Brother Xia, only people from the Great Feng Dynasty have arrived so far."
"The people from the other three dynasties should be able to arrive within the next two days as well."
"Once the people from all five dynasties have arrived, the competition for the three Inner Court Disciple slots will begin. Be patient and wait a few days."
There were five great dynasties on this land: the Great Chu Dynasty, the Great Feng Dynasty, the Great Liang Dynasty, the Great Hong Dynasty, and the Great Qin Dynasty.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
After giving Xia Wuji a few instructions, the man left.
But the man had barely left through the front door
when someone arrived through the back.
"Crash!"
With a tremendous bang, the courtyard gate was violently shoved open.
Immediately afterward, a burly man with the build of a tiger and the waist of a bear stormed inside.
"Get out here, you bastard from the Great Chu Dynasty!"
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