Forcefully Breaking Through the Trials

Du Meng's performance made Chen Yuanxin's expression turn ugly in an instant, as though he had swallowed a fly.

Especially after everyone's attention was snatched away by Du Meng once more, Chen Yuanxin was filled with hatred!

Yet no matter how viciously he fumed inside, half a quarter-hour later, the seventh completed ring still lit up.

Then, after another quarter-hour, the eighth ring lit up as well.

It had taken the same quarter-hour, but Chen Yuanxin had been pulling tricks, while this fierce kid Du Meng had done it with real steel and solid blows!

Du Meng likewise did not emerge, yet Chen Yuanxin sneered at this moment.

Did he really think he could clear the ninth trial?

Although everyone entering the trials faced puppets based on their current realm, having seen the ninth trial himself, Chen Yuanxin absolutely did not believe Du Meng could pass it.

After Du Meng entered the ninth trial and more than a dozen breaths had passed, Chen Yuanxin felt that he should be about ready to be forced out.

But after half a quarter-hour had passed, Du Meng still had not come out. Even so, Chen Yuanxin still did not think he could clear the ninth trial.

A quarter-hour passed, and Du Meng was still in the ninth trial. By then, Chen Yuanxin was beginning to lose his composure.

After another half an hour, the gates of the examination grounds trembled faintly, and the lofty ninth ring lit up.

After the ninth ring lit up, the instructors somewhere else let out another round of sighs.

What a pity!

Such an outstanding prospect, yet they could not take him as a disciple. It was enough to make their eyes burn with envy!

"Th-this... how is this possible!"

The instant he saw the ninth ring light up, Chen Yuanxin's eyes flew wide, filled with utter disbelief. His lips kept moving as he muttered under his breath, "Impossible. How could he pass the ninth trial? Even with the strength I gained from pills, I could barely receive one move from one of those puppets before I couldn't hold on any longer. How could that kid possibly clear the ninth trial?"

While Chen Yuanxin muttered to himself in a low voice, everyone else erupted into cries of shock.

"The ninth trial—someone actually cleared the ninth trial!"

"That's unbelievable! He must be the first person to ever clear the ninth trial, right?"

"It was worth it! Even if I can't enter Lianyang Academy, witnessing someone clear the ninth trial with my own eyes was worth it!"

"..."

Amid the noisy discussions, the examiner in charge of these examination grounds excitedly took out a jade tablet and notified the academy's higher-ups of the matter.

"Hahaha, Brother Wu, many thanks!"

At the place where the academy students were observing this round of examinations, Lin Zhihao suddenly burst into loud laughter.

But Wu Lang, seated across from him, wore a rather ugly expression.

Because of what he had said before, he could not say much now. After all, he was representing the Lone Wolf Gang this time. If he went back on his word, it would not do the Lone Wolf Gang's name any good—though the Lone Wolf Gang had never had much of a good reputation to begin with.

Especially since Lin Zhihao was from the Tianwang Sect, backing out was even less likely.

Yet Wu Lang had not given up. Although he had said all that before, if that kid voluntarily joined their Lone Wolf Gang now, then Lin Zhihao would have nothing to say.

A thought stirring in his heart, Wu Lang gave someone behind him a meaningful look. That person immediately slipped away in secret.

Caught up in his excitement, Lin Zhihao did not notice this. The woman from Nine Phoenix Garden did notice, but she had no intention of warning him.

She merely found it a little regrettable that the person who had cleared the ninth trial was not a woman.

Still, she did not dwell on it. After all, Nine Phoenix Garden had already recruited a girl of astonishing talent ahead of time this year.

In the words of several Garden Masters of Nine Phoenix Garden, that girl possessed the potential to surpass the Tianwang Sect's Tianwang. She was a peerless genius whose future knew no bounds.

If the Second Garden Master of Nine Phoenix Garden had not been that girl's Second Senior Sister, she likely would not have joined Nine Phoenix Garden at all.

With such a genius having joined them, Nine Phoenix Garden had grown rather indifferent toward this round of entrance examinations.

"He's out! Du Meng is out!"

At last, amid a cry of surprise, Du Meng emerged from the examination grounds.

However, Du Meng looked somewhat bedraggled at the moment. His clothes had practically been reduced to strips of cloth, and Qin Shaofeng could even sense that he had suffered some light injuries.

Secretly activating Fiery Golden Eyes, Qin Shaofeng discovered that Du Meng's Inner Qi Points had been completely depleted.

After clearing the ninth trial, Du Meng had entered the tenth trial. Yet in the end, he had only lasted ten breaths before being defeated and driven back.

This made Qin Shaofeng secretly wonder whether Du Meng's condition had been caused by the ninth trial or the tenth.

Qin Shaofeng leaned more toward the latter.

But Qin Shaofeng quickly stopped guessing. Whatever the situation was, he would find out by experiencing it himself.

Taking a step forward, Qin Shaofeng walked toward the examination grounds.

Because it was finally his turn!

Passing through the gates, Qin Shaofeng entered a room directly.

The room was not small either, large enough to hold over a hundred people at once.

Crack!

Just as Qin Shaofeng glanced at the door, somewhere in the room suddenly split open, and a figure stepped out—it was the Assessment Puppet.

"Defeat the puppet to pass. If you can't hold on, call for a stop at any time!"

An aged voice suddenly rang out, startling Qin Shaofeng.

But upon closer inspection, Qin Shaofeng could not spot a single person—not apart from the puppet before him.

Even after Qin Shaofeng secretly activated his Fiery Golden Eyes, he could not find the source of that aged voice. Instead, he managed to inspect the puppet's attributes.

Assessment Puppet

Level: Houtian Eighth Layer Early Stage (Strength Restricted)

Although the Assessment Puppet before him was only at the Houtian Eighth Layer Early Stage, Qin Shaofeng could inspect no further information. Yet the words "Strength Restricted" made him realize that this Assessment Puppet's true level was definitely far beyond the Houtian Eighth Layer.

Whoosh!

The moment Qin Shaofeng finished reading the Assessment Puppet's information, it suddenly charged at him.

Qin Shaofeng merely curled his lips into a faint smile.

Houtian Eighth Layer?

Heh!

Facing the Assessment Puppet charging straight at him, Qin Shaofeng did not evade in the slightest. He simply threw a direct punch.

Bang!

It was only a simple punch, yet the Assessment Puppet was sent flying by Qin Shaofeng's blow.

With a smack, the Assessment Puppet crashed to the floor and lay there without moving.

Then the aged voice rang out again.

"Passed. Would you like to challenge the second stage?"

That was enough to pass?

Qin Shaofeng froze slightly, feeling somewhat helpless, but he still said, "Yes!"

Crack!

At Qin Shaofeng's answer, the Assessment Puppet that had fallen to the ground without moving actually stood back up.

Qin Shaofeng's thoughts stirred, and he activated his Fiery Golden Eyes once more.

Assessment Puppet

Level: Houtian Eighth Layer Middle Stage (Strength Restricted)

It had changed!

The Assessment Puppet's level had risen. Although it had only gone from the Houtian Eighth Layer Early Stage to the Middle Stage, Qin Shaofeng could clearly sense that the aura of the Assessment Puppet before him had absolutely reached the Houtian Eighth Layer Late Stage of an ordinary person.

Still, it was far too weak for him.

Bang!

Another punch sent the Assessment Puppet crashing to the ground again, motionless.

At the same time, the aged voice sounded once more.

"Passed. Would you like to challenge the third stage?"

Qin Shaofeng's mouth twitched as he replied, "Yes!"

Crack!

The Assessment Puppet climbed back up again, making Qin Shaofeng involuntarily think of the words "reviving on the spot."

Before long, the aged voice rang out yet again, tirelessly repeating itself.

"Passed. Would you like to challenge the fourth stage?"

"Yes!"

Qin Shaofeng sounded rather listless now.

But this time, something different happened.

Crack!

The wall of the room split open again, and a figure stepped out from within.

Mm, it was an Assessment Puppet!

What was this?

Seeing this, Qin Shaofeng was somewhat surprised.

Once he activated his Fiery Golden Eyes, he was even more surprised.

Because the newly appeared Assessment Puppet had exactly the same attributes as the previous one. Moreover, compared to the third stage, the two Assessment Puppets' attributes were completely identical—they were both at the Houtian Eighth Layer Late Stage.

"Instead of raising their level this time, they increased the number?"

Qin Shaofeng understood something, yet his expression remained utterly relaxed.

"Still not worth looking at!"

With a flash, Qin Shaofeng moved, followed by two thuds as bodies hit the ground.

"Passed. Will you proceed with the fifth challenge?"

"Yes!"

Crack!

There was one more Assessment Puppet!

Yet the result remained the same!

"Passed. Will you proceed with the sixth challenge?"

"Yes!"

Four Assessment Puppets now!

Yet Qin Shaofeng still felt not the slightest pressure.

But Qin Shaofeng had no idea that outside, quite a commotion had risen because of him.

"Damn, this guy's a real beast too! He's only at Houtian Eighth Layer, yet he's already reached the sixth stage so quickly?"

"Tsk, tsk, he's even faster than that beast from before. He's probably the Houtian Eighth Layer martial artist with the best result yet!"

"What stage do you think he can reach?"

"What stage? His realm is right there—Houtian Eighth Layer. What stage do you expect him to reach? He should thank the heavens if he can clear the sixth stage!"

"Mm, that's true. His realm is simply too low!"

Hearing the surrounding discussions, Du Meng gave a sly grin.

"Ha, what a bunch of ignorant fools. They actually think Brother Feng should thank the heavens just for clearing the sixth stage? Although the Assessment Puppets after the seventh stage will grow even stronger, with Brother Feng's freakish defense and his absurdly deep Inner Qi, I cleared the ninth stage myself—how could Brother Feng possibly fail to pass?"

In truth, there was one more thing Du Meng kept to himself instead of muttering it aloud.

In his eyes, Brother Feng definitely possessed the ability to challenge the tenth stage, and could hold on for at least dozens of breaths.

That was already Du Meng's boldest guess, because the final stage was no trifling matter.

Yet Du Meng did not know that he had still underestimated Qin Shaofeng.

Du Meng had experienced the astonishing defensive power of Qin Shaofeng's Lightning Armor, and knew that despite being only Houtian Eighth Layer, Qin Shaofeng possessed far deeper Inner Qi than even himself.

But Du Meng had yet to experience Qin Shaofeng's strongest attack!

"He passed! He passed the sixth stage!"

A sudden cry rang out. The sixth ring on the doors to the assessment grounds lit up.

Inside the room, Qin Shaofeng looked at the five Assessment Puppets before him and finally found things a little less boring.

For the seventh assessment stage, as usual, one more Assessment Puppet had been added, bringing the total to five.

Not only that, the Assessment Puppets, whose level had remained unchanged since the third stage, finally underwent a change.

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