Early the next morning, Su Yun and the others set out.
Near dusk, they finally returned to the Mystic Blade Sect.
After chatting for a while, they each went their separate ways.
Not long after returning, Song Que came to see him.
"Junior Brother Su Yun, you're back?"
Song Que's voice came from outside the door.
He seemed a little nervous, and even stumbled over his words.
"Senior Brother Song Que, what do you need?"
Su Yun looked curious, then got up and opened the door.
At that moment, in Su Yun's courtyard,
Song Que stood respectfully behind a middle-aged man.
The man had a kindly face and was smiling at Su Yun.
A token hanging at his waist stood out quite clearly.
"An elder's token!"
Su Yun's thoughts stirred, and he immediately realized who the man was.
"Su Yun, this is Elder Mu of the sect. He's also the elder in charge of tomorrow's Inner Sect examination."
Song Que hurriedly explained.
"Greetings, Elder Mu!"
Hearing this, Su Yun cupped his hands in salute.
If he wasn't mistaken, Elder Mu was the sort of elder who wielded real authority. His status was very high.
"Su Yun, you're quite impressive."
"When I first heard the rumors from Wanyang City, I was a little skeptical. They sounded too exaggerated."
"But now that I've seen you for myself, I realize your Blade Momentum has advanced far beyond just entering Great Accomplishment."
"If I'm not mistaken, your Blade Momentum has already reached eighty percent, hasn't it?"
Elder Mu spoke with a smile.
His cultivation was profound, and his horizons broad. He had also cultivated a rather special technique that allowed him to sense other people's Blade Momentum.
That was why he had seen through Su Yun at a glance.
It was also why the Great Elder had asked him to meet Su Yun in person.
After all, seeing was believing.
Meeting him face-to-face was more convincing than any rumor.
"Elder Mu, compared to true martial arts experts, I still have a long way to go."
Su Yun's thoughts stirred, and he replied with a smile.
"Haha, let's not talk about that."
"First, let me tell you about the different difficulty levels of the Inner Sect examination."
Elder Mu said with a smile.
"This time, because you performed so well in Wanyang City, the Great Elder proposed holding a separate examination just for you."
"There are four difficulty levels: Grade A, B, C, and D."
"The Grade-A examination is the hardest. The others become easier in descending order."
"Whichever one you choose, passing it will earn you the status of an Inner Sect disciple."
"Also, if you pass the Grade-A examination, you can choose any one Mysterious Grade high-tier technique."
"If you pass Grade B, you can only choose a Mysterious Grade mid-tier technique."
"If you pass Grade C, you can only choose a Mysterious Grade low-tier technique."
"If you choose the lowest, Grade-D examination, even passing it will earn you no reward. You'll only gain the status of an Inner Sect disciple."
Elder Mu briefly explained.
"If I pass the Grade-A examination, I can choose any Mysterious Grade high-tier technique?"
Su Yun's expression shifted.
In that case, he would definitely choose the Grade-A examination.
"Su Yun, I must warn you that the Grade-A examination is extremely difficult."
"Even the highest-ranked Inner Sect disciples can't pass it."
"They may not even be able to fight back before losing in just a few moves."
Elder Mu looked at Su Yun and asked with a smile,
"Tell me now, which examination do you choose?"
"I choose Grade A!"
Su Yun answered without hesitation.
"Good. I'll come find you again tomorrow morning."
Elder Mu said no more, merely nodding with a smile.
He wasn't surprised by Su Yun's choice at all.
If he didn't even have the confidence to do this, he wouldn't deserve to be called a martial arts prodigy.
Then Elder Mu turned and left.
"Junior Brother Su Yun, I'm afraid you've been a little hasty with that choice."
Song Que looked solemn.
He didn't know the full extent of Su Yun's true strength.
But the top-ranked Inner Sect disciples were all powerful.
Even so, Elder Mu had just said without hesitation that they couldn't pass the Grade-A examination.
Clearly, the Grade-A examination was far too difficult!
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Song Que. I'm confident."
Su Yun said with a smile.
Hearing that, Song Que stopped trying to dissuade him.
After chatting for a while, he left.
Early the next morning.
Su Yun followed Elder Mu to the examination grounds in the Inner Sect district.
More precisely, this was actually the Inner Sect disciples' morning training ground.
Some Inner Sect disciples were practicing various martial techniques in the square.
Blades flashed, swords glinted, and vital energy roared.
Elder Mu led Su Yun to the center of the square.
Then he faced a towering statue and gave a low shout.
"Golden Armor Giant Spirit Formation, rise!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he formed a mysterious hand seal and sent it into the statue.
Rumble!
Almost in an instant, the entire square began to shake violently.
Then dazzling golden light burst from the statue.
There were twelve rays of golden light in all. They landed across the square and transformed into twelve Golden Armor Giant Spirits!
"Is this a formation?"
Su Yun's expression shifted at the sight.
The Golden Armor Giant Spirits before him clearly weren't living creatures. They looked more like some kind of puppets, and their auras were terrifying.
Each one wielded a huge golden sword, radiating an oppressive presence and overwhelming might.
"This is the Golden Armor Giant Spirit Formation."
"Once activated, it manifests twelve Golden Armor Giant Spirits. They aren't living beings; they're formed entirely from the power of a terrifying formation."
"Each Golden Armor Giant Spirit has astonishing defense and powerful attacks. They're as unbreakable as iron, and even the aura they give off is comparable to a ninth-level Profound Mastery expert."
"The Grade-A examination requires you to defeat all twelve Golden Armor Giant Spirits within the time it takes one incense stick to burn."
"For Grade B, you only need to hold out for half that time."
"If you want to change your mind, you can still choose the Grade-B examination."
Elder Mu looked at Su Yun with a smile.
"What's going on? Someone activated the Golden Armor Giant Spirit Formation?"
"Huh? Who's that Junior Brother? I don't recognize him."
"Senior Brother, you've been in seclusion this whole time, so you haven't heard. That's Su Yun, who's become famous lately. They say he's comprehended Great Accomplishment Blade Intent!"
"What! Great Accomplishment Blade Intent? Junior Brother Su Yun is a real monster!"
"So what if he's mastered Great Accomplishment Blade Intent? The Golden Armor Giant Spirit Formation is no ordinary formation. It's incredibly powerful."
"Defeating twelve Golden Armor Giant Spirits in the time it takes one incense stick to burn? I doubt that's possible."
The Mystic Blade Sect disciples who heard the news gathered around.
In the square,
Su Yun didn't react to the disciples' discussion around him.
He spoke slowly.
"Elder, I won't change my choice."
"Good!"
Elder Mu stroked his beard and smiled, then called out,
"Someone, light the incense!"
At his instruction, Song Que lit an incense stick.
Once the tip caught,
a faint fragrance drifted away on the breeze.
"You can take a moment to adjust your breathing."
Elder Mu reminded him.
"No need, Elder Mu."
"I'm ready."
Su Yun gripped the Black Blade, his gaze deep.
"Good. Then let the examination begin!"
Elder Mu praised him inwardly, then stepped into the air and formed a hand seal.
Rumble!!
The twelve Golden Armor Giant Spirits that had stood motionless now stirred to life.
They glared with golden eyes and turned toward Su Yun in unison!
Clang!
One of the Golden Armor Giant Spirits clenched its golden greatsword, eyes blazing with fury. It leaped through the air and slashed at Su Yun!
"That sword strike has quite a presence!"
Su Yun smiled as he raised his blade, then immediately unleashed eighty-percent Blade Momentum and slashed across.
Clang!!
Blade and sword crashed together with a piercing sound like iron striking stone.
Then,
golden swordlight and blood-red blade light erupted across the square, blocking everyone's view.
For a moment, they couldn't see a thing.
Crack!
But in the next instant, before the crowd's shocked eyes,
the Golden Armor Giant Spirit's chest burst apart!
One slash sent it crashing to the ground!
Before you continue