Brighten Your Dog Eyes

Hidden Spirit Academy's Dragon Gate Assessment grounds were the size of a football field, with spectator stands set up all around. At this moment, the stands were already packed.

The Dragon Gate Assessment, held once every half-year, drew many outer institute disciples from the five great institutes to watch, allowing them to gain a little experience for their own future assessments.

The disciples from the five great institutes who were taking the assessment followed their respective institute stewards to the entrance. Each received a numbered tag, then lined up to await the assessment.

Dark force—so long as one had money, it was not difficult to pile up enough resources to create a dark-force martial artist. Hidden Spirit Academy was a place for cultivating true martial arts elites, which was why it had such a rule: those who failed the Dragon Gate Assessment could never become inner institute disciples.

The Dragon Gate Assessment was simple: kill a third-rank demon beast that had been starved for a day and a night.

A third-rank demon beast was equivalent to a transformed-force martial artist.

It was not too difficult for several dark-force martial artists to hunt a third-rank demon beast together, but one-on-one, it was very difficult. The academy had even deliberately starved the demon beasts for a day and a night, making them all the more dangerous. Thus, people suffered severe injuries in every Dragon Gate Assessment.

And if one wanted to catch the eye of an inner institute teacher, or even be accepted as a personal disciple, one had to challenge two third-rank demon beasts.

That was even more difficult and dangerous. There had once been cases where challengers died on the spot.

Zhang Yu stood in the line, looking very relaxed.

He did not need to take a master. He only wanted to learn first-rate cultivation arts, so he only needed to defeat one third-rank demon beast to pass the assessment.

Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure among the assessment disciples from Cloud Return Institute.

[Name: Xu Yang]

[Cultivation Talent: Excellent]

[Comprehension: Outstanding]

[Fate: Aloof, Compassionate]

[Physique: Frostbound Myriad-Sword Physique (Unawakened), ranked 6th among the 36 Heavenly Gang Physiques]

"Looks like my lofty expert act last time didn't convince him." Zhang Yu muttered to himself, his eyes burning as he looked at the other man's stats.

"No, I have to find a way to take him as my disciple."

Even unawakened, the Frostbound Myriad-Sword Physique came with excellent cultivation talent and outstanding comprehension. Once the physique awakened, his cultivation talent would rise another level. At that point, Xu Yang would become a genius with both outstanding cultivation talent and comprehension.

"Cloud Return Institute, prepare!"

The Dragon Gate Assessment began.

Cloud Return Institute had three outer institute disciples taking the Dragon Gate Assessment, and Xu Yang was number one.

Xu Yang said to the chief institute steward presiding over the assessment, "Steward, I want to challenge two third-rank demon beasts."

The presiding steward glanced at him. "Are you sure?"

"Mm!" Xu Yang nodded firmly.

He had been stuck at the peak of dark force for a long time, unable to advance even an inch. His family had invited many people, yet none had been able to identify his problem.

He had come to Hidden Cloud Academy to seek help from a teacher in the astral-force realm. To draw the attention of an astral-force expert, he had to shine brightly in the Dragon Gate Assessment, so he chose to challenge two third-rank demon beasts.

Roar... Roar...

Two iron cages were opened in the assessment grounds. Then, the two third-rank Ghost Wolves locked inside leaped out and howled at the sky.

Ghost Wolves were third-rank, speed-type demon beasts. Each was over twenty feet long and ten feet tall. Their two ghostly blue eyes fixed on Xu Yang, while foul-smelling drool dripped from their mouths, splat, splat... drop by drop onto the ground.

Xu Yang stared at the two Ghost Wolves, his expression grave.

Roar!

Suddenly, one Ghost Wolf let out a howl and pounced at Xu Yang. It was incredibly fast. A black blur flashed, and it was already before him, its gaping maw snapping toward his throat.

Xu Yang threw his head back, evading the bite, while his right hand launched a Crimson Sun Palm toward the Ghost Wolf's jaw.

Smack!

He hit it, but merely hit it. He had not managed to drive the full force of the Crimson Sun Palm into it, because at the same instant his right palm struck the Ghost Wolf's jaw, its two front claws slammed into his chest.

Bang!

Xu Yang staggered back three steps, while the Ghost Wolf was knocked back over ten feet.

Before Xu Yang could steady himself, the sound of something slicing through the air came from behind him. The other Ghost Wolf had already circled behind him, its timing flawless. As he retreated, it bit toward the back of his neck.

Xu Yang inwardly cried out in alarm, unwillingness flashing in his eyes.

I, Xu Yang, have been a genius since childhood. I absolutely cannot stop here.

In the next second, his left elbow shot backward.

Bang!

Xu Yang's left elbow smashed viciously into the Ghost Wolf's mouth, knocking out its two front teeth. The remaining force drove into the roof of the wolf's mouth.

Yet the Ghost Wolf endured the pain and did not release him. It directly bit through Xu Yang's left arm.

Crack!

Aah!

Xu Yang let out a short scream. A trace of resolve appeared in his eyes as he endured the agony of shattered bone, gathered all his strength into his right palm, and felt its center begin to burn. He struck toward the Ghost Wolf's head.

"Die!"

Bang!

Xu Yang's palm slammed the wolf's head straight into the ground with a thunderous crash. A ring of air rippled across the ground, showing just how powerful the force was. A charred palm print appeared on the wolf's head.

Xu Yang cultivated the Crimson Sun Art, his family's inherited ranked cultivation art, which carried a fire attribute.

Awooo!

The Ghost Wolf let out a mournful howl, blood seeping from its eyes. Though it was not dead, it had lost its fighting strength.

Aah...

Xu Yang screamed again. While he had turned to strike the second Ghost Wolf, the first one bit into his left leg, tearing off a chunk of flesh and swallowing it in two wet bites.

Grrr...

After eating, it let out a growl and pounced at Xu Yang again.

Xu Yang's left arm and left leg were both injured. He could only use his right arm and right leg to maneuver against the Ghost Wolf.

Third-rank demon beasts already possessed a certain degree of intelligence. It did not clash head-on with Xu Yang, merely using its speed to continuously leave wounds across his body.

Bang bang bang...

After a few breaths, Xu Yang was covered in wounds, turned into a man of blood. His breathing came in rapid gasps. He had reached the end of his rope.

Is this how it ends? I refuse to accept this! Xu Yang roared inwardly, his face filled with grief.

Whoosh!

Seeing Xu Yang swaying on the verge of collapse, the Ghost Wolf's body surged with a layer of black demonic power. Its speed rose again, and it appeared beside Xu Yang like lightning, biting straight for his throat.

The outer institute female disciples in the stands were already screaming. Some covered their eyes with both hands. Anyone could see that Xu Yang could not evade it.

Boom!

Thud!

In an instant, a chief institute steward appeared above the Ghost Wolf and kicked its head into pulp, saving the blood-soaked Xu Yang.

Xu Yang closed his eyes unwillingly. He felt tears welling in his eyes. What should I do? Who can help me?

Called a genius since childhood and treated like a little sun within his family, he was now utterly despondent, feeling an ocean-deep despair.

Xu Yang was quickly carried away, and the Dragon Gate Assessment continued.

The second and third assessors from Cloud Return Outer Institute also failed, and were carried out one after another.

The newly admitted outer institute disciples had only heard that the Dragon Gate Assessment was difficult and that injuries were common. Now that they had seen it with their own eyes, every face turned exceedingly grave.

"This is so hard. These demon beasts are all the best among third-rank beasts. Isn't the academy deliberately making sure we fail?" someone whispered.

"The stewards won't save anyone until the very last moment. How cruel."

"Keep it down. Don't let the stewards hear you."

The stands buzzed with discussion.

Li Feifei and Su Wan sat together, both looking pale.

"It's actually this difficult. How are we supposed to pass in the future?" Li Feifei said.

Su Wan frowned deeply. "I hope Senior Brother Ye can pass."

"Right, right, Senior Brother Ye will definitely pass. Once he becomes an inner institute disciple, he'll get more resources and guidance from teachers. When the time comes, if he puts in a few good words for us, maybe we can pass the Dragon Gate Assessment too," Li Feifei said.

Four people from Xing Fa Outer Institute had registered for the Dragon Gate Assessment. Only one old disciple barely passed, killing a third-rank demon beast at his limit.

"Bedrock Outer Institute, number one—Ye Xuan!" The chief institute steward presiding over the assessment called Ye Xuan's name.

By now, Ye Xuan's face no longer held any arrogance or confidence. With a grave expression, he walked into the assessment grounds.

"Go, Senior Brother Ye! I believe you'll definitely pass. You're the best!" Li Feifei's voice rang out from the stands.

Yet at this moment, Ye Xuan found Li Feifei's voice unbearably noisy and irritating. He wanted to tell her to shut up. Even he himself had no confidence he could pass. If he failed, with Li Feifei shouting like this now, would that not make him even more embarrassed afterward?

Thus, upon hearing Li Feifei's voice, Ye Xuan did not raise his head, much less glance at her.

Roar...

A third-rank Red-Eyed Tiger was released from an iron cage. Its crimson tiger eyes stared at Ye Xuan, over thirty feet away.

Ye Xuan gripped his longsword tightly, trying his best to look calm. However, the faint tremble of his little finger exposed his true state.

He was nervous—perhaps even a little afraid.

Roar...

The Red-Eyed Tiger roared, and Ye Xuan's body involuntarily trembled.

The next second, the Red-Eyed Tiger pounced before him, its tiger claw coming down toward his head.

Panic filled Ye Xuan's heart. When he dodged to the side, he was just a fraction too slow, and the enormous tiger claw swept across the outside of his shoulder.

Rip...

The tiger claw left a bloody wound on the outside of his shoulder, so deep that bone showed through.

Aah!

Ye Xuan screamed.

He wanted to endure the pain and thrust his sword at the Red-Eyed Tiger, but he only pierced through its afterimage.

Whoosh...

A sharp rush of wind sounded behind him.

Not good! Ye Xuan had only enough time to cry out inwardly before, with a bang, the thick tiger tail lashed across his back.

Pfft...

Ye Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood. His body pitched forward, and he crashed to the ground.

Roar...

A tiger's roar sounded behind him again as the Red-Eyed Tiger's gaping maw bit toward the back of his neck.

"I surrender! Save me!" Ye Xuan was scared out of his wits and shouted.

Bang!

In an instant, the chief institute steward struck, kicking the Red-Eyed Tiger away.

He glanced at Ye Xuan and said expressionlessly, "Ye Xuan of Bedrock Outer Institute has voluntarily surrendered. He is forbidden from participating in the Dragon Gate Assessment again for one year."

"Aah!" Ye Xuan froze.

"That Bedrock Outer Institute disciple is truly disgraceful. It seemed a female disciple was cheering for him just now."

"He looks pretty clean-cut, but he's a silver spear with a wax tip—pretty to look at, useless in a fight."

"I heard he's from the Ye Family of the imperial capital. Tsk, tsk."

The stands broke into discussion. Even Ye Xuan's background was dug up by a disciple who had also come from the imperial capital.

Zhang Yu watched Ye Xuan limp off the field, his face devoid of expression. Whether the other man lived or died had nothing to do with him.

He had only one goal: pass the assessment, become an inner institute disciple, and gain the qualifications to learn first-rate cultivation arts.

The next to take the field was Leng Chao, the old disciple from Bedrock Outer Institute. At the cost of serious injuries, he killed the Red-Eyed Tiger from earlier and passed successfully.

"Bedrock Outer Institute, number three—Zhang Yu!"

Zhang Yu strode into the assessment grounds. His appearance sparked a wave of discussion, because among everyone taking this Dragon Gate Assessment, he alone was only at the late stage of dark force. Everyone else was at the peak of dark force.

"A late-stage dark-force martial artist dares to take the assessment? He truly doesn't know whether he's alive or dead. Just watch, he'll be crying and shouting surrender in a moment."

"Bedrock Outer Institute really has no one left. Tsk, tsk!"

Li Feifei had already left the stands. She had gone to comfort Ye Xuan. She had invested too much already, and there was no turning back.

Su Wan did not go. At this moment, she stared at Zhang Yu as he entered the field, her expression somewhat complicated.

"A late-stage dark-force martial artist dared to register for the assessment. What exactly does he have to rely on?" Su Wan was very curious.

Roar...

The cage opened, and an Earth Bear standing over twenty feet tall walked out.

"It's actually an Earth Bear, one of the very strongest third-rank demon beasts."

"He's finished. If this Bedrock Outer Institute disciple doesn't surrender, he's done for."

"Earth Bears are both vicious and cunning, and their defense is high. Dark force simply cannot break through their defenses. There's no way to fight one."

Buzz...

The moment the third-rank Earth Bear appeared, a wave of shocked cries erupted from the stands. Everyone believed Zhang Yu was finished and that surrendering early was his only path.

Zhang Yu listened to the chatter from the stands, curled his lip, then rolled his neck. In a moment, I'll brighten your dog eyes.

Roar...

The Earth Bear roared again, then lunged at Zhang Yu. Its enormous bear paw swung toward Zhang Yu's head.

Zhang Yu neither dodged nor retreated. He stamped the ground and met it with a punch.

Boom!

His fist collided with the bear paw. The tremendous force blasted up sand and dirt, while waves of air rolled outward.

"Has he gone mad? He's competing with an Earth Bear in strength?"

"I bet his entire arm will definitely be crippled—"

Before the words were finished, the Earth Bear's body shot backward from within the rolling airwaves.

Bang!

It crashed into the iron cage, denting the entire thing.

Whoosh!

Zhang Yu's body appeared almost simultaneously above the fallen Earth Bear, his fist glowing with a faint black light.

"Die!"

He drove a punch into the fallen Earth Bear's head.

Boom!

The entire ground trembled. The Earth Bear's head was smashed straight into the earth, its brains bursting apart.

Hiss...

"Th-this... what the hell was that?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"He's really at the late stage of Dark Force?"

"Fuck!"

After a moment of stunned silence, fervent discussion erupted throughout the arena.

Zhang Yu withdrew his fist and glanced around at the surrounding stands, a faint smile curling his lips. "Blinded your dog eyes, didn't I? Heh heh!"

Su Wan stared at Zhang Yu's figure, both hands covering her mouth as she feared she might cry out in shock. How is this possible? Who exactly is he? Did I miss something?

A trace of regret welled up in her heart. She had lived in the same courtyard as Zhang Yu for two months. Though she had not offended him like Li Feifei had, she had never tried to get close to him either.

The next instant, Su Wan hurriedly rose and headed outside. She wanted to be the first to congratulate Zhang Yu.