Will You Join the Tang Sect?

When Gu Yue and Tang Wulin emerged from their respective trial spaces one after the other, Xie Xie was leaning against the cold metal wall, rubbing his faintly aching lower back.

The moment he saw their bedraggled appearances—Gu Yue's slightly disheveled hair and the sweat still clinging to Tang Wulin's forehead—Xie Xie immediately felt the kinship of fellow sufferers. His usual infuriating smirk spread across his face.

"Hehe, looks like I wasn't the only one who got beaten to a pulp," Xie Xie said, waggling his eyebrows. "Well? Feel like you've been run over by a truck? That blond woman with the rabbit ears was practically inhuman..."

Gu Yue straightened her collar, her black hair falling smoothly into place again, though a trace of gravity lingered in her deep purple eyes. She shook her head, her voice somewhat low. "You only faced the beginner assessment? I thought the intermediate trial was already the toughest lineup, but I never expected an advanced one after it."

Xie Xie's smile froze, and the corner of his mouth twitched awkwardly.

His supposed "beating" had actually consisted of lasting less than a minute against that blond woman before being forcibly ejected. He had assumed everyone's experience would be about the same, since they were all new students. But from what Gu Yue was saying, had her battle been far more intense than his?

"Advanced?" Xie Xie gave a dry laugh. "How advanced?"

Tang Wulin drew a deep breath, his face somewhat pale. He glanced at the still-bewildered Xie Xie, then at the contemplative Gu game instance, and added solemnly, "After advanced, there's hell mode."

Xie Xie and Gu Yue turned their heads simultaneously, their gazes locking onto Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin clenched his fists, a flicker of lingering fear passing through his eyes. "The opponent