An assist

When the beam of azure light transported Chu Xisheng away, the many inner disciples around him erupted in a stir, murmuring among themselves.

"It's Junior Brother Chu! Junior Brother Chu's been sent up!"

"Why him? Chu Xisheng is only a One-Leaf disciple."

"The other three courts all have Two-Leaf and Three-Leaf disciples. Why should our East Court send up a One-Leaf disciple?"

"What's so strange about that? Doesn't everyone say Junior Brother Chu is already number one in the inner sect?"

"Number one in the inner sect? It's all hot air. Do any of you believe it?"

"Surely not? He killed so many people from the Long Clan. That wasn't made up."

"Why argue? We'll see for ourselves just how good this chief inner disciple is."

Among the disciples, some were deeply worried, some brimmed with anticipation, and others spoke with sarcasm.

Most of them, however, watched with keen interest.

Chu Yunyun had been equally unprepared and could only watch as the azure light carried Chu Xisheng away.

She blinked in surprise, then pressed a hand to her forehead with a headache, unable to bear watching what would follow.

Chu Yunyun recognized the Four Symbols Duel Disk in the sky and knew how it tested disciples.

The problem was that its method happened to be precisely what Chu Xisheng was worst at.

The fellow would probably make a spectacle of himself today before more than four thousand pairs of eyes.

Of course, Chu Xisheng had brought this on himself. If he had not had Hu Kan and Hu Lai spread those rumors, none of this would have happened.

As a newly admitted One-Leaf disciple whose fighting strength approached that of a Two-Leaf disciple, Chu Xisheng had originally been outstanding.

Even if he lost today, there would have been honor in defeat.

Yet now he bore the title of "number one in the inner sect." Wouldn't he become a laughingstock among those who knew better?

Chu Yunyun thought he deserved it, but she was more worried that his resolve would suffer too crushing a blow, leaving him unable to recover and delaying his future cultivation.

Among the crowd, Lu Luanli's lips tilted into a crooked smile filled with sympathy.

What a pity. This cow they had blown into the sky was finally coming down to earth.

Chu Xisheng, meanwhile, looked around blankly.

He had never expected the azure beam to transport him inside.

He now stood on a vast azure platform, with three others beside him.

The azure platform was spacious, measuring a full ten zhang from north to south.

Chu Xisheng stamped on the ground and found that although the platform had been formed from light projected by the azure jade disk, it was utterly solid, like a real stone platform.

He glanced at the three fellow inner disciples beside him, then politely cupped his hands to them.

He knew very few people in the martial academy. All three were unfamiliar to him; he recognized none of them.

Yet all three wore Three-Leaf waist tokens.

Chu Xisheng could not help touching the token at his own waist, which bore only one leaf. His mind was a muddle.

What was the inspector on the dais thinking? Why had he selected him?

"Junior Brother Chu!"

The youngest of the three youths smiled and returned his greeting. "I'm Xiang Kui of the South Court. I've long heard of your great reputation, Junior Brother Chu, but only today have I had the good fortune to meet you."

Xiang Kui?

Something stirred in Chu Xisheng's mind as he looked at this handsome, spirited youth.

According to Lu Luanli, Xiang Kui was one of the inner disciples whose identities had been taken over.

This person looked very similar to Xiang Kui and acted cautiously as well.

However, Lu Luanli happened to know that the original Xiang Kui had been left-handed, which had allowed her to see through this person's identity.

That showed just how keen Lu Luanli's powers of observation were.

Before Chu Xisheng could say anything, another youth beside him sneered. "Indeed, we've long heard your great reputation. It rings in our ears like thunder! The legendary number one in the inner sect! Perfect. Today we can see the bearing of our illustrious number one and find out what he's really made of."

The youth was short, stocky, and solidly built, with a square face, wide-set eyes, and slightly dark skin. His speech dripped with barbed sarcasm.

Chu Xisheng had just begun to frown in displeasure when Xiang Kui smiled and introduced him. "This is Senior Brother Liu Xingruo of the West Court. He's widely acknowledged as the West Court's top inner disciple of this intake."

Chu Xisheng understood at once.

The East Court and West Court had always been bitter rivals.

When the West Court's top inner disciple encountered him, the "number one in the inner sect" from the East Court, it would have been strange if he had not challenged him to his face.

"I see." Chu Xisheng withdrew his gaze, ignoring Liu Xingruo's words.

Whatever response he gave now would be inappropriate.

The best response, naturally, would be to defeat Liu Xingruo fair and square.

Otherwise, anything he said now would only come back to slap him in the face.

Chu Xisheng felt a headache coming on.

This was no longer a matter of twenty taels of demon silver. He might make a spectacle of himself before four thousand people.

It would be one thing to lose face himself, but he could not disgrace the East Court and Ye Zhiqiu.

At this, Liu Xingruo's face turned ashen, anger showing in his eyes.

Chu Xisheng's manner plainly showed that he thought Liu Xingruo beneath his notice.

The next instant, however, the scene around them drew Liu Xingruo's gaze.

Twenty zhang above them, a great mass of spiritual light gathered, eventually forming azure bamboo leaves that drifted slowly down.

The bamboo leaves grew more and more numerous. There were only twenty at first, but within a few breaths, they increased to a hundred.

At the same time, a beam of azure light transported two red-robed martial instructors onto the platform.

Their expressions were cold and stern as they looked at the four. "Pay attention. Today, the four of you have had the good fortune to be selected by the inspector for a practical combat assessment. Whoever knocks down the most bamboo leaves wins the first round! The winner will advance to the quarterfinals and receive five Origin-Nourishing Pills. Those who then reach the semifinals will receive ten Origin-Nourishing Pills. Those who reach the final may cultivate within the Essence-Gathering Formation for ten days. The ultimate winner-"

The red-faced instructor paused. "Will receive one Secret Move Totem!"

Hearing this, Liu Xingruo and Xiang Kui immediately perked up, longing appearing on their faces.

Even Chu Xisheng felt some surprise.

A Secret Move Totem was a tattoo inscribed on the body that could strengthen a particular move they practiced.

For instance, paired with the appropriate Secret Move Totem, the Wind-Chasing Blade's Empty Cave Brings Wind could be executed fifty to sixty percent faster.

Such things were extremely valuable and difficult to obtain even with money.

Chu Xisheng was very interested in the Secret Move Totem, but he entertained no extravagant hopes.

He looked at the bamboo leaves drifting down above him, his brow deeply furrowed.

The leaves were spread across an area ten zhang square, covering the entire platform. A fast blade alone would therefore be useless; it had to be complemented by a movement method.

The problem was that Chu Xisheng had practiced Light-Cloud Movement for only seven days and had yet to truly grasp even its basics.

Just then, Liu Xingruo's eyes shifted slightly, and he raised a hand. "Instructor, may I ask whether we're only allowed to attack the bamboo leaves?"

The red-faced man glanced at him. "You may only attack the bamboo leaves! However, reasonable bodily contact and interference are allowed."

The corners of Liu Xingruo's lips immediately lifted, and he gave Chu Xisheng a meaningful look.

The other two Three-Leaf Inner Disciples also showed unusual expressions.

At that very moment, Jian Zangfeng finally sensed something amiss atop the dais.

Jian Zangfeng no longer dared meet Ye Zhiqiu's fierce gaze. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he questioned Lei Yuan in some bewilderment.

"Academy Master Lei, I heard rumors that Chu Xisheng of the East Court leads your current intake of inner disciples? The disciple who killed a Spellcaster in the Library Tower."

Lei Yuan was astonished, wondering where Senior Brother Jian had heard such rumors.

Unable to discern Jian Zangfeng's meaning, he could only answer vaguely. "I'm not too sure, but this boy is exceptionally gifted in the saber arts. He certainly stands out among the inner disciples."

Shao Lingshan, however, had already guessed what had happened.

He had been wondering how Chu Xisheng, a mere One-Leaf Inner Disciple, could have been selected by the Four Symbols Duel Disk to enter the arena.

Jian Zangfeng must have favored Ye Zhiqiu and tried to cheat, only for his cleverness to backfire.

His heart blossomed with delight, but his expression remained unchanged. "There have indeed been such rumors within the sect lately. Everyone says Chu Xisheng's saber technique is fierce and quite extraordinary, so he's widely acknowledged as the top inner disciple of this intake."

Jian Zangfeng frowned slightly. "Then how strong is this boy in combat, exactly?"

"Well... his saber technique is unrivaled among the inner disciples." Shao Lingshan was inwardly full of mockery. "It's also true that ten days ago, he killed dozens of people from the Long Household in succession in the Firebone Cavern."

At this, the people gathered near the dais and the dozen or so academic instructors seated upon it all glanced at Shao Lingshan.

Their expressions grew solemn. They all thought that Instructor Shao had deep ties to the Long Household, so the incident must indeed be true for him to say such a thing.

Seated on the other side, Ye Zhiqiu could not help grinding her teeth. She turned her cold, piercing gaze toward Shao Lingshan.

Meanwhile, Chu Xisheng looked at the sight before him on the platform in utter astonishment.

Another firework had burst into bloom before his eyes.

The Martial Dao Points field had also leaped from 32 to 37.