C5 The Strength of a Warrior Was Determined by Their Strength

Profound Heaven Sect, Outer Hall of Assessment.

The early morning in the Hall of Assessment was as serene and tranquil as ever. A lean middle-aged man in a dark gray robe sat cross-legged in the hall, drawing in the surrounding vital energy, a continuous cycle of life.

“Creak...”

The sound of the wooden door opening made the middle-aged man frown slightly. He stopped his meditation and looked toward the entrance.

The two wooden doors of the hall were pushed open, and a figure in a servant's uniform walked in. Upon seeing who it was, the man's frown deepened, and he spoke with noticeable displeasure, “Woo Zhengyang, what are you doing here so early?”

Looking at the man before him, Woo Zhengyang felt a twinge of lingering resentment. This man, Zhang Tia, was an overseer of the outer sect, responsible for managing Woo Zhengyang's group of servant disciples. Zhang Tia was known for being shrewd and had a notorious reputation among the servants. Woo Zhengyang had received a defective redwood fruit thanks to Zhang Tia, all because of an offhand comment that had embarrassed him.

Before last night, Woo Zhengyang was so disheartened he could have eaten Zhang Tia alive. However, seeing him now, Woo Zhengyang felt surprisingly calm. Without Zhang Tia's retaliation, Woo Zhengyang might never have encountered that mysterious black vortex and wouldn't be standing here today.

In the final month, any disciple who has awakened their Origin Genuine Qi can come here to take the test to become an outer disciple and officially join the Profound Heaven Sect. If all goes as expected, the first to arrive today should be Yue Liqing.

However, life is unpredictable. Yue Liqing, who was supposed to be here, is now somewhere nursing a broken arm, while everyone assumed Woo Zhengyang, who was expected to be sent packing, is the first to show up.

"Mr. Zhang!" Woo Zhengyang addressed him with calm respect.

"What is it? Are you here because you know you can't awaken your Origin Genuine Qi and want to leave early? No need to tell me, just go!" Zhang Tia replied with irritation.

Zhang Tia never had a good impression of Woo Zhengyang, and being interrupted during his practice only made his mood worse. He closed his eyes, ready to resume his training.

"I'm here to take the outer disciple test," Woo Zhengyang continued.

"What?" Zhang Tia's eyes flew open in disbelief.

"I'm here to take the outer disciple test," Woo Zhengyang repeated.

"Did you lose your mind eating that special fruit I saved for you yesterday? The outer disciple test is only for those who've awakened their Origin Genuine Qi. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Zhang Tia suspected this guy was just causing trouble before leaving. If it weren't for his position, he'd have kicked Woo Zhengyang out himself.

"I'm here to take the entrance exam for the outer sect!" Woo Zhengyang declared clearly for the third time, not wanting to waste any more words with Zhang Tia.

"Alright, very well!" Zhang Tia suddenly laughed. He had been furious with Woo Zhengyang just moments ago, but now he realized that if this guy was so eager to meet his end, why not let him?

"Follow me!" Zhang Tia stood up, looking at Woo Zhengyang with a mocking expression.

Even if Woo Zhengyang had second thoughts now, Zhang Tia would still drag him over there. However, Woo Zhengyang had no intention of backing out and followed Zhang Tia to the back hall.

In this world of ancient martial arts, strength reigns supreme; there is no such thing as a tie. As a practitioner, even if two people are at the same level, their combat abilities will differ, following the rule of survival of the fittest.

Under these rules, the entire world is filled with endless battles—for treasures, for settling grudges, for the glory of being the best. Everything is influenced by these rules, including the entrance exam for the outer sect of the Profound Heaven Sect.

At this moment, Woo Zhengyang stood in the back hall, before a unique portal for the outer sect's exam. It was a massive stone mirror, its surface shimmering with mystery, revealing a hidden world within.

This exam wasn't just a simple test to see if one could activate their Origin Genuine Qi. According to Woo Zhengyang's knowledge, this stone mirror, known as the Path-Seeking Mirror, contained nine puppets crafted by the founding ancestor of the Profound Heaven Sect.

Upon unleashing the Origin Genuine Qi, one's strength, speed, and physical resilience experience a significant boost as the Qi fills the body. The mirror puppet serves both as a test and a sparring partner. It helps new disciples of ancient martial arts fully understand themselves and unlock their potential in battle.

“Not going in? Scared?” Zhang Tia impatiently urged from behind.

Generally, once the Origin Genuine Qi is activated, the outcome of the assessment is predetermined—it's just a matter of seeing how far they can get against the puppets. However, without activating the Origin Genuine Qi, an ordinary person would never pass the test. There have been those who tried out of stubbornness, only to meet their end.

To Zhang Tia, Woo Zhengyang seemed utterly despondent, seeking his own demise. But since this reckless kid was courting death, why should he intervene? He simply needed to watch him enter and wait for the next person to come and collect the body.

Ignoring Zhang Tia's prodding, Woo Zhengyang stepped toward the Mirror of Inquiry. It felt like passing through a curtain of water, revealing a new space before him.

He found himself in a vast wilderness, with endless yellow soil and a blue sky that, despite lacking a sun, emitted a comforting light. In this boundless expanse, there was only a single black shadow—the first puppet he had to face in the assessment.

A dark shadow spotted Woo Zhengyang and charged toward him. As it drew closer, Woo Zhengyang realized it was a puppet resembling a tiger. Its paws clawed at the ground, creating a gust of wind as it leaped at him, swiping with a front paw.

The tiger puppet's attack was straightforward, and Woo Zhengyang's response was equally direct.

"Thud..."

His swift punch collided with the puppet's paw, causing Woo Zhengyang to sway slightly, while the tiger puppet was sent flying.

"After channeling the Origin Genuine Qi, the power is truly immense!" Woo Zhengyang thought. His brief clash with Yue Liqing hadn't allowed him to fully appreciate his newfound strength. Now, with a conscious punch, he truly felt the change in his power.

The tiger puppet landed and charged again. Woo Zhengyang didn't hesitate, swinging his fists as he advanced.

"Thud..."

This time, before the tiger puppet could even raise a paw, Woo Zhengyang's punch struck its head, causing its legs to buckle as it collapsed.

Woo Zhengyang continued his relentless assault, each punch landing heavily on the puppet tiger, leaving it no chance to fight back. It couldn't even rise, forced to endure the blows while lying on the ground.

In the end, the tiger puppet could no longer withstand the pressure, dissolving into a pool of dark matter scattered across the ground...