C8 Actual Combat Test!

Ji Fanchen and his group stood to the side, watching Ye Feng's retreating figure from a distance, swallowing any mockery they had.

"Look at Ye Feng strutting around like he owns the place!" Zhang Yun grumbled, though he lacked the courage to confront Ye Feng directly.

"Indeed, Young Master Ji. With two rounds of testing left, Ye Feng is acting as if he's already the victor!" Zhao Feihong added fuel to the fire.

"Hmph! What's there to fear?" Ji Fanchen maintained his air of confidence. "He's just got a bit of brute strength. I bet Ye Feng has built up quite a reserve of Profound Qi over eight years of intense training, but it's all for naught..."

Watching Ye Feng's departing back, Ji Fanchen let out a cold laugh. "Ordinary Profound Qi is worthless against true profound arts combat skills! If I face Ye Feng in the final round, I'll crush him!"

Young Master Ji is invincible!

Zhang Yun and the others breathed a sigh of relief, rallying behind Ji Fanchen as they moved on to the third round of testing.

...

The Inner Sect's third assessment was the Comprehension Test, designed to evaluate the disciples' martial arts insight. The test involved demonstrating a martial arts battle skill in front of the disciples, accompanied by a brief explanation of the technique. The disciples were then given the duration of one incense stick to replicate the skill's power and were scored accordingly.

It was during this test that Ye Feng truly recaptured the commanding presence of 'Brother Ye,' who had once been the envy of his peers.

He was tasked with the Low-Grade Profound Art, Raging Thunder Palm, consisting of thirty-six moves and one hundred and eight variations. The cultivation method spanned over a dozen pages—enough to take an ordinary person several minutes to read through. Yet, Ye Feng managed to flawlessly execute the first twelve moves within the time it took an incense stick to burn, leaving onlookers in awe.

"Disciple Ye Feng, your score for the Comprehension Test—A-Grade!!"

Another A-Grade!

The outer sect disciples who had been following the events were astounded once more.

Ye Feng had become a legend.

With his stunning performance in the two rounds of tests, he had all but eclipsed Ji Fanchen, becoming the most prominent figure among the new disciples.

With his already striking appearance, Ye Feng completely altered the atmosphere as he strode through Mo Yun Peak Square.

"Senior Brother Ye! Senior Brother Ye!"

Adoring young fans waved their arms, hearts in their eyes, their exuberant bouncing and jumping endearing rather than overwhelming.

The young men who had once doubted Ye Feng were now at a loss.

Ye Feng was too formidable!

Even if shattering the Profound Qi Stone was a fluke, that punch wasn't something just anyone could endure. It seemed Jee Fanchen might have finally met his match.

With this thought, the crowd surged toward the site of the final round of the Inner Sect Assessment—the Martial Arena.

The actual combat test, the last phase of the Inner Sect Assessment, commenced as planned.

Per Nephelo Sect rules, the combat test was the final measure of a disciple's overall strength. Disciples who had passed the first three tests were grouped into teams of four by the Inner Sect and given the duration of an incense stick to spar in the arena and demonstrate their prowess.

Here, Elder Han Yun oversaw the assessment, compiling the disciples' scores and determining the final rankings based on their combat test performances.

At that moment, Elder Han, neck craned like an old goose, eagerly scanned the distant throng.

"Why hasn't that kid Ye Feng shown up yet?"

Elder Han was clearly impatient.

It had been decades since someone had garnered such personal attention from that eminent figure. What extraordinary skill did Ye Feng possess to punch through a Profound Qi Stone?

Just then, an unfamiliar Inner Sect disciple approached respectfully with a list in hand.

"Elder Han, here are the matchups for the next hundred disciples. Please review them."

"Very well."

Han Yun accepted the list, quickly scanning it until his eyes locked onto a name.

"Ye Feng... he's been grouped with those three?"

What a curious coincidence...

Elder Han, astute as ever, sensed something amiss. Normally, he would have inquired further, but remembering the instructions from that influential figure, he silently approved the list without question.

If Ye Feng were to clash with those three, it would certainly be a real test of the kid's mettle!

"Good, let's go with this roster and get the disciples ready to take the stage!"

"Yes, Elder Han!"

The Inner Sect disciple bowed respectfully before withdrawing, a sly smirk hidden on his face.

Ye Feng...

You truly are a handful, no matter where you end up.

Since you've stirred up such a fuss, let's see how you 'wow' us in the actual combat test, shall we? Hmph!

...

The area around the martial arts platform was already buzzing with activity.

Ten makeshift rings were set up to host forty disciples simultaneously. Hundreds had already faced off earlier, with several standout battles, but with Ye Feng's arrival, all eyes were on this formidable dark horse.

Will he end up facing Jee Fanchen?

What final rank will Ye Feng achieve in this Inner Sect Assessment, and what kind of support will he receive from the Nephelo Sect?

Everyone was on tenterhooks.

At last, amid the crowd's eager anticipation, an Inner Sect disciple ascended the platform to announce the upcoming matchups:

"For the next ten rounds of the Inner Sect assessment, in arena one—Bao Ming, Song Qing Tian..."

The crowd listened intently, eager to hear the most anticipated names.

"Number eight arena..." The disciple paused briefly, casting a peculiar look towards Ye Feng in the crowd, before announcing loudly:

"Ye Feng, Jee Fanchen, Zhang Yun, Zhao Feihong!"

A wave of astonishment swept through the audience.

"What?"

"How did Ye Feng end up in the same group as those three?"

"Could this be more than just a coincidence? Is something fishy going on?"

The idea of such a coincidence was hard to swallow, yet some in the know just shook their heads and chuckled dismissively:

"Humph, you're probably unaware, right? Jee Fanchen is under the direct patronage of the leader of Angry Cloud Peak. How else could he dare to be so bold in the outer sect?"

"Angry Cloud Peak?"

Disciples of the Nephelo Sect with a bit of insight murmured among themselves, seemingly coming to terms with the outcome almost instantly.

If Ji Fanchen truly had ties with the First Seat, then the seemingly 'vengeful' nature of the group assignments made perfect sense.

After all, within the current Nephelo Sect, the head of Angry Cloud Peak commanded a respect from the Sect Master himself.

The buzz among the crowd was palpable, with Jee Fanchen and his two cronies showing a hint of surprise.

"This grouping seems a bit too..." Zhang Yun and Zhao Feihong both turned to Jee Fanchen. "Could it be that the esteemed lord arranged this especially for you?"

Jee Fanchen blinked, his mind racing with thoughts.

It didn't seem likely...

Given the lofty status of that lord, it was improbable that he would intervene in something as trivial as the Inner Sect Assessment.

But that was beside the point!

Jee Fanchen let out a cold snort. Being in the same group as Ye Feng was exactly what he wanted. This time, with all three of them entering the fray, Ye Feng's last shred of hope was extinguished.

"It's perfect! The three of us against that runt in one group, we'll utterly destroy him!"

"Hmph!" His lackeys were equally eager, their animosity palpable. "Rest assured, Young Master Jee. Today, we'll break that wretch limb from limb and get your revenge!"

As the crowd murmured about the groupings, the announcer's voice boomed from the high platform:

"Contestants, take the stage!"

The call electrified the venue as the forty named contestants ascended their respective platforms.

The eighth ring, featuring Ye Feng and Jee Fanchen, instantly became the center of attention, with a sea of spectators converging around it, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Ye Feng ascended the stage with deliberate steps, his expression unflappable.

He was well aware of the unfairness in the match-ups, but even the architect of his 'set-up' couldn't have anticipated that this arrangement would play right into his hands.

Jee Fanchen was a target he intended to deal with.

Yet, in Ye Feng's heart, a pampered scion like Jee had never been a concern. His aim was to leverage the Inner Sect examination to showcase his prowess, catch the eye of the Nephelo Sect's upper echelons, and thus smooth the path for his future cultivation.

So, what seemed like an 'unfair' duel was actually a godsend for Ye Feng.

If he could single-handedly defeat Jee Fanchen and his two companions, who else in this assessment could rival the luster of Ye Feng's performance?

With this thought, a steely resolve ignited within Ye Feng. He stood tall, his gaze sharp as a knife, cutting across to the trio opposite him.

Jee Fanchen and his cohorts, upon witnessing Ye Feng's defiant stance, scowled in unison, their eyes blazing with fury. At Jee Fanchen's signal, Zhang Yun and Zhao Feihong gave a subtle nod and, without a moment's hesitation, broke formation and moved to flank Ye Feng, forming a triangle to encircle him.

"Are they openly ganging up on Ye Feng?" murmured the spectators.

"This seems excessive. Ye Feng is just a rookie. Jee Fanchen recently advanced to the Two Pluses Profound Stage, and Zhao Feihong and Zhang Yun are at the One Pulse Profound Stage... They're playing for keeps with Ye Feng!"

"It's not a foregone conclusion! Have you not witnessed the might of Ye Feng's Profound Qi? That punch of his is no joke!"

"Still, he has to land it. And while Ye Feng has raw power, Jee Fanchen has mastered profound arts. I'm afraid Ye Feng is outmatched and in for a beating."

The crowd buzzed with skepticism, with over seventy percent doubting Ye Feng's chances. Elder Han Yun, seated on the high platform, watched Ye Feng's confident silhouette with a furrowed brow and a grave look.

"Ye Feng... If you can overcome these three, you'll surpass even Lee Huayu. Show me what you're capable of; let me see it clearly!" he murmured to himself.

Taking a deep breath, he gave a nod toward the distance, and the Inner Sect disciple opposite him called out the proclamation:

"In the practical assessment, disciples are forbidden from using weapons. The battle is to be halted before causing life-threatening injuries to fellow sect members. Now—let the battle commence!"

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