C18 Second Round of Assessment

Early the next morning, as the sun began to rise, the results of the Theory Examination were released. Among the hundreds of top-rated participants, Wang Yue found his name prominently listed. To pass the Theory Examination, one needed at least a B-level rating. Out of the over three thousand three hundred candidates who took part in the Inner Sect Assessment, only two thousand six hundred achieved a rating of A-level or higher. The Theory Examination alone had weeded out seven hundred hopefuls.

Wang Yue's achievement of an A-level rating was not only due to his diligent preparation, tackling past exam questions, but also because of his solid foundational knowledge and deep understanding of the theories. Once he had accessed the memories of his physical body, he easily grasped the knowledge, identified any gaps, and filled them, earning an A-level rating that was astonishing for a first-time participant in the Inner Sect Assessment.

Wang Yue was not the only one concerned about passing the first hurdle; when others in the A-level ranks noticed his name, their eyes narrowed slightly in recognition. "Unexpected, indeed. To achieve an A-level on his first Theory Examination in the Inner Sect Assessment suggests that Junior Brother Wang Yue is not just someone whose potential was sparked by lightning."

"He just read a few more books. Keep in mind, someone who only reached Body Refining Level Four in two years might not even make it to the Qi Refining Stage in the next three. Without a high level of cultivation, even the deepest theoretical understanding is meaningless."

"But now that his talent has been unleashed, we can't view him through the same old lens."

"With both talent and intelligence, such a person is a formidable adversary, even if he only has a decade or two left to live. He could pose a significant challenge to Brother Yuan Yi!"

"Still, it's merely a challenge."

The group scoffed. Indeed, it was merely a challenge—a matter that would require a bit more effort to handle, not something insurmountable.

Beyond the plaza of the Inner Sect Assessment, they walked deeper into the mountain to a vast area enclosed by walls, or rather, a city wall. The expansive plains outside the mountain gate allowed for the construction of a small city, despite its modest footprint.

The Inner Sect Assessment location, established by the Myriad Qi Profound Sect, has remained unchanged for centuries, as has the content of the assessment. This is because the method of assessment has proven to be a reliable measure of an individual's strength.

Upon passing through the city gate, two spacious tracks, one to the left and the other to the right, came into view. Combined, they could easily accommodate over two thousand people running simultaneously.

When Wang Yue opted for the left track, about a dozen individuals stealthily made their way from the right track to join the left. Such actions were easily noticed, and Wang Yue took a mental note of these individuals.

The atmosphere was abuzz with anticipation for the assessment to begin, and many were eager to get a head start.

Most people jostled for a position at the front, believing that being closer to the starting line offered a competitive edge. However, those with true confidence didn't bother with the scramble.

While starting early does offer a slight advantage, the second challenge, which tests speed, doesn't limit the number of participants. Completing the run within the allotted time is all that's required for success. Starting early might grant a mere two to three-second lead and avoid the hassle of jockeying for position with those lagging behind.

In the later sections, where the crowd thickens, early starters can significantly benefit, avoiding the risk of elimination that comes with competing for space.

For the confident ones, they have a clear strategy and know they can easily overtake those ahead. Thus, they are unconcerned with their initial position.

Wang Yue didn't vie for the lead; instead, he stayed back and focused on centering himself.

"Hmm? Is that him? Why isn't he vying for a spot at the front?" Yuh Hao noticed Wang Yue.

"Perhaps he's just confident," suggested his friend, though his voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Or maybe he knows he won't make it past this stage, so staying at the back doesn't bother him. After all, he's only at Qi Refining Level One. He probably hasn't even mastered the Light Body Cultivation Method. How could he possibly get through this stage?"

"It's not as simple as you think. You should realize that there are some footwork techniques that are incredibly fast. If one can sprint swiftly on flat terrain, it can compensate for any deficiencies in the Light Body Cultivation Method," Yuh Hao stated earnestly. "However, this demands an exceptional physique. A person like that would have already made a name for themselves in the Outer Sect Nine Peaks. I would have definitely heard of them."

Ultimately, he didn't believe that Wang Yue was confident enough to choose a position at the back.

The place was bustling with noise. Their conversation was loud, but they didn't worry about Wang Yue overhearing them. Little did they know, since Wang Yue had practiced the Five-prison Moving Technique and the Food Sunset Technique, his senses had sharpened significantly.

In such a chaotic environment, it wasn't just the chatter of a few people dozens of meters away that he could hear; even from two or three hundred meters, he could pick up on conversations if he so desired.

Amidst the commotion, Wang Yue's focus sharpened, and he overheard their discussion.

Nevertheless, Wang Yue couldn't be bothered with them. Even Yuh Hao wasn't worth his extra attention.

Verbal sparring was pointless. The Inner Sect Assessment was all about passing or failing; there wasn't much direct competition among the candidates.

What truly caught Wang Yue's attention was the realization that he was being encircled. Among the group were some familiar faces from Copper Willow Peak, as well as several strangers. Judging by their attire, they were disciples from the other peaks of the Outer Sect Nine Peaks.

Once they noticed Wang Yue was aware of them, a Qi Refining Level Three disciple stepped forward to confront him.

The disciple spoke with arrogance, "Wang Yue, do yourself a favor and drop out of the Inner Sect Assessment now. I won't make it hard for you."

Wang Yue responded with a dismissive shake of his head, clearly unimpressed. It was evident these individuals were intent on seeing him fail the Inner Sect Assessment, by any means necessary.

Seeing Wang Yue's scornful look and his reluctance to even speak, the disciple's anger flared.

"You can either drink a toast or be forced to drink a penalty. Brace yourself for the consequences!"

At that moment, the Deacon hadn't arrived yet, and the place was in complete disarray. Anything could be said without fear of investigation; there would be no consequences as long as no one resorted to violence.

"Get out of my way!" Wang Yue's brow furrowed in anger. "You want to break my legs? Be careful not to break your own in the process!"

"Fine! Fine! Such arrogance! Since you're so keen on facing punishment, I'll make sure you don't just break your hands and legs but end up bedridden. You'll regret your words today. Remember, the one who will break your limbs is Yun Tailai."

Yun Tailai, the disciple in question, managed to hold back his rage and stepped aside, especially since the event had already begun.

From the Outer Sect Nine Peaks, nine Deacons took their positions atop the highest points of the city walls, surveying the crowd of over two thousand below.

At the city's pinnacle, a large bell began its ascent.

Clang!

As the bell tolled, the crowd erupted into motion, showcasing a variety of movement techniques, all aiming to capitalize on the three-mile straight stretch to gain distance.

Wang Yue burst forward with his Arrow Walking Fast Step, his speed sufficient to keep pace with the frontrunners. Unexpectedly, Yun Tailai and his cohorts had anticipated this and, knowing Wang Yue's proficiency in the Arrow Walking Fast Step, they strategically positioned themselves to impede Wang Yue's progress.

With a snort of defiance, Wang Yue summoned his Genuine Qi, and a dragon's roar emanated from his body.

"Dragon Roar Iron Clothes Shirt?"

Yun Tailai was puzzled as to why Wang Yue would activate this protective hard body technique, commonly mastered by many.

But they soon had no time to ponder, as Wang Yue accelerated, barreling towards them like a heavily armored battle chariot, and actually burst through their ranks.

"Cough!"

Yun Tailai, reeling from the impact, paused to catch his breath before he could recover. By then, Wang Yue had already disappeared into the distance.

"Chase him!"

There was no need for further instruction; those who hadn't been struck were already in hot pursuit. They ran almost shoulder to shoulder with Wang Yue, weaving left and right, trying to topple him.

During the second phase of the Inner Sect Assessment, known as the speed challenge, direct confrontations were off-limits under the watchful eye of the Deacon. Yet, as Wang Yue had previously demonstrated, incidental contact between competitors wasn't against the rules.

Regrettably for his opponents, Wang Yue's adept fusion of the Arrow Walking Fast Step's speed with the deft maneuvers of the nimble step allowed him to evade their attempts at interference, steadily leaving them in his wake.

"How can this be?" The competitors trailing behind Wang Yue exchanged incredulous glances. It was unfathomable that someone at the Qi Refining Level One could outrun them. They had not only more years of cultivation under their belts but also higher realms of Qi Refining Level Two and Three, with more abundant Genuine Qi and stronger physiques. How could they fail to keep pace?

Yun Tailai had caught up by now, fixing his gaze on Wang Yue as he began to gather strength in his feet. His Genuine Qi converged at the major acupoints in his feet, ready to unleash his body's latent power.

Footwork and movement techniques can range from the subtle to the overt, such as the Thousand-mile Dashing Technique. The Arrow Walking Fast Step belonged to the latter category, while the nimble step exemplified the former. These martial arts typically involve stimulating the acupoints, sinews, and bones in various ways to enhance speed, agility, and balance.

In addition to standard stimulation, there are extreme methods like the one Yun Tailai was employing: overloading the acupoints and bones with Genuine Qi beyond the body's limits, risking damage to muscles and bones. Such tactics are considered last-resort measures within most movement techniques and are not to be used lightly.

Three seconds later, Yun Tailai's speed surged, allowing him to rapidly close the gap with Wang Yue. Wang Yue's brow furrowed as he realized Yun Tailai's intentions; he hadn't expected his opponent to risk forfeiting the assessment just to thwart him.

He couldn't help but wonder what kind of rewards Yuan Yi had offered to persuade someone to abandon their aspirations of becoming an Inner Sect Disciple just to eliminate him from contention.

"Go down!"

Shoulder to shoulder, Yun Tailai suddenly turned, his laugh menacing.

Instantly, his body shifted, and a surge of strength transferred from his shoulder.

Mountain Supporting Technique!

With a mere shrug, he unleashed the force of eight hundred pounds, a common move in close-quarters combat. Usually, it would just push an opponent back a few steps, but during a chase, it could send someone tumbling like a barrel.

Those trailing behind saw the shift in Yun Tailai's shoulders and anticipated the outcome.

"It worked!"