C6 Fighting

Chu Yao recoiled in alarm, retreating several steps with her hands poised in front of her as if to shield herself. In an instant, she conjured an invisible barrier of light that wrapped around her securely.

Qin Yu, however, sported a slight, bloodthirsty grin. His hand transformed into a claw, with Genuine Qi swirling between his fingers. With a low growl, he launched an attack on the light barrier.

Chu Yao's brows knitted tightly, her face cycling through emotions. For some inexplicable reason, Qin Yu's presence made her heart race in a way she hadn't experienced before—not even when she faced the challenge of three Core Disciples.

Meanwhile, the examiner's face was a portrait of dismay. Chu Yao was the jewel of the Chu Family, and if Qin Yu were to kill her under his watch, the repercussions for the Clear Essence Sect would be severe, not to mention the difficulty in explaining the tragedy to her family. He was determined to intervene.

With this in mind, the examiner quickened his pace, his body cutting through the air with a howling wind, nearly reaching Qin Yu in a blink. But Qin Yu had made his move first. As the examiner was about to intercept him, Qin Yu's claw had already made contact with Chu Yao's light barrier.

With a "swoosh" that echoed the collision of Genuine Qi and drew astonished looks from all around, Qin Yu's claw struck the light barrier. The next moment, a formidable force burst forth from his claw, spreading rapidly across the barrier as if an invisible behemoth had swallowed Chu Yao and her shield whole.

Chu Yao's face turned pale as she felt an immense weight envelop her, nearly crushing the breath from her lungs. It seemed that any relaxation on her part would result in her being pulverized.

In that tense moment, Qin Yu issued another stifled shout, and the Genuine Qi from his claw intensified. The energy surrounding the light barrier thickened, with ominous red patterns weaving and twining within it.

"Demon, this is a demon!" a disciple exclaimed, trembling as they witnessed Qin Yu's fearsome assault on the stage.

"Qin Yu is a great demon! Yes, he's the great demon!" The initial cry sparked a chorus of agreement as the crowd of disciples erupted into chaos.

On the dueling platform, Chu Yao's feet sank into the ground, sending broken stones flying in all directions. The sound of cracking echoed intermittently, and as it did, her complexion grew increasingly pale. Soon, the protective barrier of Genuine Qi began to waver and fade. Within moments, it shattered under the force of Qin Yu's energy, dissipating into the air like a vanishing dream.

Having penetrated the light barrier, Qin Yu wasted no time. A beam of crimson light burst forth from his eyes, combining with the formidable suppressive energy in his hands, and struck Chu Yao. Her eyes flickered helplessly as she watched the red light impale her chest. A surge of potent energy enveloped her, sending her tumbling backward into unconsciousness.

"Monster! Meet your end!" In that instant, the proctor reached Qin Yu's side. Enraged at the sight of Chu Yao, defeated and possibly dead by Qin Yu's hand, he balled his fist and aimed a blow at Qin Yu's spine.

The strike harnessed half of the proctor's might. Had it connected, Qin Yu's spine would have been pulverized in an instant, leaving him either permanently paralyzed or dead.

Sensing the rush of air behind him, Qin Yu's eyes flashed. He spun around, shielding his chest with his arms, and managed to deflect the proctor's formidable punch. Staggering back dozens of steps, he finally regained his footing, his hands tingling from the impact.

"Die!" The proctor, seeing his initial punch miss, channeled even more Genuine Qi into his fist and charged at Qin Yu once more.

"As per the Clear Essence Sect's laws, I am now a Core Disciple. To kill me would be to scorn the Clear Essence Sect!" Qin Yu stood his ground, his voice icy. He was out of strength to evade; the previous clash with Chu Yao had drained him. Engaging the proctor now would be a death wish. So, he took a gamble, staking his life on the Sect's rules.

As expected, the invigilator's heart skipped a beat. He advanced a few steps, then gradually came to a halt, his fist hovering just shy of Qin Yu's face before pressing down ever so slightly.

A hush fell over both the Martial Examination Platform and the surrounding area. Everyone was rooted to the spot, their eyes fixed on Qin Yu, the one they had once dismissed as worthless.

At that moment, the blood-red pupils on Qin Yu's forehead had vanished, and he appeared indistinguishable from any ordinary person. Staring at the massive fist before him, he exhaled softly. Had the invigilator's fist moved a mere inch further, Qin Yu's head would have been shattered in the blink of an eye.

After a brief pause, Qin Yu slowly raised his hand and gently pushed the invigilator's fist down. He then looked up and said to the invigilator with a hint of command, "Smart move."

In truth, Qin Yu was playing the role of a sheep in wolf's clothing. He realized that the invigilator's halt meant his words had been heeded. In the invigilator's mind, Qin Yu was now a Core Disciple of the Clear Essence Sect. With this in mind, Qin Yu was determined to assert his dominance.

The invigilator's mouth twitched. After scrutinizing Qin Yu for a moment, he slowly withdrew his hand and glanced over at Chu Yao, his brow furrowing. He made a beeline for her, reasoning that if he couldn't eliminate Qin Yu immediately, then Chu Yao's fate was his next concern.

Qin Yu let out a cold snort, uninterested in their affairs, and leapt down from the arena. His gaze swept over the crowd of onlooking disciples, eventually settling on Chu Feng.

Chu Feng, still reeling from Qin Yu's earlier display, finally became aware of his stare. His face paled, and he recoiled, stammering, "Qin, Qin Yu, what are you planning? Stay back!"

But Qin Yu remained stoic, advancing steadily toward Chu Feng. The disciples in his path scattered, none daring to utter a sound. It was as if any noise might provoke Qin Yu to rip them to shreds. In their eyes, Qin Yu was no longer the helpless victim they once thought he was; he had become a true demon.