C23 An Expert of the Inner Sect.

Upon hearing Zhao Yu's words, the crowd around them was momentarily taken aback.

Liu Feng, too, was caught off guard, but he quickly burst into uncontrollable laughter as if he had just heard the punchline of a joke. "Lose to you? Are you joking?"

Liu Guang joined in the laughter, "You're really overestimating yourself. Beating Tian Feng doesn't make you unbeatable."

Zhao Yu remained composed, "But what if you do lose?"

After wiping away tears from laughing so hard, Liu Feng replied, "You're quite the character. Fine, if I lose, I'll follow the first rule, and you have my word—I won't renege on our bet."

"If you try to renege, rest assured, I have ways to ensure you honor the wager," Zhao Yu stated evenly.

With that, he turned and walked away.

"He's insufferably arrogant," Liu Guang fumed, ready to confront Zhao Yu.

But Liu Feng held him back, his expression stern, "The sect examination takes precedence. Don't cause unnecessary trouble. He's right; time is on our side. We'll have ample opportunity to deal with him later. Let's go."

As they departed, the sect disciples resumed their buzzing conversations.

Meanwhile, an Outer Sect disciple who had been covertly watching Zhao Yu turned and briskly made his way toward Zhang Xuemeng's abode.

Unbeknownst to him, every single move was being tracked by Light.

"Master, the observer has departed. Based on his trajectory, there's an eighty-five percent likelihood he's headed to Zhang Xuemeng's residence," Light reported.

"I'm aware," Zhao Yu acknowledged silently, a cold smirk playing on his lips. He had been under surveillance by at least two groups since before he even joined the sect.

It was clear that despite not showing his full capabilities, some were still uneasy.

His choice to avoid a direct confrontation with Liu Feng was proving to be shrewd.

Had Zhao Yu exposed his true power, it's likely those individuals would have already made their move against him.

Moreover, with Zhang Xuemeng's influence, all she would need to do is sway Zhang Daoming, who could easily concoct an excuse to bar him from the inner sect disciple examination, rendering all his plans useless.

Upon returning to his quarters, Zhao Yu indulged in a satisfying shower, slipped into fresh clothes, and promptly fell into a deep sleep on his bed. After a grueling month of intense cultivation in the Taibai Mountain Range, where he frequently clashed with Demonic Beasts, his nerves had been on edge. Now, he could finally unwind.

The inner sect disciple assessment was slated for the next day, and Zhao Yu knew he needed to be in peak condition.

The night flew by in an instant.

By the next morning, Zhao Yu was punctually making his way to East Gate Square, the site of the inner sect disciple examination. The area was already bustling with activity; Outer Sect disciples and even those assigned to menial tasks had gathered in droves.

They encircled the square, eagerly exchanging thoughts and speculations. Though they weren't eligible to participate in the assessment, observing the inner sect disciples' martial arts bouts promised significant insights into their own training, and they weren't about to let such a valuable opportunity slip by.

The square was outfitted with four arenas, and many inner sect disciples were already there, awaiting their turn.

Zhao Yu's entrance drew numerous gazes. Despite nearly vanishing for a year after his poisoning, his recent actions had been quite conspicuous: regaining his cultivation, besting Tian Feng, clashing with Pill Sect's Hsiao Fengyun, and calling off his engagement with Zhang Xuemeng. His exploits were the talk of the sect.

Becoming the center of attention was inevitable for him; staying under the radar was hardly an option.

With a serene demeanor, Zhao Yu made his way through the crowd, acknowledging greetings from acquaintances with a nod—striking a balance between approachability and detachment.

Soon enough, nearly all the inner sect disciples had convened. However, top contenders like Sun Mingyu and Zhou Yun were yet to show.

Liu Guang and Tian Feng were also present. Liu Guang's face was etched with a mocking smile upon spotting Zhao Yu, while Tian Feng's eyes blazed with barely concealed animosity.

Zhao Yu cast a fleeting, disinterested glance their way, choosing not to dwell on them. The assessment was about to commence, and he had no intention of stirring up needless trouble over such trivial figures.

"Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Sister Wu have arrived," someone announced.

"Liu Feng has arrived as well."

Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the crowd outside the arena.

A gap formed spontaneously in the throng, and three figures emerged.

Among them were two men and one woman, with Liu Feng being one of the males.

The other man, tall with unremarkable features but eyes that shone with an intensity that commanded respect, was Zhou Yun. A favorite to clinch this year's championship, he boasted a cultivation at the peak of Qi Refining Layer Four.

The woman, Wu Caiyue, had a striking appearance and a shapely figure. She, too, was a top contender for the championship, sharing the same level of cultivation as Zhou Yun.

The arrival of Liu Feng, Zhou Yun, and Wu Caiyue stirred excitement not only among the Outer Sect disciples and those tasked with menial duties but also drew looks of awe from many Inner Sect disciples.

Despite all being Inner Sect disciples, their varying strengths meant they received different levels of respect.

Liu Feng's eyes quickly found Zhao Yu in the crowd. With a sneer, he raised his voice deliberately, "Junior Brother Zhao, you've shown up. I was under the impression you'd be too scared to come. Admirable courage indeed."

All eyes shifted to Zhao Yu, many aware of the wager he had made with Liu Feng the day before.

Liu Feng's tone dripped with sarcasm, clearly taunting him.

Preferring to avoid trouble before the examination, Zhao Yu simply gave Liu Feng a cold glance and dismissed him.

Mistaking this for fear, Liu Feng's smugness grew.

Zhou Yun greeted Zhao Yu with a smile and a courteous gesture, "Junior Brother Zhao, congratulations on regaining your cultivation. With your martial arts talent, catching up to us is just a matter of time."

Wu Caiyue chimed in with a light chuckle, "Indeed, it looks like we'll soon have another rival within the sect."

Zhao Yu returned the gesture, "I appreciate your kind words, Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Sister Wu. I'm well aware that my cultivation has a long way to go before I can even think of comparing myself to you."

While some sect disciples bore ill will towards him, others showed genuine kindness, a dichotomy Zhao Yu was well aware of.

Liu Feng's smug smile vanished in an instant, his gaze darkening.

Zhou Yun and Wu Caiyue's compliments towards Zhao Yu seemed like a direct challenge to him.

"Senior Brother Sun has arrived!"

A wave of excitement rippled through the crowd outside. A tall, striking young man with an air of distinction emerged from the throng.

The arrival of Sun Mingyu, the top inner sect disciple, sent a buzz through the onlookers. Many female disciples couldn't hide their adoration.

Sun Mingyu acknowledged the calling of his name by the female disciples with a slight nod before making his way into the plaza.

"Junior Brother Zhao, I've heard you've recovered from your illness. That's wonderful news," Sun Mingyu approached Zhao Yu, his voice carrying its usual authoritative tone.

Zhao Yu was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Sun Mingyu to address him first, but he quickly regained his composure, bowing respectfully, "Senior Brother Sun, I appreciate your concern. By the grace of the heavens, I was fortunate enough to pull through."

Though acquainted with Sun Mingyu, Zhao Yu knew there was no real bond between them.

Unexpectedly, Sun Mingyu's tone shifted, growing colder, "As your senior, I should be congratulating you on your recovery. However, it was wrong of you to insult Junior Sister Xuemeng."

The mood tensed up immediately, prompting the surrounding crowd to fall silent and turn their attention to the unfolding drama.

Zhao Yu's brow furrowed, "Senior Brother Sun, what are you implying?"

Sun Mingyu's sneer was chilling, "What am I implying? I'm expressing my disappointment for Junior Sister Xuemeng. She was nothing but kind to you, and yet you branded her a liar and hurled unspeakable insults at her. Thankfully, Junior Sister Xuemeng is wise and has distanced herself from a scumbag like you, otherwise, she would have been doomed to a life ruined by your kind."

Zhao Yu's eyes iced over as realization dawned on him.

Sun Mingyu had come to stand up for Zhang Xuemeng, but whether he was acting on her or Zhang Daoming's behest, Zhao Yu couldn't be sure.

A sense of wariness settled in his heart.