C24 Fire Spirit Slash.

Sun Mingyue had never been particularly friendly toward him, and it wasn't without reason—Zhang Xuemeng's influence likely played a part. Given her status and beauty, Zhang Xuemeng had no shortage of admirers within the sect.

Tian Feng was smitten with her, and so was Sun Mingyu. However, Sun Mingyu's high standing meant he was more restrained in his pursuit, unlike the more overt suitors vying for Zhang Xuemeng's attention.

Zhao Yu spoke with measured calm, "The truth of the matter will come to light, and the public will judge fairly. You've only caught a glimpse of my frustration. Can't you see their treatment of me? If I were entirely at fault, why hasn't the Sect Master punished me? And why do so many support me?"

"I'm not concerned with how others treat you," Sun Mingyu retorted stubbornly. "All I know is that you insulted Junior Sister Xuemeng, and for that, you should pay with your life!"

"It seems you're not interested in a reasonable discussion," Zhao Yu observed.

"I only engage in reason with those who deserve it," Sun Mingyu sneered. "Someone like you doesn't even merit that much. You'd better hope you don't cross paths with me during the assessments, or I'll make sure to teach you a harsh lesson on behalf of Junior Sister Xuemeng."

With a cold glare, Sun Mingyu turned on his heel and walked away.

The other disciples cast sympathetic glances at Zhao Yu. He had been coerced into a bet by Liu Feng, and now he faced threats from Sun Mingyu, the top inner sect disciple. His luck seemed to have run out.

Yet Zhao Yu maintained his composure. Anger wouldn't solve anything; only strength could resolve his troubles.

The more he pondered, the more he sensed something off about Sun Mingyu's actions. The Sun Mingyu he remembered was proud, but not rash. And as the premier inner sect disciple, Sun Mingyu wouldn't typically stoop to such personal vendettas, not with his reputation at stake.

"Master," Light chimed in, "I've just detected the presence of a Spirit Weapon on Sun Mingyu."

Zhao Yu's gaze sharpened. There was definitely something amiss with Sun Mingyu. Sky Profound Sect's rules were clear: during assessments, the use of Spirit Weapons—or any weapons, for that matter—was strictly forbidden. Discovery meant immediate disqualification, and any negative repercussions would lead to accountability.

Sun Mingyue was no stranger to the inner sect disciple assessment, and he was well aware of the rules. Yet, he chose to bring a Spirit Weapon to the examination, which clearly suggested ulterior motives.

Furthermore, judging by Sun Mingyue's recent behavior towards him, it was highly likely that Sun Mingyue intended to use the Spirit Weapon as a means to discipline him.

"Can you determine which Spirit Weapon it is?" Zhao Yu inquired.

Light responded, "There's over a 90% chance that it's the Fire Spirit Slash."

With such odds, barring any unforeseen events, it was almost a certainty.

Fire Spirit Slash! A glint of cold determination flickered in Zhao Yu's eyes.

The Sky Profound Sect safeguarded three major Spirit Weapons, with the Fire Spirit Slash traditionally under the custody of Sect Master Zhang Daoming.

Yet, here it was in Sun Mingyue's possession. What could this imply?

The conclusion was becoming painfully clear: Zhang Daoming was orchestrating some mischief against him.

Now, Sun Mingyu's rash outburst and public threats served to deflect suspicion from himself. In the upcoming arena battle, if Sun Mingyu were to grievously wound Zhao Yu or even cause his death, he would have a seemingly justifiable excuse—his longstanding fury towards Zhao Yu had caused him to lose control.

However, openly wielding a Spirit Weapon was out of the question, and he would be subject to inspection by the referee elders before the match.

But if the referees were complicit in cheating, that would complicate matters.

Regardless, Zhao Yu's guard was up, and he was on high alert.

"Senior Brother Sun is correct; Zhao Yu is nothing but trash. Even if Senior Brother Sun refrains from acting, my cousin will surely give him the harsh lesson he deserves!" Liu Guang stepped forward, addressing Sun Mingyu with an ingratiating grin.

He was overjoyed to witness Sun Mingyu publicly chastising Zhao Yu.

Sun Mingyu merely gave Liu Guang a dismissive glance and a slight nod before taking his place at the forefront and closing his eyes to meditate.

His pride was well-known, and he had little regard for someone of Liu Guang's stature.

Liu Guang, feeling the sting of embarrassment, withdrew.

"The Sect Master has arrived."

A buzz of excitement swept through the Outer Sect disciples and chore-doing disciples gathered around the arena.

Sect Master Zhang Daoming, flanked by a retinue of elders, made his way from the edge of the plaza to the grandstand.

The Inner Sect disciple examination was a significant event for the Sky Profound Sect. Unless an emergency arose, the sect's leadership would always be present to underscore the importance of the examination.

Should a disciple excel during the assessment, they might catch the eye of the Sect Master or an elder and be taken on as a direct disciple—a not uncommon occurrence each year.

Thus, even without the prospect of securing a spot in the Martial Meeting of Seven Sects, many Inner Sect disciples were determined to put forth their best effort.

Zhang Xuemeng walked alongside Zhang Daoming, her demeanor calm, casting additional glances toward Zhao Yu.

Zhang Daoming took his place on the stage, surveying the crowd below.

A hush fell over the disciples.

Zhang Daoming began, "The Sky Profound Sect's annual Inner Sect disciple assessment is upon us. This year, however, is unlike any other, as the outcome will also determine our representative at the Martial Meeting of Seven Sects. We have one precious spot available. Therefore, only the disciple who claims first place in the Inner Sect examination will earn the right to compete in the Martial Meeting."

The crowd erupted with renewed excitement. Many had already heard whispers of the news, but hearing it confirmed by Zhang Daoming himself made it real.

"Even though there's just one spot for the Martial Meeting of Seven Sects, I urge each of you to give your all in the assessment. Don't easily concede, even when up against stronger opponents. This may be an assessment, but I want you to approach it as if it were true combat. Show us your best, and even if you don't place, you will leave an impression."

After delivering his mix of platitudes and motivational speech, Zhang Daoming concluded, "I've said my piece. Now, I'll hand over to the Head Elder to outline the assessment rules and detail the rewards for each rank."

With that, Zhang Daoming stepped back and took his seat.

The Head Elder rose and made his way to the forefront of the stage. "As you all know," he began, "the assessment rules are familiar to you. This year, they remain unchanged from previous years: a test of strength, with no weapons allowed. Should anyone be caught using a weapon, they will be immediately stripped of their qualification and face strict punishment under our sect's rules."

He paused briefly, surveying the gathered disciples before continuing, "This year's inner sect disciple examination holds greater significance due to its connection with the Martial Meeting of Seven Sects. Consequently, the rewards will be substantially more lavish. The disciple who secures first place will not only earn a spot in the Martial Meeting of Seven Sects but will also receive the esteemed Pure Yang Sutra."

"The Pure Yang Sutra is a revered secret of our sect, typically reserved for elders' cultivation."

"It's clear the sect is determined to make a strong showing at the Martial Meeting of Seven Sects, aiming for a high rank rather than languishing at the bottom as in the past."

"The prize is impressive, but it's only for the one who claims first place. It doesn't concern the rest of us," murmured some disciples among themselves.

The announcement stirred a buzz of excitement, even among the formidable inner sect disciples like Sun Mingyu and Zhou Yun.

"The Pure Yang Sutra, how generous of the sect," Zhao Yu mused, feeling a surge of anticipation. As an inner sect disciple, he was well aware of the sutra's value, a full two tiers above his current cultivation technique. With Light's enhancements, it could reach even greater heights, propelling his cultivation forward dramatically.

The Head Elder then proceeded to detail the rewards for the other ranks, each more generous than in years past, igniting a wave of excitement among the competing disciples.

Many inner sect disciples were already itching to step into the arena. The competition format would see the forty-five disciples split into four groups, each battling it out within their group. Each victory would earn them a point, and when the dust settled, the top two from each group with the highest scores would advance to the top eight, while the others would be eliminated.

Next came the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and ultimately, the final showdown.

Regarding the initial grouping of the inner sect disciples, the Sect Master and the elders would deliberate together to ensure, as much as possible, that the competitors in each group were evenly matched in strength.