C21 Entering the Inner Sect

Just as Hua Hsing was about to leave, he suddenly heard a voice, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

"Senior Brother Re, there's a cave here. Let's check it out," one disciple whispered.

"Maybe Hua Hsing is inside this cave," another disciple suggested.

"Alright, let's be careful and take a look," Re Yunzheng's voice came through.

Inside the cave, Hua Hsing heard their conversation, his expression turning icy.

There was a noise at the cave entrance, and soon after, Re Yunzheng and his two companions entered.

They had come to see if Hua Hsing was in the cave, and as soon as they stepped inside, they spotted a figure.

Upon closer inspection, the three were shocked to find it was indeed Hua Hsing.

"Hua Hsing, I didn't expect to find you here," Re Yunzheng said coldly, his face darkening.

"Hua Hsing, your time is up."

"Is that so? Many have tried to kill me, yet here I am," Hua Hsing replied with a calm smile.

"Hua Hsing, I came to Black Wind Mountain Range specifically to end you. You won't leave here alive," Re Yunzheng stated confidently, his voice icy.

"You want to kill me too?" Hua Hsing retorted.

As soon as Hua Hsing finished speaking, the two figures beside Re Yunzheng launched a fierce attack, aiming directly at him.

"Hua Hsing, you'll pay for what you've done."

Re Yunzheng shouted, launching his Five-element Sword Arts at Hua Hsing.

"Golden Light Sword Arts."

Hua Hsing, now at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage, had mastered the sixth sword of the Golden Light Sword Arts. He was formidable. A flash of his sword swept through the cave, and a chilling scream echoed as one of Re Yunzheng's disciples fell lifeless.

Re Yunzheng was shocked, turning to see his fallen disciple. "Hua Hsing, you're finished."

Furious, Re Yunzheng swallowed a pill, and his aura surged to an overwhelming intensity. Hua Hsing was puzzled but had no time to think as another disciple attacked.

"Die!"

With a swift, effortless strike, Hua Hsing dispatched the second disciple. Both disciples were at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage, highlighting Hua Hsing's incredible strength.

"Re Yunzheng, I told you, I will kill you myself."

Hua Hsing's gaze was icy as he looked at Re Yunzheng, whose aura now matched his own.

"Hua Hsing, I will kill you," Re Yunzheng shouted in rage.

Meanwhile, the sword in Re Yunzheng's hand unleashed the Five-element Sword Arts, its powerful light aiming directly at Hua Hsing.

"He must have taken some kind of strength-enhancing potion," Hua Hsing muttered, feeling the pressure from the Five-element Sword Arts.

On the Ancient Sword Continent, countless potions exist, some capable of temporarily boosting strength, though they come with significant side effects. Hua Hsing wasn't sure what Re Yunzheng had consumed, but he knew that Re Yunzheng's current power was comparable to someone at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage.

However, Re Yunzheng was mistaken, as Hua Hsing was no longer the same person who had first entered the Black Wind Mountain Range. Now at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage himself, Hua Hsing's strength matched that of any disciple at this level, and he had no fear of Re Yunzheng.

"Five-element Sword Arts!"

Re Yunzheng executed his strongest technique, merging five sword lights into one formidable beam that shot toward Hua Hsing.

"Golden Light Sword Arts, Sixth Strike!"

Without hesitation, Hua Hsing countered with the sixth strike of the Golden Light Sword Arts, a golden light flashing through the air.

The golden light collided fiercely with the massive sword beam, resulting in a thunderous explosion.

After the collision, Yunzheng initially thought Hsing's sword light would quickly dissipate. However, the scene that unfolded left Yunzheng's face pale with shock.

In the sky, the massive sword light was slowly unraveling.

"How is this possible?" Yunzheng exclaimed, realizing he had underestimated Hsing.

The immense sword light lingered briefly before dispersing completely. As it vanished, Yunzheng's body was hurled backward.

He let out a pained scream, unwilling to accept defeat. But Hsing had no intention of giving Yunzheng any respite.

"Yunzheng, did you ever think you'd meet your end at my hands?" Hsing asked coldly, advancing step by step.

"We're from the same school, Hsing. Don't kill me," Yunzheng pleaded, fear creeping into his voice, his usual composure as a top disciple nowhere to be seen.

"If our roles were reversed, would you spare me?" Hsing countered.

Yunzheng hesitated, falling silent.

As Hsing drew near, Yunzheng suddenly clenched his fist and launched a surprise attack. Unfortunately for him, it failed.

A flash of sword light, and the Light Spirit Sword pierced Yunzheng's chest.

With a final, anguished cry, Yunzheng collapsed to the ground.

"Serves you right," Hua Hsing said coldly, sheathing his Light Spirit Sword.

Re Yunzheng had tried to kill him multiple times, and Hua Hsing had long harbored the intent to eliminate him. Now that the opportunity presented itself, he wasn't about to let it slip by.

After dealing with Re Yunzheng, Hua Hsing checked his body and discovered a low-grade space ring. Pocketing the ring, he left the cave.

Hua Hsing then inspected the entire barrier but found nothing else of interest. Finally, he exited the restricted area.

By the time Hua Hsing returned to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, a day had passed. On the way back, he stopped in Breeze City to sell some remains, amassing a total of 100,000 low-grade spirit stones—a considerable fortune for an Outer Sect disciple.

Upon his return to the sect, he found his two friends in seclusion, so he headed back to his own room.

"I haven't had a chance to look at Re Yunzheng's space ring yet," Hua Hsing murmured as he sat cross-legged and took out the ring.

He began examining the contents of the space ring. The space inside was quite limited, and with a quick glance, he noticed that aside from a manual on the Five-element Sword Arts, there was just a piece of tattered cloth.

"Hmm? Could this be a treasure map?" Hua Hsing's eyes lit up as he noticed some chaotic markings on the cloth.

Afterward, Hua Hsing took out the tattered cloth and studied it carefully. He realized it depicted a burial site in Azure Cloud County.

"This burial site is located in the mountains, about sixty miles outside of Liangyun City," Hua Hsing remarked.

After examining the cloth closely, Hua Hsing concluded it was a treasure map and tucked it away.

The next day, back at the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Hua Hsing approached the elder in charge of the Inner Sect assessment.

"What brings you here?" the elder asked in a deep voice, standing in an open plaza.

"Elder, I've reached the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage. I wish to enter the Inner Sect," Hua Hsing replied.

The elder looked a bit surprised but quickly said, "Show your full strength by striking that distant stone tablet."

Nodding, Hua Hsing glanced at the stone tablet in the plaza. Clenching his fist, he gathered the strength of four oxen into it.

With four resounding roars, Hua Hsing's fist struck the stone tablet. The ground trembled from the force of his punch, yet the tablet remained unscathed.

Puzzled, Hua Hsing examined the tablet closely and noticed a wisp of cosmic spiritual energy emanating from it.

As Hua Hsing pondered this, the elder's laughter echoed in his ears.

"Not bad, your level has indeed reached the fourth stage of the Qi Refining Stage. From today on, you're an Inner Sect disciple," the elder said with a smile. "Here's your Inner Sect disciple token. Head to the Inner Sect's supply hall to pick up your things."

Hua Hsing accepted the token and entered the Inner Sect. As he disappeared from view, the elder's eyes flashed with surprise. "It's been a long time since a disciple could make the monument tremble," the elder mused, still astonished. Hua Hsing, however, was unaware of this.

Once inside the Inner Sect, Hua Hsing set out to find the supply hall but ran into someone familiar. "Senior Brother Zhang, congratulations! Your skills have improved again," a group of people approached Hua Hsing, chatting and laughing.

"Yeah, this time Senior Brother Zhang is sure to make it into the top fifty of the Inner Sect."

"Senior Brother Zhang, don't forget us when you do," many disciples praised Zhang Bofeng.

Just then, Zhang Bofeng noticed Hua Hsing. He walked over, and the other disciples followed suit. Blocking Hua Hsing's path, Zhang Bofeng sneered, "As an Outer Sect disciple, how can you just stroll into the Inner Sect?"

Hearing Zhang Bofeng's challenge, Hua Hsing smirked and produced his Inner Sect disciple token.

"What? You actually have an Inner Sect disciple token?" Zhang Bofeng exclaimed in disbelief.

In just a moment, Zhang Bofeng regained his composure.

"Joining the Inner Sect is better for you. There, you're just a newcomer, and I enjoy helping others. I'll personally teach you how to navigate things," Zhang Bofeng said coldly, his expression dark.

"Sorry, I don't have time for this."

Hua Hsing didn't want to engage with Zhang Bofeng any further. After speaking, he walked away without looking back.