The First Courtyard Disciples watched Xiao Chen’s basic assessment with mixed feelings.
Some were filled with admiration, while others were secretly jealous.
Based on these two tests alone, Xiao Chen had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the Disciples in the First Courtyard.
Extreme Foundation Establishment and the Extreme Transformation Realm were not feats an ordinary person could achieve.
Even within the First Courtyard, the number of people who could accomplish both could be counted on one hand.
Of course, this only spoke to Xiao Chen’s foundation.
When it came to actual cultivation and combat strength, Xiao Chen was still no match for the veteran Disciples of the First Courtyard.
Perhaps it was precisely because of the heaven-defying talent Xiao Chen displayed that a few Disciples grew jealous.
Xiao Chen passed both basic assessments with what could be called perfect results.
The next stage, the second round of assessment, was a test of combat power.
As a Disciple of the First Courtyard, cultivation level alone was not enough.
Not only did one’s talent have to be top-tier, but one’s combat power at the same realm also had to be the best of the best.
Therefore, the strength of one’s combat power was critical.
The rules for the combat power test were simple.
Elder Mu would randomly select a senior Disciple from the First Courtyard and have them suppress their cultivation to match Xiao Chen’s.
As long as Xiao Chen could last for a hundred moves against an opponent of the same realm without being defeated, he would pass.
But one shouldn’t assume this was simple just because they were at the same realm.
Even though the senior Disciples of the First Courtyard suppressed their cultivation, their combat instincts remained unaffected.
Therefore, lasting a hundred moves against a senior Disciple at the same cultivation level was no easy feat.
Elder Mu’s gaze swept over the surrounding Disciples.
Just as he was about to pick someone, a Disciple suddenly stepped forward and volunteered, “Disciple is willing to be Junior Brother Xiao Chen’s assessment opponent…”
Hearing the Disciple volunteer, Elder Mu pondered for a moment before giving a faint nod.
“Very well, Li Yang.
You shall serve as the opponent for this assessment.”
With Elder Mu’s approval, Li Yang bowed to him, then slowly walked over to stand before Xiao Chen.
A cold sneer played on his lips.
“Junior Brother Xiao Chen, your talent may be decent, but lasting a hundred moves against your Senior Brother won’t be easy.
You’d best not let your guard down…”
Xiao Chen sensed a faint hostility from Li Yang.
‘There shouldn’t be any grievances between us, but this Li Yang…’
Xiao Chen didn’t know that Li Yang’s animosity was born entirely from the talent he had just revealed.
Li Yang had been in the First Courtyard for three years, yet he still lingered near the bottom ranks.
After witnessing Xiao Chen’s heaven-defying talent, it was inevitable that jealousy would fester and give rise to resentment.
It had to be said that someone like Li Yang would surely struggle to achieve greatness in the future.
With such a narrow mind, unable to stand the sight of others succeeding, how could he ever become a true expert?
Sensing Li Yang’s hostility, Xiao Chen didn’t say much.
With a calm expression, he cupped his fist in his other hand and said, “Senior Brother, please.”
Hearing Xiao Chen’s words, Li Yang took the initiative to suppress his cultivation, lowering his power from the Great Success in the Yellow Extreme Realm down to the entry-level.
Then, Elder Mu called out in a low voice, “The combat assessment begins!”
As Elder Mu’s voice fell, Li Yang was the first to act.
With a single step, he executed the high-grade Body Technique, Clear Wind Step, and rushed toward Xiao Chen.
Facing Li Yang’s attack, Xiao Chen showed no signs of carelessness.
‘Indeed, none of the Disciples of the East Sword Pavilion’s First Courtyard are ordinary.
The moment he struck, the combat power Li Yang displayed was not to be underestimated.’
He drew his sword in an instant.
With the longsword in hand, Xiao Chen’s aura sharpened.
As Li Yang charged, Xiao Chen executed a fierce upward thrust from an extremely tricky angle.
Li Yang didn’t dare to block it head-on and dodged to the side.
A single sword strike forced Li Yang back, and with that retreat, Li Yang completely lost the initiative.
Instantly, Xiao Chen’s offensive surged forward like a flood, giving Li Yang no chance to catch his breath.
He had initiated the attack, but after a single exchange, Li Yang found himself completely suppressed by Xiao Chen.
This was, of course, partly due to Li Yang underestimating his opponent; otherwise, Xiao Chen wouldn’t have been able to overwhelm him so easily.
Watching the fierce battle, many of the First Courtyard Disciples nodded in silent approval.
“Not bad.
He’s not arrogant about his talent; he went all-out from the very beginning.
This kid’s mentality is extraordinary.”
“Mm, Li Yang, on the other hand, was careless.
With his strength, even at the same realm, he shouldn’t have been suppressed by Xiao Chen in a single exchange.
It just goes to show he underestimated his opponent from the start.”
The two were polar opposites.
When facing Li Yang, Xiao Chen gave it his all, showing no trace of contempt.
Li Yang, however, completely looked down on Xiao Chen.
As one’s advantage grew and the other’s diminished, it was no wonder Li Yang was instantly suppressed.
Being utterly suppressed by a new Disciple, Li Yang’s expression grew darker and darker amidst the fierce battle, and true anger flared in his heart.
Risking injury, Li Yang forcefully broke through Xiao Chen’s assault, drew his own sword, and immediately unleashed a ferocious slash.
He had been pushed into a true rage.
This was Li Yang’s all-out strike, and with it, he executed the high-grade martial technique, Sword Shadow Kill.
Sword light filled the sky.
‘Of course I’m familiar with Sword Shadow Kill,’ Xiao Chen thought.
‘I’ve cultivated it myself and brought it to the Perfect Realm.’ Naturally, Li Yang’s Sword Shadow Kill had also reached the Perfect Realm.
Faced with the sky full of sword shadows, Xiao Chen’s expression remained placid, not changing in the slightest at Li Yang’s attack.
Then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he slowly executed a simple thrust.
Seeing that Xiao Chen was neither dodging nor evading, the First Courtyard Disciples were all stunned.
“What is he doing?
Is he going to meet Li Yang’s Sword Shadow Kill head-on?”
“I just said his mentality was good, is he showing his true colors already?
To actually think of taking on Li Yang’s Sword Shadow Kill directly.”
“Arrogant, just too arrogant!
It’s one thing to meet it head-on, but he didn’t even execute a martial technique.
Does he think a simple thrust can stop Li Yang’s Sword Shadow Kill?”
Everyone felt Xiao Chen’s actions were far too arrogant.
Not dodging was one thing, but to not even use a martial technique… What was he thinking?
They all voiced their disapproval.
However, just as the Disciples were speaking, a stream of Sword Qi suddenly erupted from Xiao Chen’s sword.
As the Sword Qi erupted, the color drained from Li Yang’s face.
He stammered in disbelief, “Sword Qi…”
He had never imagined that Xiao Chen had already comprehended Sword Qi.
Unsurprisingly, the moment the Sword Qi emerged, Li Yang’s Sword Shadow Kill instantly collapsed.
Seeing this, Li Yang had no other choice.
He immediately stopped suppressing his cultivation.
Only by using the full power of his Great Success in the Yellow Extreme Realm was Li Yang able to block that single stream of Sword Qi.
Even so, he was still forced to retreat seven or eight steps.