Chapter 592 - 592: Testing Strength

In the great hall, fifteen Inner Sect Elders were gathered, silently flipping through the rosters in their hands.

After all, the Inner Sect Qualification Competition was a joint event organized by the Fifteen Major Sects of the Northern Domain, and it required them to lead disciples to the other sects.

Thus, for the Saint Extreme Sect, each group of Outer Disciples was to be led by one Inner Sect Elder and two Outer Elders.

Otherwise, if other sects sent Inner Sect Elders to lead their teams while they only sent Outer Elders, they would seem inferior, which could in turn affect the disciples' performance.

It was a tough situation for the smaller sects, however. Some of them couldn't even scrape together fifteen Inner Sect Elders at or above the Earth Emperor Realm...

"Hm? Chu Qingyun!"

Inside the great hall, an Inner Sect Elder suddenly raised an eyebrow and spoke with some surprise.

This was none other than Inner Sect Elder Zhu Zhijing, the one Chu Qingyun had approached for advice on Thunder Sword Intent right after joining the Saint Extreme Sect.

At his words, several nearby Inner Sect Elders glanced over, their curiosity piqued.

"That Chu Qingyun? Hasn't he only been with the Saint Extreme Sect for a month? And he's taking part in the Inner Sect Qualification Competition?"

"It must be someone with the same name. I remember he was only a Level-Six Martial Spirit when he joined."

The Inner Sect Elders were puzzled. They couldn't even be sure if this was the same Chu Qingyun they had heard of; after all, the roster only listed a name.

Elder Zhu Zhijing frowned. After a moment's hesitation, he instructed someone nearby, "Go fetch one of the Outer Elders in charge of assigning the Lands of Trial. It's best we get to the bottom of this..."

Soon, an Outer Elder was brought in—it was the very same Elder Huang who had been outside just moments ago.

"Greetings, Elders," Elder Huang said with the utmost respect.

Zhu Zhijing nodded. "Elder Huang, this Chu Qingyun assigned to the Celestial Sword Sect's Withered Wood Forest for the Inner Sect Qualification Competition—is he the same one who just joined our sect this year?"

Hearing this, Elder Huang's heart skipped a beat, and his expression flickered.

He never expected the name "Chu Qingyun" to have caught the attention of the Inner Sect Elders.

"To answer your question, Elder Zhu, this is indeed the same Chu Qingyun who recently joined the Outer Sect," Elder Huang replied.

"Absurd! He's only been a disciple for a month, and he was allowed to sign up for the Inner Sect Qualification Competition?"

"This is a farce! With his level of strength, is he trying to get himself killed?"

"Who was in charge of registration? Did no one explain to him what the Inner Sect Qualification Competition entails?"

Several of the Inner Sect Elders, including Zhu Zhijing, couldn't help but voice their objections.

"In response to the Elders, as far as I know, Chu Qingyun was a Level-Seven Martial Spirit when he signed up. Several Inner Sect Disciples warned him against it that day, but he insisted on registering."

"After all, there's no rule stating that only Level-Nine Martial Spirits can participate, so... we had to let him be."

Elder Huang added from the side.

Because he was already planning to undermine Chu Qingyun, he had specifically looked into the details of the registration. Thus, what he was saying now wasn't entirely untrue.

"And his assignment to the Celestial Sword Sect's Land of Trial... was that voluntary, too?"

Elder Zhu Zhijing snorted, his sharp gaze fixed on Elder Huang.

The Inner Sect Elders were unaware of what had transpired in the Outer Sect over the past month, but they all knew about the grudge between Elder Huang and Chu Qingyun from Celestial Martial City.

"This..."

Elder Huang flinched inwardly but forced himself to remain composed. "Elder Zhu, the sect's assignments are all determined by a random draw. Many Outer Elders can attest to this."

In truth, Elder Huang wasn't particularly panicked.

After all, he had only pulled a few minor strings, targeting just one person among nearly two thousand. It was impossible for anyone to find out.

"Hmph. Move Chu Qingyun to the Saint Extreme Sect's own Land of Trial," Elder Zhu Zhijing ordered with a cold snort.

Zhu Zhijing still held a very high opinion of Chu Qingyun.

His talent in the Alchemy Dao was outstanding, and his aptitude for the Martial Dao was just as astonishing. A genius like that, once matured, would undoubtedly become a pillar of the Saint Extreme Sect.

That was why Elder Zhu didn't want Chu Qingyun going to the Celestial Sword Sect. He wanted to transfer him to the Saint Extreme Sect's Iron Mang Mountain and arrange for a few powerful Level-Nine Martial Spirits to protect him. That way, he could participate in the Inner Sect Qualification Competition just for the experience, to broaden his horizons, and that would be enough.

However, two other Inner Sect Elders voiced their dissent.

"That wouldn't be right. The sect assignments have already been finalized and announced. Countless disciples have seen the lists."

"If we make an exception for one person, what will the other Outer Disciples assigned to the Celestial Sword Sect think? We can't do that."

Elder Zhu Zhijing frowned, feeling a sense of helplessness.

The two elders had a valid point.

"Elder Huang, arrange for someone to bring Chu Qingyun here," Zhu Zhijing said to Elder Huang after a moment of thought.

Elder Huang's heart clenched. He immediately realized that Elder Zhu must be planning to persuade Chu Qingyun to withdraw from the Inner Sect Qualification Competition.

However, there was nothing he could do about it.

With most of the Inner Sect Elders present, he, a mere Outer Elder and only a First-Level Martial Emperor, wouldn't dare try any more funny business.

Soon, Chu Qingyun was summoned to the great hall.

"Chu Qingyun, you've entered the Inner Sect Qualification Competition? Tell me, do you even understand what it truly entails?"

Elder Zhu Zhijing asked directly, not even waiting for Chu Qingyun to speak.

"I do, Elder Zhu," Chu Qingyun replied.

"If you know, then why did you still sign up?" Elder Zhu Zhijing pressed.

"I am confident."

Chu Qingyun said, raising his head to look at Elder Zhu Zhijing.

Staring into Chu Qingyun's determined eyes, something shifted in Zhu Zhijing's heart. It suddenly occurred to him that anyone who could battle their way from the Land of Hundred Dynasties, survive the Blood-soaked Land, and join the Saint Extreme Sect could not possibly be a reckless fool.

If Chu Qingyun had chosen to participate, he must have had his reasons.

'Could it be... he actually has the strength?'

'A Level-Eight Martial Spirit...'

"Chu Qingyun, attack me with your full strength."

Elder Zhu Zhijing said suddenly after a moment of contemplation.

Chu Qingyun was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly understood. Elder Zhu Zhijing wanted to test his strength.

Once he understood, a flicker of anticipation ignited within him. He, too, was eager to see what kind of evaluation a Martial Emperor Realm expert would give his strength, now that he had reached First-Layer Perfection of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sacred Form's Inner Chapter.

"Elder Zhu, forgive my offense!"

As soon as Chu Qingyun spoke, the Primordial Power surging through his meridians abruptly accelerated. With a WHOOSH, he transformed into an afterimage, lunging straight for Zhu Zhijing and throwing a punch with all his strength.

He would have to reveal the power of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sacred Form's Inner Chapter sooner or later.

Therefore, there was no point in deliberately hiding it now.