Chapter 495: Survival Assessment

"Hmph." A sharp glint flashed in Ye Xuan’s eyes. He couldn’t be bothered to say anything more.

BOOM!

He thrust out the black heavy sword in his hand. The air around the blade instantly erupted with a violent roar, blasted away like scattered flower petals.

This made Chu Jian’s expression change. However, what welled up more within him was the fury of a master whose authority had been challenged.

"How audacious! If you insist, then get the hell off the stage!"

Chu Jian roared furiously and swung his own black heavy sword. His swing was like wielding a great mountain—it seemed slow, but in an instant, it was there to block Ye Xuan’s thrusting sword.

There was a deafening CRASH.

To the astonishment of the crowd, Ye Xuan didn’t move an inch, while Chu Jian was sent flying back nearly ten meters. He then glared ferociously at Ye Xuan.

’This Chu Jian’s strength isn’t bad. At the Tier Six First Layer Peak, he could probably fight some Tier Six Third Layer Martial Venerables.’

A thought passed through Ye Xuan’s mind, but it was quickly overshadowed by disdain.

’Trying to stop me with that level of strength? That’s just asking for death.’

’Since Chu Jian wants to protect Feng Guang, then I’ll just eliminate them both.’

SWISH!

Ye Xuan’s figure shot out like a bolt of lightning, charging toward Chu Jian without hesitation.

His target had already shifted from Feng Guang to Chu Jian.

Eliminate Chu Jian first, and Feng Guang would be no trouble at all.

"You think I’m really no match for you?"

A sinister light erupted from Chu Jian’s hawkish gaze. He let out a low growl, and a giant python materialized above his head. The python’s icy eyes locked onto Ye Xuan.

BUZZZZZZ!

Five star rings instantly appeared, glowing brilliantly in various colors. A green stream of energy enveloped Chu Jian, carrying an icy aura as it swept forward.

"My Yin Snake Martial Soul has been cultivated to the peak of Five-Stars. It’s just a hair’s breadth from breaking through to the Six-Star realm. I refuse to believe that a mere Tier Five Martial Sect like you can block my attack!"

A terrifying Martial Soul power surged forth. Chu Jian’s black heavy sword took on a sinister quality, its movements like coiling serpents, twisting toward Ye Xuan to bind his movements.

"Heh, competing with Martial Souls?"

Ye Xuan chuckled lightly. Above his head, the Earth Martial Soul appeared, earthen yellow with a hint of rainbow light. At the same time, four golden star rings were released.

A Martial Soul aura so dense and powerful it was suffocating spread out from him.

"Golden star rings."

"And four of them."

The moment Ye Xuan’s four golden star rings appeared, every Martial Artist in the arena was stunned. Even Elder Dong, in the referees’ box, trembled in shock.

Four golden star rings meant that every time Ye Xuan had advanced his Martial Soul, he had withstood power far beyond its limits. Each breakthrough was a walk through the gates of hell.

"Time to be eliminated."

Ye Xuan gave a cold smile and engaged in a furious battle with Chu Jian.

In reality, with Ye Xuan’s full strength, this fight wouldn’t be so troublesome. But a trump card was a trump card for a reason; there was no need to reveal too much when it wasn’t necessary.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The two black heavy swords clashed continuously in the air. Chu Jian, who had been so arrogant moments ago, now had a bitter expression as he was forced back again and again.

Ye Xuan’s Earth Martial Soul not only greatly increased his Defense Power, but it also gave his strength an astonishing boost.

Chu Jian’s Yin Snake Martial Soul, however, only made his Swordsmanship more insidious and bizarre.

But in front of Ye Xuan, no insidious or bizarre moves were of any use. Every thrust he made perfectly intercepted the path of Chu Jian’s attack.

Once!

Twice!

Five times!

After five clashes, Chu Jian’s hands were already trembling.

The repeated impacts had thrown the Profound Power in his body into chaos, and his arms felt weak.

If this continued, he might actually be eliminated.

At this moment, the arrogance on his face was gone. He hurriedly sent a voice transmission: "Xuan Ye, Feng Guang was in the wrong just now, but there’s no need for you to fight us to the death. There aren’t many people left in the fighting ring. If you spare Feng Guang’s life, we can both pass this first round of selection. We can even team up in the second round."

Ye Xuan glanced around. Sure enough, the number of people in the fighting ring had dwindled to about twenty. Only a few more needed to be eliminated before the first round of selection was over.

"I should thank you for the reminder. It seems I need to end this quickly."

Ye Xuan sneered. ’Begging for mercy now? As if things are that easy. If I had been the weaker one, I would’ve been eliminated long ago.’

"Lose!"

With a low growl, Ye Xuan suddenly thrust his sword forward.

Fast. It was too fast.

The thrust was like a fleeting glimpse of a swan—before Chu Jian could even react, the sword was already in front of him.

"You..."

He roared, only managing to get his sword in front of his chest before he was sent flying.

PFFT!

He spat out a mouthful of blood. Chu Jian was already exhausted from the previous exchanges, and this single strike knocked him directly out of the fighting ring.

WHOA!

The whole place was in an uproar.

Chu Jian... was actually eliminated?

Below the fighting ring, it took Chu Jian a moment to come to his senses. When he realized his fate, a look of unwillingness washed over his face.

"ARGHHH!" Chu Jian roared in anger, smashing his fists into the ground to vent his frustration.

Ye Xuan scanned the fighting ring. The battle had raged on, and now only seventeen people remained.

In other words, as soon as two more were eliminated, this round of the competition would be over.

"Now, it’s your turn."

Ye Xuan stared intently at Feng Guang.

’Even Chu Jian was eliminated.’ A chill ran down Feng Guang’s spine. ’Bastard.’

He cursed angrily and immediately started to flee.

’Two more. As long as two more people are eliminated, I’ll be safe.’

Feng Guang had completely lost the courage to fight Ye Xuan and began to flee wildly around the fighting ring.

"Fleeing?" Ye Xuan’s figure shot after him like a streak of light.

"So fast?" Feng Guang’s expression changed drastically.

He had no idea what kind of Body Technique that Xuan Ye cultivated, but his speed had suddenly surged, allowing him to close in at an incredible rate.

"Damn it!"

Seeing that he was about to be caught, Feng Guang turned, gritted his teeth, and roared. A brilliant blade light erupted from his golden battle saber, forming a golden barrier in front of him.

’Block it! If I can just block this, I might be able to pass!’

Feng Guang was desperate. There were only sixteen people left on the stage, and several other pairs were still locked in combat.

"You want to stay? Dream on."

Ye Xuan’s eyes turned cold. His black heavy sword charged forward like a runaway train, slamming viciously into the golden barrier in front of Feng Guang.

BANG!

The golden barrier shattered. His battle saber was knocked from his grasp and sent flying. Under the immense force, Feng Guang spat out blood, the sound of bones cracking echoed from his chest, and he fell heavily from the fighting ring, his face pale.

Feng Guang, eliminated!

WHOOSH!

From the referees’ box, Lu Jun shot to his feet. With a wave of his hand, an invisible pressure descended, stopping the other students who were still fighting.

"The fifteen victors have been chosen. The first round of the martial selection is over."

Lu Jun’s booming voice rang out.

Silence.

The arena was utterly silent!

Everyone stared at Ye Xuan, who was sheathing his sword in the fighting ring.

Dazzling.

This young man, who had only joined the academy a month ago and still looked a bit green, had become the most dazzling presence in the fighting ring.

"Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying."

"A Tier Five Third Layer Martial Sect actually defeated Senior Brother Chu Jian. How in the world does he cultivate?"

"He truly deserves his title as the number one in this year’s new student entrance exam."

Countless students, both old and new, stared blankly at the figure on the stage.

If before, Ye Xuan’s fame throughout the academy was merely due to being hunted by the Profound Mystery Sect or because of his outstanding talent, then at this moment, he had undoubtedly conquered everyone present with his strength.

By surviving to the end of an elimination tournament filled with so many powerful senior students, Ye Xuan’s strength had now won everyone’s approval.

"This kid is incredible."

"Haha, the Alchemy Element will definitely have him."

"No way, Elder Yao. You can’t steal him from my Soul Refining Element. I plan to make this Xuan Ye my Direct Disciple and personally teach him the art of Soul Refining."

"Elder Dong, it’s not that I want to fight you for him, but I also want to make this Xuan Ye my Direct Disciple."

In the referees’ box, the academy instructors were inexplicably excited, arguing endlessly among themselves.

What was the purpose of Gale Light Academy’s existence?

It was to cultivate heaven-defying experts for the Dream Realm Plain. Ye Xuan’s talent had already captivated the hearts of all the instructors.

With the talent Ye Xuan had displayed today...

Ten years from now, decades from now...

No one knew just how far he would grow!

"First, congratulations to the fifteen students who are victorious. You have won the first round of the martial selection with outstanding results. Now, all students, please return and rest. Three days from now, the final assessment for the inner court selection will be held. The content of this final assessment will be wilderness survival."

"In this wilderness survival assessment, not only will you face the danger of Demon Beasts hidden everywhere, but there will also be inner court students tasked with preventing you from succeeding. This will be a true test of your survival skills. Only the students who prevail in this survival assessment will be qualified to join the inner court of our Gale Light Academy."

Lu Jun’s booming voice continued from the referees’ box.

As soon as he said this, the expressions of all the victorious students changed.

"A survival assessment... I can’t believe the final stage for inner court disciples this year is a survival assessment."

Among the fifteen victorious students, many looked horrified.

Although Ye Xuan didn’t understand what this survival assessment entailed, he could tell from the faces of all the senior students that it was definitely a terrifying trial.

"The final round of the inner court assessment this year is actually a survival test. Young Master Ye, your luck is really something ’else.’"

Even Zhang Lie was speechless as he spoke to Ye Xuan.

"Is there something wrong with this survival assessment?" Ye Xuan asked with a frown.