Chapter 83: Inner Peak Disciple Assessment

As the Purple Canopy Peak Steward finished speaking, the many Named Disciples present for the assessment began eyeing each other, looking at one another.

For a moment, no one was willing to be the one to step forward.

Especially when the Purple Canopy Peak Steward tore off the red silk covering the iron cage.

It revealed the half‑human, half‑lizard monster inside the cage, causing an involuntary flutter of the heart.

"Is this the Demon Race that bears the Demon King's bloodline?"

"Hiss…"

"What a terrifying sense of oppression!"

"No wonder all the Inner Peak Personal Disciples strive to pass the Demon Hero Examination and take pride in becoming Demon Heroes."

"At first, I didn't understand."

"I wondered, hunting demons is just a matter of having a weapon, isn't it?"

"Is it really necessary to arrange a large‑scale assessment for that?"

"Moreover, the minimum requirement to join such a Demon Hero assessment is that only Inner Peak Personal Disciples are eligible to register…"

"I didn't get it before, but seeing the Demon Race with my own eyes, even under the protection of the formation, still makes one feel dread."

"I told you, a few days ago when we came for the Inner Peak disciple assessment, so many were eliminated!"

"Turns out we have to face such a terrifying Demon Race in person."

"Yeah, I already feel my two legs are giving out!"

"..."

As the Purple Canopy Peak elder exposed the true form of the Demon Race, the Named Disciples present let out a series of gasps.

Everyone who looked at the lizard‑man Demon Race turned pale, and no one was willing to be the first to take the plunge.

At that point.

The whole venue remained silent for about fifteen minutes.

Suddenly, a loud shout rang out.

"Since none of you are willing to take the lead, let me test the depth of this lizard‑man!"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

In the crowd of Xuan Yue Feng Named Disciples, a young man radiating hostility strode forward, lifted his head and chest, and walked out into the gazes of the onlookers.

At the same time, the terrifying aura of a Ten‑Grade Lian Qi Realm Peak emanated from him unabashedly, giving him an impressive presence.

The Xuan Yue Feng Named Disciple, watching the struggling, roaring Demon in the cage, said nothing, took a deep breath, and marched straight toward the lizard‑man.

For a moment.

Inside the training hall, the previously tense atmosphere relaxed considerably with the youth's proactive move.

Everyone craned their necks, peering in the direction the man had just taken.

"I know that Xuan Yue Feng disciple!"

"His name is Wang Hengxing; he's also one of the notorious tough guys in the Yunshan Secret Realm."

"Even though he wasn't qualified for the final Tower Duel competition, he was fierce in the massive brawl of the final core area."

"But he also obtained eleven identity plaques, making him one of the toughest among this batch of Outer Peak disciples."

"Oh?"

"So it's Wang Hengxing!"

"I have an impression of this kid; although his cultivation was only Ninth‑Grade Lian Qi Realm at the time, his moves were extremely ruthless!"

"Many disciples with higher realms still fell before his bold and fierce fighting."

"Now, in just over a week, his cultivation has reached Ten‑Grade Lian Qi Realm Peak, on the verge of breaking through the Concentration Realm—clearly his talent is exceptional!"

"..."

At this moment.

The Inner Peak training hall's Named Disciples from the Four Peaks simultaneously focused their gazes on Wang Hengxing.

When Wang Hengxing emerged from the golden formation, he initially surged forward with a rainbow‑like momentum.

Step after step, at breakneck speed, he kept advancing toward the lizard‑man.

But after fewer than fifty steps, his pace began to slow, and by the sixtieth step his earlier confidence and arrogance faded.

It was as if each forward step required him to exhaust all his strength.

Wang Hengxing staggered, each step arduous as if an invisible wall blocked his path.

Finally!

After the seventieth step, Wang Hengxing could no longer bear it; he collapsed, clutching his head, let out a huge scream, and fled back in panic, his face full of terror and dread.

"What a pity!"

"If he had walked another thirty steps, he would have passed the assessment!"

The Xuan Yue Feng Steward shook his head slightly, feeling regretful.

"I'll go too!"

With Wang Hengxing taking the lead, more and more disciples in the hall chose to join the assessment.

As for Li Mu, Liu Guanyu and the others, they showed no intention of participating.

Liu Guanyu's reason for not joining was simply to secure a foothold first!

He wants his Named Disciples to go up, test the depth of this lizard‑man Demon Race, and then plan his own moves.

Li Mu's reason for not joining is simple!

He simply devotes his main energy to the Heaven Dao Treasure Scroll and truly has no time for the assessment.

"The first page records only human names, yet the Heaven Dao Treasure Scroll reacts so strongly to this Demon Race before us."

"So does that mean this second page is closely linked to the Demon Race?"

Li Mu stroked his chin while continuously studying the Heaven's Dao Treasure Scroll, his mind repeatedly pondering.

Since acquiring this Heaven's Dao Treasure Scroll, Li Mu's understanding of the divine artifact has been very limited.

He has not even tried to flip open the second page of the Heaven's Dao Treasure Scroll.

The first page of the Heaven's Dao Treasure Scroll can turn events that were unfavorable to oneself within a period of time into never having occurred, selecting only favorable events to become reality.

Just with this one trick, Li Mu has escaped death countless times, turning the tide against the odds!

Li Mu clenched his fist, a flash of brilliance flickering in his eyes.

If he can successfully flip open and master the second page of the Heaven's Dao Treasure Scroll, it would be a tremendous boost to his combat power!

Then, when facing Lin Zecheng, Qin Siwu and the like, I will be more confident!

"……"

Time drifted slowly; an hour passed quickly.

During that hour, a total of 108 Named Disciples took part in the assessment!

But without exception, none of them could reach the lizard‑man Demon Race, and the best score remained the seventy steps set by Wang Hengxing.

Everyone was terrified by the horrific demonic aura emanating from those lizard‑men, their courage shattered.

In a frantic scramble they clutched their heads and fled in panic.

Precisely because, after such a long time, no one has managed to pass the assessment.

This turned the once heated assessment arena into something like being doused with a bucket of cold water.

Many people halted, their hearts uneasy.

But at that moment,

A scornful sneer suddenly rang out.

"Hilarious!"

"Li Mu!"

"I told you!"

"A waste is always a waste!"

"Even if you achieve something, it's merely a fleeting bloom!"

"Now you can't even face a single Demon Race!"

"Li Mu, waste!"

"You better watch closely!"

"I'll show you what a true genius is!"

The speaker turned out to be Liu Guanyu!

As the fourth‑ranked on the Outer Peak Heavenly Pride List, just behind Yang Yuanwu, Zhao Ruifeng, and Lin Zehong, a Heaven's Pride!

Liu Guanyu's talent and strength in cultivation are beyond doubt!

However, previously three towering figures like Yang Yuanwu constantly loomed over him.

Thus Liu Guanyu has always been stuck in an awkward middle ground, lacking any sense of presence.

When Li Mu slashed Lin Zehong to death with a single strike, Liu Guanyu didn't even have the courage to look Li Mu straight in the eyes, fearing he might be cut down on the spot the next second!

But!

The past is the past, the present is the present!

Liu Guanyu has already broken through the great barrier of the Refining Qi Realm, reaching the First‑tier Concentration Realm!

In contrast, the formidable enemy he once feared so much, not daring to glance at even once!

Now still remains stuck at the Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm!

If I can step on Li Mu today to ascend!

That ultimate exhilaration, like a soaring immortal, Liu Guanyu merely imagined in his mind, feeling as if his whole being were about to ascend on the spot!

It's so thrilling you can't even breathe!

As Liu Guanyu voluntarily stepped out of the formation!

In that instant, he captured the attention of everyone present!

Among the disciples' gazes, an unmistakable wave of anticipation surfaced!

Formerly ranked fourth on the Outer Peak Wind and Cloud List!

This time's sole First‑tier Concentration Realm participant, Liu Guanyu!

How far can he advance when confronting this lizard‑man of the Demon King's bloodline?

Facing the crowd's eager, excited gazes!

Liu Guanyu, one hand behind his back, strode forward with his head held high, rapidly closing in on the lizard‑man Demon Race.

Unleashing the terrifying aura of his First‑tier Concentration Realm in full!

He didn't, like Wang Hengxing at first, immediately adopt a hundred‑meter sprint stance and rush forward with his head down.

Instead, he moved as if strolling in his own backyard, leisurely and unhurried, advancing slowly.

In just a quarter of an hour, the faces of the disciples in the training hall showed a look of astonishment and shock!

Because Liu Guanyu, without breaking a sweat, completed half the assessment route and kept moving forward!

This already shattered the highest record previously set by Wang Hengxing!

But when Liu Guanyu finished eighty steps and was about to charge through the remaining twenty in one go,

he suddenly felt.

Those icy, bone‑piercing demonic auras, as if sprouted wings, penetrated everything without a gap!

It was eroding Liu Guanyu's extraordinary meridians and eight vessels, his five organs and six viscera, at an unimaginable speed, making his whole body feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, shivering all over.

Crucially, what made Liu Guanyu feel hopeless was that as his body was continuously corroded by Demon Race qi, even his mind and brain began to grow dull and numb.

Damn it!

Is this the Demon Race's qi?

Truly terrifying!

I've already reached the First-tier Concentration Realm, yet I still have to be affected by it!

Even though only twenty steps remained, Liu Guanyu felt as if a mountain weighed on his back, choking his breath, as if each step forward drained all his strength.

At that moment!

Divine Technique Form!

Activate!

Accompanying Liu Guanyu's roar, nine orange‑yellow beams of light flashed behind him in succession, and a massive oxen‑like phantom exuding an ancient, weighty aura slowly materialized behind him!

After summoning the Divine Technique Form, Liu Guanyu clearly felt the pressure on his body lessen considerably; he suddenly surged forward like an arrow from a bow, covering the final twenty steps in one breath.

Thud!

Upon reaching the lizard man, Liu Guanyu, as if all his strength were spent, saw the Divine Technique Form behind him explode and collapse, and his whole body collapsed to the ground!

Liu Guanyu, you have passed the assessment!

You are now formally promoted to Outer Disciple of the Inner Peak of Xuan Yue Feng!

Wow!

At that moment, the disciples of the Dao Hall all burst into a great uproar!

Although Liu Guanyu was in such a disheveled state that he could not even stand, no one present dared to look down on him!

Because!

The assessment that no one could clear in an hour was unexpectedly cleared by Liu Guanyu!

Just this alone was enough to surpass them all!

The steward of Xuan Yue Feng, his face beaming with joy, stepped forward and helped Liu Guanyu back up.

But when Liu Guanyu passed by Li Mu, he said not a word.

He simply lifted his head forcefully, gave Li Mu a contemptuous glance, and then left under the steward's support.

Silence now outweighs sound!

It is a silent mockery!

Even more, a silent contempt!

The former Four Peaks Grand Competition Champion, First person of Outer Peak, Li Mu!

Could it truly be a thing of the past?

It's merely an assessment that can be cleared with legs, yet you still need someone to help you back.

I really don't know what pride such trash like you has!

At this moment.

A young voice rang through the hall, clear to everyone.

Everyone couldn't help but be shocked!

Following the voice, they looked!

Sure enough, the one who spoke was Li Mu!