40: Chapter 37: Assisting 40: Chapter 37: Assisting When Chu Xisheng was sent away by the blue beam of light, the surrounding crowd of Inner Courtyard Disciples instantly erupted into a low uproar of discussions.
“It’s Junior Brother Chu, Junior Brother Chu who was sent up.”
Chu Xisheng is just a First Leaf Disciple.”
“The other three courtyards all have Second and Third Leaf disciples, why did our Eastern Courtyard send a First Leaf Disciple?”
“What’s so strange about that?
Haven’t they been saying that this Junior Brother Chu is already the first in the Inner Sect?”
“What Inner Chief, that’s all just hearsay, who believes that?”
He killed so many from the Long Family, that’s certainly not fake.”
What level this Inner Chief truly is, we’ll see for ourselves.”
Among the many disciples, some were anxious, some were full of expectation, and some spoke with irony.
However, the vast majority of them were brimming with excitement.
Chu Yunyun, likewise caught off guard, could only watch as Chu Xisheng was taken away by the blue light.
She blinked in surprise, then, with a headache, pressed her hand to her forehead, unable to bear watching what was to come.
Chu Yunyun recognized the ‘Four Symbols Decision Plate’ in the sky and knew how it tested the disciples.
The problem was, that was exactly what Chu Xisheng was least skilled in.
This guy was probably going to embarrass himself in front of over four thousand people today.
Of course, it was all Chu Xisheng’s own doing.
If he hadn’t let Hu Lai spread those rumors, none of this would have happened.
As a newly admitted First Leaf Disciple, Chu Xisheng’s combat power was close to that of a Second Leaf, which was extremely commendable.
Even if he lost today, it would still be an honorable defeat.
Regrettably, now carrying the title of ‘First in the Inner Sect,’ wouldn’t he be making a fool of himself?
Chu Yunyun thought he deserved it, but she was more worried that Chu Xisheng’s spirit would be too severely crushed, leading to him never recovering, and hindering his future cultivation.
Among the crowd, Lu Luanti had a wry smile tugging at his lips, filled with sympathy.
Pity, the cow that flew to the sky was finally going to hit the ground.
Chu Xisheng, meanwhile, looked around blankly.
He had never expected that the blue beam of light would bring him here.
He now stood on a blue high platform, alongside three others.
The blue platform was quite huge, ten zhang wide from north to south.
Chu Xisheng stepped on the ground and found that although the platform was formed by the radiance projected from the Jade Plate, it was incredibly solid, almost like a real stone platform.
He glanced at the three Inner Sect senior brothers beside him, then courteously folded his fists in a salute to them.
He knew very few people in the Martial Arts Academy, and these three were quite strangers to him; he didn’t recognize any of them.
However, they all had three-leaf waist badges hanging at their waists.
Chu Xisheng couldn’t help but touch his own waist, where only a single leaf badge hung, his mind a mess.
What was the inspector thinking?
Why had he been chosen to come here?
“Junior Brother Chu!”
One of the youngest there also smiled and returned the gesture, “I am South Courtyard Xiang Kui.
I have long heard of Junior Brother Chu’s great name, and only today am i fortunate enough to meet you.”
Chu Xisheng was slightly stirred, looking at this young man with a fresh face and full of vitality,
According to Lu Luanti, Xiang Kui was one of the Inner Sect Disciples who had been replaced.
This person’s appearance was very similar to Xiang Kui, and he acted very cautiously.
But Lu Luanti happened to know that the real Xiang Kui was left-handed, so he discerned this person’s identity.
This showed that Lu Luanti was indeed very observant.
Before Chu Xisheng could say anything, another young man next to him laughed coldly, “Indeed, a great reputation, known to all, the reputed first in the Inner Sect!
Perfect, today we can truly witness the prowess of the grand Inner Chief.”
This young man had a short and stocky figure, a broad face, wide eyes, slightly dark skin, and he spoke sarcastically and mockingly.
Chu Xisheng frowned slightly, feeling displeased, when Xiang Kui quickly introduced him with a smile, “This is Liu Xingruo from the West Courtyard, the well-recognized first of this term’s West Courtyard Inner Sect.”
Chu Xisheng instantly understood.
The Eastern Courtyard and the West Courtyard had always been bitter rivals.
The first of the West Courtyard’s Inner Sect clashing with him, the ‘first of the Inner Sect’ from the Eastern Courtyard, it would be weird if they didn’t challenge each other face to face.
“So that’s how it is,” Chu Xisheng shifted his gaze back, disregarding what Liu Xingruo had said.
Simply because no matter how he responded now, it would be inappropriate.
The best response, of course, would be to defeat Liu Xingruo fair and square.
Otherwise, anything he said now would only end up humiliating himself afterward.
Chu Xisheng felt a headache coming on.
It was no longer just about the twenty taels of Demon Silver, but about the possibility of humiliating himself in front of four thousand people.
Embarrassing himself was one thing, but losing face for the Eastern Courtyard and Ye Zhiqiu was something he couldn’t afford.
Seeing his expression, Liu Xingruo’s face turned ashen, and anger flared in his eyes.
To him, Chu Xisheng’s demeanor reeked of disdain.
However, the next moment, Liu Xingruo’s attention was captured by the scene around them.
To their surprise, a mass of spirit light was gathering twenty zhang above them, slowly forming and falling down as green bamboo leaves.
The number of leaves increased, starting from twenty and soon growing to a hundred in a few breaths.
At the same time, two martial masters wearing red robes were moved onto the platform by a beam of green light.
Their expressions were stern as they looked at the four competitors: “Pay attention, you four are fortunate to have been chosen by the Inspector for live combat testing.
The winner of the first round will be the one who knocks down the most bamboo leaves!
The victor will join the top eight and receive five Essence Building Pills; advancing to the top four will earn ten Essence Building Pills; entering the final round grants ten days of cultivation within the Gathering Essence Array; and the ultimate winner—”
The speaking instructor paused: “Will receive one Secret Technique Totem!”
Upon hearing this, Liu Xingruo and Xiang Kui’s faces lit up with desire.
Even Chu Xisheng showed a hint of surprise.
The so-called ‘Secret Technique Totem’ was a type of engraving tattooed onto the body, enhancing one specific move they practiced.
For instance, the ‘Chasing Wind Saber’s’ move ’empty wind’ could be enhanced by five to six percent in sword speed with the corresponding Secret Technique Totem.
This item was valuable and hard to procure even with money.
Though Chu Xisheng was interested in the Secret Technique Totem, he harbored no extravagant hopes.
He looked up at the falling bamboo leaves, his brow furrowed deeply.
The leaves were scattered across a ten-zhang radius, covering the entire high platform, so just being fast with the sword wouldn’t cut it; it required coordination with movement technique.
The problem was that Chu Xisheng had only practiced the Light Cloud Jump for seven days and hadn’t truly mastered it yet.
At this moment, Liu Xingruo’s eyes gleamed subtly, and he raised his hand: “May I ask the instructor, are we only allowed to strike at the bamboo leaves?”
The red-faced man glanced at him: “You may only strike at the bamboo leaves!
However, reasonable bumping to interfere is allowed.”
Liu Xingruo’s lips curled slightly upward with a meaningful glance at Chu Xisheng.
The other two Three Leaves Inner Sect Disciples also showed odd expressions on their faces.
It was at this moment that Jian Cangfeng on the platform felt something was amiss.
Jian Cangfeng, unable to meet Ye Zhiqiu’s fierce gaze, was sweating coldly and asked Lei Yuan somewhat perplexedly,
“Master Lei, I’ve heard rumors that this year’s Inner Sect Disciple is lead by Eastern Courtyard’s Chu Xisheng?
That is, the disciple who killed a sorcerer in the Library.”
Lei Yuan was surprised, wondering where Senior Brother Jian had heard such rumors.
Not understanding Jian Cangfeng’s implication, he ambiguously replied, “I’m not very clear, but this youngster indeed has an exceptional talent in Sword Tao and stands out among the Inner Sect Disciples.”
Shao Lingshan guessed the reality of the situation.
He found it puzzling how Chu Xisheng, a First Leaf Inner Sect, had been chosen for the arena by the ‘Four Symbols Decision Plate’.
It must be Jian Cangfeng favoring Ye Zhiqiu, attempting to cheat and ending up in a blunder.
A delighted smile crossed his heart, though his face remained impassive: “Indeed, there have been such rumors recently.
It’s said that Chu Xisheng’s sword skills are severe and impressive, recognized as the best among this year’s Inner Sect.”
Jian Cangfeng frowned slightly, “Then what exactly is this young man’s combat ability?”
“Well, this person’s Sword Tao is indeed unparalleled in the Inner Sect.” Shao Lishan’s heart was full of mockery: “Ten days ago, this young man single-handedly killed numerous members of the Long Family in the Fire Bone Cave, and that is indeed a fact.”
At this moment, the crowd around the high platform, along with the several civil service instructors on the platform, all glanced at Shao Lingshan.
Their faces were solemn, thinking that Coach Shao, having deep connections with the Long Family, must be speaking the truth.
Sitting to one side, Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t help but grind her teeth, then turned her fierce gaze towards Shao Lingshan.
Meanwhile, on the platform, Chu Xisheng was astounded by what he saw.
In his view, a firework suddenly burst forth.
The Martial Arts Points count had also increased from 32 to 37.