Chapter 122: Chapter 121: Refusal
The Inner Courtyard students’ flagrant arrogance made the faces of the Outer Courtyard students flush red. They couldn’t help but clench their fists, their hearts filled with resentment and a hint of shame. Some even lowered their heads, especially after hearing the comment that they were ’not people from the same world.’
Wen Qingye couldn’t help but shake his head to himself. ’We are born free. Who dares to act so high and mighty?’
Wang Chong nodded, looking toward Wen Qingye and the others. He spoke with an air of arrogance, "Which one of you is Wen Qingye? Step forward and let me have a look."
Wen Qingye didn’t move. "What can I do for you?" he asked, his tone level.
Wang Chong glanced at Wen Qingye, then nodded. "Your aptitude is decent. You have some potential. I’ll give you an opportunity—the chance to join my Duyun Mountain."
"Duyun Mountain?" Wen Qingye asked, puzzled.
Wang Chong nodded proudly. "I’ll give you some time to consider it."
Although he said this, his tone permitted no refusal.
Having said his piece, Wang Chong ignored Wen Qingye and turned to address the crowd of candidates. "Every year, there is an assessment for the Inner Courtyard. We ourselves don’t know the content beforehand; we’ve only just received the news. This year, your assessment is to clear the twelfth layer of the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion."
"The twelfth layer of the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion?"
At his words, the crowd turned to look at the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion behind him.
Wang Chong slowly walked to one side and pointed at the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion. "As long as you can clear the twelfth layer of this Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion, you will become students of the Inner Courtyard. Now, you may decide amongst yourselves who goes first."
The moment Wang Chong finished speaking, Wei Qiutong, his stout body jiggling, laughed heartily. "Let me go first! I’ve been itching for this!"
As if he couldn’t wait a moment longer, Wei Qiutong strode forward the instant he heard Wang Chong’s words.
The great doors of the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion stood open, and Wei Qiutong gradually vanished from sight within.
Wang Chong walked over to a stone pillar beside the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion and pressed a hidden mechanism. Suddenly, a shimmering Water Curtain materialized nearby.
A figure slowly materialized within the Water Curtain. The crowd recognized him at once: it was Wei Qiutong.
Wei Qiutong was already at the 8th Layer. His movements were incredibly fast, and he cleared the layer in the blink of an eye.
Just then, Wang Chong walked over to Wen Qingye’s side and smiled. "Well? Have you made your decision?"
Wen Qingye shook his head. "Not interested."
Wang Chong’s smile froze. He frowned, his voice rising slightly. "What did you say? I don’t think I heard you correctly. Say that again."
Hearing Wang Chong’s words, everyone turned to look.
Wen Qingye continued, "I’m not interested in this Duyun Mountain of yours. If you have nothing else, don’t block my path."
His words were utterly blunt, laced with a hint of ice.
When Wang Chong heard this, his expression changed, and he stared fixedly at Wen Qingye. "Wen Qingye, do you have any idea what you’re saying? You’d better not regret this."
With that, Wang Chong stormed away in a rage.
Yann Xiangyang watched Wen Qingye’s refusal. His brow, which had momentarily relaxed, knitted together again, his thoughts unreadable.
His eyes blazing with anger, Wang Chong stomped over to the other Inner Courtyard students. "Wen Qingye," he seethed. "Hmph. Just great. Great."
"Brother Chong, maybe Wen Qingye doesn’t understand Duyun Mountain’s standing in the Inner Courtyard. He’ll probably regret it once he gets there."
"That’s right, Brother Chong. What genius doesn’t have a little pride?"
"I’m not so sure. The way he acted, it’s obvious he looks down on our Duyun Mountain."
Wang Chong sneered. "Wen Qingye. He really thinks he’s a genius, doesn’t he? My favorite pastime is crushing self-important ’geniuses’ like him."
Seeing Wang Chong’s expression, the other Inner Courtyard students paused. They couldn’t help but feel a flicker of sympathy for Wen Qingye.
......
No one spoke. All eyes were fixed on the Water Curtain, watching Wei Qiutong challenge the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion.
At last, Wei Qiutong reached the twelfth layer. There, three green, humanoid monsters appeared. Their speed was uncanny, and their bodies possessed immense Life Force. Wei Qiutong used every trick in his arsenal, but could only manage to fight them to a standstill.
The onlookers couldn’t help but grow tense, breaking out in a cold sweat on Wei Qiutong’s behalf.
Wen Qingye also knew how troublesome these green humanoid monsters could be. ’And there are three of them? What’s more, they’re perfectly coordinated—infinitely more difficult to handle than the previous Humanoid Puppets.’
Wei Qiutong’s cultivation had clearly improved significantly. His spear moved like a flash of cold light, causing the Heart Spirits of many Outer Courtyard students to tremble in awe.
Wen Qingye watched Wei Qiutong’s spear, then the three humanoid figures. He gave a subtle nod. ’Just a little longer,’ he thought. ’Once the power behind his spear strikes builds, these three green humanoids won’t be able to hold out.’
Sure enough, after a moment, the power emanating from the Long Spear in Wei Qiutong’s hands surged. Flashes of cold light swept through the air, leaving a flurry of afterimages in their wake.
The bodies of the three humanoid monsters shuddered as they were struck by Wei Qiutong’s Long Spear, and they all retreated. Their powerful Life Force prevented them from taking much damage, but at that exact moment, the Silver Spear in Wei Qiutong’s hand thrust forward again.
SWISH!
The sound of the spear rending the air could seemingly be felt even outside the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion. One by one, Wei Qiutong struck each of the three green humanoid monsters in the throat, and they all froze in place.
Seeing the three green humanoid monsters go still, Wei Qiutong let out a sigh of relief. He then picked up his Long Spear and headed for the exit.
When the students of the Outer Courtyard saw that Wei Qiutong had passed, they were overjoyed and erupted into cheers.
Wang Chong shook his head and sneered. "Getting this excited over the mere twelfth layer? In the Inner Courtyard, clearing the twelfth layer doesn’t even qualify you for last place. I reached the fourteenth layer a month ago."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried just far enough for everyone to hear. Wei Qiutong’s face flushed with indignation, but knowing he was no match for Wang Chong, he gritted his teeth and held his tongue.
Guo Gui went up next. His strength was considerable—he was one of the stronger senior students from South Mountain—but he was clearly missing something. In the end, he failed to clear the twelfth layer.
Seeing Guo Gui walk out looking utterly dejected, several people went up to offer a few words of comfort.
Guo Gui glanced back at the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion, his heart filled with unwillingness. While students at Qig Mountain Academy had a three-year term in the Outer Courtyard, third-years were not permitted to take the Inner Courtyard assessment. This meant his time at Qig Mountain Academy was over. Guo Gui sighed and slowly walked away.
Only then did the many Outer Courtyard students of Qig Mountain Academy truly understand the fierce level of competition within the academy. After all, Guo Gui was one of the best among the senior students!
The Inner Courtyard students watched from the side, their gazes cold. Smirks seemed to play on their lips, their expressions full of arrogance, which only further enraged the Outer Courtyard students.
"These Inner Courtyard students are going too far!"
"So arrogant! So full of themselves!"
"So what if he cleared the fourteenth layer of the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion? What’s there to be so smug about?"
Wang Chong watched the agitated Outer Courtyard students and said coldly, "They’re still so naive. Once they get to the Inner Courtyard, they’ll learn how cruel it is. It’s survival of the fittest. The weak are culled, and the strong survive. Trash has only one fate: to be eliminated!"
