Soul Emperor Martial God

"Fire Control Beast Martial Soul? Xiao Yi, is what Changkong said true?" the Sword Hall Deacon immediately asked.

Xiao Yi frowned, just about to say something.

"There's no need to ask." Guu Changkong took out a booklet from his hand and handed it to the Sword Hall Deacon, saying, "This is a handbook that records the information of the disciples assessed this year. Once the Deacon sees it, he'll understand."

The Sword Hall Deacon took the booklet and glanced at it. His face immediately turned disappointed. "It really is the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul."

Guu Changkong sneered and said, "I wasn't wrong, was I? Known as the lowest ranked and most useless Fire Control Beast Martial Soul across the continent."

"If such an untalented person enters the Inner Ten Halls, our Sky-splitting Sword Sect will inevitably become the laughing stock of others."

"Xiao Yi, what makes you think you qualify to join my Sword Hall?"

Guu Changkong looked straight at Xiao Yi, his cold words filled with disdain.

On the side, Guu Changfeng laughed smugly among the crowd.

Xiao Yi disregarded the two, asking indifferently, "May I ask, Deacon, have I already passed the assessment?"

"You have," answered the Sword Hall Deacon.

Xiao Yi continued, "Were there any prerequisites in the three assessments that one must possess a powerful Martial Soul to pass?"

"No," the Sword Hall Deacon shook his head.

Xiao Yi casually said, "Then whether I am a Fire Control Beast or not, what does it have to do with joining the Sword Hall?"

Indeed, there were no mandatory requirements regarding the Martial Soul in the assessment.

To pass the Sky-splitting Sword Sect's assessment, one needs to have enough talent and strength.

However, if the rank of the Martial Soul is not high, it's impossible to have enough talent and strength, and thus, one would not pass the assessment.

This is common knowledge; therefore, there's no need to include such a stipulation in the assessment.

Nevertheless, Xiao Yi himself was a breaker of conventions, and any common knowledge, in his case, would become astonishing and shocking.

The expression on the Sword Hall Deacon's face turned somewhat ugly as he sighed and said, "Indeed, there is no relation. According to the rules, Xiao Yi, you may join the Sword Hall."

"However," the Sword Hall Deacon advised, "with the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul, your aptitude is too low. Even if you enter the Inner Sect, your future achievements won't be significant."

"For you, there is essentially no difference between the Outer and Inner Sect. No matter how much cultivation resources you have, it will only be wasted in your hands."

"It's a pity that you only comprehended seventy percent of the Mystic Realm Stele. Otherwise, if you could comprehend ninety percent, or even fully comprehend it, possessing all the cultivation knowledge of a Mystic Breakthrough Realm Martial Artist, even with a low-quality Martial Soul, your lowest achievement could reach the Mystic Breakthrough Realm."

"In that case, joining the Inner Sect would have been worthwhile."

"Of course, this is merely my viewpoint. You have indeed passed the assessment, and whether or not to join the Inner Sect is up to you."

Xiao Yi nodded, then suddenly froze.

"Seventy percent? Who said I only comprehended seventy percent?" Xiao Yi thought to himself, about to say something.

Guu Changkong, however, spoke first again, "No, the decision lies in the hands of the Deacon."

Guu Changkong looked towards the Deacons and said, "The decision on whether the third round of the assessment is passed relies solely on your judgment and acknowledgement."

"You said it's passed, then Xiao Yi has passed; if you say it's not, then Xiao Yi did not pass the assessment."

While speaking, Guu Changkong was also shocked, looking at Xiao Yi with a combination of surprise and resentment.

It is known that in the history of Sky-splitting Sword Sect, the best participant in this assessment had only understood eighty percent.

And he himself had only understood about fifty percent in his own youth.

Comprehending the Mystic Realm Stele is extremely difficult, as those cultivation principles are far beyond what Innate Realm Martial Artists could understand.

This is why the assessment is so important to the Sword Sect. It's directly used to evaluate the disciple's talent.

Those who participate, even if they can pass, mostly only comprehend one or two percent; three percent is already quite remarkable.

Out of the twenty who passed this year, almost all just comprehended three percent, and yet this greatly satisfied the ten Deacons.

Reaching four percent happens maybe one or two times per year.

Reaching five percent is extremely rare, not occurring once in ten years. Only this year, there were Lin Jin and four others.

Reaching seven percent has not been seen in decades.

This was why the ten Deacons were so hopeful and excited about Xiao Yi's performance earlier.

To get back on track.

At this moment, the ten Deacons hesitated momentarily but quickly understood Guu Changkong's intent.

The Sword Hall Deacon said, "Whether to acknowledge passing the assessment is indeed our decision. But according to the rules, Xiao Yi did indeed pass. I don't want to break the rules, so...."

Guu Changkong's face darkened, interrupting, "The Deacon means to persist against advice. Do I need to personally return to the Sword Hall to ask for the opinions of all the disciples, or have the Master make a judgment?"

"If Xiao Yi, with his low aptitude and Fire Control Beast Martial Soul, is judged as a Martial Artist with no prospects for his entire life, Deacon, Changkong still wants to urge you to reconsider this."

"This..." The Sword Hall Deacon hesitated.

In terms of position, the Inner Sect Disciples are lower than the Inner Sect Deacons.

But, apart from being the Sword Hall Chief, Guu Changkong is also a direct disciple of the Sword Hall Elders. Once he breaks through to the Mystic Breakthrough Realm, he would assume the position of an elder.

Therefore, each hall's Chief is a focal point for cultivation and holds some real power.

The Sword Hall Deacon had to consider, if he offended Guu Changkong today, whether he could withstand the consequences of potential retaliation in the future.

"Forget it," the Sword Hall Deacon's face turned stern. "The third round of the assessment, Xiao Yi fails."

The Sword Hall Deacon was well aware that Guu Changkong was the most favored and beloved disciple of the Sword Hall Elders; even if he broke the rules today, no one would say anything, but rather support Guu Changkong.

Moreover, as a Fire Control Beast Martial Soul owner, Xiao Yi had no way to reason wherever he went.

"You..." Xiao Yi swallowed the words he initially wanted to say.

The Sword Hall Deacon remained silent, not looking directly into Xiao Yi's angry gaze.

"What 'you'?" Guu Changkong said coldly, "With such low aptitude, letting you slip through to the third assessment was a grave mistake."

"You being an Outer Disciple is already a tremendous fortune, do you still have the right to complain?"

"Crack, crack." Xiao Yi's fists clenched so tightly they crackled, but suddenly he relaxed them and laughed.

However, his laughter was filled with indifference and iciness.

"Angry?" Guu Changkong asked coldly, "Good, I came here with two objectives, and now I've accomplished one. Next, it's time to settle the score. You stole the Spiritual Artifact of the Guu family, proving your greed and unfaithfulness."

"You extorted Cultivation Items from Guu Changfeng and seized Cultivation Resources from fellow disciples, proving your ill intentions."

"Such a despicable person, as the Chief of the Sword Hall, I must teach you a lesson."

Guu Changkong put on an appearance of high morality, but in reality, he was merely framing Xiao Yi with baseless accusations.

On the other side, Guu Changfeng wore a smug look, feeling superior among the crowd of Martial Artists.

Here, Xiao Yi, with an unchanged expression, asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean?"

Guu Changfeng sneered, "The Sky-splitting Sword Sect is a Martial Arts Holy Land, and it won't tolerate a villain like you creating trouble. I naturally need to punish you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Guu Changfeng's figure flashed.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi was startled, "Such speed, definitely above the Seventh Layer of Mysterious Profundity."

The next second.

"Puh." Xiao Yi violently spit out blood and was sent flying.

The Chief of the Sword Hall was not reputed for nothing.

Moreover, Guu Changkong had been in the Inner Sect for ten years and naturally had advanced Cultivation and superior strength.

With just one punch, Xiao Yi's face turned deathly pale, feeling as if his internal organs had been struck by lightning.

Clearly, Guu Changkong had struck to kill; had it not been for his strong physique, that punch would have been enough to cripple him.

"Xiao Yi." Lin Jin and the others were immediately shocked and then furious.

"Guu Changkong, I damn your ancestors," Lin Jin, his Xuantie Heavy Blade materializing in his hand, was extremely furious.

Tie Niu roared angrily, like a furious bull.

Liu Yanran remained silent, but the murderous intent in her eyes condensed instantly.

Qin Feiyang also prepared to make a move.

The four's expressions turned cold as they prepared to strike.

On the other side, Guu Changfeng shouted loudly, "Brother, these four have not refrained from helping Xiao Yi against me; they should not be spared lightly."

"Hmph," Guu Changkong snorted coldly, "A bunch of ants, also wanting to strike at me? Seeking death."

"I don't care about your Chief of the Sword Hall title, you hurt my brother Xiao Yi, I'm not done with you," Tie Niu said sternly, immediately making a move.

Lin Jin and the others also struck instantly.

Whoosh, suddenly, an incredibly fast figure dashed into the scene and blocked in front of the four.

He caught Lin Jin with one hand and Tie Niu with the other.

The figure was Xiao Yi.

"Xiao Yi." Lin Jin and the others were shocked. Th$is. is a s+a.mple# f*r*o^m@ My V$i$r.tual L&i%b&r#a&ry^ Em@p#i.re. R+ea-d+ the r@es-t on M-^V+LE*MPY%R%.

Xiao Yi did not speak, his expression terribly grim, only solemnly shaking his head.

"But—" Lin Jin wanted to say something.

But he found himself unable to resist at all from Xiao Yi's grip, not even managing to move an inch.

The same was true for Tie Niu, who despite being known for his strength, couldn't break free from Xiao Yi's grasp.

"How strong, is this Xiao Yi's real strength?" both thought in shock.

Xiao Yi looked at them, shook his head solemnly again, then let go and walked calmly in front of Guu Changkong.

Guu Changkong sneered disdainfully, "What, you still want revenge? I merely taught you a slight lesson earlier, if you—"

With a slap, Xiao Yi threw a bunch of items from his Qiankun Bag onto the ground, cutting off Guu Changkong's words.

"These are Guu Changfeng's items, and I have no interest in entering the Inner Sect," Xiao Yi stated coolly, then said no more, ignoring the others' gaze as he turned and left.

"Hmph, wise of you," Guu Changkong scoffed disdainfully, not bothering with Xiao Yi any further.

The Sky-splitting Sword Sect prohibited killing fellow disciples. Although he had injured Xiao Yi, as the Chief of the Sword Hall, no one dared reproach him.

But had he killed Xiao Yi in front of so many, even as a disciple of a Sword Hall Elder, he would have faced severe punishment.

"Xiao Yi," Lin Jin and the others said bitterly, staring intently as Xiao Yi walked away.

That figure, not particularly broad, had always given them a reliable, substantial feeling.

But now, it seemed so desolate, so helpless.

The silhouette of the youth, stretched long by the setting sun's afterglow, appeared profoundly sorrowful.

Among three assessments, he was the best in all, yet he couldn't enter the Inner Sect; such flagrant injustice, such a blow to this proud young man.

But, this was the law of survival in this world; when one's strength falls short, all reason is meaningless, all injustice must be swallowed.