The Yun Hai Sect was surrounded by extremely high mountain peaks. In the middle of the Yun Hai sect's mountain peaks was the Stormy Gorge which, at the deepest point, had a depth of a few hundred meters. It covered an extremely vast area and was divided into several areas like an underground city. The gorge was vast and many different landscapes could be seen within. If you entered it, maybe you'd end up in the middle of a forest or possibly a desert oasis. No one knew what caused this phenomenon but it was something that was always debated about within the sect by the young cultivators.
Inside the stormy gorge, was the life or death Arena. This was a place where disciples could solve their grudges or challenge whoever they wished and the sect wouldn't intervene regardless of the outcome. Although killing wasn't allowed in the sect otherwise, if one had enough power they could even kill a disciple in front of the patriarch and the sect would turn a blind eye. On that particular day, many disciples, much more than usual, were surrounding the stage as they had heard that the patriarch was visiting it today. They knew there was gonna be some important announcement or event so they made sure to find themselves at the arena today. Some of the more informed disciples managed to find out that someone was joining the sect today, but no one knew who the newcomers identity.
"I think it is someone from one of the top five clans in Yangzhou City! Only they have the face to request such a favor from the patriarch!"
"Yangzhou? Hmm, I don't think so. It has to be someone from the Imperial City. That would explain why the man is so mysterious."
"Stop talking! Look, several people are coming!"
The disciple pointed in the direction west of everyone and they saw about seven people approaching the life or death arena. These people were Duan Wu Shen, Nan Gong Ling, Elder Xue Yue, Elder Mo Xie, Yu Hao, Lu Liang, and Li Lin. The disciples were awed at the people who were coming to the arena as each of them were well-known powerful individuals within the sect. All of them except a young man dressed in white peculiar clothing. As soon as Wu Shen got close enough for enough to see his face, girls were already saying how handsome he was and many men were cursing his existence. But no one dared to raise their voices against him as just appearing with the patriarch already gave him a heightened status.
When they walked through the crowd and arrived close to the stage, Nan Gong Ling started to tell the disciples that Wu Shen was now taking his exam to join the sect. Most disciples had heard rumors but when the patriarch himself said it they couldn't help but be surprised. One look at Wu Shen and they knew he wasn't from Yangzhou City. He looked too...strange and they would've definitely remembered his face. Not bothering with what was happening, Nan Gong Ling turned to the first disciple and said, "Yu Hao, you go challenge Wu Shen first."
Yu Hao bowed and jumped onto the stage with his hands crossed while Wu Shen calmly walked on like he had no care in the world. Noticing that Wu Shen seemed to underestimate him, Yu Hao drew his sword and shouted, "Wu Shen, get ready!" He immediately rushed towards Wu Shen, unleashing his destructive sword spirit as he slashed downwards, wanting to show this newcomer that he was already acting too arrogant.
Wu Shen just shook his head and put one hand on his sword saying, "Your sword spirit isn't bad but your swordsmanship is lacking. Let me show you how it's done." As Yu Hao heard Wu Shen, he put even more power into his strike, causing the bystanders to think that he was going to kill the newcomer. In a blur, Wu Shen drew his sword, cut Yu Hao's sword in half, and slashed Yu Hao diagonally across his chest before he even had a chance to see the strikes. BOOM! A massive explosion occurred at the point of impact as the energy still struck Wu Shen, causing everyone to hold their breaths as they were waiting for the results.
With a quick release of psychic energy, Wu Shen dispelled the smoke, causing everyone to feel shocked when they saw Yu Hao's body lying face down on the ground with blood flowing ceaselessly from it. Wu Shen then kicked his body off the stage and said nonchalantly, "You're an embarrassment to swordsmen everywhere. That spirit is wasted on you. Next." How Arrogant! Yu Hao was someone who was especially respected within the sect for his sword skills and now he was being told that they were only so-so? The top disciples in the Sect that saw the fight already started paying even more attention to him because of this.
Nan Gong Ling was impressed but he didn't say anything to Wu Shen and just said, "Lu
Liang, you go up. Elder Xue Yue, give Yu Hao a pill before he dies." The young man was already slightly nervous about fighting Wu Shen when he saw Yu Hao's fate but he couldn't lose face in front of everyone so he jumped on the stage and released his eagle martial spirit immediately, ready for battle. Wu Shen scoffed and said, "Just you? Your fate is just going to be the same as Yu Hao. I thought both of you would've noticed but it seems you don't." Wu Shen then extended his palm at Li Lin and said, "You, get up here." Li Lin was about to give up but he found himself being controlled by someone as he was brought up on the stage. Of course, Wu Shen had done this using telekinesis but Li Lin was now completely frightened. Lu Liang noticed this and shouted furiously at Li Lin, "You! This is our only chance of winning! Stick with me and we'll attack him together. Don't give in to fear! At least if we lose, we'll have some amount of dignity left!"
Li Lin closed his eyes and folded his fists nervously as he took a deep breath, exhaling loudly as he opened his eyes with new determination in them. Wu Shen then said as he looked at their futile effort with no change in tone, "Are you ready?" Both Lu Liang and Li Lin cupped their fists respectfully responding, "Please." Wu Shen immediately used Hirenkyaku and appeared behind Lu Liang with an elbow aimed directly at the latter's head. "Lu Liang, look out!" Li Lin managed to see Wu Shen attacking Lu Liang out of the corner of his eyes but it was too late.
"Arghhh!" Lu Liang was blasted away with incredible force as his eagle spirit broke apart from the impact like it was made of glass. Just from that one hit, Lu Liang was already feeling dizzy as he lay on the ground with blood flowing out of his mouth but the onslaught didn't stop there. Wu Shen sensed an attack coming from behind him and quickly turned around, redirecting Li Lin's palm strike towards Lu Liang with his own Qi added on to it. Li Lin couldn't stop his movement as he struck the weakened Lu Liang, causing the latter to start bleeding from his eyes. Wu Shen then took this chance to flash above while they were stacked onto each other and started spinning furiously with his elbow extended outward.
'Spinning Elbow Drop.'
BOOM! Another massive explosion occurred as numerous cracks spread across the stage, causing most disciples there to instinctively step back in slight fear. Someone of the Ling Qi Layer with that much physical strength wasn't someone they planned to contend with at all. Smoke erupted around the area and once again, Wu Shen immediately cleared it so everyone could see the result. The weak-stomached disciples immediately held their mouths and gagged at the sight they saw before them. Li Lin was lying on top of Lu Liang completely unconscious with his back caved and bloodied eyes bulging out of their sockets while Lu Liang had a similar condition with his eyes but his body was mostly folded into the large crater he was lying in. No one would think that a young man with such a soft-looking face would be this aggressive.
"Wu Shen, you pass the test! Elders, try to save the lives of those two. If they're dead, so be it. Wu Shen, you're now an inner disciple of the Yun Hai Sect! You can now go and collect your robes and token from the inner elders." Nan Gong Ling expected Wu Shen to leave or at least thank him right away but the latter unexpectedly didn't leave his position. Wu Shen looked around at all the disciples and shouted, "I now challenge anyone in the sect to a battle. Those three were disappointing and they didn't even manage to show me anything before they lost. Even core disciples are welcome to-"
"You just joined this sect and you dare to act so arrogantly in front of the patriarch?!"