Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was the day of the major examination. The grand square of the Sky Sword Sect was livelier than ever before. With nearly five hundred outer disciples from the three sects combined, the Sky Sword Sect had the smallest number, with only about forty outer disciples. However, the Sky Sword Sect boasted the highest average strength.
Although the Sky Sword Sect had the fewest members, their home field advantage ensured that their presence was no weaker than the other two sects. Especially at the beginning of the event, when the disciples' support resonated in response to the speeches given by the sect masters, the Sky Sword Sect's momentum stood strong.
The sect masters of the three sects took turns to motivate their disciples. The first to step onto the stage was the Sky Sword Sect's master, Hu Qing. Standing gracefully on the platform, his tranquil expression and elegant demeanor carried his voice into the ears of every person present, using his true qi to convey his words.
"I believe that all the disciples present here are the future pillars of righteousness. This joint examination is proposed by the three sect masters after careful consideration, with the aim of allowing you to absorb the strengths of disciples from other sects."
"The three sects of righteousness have deep connections, but in the past century, interactions among them have decreased. This examination is intended to foster camaraderie among the sects. I hope that all the disciples present can uphold the principle of prioritizing friendship over results during this examination."
Hu Qing's voice was not loud, yet it was clearly audible to everyone present. The control he exerted over his true qi division made the other two sect masters begin to view Hu Qing with renewed respect.
Previously, in the eyes of the other two sect masters, Hu Qing had not been remembered for his cultivation strength. He was known for being crafty like a fox, a person who left no room for manipulation. However, judging from his recent display of true qi division, his cultivation was undoubtedly strong. At the very least, he was at the peak of the ninth layer of the Xuanwu Realm. This strength would rank him among the upper tier of his generation's disciples, even within the three sects.
The sect masters of the Sky Moon Sect and the Divine Dao Sect exchanged a glance, sensing the caution in each other's eyes. They had underestimated Hu Qing's cultivation for a long time. Now, they needed to reassess the strength of the Sky Sword Sect.
The head of the Sky Moon Sect, Liang Xinglu, was younger than Hu Qing, just over fifty years old. Yet his strength had reached the first layer of the Empty Martial Realm. He had a somewhat biased view towards the disciples of the Sky Sword Sect, believing that his sect was the foremost among the righteous paths. However, on the Spirit Martial Continent, recognizing the prominence of the Sky Sword Sect was inevitable.
The Divine Dao Sect had no aspiration to be recognized as the first righteous sect. However, their relationship with the Sky Moon Sect had historically been closer. They had intended to join forces in order to overshadow the Sky Sword Sect in this joint examination.
After Hu Qing's motivational speech, Liang Xinglu of the Sky Moon Sect took the stage. His voice resonated like thunder, aiming to overpower Hu Qing's presence. He pulled out all the stops, displaying the strength of the first layer of the Empty Martial Realm.
With nearly triple the number of outer disciples compared to the Sky Sword Sect, the disciples of the Sky Moon Sect appeared to have an even greater voice after Liang Xinglu spoke. Gloating, Liang Xinglu glanced at Hu Qing, yet Hu Qing seemed completely unfazed, simply nodding in response. His thoughts remained a mystery.
Following Liang Xinglu was the leader of the Divine Dao Sect, Li Yifeng. He had a calm disposition, slightly older than Hu Qing, in his seventies, yet appeared to be around the same age as Hu Qing.
The disciples of the Divine Dao Sect seemed more composed, perhaps influenced by Li Yifeng's demeanor. They did not display significant emotional fluctuations. However, this caught Jiang Yun's attention, making him regard the disciples of the Divine Dao Sect with increased seriousness. They seemed more disciplined and organized in comparison.
As Jiang Yun stepped forward to speak in front of the sect masters, he also took notice of the outer disciples from the Sky Moon Sect and the Divine Dao Sect. Two figures stood out, their auras distinct, and Jiang Yun almost instantly recognized Long Jiang'an and Xiao Jintiger.
Long Jiang'an stood at the outermost periphery of the Divine Dao Sect's disciples. He appeared as imposing as a mountain, exuding a steady presence. With his slender hands hanging by his sides and his sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, he gave off the impression of a seasoned general.
Xiao Jintiger, on the other hand, had a more refined demeanor. The Sky Moon Sect's disciples instinctively kept their distance yet encircled him, forming an aura of admiration. Chen Si, who had been injured by Jiang Yun three months earlier, voluntarily stood a step behind Xiao Jintiger, showing his respect for him.
While Jiang Yun observed Xiao Jintiger, Chen Si's gaze fell upon Jiang Yun. His eyes held a hint of resentment. Despite the distance of nearly a hundred meters between them, Jiang Yun was sensitive to Chen Si's gaze. He didn't provoke Chen Si this time; instead, he simply nodded slightly in his direction as if acknowledging him in the empty space.
Yet, Chen Si interpreted Jiang Yun's nod as a show of defiance. The resentment in his eyes deepened. Once Jiang Yun's gaze shifted away from the Sky Moon Sect, Chen Si took a step towards Xiao Jintiger, whispering something in his ear. Xiao Jintiger then cast a careful glance at Jiang Yun, followed by a cryptic smile.
When Xiao Jintiger's gaze turned towards Jiang Yun, Jiang Yun was instantly aware. Xiao Jintiger's eyes were like a scorching beam of light, fixed upon his back. Although Jiang Yun didn't turn around, he knew that this gaze was undoubtedly from Xiao Jintiger. Only someone like Xiao Jintiger, who practiced psychic abilities, could use his gaze to probe the cultivation of others below the Earth Martial Realm.
Upon sensing Xiao Jintiger's gaze, Jiang Yun continued to calmly exchange words with Li Dadan by his side, seemingly oblivious to the gaze behind him. His slightly trembling shoulders, however, signaled to Xiao Jintiger that he had been detected.
"Interesting," murmured Xiao Jintiger.
Standing closest to Xiao Jintiger, Chen Si heard his mutterings. He then observed Xiao Jintiger with intrigue as he rubbed his chin. Xiao Jintiger inquired about the details of Jiang Yun's previous confrontation with Chen Si. Chen Si, of course, didn't hide anything and recounted their previous clash, albeit without embellishments.