The sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the earth.
Outside the Mixed Heaven Dao Institute's disciple hall, a long dragon-like queue stretched out, surrounded by many observers.
"So many people."
"I counted. There are at least two hundred disciples in the later three transformations of body refinement."
"Ugh... I'm still at the sixth transformation. If you give me half a month, I'll definitely break through to the seventh transformation."
"Stop dreaming. Today is the preliminary screening, and tomorrow we'll head to Mixed Heaven Sect for the formal assessment. Not even an extra day is available, let alone half a month."
The surrounding crowd looked on with envy.
Although passing the preliminary screening meant further assessment at Mixed Heaven Sect, it was still an opportunity.
Even if ultimately eliminated, they would have been to Mixed Heaven Sect - unlike some who might never get such a chance in their entire lives.
Suddenly, the crowd stirred, people parting like they were making way for royalty.
"Quick, make way! Young Master Ye Yunqi is coming!"
"Young Master Ye Yunqi, you're the most powerful!"
"Young Master Ye Yunqi, I want to bear your children!"
Excited cries erupted, with many female disciples screaming frantically.
A youth in a dark green long robe, carrying a long blade on his back, walked with an arrogant demeanor, looking down on everything. A girl in a white long dress with a sword at her waist hung onto his arm, smiling brilliantly.
Female disciples stared at Yang Xuening with eyes burning with jealousy, wishing to take her place.
Ye Yunqi brought Yang Xuening directly into the disciple hall, bypassing the queue and quickly passing the preliminary screening.
"Let's go," Ye Yunqi casually said to Yang Xuening.
"Brother Yun, won't you take a look?" she asked.
Ye Yunqi snorted with a laugh, not answering, his gaze disdainful.
"Indeed, there's nothing worth seeing. Compared to Brother Yun, they're all trash," Yang Xuening instantly understood.
Their unbridled conversation reached others' ears, causing many to furrow their brows, yet they could only endure in silence.
Having defeated the previous chief disciple in one move, Ye Yunqi had proven his strength and established himself as invincible in the body refinement realm.
Time passed slowly, and the long queue gradually diminished.
"Where are Ye Huai and Ye Yao?"
A Ye family member frowned and asked.
"They left the Dao Institute half a month ago. No one knows where they went."
"We must search. Such an important matter cannot be taken lightly."
As evening approached and the sunset painted the sky, the long queue outside the disciple hall had long since disappeared, with most of the surrounding disciples dispersed.
Li Xingyue stood at the disciple hall entrance, her spirited face filled with anxiety, scanning the horizon.
"Why hasn't he appeared yet?"
"Could something have happened..."
As this thought crossed her mind, Li Xingyue's heart raced, a sense of unease growing from deep within.
Anxiously pacing, Li Xingyue's eyes suddenly fixed on a familiar figure. The figure's robes were tattered, covered in dust, rushing toward her.
"Chen Feng, you've finally arrived."
Her anxious expression transformed into joy. She hurried forward, her long ponytail bouncing happily.
"Instructor, long time no see," Chen Feng said, his face weathered but with a genuine smile.
Having spent over ten days in the Ten Thousand Trees Forest, walking the line between life and death, it felt like months had passed.
"Have you broken through to the seventh body refinement?" Li Xingyue immediately asked. Seeing Chen Feng nod, she urgently said, "Quick, the preliminary screening is about to end. Hurry and register!"
Chen Feng rushed into the disciple hall.
"Sword Martial Branch disciple Chen Feng reporting to participate in the Mixed Heaven Sect examination," he announced to the elderly man behind a square table.
"Chen Feng, how long have you been in the institute?" the elder asked.
"Disciple has been in the institute for six years," Chen Feng responded quickly.
"Chen Feng... from the Chen family of Ling Mountain City, entered the Dao Institute at twelve, now in his sixth year, currently eighteen years old..."
An assistant immediately retrieved the corresponding disciple records, confirming Chen Feng's age and identity.
"Activate your visceral power," the elder concentrated, his gaze falling on Chen Feng with a penetrating light, as if trying to see through his body. "Not bad. Your power is robust and enduring, clearly visceral power. You're qualified. Remember, gather at the disciple hall entrance at the first hour of dawn tomorrow. Late arrivals will be disqualified."
"Understood," Chen Feng responded solemnly.
"Chen Feng, well done!" Li Xingyue happily patted his shoulder.
"Did not disappoint," Chen Feng smiled in response.
"Where did you go?" Li Xingyue, curious about his tattered and dusty appearance, asked.
"Ten Thousand Trees Forest," Chen Feng replied.
Recalling his time in the forest, facing multiple dangers, he privately marveled at how his cultivation and strength had significantly improved.
"Ten Thousand Trees Forest!" Li Xingyue exclaimed, carefully examining Chen Feng for injuries, then secretly relieved to see none: "Regardless, you've broken through to the seventh body refinement. With your sword and body technique skills, you'll likely pass the Mixed Heaven Sect examination eight or nine times out of ten."
"Yes," Chen Feng responded without modesty.
In fact, he was not at the seventh, but the ninth body refinement. He had only revealed the seventh level during the screening, which was sufficient.
As they walked, several figures suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
"Chen Feng, where are Ye Huai and Ye Yao?" A youth around twenty years old interrogated sharply, his eyes as keen as a blade, seemingly wanting to slice Chen Feng apart.
"Why would the Ye family's people have anything to do with Chen Feng?" Li Xingyue stepped forward, coldly laughing.
"Li Xingyue, this doesn't concern you," the Ye family youth said harshly, then turned back to Chen Feng: "Speak. Where are Ye Huai and Ye Yao?"
"How would I know? Perhaps they played around on some pleasure boat until they lost contact," Chen Feng responded with a half-smile.
Revealing that he had killed Ye Huai and Ye Yao now would only provoke the Ye family. It was better to avoid complications.
"Don't play dumb! Ye Huai and Ye Yao clearly went to the Ten Thousand Trees Forest to kill you..." Another Ye family disciple stepped forward, pointing at Chen Feng angrily.
Li Xingyue's expression changed dramatically.
"What? They went to the Ten Thousand Trees Forest to kill me?" Chen Feng feigned shock, then visibly relaxed, looking terrified: "Thank goodness I didn't run into them."
"They might have encountered danger in the Ten Thousand Trees Forest and been eaten by demonic beasts," Chen Feng speculated.
"You...!"
The Ye family disciples glared at Chen Feng.
"You should hurry and search the Ten Thousand Trees Forest. Maybe you'll find some undigested remains in a demonic beast's feces," Chen Feng 'kindly' suggested.
The Ye family disciples nearly exploded with rage.
"Capture him and bring him back," one of the Ye family disciples ordered.
The moment they moved to act, a crisp metallic sound rang out. Li Xingyue's sword was already unsheathed, the cold blade blocking the Ye family disciples.
"That's enough," Li Xingyue's eyes were razor-sharp, her voice ice-cold.
"Get out of the way, Li Xingyue. This doesn't concern you."
"Do you really think you can do anything to me?"
The Ye family disciples' faces turned ashen.
"Instructor, you don't need to intervene. I want to see how they'll capture me," Chen Feng said coldly. His eyes were ruthlessly sharp, filled with killing intent that made the Ye family disciples' pupils constrict, as if falling into an ice cavern.
"What are you doing?"
A thunderous roar erupted from inside the disciple hall, shaking everyone's ears.
"Everyone return to your places. Anyone who dares to fight will lose their qualification to attend the Mixed Heaven Sect examination."
Expressions changed dramatically.
The Ye family disciples glared hatefully at Chen Feng before reluctantly turning away.
Li Xingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief as she sheathed her sword.
"By the way, Chen Feng, did you really not encounter Ye Huai and Ye Yao?" Li Xingyue, wanting to change the subject, casually asked.
"What do you think?" Chen Feng responded with a slight smile.
"How would I know?" Li Xingyue muttered.
"I'm going back to take a bath," Chen Feng said to Li Xingyue with a smile: "See you tomorrow morning. If we both pass the Mixed Heaven Sect examination, I'll treat you to a big meal."
"It's a deal," Li Xingyue's eyes narrowed, her smile radiant.
Chen Feng waved and turned to leave. Only after his figure disappeared did Li Xingyue retract her gaze, sighing softly. Recalling Chen Feng's previous response, a guess flashed in her mind, but she immediately shook her head: "Impossible..."
Back in his residence, Chen Feng bathed, the cool water a long-missed comfort. He scrubbed layer after layer of grime from his body, revealing white, tight, and incredibly supple skin.
"This trip to the Ten Thousand Trees Forest allowed me to break through multiple times, initially advancing to the ninth body refinement. My power is strong enough to surpass most at the ninth body refinement," he thought.
"Moreover, I've improved my Nine Shadow Body to Ten Shadow Illusion Body, learned the Wave Treading Nine Steps, mastered the Blood Burning Technique, developed the Wind Shadow Absolute Kill technique, and enhanced the Wind Shadow Nine Swords to Wind Shadow Ten Swords..."
As he scrubbed away the grime, Chen Feng mentally cataloged his gains.
"How does my current strength compare to Ye Yunqi?" he pondered.
Against opponents like Ye Huai, he was confident he could kill with a single sword strike. But Ye Yunqi's true strength remained an unknown.
"I still have twelve crimson-veined fruits. After passing the Mixed Heaven Sect examination, I'll ask an alchemist to refine them into breakthrough pills."
When the time came, using breakthrough pills to advance to the qi aperture realm would undoubtedly cause his strength to surge dramatically.
[--------------------------------------------]
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