The sound of the long bde sshing forward echoed as it struck powerfully against the drum surface with all its force.

  "Brother Yun, you do it!" Yang Xuening ched her fists tightly, her face alight with excitement.

  If Ye Yunqi could strike the drum five times, he would be reized as a Quasi-Sect Son, a position higher than that of a core disciple or even a true disciple. As an outer sect disciple and Ye Yunqi’s woman, this honor would bring her pride, as well as tangible bes such as greater cultivation resources.

  It would not only elevate his reputation but also ehey were never short on resources for cultivation.

  The long bde sshed fiercely against the drum surface, but no sound came from it.

  Ye Yunqi froze.

  "You hesitated for more than a breath of time before your fifth strike," the burly elder stated immediately. "You struck the drum four times, qualifying you as a true disciple. Work hard, cultivate well, and further unlock the potential of your Tidal Bloodline. Perhaps iure, you may still earle of Quasi-Sect Son."

  Ye Yunqi's face torted with frustration and unwillingness.

  So close!

  He had been just a fra of a sed away from striking the drum five times and seg his pce as a Quasi-Sect Son.

  Yang Xuening’s face also darkened with disappoi.

  But no matter how relut they felt, the result was final—Ye Yunqi could nain.

  The assessment tinued, and Ye Yunqi remaihe only one among the hundreds of Dao Institutes' didates to strike the drum four times, making him the ter of attention.

  One by ohe didates took their turns.

  When it was Li Xiurn, she strode forward, quickly closed the distance, and leaped into the air. Her sword fshed from its scabbard in an instant, creating streaks of sword light that cut through the air.

  Boom!

  The force from the drum rebounded, knog Li Xio the ground. She quickly got up, her sword fshing again, striking the drum a sed time.

  This time, reaks of sword light burst forth in succession.

  Boom!

  The sed drumbeat echoed, qualifying her as an inner sect disciple.

  Feng smiled faintly, feeling genuinely happy for Li Xinyue.

  Li Xinyue wasn’t someone born with exceptional gifts. For her to strike the drum twice was already an impressive feat.

  Finally, it was Feng's turn.

  Instantly, all eyes fell on him.

  Many reized him as the man who had once crossed bdes with Ye Yunqi. Since Ye Yunqi had struck the drum four times to bee a true disciple, the question now was—how far could Feng go?

  " Feng, you definitely rank even higher," Li Xitered to herself, her heart full of anticipation.

  Standing before the t Hun Tian Drum, Feng exhaled softly. His breathing was steady and subtle, his refined power surging within him as he picked up speed.

  erimages materialized as Feng leaped forward.

  Arriving directly in front of the drum, Feng’s sharp sword flew from its scabbard, a streak of dazzling sword light sshing horizontally toward the drum.

  Boom!

  A thunderous crash shook the air, reverberating through the ears and minds of the crowd. At the same time, an immense recoil force from the drum surged toward Feng, threatening to overwhelm him.

  Yet Feng's refined and densed energies, tempered through tless training sessions, allowed him to withstand the recoil.

  Using the recoil to his advantage, Feng spun and sshed the drum a sed time.

  Boom!

  The sed drumbeat resounded.

  Yang Xuening's expression immediately darkened.

  She had discarded Feng, viewing him as a worthless failure who could no longer provide her with resources. She had cast him aside for Ye Yunqi, aiming to secure her p the sect.

  Yet now, Feng had struck the drum twice, achieving a rank higher than her own. She had only mao strike the drum once, earning the status of an outer sect disciple.

  This oute was something she couldn’t stomach.

  "The recoil forcreased by at least 30%," Feng muttered, his expression shifting slightly.

  Amid the stronger recoil, much of his energy dispersed. He quickly retreated three steps to stabilize himself, gathering his power once more before ung a third strike.

  reaks of sword light burst forth once again.

  Boom!

  "Amazing!" Li Xinyue ched her fists iement.

  Yang Xuening's face turned pale, while Ye Yunqi’s eyes betrayed a flicker of astonishment.

  Feng had once again exceeded expectations.

  As the third recoil force surged toward him, Feng’s expression finally ged.

  "This recoil is at least 50% strohan before!"

  Without hesitation, he unleashed his full power. Ten streaks of sword light merged into a single, radiant beam, pierg through the overwhelming recoil and striking the drum head-on.

  Boom!

  The fourth drumbeat rang out, leaving the tens of thousands of Dao Institute disciples utterly stunned.

  Yang Xuening's face turned ashen with grief, while Ye Yunqi's expression shifted dramatically, his heart pgued by uainty.

  Even Jin Hongdang, with his small beady eyes, stared in disbelief.

  "The recoil has doubled again!"

  Feng’s face turned pale as the terrifying recoil, like a raging flood, obliterated the remaining 20% of his energy. He could no longer muster the strength for a fifth strike.

  "Four drumbeats, qualifying as a true disciple," the burly elder announced, his tiger-like eyes gleaming as he scrutinized Feng. "You’re not innately gifted, but your swordsmanship is extraordinary. I’d wager your uanding is exceptional."

  " Feng, gratutions!" Li Xinyue excimed, her joy evident. She appeared even happier for Feng than she had been for her own success.

  "Thank you, Sister Yue. gratutions to you as well," Feng replied with a smile.

  Yang Xuening, standing nearby, nearly groueeth to dust in frustration.

  The better Feng performed, the more it tormented her.

  "You’ve truly surprised me," Ye Yunqi remarked from a few meters away, his tone ced with gravity. "But if you think being a true disciple means you rest easy, you’re far too naive. I’ll make sure you uand—among true disciples, there’s a hierarchy.

  "The humiliation you inflicted ohat day—I’ll repay it tenfold. Just wait."

  Feng’s gaze sharpened as he responded calmly, "I look forward to it."

  Ye Yunqi smirked coldly, exuding disdain.

  The assessment tinued for a long while. Out of the tens of thousands of disciples gathered from the hundreds of Dao Institutes, every didate had finally been evaluated.

  Jin Hongdang, who possessed natural talent, struck the drum three times, qualifying as a core disciple.

  "Of the 48,000 partits, 43,000 failed to produy sound from the drum," the burly elder decred, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "You may choose to enter Hun Tian City or serve as sect borers for three years. After three years, you may either leave or attempt the assessment again."

  This annou left Feng and the others stunned.

  "Forty-eight thousand partits, and only five thousand passed? The success rate is far too low," Feng thought.

  "Four thousand struck the drum once, qualifying as outer sect disciples. Inner sect stewards, escort them to the outer sect."

  "Yes." A group of gray-robed figures stepped forward.

  "Nine huhirty struck the drum twice, qualifying as inner sect disciples. Inner sect stewards, lead them to the inner sect."

  "Yes." A group of bck-robed figures swiftly moved forward.

  "Sixty-eight struck the drum three times, qualifying as core disciples. Two struck it four times, being true disciples."

  The burly elder allowed himself a faint smile.

  "The Three Paces, Nine Halls, ay-Two Peaks have likely received the assessmes by now. They may each select disciples as they see fit," he announced.

  As his voice fell, radiant streaks of divine light shot up from all dires, illuminating the skies and filling the air with awe-inspiring energy. One by one, 71 figures desded, their overwhelming presence suffusing the surroundings.

  "The Three Paces and Nine Halls are sending no one? Only 71 Peaks have sent representatives?" The elder’s gaze swept across the se. "Very well. Each of the 71 Peaks may selee disciple. However, as there are fewer than 72 disciples to choose from, no Peak may select more than one."

  Although the significe of this remained uo most, the core disciples and true disciples uood that this was a rare and crucial opportunity.

  "True disciple Ye Yunqi, your Tidal Bloodline is suited for my Han Hai Peak. Join us, and you’ll receive 10,000 tribution points aaken as a disciple by a Transdent Realm elder. Your bloodline may even evolve into a Saint-Level Bloodline," one figure decred, their aura surging like o tides.

  "Ha! Is my Tiann Peak not also one of the Twelve Supreme Peaks? we not also elevate your Tidal Bloodlio Saint-Level?" anure retorted. "Moreover, 10,000 tribution points are paltry. Join Tiann Peak, and we’ll supply half the resoureeded for your bloodline evolution."

  Oer another, representatives from the Twelve Supreme Peaks vied for Ye Yunqi, ever more entig terms. The other disciples couldn’t help but feel envious.

  "Ye Yunqi, I am yranduncle, representing the Tiang Peak, also one of the Twelve Supreme Peaks," anure announced.

  the se, Feng noticed that only the Twelve Supreme Peaks peted for Ye Yunqi, while the remaining 60 Peaks remained silent.

  "The Twelve Supreme Peaks?" Feng mused. "Does that meaher 60 Peaks are less prestigious?"

  After sidering his options, Ye Yunqi ultimately chose Tiang Peak.

  Feng, watg ily, couldn’t help but feel both tense and expet.

  "Which Peak will e?" he wondered.

  [--------------------------------------------]

  Enjoyed the chapter?

  If you want early access to neters and to support the tinuation of this story, sider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great tent to you!

  Join me on Patreon: Patreon./flokixy