Participating in the Assessment

With a resounding clash, the two fists collided, and a cloud of dust instantly enveloped the scene, obscuring visibility.

"Deacon Xiong, is Senior Brother Wang going to be fine?"

"Wang He is on the verge of reaching the Level 5 Qi Refinement. In theory, Qin Shu should have been overpowered."

"The report will state that Qin Shu was apprehended. There's no need to mention anything else."

Despite Xiong Tie's deep distaste for Wang He, the fact that Wang He's older brother, Wang Ho, was the Third Elder's favored disciple, meant that when trouble arose, Wang Ho acted swiftly.

As a result, Xiong Tie typically turned a blind eye to Wang He's misdeeds, allowing him to run amok provided the infractions didn't escalate to an extreme level. Such was the case this time, and he was compelled to participate in Qin Shu's elimination.

However, as the dust settled, astonishment rippled through the crowd when they realized Qin Shu remained unscathed. Instead, he gripped Wang He firmly, strangling his neck, his visage twisted with murderous intent.

"No!"

Xiong Tie was struck dumb with shock. Wang He must not die.

"Oh? Very well then, Wang He, how do you value your own life?"

"My brother... My brother is the Third Elder's direct disciple. If you kill me, you'll never escape his retribution."

At that moment, Wang He's hands dangled helplessly by his sides. Not a trace of spiritual energy coursed through his body. Even the most obtuse onlooker could discern that Qin Shu had forcefully crippled Wang He's hands, rendering him virtually wrecked.

Qin Shu gazed upon Wang He, who struggled desperately for breath. His eyes flashed with killing intent once more, and the pressure on his grip intensified by a staggering 30%.

"Cough, cough, I concede... I was wrong. I'll relinquish everything I possess, but please spare my life."

Wang He found it increasingly difficult to breathe, frantically extracting a storage bag from his waist and extending it toward Qin Shu.

"Very well then. I shall spare your life."

Qin Shu weighed the substantial storage bag in his hand before casually tossing Wang He to the ground in contentment. The latter crashed to the ground and 

 became unconscious.

Qin Shu recognized that he could not kill Wang He at this juncture, at least not yet.

"Go, apprehend the criminal Qin Shu!" Xiong Tie bellowed the moment he witnessed this. Disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall promptly encircled Qin Shu. They brandished metal rods and advanced to attack him.

Qin Shu swayed his figure, expertly relieving a Law Enforcement Peak disciple of his iron rod. Subsequently, he delivered a powerful blow to the disciple's chest, sending him hurtling through the air to land heavily on the ground.

Other disciples halted their advance, stunned and uncertain, as they observed the shocking scene.

While his fellow disciples were momentarily dumbfounded, Xiong Tie closed in on Qin Shu. He wielded his iron rod like a wild beast, striking fiercely at Qin Shu.

Qin Shu's eyelids twitched. If struck by this rod, even a Level 7 Qi Refinement martial artist would struggle to defend against it. 

However, Qin Shu harbored no apprehension. The Burning Blood Technique not only elevated one's cultivation level but could also be employed with cultivation techniques to temporarily transcend one's limitations.

With deft agility, Qin Shu narrowly evaded the incoming rod.

Upon seizing the opportunity, he clenched his fist. Bolstered by the Burning Blood Technique, Qin Shu's combat prowess surged. He retaliated with a powerful punch, shifting from defense to offense.

Xiong Tie hastily withdrew his rod, adopting a defensive stance.

A resounding boom! Crack!

The sound of the fist colliding with the iron resonated, followed by the unmistakable sound of shattering. The iron rod, brimming with Xiong Tie's spiritual energy, shattered into two pieces, leaving the onlookers in utter astonishment.

"This is an arrest. Even if you can defeat us, when the inner disciples from the Law Enforcement Peak arrive, you'll have nowhere to escape!"

Prior research had led Xiong Tie to believe that Qin Shu was merely a Level 4 Qi Refinement cultivator with middling talent.

However, the fractured iron rod and the prone figure of Wang He on the ground revealed that Qin Shu had already broken through Level 4 and was rapidly ascending to Level 5 and even Level 6.

"As I've stated before, I am innocent of these charges. There is a Fallen Shadow Stone as evidence," Qin Shu proclaimed.

Qin Shu retrieved the Fallen Shadow Stone once more, and this time, no one intervened. Thus, an unclear scene unfolded before their eyes.

As the scene concluded, the onlookers displayed complex expressions. Several members of the Law Enforcement Hall shot disgusted glances at the fallen Wang He. They had known Wang He to be short-tempered, but they had no idea about the extent of his cruelty until now.

Without the Fallen Shadow Stone as evidence, no one could have avoided being smeared with this filth.

"Junior Brother Qin, although there's evidence that Wang He was responsible for this, crippling him won't go unnoticed by Wang Ho." Xiong Tie sighed with helplessness.

Even though he knew that Wang He was behind it, the fact remained that Wang He was now a cripple. No matter how much Qin Shu defended himself, Wang Ho would undoubtedly seek vengeance.

"It's alright. I had initially planned to participate in the inner sect examination today, but I didn't anticipate encountering this unfortunate incident. It has truly dampened my spirits," Qin Shu remarked with his hands behind his back, flashing a faint smile.

"The inner sect examination?" Xiong Tie's eyes widened. He understood that becoming an inner sect disciple would provide Qin Shu with a measure of protection. Although grudges among outer sect members could be resolved through combat, the same was strictly forbidden in the inner sect. Disobedience would result in imprisonment at the Law Enforcement Peak.

If Qin Shu successfully became an inner sect disciple, even Wang Ho would have second thoughts about targeting him.

"Deacon Xiong, this matter doesn't concern you. Report it to the Law Enforcement Hall elders and hand over the Fallen Shadow Stone as evidence. I'm going to attend the inner sect examination," Qin Shu urged as he handed the Fallen Shadow Stone to Xiong Tie and departed in haste.

A crowd of outer sect disciples had gathered by this time, and they had also witnessed Wang He's actions and were engaged in lively discussions. Qin Shu was confident that Xiong Tie would not frame him, as there were ample witnesses now.

"But even if he knows the truth, Wang Ho won't let this slide," Xiong Tie mused as he observed Qin Shu's retreating figure.

He had witnessed Wang Ho's methods firsthand. The matter of collaborating with the Black Wolf Bastion to attack and murder fellow sect disciples had been quashed by the Third Elder. In the end, it was brushed aside without further inquiry. 

Wang He and Wang Ho wielded significant power respectively in the outer and inner sects. No one dared to provoke them.

Now that one of the Wang brothers was injured, it was a stroke of luck. Yet, Xiong Tie did not know how Qin Shu intended to deal with Wang Ho's wrath.

On the other side, Qin Shu had reached the inner sect examination venue.

However, he didn't immediately enter. Instead, he took out a storage bag and sat on a nearby stone bench, sorting through Wang He's belongings.

Qin Shu had no intention of keeping the storage bag that contained stolen items. With so many items inside, he had no means to sell them, so he decided to return them to his senior brothers, helping them recover their lost possessions.

After an unspecified period, Qin Shu finished organizing everything.

"A thousand spirit stones, ten Qi Refining Pills, a Heart Protection Mirror, and a disguise technique... This guy is truly wealthy."

Qin Shu marveled at the number of spirit stones. An outer sect disciple's monthly stipend was only ten spirit stones, and even if one took on missions daily, they would only earn slightly over fifty spirit stones per month. Large demon beast-hunting missions were scarce in the outer sect, and most missions were mundane tasks.

Qin Shu then directed his gaze at the grand hall. This was where the sect's assessment took place, determining the fate of most disciples.

To his left lay the Law Enforcement Hall, the Scripture Depository, the training grounds, and several unfamiliar buildings whose purposes he didn't know. However, everyone emerging from these buildings was inner sect disciples, without exception. Occasionally, he would spot a few elders.

On his right was the residence of the inner disciples. Unlike the stone houses at the mountain's base, each disciple here possessed their own courtyard with green bricks and tiled roofs, exuding a distinct charm. 

From time to time, a disciple would soar from their courtyard on a flying sword, their emerald Daoist robes fluttering as they rode the wind away.

The majority of disciples here had progressed beyond the Qi Refinement stage to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, with some even advancing to the Golden Core stage.

The assessment venue was located here to motivate aspirants participating in the inner sect assessment and demonstrate the advantages of joining the inner sect.

"It won't be long before I find my place here."