Heavy footsteps echoed from afar, growing closer. An aura, unbridled and domineering, surged forth like a column of signal smoke, piercing the heavens.

At the location of one of the nine Crystal Keys, a dozen or so Outer Mansion Disciples were locked in a standoff, waiting for the perfect moment to claim the key.

But this sudden, intensely aggressive aura made them all frown in unison and turn to look.

Yue Rong approached at a steady, unhurried pace, his expression so placid it bordered on apathy. His wide black robes billowed gently in an unseen current of energy, and his entire person radiated the unyielding pressure of a mountain.

He ignored the hostile, warning glares from the crowd.

Yue Rong walked straight up to the Crystal Key, bent down, and reached for it!

"The audacity!"

"Put that down!"

"You’re courting death!"

The fragile standoff shattered in an instant. The dozen or so Outer Mansion Disciples surrounding him attacked simultaneously, lunging at Yue Rong.

Murderous light flared in the eyes of the Outer Mansion Disciples as they struck without a shred of hesitation!

In an instant, shrieking Sword Qi tore through the air and brilliant flashes of Magic erupted, weaving together into a vortex of destruction. With the terrifying might to grind anything to dust, it viciously converged on Yue Rong at its center!

A fierce gale erupted. Yue Rong’s wild hair whipped about as he slowly turned his bronze-colored eyes, a thrilled smile gracing his lips.

"So, you want a fight? Then bring it on!"

His palms slammed together. Yue Rong’s figure abruptly swelled as a fearsome power surged forth. A thick tide of golden fur erupted from his skin, mysterious bestial markings surfaced on his face, and a savage aura of Primordial Chaos exploded outward!

In a flash, he transformed into a terrifying Great Demon, a monstrous lion-man.

"Hahaha! Come on! Bring it on!"

With a manic laugh, Yue Rong took a single step, and the ground beneath his feet spiderwebbed with cracks!

He instantly became a black blur, nearly impossible to track with the naked eye. He shattered the terrifying, swirling vortex of attacks and appeared directly before one of the Outer Mansion Disciples.

His claws tore through the air with a piercing shriek capable of splitting metal and stone.

The man didn’t even have time to scream before his Protective Spiritual Light shattered like paper mache. The immense force sent him flying backward, and his body exploded with a BANG in mid-air, dissolving into a cloud of scattering Black Feathers—eliminated!

The remaining disciples gasped, their scalps tingling with terror.

’He broke through our combined attack and instantly killed one of us?!’

’His power... it’s beyond terrifying!’

’We’re screwed. This guy’s a monster!’

"The Devouring Demon Technique. Legend has it that when the Black Mountain Master was in the Qi Refining Stage, he relied on this very technique to battle nine opponents of the same Realm, ultimately securing a pyrrhic victory.

He has a Qi Refining Fifth Layer Cultivation and has mastered such wondrous Techniques.

With such power, who can possibly stand against him?" He and Shen Fan beside him silently watched as Yue Rong carved a bloody path through the crowd.

These Disciples, considered elites among the Outer Mansion, were like clay pigeons before him. Almost none could withstand a single blow, dissolving into Black Feathers with shrill screams or muffled grunts.

In less than half a minute, all of the dozen or so Outer Mansion Disciples who had besieged Yue Rong were defeated.

HISS—

Two jets of hot white steam shot from his nostrils. Still not satisfied, Yue Rong leaped away, heading directly for the location of the next Crystal Key.

He was going to gather all the Crystal Keys in one fell swoop.

...

’One day left.’

Qi Yun glanced up at the Celestial Vault above. There had originally been ten dimly lit stars.

Every so often, one would disappear, marking the end of a day.

Now, only the last star remained.

With only one day left in the assessment, the delicate balance of power was about to shatter.

Just as Qi Yun was wondering which of the people before him would be the first to lose patience and make a move, a figure suddenly came speeding over from the distance.

’Trying to cut in and snatch it?’

Watching the man sprint past him, Qi Yun tilted his head. A thought stirred, but he quickly frowned.

’The stench of blood is so strong.’

’Could it be...’

Just as suspicion arose in Qi Yun’s mind, the man, sprinting with all his might, managed to cry out:

"He’s coming for the Crystal Keys!"

’He?’ 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

’Who?’

’Is this little bastard trying to draw the trouble onto us?’

In that instant, questions flooded the minds of everyone present, including Qi Yun.

BOOM!!!

As if in answer to their unspoken questions!

A massive, dark figure radiating overwhelming killing intent and a thick stench of blood plummeted from the sky like a meteor, crashing down right in the center of their view.

"That’s..."

Before they could get a clear look at his face, everyone’s gaze locked onto the string of Crystal Keys tied at his waist.

"One, two, three, four... eight?"

Seeing that Yue Rong somehow had eight Crystal Keys on him, a look of utter shock flashed across everyone’s faces.

Then, the realization dawned on them.

This man intended to collect all nine Crystal Keys, eliminate everyone else, and claim the title of Champion Scholar for himself!

The slaughter began.

Without a single wasted word, Yue Rong—his eyes already bloodshot from seizing eight keys—charged the nearest Outer Mansion Cultivator. A single swipe of his claws shattered the man’s Protective Technique.

His Qi Refining Fifth Layer Cultivation, amplified by the marvelous Devouring Demon Technique, put Yue Rong’s power in a league of its own. Even after such a prolonged, grueling battle, and despite his own immense exhaustion, his strength remained overwhelmingly dominant.

After effortlessly slaughtering the last wave of Outer Mansion Disciples, Yue Rong—steam rolling off his body as he panted heavily—bent down and picked up the final Crystal Key.

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP—

With a broad smile and applause, Du Yunian and Shen Fan made their grand, belated entrance.

"Brother Yue, your heroic might is unstoppable. This year’s Champion Scholar can be none other than you."

Hearing Du Yunian’s sycophantic praise, Yue Rong tilted his head slightly, studying the two of them as a slow smile spread across his face.

BAM—

Without a word of warning, a single punch smashed Shen Fan into a shower of Black Feathers.

The smile on Du Yunian’s face froze. He stared in stunned silence at the Black Feathers gently drifting to the ground where his companion had been.

"Brother Yue, you... Aren’t we on the same side?"

Yue Rong looked down at Du Yunian, his eyes devoid of emotion as he uttered two cool words:

"You? Worthy?"

Struck dumb, Du Yunian’s face went pale. With his background in the Inner Mansion, when had he ever been subjected to such scorn and humiliation?

"You..."

BAM—

Another punch. As he watched the Black Feathers slowly scatter, Yue Rong suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"You’ve been watching for a long time. Aren’t you going to show yourself?"

’He found me?’

Qi Yun’s expression hardened. He subconsciously formed a hand seal for his Sword Formulas, but he didn’t rush to reveal himself.

’I have complete confidence in my current Clear Wind Technique.’

’This man’s Cultivation and combat power are immense, but his Cultivation Realm hasn’t surpassed the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. What’s more, I don’t sense the fluctuations of any Magical Artifact designed to counter stealth...’

’He can’t possibly have seen through my cover!’

As his thoughts raced, Qi Yun astutely grasped the crucial detail.

Yue Rong’s tone was confident, but his beast-like eyes, which swept the surroundings, held an almost imperceptible searching quality.

’He’s bluffing!’

Realizing this, Qi Yun chuckled to himself. One could truly never underestimate a Cultivator from the Holy Sect.

’A less careful person would have been baited out by that trick.’

Seeing that a good while passed with no movement from the surroundings, Yue Rong relaxed slightly. He took a deep breath and dispelled the Devouring Demon Technique, his terrifying, towering form gradually shrinking back to normal.

But in that very instant!

Two streaks of blue-white Sword Qi materialized out of thin air!

Aimed directly between his eyes!

...