Chapter 1940 Inner Disciple Assessment

Although Elder Lu Yun was only an elder in charge of the outer sect, he was a genuine Void Immortal realm expert. Originally, he was only responsible for the outer sect assessments in Xingyao City. For a place like Xuanjiang City, which could only recruit miscellaneous servants, under normal circumstances, he would never come!

Even if there were special circumstances, he would just pass through and take people away...

Why had he suddenly appeared before them?

Xue Qian, full of disbelief but not daring to be negligent, quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

Xuanjiang City Lord, Xue Qian, pays respects to Elder Lu Yun.

Mm! Elder Lu ignored him, casually waved his hand, and looked at Huo Jianghe before him: "Well? Has he appeared?"

Reporting to Elder, it's not clear who exactly it is, but... it should be related to this Shan Xiaotian!

Huo Jianghe pointed.

Last night, in the Divine Communication Hall, that Tianya had asked him to help ensure that Shan Xiaotian appeared here on time. As a result, with him overseeing, Shan Xiaotian was able to clear his name and shine brilliantly... Therefore, even if this person is not Tianya, he must be closely connected.

Him?

Elder Lu Yun looked slightly puzzled.

With his insight, he could naturally see at a glance this person's specific strength... Great Sage Third Layer Great Perfection!

With such strength, he could defeat all his disciples and make them flee in disarray?

It's like this... Seeing the other's disbelief, Huo Jianghe detailed what had happened earlier.

After hearing the account, Elder Lu Yun's brows furrowed.

Such a genius, within the jurisdiction of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, had been schemed against and treated so unfairly—it was a direct slap in the face.

Suppressing his displeasure, he looked over: "Are you Shan Xiaotian?"

Yes!

Shan Xiaotian bowed.

Are you interested in joining the Lingyun Sword Pavilion? Elder Lu Yun asked.

Shan Xiaotian was stunned for a moment, then quietly turned to look at his teacher not far away. Seeing him subtly nod, he quickly bowed: "I am willing!"

Very good! Elder Lu Yun nodded: "From now on, you are a disciple of the Sword Pavilion! Whoever dares to bully you will be opposing the Sword Pavilion and must bear its wrath!"

Uh...

Shan Xiaotian was dumbfounded.

He had thought he would need to undergo another assessment and demonstrate his strength again; he hadn't expected it to be so simple.

If he hadn't known that the other was truly an elder, he would have thought it a joke.

He had heard that Lu Yun, the outer sect elder in charge of recruitment, was impetuous by nature, but he hadn't expected him to be so fiery...

Congratulations, nephew Xiaotian, on becoming a disciple of the Sword Pavilion... Xue Qian reacted quickly, hurriedly approaching with a smile, showing no trace of his earlier embarrassment.

Ignoring him, Shan Xiaotian took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and knelt directly on the ground: "Elder, I beg you to seek justice for this disciple!"

Speak freely! Elder Lu Yun waved his hand grandly.

My Shan family was a major clan in Xuanjiang City. Because of our formidable combat strength, the City Lord's Mansion coveted us, used deceitful schemes, and caused the annihilation of our entire clan... Here is the evidence!

Shan Xiaotian took a jade token from his bosom and handed it over.

Since the family's destruction, Old Yi had never stopped, gathering evidence everywhere. The more he gathered, the more it pointed to the involvement of the city lord before him.

He had not dared to speak out before, but now, with the Lingyun Sword Pavilion elder present, he had no more顾虑.

Moreover, it was also his teacher's intention.

Taking the jade token, Elder Lu Yun glanced at it, and his eyes immediately narrowed.

The evidence recorded on it was clear and logical, without any omissions or errors.

Each piece indicated that the lives of over a hundred members of the Shan family were inextricably linked to City Lord Xue Qian.

What do you have to say?

He turned to look, casually tossing the jade token in front of him.

Xue Qian quickly picked it up and glanced at it, his pupils suddenly contracting. He knelt down: "Elder Lu, I am wronged... Our two families had long formed a marital alliance. Harming them would bring me no benefit! This must be because my daughter, ignorant, went to break off the engagement, angering Nephew Xiaotian, leading to this misunderstanding... I beg the Elder to see clearly!"

See clearly? Fine! I will give you a satisfactory answer!

With a snort, Elder Lu said no more. Ignoring the kneeling city lord, he looked at Shan Xiaotian: "Although your evidence is well-founded, much time has passed, and many things can no longer be investigated. Moreover, as the city lord, if he deliberately concealed the traces, even I would be powerless!"

Yes!

Shan Xiaotian lowered his head.

He knew this.

It had been ten years since his family was brutally wiped out. In those ten years, countless changes had occurred in Xuanjiang City. Even if the evidence was correct, times had changed, and it could no longer be verified.

Moreover, this city lord, who craved fame and reputation, had even gone so far as to break off the engagement for the sake of his name. With such a major incident as the massacre, he would certainly have handled it flawlessly, leaving no trace to investigate.

Without solid evidence, wanting to kill a city lord would be tantamount to defying the authority of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion!

However... there are exceptions to everything!

Elder Lu Yun's eyes flashed: "That is... possessing sufficient strength! Enough to make the Lingyun Sword Pavilion wary! Naturally, they would not offend such a person over a minor city lord of a third-rate city. Another way is to become an inner disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion! Once successful, the Sword Pavilion is obliged to help its disciples deal with troubles, allowing them to cultivate in peace."

Inner disciple?

Shan Xiaotian was startled.

The Lingyun Sword Pavilion only recruited miscellaneous servants in Xuanjiang City.

For such a menial role, passing the assessment made Xue Qin's tail rise to the sky, thinking she had reached the heavens, and she rushed to break off the engagement. If he were to become an inner disciple, his status would surpass even Huo Jianghe and others, and be far more important than the City Lord of Xuanjiang City!

Naturally, he would receive the Sword Pavilion's protection.

But...

It was too difficult.

Huo Jianghe, a mighty Ancient Saint Fourth Layer Void Breaker, had not entered; how could he, only at Great Sage Third Layer Great Perfection, possibly succeed?

Indeed, every inner disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion is a treasure of the Sword Pavilion, with status no weaker than mine, an outer sect elder... As long as you succeed, even if you kill this city lord without evidence, no one will say anything!

Elder Lu Yun said calmly.

Laws are always used to restrain small figures. True强者 are beyond the reach of rules, let alone evidence!

Kill and be done with it.

A city lord of a third-rate town—if one dies, someone will surely replace him. Compared to an inner disciple, the importance is clear at a glance.

This...

Hearing Elder Lu Yun say this, Xue Qian's brows twitched.

Could it be that he intended to let this Shan Xiaotian take the inner disciple assessment?

However, he knew the difficulty of the inner disciple assessment. Although this fellow had decent talent, success was nearly impossible!

May I ask, Elder, how is the inner disciple assessment conducted? I am willing to try!

After a moment of contemplation, Shan Xiaotian said.

The inner disciple assessment does not consider cultivation level but looks at potential and talent! Those with high potential and talent, even if their cultivation is lower, can directly enter without going through the outer sect's training. Usually, there are two requirements... First, becoming an Ancient Saint before the age of seventeen! Second, passing the inner sect's swordsmanship assessment!

Elder Lu Yun said calmly: "How old are you now?"

I am sixteen, but... Stunned, Shan Xiaotian was about to continue when the old man interrupted: "Under seventeen is fine. Being at Great Sage Third Layer Great Perfection now means you have a chance to break through to that level by seventeen. As for the inner sect's swordsmanship assessment... Huo Jianghe is the senior disciple of the outer sect, and his swordsmanship has already met the inner sect's standards. If you can defeat him at the same cultivation level... that means you pass!"

Defeat at the same level?

Shan Xiaotian was nervous.

He had only learned swordsmanship from his teacher for one night, while the other was a supreme expert of the Sword Pavilion, having practiced swordsmanship for no less than twenty years.

To win at the same level would be very difficult!

Elder Lu Yun said: "Indeed. Do you dare to try?"

I am willing to try!

Without hesitating too long, Shan Xiaotian nodded.

This was an opportunity for him!

If he missed it, seeking revenge would be nearly impossible!

After all, Xue Qian knew he wanted to kill him, and knowing he had entered the Sword Pavilion, would he just stay here waiting to die?

He would surely have fled long ago.

The world is vast; once he fled, finding him would be like looking for a needle in a haystack!

Very good! Elder Lu Yun nodded, then looked at Huo Jianghe: "Suppress your cultivation to the same level as his, fight with all your strength, and do not hold back!"

Yes!

Huo Jianghe nodded, stepped forward, and in an instant suppressed his cultivation to Great Sage Third Layer.

Please!

The two separated and stood, each holding a longsword.

Teacher...

Facing such a strong opponent for the first time, Shan Xiaotian was anxious. He looked at his teacher, who still had iron chains on his hands, eyes narrowed, looking indifferent as if it had nothing to do with him.

It seemed... he simply didn't care!

I'll go for it...

Gritting his teeth, Shan Xiaotian's eyes showed determination.

His teacher had already given him so much; whether he could become an inner disciple depended on him. He could no longer retreat.

Whoosh!

In that moment, Huo Jianghe opposite was already before him, longsword in hand, sword light flashing like a river.

Shan Xiaotian, who had expected to go all out, was stunned when he saw the other's swordsmanship.

Although the changes in his opponent's sword techniques were complex, his teacher seemed to have explained them all. In the face of this knowledge, the flashy moves before him were like a beautiful woman in evening gown—no matter how gorgeous and dignified... once undressed, she was the same as any other woman.

No extra part, no missing organ.

Knowing this, the rest became simple.

Breaking through illusions, pointing directly to the essence, in an instant Shan Xiaotian found seven or eight ways to counter.

He thrust his longsword forward.

It immediately struck a point in the river.

Huo Jianghe was startled and couldn't help but leap backward.

Seeing that his teacher's method was indeed effective, Shan Xiaotian advanced again and thrust his sword once more.

The former retreated again.

One advanced, one retreated. After more than twenty moves, their swords never touched, yet Huo Jianghe had retreated over forty steps!

This swordsmanship...

So strong!

Hu Bin, Huang Tao, and the others stood frozen, exchanging glances as if seeing a ghost.