Chapter 467: The Counterattack of the East Courtyard! (4 more)

"Everyone, come with me! Whether the East Courtyard is worthless or not is for no one else to say—the proof of how much weight you can pull lies in your own strength!"Leng Jianfeng lazily made this remark before sauntering into the Assessment Hall.

One by one, those indignant East Courtyard Yellow Sect Disciples gathered their energy, vowing to make those who looked down on them gape in surprise.

Ling Feng touched his nose and had to admit, Leng Jianfeng played a nice move there, instantly rallying everyone’s fighting spirit.

However, this year’s East Courtyard had improved drastically compared to the past, not just himself and Lee Bufan but also Jiang Xiaofan, Ouyang Jing, Wang Yishan, Lio Yunfei, Qin Wanwan...

The rise of the East Courtyard was just the beginning!

Inside the spacious Assessment Hall, upon entering, one could see eighteen giant stone pillars erected on either side, carved with dragons and phoenixes so lifelike they seemed to move. In the center of the hall, there was a wooden frame firmly holding a Copper Bell below it, presumably the Phantom Sound Bronze Bell mentioned by the Assessment Hall staff.

The Copper Bell was three meters tall, a deep cyan in color, looking extremely heavy. Next to it stood a transparent crystal column, seemingly used for measuring something.

At this moment, the Martial Arts Instructors from each academy began to carefully explain the tests to their students.

"The first challenge tests your strength level. Channel your True Qi to strike this Copper Bell; a musical note will be drawn on the crystal column beside the bell according to the purity of your True Qi."

Leng Jianfeng stretched out a large hand and touched the Copper Bell for the East Courtyard inspection, "Anything less than a three-color note means you’ve wasted the last six months practicing. Go back sincerely and continue being a Yellow Character Disciple. Otherwise, you can move on to the second assessment."

"The rules are that simple. Does everyone understand?"

Seeing no one had questions, Leng Jianfeng glared with wide eyes at the East Courtyard students and nodded, "Good, now go line up!"

After explaining the rules, Leng Jianfeng found a seat in the hall and sat comfortably to the side. The task of recording the assessment results, of course, fell to the staff members.

Soon, students from the Five Academies formed two long lines. Ling Feng and his Tianshu East Courtyard roommates took a place toward the back of the left line.

While in line, Ling Feng caught sight of Qin Wanwan, who had confessed to him the day before, and his expression turned somewhat embarrassed, but Qin Wanwan seemed just as usual, even sending a sweet smile his way.

Ling Feng inwardly smiled bitterly; it seemed this girl was really serious...

At this moment, the students at the very front began their assessments. Ling Feng focused his attention on the front of the line, curious to see what exactly Leng Jianfeng meant by "note."

The two Assessment Hall staff members stood on either side of the Phantom Sound Bronze Bell. The younger one on the right slowly spoke, "You must stand ten steps away from the Phantom Sound Bronze Bell to strike it. If you can’t even resonate the bell, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for the next assessment opportunity. Reminder—all weapons are permitted for this assessment."

After the speech, the two staff members took out a register from their clothes, "We can start now. State your name and subdivision first, then go ahead and ring the bell. Right then, let’s begin."

The first student in the left line, a plainly-dressed young man, appeared rather nervous as he said slowly, "I... I am Sun Tiande from the North Courtyard!"

Sun Tiande took a deep breath and drew his Long Sword, executing his strongest swordsmanship technique in a powerful slash toward the Copper Bell. His cultivation had just reached the threshold of the ten veins, so he had to give it his all to stand a chance.

"Dong!"

The Copper Bell emitted a sound as faint as a mosquito’s hum, and the crystal column beside it flashed a weak light at the boundary between green and yellow, which faded before a breath had passed.

"Two-color note; strength level determined to be Yellow Level. This junior brother, you’ll have to wait for the next opportunity," the emotionless staff member reported Sun Tiande’s Talent, then called, "Next." Follow current novels on No(ᴠ)ᴇlFire.nᴇt

"Ah!" Sun Tiande clenched his fists tightly, his face full of discouragement as he dejectedly walked away.

Promotion assessments are not guaranteed, even for those who reached the ten veins. Sometimes, an inflated realm doesn’t mean one’s Strength meets the standard, and conversely, some might seem lower in level but possess the Strength to pass the assessment.

Next, the second student stepped forward, speaking loudly, "Jiaang Yulang, Central Courtyard student."

"Hm." The Assessment Hall staff member gave a slight nod to Jiaang Yulang, the words "Central Courtyard" themselves commanding a certain respect.

"Ha!" Jiaang Yulang roared lowly and punched out fiercely, the sound of powerful wind fast and acute.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

The Copper Bell violently shook, three colors of light flashing within the crystal column. After five breaths, the first segment of the column lit up completely, and the second segment began to flicker with a three-color note.

"Three-colored notes, strength rank, Profound Level Fifth Grade. Congratulations, you’ve passed!"

The Assessment Hall staff member gave Jiang Yulang a slight smile and noted the exam result behind his name.

A hint of a smile appeared on Jiang Yulang’s face. Generally speaking, reaching the Profound Level meant that one could be promoted to a Xuan Character Disciple, and the Profound Level Fifth Grade roughly equated to having opened fifteen meridians.

Ling Feng stood at the back of the line, a flash of insight crossing his mind.

This so-called Phantom Sound Bronze Bell was, in fact, just another method of testing the level of one’s cultivation, and it wasn’t enough to simply have the realm; one also needed strength equivalent to that realm.

After Jiang Yulang, three more young men successively passed the exam, all scoring above the Profound Level Third Grade.

However, many of the following students were determined to be at the Yellow Level, and they could only leave in dejection.

Finally, it was the turn of a North Court student to be tested. This person seemed to be the Chief Student of the North Court, named Cheng Qi.

Cheng Qi arrogantly cracked his knuckles, then actually gave a thumbs-up to a large group of students behind him. He then spun 180 degrees, pushed his thumb downwards vehemently several times, and shouted, "All you trash from the East Courtyard, let me show you what talent looks like! Let me show you a height you’ll never reach!"

At these words, jeers erupted immediately, naturally accompanied by cheering from the North Court students, as well as laughter from the students of the other courtyards who were enjoying the spectacle.

Ling Feng touched his nose and inwardly commented, "Idiot!"

Not to mention himself, even Jiang Xiaofan and Lee Bufan could wipe the floor with someone like him for a hundred streets.

"Begin."

The Assessment Hall staff member looked at Cheng Qi with some anticipation. After all, Cheng Qi’s family had considerable influence in the Imperial City, so it stood to reason that this scion of the Cheng Family would not be far behind in ability.

For a moment, almost everyone’s gaze focused on Cheng Qi; such a high-profile character must have some skills.

Cheng Qi circulated his True Qi and casually threw a punch, a golden Qi, like lightning, slashing out and striking the Copper Bell hard.

Dong!

The Copper Bell trembled violently, buzzing incessantly in everyone’s ears, the sound echoing far beyond the Assessment Hall and shaking for miles around!

On the testing crystal, a cluster of seven-colored notes flared up, instantly filling the first segment of the crystal column; then the second segment lit up fully. The seven-colored notes gradually dimmed into a single colored note. Shortly after, a faint green glow lit up the third segment of the crystal.

"Seven-colored notes, strength rank, Earth-level Third Grade. You’ve passed!"

Earth-level Third Grade meant his strength was comparable to that of a Martial Artist who had opened twenty-three meridians. To reach such a level in just half a year after joining the Heavenly Position Academy was indeed a reason for his arrogance.

However, to challenge the entire East Courtyard with such results was simply too conceited.

Then, one after another, the young men and women participating in the assessment rang the Copper Bell.

Lee Bufan directly struck a Heavenly Grade Nine, and that was just him casually throwing a punch without using his real strength.

Jiang Xiaofan also made a casual sweep and likewise scored a Heavenly Grade Nine.

Such an assessment was utterly unchallenging for them. Both were A-class Disciples level fighters, participating in the same assessment as a bunch of Yellow Character Disciples.

Honestly, it was quite bullying!

But who told them they were all Yellow Character Disciples?

At that moment, that Cheng Qi, who had previously shouted about showing the East Courtyard students a height they couldn’t aspire to, was probably figuring out which crack in the ground to crawl into.

Moreover, the overall level of this batch of East Courtyard students was truly surprising. Apart from a few who were eliminated, the majority reached the Profound Level standard, successfully passing the test.

Such results really made the instructors and students of the other four academies drop their jaws in disbelief.

Wasn’t the East Courtyard supposed to be the weakest of the Five Academies? How come, all of a sudden, every student from the East Courtyard seemed so formidable?