Chapter 1481 Unrestrained
“Brother Han!
“Oh my G.o.d, Brother Han, I finally get to see you.”
Chen Changqing was excited when he saw Zhang Han.
“Master.”
Zhao Feng and the others also went over to say h.e.l.lo with emotion.
Grand Master Chu, Old Taoist Honghu, and Taoist Lord of Azurepeak had been standing guard over the Chu Family’s place in the Heavenly Double Star this entire time.
In fact, Old Taoist Honghu and Taoist Lord of Azurepeak didn’t even care about their own sects.
What they wanted the most was to reach the Tribulation Stage, so they stayed here to help out.
The effect was obvious.
Now, more than eighty percent of the Astral Domain of Vast Heaven had been scanned by them. Almost everyone knew about the bounty.
“Where have you been in the past three years?” Zhang Han asked strangely.
“Well…”
Chen Changqing said in an embarra.s.sed tone, “Xiaofeng and I have been digging the crystal stone mine.”
Zhang Han was speechless.
“We were directly teleported to the mine. Fortunately, Ye Longyuan went to fight against the enemy, so we followed him out. Master, this is the one million crystal stones that Ye Longyuan gave you. He said that he would continue to owe you. As usual, he will double the debt when he breaks through a small realm,” Zhao Feng said.
Everyone was slightly stunned when they heard this.
“Is Ye Longyuan addicted to owing money?”
“Elder Sister Yan, take us back now. I want to go back.” Zhou Fei, Zi Yan, and the others were talking at the back.
Even Liang Mengqi couldn’t help nodding. “I also want to go back. I miss lying on the beach and basking in the sun.”
Zi Yan replied with a smile, “We’ll be back in a few months.”
“It’s good that you’re all here.”
Zhang Han glanced around and said, “There are still a small number of people whose whereabouts I don’t know. However, this kind of thing can only be left to fate. Judging from your auras, each of you has your own fate. Tomorrow, we are going to the Vast Heaven Star to travel in the Four Great Sects.”
“I’d love that. I’ve had enough rest,” Chen Changqing said with a smile. “Mu Xue and the others are in the Four Great Sects and are doing quite well now.”
“It’s time to get busy.” Zhao Feng’s eyes were also full of fighting spirit.
The two of them came to the Astral Domain of Vast Heaven either to mine or to rest in the Chu Family’s place.
Their experience was not as exciting as those who were on the Vast Heaven Star.
“If you’re going, you can take the a.s.sessment right now. The Radiant Inst.i.tute of the Heavenly Double Star has dozens of spots, and you can go there as disciples of the Radiant Inst.i.tute.” Grand Master Chu suggested.
“Okay.”
Zhang Han nodded when he heard that.
After all, he had a conflict with Taoist Heavenlight before. He didn’t go to the Heavenly Twin Stars to make trouble on purpose this time. Mengmeng disguised herself as a man in the name of Zhang Hanyang when she was there before. She could dress normally now. As for Zhang Han, he used the name Ye Feng in the Crimson Sunglow Sect and the name Zhang Hanyang in the Ling Sea Sword Sect. It didn’t matter what name he used when he went back this time.
The crowd finally decided to go to the Vast Heaven Star. In the evening, they would get ready and set off.
A dozen people, including Zhang Han, Zi Yan, Mengmeng, Chen Changqing, Zhao Feng, and Yue Xiaonao, went to the Vast Heaven Star.
The others would stay here for the time being.
Early the next morning.
The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute personally led the team to the side of the Beast Overlooking Peak by aircraft.
“Brother Zhang.”
The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute cupped his hands and said politely, “I’ve prepared your tokens and also your ident.i.ty information.”
He gave out the tokens.
Many disciples of the Radiant Inst.i.tute looked at this group of people curiously. Even the Sect Leader had to entertain them in person. It seemed that they had a very powerful background.
The crowd got on the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p and headed for the Vast Heaven Star.
“Our Radiant Inst.i.tute is a subsidiary sect of the Ling Sea Sword Sect, so we can only go to the Vast Wood Star.”
“The Vast Wood Star is very big. The subsidiary forces have dozens of places to take the a.s.sessment every year. If you pa.s.s the test, you can directly become an inner-door disciple. But if you fail, you’ll need to go back and continue to cultivate. The test is very strict.”
“…”
It was the Ling Sea Sword Sect again.
Zhang Han didn’t expect that by the two times he came here, he went to the Ling Sea Sword Sect. It seemed that they were fated.
The crowd arrived at the Vast Wood Star.
The examination venue was different from that where Zhang Han went last time.
They had now arrived at an internal examination area, located in a mountain range in the center of a continent.
The exam venue was very modern.
There were a lot of people here, all of whom were sent by the subsidiary sects of the Ling Sea Sword Sect.
Most of them were led by the Sect Leaders.
From this, it could be seen that all the Sect Leaders attached great importance to the a.s.sessment of the Ling Sea Sword Sect.
In truth, this was also related to how many cultivation resources their sects had to hand in. The more people pa.s.sed the trial, the less commission they would have to pay. Every sect wanted their disciples, as many as possible, to pa.s.s the trial.
As for the a.s.sessment, it was great learning. All the Sect Leaders had to treat it with caution, so they came in person. Even if some were busy, they would ask important elders to come over.
Tens of thousands of people were gathered in a huge square.
There were eight pa.s.sageways that led to the eight gates of the great hall.
It was very magnificent.
Most of the people present were young disciples who wanted to take the exam. At this time, they were all nervous and excited.
“I’m Li Kun, the protector of the left wing of the Sword Sect. The a.s.sessment begins now. All the major sects, please line up and follow the order.”
A middle-aged man in grey was levitating in the air. After he finished speaking, he landed on the platform above the hall.
He was an examiner and would supervise the entire scene. He didn’t need to go up himself.
Protector Li Kun’s subordinates, as well as some chief supervisors, were responsible for eight a.s.sessment sites.
The a.s.sessment had begun.
“I wonder what the a.s.sessment is about,” Chen Changqing said with curiosity.
“I’ve told you that it’s very simple. I estimate that Chen Chuan can also pa.s.s the exam with his apt.i.tude,” the Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute said with a smile.
“He’s too young. When he grows up, he can come to the Four Great Sects for training.” Chen Changqing couldn’t help laughing.
He and the Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute were acquaintances.
Chen Chuan had gone to the Radiant Inst.i.tute to study and cultivate. He had caused quite a stir. But this boy didn’t know that Mengmeng had come. If he knew, he would definitely make a scene to come over.
“Yes, he can do that in a few years.” The Sect Master of the Radiant Inst.i.tute smiled as he replied.
However, things changed faster than they had planned. When Chen Chuan grew up, there would be no more Four Great Sects on the Vast Heaven Star.
There were eight long teams in the huge bluestone square.
Each sect had its own team. There were too many people in line, and there were sects arriving one after another. Although it take only about ten minutes for each sect to finish the exam, it seemed that it would take a few days for the whole test to be over.
In this way, everyone started a long wait.
They waited for a day and a night.
There was only one team before the team of the Radiant Inst.i.tute.
In front of the huge door stood a dozen inner-door disciples. There were a few supervisors patrolling, and inside was the examination field.
“I just found out that the team in front of us is Flower Fragrance Pavilion. No wonder there are so many women. Their leader should be the mysterious First Elder.”
The head of the Radiant Inst.i.tute clicked his tongue in wonder.
“Is Flower Fragrance Pavilion very powerful?” a disciple asked curiously.
“It should be said that it’s quite special. Most of the people from the Flower Fragrance Pavilion are women, but there are also male disciples. It’s a sect full of Cultivational Partners. Before cultivating, the disciples have to find their own Cultivational Partners and do Pair Cultivation. It’s said that they cultivate very fast.” The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute said, “It belongs to the second echelon of the subordinate forces of the Ling Sea Sword Sect.”
“Its subordinate forces are divided into different echelons?” Mengmeng was stunned after hearing that.
“Of course.” The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute shook his head and sighed softly. “The subsidiary sects are divided into a total of four echelons. The sects in the first echelon are all very powerful. They are well-known in the Astral Domain. The second echelon may not be very powerful, but their strength is very strong. The third echelon is second to the second echelon, and the fourth echelon is made up of small sects.”
“Which echelon is the Radiant Inst.i.tute in?” Mengmeng asked again.
“Uh…” The Sect Leader’s face was a little stiff, and he said hesitantly, “We’re close to the third echelon.”
Everyone was stunned by his words.
“It means that it belongs to the fourth echelon, doesn’t it?”
The Sect Leader laughed and said, “There are also differences in the strength of the sects of the fourth echelon. Our Radiant Inst.i.tute is at the top of the fourth echelon.”
While they were talking-
Swoos.h.!.+
Some people suddenly came from the side.
Were they cutting in line?
There were about a hundred of them, and it was a mighty group.
They went straight to the front of Flower Fragrance Pavilion.
The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute said in a low voice, “They are from the Ice and Fire Sect. It belongs to the first echelon of the subsidiary sects.”
“Can they cut in line directly just because they’re in the first echelon?” Mengmeng asked.
“Well, it isn’t clear. According to the strict rules, it seems that they can’t do that, but Protector Li Kun, who is in charge, doesn’t care about it. So be it,” the Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute said with a wry smile.
They looked left and right. The Ice and Fire Sect seemed to be the first of the first echelon that had arrived.
There were people from the first echelon cutting in line in each of the eight pa.s.sages.
The people from the Flower Fragrance Pavilion didn’t say anything. They silently watched as the trial ended. The Ice and Fire Sect’s disciples went in to take the trial first.
Before the people of the Ice and Fire Sect finished the exam, another first-echelon sect arrived and stood in front of the Flower Fragrance Pavilion’s team.
When the a.s.sessment inside was over, they went straight in.
After that, it was time for the Flower Fragrance Pavilion’s a.s.sessment.
Standing outside the door, one could also watch the examination inside.
Mengmeng glanced at it and said, “It’s just a battle? It’s very simple.”
After the crowd watched it for a while, three teams came from the right side in succession.
On behalf of three first-echelon sects, they chatted with each other and walked over, laughing.
Mengmeng saw this and frowned slightly.
“Why are so many people cutting in line?”
Something even more outrageous happened.
“Retreat a hundred meters. Can’t you see us?” someone beside them asked sternly.
The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute narrowed his eyes slightly, but the other party had a powerful background. He nodded and was about to lead the group to retreat.
“Unbelievable.” Mengmeng couldn’t help but say, “You keep cutting in line whenever you can, and people like you who don’t follow the order are lining up. Do you really think others don’t exist? How dare you shamelessly ask us to retreat a hundred meters? It’s the first time I’ve seen such a shameless person.”
Once she joined the Crimson Sunglow Sect, she had been keeping a high profile even during the time she ran away all the way. Mengmeng had nothing to fear since she saw Zhang Han kill Lord Luo Dong, who was in the Middle Stage of the Mastery Realm, with one hand and then return to the Vast Heaven Star.
She was much more casual in doing things since she had great strength. If cultivators wanted to do whatever they wanted, they had to have enough strength. But now, Mengmeng’s backer was in his peak state, so she had nothing to fear.
Not only Zhang Han, but also Yue Wuwei was standing aside.
Seeing that the other party was dumbfounded, Yue Xiaonao sneered.
“f.u.c.k off and line up at the back. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone cut in line in such a high-profile way.”
“Tut-tut, mind your language.” Yue Wuwei’s beard trembled.
“What’s going on? Yue Xiaonao is just a kid. How can she be cursing? Should I teach her a lesson?”
“What did you say?”
The face of the man who spoke darkened.
Some of the big shots who were chatting ahead also turned their heads.
“Fengwu, it seems that your sect has been laughed at.”
“Hahaha, interesting.”
At this time, the face of the Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute changed, “What? This man is the legendary No. 1 Elder of the Ice Sword Sect, Fengwu. My G.o.d. Everyone, please stop talking.”
After he finished speaking, he immediately removed the sound-proof cover and said with a smile, “Guys, I’m sorry.”
“Shut up!” The protector of the Ice Sword Sect, who had been challenged, said with a gloomy face, “Which sect are you from?”
“We are from the Radiant Inst.i.tute of the Heavenly Double Star.” Cold sweat began to flow down the Sect Master’s forehead.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
Some disciples of the Ice Sword Sect suddenly laughed.
“Radiant Inst.i.tute? What a joke!”
“You don’t even have the qualifications to cut in line, yet you’re still clamoring?”
“It’s just a bunch of good-for-nothings. Each year, only one or two of them can pa.s.s the trial. How dare they bring so many people here?”
“The Radiant Inst.i.tute is just a small sect. Hahaha, how dare you boast shamelessly! How interesting!”
Hearing the ridicule, the Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute had a darkened expression.
Some people in the queue behind them were also talking about it.
“A fourth-echelon sect dares to be so arrogant with the first-echelon?”
“That’s not arrogance, that’s stupidity.”
“It’s very likely that they’ll be directly disqualified.”
“It’s just that their inner-door disciples are talking too much.”
When one said someone was in the wrong, that might not necessarily be true. But when everyone said that person was in the wrong, it made that person at fault even if it wasn’t true.
Just like now, in everyone’s minds, cutting in line was normal, and it was a symbol of strength.
However, it also had something to do with the Ling Sea Sword Sect. If it was written in the rules that the first-echelon sects could cut in line, Mengmeng and the others would not object.
However, this was an unwritten rule.
Mengmeng felt that those people just openly violated morality.
Her little face darkened.
“Don’t take others’ tolerance for you as your right to put on a shameless act. Your Ice Sword Sect is just so shameless. You’re indeed troublemakers with such ugly faces.”
“Hmm?”
Fengwu, the No. 1 Elder of the Ice Sword Sect, didn’t intend to interfere at first, but at this time, his face darkened slightly, and his aura rose. He was ready to make a move.
Right then, Zi Yan stepped forward. Her eyes and her tone were calm.
“As for the other two sects, you’re taking your mistake as a legitimate act. Is it your or the Ling Sea Sword Sect’s problem? Protector Li Kun, aren’t you going to make things right?”
Rumble!
Her words were like a bolt from the blue, making everyone shocked.
“How dare she challenge Protector Li Kun?”
“Oh my G.o.d, is the Radiant Inst.i.tute crazy?”
“The first-echelon sects cut in line.”
In front of the crowd, Li Kun spoke up, which made the higher-ups of the three sects stop talking.
Li Kun’s eyes were still closed.
As if he didn’t care about it, he said, “There is no right or wrong in cutting in line, and there are no rules. Since some people are not convinced, the examination will become a battle between you and the disciples of the sects who cut in line. The winner can enter the inner court, and the loser is not allowed to partic.i.p.ate in the inner court examination for five years.”
“Hahahaha.”
As soon as he said that, the people of the three major sects in front of the Radiant Inst.i.tute laughed.
“The loser is not allowed to partic.i.p.ate in the a.s.sessment for five years.”
“Wonderful.”
“In that case, shall we invite our loser, the Radiant Inst.i.tute, to enter the field?”
At this moment, the face of the Radiant Inst.i.tute’s Sect Leader looked slightly pale.
His inner-door disciples were also stunned.
“Can we defeat the disciples of the first echelon?”
However, there was no turning back. As newcomers, they were not afraid of experienced cultivators. They were even eager to try. “What if we win?”
“They’re too young.” This was what the Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute was thinking.
He could tell from the expression on the faces of his sect disciples that they were going to give it a try.
“They want to fight against those people.
“That’s nice. Only by experiencing real battles will they understand the gap.
“Moreover, they may not necessarily lose.”
The Sect Leader glanced at Zhang Han.
He also wanted to partic.i.p.ate in the test. With Grand Master Chu’s Big Brother around, there should be no problem.
“Come, brothers from the Radiant Inst.i.tute, let’s go and exchange a few blows.”
One of the supervisors of the Ice Sword Sect waved his hand with a smile.
Under many people’s complicated gazes, they entered the examination hall.
“How will we fight?”
The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute said, “There must be rules. Since Protector Li Kun didn’t mention it, we can talk about it ourselves. It just so happens that there are several supervisors here.”
“Cut the c.r.a.p.” The protector of the Ice Sword Sect who had been challenged pointed to the nose of the Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute and said, “You can fight as you want today!”
“Let’s take turns in the battle.” The Sect Leader of the Radiant Inst.i.tute looked like he was ready to risk everything. “Let’s compete in groups. When either of our teams gets to win, the whole team will advance.”
When the decision was made, the protector did not speak anymore.
Fengwu nodded slightly. “We can take turns to fight. Those who are selected to take the exam will fight one by one. Well, Ice Sword Sect disciples, listen to my order.”
“Yes, elder.”
“Don’t kill them all.”
“Yes, elder!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the Sect Master of the Radiant Inst.i.tute revealed a slightly panicked expression.
“Come on!”
Mengmeng glanced at Zhang Han. Seeing him nod slightly, Mengmeng went to the big ring in front of her.
She was wearing a cyan robe and a ponytail. Her hair was not short, and it was fluttering in the breeze.
The pretty girl had grown up. Although her face still looks a bit immature, her exquisite beauty was no less than Zi Yan’s when she was the most famous.
“What a bunch of trash. You actually allowed a little girl to fight on the stage first.”
A young man from the Ice Sword Sect who was taking part in the a.s.sessment sneered and stepped onto the ring. He looked at Mengmeng with a smile and said, “You are so beautiful. I feel sorry for you. It’s a pity that you will lose. Why don’t you and I make a bet?”
“What do you want to bet on?” Mengmeng’s eyes showed a hint of playfulness.
The man smiled faintly. “If you lose, you’ll be my maid from now on and you’ll serve me in bed.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature in the field suddenly dropped by more than ten degrees.
“No wonder people say that lechers tend to play with fire. No wonder…” Yue Wuwei’s facial muscles were stiff. He touched his cheek, shook his head, and sighed.
“Hahaha!”
At this time, some disciples of the Ice Sword Sect burst out laughing.
“Senior Brother Lenghe is still as unrestrained as ever.”
“This pretty girl seems to be unable to escape from Senior Brother Lenghe’s hands.”
“…”
There were even teasing voices.
However, Zhang Han’s face darkened.
Before Mengmeng could make a move, an invisible palm suddenly appeared beside Lenghe.
Boom!
With a palm strike, the disciple was sent flying hundreds of meters away and hit a stone pillar.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
The stone pillar began to crack.
Plop!
Lenghe fell to the ground and could only breathe his last.
“What?!”
The face of the Sect Leader of the Radiant Sect changed drastically. “s.h.i.+t.”
“Hmm?”
The eyes of Fengwu, the No. 1 Elder of the Ice Sword Sect, instantly became extremely sharp, and his blade-like aura began to vibrate.
“If we are to fight, we’ll just do it. If we don’t, you’ll die.” Zhang Han frowned and glanced at him.
This glance made Fengwu stop what he was about to do.
“Have you thought this through before making a move against my sect’s disciple?” asked Fengwu, his right hand glowing with a cold light. It was a long spear.
“As a senior of the sect, you actually ignored the rules and took action on your own. The rules have been broken. Why don’t we kill these people directly?” the elders of other sects said coldly.
A chaotic battle was about to break out here.
The chief supervisor of Ling Sea Sword Sect said nervously, “I’m sorry, the person who took action is also within the quota.”
“Heh, even if he is, it was a sneak attack. This kind of person deserves to die.”
Meanwhile, the disciple that went to check on Lenghe shouted in a grim voice, “Elder, Senior Brother Lenghe is out of breath.”
“Kill them!”
It was like a sound representing the start of a battle.
Fengwu immediately took action, white light flickering.
“f.u.c.k off.”
At this time, Yue Wuwei waved his hand lightly.
The wind howled. The three leading elders as well as more than a dozen high-position officials were all sent flying backward. They were badly beaten and spat out several mouthfuls of blood. They couldn’t breathe at all.
“You…”
“What…”
“He is at least at the Middle Stage of the Mastery Realm!”
“Oh my G.o.d!”
They all fixed their eyes on Yue Wuwei.
Yue Wuwei touched his beard calmly and said, “Didn’t you hear him? If we are to fight, we’ll just do it. If we don’t, you’ll die.”
There was dead silence in the field.
One could even hear a pin drop.
None of the three first-echelon sects dared to say anything.
Even the supervisors and chief supervisor of the Ling Sea Sword Sect were dispirited at this time.
Someone kindly said to Protector Li Kun via Designated Voice-transmitting Technique, “Lord Protector Li, come and fix it. Something serious has happened here.”
Gurgle!
Li Kun, who was sitting on the high platform, moved his throat and swallowed.
He cursed in his heart. “f.u.c.k it. You would never come to me when something good happens. You only ask for my help when it’s a bad thing.”
Thinking of this, he looked over there with fear and shook his head repeatedly.
“I can’t go over, I can’t…”