Wei Ziping's temperament was different from the reserved demeanor of Yun Ge and Wei Qingfeng. Instead, it exuded an aggressive sharpness.
He was like a sharp sword unsheathed, slaughtering gods and buddhas alike!
This made everyone present not dare to look him in the eye. When Wei Ziping passed by, they hurriedly stepped aside.
Wei Ziping's cultivation was the same as Yun Ge's, both at the Ninth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm.
He had been in the second position on the List of Outstanding Talents for over a year, and no one could shake his position.
Because Mu Jinyu was seeing Wei Ziping for the first time, he glanced at him a few more times and was immediately sensed by him.
Wei Ziping looked up at Mu Jinyu, his eyes flashing, and then he walked towards Mu Jinyu.
Yun Ge noticed Wei Ziping's movement and also looked over, finding Mu Jinyu. He smiled and followed suit.
"Brother Wei is coming over. Does he want to challenge Senior Brother Mu?"
"Shh, don't talk!"
The crowd quickly fell silent.
Wei Ziping was different from Yun Ge. If he disliked someone, he might punish them at any time.
Therefore, apart from the newly promoted inner sect disciples who didn't understand, almost everyone was very afraid of him.
The crowd automatically parted to make way, and Wei Ziping easily approached Mu Jinyu.
He looked at Mu Jinyu with a defiant expression and said, "Are you the new third on the List of Outstanding Talents?"
"Yes." Mu Jinyu nodded slightly, neither humble nor arrogant. "What advice do you have, Senior Brother?"
Wei Ziping, talking to himself, said, "I heard you almost split Wei Qingfeng in half with just one sword strike?"
Mu Jinyu did not respond, as directly admitting it would seem too arrogant and conceited.
Although it was true, it was better to be a bit humble.
Wei Ziping didn't care about Mu Jinyu's silence and lightly shook his head, saying, "It seems Wei Qingfeng has truly fallen."
The people in the square were agitated and excited upon hearing Wei Ziping's words.
What Wei Ziping said was dismissive of Mu Jinyu, not taking him seriously at all.
They were all looking forward to seeing the two fight, to know who was stronger between the second and third on the List of Outstanding Talents.
By this time, Yun Ge had also arrived behind Wei Ziping. Hearing Wei's words, his face turned a bit ugly, and he was about to say something.
But Wei Ziping ignored Mu Jinyu and suddenly turned to face Yun Ge, saying coldly, "Yun Ge, you've held the first position on the List of Outstanding Talents for years. As of today, you can step down."
Yun Ge was stunned by his words, not expecting Wei Ziping to challenge him again.
This guy's arrogance was becoming more blatant!
After recovering, Yun Ge smiled and said, "If you have the skill, I am willing to step down."
Wei Ziping said nothing more, snorted coldly, and brushed past Yun Ge, walking to an empty spot and waiting for the inner sect assessment to begin.
As soon as Wei Ziping left, Yun Ge smiled wryly at Mu Jinyu and said, "That's just the way he is. He's actually not a bad person. Don't take it to heart."
Mu Jinyu nodded slightly, saying, "Yeah, he's indeed very strong and has the right to be arrogant, just a bit over the top."
While Mu Jinyu and Yun Ge were talking.
In a few inconspicuous spots in the crowd.
Li Xiaoxiao, Wu Lei, and Chen Qiuqiao looked at Mu Jinyu confronting Wei Ziping, then talking and laughing with Yun Ge, full of complex emotions.
Not long ago, Mu Jinyu was just like them, an outer gate disciple who had less prestige than them.
If not for the title of Spirit Root Genius, he would have no reputation in the outer gate.
But who would have expected?
He rose to prominence in the outer gate's great assessment, decisively winning first place, and began his ascent to the top.
In less than a month, he had reached the third rank on the List of Outstanding Talents, and his cultivation soared from the Fourth Layer to the Eighth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm!
He still chatted and laughed easily with the strongest inner sect members, just like in the outer gate.
And what about them?
They had enjoyed some prominence in the outer gate, but upon entering the inner gate, they immediately became ordinary, striving to reach the Fifth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, hoping to one day rank seventy-second on the List of Outstanding Talents!
How vast was the gap between them?
It was hard for them not to feel disheartened.
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed.
The disciples on the List of Outstanding Talents had also gradually gathered at the Inner Gate Square.
The elder presiding over the inner gate's great assessment then announced, "Alright, since almost everyone is here, those who aren't will be considered to have forfeited. Let's officially start the inner gate assessment."
Subsequently, perhaps out of consideration for Mu Jinyu, the elder began to introduce the content and rules of the inner gate examination.
The examination consisted of testing strength, speed, reflexes, and finally, a duel!
The first test of strength was called: Cauldrons and Bells Ringing Together!
In the test of 'Cauldrons and Bells Ringing Together,' a cauldron and a bell were placed ten meters in front of the tester... A total of nine cauldrons and nine bells, each one meter apart.
The tester was not allowed to use martial techniques, spells, or divine skills but could only use True Essence Power to strike the first cauldron from a distance. When the cauldron resonated from the strike, it would trigger the bell one meter away to ring. The final goal was to see how many cauldrons and bells rang together!
So, the nine cauldrons and nine bells were a total distance of twenty-eight meters from the tester.
Covering a distance of nearly thirty meters with pure True Essence Power and causing even a portion of the bells and cauldrons to ring would be manageable. But making all the bells and cauldrons ring together was quite challenging.
Because these cauldrons and bells were not ordinary but magic treasures made of special materials.
Generally speaking, disciples at the Fourth to Sixth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm could ring three to four bells and cauldrons.
Disciples at the Seventh to Ninth Layer could ring five to six bells and cauldrons.
A genius like Yun Ge could ring seven bells and cauldrons!
That was his result in the last assessment!
"Alright, the rules are laid out. Let's begin the assessment."
After explaining the rules, the elder took out a list and called out, "First up, Chen Qiuqiao!"
"Ah?"
Chen Qiuqiao, who had been trying to stay inconspicuous in the crowd, was stunned when he heard the elder call his name to go first.
He had been so fixated on Mu Jinyu's activities on the List of Outstanding Talents that he had lost any thought of competing with him and had become somewhat self-deprecating, not daring to face Mu Jinyu for fear of comparison!
Unexpectedly, the inner gate assessment would kick off with him, putting him in the small but nonetheless spotlight, ensuring Mu Jinyu would see him.
His self-deprecation made his heart ache at the thought of Mu Jinyu now at the Eighth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, ranked third, while he remained at the Fourth Layer, achieving nothing, making him hesitant to step forward!
The elder, seeing no response after a while, frowned and said, "Is Chen Qiuqiao here or not?"
"If not, then the next one..."
"Here, here, here..."
Chen Qiuqiao ultimately didn't want to give up the inner gate assessment. Though his heart felt heavy, he raised his hand and called out.