"You're courting death!"

Huang Longgang had already lost his reason, charging at Zhan Weida with a fierce aura and raising his fist.

"Want to fight me? A frail dandy like you thinks you're worthy?" Zhan Weida's words were biting, always in taunt mode.

It seemed the two sides were about to clash.

"Stop!" Elder Zhou's face was stern, "Whoever dares to make a move will be stripped of their qualifications."

"Where have you put the Extreme Fist Sect's rules? How dare you fight each other in front of me!"

The elder of the sect was furious, and Huang Longgang's sanity returned to some extent.

However, his look towards Zhan Weida was full of savagery, affecting Lou Yi as well: "You two just wait for me!"

'I'm getting hit even when lying low.' Lou Yi was speechless, anyway his relationship with Huang was already terrible, adding more to it wouldn't matter.

With the end of the second round of testing, everyone had passed, and the dust settled.

"Everyone come to Cyan Cloud Hall in the afternoon."

Elder Zhou instructed, then left with Zhou Yang, Chen Muju, and others, Huang Longgang also left, embarrassed to stay here any longer.

The other outer disciples at the scene all came to offer their congratulations.

"Young Master Zhan, truly impressive!"

"Miss Jia, I hope you can guide us in the future."

"Jin Feng, you were holding back something big, huh!"

"Ah Yi, congratulations."

Even Lou Yi had people coming to congratulate him, more than just one.

Niu Peng, He Yu, and Jie Bai, his former roommates, came together, though they seemed a little embarrassed when looking at him.

"It's only a matter of time for you guys too." Lou Yi said with a smile.

Seeing Lou Yi's friendly demeanor, they all showed guilt, obviously recalling how they distanced themselves from Lou Yi earlier to protect themselves.

Of course, Lou Yi also remembered but didn't bear any grudge.

Many times, small people are like this, living cautiously and humbly, afraid to be crushed like ants by the big figures.

But if you talk about being friends, it might never happen.

"Brother Liu, we can practice martial arts together again in the future, please guide me." A gentle and pleasant female voice sounded.

Jia Hong came over gracefully like a dazzling swan, raising her fair neck.

"Miss Jia, you're too kind." Lou Yi responded with equal friendliness.

"Brother Zhan, I'll be seeking your guidance often, please don't refuse." Jia Hong expressed goodwill towards Zhan Weida.

"There are so many outstanding talents in the inner sect who can teach you, I don't make the cut." Zhan Weida said sarcastically.

Jia Hong was not angry, just smiled slightly and turned to talk to others.

"You're really impolite." Lou Yi chuckled.

"Hmph, not just anyone can be friends with Young Master Zhan, ordinary people don't catch my eye." Zhan Weida said with some pride.

Then he sneered again: "That Jia Hong, she's friendly with whoever is strong, you should keep your distance from her."

"What does her family do?"

"They grow fruit trees, her father supposedly owns dozens of acres of peach orchard…" Zhan Weida wasn't very sure.

Lou Yi understood, Jia Hong's family was roughly at a small landowner level, vastly different from Tai City's major players like the Zhan Family and the Huang Family.

...

In the afternoon, Lou Yi, Zhan Weida, Jia Hong, and others who passed the examination gathered outside Cyan Cloud Hall as instructed by Elder Zhou.

Cyan Cloud Hall located within the martial arts hall, with an ancient pine tree at the entrance shading half of the courtyard.

Each disciple entered the hall in turn, closing the door behind them, while others waited outside without communicating.

The time each person spent inside varied. The likes of Zhan Weida and Huang Longgang with extraordinary backgrounds only came out after half a tea's time.

Whereas Jia Hong and Jin Feng took two tea's time, emerging with extremely solemn expressions.

Lou Yi was the last to go in.

The room was dimly lit, with a giant portrait hanging on the wall. The figure depicted had furrowed brows and angry eyes, an imposing appearance, with eyes that seemed to pierce into one's heart.

Beneath the portrait sat an elderly man with graying hair in purple robes, the brightness on his face flickering like a ghostly presence.

"You are called, Liu Yi, yes?"

"I dare not hide from the elder, my given name is Lou Yi."

"Oh?"

Lou Yi then briefly recounted the killing of a disciple from the Heavy Sword Sect and being wanted by the authorities.

Across from him, clearly surprised by Lou Yi's directness, sat silent for a while before continuing: "Aren't you afraid I'll hand you over to the Heavy Sword Sect?"

"If the elder truly wanted to do that, you wouldn't be asking now." Lou Yi's gaze was calm, "I came to the Extreme Fist Sect, not to escape trouble, but to learn martial arts.

Miss from the Su Family once told me, Extreme Fist is one of the world's strongest martial arts, and if I can grasp its true essence, the Heavy Sword Sect will never be able to touch me."

"Hmph, if not for the Su Family's guarantee, you wouldn't have been allowed in. But people's minds change, how do I know if what you say is true or false?"

The elder lifted his head to scrutinize Lou Yi.

Lou Yi remained unfazed, his gaze frank.

"A martial artist values their oath the most, otherwise they invite heart demons. Do you dare swear you bear no ill-will towards the Extreme Fist Sect?" The elder suddenly shouted, his voice like a bell resonating through early dawn, causing those harboring ill-intent to pale and sweat profusely.

"I swear..."

After Lou Yi swore his oath and pressed his blood-inked finger, he walked out of Cyan Cloud Hall about an hour later, with only Zhan Weida anxiously waiting outside, the others had all left.

"Why so long?"

"Had a long chat with the elder."

Lou Yi thought, it was fortunate he hadn't lied, or he'd probably have been expelled.

He had carefully considered beforehand, deciding to be honest with the interrogation elder.

After all, as per Tian Sushe's earlier advice, killing a chief constable and a Heavy Sword Sect disciple wasn't a big deal, especially considering the perpetual discord between the Extreme Fist Sect and the Heavy Sword Sect, which could even be a plus.

Concealing one's identity, however, was an unforgivable offense to the sect.

The sect isn't afraid of you committing a crime, they're only afraid of dishonesty, since once a crime is committed, it holds leverage, even making them more at ease.

In hindsight, he believed he gambled right.

Moreover, the interrogation elder also assured him that his concealed identity would only be disclosed to the Sect Leader of the Extreme Fist Sect, and not spread further.

...

The next day, Lou Yi and the others donned yellow attire, and under the guidance of Chen Muju, arrived at the martial arts arena that only inner sect disciples could access.

The martial arts arena was three to four acres in size, divided into several areas.

The eastern area was for weapons, with seven or eight rows of weapon racks holding all sorts of swords, spears, and sticks.

The western area was for wooden dummies, each fashioned into human shapes, and the sounds of 'bang bang clang clang' could be heard frequently.

The southern area was for plum blossom poles, with about a hundred rosewood poles emerging from the ground, where many disciples could be seen leaping like apes or flying like birds.

The northern area was relatively empty, sparsely equipped with some tables and chairs, with fruits and tea placed on the tables.

People rested on the chairs while some might practice martial arts in the nearby open space, with a stone statue of a man standing quietly at the center.

The largest central area was sandy, bordered by a net of hemp ropes with copper bells hanging on the ropes.

At this moment, two men were fiercely sparring in the sandy area, with a loud clatter, dust flying, and an impressive momentum.

"It's Senior Brother Zhou!" Jin Feng murmured in a low voice.

...

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