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Join the ServerThe moment his voice fell, an uproar erupted throughout the surroundings.
“Chief Qin? Qin Yangjun!”
“What? Qin Yangjun! To think the chief examiner this time is none other than the Azure Water Young Master of the Yuqian Sect!”
“I once heard my elders speak of him. He possesses the Raging Thunder Dao Body, making him the strongest among the Yuqian Sect’s younger generation. It’s said that even in the early Golden Core stage, he once vanquished a Mountain-Overturning Eagle of comparable power with a single sword stroke. One must remember, that creature boasts an ancient bloodline and is a formidable demonic beast; even a rogue cultivator at the peak of Golden Core couldn’t achieve such a feat with a single strike.”
“Is that truly real!?”
“Oh, he’s incredibly handsome! No wonder my sisters used to say that becoming Dao companions with him would be a worthwhile death.”
“Stop your fanciful dreaming; Senior Brother Qin would never look your way. If anyone is destined to be his Dao companion, it’s me!”
As she spoke, the young woman’s eyes morphed into heart shapes, eliciting a collective roll of eyes from those nearby.
Within the throng, some gasped in awe, others felt a profound reverence, and many openly expressed their fervent admiration.
As Qin Yangjun subtly raised a hand, the surrounding crowd gradually settled into a hush.
Qin Yangjun regarded the individual before him with a composed and serious demeanor.
“My apologies, I seem to have overslept. I trust you don’t mind?”
Qin Yangjun recognized this fellow; he was one of Yu Lingyue’s early encounters, having first taken an interest in her at these very examination grounds.
However, the Qin Yangjun depicted in the novel had discerned his intentions, and as that version of Qin Yangjun himself had developed an interest in Yu Lingyue, he certainly couldn’t allow anyone else to lay claim to her.
Consequently, he issued a subtle warning, which was precisely why the man never dared to trouble Yu Lingyue.
Li Xuanyang swiftly lowered his head.
“Chief, what words are those? It was we who overstepped just now; we humbly beg the Chief’s forgiveness for our transgression.”
Qin Yangjun offered no words, instead granting Li Xuanyang a faint smile before gracefully descending from his sword. He then proceeded, step by measured step, towards the chief examiner’s elevated platform.
At this moment, the young woman standing beside Yu Lingyue wore a look of utter bewilderment.
“Overslept? Can cultivators truly oversleep? I heard he’s a mid-Golden Core cultivator; surely, it wouldn’t matter if he went without sleep for ten days or even half a month…”
Meanwhile, Yu Lingyue’s eyes narrowed subtly, and she murmured softly:
“He did not oversleep. This is merely a display of his domineering nature. These scions of aristocratic families are notoriously arrogant, and once they enter a sect, they are bound to stir up trouble. His current maneuver is a direct, albeit indirect, message to these newcomers: once you enter the Yuqian Sect, whether you are a dragon or a tiger, you must learn to humble yourselves, otherwise…”
Yu Lingyue ceased her explanation, leaving the young woman beside her with wide, astonished eyes.
“There are so many intricate layers to this? I truly believed he had simply overslept.”
Those within earshot likewise fell into a profound silence.
A single thought spontaneously arose in the minds of everyone present.
The Chief of Yuqian Sect, indeed, lives up to his formidable reputation!
Yet, what Qin Yangjun was truly contemplating at that moment was this:
‘Ah Ling’s calming tea is truly potent, almost like an anesthetic. I only consumed two pots, yet I slept soundly until this very moment. Still, the effects are rather pleasant; I’ve enjoyed excellent sleep these past few days.’
Meanwhile, the assistant examiners positioned above seemed to share Yu Lingyue’s astute observation, their prior expressions of doubt vanishing like smoke.
“Truly worthy of our Senior Brother. This tactic of yours has directly ‘beaten the mountain to startle the tiger’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning to make a show of force to intimidate an opponent).”
“Indeed, Senior Brother, but next time, please do inform us beforehand. The two of us were standing here like utter fools, wearing anxious expressions, and making ourselves a spectacle for these new disciples.”
“Hmm?”
Qin Yangjun felt a pang of confusion. ‘This move?’ he mused. ‘Which move? I merely overslept, that’s all.’
At this, the person beside him subtly nudged the speaker.
“What are you talking about? Without our visibly anxious expressions, they might have genuinely discerned Senior Brother’s true intentions. If they were forewarned and on guard, no one would dare to step forward, even if they stood all day long. How then could we possibly ‘beat the mountain to startle the tiger’?”
“Oh, you’re right, absolutely right. Senior Brother, your calculations are truly brilliant! Forgive my dull-wittedness; please don’t fault me, Senior Brother.”
Qin Yangjun offered two light coughs, a clear indication that the two individuals before him had gravely misunderstood something.
Yet, offering an explanation at this juncture would undoubtedly prove disadvantageous to him.
“My two Junior Brothers, let us conclude our idle chatter here. Time is pressing, and having delayed for so long, this assessment will likely extend into the evening. We should commence swiftly.”
“Understood, Senior Brother.”
With that, the two assistant examiners began their customary proclamations—grandiloquent speeches, naturally, extolling the virtues of the Yuqian Sect, words Qin Yangjun had long since grown weary of hearing.
His gaze drifted across the multitude, and before long, he located that particular individual amidst the throng.
Clad in a training uniform whiter than freshly fallen snow, with raven hair gathered into a single ponytail, and a strikingly beautiful face, it could only be said that she was, indeed, the female protagonist.
Her appearance was undeniably captivating, making it little wonder that the Qin Yangjun of the novel had developed an interest in the protagonist.
She was like a magnet, effortlessly drawing his gaze. Her figure shone with extraordinary brilliance amidst the crowd, standing out like a crane among chickens.
However, the realization that she was the protagonist, his destined future adversary, quickly tempered Qin Yangjun’s gaze, rendering it far more placid. The fleeting sense of astonishment in his eyes gradually receded.
Beneath him, Yu Lingyue, too, became aware of the peculiar gaze directed her way.
She lifted her head in confusion, yet the moment her eyes locked with Qin Yangjun’s, she was involuntarily taken aback.
She was acutely aware of the potent allure her unique bloodline possessed.
Desire, longing, excitement, and a possessive hunger…
Any man, and indeed even women, would find themselves drawn to her, for her inherent charisma was simply impossible to conceal.
Consequently, she maintained a palpable vigilance toward all men.
Yet, the gaze Qin Yangjun cast upon her was unlike any she had ever encountered.
It was a profound indifference, one that seemed to penetrate to the very bone.
Devoid of any other discernible emotion.
Paradoxically, for Yu Lingyue, who had long been accustomed to gazes laden with various intentions, this utterly normal, unburdened look made her feel inexplicably uneasy.
Her heart began to pound with an inexplicable frenzy, and she swiftly averted her gaze.
‘No, that’s wrong; all men are hypocrites. His gaze is likely a mere pretense, a facade he maintains with deep cunning.’
Just as she mustered her courage, intending to seek out any tell-tale flaws in Qin Yangjun’s eyes, she discovered that his gaze had already shifted away.
‘Could it be… that her bloodline held no sway over him?’
Such a thought couldn’t help but blossom in Yu Lingyue’s mind.
Having always been subjected to the invasive gazes of men, this utterly placid look, paradoxically, stirred an odd flutter within her heart.
He truly is a peculiar man. Could it be that he is genuinely a gentleman?
But can a man truly exist who is neither lustful nor anything but righteous?
Previously, she had merely heard tales of him, and upon their recent meeting, she had, at most, offered a fleeting commendation for his methods.
It was only at this moment that Yu Lingyue truly began to observe the Chief of Yuqian Sect with genuine interest.
Yet, Qin Yangjun’s thoughts at this very instant were quite different:
‘Though she may be the protagonist, her cultivation is only at the eighth level of Qi Condensation; her perception is insufficient. When the moon is dark and the winds howl, I’ll seek an opportunity to stealthily strike her down before she even realizes what’s happening!’
‘After all, under the cloak of a dark and windy night, should she truly unleash a death throe counterattack, I can simply flee.’
Concurrently, the two assistant examiners concluded their pre-assessment address and proceeded to elucidate the rules of the examination.
The rules were remarkably straightforward: participants were to hunt demonic beasts within the Trial Mountain situated behind them, with a time limit of twelve hours.
Demonic beasts ranging from the first to ninth layers of Qi Condensation would yield one to nine points, respectively.
A total of thirty points was required to pass the assessment.
The three highest-scoring candidates would earn the privilege of a direct audience with the seven esteemed Elders. Should an Elder select them, they would gain immediate entry into the inner sect, and if the Elder so desired, they would even qualify to become a personal disciple.
Subsequent successful candidates would be inducted as ordinary official disciples, while those failing to achieve the requisite points would face immediate elimination.
“The Trial Mountain teems with numerous demonic beasts, the most formidable among them residing at the peak of Qi Condensation. Should any participant manage to single-handedly hunt a peak-level demonic beast, they shall be rewarded with a second-grade magical artifact.”
“Beyond that, some of you may encounter certain ‘surprises’ during your hunt. Whatever treasures you acquire will be entirely yours; the sect will not reclaim them. Moreover, upon successfully passing this assessment, the sect will, without taking a single coin, assist you in unlocking their maximum potential, be it refining medicinal herbs into potent elixirs or infusing spiritual essence into your magical artifacts.”
“Each of you will be issued a ‘Dungeon-Evasion Wooden Token’ (TL Note: A magical item that allows escape from dangerous situations). This token is designed to monitor the wearer’s physical condition, and should you sustain grave injuries, it will forcibly teleport you out of the Trial Mountain. This, naturally, will be considered a failure, resulting in immediate elimination. Do all of you comprehend these rules?”
“We understand!”
“Very well. We shall await your arrival at the finish line. Now, let the assessment commence!”
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Read : This Time, I Will Never Let You Go
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So seeing that it works on women too considering they can mask their intentions better shouldn’t the protagonist be weary towards women as well especially considering that they also have power? Guess the writer want an excuse plot to hate on men