Chapter 45

"Quiet!" Sun Changlao shouted loudly, "To be able to stand out among so many martial artists, your strength is indeed commendable. To show our recognition of your abilities, after the assessment, everyone will receive a Bone Washing Pill as a reward!"

"However, the assessment is not yet over. After it is completed, your scores will be ranked. The top twenty martial artists will receive an additional Muscle Strengthening Pill in addition to the Bone Washing Pill! The top ten martial artists will gain the qualification to enter the Inner Sect and receive two Muscle Strengthening Pills! The top three martial artists will receive five Muscle Strengthening Pills, and the first-place martial artist will choose one of the following: a low-grade iron weapon, a low-grade Yellow Rank martial technique, or a medicinal pill for the Seventh Level of Body Tempering!"

Sun Changlao loudly announced the rewards, and the generous rewards instantly ignited the atmosphere in the field!

All the martial artists' eyes revealed a hint of greed without any attempt to hide it. The rewards were too generous, so generous that no one could remain unmoved!

Although they would receive a Bone Washing Pill as a reward now, compared to the Muscle Strengthening Pill, the value of the Bone Washing Pill was far less. The Bone Washing Pill is used for the Fourth Level of Body Tempering, while the Muscle Strengthening Pill is used for the Fifth Level of Body Tempering, with a value difference of ten times!

If they could enter the top ten, they would directly become Inner Sect disciples, with much greater potential for development compared to Outer Sect disciples, not to mention the reward of two Muscle Strengthening Pills.

At this moment, the several martial artists at the peak of the Fourth Level of Body Tempering were all rubbing their hands, aiming for the top ten.

As for the rewards for the top three, although even more generous, they did not dare to hope for them. With Lu Xuan, Long Tai, and Xia Ye present, the top three spots were almost already decided.

Xia Ye and Long Tai's eyes also revealed a hint of excitement, aiming for the first place!

However, when Xia Ye thought of the first place, he immediately thought of Lu Xuan beside him, feeling a sudden sense of powerlessness. Lu Xuan's momentum was too strong; he was first in the first two rounds and tied for first with Long Tai in the third round. From his appearance, his combat skills were definitely not lacking. Perhaps, only Long Tai had a slight chance to compete with Lu Xuan for the first place, as Long Tai took second place in the strength test and tied with Lu Xuan in the comprehension test.

Turning to look at Lu Xuan, Xia Ye found that Lu Xuan's eyes were very calm, showing no reaction to the generous rewards announced by Sun Changlao.

"Hey, Lu Xuan, aren't you moved?" Xia Ye couldn't help but ask.

Lu Xuan smiled faintly, "Moved? Of course, I am moved, but since they are all mine, what does it matter whether I am moved or not?"

Although his voice was not loud, it revealed an incomparable confidence.

At this moment, Xia Ye realized that the proudest person was not himself or Long Tai, but Lu Xuan. However, while his and Long Tai's pride was outwardly displayed, Lu Xuan's pride was in his heart, which was true pride!

Looking at the excited expressions of the martial artists, Sun Changlao nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Although the rewards are generous, they are for those who deserve them. The fourth round of the assessment is a practical combat test, with no room for deceit. Strength is the foundation of everything, and the score of this round carries the greatest weight. Even if your scores in the previous rounds were not good, if you can make a stunning performance in this fourth round, your final ranking may not be low!"

Sun Changlao's words clearly had a deeper meaning.

Xia Ye whispered a reminder, "Lu Xuan, be careful. From the look of Sun Changlao, if you lose to Long Tai in the fourth round, he will definitely force Long Tai to be the first place."

Lu Xuan nodded. How could he not know that Sun Changlao was clearly favoring Long Tai? But so what? In the face of absolute strength, all tricks are useless!

The location for the fourth round of the practical combat assessment was not in the Sword Testing Hall but in a tall tower outside the hall, known as the Sword Tower!

In the three major empires under the jurisdiction of the Wind Sword Sect, a Sword Tower is built in each city, with the purpose of the annual sect entry assessment.

Soon, under the lead of Uncle Jiu and Sun Changlao, all the martial artists arrived at the Sword Tower. Everyone curiously examined the magnificent tower, although almost everyone knew that there was a Sword Tower in Lincheng, few had ever entered it, as the Sword Tower only opens during the assessment.

"This Sword Tower is the site of your fourth round assessment!" Sun Changlao's voice rang out, "The Sword Tower has ten floors, each with an illusionary array and a killing array. Only by breaking through the arrays can you continue to the next floor. Each floor corresponds to a level, with the first floor being the First Level of Body Tempering and the tenth floor being the Tenth Level of Body Tempering. The higher the floor you reach, the better your score. If you are at the same level, the ranking will be based on the degree of breaking the array!"

Looking at the towering Sword Tower, Lu Xuan couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He also wanted to test how far his current strength had reached.

The other martial artists also had a look of eagerness, as they were already Outer Sect disciples of the Wind Sword Sect and had no pressure. They just needed to give it their all and see how far they could go.

"Now, everyone come to receive the jade tokens. These jade tokens will protect you from harm. If you cannot withstand it, crush the jade token at any time, and the Sword Tower will automatically teleport you out. If someone wants to resist despite not being able to bear it, the consequences will be on their own head."

As he spoke, the Wind Sword Sect's enforcers had already taken out many jade tokens, ready to distribute them.

The Sword Tower combines illusionary arrays and killing arrays. All the enemies conjured are real, and if you are injured in the Sword Tower, you will be truly injured. If you are directly killed, you will truly die.

Hearing Sun Changlao's words, the martial artists hurriedly came forward to receive the jade tokens. No one would joke with their life, and Lu Xuan was no exception.

With everyone receiving their jade tokens, Sun Changlao ordered, "Now, enter the tower!"

"Lu Xuan, I will show you what it means to be formidable! Don't think that you can easily win me with your scores from the first two rounds. Strength is the foundation of everything!" Long Tai looked at Lu Xuan with disdain.

"Is that so? That's exactly what I wanted to say to you. Don't think that having an elder backing you gives you the right to do as you please. Under my sword, all your tricks will be crushed!" Lu Xuan did not back down in the slightest.

"Very well, it seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. I will show you just how big the gap between you and me is!" Long Tai coldly snorted and turned to enter the Sword Tower.

Lu Xuan also followed closely, and as soon as he stepped into the Sword Tower, he felt the surroundings darken, as if he was in a completely dark space. The martial artists who had entered before him had all disappeared without a trace.

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