On the second day, everything was tranquil and Chen Feng secretly spread out his divine sense to discover that the number of loose cultivators who came had fallen by 30%. 

What a brutal competition!

 Chen Feng lamented.

Due to that happened on the first day, Patron Mountriver chose not to go out. The Dragon Slaying Daoist, on the other hand, had disappeared first thing in the morning.

In Chen Feng’s opinion, the Dragon Slaying Daoist did possess the capability to put on airs. His cultivation base was overbearingly strong, already infinitely close to the mid-level True Immortal stage. Even if Chen Feng hadn’t taken action last night, the black-clad cultivator would not have been a match for the Dragon Slaying Daoist.

Later in the evening, the Dragon Slaying Daoist returned with a sneer on his face. Chen Feng could clearly sense the bloody energy emanating from his body.

Having entered the Six Daos Sword Faction’s territory, they were not allowed to fight during the day. It would appear that this Dragon Slaying Daoist was no ordinary character. 

There was an entangled look on Patron Mountriver’s face. However, in order to preserve his life, he chose to visit Chen Feng again.

Chen Feng smiled. After a brief chat with him, Chen Feng agreed to let him stay.

He had sensed that tonight will also not be a peaceful one.

As predicted, intruders broke into their courtyard again that night. This time, the intruders possessed an even more ghost-like cultivation. Their stealth techniques were perfect and one managed to easily enter the courtyard to fight the Dragon Slaying Daoist. 

Another cultivator had broken into Chen Feng’s building only to be killed with a single slap. At the same time, the Dragon Slaying Daoist also managed to finish off his opponent. He turned to look at Chen Feng’s small building, a conflicted look on his face.

The next few days were mired with violence and Chen Feng finally lost his temper. A formidable atmosphere of majesty swept out from the small courtyard, freezing all the loose cultivators caught in its path. Their souls became utterly immobilized. After the wave of power dissipated, every one of them found themselves covered in cold sweat.

“Those who dare enter this courtyard again will die!” Chen Feng’s thunderous voice reverberated outwards.

“Humph!”

In response to Chen Feng’s display of might, a cultivator who thought highly of himself decided to counter attack. He was a mid-level True Immortal. Gathering his divine sense, he then used it to attack Chen Feng.

“You’re asking for it!”

Chen Feng shouted and blood instantly shot out from the mid-level True Immortal’s seven orifices. Dread appeared on his face and he had wanted to scream only for his body to blow up. The resulting mist of blood then converged into a ball before disappearing.

He instantly killed off a mid-level True Immortal! Just who is this fellow? He is so strong!

It was not just the other loose cultivators. Even Patron Mountriver and the Dragon Slaying Daoist were in a state of shock and they regarded Chen Feng with a look of dread.

Finally, the other cultivators chose to behave themselves. Knowing that there was a God of Carnage staying inside that courtyard, the cultivators who were near the courtyard moved away. Some who had to make their way through the courtyard chose instead to circle around it, for fear of inviting disaster down on their heads.

The days that followed became peaceful and no more foolhardy cultivators came to trouble them. Seeing that, Patron Mountriver grew relieved. In addition, due to the fact that Patron Mountriver and the Dragon Slaying Daoist were staying in the same courtyard as Chen Feng, whenever they went out, the cultivators they met would look at them differently.

Three months later, the Six Daos Sword Faction’s disciple-recruitment assessment formally began. During that time, some people had also come to visit Chen Feng. However, Chen Feng turned them all away. The reason Chen Feng came here was to avoid his problem, not to get acquainted with a lot of people. Moreover, these True Immortals did not even have the qualifications for that.

The assessment was very simple, but the process involved was somewhat brutal. For the Six Daos Sword Faction, the background of the loose cultivators was not important. It also did not matter if the loose cultivators were sincere in their desire to join the Six Daos Sword Faction. What was important was that they had chosen the Six Daos Sword Faction. While enjoying the benefits that the sect could provide them, the loose cultivators also had to contribute.

At any rate, the loose cultivators recruited had never been the main powerhouses of the great sects there. Rather, some sects would even use them as vanguard forces and cannon fodder.

Even so, every year, a high number of loose cultivators would still try their best to join one of these great sects. It was all in order to find a peaceful place of cultivation in this tumultuous Immortal Plane.

The first assessment was a strength test. Chen Feng and a group of True Immortals gathered up in front of a mountain cliff. Embedded into the smooth cliff surface was a long crystal pillar. There were marks on the surface of the pillar, section after section of them. Those marks were the apparatus used to gauge one’s cultivation base. It was something forged by a Heavenly Immortal, an item bereft of offensive power.

“There is a total of 18 marks. Only those who can hit the 10

th

mark can qualify.” Observing the crystal pillar before them, some cultivators felt concerned and some felt excited.

Looking around, Chen Feng saw that there were up to 3,000 True Immortals here for this assessment. Chen Feng, though, knew that the Six Daos Sword Faction would only be accepting 100 True Immortals. No words were needed to explain the ferocity of this competition. More, these 3,000 True Immortals were those who had already survived the three months’ process of elimination. 

Despite not having left the courtyard for the three months, Chen Feng was still able to somewhat understand what was happening.

One of the cultivators there had stepped forward. He pressed his palm against the crystal pillar and a scarlet-red light began radiating out. However, it only managed to reach the 8

th

mark, incapable of going any further.

The first person had failed.

A second one stepped forward. This time, the scarlet-red light rose up rapidly to reach the 13

th

mark in the blink of an eye. This caused a stir amongst the cultivators there.

Even though they are both at the same level, there is a difference between their cultivation bases.

 By observing what happened earlier, Chen Feng was able to figure out the operating principles of the crystal pillar. At the same time, he was able to gain a general estimate on the few cultivators who managed to pass this test.

As Chen Feng was observing them, he also noticed something interesting. Some of the cultivators were very strong. Some were like him, hiding their strength to join the Six Daos Sword Faction. Though, there was no telling what their objectives may be.

Chen Feng had noticed several Heavenly Immortals mingling within the crowd of loose cultivators.

On Chen Feng’s end, even though he was able to see through the other fellows’ cultivation states, he was not worried that they might be able to do the same to him. Only, after pondering it for a moment, Chen Feng began having other thoughts about it. The Six Daos Sword Faction had likely known that something like this would happen. And yet, they had chosen to do nothing about it. If so, even if someone were to see through his cultivation state, they would not do anything to him. 

As the assessment progressed, some passed and some left in disappointment. Some were able to stand out and the scarlet-red light reached the 15

th

mark during their strength test.

If I go all out, the crystal pillar will definitely blow up.

 Chen Feng was very confident in his own strength.

The Dragon Slaying Daoist quickly stepped forward. The scarlet-red light rose up to the 13

th

mark, causing some to exclaim. Hearing that, a smug look flashed across the Dragon Slaying Daoist’s face. 

Looking at the crystal pillar, Patron Mountriver revealed a slight look of concern. Seeing that, Chen Feng shook his head and stretched his hand to press his shoulder. Instantly, Patron Mountriver shook and a look of shock appeared on his face. Smiling, Chen Feng then let go.

Patron Mountriver stepped forward and the scarlet-red light from his test rose up to the 12

th

mark.

“Thank you!”

With a look of excitement on his face, Patron Mountriver came to stand before Chen Feng, who sighed to himself. Although he was able to help Patron Mountriver this time, there were still more tests to come. The chances of him passing the Six Daos Sword Faction’s recruitment assessment were still very low.

Finally, it was Chen Feng’s turn. The Dragon Slaying Daoist and Patron Mountriver immediately turned their gazes towards Chen Feng. Many others also did the same.

Due to Chen Feng’s display of might back then, the cultivators there had come to know about him.

With an impassive expression, Chen Feng placed his palm on the crystal pillar and a scarlet-red light slowly flowed all the way up until it reached the 11

th

mark, where it stopped.

Some revealed shock while some grew thoughtful, not knowing why Chen Feng’s strength would be so low.

He’s hiding his strength.

 Some came to that conclusion.

Naturally, there were also some who did not think that. And so, before Chen Feng could even move away, someone stepped forward to stop him.

“Friend, I hear that you have been acting arrogantly back then.” Some cultivators stood before Chen Feng, a provocative look on their faces.

“Sigh!”

Chen Feng sighed. It would appear that he should not have kept such a low-profile earlier. Or perhaps, it was because his previous threat was not enough. In order to avoid having more troubles come after him, he would have to take some action.

“Just scram,” Chen Feng said and waved his hand before moving forward. The three cultivators blocking him froze. Next, like scarecrows, their bodies went flying to smash heavily against the ground. They were left in a half-dead state.

Seeing that, the crowd broke into an uproar and everyone turned their gaze upon Chen Feng. Those few cultivators who managed a test score of 15 revealed looks of fear.

“Who is he? He is so strong!”

“His name is Chen Qing, from the Mountains and Rivers Domain. His soul power is very strong.”

“Those three fellows could already be considered as first-rate cultivators. Unexpectedly, they are actually incapable of taking even one blow from Chen Qing.”

“It’s just a minor trick. First, he used his soul power to subdue them. Then, he defeated them with one blow.”

“Easier said than done. Do you dare say that to his face?”

“Aha ha! I don’t have a death wish.”

With the first assessment, over 100 of the 3,000 loose cultivators were eliminated. Next, came the second assessment.

Fighting a combat puppet solo.

For this second assessment, the Six Daos Sword Faction brought out 10 combat puppets. In order to pass, the cultivators would have to endure for one joss stick’s worth of time.

“The combat puppets of the Six Daos Sword Faction are very strong. In a one versus one situation, there are very few who could emerge victorious.”

“I know that. This time, I have spent a great deal to buy a set of defensive armour. I will definitely be able to endure for one joss stick’s worth of time.”

“A combat puppet.” Patron Mountriver’s face flickered with uncertainty. Although he had already known about this, facing this test at this very moment had still brought him a shaky feeling. 

Looking at Chen Feng, Patron Mountriver revealed a troubled look. He knew that he could no longer ask for help. Sighing, he then made up his mind. This test would depend on his own strength. Should he fail, it would simply be due to his own poor cultivation.

One cultivator after another stepped forward to begin fighting the combat puppets. Some were sent flying by formidable sword beams right from the start, some roared again and again as they furiously fought against the combat puppets. Some also made use of their movement techniques to simply survive through the designated time.

“I’ll go first.” Giving Patron Mountriver a glance, Chen Feng then stepped forward to re-appear before a combat puppet.

The combat puppets that the Six Daos Sword Faction brought out would all adjust their combat power in accordance with the cultivation bases of those they faced. After Chen Feng stabilized his footing, a combat puppet brandishing an immortal sword hacked down on him. The move contained both strength and subtleness. It also contained the sword will of devastation.

Taking a step, Chen Feng evaded the attack. Following that, sword power swung about in wide-arcing patterns. The sword power was both swift and strong and its will of devastation assailed the surrounding space. And yet, Chen Feng moved on casually. And while he appeared to be walking amidst the waves of sword power, he cut an extremely dashing sight. Soon enough, one joss stick’s worth of time was over and the combat puppet stopped attacking.

“It’s the Kirin Steps!” Someone recognized the movement technique that Chen Feng displayed just now. Naturally, given his situation, Chen Feng would not utilize the Longevity Steps so as to avoid causing troubles.