"It's just the Inner Court examination—is it really necessary to make such a fuss?"
The next day, at Shrek Square. Chen Junting looked at the nine people gathered before him, a trace of helplessness in his tone.
"Of course it's necessary."
Ning Tian beside him wrapped her arm around Chen Junting's, lifting her head slightly while a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.
"We'll all have to take the Inner Court examination eventually, so we might as well come watch yours first. That way, when our turn comes, we'll be prepared."
"Alright, alright."
Warm affection flowed in Chen Junting's eyes. Then he looked beside Bei Bei at Tang Ya, who wore an excited expression.
"Then senior sister Xiao Ya, you surely don't have this need, right?"
"Junior brother, you can't be so heartless!"
With Elder Mu's tacit approval, though Tang Ya had already withdrawn from school, she could still freely come and go from Shrek Academy. With her love for spectacles, she naturally wouldn't miss this Inner Court examination.
Seeing her clasp her hands together over her head, her tone utterly sincere, "Junior brother, this is the one and only request of my life! As long as you agree, I'll pay any price."
But the moment these words left her mouth, Tang Ya's manner suddenly changed. She covered herself with her hands, putting on a pitiful appearance. "Of course, not me personally—I belong to Bei Bei."
This instantly left everyone torn between laughter and exasperation. Even Bei Bei covered his eyes with a "smack," unable to bear watching.
"Bei Bei, your Xiao Ya is really something!"
As Xu Sanshi gave Bei Bei a thumbs-up in jest, Chen Junting also laughed while waving his hand. "Alright, alright—I was just saying that casually. If senior sister Xiao Ya really wants to pay a price, you might as well consider the cooperation proposal we mentioned earlier."
"Ah! Thank you, junior brother, I love you!"
Tang Ya hurriedly made a heart shape with her hands, deliberately ignoring the cooperation proposal in her words.
After all, the Tang Sect hidden weapon manufacturing methods were the foundation of the Tang Sect's past. She simply couldn't make up her mind in such a short time.
But truthfully, she was incredibly tempted!
Noticing the conflict in Tang Ya's eyes and the words Bei Bei beside her seemed about to say, Chen Junting and Ning Tian couldn't help but exchange a meaningful glance.
Just at this moment, a woman approached from not far away.
Chen Junting looked over and immediately recognized her.
The newcomer was Zhang Lexuan.
"Senior sister Lexuan."
When Zhang Lexuan came before the group, Chen Junting introduced this woman to those beside him. When everyone learned that Zhang Lexuan was the Inner Court's senior sister and already a Soul Douluo at just 25 years old, another wave of astonishment swept through them.
Only the silent Bei Bei seemed somewhat out of place. So before long, everyone noticed this.
Seeing this, Zhang Lexuan walked to Bei Bei's side.
"Bei Bei, it's been a long time."
"Senior sister Lexuan!"
This single call revealed deep admiration.
The intimate tone instantly made Tang Ya's previous respect completely vanish. Instead, unprecedented vigilance took its place.
Under her scrutinizing gaze, her feminine sixth sense was telling her that this senior sister not only had an unusual relationship with Bei Bei but also seemed to harbor special feelings for him.
No reason—she just felt it that way.
This instinctive sense of crisis made Tang Ya almost subconsciously grasp Bei Bei's right hand. Though Bei Bei didn't know why, he interlaced his fingers tightly with Tang Ya's.
Meanwhile, in his speech, he continued introducing his relationship with Zhang Lexuan to everyone, which only made Tang Ya grip his hand even tighter.
This scene was not missed by Zhang Lexuan.
A dim light flashed momentarily in her eyes as memories surfaced of what Elder Mu had told her.
Realizing the atmosphere had turned awkward, the entire area instantly fell silent.
Exchanging glances, everyone tacitly lowered their heads to look at the ground, as if there were far more interesting things to be found there.
Only Chen Junting, unnoticed by others, glanced sideways at Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan...
Childhood fiancée.
In the end, it became a karmic bond.
At this moment, the recovered Zhang Lexuan also noticed her loss of composure, hurriedly shaking her head to clear her thoughts. Composing herself, she looked at Chen Junting with a calm tone.
"Let's go, junior brother. I'll take you to take the Inner Court examination."
Seeing that Zhang Lexuan wanted to change the subject to ease the awkwardness, Chen Junting cooperated perfectly, opening his mouth to pick up the conversation.
"Senior sister Lexuan, is spectating allowed during the examination?"
"Oh?"
Zhang Lexuan immediately understood everyone's intentions.
She didn't refuse, directly agreeing.
After all, the Inner Court examination was simple—just one thing: "practical combat"!
Even support-type soul masters like auxiliary and food-type soul masters had to participate in practical combat, teaming up with other types of soul masters also taking the Inner Court examination. This evaluated these soul masters' comprehensive abilities to determine if they could enter the Inner Court.
So even if they watched, it wouldn't help much when they took the examination themselves in the future—at most, it would just accumulate some experience.
Led by Zhang Lexuan, the group arrived at the examination area.
But when Chen Junting looked over, he discovered the entire examination area was completely empty. Looking at Zhang Lexuan beside him, he was just about to open his mouth and say, "Senior sister Lexuan, for this examination's..."
Mid-sentence, he saw her walk to the opposite side.
Chen Junting's expression instantly turned serious. Waving for Ning Tian and the others to leave the fighting platform in the examination area, he finally looked to the other side.
"Senior sister Lexuan, my examination opponent is you."
"Yes."
Zhang Lexuan smiled brightly. "I know your strength, so this examination is just a formality for you. Coincidentally, this is an opportunity to test your combat coordination with your soul spirit."
"So that's what this opportunity is for."
Hearing this, the corners of Chen Junting's mouth rose slightly.
"Everyone present—keep what you see secret. Any information leakage will definitely be severely punished by the academy!"
Zhang Lexuan also looked at everyone, sternly warning them. Seeing everyone nod solemnly, she finally turned her attention back to Chen Junting. "Junior brother, let's begin!"
Before her words even fully fell, she immediately released her martial soul.
A bright, pure moon slowly rose behind her head.
"Senior sister Lexuan, please give me your guidance!"
Chen Junting didn't hesitate in the slightest!
Facing Zhang Lexuan, he naturally had to give his all.
After all...
A captivating red light flashed in Chen Junting's eyes,
you are the Inner Court's senior sister after all.
The Seven Kill Sword appeared in his hand. Piercing killing intent instantly formed the Seven Kill Domain, sweeping outward and shaking everyone's hearts and minds!
"Roar—"
Black light flashed, a heaven-shaking roar erupting! A massive Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear appeared out of thin air. Its dark golden claws swept lightly through the air, instantly tearing it apart. The vicious aura made the atmosphere suddenly tense.
Outside the field, "This, this... what is this!?"
Wang Dong, seeing a soul beast appear, was dumbfounded.
The same question rose in the hearts of the others. But soon, Huo Yuhao and Ning Tian explained it to them.
As for Zhang Lexuan on the field, she was already on high alert.
After all, though a fifty-thousand-year soul beast was at most equivalent to an eight-ring Soul Douluo, the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear was different. With their racial talents, they could completely dominate ordinary Titled Douluos.
"I wonder how long this junior brother can maintain this."
"Senior sister can just try to find out."
Inside the domain, Zhang Lexuan's murmurs didn't escape Chen Junting's ears.
The moment Chen Junting's words fell, Mad King beside him roared fiercely. Dark golden fearsome claws shot out, the several-meter-long claws instantly leaving trench-like marks on the field.
The claws swept forward!
Terrifying claw light shot straight toward Zhang Lexuan!
Zhang Lexuan didn't dare be careless. Her first and third soul rings lit up simultaneously. First, moonlight fell on herself, enveloping her entire body in radiance.
Then another beam of moonlight illuminated the Dark Gold Terror Claw light.
Amidst intense booming sounds, the Dark Gold Terror Claw cut through like splitting bamboo!
Witnessing the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's terror, Zhang Lexuan's fifth soul ring shone brilliantly. The crescent moon in the air suddenly turned golden.
In an instant, that crescent moon actually separated into another crescent moon of the same size, falling from the sky in a flash.
Moon Fall!
That golden crescent moon seemed to transform into a sickle, racing toward Mad King and Chen Junting as if to harvest them both.
As for herself, she dodged the Dark Gold Terror Claw.
But the next scene left Zhang Lexuan greatly astonished.
A sword intent that made one feel as if standing amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, filled with slaughter, suddenly rose from the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear soul spirit!
Claws transformed into sharp swords, easily blocking the Moon Fall.
"Senior sister, now it's my turn."
Feeling his soul power recovery couldn't keep up with consumption, Chen Junting took a step forward. The newly formed five-pointed star on his sword flashed as Mad King's aura resonated with Chen Junting's at this moment.
"Fifth soul skill, Shifting Mountains and Rivers · Whirling Killing Array!"
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