White flowing locks fluttered gracefully as Ji Wuye's piercing crimson eyes scanned the creek flowing down from the majestic Mount Kunlun.

 

‘So he managed to survive, huh’ he muttered inwardly, his gaze falling upon the conspicuous absence of Qin Bai's body.

 

The lush foliage and serene creeks that once adorned the area now lay in disarray, the plants trampled underfoot and the once neatly arranged pebbles scattered haphazardly, clogging and disrupting the smooth creek flow.

 

Freshly bathed and clad in crisp, clean white attire adorned with aqua stripes, Ji Wuye cut an imposing figure as he strolled towards the Central Courtyard, his garments glistening under the warm caress of the sun's rays. The gentle breeze tousled his flowing tresses, adding to his ethereal presence.

 

The Abandoned Courtyard, situated near the cliff's edge and the entrance to the Kunlun Sect, lay in stark contrast to its name.

 

As Ji Wuye made his way through the winding paths, he couldn't help but notice the shift in the sect's atmosphere – it was no longer as desolate and forlorn as before.

 

Occasionally, he would catch sight of a few disciples out for a stroll, their forced smiles masking the deep sorrow and guilt that lingered in the wake of the fifth floor challenge.

 

Nevertheless, it was a marked improvement from the gloomy expressions that had previously dominated the sect.

 

However, his sharp eyes also detected a flurry of activity as groups of disciples, mostly Inner Disciples with solemn expressions, hurriedly departed from the sect's confines.

 

Witnessing this scene, Ji Wuye's brows furrowed slightly. 'They had a quick reaction,' he mused inwardly, shifting his attention to the throngs of people gathered ahead, their shadows dancing in the courtyard's expanse.

 

With many ordinary people having perished, the foundations of law and order crumbled, leaving the once-mighty chains of the Jianghu in disarray.

 

Those who managed to survive undoubtedly sought to change their current fate, seizing the opportunity presented by the upheaval.

 

The farmers, once content to toil the fields and provide sustenance for society, now wielded newfound power, their absence fueling a global shortage of supplies.

 

The merchants, previously restraining their greed, bared their fangs, their avarice unleashed in the absence of the prestigious clans that once kept them in check – clans that now found themselves exhausted, forced to rely on the sect's disciples to handle their affairs.

 

Yet, these people failed to recognize the looming threat they all faced, a common enemy that Ji Wuye deemed inconsequential as he squirmed through the crowds, his gaze finally settling upon a row of disciples seated in lotus position.

 

'As expected, they are re-doing the first test...' Ji Wuye thought, observing the countless Outer Disciples as they began emitting Qi from their bodies.

 

It was customary to revisit the first test, especially given the dwindling number of disciples – less than a thousand Outer Disciples remained.

 

Those fortunate enough to survive must have reaped bountiful rewards, enabling many disciples below the 3rd realm to instantly break through and ascend to that coveted rank.

 

As for why they chose not to redo the tests for the 3rd and 4th Outer Disciples, 'It would be meaningless.'

 

Notably, the number of Inner Disciples and Official Disciples overseeing this assessment was clearly fewer than before, undoubtedly preoccupied with the sect's pressing matters, much like their Inner Disciple counterparts.

 

Yet Ji Wuye's purpose was not to speculate about the sect's situation or count the dwindling numbers.

 

Instead, his eyes remained fixated upon a certain young lady, her brow furrowed in concentration as beads of sweat formed on her delicate, innocent-looking heart-shaped face.

 

Her silky, maple-colored tresses fluttered gracefully as she emerged from her lotus position, enveloping her lithe form in a shimmering aura of Qi.

 

Even if her struggling looks managed to garner the attention of the male disciples present, one whispered in hushed tones, unable to pry his eyes away from the captivating sight before him,

 

"Have you ever witnessed such radiant beauty? It's as if the heavens themselves sculpted her exquisite form."

 

His companion nodded dumbly, momentarily rendered speechless by the ethereal vision that graced their eyes.

 

"Yet her spirit shines even brighter than her looks," another disciple chimed in, his voice laced with reverence. "To see such firm resolve in one so young and fair..."

 

"So beautiful..." the first disciple murmured again, shaking his head in wonder. "I still can't fathom that such a celestial being walks among us..."

 

Another nudged him, eyes wide with admiration. "Enough swooning, you'll frighten her off! Can you believe it? She's managed to emit the Qi for nearly twenty minutes now, and she's not the only one!"

 

He swept his arm out, indicating the row of cultivators seated in similar lotus positions, each enshrouded by flickering halos of their own vital energies.

 

"Our Martial Brothers and Sisters truly display amazing stamina," the first disciple agreed, his voice hushed with awe.

 

Those commenting were mostly 3rd realm Outer Disciples who had come to observe as all the disciples below the 3rd realm underwent their assessment before them.

 

'Almost 20 minutes,' Ji Wuye thought inwardly. Meaning if the young lady he watched could sustain the Qi even a little longer than 20 minutes, then it would mark a significant deviation from the original timeline.

 

The young lady Ji Wuye observed was none other than Song Jia, who had managed to execute her Rising Gale technique earlier, likely affecting the result of her fifth floor challenge as well as this test.

 

"Haa!" Just as he contemplated her potential success, Song Jia opened her eyes, breathing heavily as her silky tresses cascaded down her back.

 

A sigh of relief escaped Ji Wuye's lips, but noticing Song Jia biting her lower lip, he shook his head, bemused by her unwavering determination. However, just as he did so, a soft voice from beside him caught his attention.

 

"B-Big Brother Ji..."

 

Though startled, judging from the tone and the current situation, Ji Wuye could easily guess the speaker's identity.

 

However, when he realized the words uttered were slightly different... and unsettlingly familiar, his eyes turned cold, and his smile faded instantly, his expression hardening into a guarded mask.