Time went by and more kids went up on the floating disk only to be mercilessly slaughtered. Until a lanky guy got up. He was looking like the average kid but seemed different. Jin noticed his posture. Contrary to the other kids, this one seemed to have some battle training. He was using two swords. That was a first today.

His opponent was the first disciple who had fought and decapitated his opponent. And as soon as the elder gave the 'go', they fought fiercely. But the challenger wasn't killed this time and they clashed. Many times. The challenger was weaker when it came to might but his technique was very good. And while he was weaker in might, it could be seen that he wasn't that much weaker.

In the end, he managed to win and was the first challenger to succeed today. The two silver-robed elder smiled at him as he went down and they gave him a pill to heal his injuries. He had bled from many cuts. The disciples who lost however was not given anything and stood to the side meditating. His breath was ragged, his clothes torn and shredded and he was quite bloody. He gave up the fight before he sustained dangerous injuries but his state wasn't that great either.

The others in the group were laughing at him.

To them, this was also a test of sorts. They were kids born within the sect but just because they were born there did not mean that they would have it easier. They had to prove themselves and earn their spots too. Just like any other candidate, they needed to reach the second stage of body refinement before twelve.

However, as insiders, they were provided with an additional opportunity. It was to play as a judge for the outsiders. As long as they joined the event, they would be heavily rewarded later on with resources. It was a win-win situation. That being said, it did not mean there were no risks and all injuries were for them to deal with themselves. As second stages, they were supposed to remain undefeatable when fighting those of lower realms.

This was a strict way to temper the child of the sect.

…

After this guy won, a few kids got out of the crowd and joined the queue to challenge examiners. It seems this guy managed to fuel people's hope with his victory. Not like it mattered much to Jin. He was one of the few who noticed that this kid wasn't far in power compared to his opponent. Since that disciple was in the second stage then this one might be in the first or the end of the first. Anyways, there had not been much differences.

Technique determined the outcome.

That being said, all the next kids who tried died. Some horribly at that with their bodies ripped apart. The petite girl was the most savage of them all always turning their bodies into blood fountains. And she went up many times as if she enjoyed killing... Many disciples hadn't even started going on top of the platform.

And in the end, it was Jin's turn. The elder noticed his lack of cultivation and asked him without much care what weapons he wanted. Jin answered him " I wish to duel with the same weapon as the opponent I will face " and while it surprised the elder slightly, it wasn't much. He decided to attribute it to the arrogance of a dumb child.

However, his next words infuriated him a bit further. Jin asked him: “What happens if those judges die?”

The elder frowned but answer nonetheless: “They are children of the sect and prepared for the eventuality. Like every challenger, they are betting their futures too”

Jin nodded without giving it any more thoughts. Since it was okay, then so be it. He would go after them seriously too.

Then, the elder sent Jin on the disk and picked the petite girl up. He had been slightly angered by the words of that child. It made it seem as if they had not been fair to all and that touched upon his honor. As such, he sent the most vicious one up to deal with him.

So, it seemed the elder didn't like his arrogant behavior was his thoughts. Then again, it was better to ask first than end up with problems later down the line…

As the crowd saw the grinning petite girl on stage once more, they remained silent. They had no reasons to cheer. They had learnt. Whoever dueled that one only faced a gruesome death. Yet all those that went up still tried, believing they might be the hero who would defeat this demoness... They had all been wrong up till here.

She smiled cutely at Jin as she asked him: " How do you want to die, elder brother~?"

He didn't answer and took a stance. He was glad to fight this one first. He had seen her battle the most and was aware of her capabilities. Was she frightening? Was she strong?

But who was Jin?

Would he be scared by this girl when he dealt with truly vicious men and experienced cruelty beyond compare? Of course not.

As the elder gave the 'go', the little girl skipped towards him with a smile while he remained there in his stance. He waited till she was face to face with him yet still remained in his stance, coolheaded.

She smiled from in front of him and asked: "Did you freeze from fear~? So cute~" and then she punched with all her might towards his heart. But he moved. He took one step forward with his left feet and he used his right forearm to hit hers, redirecting the blow aside. Then, with fluidity, his right arm was moving upwards while he brought his right feet to hit the side of the girl's Achille’s tendon. Destabilized and falling to her right, towards him, she noticed that his arm that had moved upwards was now falling downwards.

The fist was brought down on her temple hard with incredible might coming from a kid. It was enough to directly put her unconscious. But the fist didn't stop at the collision and instead went on. The fist was pushing down the girl's head until it hit the disk. An incredible bone breaking sound rung as fist, head and disk connected.

The petite girl was out cold on the arena. While all the disciples were tongue-tied with their jaws opened, the rest of the crowd was in the same kind of state. Even the elders couldn't believe what they witnessed. Yet, before they could even understand and regain their wits, Jin picked the little girl's ankle and threw her from the disk. Using leverage and considering her petite body, it didn’t require much effort.

Still unconscious, she had no way to break her fall and the others didn't react as they were still stuck on the previous sight.

It was only once the body of the little girl hit the ground with a loud sound that they regained their spirits. One of the two silver robed elder hurried to the little girl to heal her. The damage was in a whole different league compared to those of the sword user. It was not a treatment of favor. He was using some of the rewards she would have earned at the end to save her. If one of the judges was unconscious, the elders had the right to decide whether or not to help them by consuming their future rewards. Of course, they would do so every time. As long as the disciple could be saved, they would not let him or her die.

On the other hand, if the disciple was conscious and did not request for anything, they would not help.

…

The other elder looked at the kid on top of the disk with incredulity. His anger faded.

He couldn't believe that a kid with no cultivation could one-shot the petite girl. All the disciples they accepted in the Pavilion were the strongest of their generation around the whole empire. Yet, this peasant-like little dude completely overpowered her with a single movement. It was hard to believe. Still, it happened. And that meant a new very promising talent born for his sect. So, he smiled and said: "Young friend, you may come down, welcome to the sect!"

However, he wasn't greeted by the answer he expected as the kid said in a neutral tone: "No, you send someone else"