43: Chapter 43 Wang Ganju's Difficulties

Steward Wang Ganju listened to the surrounding discussions, and his expression gradually sank.

He looked at the token in his hand, and then at the calm-faced youth in front of him, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

Could it be that this brat came to mock him?

A Utility Disciple rumored to have a "naturally crippled physique", who was still at the Qi Refining third layer after cultivating for ten years, now actually had the audacity to say he wanted to directly participate in the Inner Sect assessment?

If this was not mocking him, what was it?

Steward Wang Ganju's expression sank, and his voice also turned cold: "Brat, are you here to deliberately mock me? A naturally crippled physique, yet you dare to brazenly say you want to directly participate in the Inner Sect assessment?"

Seeing this, the surrounding Utility Disciples had even brighter smiles on their faces.

Especially Zhang Jianren, whose eyes were filled with gloating.

Serves you right!

Let you be arrogant!

Being reprimanded on the spot by Deacon Wang, let us see if you still dare to be arrogant!

Baili Yunche's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly explained: "Deacon Wang, calm your anger, this Disciple did not intentionally mock you. This Disciple truly has the certainty to pass the assessment, so please you—"

"Alright, say no more."

Steward Wang Ganju interrupted him, and his tone became serious.

He stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked down at Baili Yunche from above.

"Since you are so confident, then I will give you this opportunity. I want to see for yourself whether you truly have that kind of strength!"

Before his voice fell, he gave a big wave of his hand!

A black shadow flew out from his sleeve and landed on the open space in the center of Zhishi Hall.

Bang!

With a muffled sound, dust rose in all directions.

When the dust dissipated, a humanoid combat Puppet appeared before everyone's eyes.

This Puppet was about the height of a person, pitch-black all over, and wore a set of armor emitting a chilling cold light.

It stood there motionless, yet it emitted a powerful Qi fluctuation.

Foundation Establishment third layer!

Steward Wang Ganju pointed at the Puppet and said calmly: "Baili Yunche, are you not going to participate in the Inner Sect assessment?"

"The rule is very simple, and that is to defeat the assessment Puppet in front of you, and you will be qualified to be promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple."

Before Baili Yunche could speak, Mo Qingling on the side could no longer hold back.

"Deacon Wang!" She stepped forward, her voice carrying obvious dissatisfaction.

"For a long time, the rule of the Inner Sect assessment has been simply to defeat a Foundation Establishment first layer Puppet."

"Why is Junior Brother Baili Yunche's assessment Puppet at the Foundation Establishment third layer? This is too unfair to him!"

She knew that Baili Yunche's strength was far beyond the Foundation Establishment third layer, and defeating this Puppet would be effortless.

But she simply could not stand Steward Wang Ganju's obvious trouble-making approach.

Foundation Establishment first layer and Foundation Establishment third layer had a gap of two minor Realms; this was simply deliberately making things difficult!

Steward Wang Ganju glanced at Mo Qingling and explained unenthusiastically:

"There is no other way, the Puppets of the Foundation Establishment first layer and Foundation Establishment second layer are both broken, and I am currently repairing them. The only Puppet currently usable is this Foundation Establishment third layer one."

"Moreover, he is being promoted bypassing Realms, so naturally he must be treated according to a special assessment method."

"Everyone says he has a naturally crippled physique, and for a naturally crippled physique, of course a special assessment method must be used."

"Of course, he can also choose to withdraw and wait until whenever the Foundation Establishment first layer assessment Puppet is repaired before coming for the assessment. It is just that—"

He dragged out his voice and said slowly: "As for the time, it is hard to say. It might be three or five days, three or five months, or even three or five years. Who knows?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Mo Qingling's expression turned ashen.

This Steward Wang Ganju was clearly bullying Baili Yunche for having no background and was deliberately making things difficult!

What broken Puppet?

This reason was too clumsy!

This Steward Wang Ganju was obviously setting a trap for Baili Yunche.

If Baili Yunche forcibly participated in the assessment and faced the Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet, if he could not beat it, the bold words he just dropped would become a laughingstock, turning into gossip for the entire Sect after tea and meals.

If he retreated and did not participate, he would end up with the reputation of a "turtle hiding its head", and he would never have the face to hold his head high in the Sect again.

A dilemma of advancing and retreating!

The surrounding Utility Disciples heard the meaning in Steward Wang Ganju's words, and the smiles on their faces became even brighter.

"Hahaha, now there is a good show to watch!"

"Let him put on airs! Let him be wild! Now it is good, he is caught in a dilemma, right?"

"A Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet, with just that bit of strength of his, is not going up there just seeking death?"

"I bet he definitely will not dare to go up! A good-for-nothing, how could he have that kind of guts?"

Zhang Jianren laughed the happiest, his eyes filled with gratification: "Baili Yunche oh Baili Yunche, you have today too! I want to see how you end this time!"

Mo Qingling trembled with anger, yet she was utterly helpless.

She was only an Inner Sect Disciple at the Foundation Establishment third layer; in front of a Golden Core Deacon like Steward Wang Ganju, she had no say at all.

She could only look at Baili Yunche, her eyes filled with worry.

Baili Yunche, however, still maintained a calm expression.

He looked at the Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet, and then looked at Steward Wang Ganju's half-smiling face, and suddenly laughed.

His gaze went straight to Steward Wang Ganju: "Oh? Then if I defeat the Foundation Establishment third layer assessment Puppet, what then?"

Steward Wang Ganju was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting that this Utility Disciple not only did not retreat, but instead dared to bargain.

He snorted coldly and said unenthusiastically: "Then naturally it will be considered passing the assessment."

He paused, seemingly feeling that this was not deterrent enough, and weighted his tone further:

"As long as you can defeat the Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet, I will apologize to you publicly! And I guarantee that I will never make things difficult for you again in the future!"

Steward Wang Ganju sneered inwardly.

A Utility Disciple, also worthy of making him apologize?

He was certain that Baili Yunche definitely could not defeat the Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet.

Although this Puppet was only at the Foundation Establishment third layer, it was forged entirely from fine iron, possessed boundless strength, and had astonishing defense. Even a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment fourth layer facing it would have to go through some trouble.

A Utility Disciple with a naturally crippled physique, on what grounds did he think he could defeat this Puppet?

"Alright!" Baili Yunche cupped his fists in a salute, the corners of his mouth curving into a meaningful arc, "I hope Deacon Wang will not go back on his word later."

Baili Yunche actually laughed inwardly; this Steward Wang Ganju had practically run right into his muzzle.

Face-slapping was his favorite plot!

He was very much looking forward to what Steward Wang Ganju would look like after his face was fiercely slapped later!

Steward Wang Ganju looked at Baili Yunche's confident gaze, and faint unease arose in his heart.

Why was this brat so composed?

He frowned, repeatedly sizing up Baili Yunche's body.

Foundation Establishment first layer?

No, this Qi... indeed it was only the Foundation Establishment first layer.

Then what did he have to worry about?

He shook his head, laughing inwardly at himself for worrying over nothing.

A Utility Disciple, even if he had lucked out and had a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, how strong could he possibly be?

"The assessment begins."

Steward Wang Ganju announced in a deep voice and retreated to the side.

That Foundation Establishment third layer combat Puppet received the order and abruptly opened its eyes.

Two cold gleams shot out from its eyes, and the Qi around the Puppet instantly surged.

It wielded a black war hammer, the hammer head being the size of a washbasin, and its entire body radiated a gloomy and cold metallic luster.

Without any warning, it took heavy steps and rushed toward Baili Yunche!

Thump thump thump!

The heavy footsteps sounded like beating drums, shaking the floor of Zhishi Hall slightly.

The surrounding Utility Disciples retreated one after another, afraid of being affected.

Mo Qingling also retreated to the side, but there was not the slightest worry on her face; instead, she wore an expression of watching a good show.

She knew Baili Yunche's strength.

A single punch to death for Wang Yang at the Foundation Establishment eighth layer, what did a mere Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet count as?

In the blink of an eye, the Puppet had already rushed in front of Baili Yunche!

It raised the black war hammer high, the hammer head carrying a whistling wind as it smashed down fiercely.

This hammer blow was immensely powerful and heavy; if it smashed onto an ordinary person, it would definitely break bones and tendons!

Baili Yunche stood in place, motionless.

He did not take out the chiyang sword.

He simply raised his right arm lightly, clenched his fist, and blasted a punch toward that smashing black war hammer!

"What is he doing?!"

"Could it be that he wants to catch the assessment Puppet's attack with his bare hands?"

"I think he has been scared silly! He does not even know how to use a Magical Artifact!"

"He really is a good-for-nothing! Without even a single Magical Artifact, he dares to challenge a Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet!"

The surrounding Utility Disciples let out a chorus of exclamations and ridicule.

Zhang Jianren was even more excited to the point of trembling all over, his eyes filled with gratification.

With this hammer blow going down, even if Baili Yunche's hand was not crippled, it would not be able to be lifted for several days!

Let you be arrogant!

Let you be wild!

However—

Clang——!!

The fist smashed heavily onto the black war hammer, unexpectedly erupting with a loud noise like a giant bell!

That sound was deafening, echoing endlessly in the hall and making everyone's eardrums ache.

Several Utility Disciples standing close by instinctively covered their ears, showing expressions of pain on their faces.

Boom!

Immediately following, a violent shock wave exploded from the place where the fist and hammer intersected!

Qi surged, stirring up a gust of wind that blew the surrounding Disciples' robes fluttering wildly.

Looking again at that Puppet—

Its massive body was as if it had crashed into a mountain, directly flying backward at high speed, its two feet rubbing out two deep scratches on the ground with sparks flying everywhere!

Clatter!

It smashed heavily onto the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

The Puppet struggled, wanting to stand up, but the Formation inside its body had already been shaken to pieces by that punch.

It tried for three breaths, propped up an arm halfway, and then collapsed with a crash, completely losing its ability to act.

And on that black war hammer, a deep fist print was impressively left behind!

At this moment.

The entire audience was dead silent!

All the sounds of ridicule and mockery stopped abruptly at this moment.

Those Utility Disciples widened their mouths, their eyes staring round, and the expressions on their faces turned from ridicule to shock, and from shock to utter disbelief.

After quite a while, someone finally snapped back to reality.

"Hisss hisss hisss!"

A wave of gasps for cold air rose one after another.

"What?! He actually defeated a Foundation Establishment third layer Puppet with a single punch!"

"This... is this still that good-for-nothing I know? How is that possible?!"

"Wasn't he born with a crippled physique? How did his strength become so powerful? Could it be that his crippled meridians were unblocked?"

"Shattering a Tier 2 Puppet with a single punch? Just how strong of a Physical Body must this be? Is he a Body Cultivator?"

The discussions were like an exploded pot, and Zhishi Hall instantly boiled over.

Zhang Jianren's expression was ashen, his legs went soft, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

He stared fixedly at the Puppet lying on the ground, staring at the deep fist print on the war hammer, his lips trembling as he muttered to himself:

"Impossible! Impossible! He is a good-for-nothing... How could he possibly defeat the assessment Puppet..."