I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

The next morning, hundreds of outer disciples had already gathered in the square in front of the Qingyun Sect's mountain gate. Their faces showed tension, anticipation, and a hint of unease.

Today is the annual inner disciple assessment of the Qingyun Sect. For these outer disciples, this is a chance to change their destiny. Once they pass the assessment, they can become inner disciples, enjoy better cultivation resources, and receive focused training from the sect.

At the edge of the crowd, a sallow-faced, sickly-looking young man stood quietly. He exuded the aura of the early Foundation Establishment stage, but he was inconspicuous among the crowd.

This person was none other than Lu Zhao, who had changed his appearance.

"I heard that Senior Brother Zhao Wuji will be the examiner for this assessment!" A disciple from the outer sect whispered to his companion.

"Really? That's not going to be easy." His companion's face fell. "Senior Brother Zhao is notoriously strict."

"It's more than just strict," another disciple said in a low voice. "I heard that the Zhao family has been suppressing the Lu family recently. In this assessment, any disciple who has any connection with the Lu family is likely to be in grave danger."

"Sigh, in the power struggles at the top, it's always us little people who suffer," someone sighed.

V Zhao heard this and sneered inwardly. The Zhao family's influence certainly extends far enough.

"Silence!" A cold shout interrupted the crowd's discussion.

A young man dressed in white robes with a cold and stern face slowly walked up to the high platform in front of the square. He exuded a powerful aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the peak of his cultivation; it was none other than Zhao Wuji!

"It's Senior Brother Zhao!" A murmur rang out from the crowd.

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept across the crowd below like that of a hawk. His face was somewhat pale, and his eyes still showed signs of unhealed injuries; clearly, he had been seriously injured in the battle at the Sword Tomb.

"Today is the inner disciple assessment." Zhao Wuji's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion. "The assessment is divided into three stages: the first stage tests spiritual roots and cultivation level; the second stage involves passing the 'Trial Tower'; and the third stage is a real combat duel."

"Now, let's begin the first trial." Zhao Wuji waved his hand, and several disciples carried in a huge crystal tablet.

"Everyone, step forward one by one, place your hands on the spirit-testing tablet, and input your spiritual power," a disciple in charge announced loudly.

The assessment proceeded in an orderly manner. Most of the disciples possessed three or four spiritual roots, and their cultivation levels ranged from the late Qi Refining stage to the early Foundation Establishment stage.

"Next, Huang Zhao." Soon, it was Lu Zhao's turn.

V Zhao stepped forward and placed his hand on the spirit-testing tablet. He carefully controlled the spiritual power within his body, only displaying the level of the early Foundation Establishment stage.

"Buzz—" A faint gray light shone from the spirit-testing tablet.

"The five elemental roots of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth; early stage of Foundation Establishment," the disciple announced expressionlessly.

"Five spiritual roots? Useless spiritual roots." A low chuckle rippled through the crowd.

"With this kind of talent, he dares to participate in the inner sect assessment?" someone said disdainfully.

V Zhao remained expressionless, withdrew his hand, and retreated back into the crowd. His gaze inadvertently swept over Zhao Wuji on the high platform, and he found that the other man's gaze was fixed on him, with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

"This Huang Zhao..." Zhao Wuji frowned slightly. For some reason, he sensed a familiar aura emanating from this seemingly ordinary young man. However, upon closer inspection, he found nothing unusual.

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it." Zhao Wuji shook his head and looked away.

The first round ended quickly, with nearly half of the disciples eliminated, and the remaining two hundred-plus entered the second round.

"The second challenge is the Trial Tower," Zhao Wuji said. "The Trial Tower has nine levels, each with different tests. Only those who can pass the third level can enter the third challenge."

"Now, let's begin."

The group entered the Trial Tower one by one.

The Trial Tower is a separate space where everyone faces the same trials.

The first level is occupied by a group of first-tier demonic beasts—Ironback Wolves.

For most disciples in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, this hurdle was not difficult. V Zhao simply swung his sword a few times and slaughtered all the Ironback Wolves.

The second level is a maze, in which some simple illusion arrays are set up.

V Zhao's divine sense was powerful, and he easily found the exit.

The third level is a metal puppet with strength equivalent to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

At this stage, many disciples were initially stuck. But for V Zhao, it was still a piece of cake. He cleaved the metal puppet in two with a single sword strike.

"Third floor passed, you can proceed to the fourth floor." A mechanical voice echoed from inside the tower.

However, V Zhao did not continue to climb higher. His goal was to enter the inner sect, not to show off. Reaching the third level was enough.

He exited the Trial Tower and discovered that he was the first one to come out.

"So fast?" Everyone outside was surprised.

"It seems this Huang Zhao is quite capable," someone remarked.

Zhao Wuji's gaze fell on Lu Zhao again, his doubts deepening. How could a piece of trash with only five spiritual roots pass through the third level so quickly?

Soon, the others also emerged one after another. In the end, only a little over fifty people passed the second stage.

"Congratulations on advancing to the third stage," Zhao Wuji said. "The third stage is a practical combat duel. You will draw lots to determine who will fight in pairs. The winners will advance, and the losers will be eliminated."

"Now, let's begin the lottery."

The draw results came out quickly. V Zhao's opponent was a disciple named Wang Hu, who was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and wielded a large sword.

"The first match is between Huang Zhao and Wang Hu," a disciple announced.

The two stepped onto the ring.

"Kid, you're unlucky to have met me." Wang Hu sneered, brandishing his broadsword. "I advise you to admit defeat to avoid further injury."

V Zhao smiled faintly: "Please."

"You ungrateful wretch!" Wang Hu roared in fury, unleashing a slash with his blade, the blade's energy whistling through the air, its momentum astonishing.

Faced with this attack, V Zhao neither dodged nor evaded. An ordinary longsword appeared in his hand (in order to conceal his identity, he did not use the "Return to the Void" broken sword), and he lightly touched it.

"Clang!" The sword tip touched the blade, and Wang Hu felt a strange force coming from it. The broadsword in his hand was uncontrollably tilted to one side.

"What?" Wang Hu was shocked. Before he could react, V Zhao's sword was already at his chest.

With a "bang!", Wang Hu screamed and flew backward off the stage.

"Huang Zhaosheng," the disciple in charge announced.

"This...this is it?" The people in the audience were stunned.

"What a fast sword!" someone exclaimed.

"This Huang Zhao is no ordinary person." Many people's gazes toward Lu Zhao became serious.

Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes. He could see that although Huang Zhao's swordsmanship looked ordinary, the artistic conception contained within it made him feel uneasy.

"This sword intent..." The familiar feeling in Zhao Wuji's heart grew even stronger.

The assessment continued. V Zhao easily made it into the top ten, overcoming all obstacles along the way.

"In the final round, the top ten will compete in a ranking battle," Zhao Wuji said. "The higher the ranking, the better the treatment they will receive after entering the inner sect."

"Now, let's begin the lottery."

This time, V Zhao's opponent was a disciple named Li Qingfeng, who had reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment and was a popular candidate for this assessment.

"Huang Zhao versus Li Qingfeng, begin!"

The two stepped onto the ring.

"Brother Huang, please enlighten me." Li Qingfeng was a refined-looking young man, holding a folding fan in his hand.

"Please." V Zhao nodded.

"Watch out!" Li Qingfeng waved his folding fan, and several wind blades attacked V Zhao.

These wind blades were not only fast, but also had tricky angles, blocking all of Lu Zhao's evasive routes.

"Not bad wind magic." V Zhao praised, and with a slash of his longsword, a gray sword aura rushed forward.

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh—" The wind blades dissipated the moment they touched the gray sword energy.

"What?" Li Qingfeng's expression changed. His wind blade had been broken so easily?

"Again!" Li Qingfeng went all out, waving his folding fan repeatedly, creating even sharper wind blades that formed an impenetrable storm that swept towards V Zhao.

"Storm Slaughter!"

"A mere trifle." V Zhao smiled faintly, his longsword trembling in his hand.

"Annihilation—Break!**"

A streak of gray sword light, like the first ray of dawn before sunrise, tore through the darkness and the terrifying storm.

"Boom!" The storm exploded, and Li Qingfeng groaned, staggering back several steps, his face pale.

"I lost." He gave a bitter smile and conceded defeat with his hands clasped.

"You flatter me." V Zhao sheathed his sword.

"Huang Zhaosheng!" the disciple in charge announced.

The audience erupted in uproar.

"Li Qingfeng lost just like that?"

"Just who is this Huang Zhao?"

"His swordsmanship is too unpredictable!"

Zhao Wuji's expression had become extremely solemn. He was now certain that Huang Zhao's swordsmanship was definitely related to the Sword Tomb's inheritance!

"Could it be... that he is the mysterious person who received the inheritance?" A thought arose in Zhao Wuji's mind.

"Impossible, Lu Zhao is already dead." He shook his head. "But this Huang Zhao must be related to Lu Zhao!"

"The final match is between Huang Zhao and Zhao Ming." The voice of the disciple interrupted Zhao Wuji's thoughts.

Zhao Ming, a collateral descendant of the Zhao family, possesses late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and is a key figure in the Zhao family's current training program.

"Huang Zhao, your good luck has run out after meeting me." Zhao Ming walked onto the stage with an arrogant look on his face. "If you know what's good for you, just admit defeat to avoid suffering."

V Zhao glanced at him and said calmly, "Are all the Zhao family members this arrogant?"

"What did you say?" Zhao Ming roared, "You're asking for it! **"

With a flick of his longsword, a sharp sword aura pierced straight for Lu Zhao's throat.

"The Blazing Sun Sword Technique?" A cold smile flashed in V Zhao's eyes. "How much of Zhao Wuji's swordsmanship have you mastered?"

He flicked his longsword, and a gray sword aura, though arriving later, struck the tip of Zhao Ming's sword.

With a soft "ding!", Zhao Ming felt a numbness in his arm, and the long sword in his hand almost flew out of his grasp.

"What?" He was shocked. Before he could react, V Zhao's sword was already at his neck.

"You..." Zhao Ming's face turned pale, and he dared not move.

"Get out of here," V Zhao said coldly.

"I...I admit defeat!" Zhao Ming could no longer care about saving face and shouted loudly.

"Huang Zhaosheng!" the disciple announced, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

The audience fell silent. Everyone could see that Huang Zhao was simply toying with Zhao Ming!

"Fine! Fine!" Zhao Wuji laughed in anger. He stood up and stared coldly at Lu Zhao.

"Huang Zhao, you're very good." His voice carried an undisguised killing intent. "I'm very curious, where did you learn your swordsmanship?"

V Zhao raised his head, looked at Zhao Wuji, and a strange smile appeared on his face.

"Senior Brother Zhao, guess?"

Their gazes collided in mid-air, sparking an invisible flame.

The atmosphere in the entire venue became incredibly tense at that moment.