A Land Without Gods

15 Inner Sect Examination

The first test they suppose to undergo is a writing examination. This test will be used to measure their knowledge. Lu Yan like to read, Yan Rui not so much. There is no need to ponder around who the winner in this one. Even Yan Rui himself already give this up, one test won't change the outcome. He is sure to crush Lu Yan on other categories.

Next exams is mostly physical tests: speed, strength, stamina and techniques. Most of it is boring test anyway and finish shortly. The result however is quite interesting. Lu Yan and Yan Rui scores are actually pretty close for each tests. Since the scores of each contestants is actually announced to the public everyone know about this.

Yan Rui surely shocked for this result. Last time they met Lu Yan is vastly inferior to him in terms of physical attributes. This time however they have gone neck to neck. Including the result of the writing test he is now ranked below those of Lu Yan. If the beast hunting test is excluded than Yan Rui is lost already. With his arrogance, Yan Rui never see this from Lu Yan perpectives.

He only think that perhaps he is not trying hard enough or maybe the scoring system make a mistake. Little that he knew, Lu Yan has tried extremely hard so he doesn't stand out. Lu Yan restrict his strength most of the time. To limit his power along the top others 5th level Body Refining cultivators. Yan Rui is on this category as well, that is why their score has been close all along.

The most shocking result however are Guo Feng's. Just like Lu Yan he also have a rival in this tests, he suppose to be a 7th Body Refining cultivator as well. Yet their result is not even close, with Guo Feng at the top of the leaderboard for every categories. Not only that, he also reach perfect score in all of it.

In one of test, the contestant are suppose to attack the examiner. The examiners which all of them are already in the Qi Absorption level are suppose to barricade themselves with various magical techniques. Each of the contestants then will be given 5 chances of attacks to them. Their damage over the barricades will determine their score afterwards, which subjectively given by the examiners.

Except for Guo Feng's. His attacks destroyed all the barricades completely and knocks his examiner unconscious. So his scoring has been done by other examiner since his examiner is incapable of doing so. Of course it got to be a perfect score, and it just because it can't go higher than that.

Guo Feng breaking every record ever made and Lu Yan rivalries with Yan Rui has been the highlight of this test. Most spectators are here to see this result other than cheering their friends. While Lu Yan is a nobody Yan Rui is quite famous among the outer disciples so their rivalries is becoming a hot topic.

Added with Liu Fang name as spice to heat those things up. A rare beauty fought by two heroes, a tale interererting for many people. Surely what will be told by them to others is nothing like what it truly happen, since it will be added with plenty exaggeration here and there. The truth is Liu Fang herself actually score a better points than both of them. Though her own accomplishment has been overshadowed by the rivalries and Guo Feng greatness.

The main event or the last test will begin in the next morning and will be ongoing a full day. The contestants are given a night to rest and recuperate. Lu Yan prepare his arsenal this time including the normal dagger and clothes he has before. Other weapon he bring is a sword and spear, both are basic equipment able to be aquired for free from the sect.

Every contestants will bring a sword since it is the main weapon for Divine Wing techniques. Very few of them though bother to bring a spear. Lu Yan has spend his time hunting in his hometown before, so he knew the importance of a spear in when hunting. He is surely unlike the noble child that never bother to look for they own food. Sadly bow and arrows are actually prohibited in this test, otherwise he of course will bring it along as well.

Patriarch Blue lead them to one of the valley entrance. Waving his hand slowly to open the magical barrier that prevented the outer sect disciples from entering the valley before. Some Qi Absorption seniors are dispatch afterwards. Their job to make sure the area used for the test free from any extremely dangerous beast. However even so it doesn't mean the place is completely safe.

While any demonic beast here should be able to be defeated one on one by any 5th level Body Refining cultivators. Reckless action might prove fatal for them, not to mention these beasts might not be attacking alone. So everyone entering has been warn to be extra careful inside. While rare, casualties are expected every time this test were held.

Some candidates partying up together so to protect themselves. Lu Yan has no such luxuries to team up nor he wants to. This kind of party usually end up bad when they have to split up the hunted monster. Because only the one that make the killing blow will get the points. So monster stealing is common in the process.

The number of candidates join this test is around 100 disciples. However the are they can explore is quite vast so they do not need to worry about sharing the beasts if they split up. What Lu Yan despise the most is controversies, as soon as he enter the are he immediately run to a quite spot.

This spot are given by his informant, as this place is actually quite dangerous so most people will try to avoid it. This place is commonly habitated by Tree Leopards. As the name stated this small tiger like creature are living at the top of the trees. They are vicious and etremely fast, but their most dangerous properties are their ability to camouflage themselves.

Faster than regular leopards, they are usually attack from people blind spot. In the area where tall trees are looming all over, their danger is significantly increase. The points they generate however quite good to make up for the danger. This is a perfect place for Lu Yan to begin hunting.

He is not rushing his progress and laying down traps along the area. He realize few people are actually shadowing him from behind. According to his experience Lu Yan realize this people should have been Yan Rui subordinates. They didn't enter the forest Lu Yan prepare to hunt though. These people are bad fighter, so they won't risk their lives for it. Good fighters won't accept some stalking job like this anyway.

Lu Yan only need a short time before meet his first leopard. Fast and have good reflexes this leopard weakness is at their belly when leaping to attack a good thrust from below can end their live easily. The best weapon to do that is none other than a spear. Lu Yan has done his homework before, so he knew exactly about this. Stabbing with a sword is dangerous since it let the leopard reach your hand. Their sharp claw is enough to cut of a normal human hands. While cultivator like them have thicker skin and flesh, it is still impossible to come out uninjured. While their speed and thick fur on their back will make it hard for a slash to got them right away.

Lu Yan met his first leopard right away and make a quick work out of it. Faster stronger yet it still have most characteristic of normal leopards. A single stab of his spear end its life immediately. Right after it dies a pendant in Lu Yan's belt shined. It is the pendants given for every contestants, mostly this will be used to keep their scores. The pendant also able to tell the location where they kill the beasts for other disciples to collect their carcasses later on.

Beasts here are deliberately kept here in the valley because of their usefulness. For instance the tree leopard skin can be used as a main ingredient to make a camouflage potion. Which will give the person drink it to have the same abilty to camouflage as the leopard itself for a short period of time.

Two leopards later Lu Yan heard a scream. Another cultivator in the area, Lu Yan is not surprise at this. The area not meant to be crowded but also not meant to be empty as well. There got to be someone hate competing head to head with other as well. Try to escape any politics and dirty stealing against each other.

Lu Yan expected this event, he quickly run to where the sound came to provide some help. There he see a couple in a gruesome state though both are still alive. The woman has her back ripped by a leopard's claw. While the man is already unconscious with injuries all over mainly his right hand that almost come off.

The scene tells Lu Yan a story in which a leopard did ambush the woman from the back. The man try to protect her panickly and make mistakes because of it. While tree leopards rarely ganged up in hunting, when injured they may call for back up. Thus there is now three leopards surrounding both of them already.

Lu Yan is stronger than any normal 5th level Body Refining cultivator backed with his spear he can handle three leopards at once. One of it already injured as well, courtesy of the unconscious man. He has to make sure that he able to finish them up before they call more reinforcements.

Lu Yan take no chances here. He take a potion that increased his physical attributes and aim for the wounded leopard. The potion Lu Yan drank is one of the potion given by the God so its effectiveness is unfathomable.

The girl look all of it in horror. He never believe how powerful Lu Yan is. He is look more like a demon than the demonic beast itself. Her feelings has turned upside down in such a short time. The fear she has when she get ambushed to the happiness from having his boyfriend heroically trying to save her. She then goes into despair when he falls.

Her hopes rise a little bit when Lu Yan come. But seeing he is but a boy younger than her coming alone she get back into her despair. She get her hope again when Lu Yan start his rampage. However his strength is far beyond her imagination. Fear then start to creep into her heart again.

Lu Yan is but a commoner, while both of them are nobles. Yet know he is control, she is injured and her boyfriend is dying. He can just kill both of them here and take their treasures. With the amount of wound produced by the leopards before he can just shift the blame at them.

As Lu Yan got near she try to protect herself, but soon find that she has lost to much blood already. She even have a hard time to move not to mention fighting. She try to beg for his mercy then since it is the only way she can hope for.

Lu Yan is disapointed by this. Is he just look so despicable that she look at him so low. Or is it this world that is so despicable. So dark she is unale to believe thre is someone genuinely try to help her. There is someone actually mean something good live in this world.

Her world.

Lu Yan refuse to believe the world he live, in do not believe in any kindness. It might be the same sky and same air they breath. But the eyes they used to see them is different. So they got to be live in a different world. Or at least that is what Lu Yan try to believe.