Hearing Tang Zhenglin's words, Qiu Ying's expression changed, and she was about to speak.

Song Zhijian hurriedly reached out and pulled Qiu Ying.

Qiu Ying frowned and turned to look at Song Zhijian, who glanced at Tang Zhenglin and mouthed the words 'Elder Tang'.

With a tightened expression, Qiu Ying glanced at Tang Zhenglin and reluctantly closed her mouth.

"What do you say?"

In a faint voice, Qiu Ying turned her head to see Jiang Chen looking at her.

Slightly stunned, a trace of hesitation appeared in Qiu Ying's eyes.

"Sister Qiu, were you present as well? Did you see what happened?"

Tang Zhenglin glanced at Qiu Ying with a threatening look.

"I... I wasn't present at the time of their exchange."

Qiu Ying hesitated for a moment and spoke softly.

"In that case, I'll have to believe what Junior Liu said."

Tang Zhenglin curved his lips and turned to look coldly at Jiang Chen: "Young master, please come with us to the City Lord's Mansion."

"It wasn't the young master's fault. Didn't we already sort this out in Molten Fire Town? He barged into the chamber while the young master was cultivating, which is why he got injured."

Lin Yuyan's expression changed. She spoke urgently, her gaze fixed on Qiu Ying's face: "Senior, it was already explained then, how could you..."

"Miss Lin!"

Tang Zhenglin interrupted Lin Yuyan: "I cannot convict Jiang Chen solely on Junior Liu's word, nor can I believe you just based on your word. So, you both have to come with me to the City Lord's Mansion. If he's innocent, I'll clear his name."

"No, it's already been made clear, why..."

Lin Yuyan's expression changed. Going to the City Lord's Mansion would only give Liu Jianming the upper hand, this was too disadvantageous for Jiang Chen.

"Yu Yan."

Jiang Chen softly called out, smiling at her: "You're... you're too naive, aren't you?"

"Ah?"

Lin Yuyan was momentarily stunned, looking foolishly at Jiang Chen.

"Can't you see? They just want to take us to the City Lord's Mansion, no matter what you say, it won't help." Jiang Chen explained softly.

Lin Yuyan's face changed, a look of panic appearing in her eyes.

Tang Zhenglin's eyes darkened, feeling exposed and stared coldly at Jiang Chen, a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

"I heard that the Heavenly Sword Sect operates openly and honestly, that's why I came here hoping to participate in the selection to join the sect, but it seems the rumors are false. Now, it seems I need to reconsider whether I want to join the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

Jiang Chen shot a cold glance at Tang Zhenglin and spoke indifferently.

"Kid, and you think you can join the Heavenly Sword Sect? Dream on for the rest of your life! Come with us to the City Lord's Mansion now!"

Liu Jianming, realizing he was exposed, no longer pretended, shouted and reached out to grab Jiang Chen.

Snap!

A figure suddenly appeared beside Jiang Chen and grabbed Liu Jianming's hand.

"You... Chen, Chen Junior Brother?"

Liu Jianming was about to shout angrily, but when he saw the face of the person before him, he was surprised.

"Junior Chen, why are you here?"

Tang Zhenglin's eyes showed a hint of astonishment, his face awkward as he spoke.

Jiang Chen glanced at the young man who stopped Liu Jianming, with a look of surprise in his eyes.

This young man was the one in the corner facing away from the staircase. Now, looking at him, he had a gentle demeanor, an inherently superior aura, yet with a natural and approachable quality.

"If I weren't here, you would have ruined the Heavenly Sword Sect's reputation!"

The young man spoke in a deep voice.

Tang Zhenglin and the others all had changes in their expressions.

"Sister Qiu, Elder Peng appointed you as an Elder of the Punishment Hall because of his fairness and fearlessness of the powerful."

The young man's gaze fixed on Qiu Ying, he spoke indifferently: "When I was a child, I broke the sect rules due to mischief, and he personally dragged me to the Reflecting Cliff to face the punishment of Great Dao pressure. Back then, I hated him, but now I admire him. Yet you, as Elder Peng's disciple, are unfair in your actions and remain silent knowing the truth. Don't you think you bring shame to Elder Peng?"

"Senior Chen, this matter..."

Liu Jianming's eyes showed a hint of panic as he spoke urgently.

"When I'm speaking, when is it your turn to interrupt?"

The young man glanced at Liu Jianming.

Liu Jianming's expression changed, he quickly closed his mouth.

"Senior Chen, I'm sorry, I have tarnished the sect's reputation by withholding information!"

Qiu Ying bowed to the young man, apologizing: "Young Master Jiang did nothing wrong. It was indeed Senior Liu who barged in during his cultivation, disturbing him, which led to him getting injured."

"Senior Tang, did you hear? Sister Qiu's testimony is there, do you have any doubts?"

The young man turned to look at Tang Zhenglin.

Tang Zhenglin hurriedly waved his hand: "No, no, no doubts."

"I hope that when you are outside, you always remember that you are disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If such things happen again, go to the Punishment Hall to receive your punishment yourself!"

The young man glanced at the six of them, speaking coldly.

"We dare not, we dare not!"

"Senior Chen's lesson is right, it won't happen again!"

"It won't happen again, please forgive us, Senior Chen."

Song Zhijian and the others hurriedly promised.

The young man turned to Jiang Chen, cupping his fists in hand: "I am Chen Jingxuan of the Heavenly Sword Sect. I apologize for any offense just now, Young Master Jiang, I plead for your understanding."

Jiang Chen looked at Chen Jingxuan with surprise, not expecting Chen Jingxuan to apologize to him.

"If Young Master Jiang is willing, he can participate in tomorrow's entrance examination, and I will personally evaluate you to ensure fairness!"

Chen Jingxuan spoke again: "What the Heavenly Sword Sect is like, Young Master Jiang can come and see for himself. Of course, this requires Young Master Jiang to have the ability to enter the sect."

Jiang Chen smiled lightly, stood up, and cupping his fists towards Chen Jingxuan said: "Alright, see you at the City Lord's Mansion tomorrow."

"Alright!"

Chen Jingxuan nodded and returned to his seat.

Tang Zhenglin and his group exchanged glances, all glaring at Jiang Chen, and then they left the tavern directly, unable to face staying any longer.

"Young master, are you still going to participate in the selection tomorrow?"

Lin Yuyan looked at Jiang Chen with worry in her eyes.

Jiang Chen smiled lightly: "Why not? By the way, what is the selection standard for the Heavenly Sword Sect?"

"Selection is based on merit. Each year, in the talent evaluation of each city, there are only three hundred slots. There are thirty slots in the second aspect, with six slots each for the five realms from the early Unification Realm to the Semi Divine Infant Realm."

Lin Yuyan explained softly: "And this doesn't seem to be the final selection. After the selection ends in each city, all the people from various cities will be gathered for the final selection. As for what the final selection entails, I don't know."

Jiang Chen nodded lightly, a trace of doubt in his eyes: "What? Doesn't the Heavenly Sword Sect recruit Divine Infant Realm disciples?"

"It seems they do, but not once every three years."

Lin Yuyan responded softly.

Jiang Chen nodded, understanding flashing in his eyes.

The spiritual energy density of the Void Nether Realm is more than a hundred times greater than Yuan Star's. Someone who cultivates from an early age, even without many resources, with talent in cultivation, can reach the Unification Realm around the age of eighteen. Just look at Lin Yuyan; she came from a small village in a remote town, yet reached the early stage of the Unification Realm at seventeen.

However, after reaching the Divine Infant Realm, improving the realm isn't as simple.

The Divine Infant Realm requires not only cultivating spiritual power but also beginning to comprehend the Great Dao, which requires long-term accumulation. Cultivation qualifications become crucial here.

People with poor qualifications can remain at one realm for over a hundred or even several hundred years. Some cultivators don't advance realms, focusing instead on deepening their Great Dao comprehension, so you can't judge them by age in this realm.

Therefore, the entrance for Divine Infant Realm cultivators cannot have a tri-annual selection, or else it might take several or even dozens of times before outstanding disciples are recruited.

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