Yes, Xu Jin was very clear about this.
With his current strength, challenging any of these three former Inner Court members would mean defeat for them.
"Five matches? I’ll take on three, directly challenging the top three brothers in the Taoist Institute."
In an instant, Xu Jin made up his mind. He decided to challenge Great Success, the first senior brother Wang Weisheng, the second senior brother Zhang Han, and the third senior brother Yu Xianghua.
Afterward, Xu Jin walked straight towards the small battlefield where Ning Yuchan was, intending to report his challenge targets when suddenly the shout of an Inspection Officer rang out.
"Xu Jin, the Outer Court disciple He Wei challenges you. Come quickly to battle."
An Outer Court disciple was directly challenging him?
Did they eye his Middle Court disciple status?
So they took him for an easy target?
Xu Jin pinched his cheek. Did he really look like an easy target?
Suddenly, Xu Jin realized that his ranking in the Middle Court was second last.
This second-to-last ranking was obtained after Zhou Du had died in battle.
"Seems like I’ve never really shown my true strength... Let’s demonstrate a bit, so no one takes me for an easy target anymore."
Xu Jin walked briskly towards the number one small battlefield, which happened to be overseen by Ning Yuchan.
Suddenly, Ning Yuchan’s telepathic communication rang in Xu Jin’s ear, "Try not to aim for the vitals, or else I will have to intervene."
Xu Jin glanced at Ning Yuchan and stepped quickly into the small battlefield.
The so-called small battlefield was merely a ten by ten meter area marked out with lime. Spectators could only watch from outside the line, and participants were not allowed to leave the small battlefield voluntarily.
"He Wei, please give me your guidance." There stood a rather robust senior brother on the battlefield, Seventh Layer of Dining Dawn, with a smile spread across his face, graciously greeting Xu Jin with a cupped fist salute.
Although he was trying to take Xu Jin’s place in the Middle Court.
But Xu Jin, who had recently been unexpectedly promoted to Star Patrol Commander and was a Middle Court disciple, undoubtedly had a brighter future than him, who had been stuck in the Outer Court for a year. Bearing a diplomatic mindset, this Senior Brother He Wei took the initiative to greet him first.
"Xu Jin here, please instruct me, senior brother."
As soon as these words hit the ground, the Inspection Officer’s voice sounded, "Xu Jin, before participating in battle, you must don the Taoist Institute’s standard weapon and armor."
"I don’t need it," said Xu Jin.
As soon as he spoke, He Wei was taken aback, and the onlooking brothers were also shocked.
The standard weapon and armor, not to mention the weapons, but that double-layered soft armor had considerable defensive power and could be life-saving at crucial moments.
But Xu Jin refused it outright.
Either too arrogant or extremely confident.
As for the Croc Dragon Soft Armor and Chasing Wind Boots that Xu Jin usually wore, he had switched them out before coming to the assessment today.
He understood the basic rules of the monthly test.
"Junior Brother Xu, you’d better put on the armor. Swords and sabers are blind," urged He Wei, brandishing his sword.
"Really, there’s no need. Senior Brother He, my apologies," said Xu Jin with a cupped-fist salute.
The next instant, the Inspection Officer’s commanding voice sounded, "Begin."
Almost the instant the battle began, everyone saw a blur before them and heard a piercing sound, followed by Senior Brother He Wei flying into the air, directly out of the small battlefield’s bounds.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
What kind of start was this?
Over in the blink of an eye?
However, some of the senior brothers, especially those from the Inner Court who were watching, had unsightly expressions.
The Flying Star Step which they had practiced hard for a year without reaching Great Perfection, they saw it on a junior brother.
And that burst of Star Radiance, not seen clearly, but it was either Great Perfection or Great Success.
Not only were these spectators shocked, but as the examiner, Ning Yuchan was also somewhat surprised.
The strength Xu Jin had shown was somewhat beyond her expectations.
That day during the great battle on Thousand Leaf Island, Ning Yuchan had noticed Xu Jin’s strong practical combat ability, but she too was engaged in the battle and had no time to watch closely.
But now, just after this first battle, Ning Yuchan knew that the senior brothers of the institute were in for a wail of distress.
Xu Jin’s Flying Star Step had just produced afterimages.
This was not something that could be achieved with Great Perfection level Flying Star Steps.
Typically, only the robust Star Power of the Star Refining Realm combined with Great Perfection Level Flying Star Steps could possibly do it.
In the crowd, He Wei, with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth and a pained expression clutching his chest struggled to stand up, then looked at Xu Jin in a daze.
He didn’t even understand how he had lost.
With a flicker of his figure, before he could even summon his Star Shield, he was already out here.
All of a sudden, He Wei realized he’d made a mistake.
He had picked on someone who wasn’t an easy target, but rather a sharp knife.
"Senior Brother Xu is formidable. I humbly admit defeat," He Wei said with a wry smile, staggering off.
Choosing the wrong target affected not only his current battle but also the subsequent ones. His intention to seize an opportunity in this monthly test to rise to the Middle Court now seemed difficult.
Xu Jin felt somewhat regretful.
He hadn’t used his full strength.
He’d only unleashed about seventy to eighty percent of his speed.
With one move of Flying Star Step and then a flash of Star Radiance Burst hitting the opponent’s armor-protected chest, and then, he had won.
Why are you canceling too?
Where did you even go when you reported just now?
Remember, in today’s monthly test, you can cancel a challenge up to three times!" Not far away, the scolding of the Inspection Officer could be heard.
It was several senior brothers who had similarly seen Xu Jin as an easy target and had already registered with the Inspection Officer to challenge Xu Jin, but now, seeing Xu Jin defeat a Seventh Layer brother of Dining Dawn with one move, they all realized they had chosen the wrong target and hurriedly withdrew their challenges.
The Inspector cursed but still canceled them.
After all, it was just an internal monthly test, and although it involved the autumn examination quota, the rules were not that strict.