26: Chapter 26: Sect Assessment, Crisis Approaching

The bell signaling the end of the examination was still echoing, and Xiao Yuan had already squeezed out of the crowd, walking outward with drooping shoulders.

His acting skills were on point—his footsteps were unsteady, his gaze vacant, he looked every bit like a Trash Disciple who had suffered a massive blow.

Just as he turned out of the examination arena, two figures blocked his path.

"Junior Brother Xiao, in such a rush to leave?" Chen Yin crossed his arms, wearing a half-smile.

Although he did not see Elder Chen Mo, Xiao Yuan faintly felt a wisp of Qi locking onto him. That old rascal was probably nearby.

Xiao Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but his face immediately piled with panic: "Chen, Senior Brother Chen, what is the matter..."

Chen Yin stepped forward, staring coldly at the Storage Pouch at his waist, "A treasure was lost in my Immortal Cave, and someone saw... that you stole it."

Xiao Yuan's pupils shrank abruptly. A sneer rose in his heart.

He knew the other party had definitely never given up on their suspicion of him. They probably thought the jade talisman treasure was on him.

The hand hidden in his sleeve clenched slightly, his nails almost embedding into his flesh, yet on the surface he appeared even more "panicked": "Senior Brother Chen, please see the truth! How, how would I have the guts to steal your things! I..."

"Cut the crap," Elder Chen Mo said indifferently, not giving him any chance to explain, "Hand over the Storage Pouch."

Before his voice fell, Chen Yin had already made his move—he violently snatched the Storage Pouch from Xiao Yuan's waist.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuan had no choice but to fake an even more panicked expression, letting the other party forcefully erase the Divine Soul mark on the Storage Pouch.

In his heart, however, he felt extremely aggrieved. In the other party's eyes, he was just an ant that could be humiliated at will; as for dignity and face, in the face of absolute strength, they were not worth mentioning.

Xiao Yuan only hated that his strength was insufficient; otherwise, he really wanted to slaughter Chen Yin on the spot and would not have had to suffer such humiliation.

Chen Yin checked the Storage Pouch, a flash of disappointment showing in his eyes, immediately followed by disdain and mockery.

There were only ten Low-Grade Spirit Stone pieces inside the Storage Pouch, and the rest were some sundries, a Disciple token, a change of clothes, and some dry rations.

Xiao Yuan's net worth could only be described as dirt poor.

Chen Yin coldly glanced at Xiao Yuan, threw the Storage Pouch on the ground, stepped on it twice, coldly uttered the word poor ghost, and then turned to leave.

He didn't even say a single word of apology. His gaze when looking at Xiao Yuan was even more like looking at an ant.

The surrounding people saw this scene and glanced at Xiao Yuan with pity and amusement.

Xiao Yuan felt aggrieved and angry in his heart, but his current strength was too weak, so he could only silently endure this humiliation.

He picked up the Storage Pouch and turned to leave.

On the other side, Chen Yin returned to his grandfather's side, and watching Xiao Yuan walking away, he spoke up: "Grandfather, just let him go like this? Should we..."

Elder Chen Mo glanced at him and shook his head.

"Since the jade talisman treasure is not on him, there is no need to create extra complications! Anyway, once he goes to the mineral vein, it's still a dead end... At that time, find someone to kill him in the mining field quietly, and it won't cause us trouble."

Hearing this, Chen Yin nodded, looking at Xiao Yuan's departing figure, his eyes filled with coldness and mockery.

Immediately after, he turned and left with Elder Chen Mo.

Not far away, Zhao Tianlei walked out from behind a tree, having obviously witnessed the whole process.

"It seems we really looked at the wrong person." Zhao Tianlei murmured in a deep voice.

"Since the jade talisman treasure is not on him, then who could the person who made a move be? However, come to think of it, they must also be someone coveting the jade talisman treasure!!"

His brows were furrowed deeply. His eyes were filled with doubt.

He once thought that the jade talisman treasure might be on Xiao Yuan, and he even felt that Xiao Yuan might harbor secrets on him.

It was just that a Qi Condensation Stage tier three Disciple couldn't even pass the examination; if he truly had ability, why would he court death by accepting the fate of being sent to mine?!

The only explanation was that someone else knew about the jade talisman treasure, and perhaps the treasure was already in that person's hands.

With so many things happening, this person probably wanted to muddy the waters.

As for whether Xiao Yuan hid the jade talisman treasure somewhere else, the possibility was not high.

Xiao Yuan hadn't been at the Scrap Recycling Station these past few days, and they had turned the Scrap Recycling Station upside down, but found nothing.

However, he hadn't given up either.

"When he goes to the mining field, finding someone to slaughter him can be considered venting my younger brother's anger, or perhaps the jade talisman treasure might still be on him."

...

On the other side, Xiao Yuan went to the External Affairs Hall to accept the task of being dispatched to the mineral vein, with departure set for three days later. The Sect gave the dispatched Disciples three days of preparation time.

At the same time, to encourage the dispatched Disciples, each person was given a subsidy of thirty Spirit Stone pieces, as well as the reward of being able to go to the Cultivation Technique pavilion to select a Cultivation Technique.

Hearing this news, Xiao Yuan felt a surge of joy in his heart.

He was worrying about his Aptitude, so if he could find a suitable Cultivation Technique among them, his strength would definitely have a chance to advance by leaps and bounds!

As for going to mine, he had to go no matter what. Even though it seemed he had fooled Chen Yin and his grandfather for now, their desire to kill him wouldn't die. Remaining in the Sect meant facing mortal danger at any time, so it was better to find a place to Cultivate in peace. Once his cultivation was sufficient, he would return to take revenge. How could he possibly let go of the grudge against Chen Yin and his grandfather like this?

The Jade Maiden Palace Cultivation Technique pavilion was located at the junction of the inner Sect and outer Sect, standing as a quaint seven-story pavilion.

Xiao Yuan handed over the document, and the pavilion-guarding Elder glanced at it before lazily waving his hand: "Look around the first floor freely, time limit one hour. You can only choose one, come register after you've chosen."

Stepping into the first floor of the Cultivation Technique pavilion, Xiao Yuan was shocked by the scene before him.

Hundreds of bookshelves were neatly arranged, filled with Jade Slips, books, and animal skin scrolls. The air was permeated with the unique scent of aged paper and spiritual wood.

The Qi Condensation Stage Cultivation Technique area occupied a full three bookshelves.

Xiao Yuan walked over quickly and began searching.

"Blazing Fire Formula", "Frigid Ice Force", "Thick Earth Skill", "Azure Wood Mind-Cultivation Technique", "Sharp Metal Formula"... they were all single-attribute Cultivation Techniques.

He flipped through them one by one, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

None.

There wasn't a single one for concurrent cultivation of the Five Elements.

"This shouldn't be..." Xiao Yuan muttered to himself, "Even though the Five Elements Spiritual Root is Trash, surely some Senior must have researched it, right?"

He expanded his search range, even flipping through those dust-covered corners.

The hour was almost up.

The pavilion-guarding Elder was already coughing at the door as a reminder.

Just as Xiao Yuan was about to give up, his gaze swept across the innermost part of the bottom bookshelf—there, a stack of worn-out animal skin scrolls was piled up, looking like scraps waiting to be disposed of.

Driven by a whim, he squatted down and pulled out the bottom-most scroll.

The animal skin was yellowish, the edges were damaged, and there were even a few small moth-eaten holes on it.

Unfolding it.

"Five Elements Basic Breathing Technique".

Xiao Yuan's heartbeat skipped a beat.

He quickly browsed the contents—this was indeed a Cultivation Technique for concurrent cultivation of the Five Elements, but... it was too basic.

It only had the simplest breathing technique and how to simultaneously absorb and refine Spiritual Qi of the Five Elements, with no matching Spells, no advancement path, and not even the founder's name noted.

"This..." Xiao Yuan's mouth twitched.

But time waits for no one.

He gritted his teeth, took the animal skin scroll and walked to the door: "Elder, I choose this one."

The pavilion-guarding Elder took the animal skin scroll, was stunned for a moment, and looked up at Xiao Yuan: "Are you sure? This thing has been sitting there for decades without anyone touching it. Disciples above the Qi Condensation Stage tier three all find it too basic."

"Sure." Xiao Yuan nodded.

The Elder shook his head, stamped the document, and tossed the animal skin scroll back to him: "Take it away. Good luck, kid."

Xiao Yuan put the animal skin scroll into his bosom—actually storing it into the Creation Cauldron Space.

Stepping out of the Cultivation Technique pavilion, the sky was nearing dusk.

Although the Cultivation Technique he found seemed to be of no damn use, with the small tripod, perhaps there would be unexpected surprises.

He walked quickly back to the Scrap Recycling Station. However, as soon as he reached the entrance, he saw a figure waiting there. The moment he saw the other person, Xiao Yuan was slightly stunned!