317: The first challenge: Asking the Spiritual Insight

"Senior Brother Yao!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Yao!"

"Good day, Senior Brother Yao!"

Greetings rose and fell one after another. Many Disciples even bowed, their attitudes extremely respectful.

This was a world of difference from when Yao Delong bore the title of 'Great Dao Trash'

and faced the plight of being looked down upon or even ignored!

The illustrious fame of being number one in the Inner Sect Core Ranking Competition, combined with his current unfathomable Nascent Soul aura,

had completely established his top-tier status among the Sect's younger generation.

At this moment, no one dared to call him directly by his name anymore!

Yao Delong's expression was calm as he gave a slight nod. He didn't stop his pace,

walking straight through the crowd toward the deepest part of the Mission Hall,

the area where the highest-ranked mission jade walls hung.

"Is Senior Brother Yao... going to accept the True Disciple Assessment mission?"

A sharp-eyed Core Disciple whispered in surprise.

"Definitely! That Nascent Soul Stage aura cannot be faked! *Hiss*... I wonder if Senior Brother Yao can pass it in one go?"

I wonder if Senior Brother Yao can pass in one go?"

"With Senior Brother Yao's talent and battle record, it shouldn't be a problem, right? He even came out of the Burial God Abyss alive!"

"Hard to say! The True Disciple Assessment is no joke; many brilliant Senior Brothers and sisters have met their Waterloo there!

Senior Brother Yao's promotion speed was too fast; his Foundation might not be as stable as those veteran Nascent Souls..."

"The bets are open, the bets are open! Bet on whether Senior Brother Yao can pass the True Disciple Assessment in one go! Place your bets!"

Someone even started a gambling pool on the spot, attracting many Disciples to place their bets.

Yao Delong turned a deaf ear to these discussions and bets; his goal was clear and firm.

The depths of the Mission Hall were sparsely populated.

Those who could walk here to take the True Disciple Assessment were at least Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

While the Yin Yang Sect had tens of thousands of Disciples, there were only fifteen True Disciples;

the difficulty of the assessment and the brutal elimination rate were evident.

Most losers could only choose to become a Sect Deacon Elder;

though their status was not low, they ultimately lost the core qualification to climb to higher peaks.

Beneath the jade wall sat an old man with a profound aura and an ancient face.

He wore simple grey robes and had his eyes slightly closed, as if merging with the surrounding environment,

but the faintly radiating pressure, heavy as a mountain, revealed his identity as a Soul Transformation Stage powerhouse.

Sensing Yao Delong's arrival, the old man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze peaceful yet seemingly able to pierce through the human heart.

"Martial Nephew Yao," the old man's voice was aged and gentle, carrying a hint of praise,

"Your aura is condensed and your sharpness is restrained. It seems your trip to the Burial God Abyss yielded significant gains. Have you come for the True Disciple Assessment?"

"Exactly. Disciple Yao Delong has come to accept the True Disciple Assessment mission. I trouble the Elder."

Yao Delong cupped his hands in greeting, his attitude respectful.

The old man nodded slightly and lightly tapped a withered finger on the jade wall.

A Jade Slip emitting a warm white light flew out, hovering in front of Yao Delong.

"This is the assessment Jade Slip; you can learn the specific details by projecting your Divine Thought into it.

The assessment is divided into three stages. You must pass them all to become a True Disciple."

The old man was concise, "Go then, do not let the Sect down."

"This Disciple will certainly give his all!" Yao Delong solemnly took the Jade Slip.

After bidding farewell to the Elder, Yao Delong's Divine Thought instantly sank into the Jade Slip.

Stage One: Inspection of Talent, Bone Structure, and Cultivation Foundation!

Location: Dragon Head Peak, 'Dao Inquiry Platform'!

Content:

Dao Inquiry Pressure: One must be in the core area of the 'Dao Inquiry Platform',

and endure the mixed pressure formed by the will of past Sect Heads and Ancestral Masters along with massive Spiritual Qi for at least the duration of one incense stick.

This pressure points directly to the Dao Heart, testing the Physical Body's strength, Spiritual Power purity, willpower resilience, and the stability of the Foundation.

The longer the time, the stronger the pressure; those who cannot endure will be eliminated.

Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar: Simultaneously, the 'Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar' standing in the center of the platform will automatically detect the candidate's bone age, Spiritual Power purity,

total Spiritual Power, Spiritual Power Affinity, and other core talent indicators.

Those whose indicators do not reach the minimum threshold for a True Disciple will be immediately eliminated.

"Dao Inquiry Platform... Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar..." A flash of understanding crossed Yao Delong's eyes.

This first stage was the Sect's most direct method of screening True Disciple candidates;

it allowed for no falsehoods. Foundation, talent, and willpower—none could be lacking!

He put away the Jade Slip, his body turning into a streak of light, as he flew without hesitation toward the back of Dragon Head Peak,

toward the 'Dao Inquiry Platform' where clouds and mist swirled and ancient dao rhyme fluctuations faintly emanated.

Dragon Head Peak back mountain, Dao Inquiry Platform.

This was a massive circular platform suspended above a sea of clouds,

paved entirely with a warm white jade that emitted a faint, clear glow.

At the edge of the platform, nine thick Coiling Dragon Jade Pillars stood tall, runes flowing upon them, faintly resonating with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

In the center of the platform stood an even more massive jade pillar, crystal clear throughout,

as if carved from the purest spirit crystals—it was the 'Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar'!

At this moment, many Disciples who had heard the news had already gathered around the Dao Inquiry Platform.

The True Disciple Assessment was already eye-catching, let alone with the currently popular Yao Delong!

The previous gambling pool at the Mission Hall had made many Disciples itch with curiosity, and they followed to watch.

"Look! Senior Brother Yao is here!"

"He went straight to the core area! So fast!"

"I wonder how long he can last? And what will the Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar show?"

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Yao Delong's figure floated down to the very center of the Dao Inquiry Platform, beside the base of the Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar.

Buzz—!

The moment he stepped into the core area, the entire Dao Inquiry Platform seemed to come alive!

The nine Coiling Dragon Jade Pillars burst with light, and countless profound runes lit up, drawing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to converge frantically.

A heavy, ancient, and majestic pressure containing the will of countless predecessors descended like an invisible mountain!

This pressure was not simple physical oppression; it carried a questioning that pierced straight to the Soul,

as if countless pairs of eyes were scrutinizing his Dao Heart, his Foundation, and his everything!

However, Yao Delong's body only sank slightly before he stood firm.

His face was calm, and his eyes were clear and steady, like a rock in a torrential stream.

I wonder how long he can last? And what will the Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar show?"

It was as if a fresh breeze had brushed over a mountain ridge, failing to stir even half a ripple!

Yao Delong's palm steadily pressed against the cool base of the Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar.

Just as he was about to circulate his Cultivation Technique and trigger the injection of origin power,

a thought flashed through his mind like lightning!

"Spiritual Power Affinity... nine points!"

This value was something he had forcibly raised from a pitiful two points at the start

by relying on the System to add points!

The span of this increase could be called Heaven-Defying life-changing!

If it were exposed under the Spirit Appraisal Jade Pillar now and seen by those old monsters in the Sect who had lived for untold years... how could a 'Great Dao Trash' whose Spiritual Power Affinity was originally so poor he could hardly Cultivate soar to nine points in such a short time?

This was no longer something that could be explained by being exceptionally gifted!

This simply defied the common sense of the cultivation world!

It was a shocking secret sufficient to draw the greediest gazes and the deepest investigations!

What would those old monsters, whose Lifespans were nearing their end and who were stuck at Bottlenecks, think?

Would they view him as some kind of 'humanoid great medicine' and capture him to be sliced up for research?!