70: Assessment begins

Immediately following, a roar like a tsunami erupted from the plaza.

Thousands of Disciples bowed deeply in the most reverent posture:

“Greetings, Sect Head!!!”

The sound shook the Nine Heavens, representing the supreme majesty and cohesion of the Yin Yang Sect.

White Cloud Master nodded slightly and raised his hand to press down lightly.

That monstrous roar was smoothed out by an invisible force, instantly returning to absolute silence.

“Today, the Inner Sect Assessment commences.”

White Cloud Master's voice clearly entered everyone's ears, peaceful yet carrying indisputable authority.

“Its purpose is to select those with excellent natural talent, bone structure, Heart-Nature, and potential, to become the future pillars of my Yin Yang Sect!”

After speaking, an Inner Sect Elder walked forward and began explaining the assessment rules.

“The assessment is divided into four rounds!”

“The First Round: Spiritual Power Purity!”

As the words fell, a massive jade stele, entirely crystal clear and containing black and white profound light, slowly rose on one side of the plaza!

The stele body was over ten zhang tall, and its base was carved with intricate Yin and Yang Fish patterns.

“This is the ‘Yin Yang Profound Light Mirror’!”

“Spiritual power is the basis of Cultivation, and purity is the source of the Dao methods!

For those whose spiritual power is mixed and impure, even if their Realm is artificially high, it is like building a tower on sand—the Foundation is unstable!

During the test, channel your spiritual power into this stele! The height the profound light rises on the stele body represents the purity of your spiritual power!

Those whose profound light height is less than three chi shall be eliminated!”

As soon as this was said, a subtle stir immediately arose below.

The expressions of many Disciples slightly changed, clearly indicating they were not fully confident in the purity of their spiritual power, especially those Cultivators who had forcefully raised their Realm using Medicinal Pills.

“The Second Round: Divine Sense Assessment!”

The Inner Sect Elder waved his large hand.

Buzz!

The space suddenly warped, and a massive, complex, three-dimensional maze composed of countless translucent light threads materialized in the center of the plaza!

Inside the maze, light and shadow shifted and flowed ceaselessly, emitting strange fluctuations that caused the Divine Soul to tremble.

“This Formation is called the Thousand Illusions Profound Mechanism Array, testing the strength of Divine Sense and the subtlety of its control!”

“Those who enter the array must use their Divine Sense as a guide to perceive the path,

while constantly evading countless invisible, formless, tricky, and strange Divine Sense attacks within the array!

Only those whose Divine Sense is tough enough and whose control is precise enough can reach the core of the Formation and leave a Divine Sense imprint!

Those with weak Divine Sense or crude control will suffer minor damage to their Divine Soul, or severe cases may become lost within it. Failures will be automatically teleported out of the array!

The time limit is one stick of incense. Those who fail to reach the core shall be eliminated!”

This stage made the hearts of many Disciples tighten, especially those who excelled at combat but neglected Divine Sense Cultivation.

“The Third Round: Physical Body Assessment!”

Behind the illusion array, the ground rumbled, and nine pitch-black stone steles, each about a zhang high, broke through the earth!

Each stele emanated a heavy, ancient, mountain-like aura, its surface covered with profound Mountain-Suppressing Runes.

“These steles are called the Mountain Suppressing Stele Forest!”

“The Physical Body is the boat, carrying the Dao and Undergoing Tribulation!

These nine steles were jointly refined by the Peak Masters of Zhuàn Zhèn Peak and Tuyao Peak, containing nine layers of mountain-like gravity Restrictions and anti-shock force!

You must use the power of your Physical Body to strike the steles head-on! Ignite the light of the runes on the steles!

Thirty percent of the runes activated is considered passing!

The final evaluation will be based on the total number of runes activated and the brightness of the light!

If your Physical Body is weak, unable to withstand the anti-shock force, or if you activate less than thirty percent of the runes, you shall be eliminated!”

The nine pitch-black stone steles stood silently, emitting pressure that seemed to solidify the air, highlighting a pure test of the Physical Body.

“Those who pass all three previous rounds shall immediately obtain the status of an Inner Sect Disciple!”

“The Fourth Round: Combat Power and Auxiliary Cultivation Assessment!”

On both sides of the high platform, several massive combat stages rose, along with several platforms divided into different areas.

Upon them were placed Pill Furnaces, Artifact Refining platforms, talisman paper, spiritual ink, Formation Plates, and other items.

“This round is key to selecting and determining the qualification for exploring the First Floor of the Immortal Mausoleum!”

White Cloud Master's voice suddenly rang out;

“Those skilled in combat may ascend the combat stages! Rules are not limited, methods are not limited; the victor is king!

Until the top ten strongest combatants are determined!”

“Those proficient in auxiliary Dao such as Alchemy, Artifact Refining, talisman making, or setting up arrays may proceed to the corresponding area!

The Elders of Pill Cloud Peak, Spirit Forging Peak, and Zhuàn Zhèn Peak will set the examination questions on the spot, to be completed within a time limit!

They will be judged on grade, efficiency, and innovation! The top ten will be selected based on merit!”

“Finally, based on a comprehensive ranking of combat power and auxiliary Cultivation, the three most outstanding individuals will be chosen and granted the 'First Floor of the Immortal Mausoleum' exploration token! The top ten will all receive generous rewards!”

As soon as the four words “First Floor of the Immortal Mausoleum” were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire plaza instantly ignited to its peak!

Countless fiery gazes were fixed intently on that qualification, which symbolized supreme Opportunity!

“Since the four stages are clear, the assessment begins immediately!”

White Cloud Master's grand voice echoed in the hearts of every Disciple eager to reach the summit.

As the sound of the assessment beginning rang out, the gaze of thousands of Outer Sect Disciples on the plaza focused uniformly on the towering “Yin Yang Profound Light Mirror”!

The flow of people, like a tide, began to surge slowly and orderly toward the massive jade stele.

Nervousness, anticipation, anxiety... various emotions permeated and intertwined in the air.

As Yao Delong moved forward with the crowd, he suddenly felt a cold, sticky gaze on his back, like a venomous snake observing him!

He frowned slightly and looked back without changing his expression.

He saw Meng Lang staring intently at him from the nearby crowd, his wretched face openly revealing deep-seated malice and greed.

When Meng Lang realized Yao Delong was looking back, the malice in his eyes instantly turned into a hint of panic, but it was immediately covered by deeper greed—

Those Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills on Yao Delong! He must get his hands on them!

“Hmm?” Xiao Huohuo, standing beside Yao Delong, noticed the anomaly and followed his gaze, spotting Meng Lang.

He immediately frowned and asked in a low voice, “Senior Brother Yao, do you know that Meng Lang? That guy is bad news.”

Yao Delong withdrew his gaze, his expression calm, and said casually:

“I suppose so. We crossed paths during a previous Sect mission.”

He did not elaborate on the matter of Black Dragon Hollow.

Hearing this, Xiao Huohuo showed a trace of disgust and vigilance on his face, lowering his voice:

“Senior Brother, you might not know, but this person has quite a background. He hails from the Ba Xia Dynasty and is a direct descendant of the Second Rank ‘Marquis Zhenyuan’ Residence!

The Zhenyuan Marquiss Residence has deep-seated influence in the Ba Xia Dynasty, and the Current Marquis, Meng Tianxiong, is an expert in the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

And Meng Lang's cousin is none other than Meng Bi, the famous Core Disciple among Tuyao Peak's Inner Sect Disciples!”

“Meng Bi...” Yao Delong suddenly understood. All his doubts were now connected!

Why could a mere Foundation Establishment Stage Meng Lang command three Golden Core suicidal guards? Why were those three so fearless of death?

So, behind him stood a massive Marquiss Residence and a cousin who held a significant position among the Inner Sect Core Disciples! That explained everything.

He looked at Xiao Huohuo, his eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny:

“Junior Brother Xiao, you seem to have a comprehensive grasp of the Sect's internal affairs and external powers.”

This level of intelligence gathering was definitely not something an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple could possess.

Xiao Huohuo chuckled, a flicker of undetectable pride flashing in his eyes, and laughed it off:

“Heh heh, I just can't sit still, so I like to inquire about news whenever I have free time.

The affairs of the Ba Xia Dynasty aren't really secrets to those who pay attention.”

Although his words were light, that confidence made Yao Delong's heart stir, and he paid a bit more attention to this seemingly straightforward Junior Brother.

While the two were talking, the Disciples being tested ahead had already begun to ascend the platform one after another, channeling their spiritual power into the Yin Yang Profound Light Mirror.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

On the jade stele, the black and white profound light slowly or quickly climbed upward as spiritual power was injected.