71: First round of testing

Just as the Elder had said before, this test was a cruel screening of all Outer Sect Disciples.

Many Foundation Establishment Early Stage Disciples had faces flushed red as they pushed their spiritual power to the limit;

In the end, the Profound Light barely reached two or three feet before stalling, with some even reaching just over a foot.

This triggered a chorus of low sighs and regrets from the surroundings.

There were even several Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Cultivators with shallow Foundations, clearly built up using Medicinal Pills, whose Profound Light height could not even reach the minimum passing line of three feet!

They could only retreat dejectedly with faces as pale as ash, drawing many contemptuous looks.

They could only return to continue tempering their spiritual power, hoping for next year.

The performance of Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Disciples who practiced normally was much more standard, with the Profound Light generally stopping around five feet, while those with solid Foundations could reach over six feet.

When a calm-looking youth at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, dressed in Thunder Marsh Peak Disciple robes, stepped forward, he attracted considerable attention.

"Ha!" He gave a low shout, and a surge of spiritual power carrying faint arcs of lightning poured into the jade stele.

Buzz—!

The Profound Light shot up instantly and stopped steadily at a height of nine feet!

"It's Senior Brother Wang from Thunder Marsh Peak! As expected, he's formidable!"

"A Genius with a Spiritual Power Affinity of seven, he truly lives up to his reputation!"

Exclamations of admiration rose from the crowd.

Seeing Yao Delong also looking over, Xiao Huohuo introduced him at the right moment:

"That is Wang Ting, a Personal Disciple of a Thunder Marsh Peak Inner Sect Elder. His lightning-attribute Spiritual Power Affinity has reached the seventh grade,"

"and he is also a standout among the younger generation of Thunder Marsh Peak."

The flow of people continued to move. Suddenly, a pure white, crisp spiritual power with an icy aura, like a trickling stream, was injected into the Profound Light Mirror.

Buzz—!

The black and white Profound Light, which had been rising steadily, shuddered violently upon contact with this spiritual power!

Then, as if breaking free from its shackles, its speed suddenly soared!

One zhang! One zhang one! One zhang two! ... The speed showed no signs of slowing down at all!

Under the gaze of countless shocked eyes, that black and white Profound Light actually broke through the one zhang five mark;

and finally stopped steadily at the astonishing height of one zhang six feet! The brilliant Profound Light illuminated a large area nearby!

"Hiss—!"

The sound of people drawing in cold breaths instantly rang out across the entire square!

"One zhang six?! My god!"

"This... this is twice as high as Senior Brother Wang!"

"Who is that? Such strong spiritual power purity!"

"It's Senior Sister Lin Shishi of Spirit Water Peak!"

"A Genius with a Spiritual Power Affinity of nine! Truly terrifying!"

On the high platform, Sect Head White Cloud Master, who had maintained a calm expression, also had a flicker of approval in his eyes.

He turned to the incomparably beautiful woman in a blue dress beside him and smiled:

"Junior Sister Liu, this Personal Disciple of yours is indeed extraordinary."

"Her spiritual power is pure and condensed, with a deep Foundation. In time, her future will be limitless."

Peak Revered Master of Spirit Water Peak Liu Yue covered her mouth and chuckled, her charming eyes shining with brilliance, her voice soft and full of pride:

"Sect Head Senior Brother overpraises her. This girl Shishi is just a bit quiet and willing to put in hard work."

"A Revered Master leads the way, but cultivation ultimately depends on the individual."

That said, the gaze she directed at the white-clothed figure below was filled with appreciation.

"Spiritual Power Affinity of nine..." Yao Delong looked at that white-clothed figure, cold and clear as the moon, appearing even more ethereal under the glow of the Profound Light;

He felt a slight shock in his heart; she was just like his Junior Sister.

Xiao Huohuo sighed with emotion, "Senior Sister Lin is exceptionally gifted and has received the Peak Revered Master's true inheritance. She is a strong contender for the Sect's future core true inheritance."

"Senior Brother Yao, it's almost our turn."

Soon, it was Xiao Huohuo's turn in the crowd.

He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and pointing his right fingers like a sword, he tapped the air toward the Profound Light Mirror!

Chih!

A streak of spiritual power, red as fire and exceptionally condensed, instantly vanished into the base of the jade stele!

Buzz—!

The Profound Light rose in response! Its speed was also not slow!

One zhang! One zhang one! One zhang two! Finally, it stopped steadily at a height of one zhang three feet!

This height was already a quite dazzling presence among Late Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples!

However—

"Only one zhang three?!"

On the high platform, the hot-tempered Peak Master of Chiyan Peak, Ji Yanshuang, with her fiery red hair and curvaceous figure, suddenly slapped the armrest and stood up.

Her lava-like eyes were almost spitting fire, her voice carrying dissatisfaction and frustration at his lack of ambition:

"This brat! This old lady told him to temper his spiritual power well and restrain his Heart-Nature!"

"All he knows is running out all day and night to mess with some crooked paths! This result disgraces my Chiyan Peak!"

Her voice was loud and unreserved, drawing side-glances from the surrounding Peak Revered Masters.

The nearby Peak Revered Master of Spirit Water Peak, Liu Yue, hurriedly offered soft words of comfort:

"Senior Sister Ji, calm your anger. Huohuo hasn't reached Foundation Establishment Perfection yet, so this achievement is already quite good."

"Once his Realm stabilizes, his spiritual power will naturally become a bit more pure."

"Hmph!" Ji Yanshuang snorted coldly and sat down in a huff, crossing her arms,

"Once this round is over, see how This old lady deals with him! I'll definitely lock him in the 'Heart-Burning Cave' and roast him for half a year!"

Xiao Huohuo seemed to have heard his Revered Master's roar; he shrunk his neck and quickly slipped down from the testing platform;

Returning to Yao Delong's side, a bitter smile appeared on his face. "It's over, it's all over. I'm going to get a scolding when I get back."

He then looked at Yao Delong, "Senior Brother Yao, it's your turn!"

In an instant, many gazes from the surroundings converged on him.

Partly because of his striking "bald and browless" appearance.

And partly because he was ranked after Xiao Huohuo, whose recent performance was quite brilliant, making people curious about how this Senior Brother would perform.

Even more gazes came from atop the high platform!

Peak Master of Chiyan Peak Ji Yanshuang, Peak Revered Master of Spirit Water Peak Liu Yue, Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak... and even Sect Head White Cloud Master, sitting in the main seat with deep eyes.

They all cast their eyes on this unfamiliar Luoxia Peak Disciple.

Luoxia Peak was the main peak with the fewest Disciples among the twelve peaks, besides Dragon Head Peak.

The Yin Yang Sect has twelve main peaks in total. Sect Heads of past generations resided on Dragon Head Peak, which generally does not accept Disciples.

Only the successor to the next Sect Head is qualified to reside on Dragon Head Peak.

Yao Delong took a deep breath, suppressing the last ripple in the lake of his heart.

Having lived two lives, after the affinity test when he first entered the Sect, this was actually his first time standing on an assessment platform under the Sect's spotlight.

Facing everyone's gaze, a hint of tension rooted in life's instinct still welled up.

He had a clear understanding of himself.

Deep within the Qi Sea of his Dantian was a vast golden spiritual sea—a Foundation that far exceeded that of ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

His Meridians, tempered by double fires, were as tough as glazed glass, enough to carry more violent and pure power;

The golden spiritual liquid in his Dantian was no longer purely liquid, showing a faint tendency to solidify and crystallize.

That was a precursor to the height of condensed Spiritual Essence, transforming toward a Golden Core!

This Foundation gave him absolute confidence!

He hesitated no longer.

Under the focus of tens of thousands of gazes, Yao Delong slowly raised his right hand.

His movements were steady, without a hint of impatience, as his palm finally pressed gently against the massive stele, which was as cool and smooth as jade and flowing with the Profound Light of Yin and Yang.