73: Second round of assessment

Envy, jealousy, awe, shock... countless emotions frantically intertwined and boiled within the crowd!

Yao Delong's bald image was instantly engraved deep into the minds of everyone on the square!

Standing at the front of the crowd, Xiao Huohuo's mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg, and his eyes were nearly bulging out.

He had previously felt that Senior Brother Yao was not simple, but he never imagined...

...that this wasn't just 'not simple,' it was simply world-shaking!

Yao Delong, who had become the absolute focus of the entire field,

felt the mountain-shaking, tsunami-like vibrations around him and the scorching gazes that seemed ready to set him ablaze.

Yet, his heart was exceptionally calm. He slowly withdrew his palm from the jade stele.

As his palm left, the Glazed Pure Yang Phenomenon that had enveloped the thirty-foot jade stele and flowed with immortal divine fire,

receded rapidly like a tide. The Yin Yang Profound Light Mirror returned to its normal state of flowing black and white profound light.

But everyone knew that the heart-shaking scene just now was by no means an illusion!

On the high platform, a sharp light flashed in Sect Head White Cloud Master's deep eyes, and then he let out a light cough,

his grand voice carrying an unquestionable majesty that instantly smoothed the surging waves of sound on the square:

“Quiet! The test continues. Those who did not reach three feet, leave the field on your own!

The rest, prepare for the second round—the Divine Sense Assessment!”

As his voice fell, loneliness and sighs spread among those eliminated, but more so was the tension and anticipation of those who passed as they rubbed their hands together.

With the record Yao Delong set, which was like a heavenly chasm, although two people later reached seventeen feet and nineteen feet,

compared to Yao Delong's thirty-nine feet, they were like faint starlight; how could they compete with the brilliance of the bright moon?

On the high platform, the silent exchange of spiritual thoughts among the several Peak Masters was exceptionally intense.

“Investigate! Investigate all information on this boy immediately!” The Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak's voice was like an unsheathed sword, carrying an unquestionable urgency.

“Comprehending Pure Yang Power at Foundation Establishment is rare since ancient times! He must be taken into my lineage!” Ji Yanshuang's thought was like a burning flame.

“It's a pity Peak Master Leng isn't here...” Liu Yue sighed inwardly. Peak Master Leng of Luoxia Peak, Leng Yuekui, was obsessed with the Dao.

With long-term seclusion and peak affairs neglected, such an unpolished jade and bright pearl being covered in dust is truly a regret for the Sect.

Sect Head White Cloud Master's heart was also in turmoil, but he suppressed the urge to immediately call Yao Delong up to the high platform to question him.

This boy has appeared out of nowhere with amazing potential, but the path of cultivation is long;

while a deep Foundation is important, Heart-Nature, Comprehension Ability, Divine Sense, physique, and even actual combat are all indispensable.

His gaze was deep as he sent a spiritual message to everyone:

“Junior Brothers and sisters, stay calm. This boy is a Disciple of our Yin Yang Sect; he won't run away.

Let's see his subsequent performance. His spiritual power is Pure Yang and overbearing, but his Divine Sense might not be equally brilliant. Don't jump to conclusions too early.”

Once these words were spoken, although the Peak Masters were unwilling, they temporarily suppressed their desire to take him as a Disciple and redirected their attention to the assessment below.

The line continued forward. After the first round of rigorous screening, nearly half were eliminated, but there were still over a thousand people waiting for the Divine Sense test.

The massive Thousand Illusion Mystery Formation was like a lurking beast, emitting heart-palpitating Divine Soul fluctuations;

at the entrance of the Formation, light flowed, and it could accommodate dozens of people entering at once.

The Inner Sect Elder responsible for the assessment stepped forward again, his voice solemn:

“Those entering the Formation, use your Divine Sense as a guide to find the core and leave an imprint as proof!

Remember, the Divine Sense Attacks within the Formation are formless and substanceless, eerie and tricky!

Those who lose control of their minds or cannot resist will be instantly teleported out of the Formation! The assessment begins; enter the Formation in order!”

The test began!

Inside the Formation, light and shadow shifted, blurred and unpredictable.

Most Foundation Establishment Early Stage Disciples, upon entering the Formation, felt as if they had fallen into a quagmire, their expressions dazed and their steps stumbling.

Formless Divine Sense Attacks, like dense poisonous bees, struck trickily, often after only a few hits;

these Disciples' faces would turn pale, they'd let out a muffled groan, their eyes would lose focus, and their bodies would go limp and fall to the ground,

subsequently being wrapped in the Formation's soft light and teleported out.

Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Cultivators fared slightly better, their Divine Sense strength barely supporting them as they groped through the maze,

but facing the ubiquitous and unpredictable attacks, most were stretched thin,

in a wretched state; not even one in a hundred could ultimately reach the core area.

Just then, a handsome Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Disciple wearing the green Disciple robes of Pill Cloud Peak caught everyone's attention.

After entering the Formation, he did not rush, but instead had a calm expression and formed hand seals,

a surge of Divine Sense power, far more condensed and resilient than his peers, spread out like a spiritual snake scouting the path.

His pace was not fast but exceptionally steady, and every time a Divine Sense Attack was about to hit his body,

his figure would make a subtle shift as if he had foreknowledge, narrowly avoiding it.

The subtlety of his Divine Sense control was admirable.

Ultimately, in only about two-thirds of the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he successfully reached the Formation's core and left a clear imprint!

“Good! As expected of a Disciple of my Pill Cloud Peak!”

On the high platform, the lean and sage-like Dan Chenzi, Dan Chenzi, stroked his long beard, his eyes full of gratified smiles.

Next, Lin Shishi, dressed in white, also stepped into the Formation.

Her expression was cold, without the slightest hint of panic, as her Divine Sense spread out rapidly like water waves,

actually carrying a hint of chill that even slowed down the incoming Divine Sense Attacks by a few fractions.

Her figure was ethereal, like a butterfly flitting through flowers, moving freely through the illusory lights and shadows and formless attacks,

her speed was actually a bit faster than the previous Pill Cloud Peak Disciple, reaching the core also in two-thirds of an incense stick's time!

“Hiss... Senior Sister Lin is so amazing!”

“Divine Sense like water? Truly extraordinary!”

“Both spiritual power and Divine Sense are top-tier; she's too strong!”

A wave of low exclamations rang out on the square.

Peak Master Liu Yue on the high platform also nodded with a smile.

The Cultivation Techniques of Spirit Water Peak also emphasize the nurturing of the Divine Soul; Lin Shishi's performance was within her expectations, yet it was still delightful.

In contrast, some Foundation Establishment Perfection Disciples who specialized in combat and had powerful physiques

found the Divine Sense stage rather difficult.

They either relied on tough willpower to endure the attacks and move with difficulty, or used wide and sweeping movements,

attempting to force a Breakthrough, which often attracted even more and denser offensives.

Although many eventually managed to barely cross the passing threshold and reach the core by relying on their deep cultivation Foundation,

their time taken was often close to a full incense stick, forming a sharp contrast with the geniuses of Pill Cloud Peak and Zhuàn Zhèn Peak, making them appear quite wretched.

Finally, it was Xiao Huohuo and Yao Delong's turn!

Swish!

Countless gazes instantly focused on the two of them, especially Yao Delong!

Having experienced the shocking scene of the Pure Yang shaking the mirror earlier, everyone was incredibly curious;

what kind of stunning performance would this mysterious bald man from Luoxia Peak have in the equally difficult Divine Sense Assessment?

On the high platform, the gazes of the Sect Head and the various Peak Masters also converged again, filled with scrutiny and anticipation.

Xiao Huohuo took a deep breath, gave Yao Delong an “I'll go first” look, and was the first to step into the Formation.

His personality was lively, and his Divine Sense matched his Cultivation Technique—blazing and agile, like leaping flames.

He traversed the maze quickly, though he occasionally endured attacks head-on, causing ripples.

But relying on his not-weak Divine Sense strength, he stumbled along the way and finally passed successfully when the incense had burned for more than half its time,

causing Ji Yanshuang to snort again, clearly dissatisfied with his “ rough” performance.

Shortly after Xiao Huohuo entered the Formation, Yao Delong also stepped inside.

Buzz!

The scene before his eyes instantly distorted and changed; it was no longer the noisy square,

but he found himself at the entrance of a massive, deep, three-dimensional maze with walls that constantly squirmed and shifted!

Without hesitation!

Yao Delong's eyes narrowed slightly, and within his Sea of Consciousness, the Divine Sense power—which was several times more resilient and condensed than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator—erupted!

It wasn't a brute force collision!

A layer of formless, extremely fine Divine Sense webbing instantly spread out with him as the center!

This net was not an airtight shield but like a sentient spiderweb.

It precisely covered a range of dozens of feet around him,

and like tentacles, it rapidly spread and explored forward, deep into the maze!

At the same time, he exerted a slight force with his feet, his figure turning into a blurry afterimage,

rushing straight into the depths of the maze! His speed was startlingly fast!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The moment he stepped into the maze, at least seven or eight sharp Divine Sense attacks—formless and substanceless yet enough to sting the Divine Soul—

struck instantly from incredibly tricky angles!