48: Chapter 48 The Spirit Testing Stone Revealed: Early Stage of Marrow Cleansing + Top-Grade Foundation!

Li Siwen (Li Shiwen) turned around, and under the countless gazes of shock, admiration, complexity, or malice, she walked calmly towards the Outer Sect Martial Arts Field.

The morning light stretched “her” figure long, that tranquility forming an extremely strong contrast with the earth-shattering finger she had just displayed, deeply imprinted in the heart of everyone present.

It wasn't until his back disappeared at the end of the road that the deathly silence in the area was completely broken.

All kinds of discussions, exclamations, and gasps of cold air surged like a tide!

"Gulp..." Someone swallowed with difficulty.

"She... is she really just Aperture Opening Completion?"

"That one finger... was too terrifying! Senior Brother Wang is in the Marrow Cleansing Stage!"

"This Li Shiwen... will definitely be someone not to provoke in the Outer Sect from now on!"

"Senior Brother Chu this time... lost a lot of face..."

"Look at Senior Brother Chu's face..."

Chu Youcai stood rooted to the spot, his face frighteningly ashen, his fists clenched tightly, fingernails digging deep into his palms, oblivious to the seeping blood.

The whispers around him pricked at his face and heart like needles!

Utter humiliation! This was simply utter humiliation!

He, Chu Youcai, had run rampant in the Outer Sect for so long; when had he ever suffered such a great insult?

Moreover, it was in front of so many people, being thoroughly slapped in the face by a Utility Disciple he completely looked down upon!

"Senior Brother Chu..." A follower cautiously approached.

"Scram!" Chu Youcai suddenly waved his sleeve, and a gust of wind directly sent the follower stumbling backward.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he snarled as he swept his gaze over the gossiping Disciples, "What are you looking at?! Do you all want to die?!"

The surrounding Disciples immediately fell silent, lowering their heads, not daring to look again, scattering like birds and beasts.

But their fear of Chu Youcai seemed to have quietly mixed with something else... perhaps, a mentality of watching a joke?

Wang Ping walked over, covering his wrist, his face pale, and said shamefully, "Senior Brother Chu, I..."

"Useless!" Chu Youcai didn't even look at him, squeezing out two words through gritted teeth.

He stared darkly in the direction Li Siwen had left, "Li! Shi! Wen! Good! Very good! Do you think this is over? Assessment? Outer Sect? Hmph!"

A cruel sneer appeared on Chu Youcai's face: "Even if you pass the assessment and become an Outer Sect Disciple, I have plenty of ways to play you to death! We'll... see about that!"

With that, he abruptly turned, carrying a low pressure and a heart full of resentment, and stormed off.

The other followers exchanged glances and quickly scurried to catch up.

Chen Mingtao and Chen Yaojia watched Chu Youcai's departing back, their brows slightly furrowed.

"Brother, Chu Youcai definitely won't let this go," Chen Yaojia said with worry in her tone, "Although Shiwen is powerful, an open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against..."

Chen Mingtao nodded, his expression solemn, "I know! The Chu Family has deep roots within the Sect, and Junior Sister Li's actions, while satisfying, have completely offended them. However..."

He changed his tone, a sharp glint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "Junior Sister Li's strength and Heart-Nature just now far exceeded our expectations."

"She is by no means a reckless person. Since she dared to do so, she likely has her own backing. Let's head to the Martial Arts Field first to ensure her assessment goes smoothly."

"Mm!" Chen Yaojia nodded heavily.

The brother and sister immediately set off, rushing to the Martial Arts Field.

At the same time, Li Siwen had already arrived at the Outer Sect Martial Arts Field.

This was an extremely open bluestone plaza, with the ground paved with hard dark-green stones, and various weapon racks and Cultivation facilities standing around.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered in the plaza.

There were Utility Disciples who came for the assessment, Outer Sect deacons and Disciples maintaining order, and some people who came to watch after hearing the news.

Li Siwen's arrival immediately attracted many gazes.

Evidently, the conflict in the clearing earlier and that stunning finger had already spread rapidly like wind.

Everyone looked at him with curiosity, scrutiny, disbelief, and a hint of awe.

The person in charge of the assessment was a stern-faced middle-aged deacon. He glanced at Li Siwen, checked the roster in his hand, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Li Shiwen?" The middle-aged deacon had a businesslike demeanor.

"Yes!" Li Siwen replied calmly.

"Mm!" The deacon nodded, pointing to a half-human-tall, entirely black, mirror-smooth strange stone tablet in the center of the plaza, "The rules are simple: inject your Internal Energy into this 'spirit measuring stone'."

"The spirit measuring stone will display different lights based on your Cultivation Realm and Foundation's depth."

"Gray means unqualified."

"Green means qualified, and you can pass the assessment."

"Blue means good."

"Purple means excellent."

"As long as your Cultivation reaches Aperture Opening, and the light displayed is green or above, you pass the assessment. Begin."

This assessment method seemed simple, but in reality, it greatly tested one's fundamental strength.

Cultivation could be piled up with resources, but whether one's Foundation was solid and stable could not be faked.

Everyone below held their breath and watched intently. Several of Chu Youcai's followers were also mixed in the crowd, their eyes unfriendly.

Li Siwen's expression was calm. He walked to the spirit measuring stone, slowly extended his palm, and pressed it onto the cold stone surface.

Buzz!

With the input of Internal Energy, the spirit measuring stone immediately trembled slightly, and its surface instantly lit up!

First to appear was a halo representing the Cultivation Realm—a clear and bright white halo, like rippling water!

"White! It's the Marrow Cleansing Stage!" A knowledgeable Disciple immediately exclaimed from below!

"What?! Marrow Cleansing Stage?! Wasn't she Aperture Opening Completion?"

"How long has it been?! How did she reach Marrow Cleansing already?!"

"My heavens! This Cultivation speed..."

The exclamations had not yet subsided—

The next moment, within that white halo, an incredibly brilliant and dazzling golden light suddenly burst forth!

This golden light was pure, condensed, and profound, as if it contained infinite potential and power, instantly rendering the entire spirit measuring stone as if it were cast from gold!

The brilliance was so intense that it even stung everyone's eyes!

"Go... golden?!"

"What color is this?!"

"Does the spirit measuring stone have a golden color?!"

"Green is qualified, blue is good, purple is excellent... what does this golden count as?!"

"I've never heard of it!"

"This light... so solid! So dazzling!"

The entire Martial Arts Field instantly fell into a dead silence; everyone was stunned by this unprecedented sight!

Even the assessment deacon, who had always maintained a serious expression, suddenly widened his eyes, his face filled with unbelievable shock!

He had been in charge of Outer Sect assessments for many years, seen green, seen blue, and even occasionally seen a faint purple emitted by one or two Disciples with astonishing Foundations...

But golden... such dazzling golden! Unheard of! Unseen!

This could no longer be described as "excellent"! This was simply...

"Peerless Grade... Foundation?!" The assessment deacon's voice trembled slightly, almost blurting it out!

Whoosh—!

These words were like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly causing the entire Martial Arts Field to erupt!

"Peerless Grade Foundation?!"

"The legendary Peerless Grade Foundation?!"

"Didn't they say it only existed in ancient times?!"

"This Li Shiwen... who exactly is she?!"

"Early stage of Marrow Cleansing! Peerless Grade Foundation! My goodness!"

"No wonder! No wonder she's so powerful!"

[Extreme shock from Onlooker Disciple A +50]

[Horrified expression from Spectator Disciple B +45]

[Disbelief from Outer Sect Disciple C +40]

[Fear from Chu Youcai's follower +35]

...

emotion points flooded the screen!