125: Entry Assessment

Lin Feng returned to his guest room and took out the leather scroll with the peculiar texture.

By the lamplight, he could see a faint, blurry mark on one corner of the scroll, which bore some resemblance to the description of the azure profound diagram he had heard about.

He tried channeling a wisp of spiritual energy into it; the scroll grew faintly warm, and the mark seemed to glow for an instant.

Forcing his way into the Sect would undoubtedly be suicide.

But if this scroll was truly the azure profound diagram... perhaps he could enter the Sect openly, first learn that Spirit Summoning Technique, and then seek the xin gold spirit bead, which was precisely the metal-attribute spiritual object he lacked.

He activated the hidden star pendant, steadily suppressing his own spiritual energy fluctuations to the realm of Qi Refining Perfection.

On the eighth day, the commotion in front of the Qingxia Sect's mountain gate had gradually subsided.

On the massive plaza paved with white jade, the original bustling crowd was gone, leaving only fewer than a hundred young Cultivators standing there.

Most of them had tattered clothes and bore injuries ranging from light to heavy, their faces a mix of exhaustion and lingering trepidation.

The three rounds of rigorous examinations had already concluded.

The Spiritual Root test had weeded out eighty percent of the people with mottled Spiritual Roots and mediocre Aptitude.

The Heart-Nature path had eliminated those with wavering resolve who had become lost in illusions.

The final practical trial had tested everyone's adaptability and strength in a perilous environment, bordering on a life-or-death struggle.

Those who could stand here were all outstanding among their peers; they had given their all to earn the qualification to stand here and wait for the final results.

On the high platform, Elder Han, who was presiding over the Disciple recruitment ceremony, cleared his throat and swept his gaze over the young people below, a hint of imperceptible approval appearing on his face.

He was just about to speak and announce which of these outstanding individuals could enter the Outer Sect, and which rare few with exceptional talent might be fortunate enough to be selected by an Elder to enter the Inner Sect directly.

Just then, a figure in green robes slowly walked up the long stone steps, unhurried.

The person who arrived was a very young-looking Cultivator with an ordinary face and a calm aura. His clean, neat green cloth robes formed a sharp contrast with the disheveled, battle-worn individuals who had passed the trials on the plaza.

The Disciple guarding the mountain gate immediately stepped forward to block him: "Stop! The Disciple recruitment ceremony is nearing its end; unauthorized persons are not allowed to trespass!"

The Cultivator in green stopped and bowed slightly: "Loose Cultivator Lin Feng, here specifically to join the Sect."

It was indeed Lin Feng, who had come under an alias to participate in the Qingxia Sect's Disciple recruitment examination.

As he spoke, he took an object from his bosom and handed it over.

It was a leather scroll, somewhat charred at the edges and looking quite ancient.

The gate-guarding Disciple took it and examined it suspiciously. At first, he didn't pay much attention, but when his fingertips touched the blurry mark on the corner of the scroll, his expression changed abruptly. He looked up to carefully size up Lin Feng, not daring to be negligent, then turned and hurried toward the high platform to present the scroll to Elder Han.

Elder Han had initially frowned, but after he carefully inspected the material and texture of the scroll, and especially after repeatedly rubbing the mark, the impatience on his face turned into surprise, and then into gravity.

He took a deep breath and whispered a few instructions to a Disciple beside him, who immediately flew into the Sect.

The nearly one hundred successful candidates waiting for the results on the plaza, as well as the crowd that had not yet dispersed, all noticed this sudden interruption.

Gazes focused on the green-robed Cultivator named Lin Feng, filled with curiosity, speculation, and a hint of annoyance at the interruption.

Soon, an Elder wearing deep cyan Daoist robes with a profound aura flew over with the Disciple.

It was the Enforcement Elder, Wu Qingfeng.

He took the scroll and scanned it carefully with his Divine Sense, lingering for a long time on the mark. A complex expression appeared on his face—one of reminiscence, realization, and also a hint of difficulty.

He looked up at Lin Feng below the steps and asked in a deep voice: "Where did you obtain this object?"

Lin Feng bowed and replied, neither humble nor arrogant: "Reporting to Elder, it is an heirloom passed down in my family."

Wu Qingfeng was silent for a moment, then finally nodded slowly: "After verification, this object is undoubtedly the azure profound diagram. According to the Ancestral Master's precedent, those who hold the azure profound diagram may enter the Inner Sect directly."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire plaza went silent for a moment, and then erupted in an uproar!

Those young people who had just experienced life-or-death trials, were covered in wounds, had barely managed to earn a chance at an Outer Sect Disciple qualification, and were still hoping to luckily enter the Inner Sect, all widened their eyes, watching this scene in disbelief.

The youth in luxurious clothing with a single metal Spiritual Root, who had originally been expected to enter the Inner Sect directly, had the arrogance on his face freeze instantly, his fists clenched tightly.

The girl in black who had passed the Heart-Nature path through sheer tenacity pressed her lips until they turned white, her body trembling slightly.

Even those who had already failed and were watching from the sidelines felt a sense of absurdity and indignation.

They had struggled and exhausted themselves just to earn a possible Outer Sect qualification.

Yet this person, who hadn't even participated in the examination, had become an Inner Sect Disciple so easily and directly just because of a tattered leather scroll?

Lin Feng seemed oblivious to all of this.

At Elder Wu's gesture, he followed a guiding Disciple and walked slowly toward the cloud-shrouded Inner Sect area.

The Inner Sect of the Qingxia Sect was filled with thicker clouds and mist, and the Spiritual Qi was much more abundant. Independent courtyards were built along the mountain terrain, nestled among green pines and cypress trees, appearing secluded and solemn.

Lin Feng was led to a small courtyard located in a corner of the mountainside.

The courtyard was not large, but it was clean and tidy, with simple Restrictions set up.

After the guiding Disciple finished explaining the precautions, he left in a hurry.

In the days that followed, Lin Feng completely faded into the background, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

Lin Feng, who had entered the Inner Sect directly by holding the azure profound diagram, caused quite a stir in the Inner Sect of the Qingxia Sect.

A Loose Cultivator at the Qi Refining Perfection stage with no background was actually on equal footing with them, the Geniuses who had gone through thousands of hardships to be promoted?

The newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples, led by Zhao Qian, made no effort to hide their disdain and exclusion.

However, Lin Feng did not care about this at all.

The next day, he appeared on time at the lecture hall for the introductory Spirit Summoning Technique.

Inside the hall, twenty or thirty newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples sat upright.

The one giving the lecture was the stern-faced Elder Zhou.

"The Spirit Summoning Technique is one of the Foundations upon which our Qingxia Sect was established. The difficulty of entering the door lies in three points:

First, one must have sharp Divine Sense to perceive the subtlety of the spiritual mechanisms of all things. It is like the blind men touching an elephant; the stronger the Divine Sense, the more complete the perception.

Second, one's Heart-Nature must be compatible in order to resonate with a Spirit Beast.

Third, the Spirit Summoning Technique relies heavily on the attribute of one's spiritual power. All Spirit Beasts in heaven and earth possess different attributes. The purer the attribute, the easier it is to resonate with Spirit Beasts of the same attribute."

His gaze swept across those below: "If a Disciple possesses spiritual power with multiple attributes and can integrate them, they might even be able to draw parallels and understand other things. However..."

Elder Zhou shook his head slightly, "This kind of Aptitude is one in ten thousand; it requires tempering spiritual power of different attributes until it is as compliant as one's own arm, which is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

The Disciples followed Elder Zhou to the Spirit Beast garden behind the lecture hall, where five first-rank Spirit Beasts of different attributes were placed in specific areas.

Elder Zhou said: "These first-rank Spirit Beasts before you have different attributes. What you must do today is to feel the resonance between the Spirit Beasts and your own spiritual power. Remember, do not force it."

The Disciples were eager to try.

Zhao Qian was the first to walk toward the steel-bristle porcupine cub.

He carefully brought his hand close, and the porcupine immediately arched its back, its bristles standing on end, emitting a threatening low growl.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Zhao Qian's forehead, and it took a great deal of effort to make the Spirit Beast calm down slightly.

One Disciple tried to communicate with a clear-wave carp, but the fish flicked its tail and swam away; when another Disciple approached a flame-tail squirrel, the squirrel was startled and jumped onto a tree branch.

The wood-spirit butterfly was extremely sensitive to subtle fluctuations in spiritual power and would flutter away at the slightest discomfort; meanwhile, the stone-armor snail remained curled inside its shell, indifferent to any probing.

The garden was filled with the sounds of Disciples sighing helplessly and the alert low growls of the Spirit Beasts.

When it was finally Lin Feng's turn, everyone's gaze carried a hint of amusement, as if watching a show.