20: Spiritual examination

"High Grade Talent?!"

In the distance, under the shade of a tree, Second Uncle watched Han Li, who had passed the assessment, and was instantly stunned.

Han Li's talent was so strong, it was quite unexpected.

High Grade Talent.

This was no longer just generally outstanding.

Thousands of people were tested, but how many had High Grade Talent?

Even High Grade Talent was extremely rare.

"With such talent, his Martial Dao will have a great future. Big Brother's spirit in heaven can finally rest in peace..."

Looking at Han Li in the crowd, Second Uncle's Face broke into a smile.

Han Li having such outstanding Martial Dao talent naturally made his Second Uncle very happy.

He would surely achieve great things in the future.

Although he had prepared a fallback for Han Li, it was naturally better if he could achieve something on the path of Martial Dao.

The Wu Dynasty, after all, revered Martial Arts.

Strength was everything!

Top-tier Martial Artists were absolutely overlords.

Even the imperial court had to give them Face.

"Good, very good!"

...In the crowd, Han Li looked at his Second Uncle under the shade of the distant tree, clearly seeing the smile on his Second Uncle's Face.

Han Li nodded silently.

No need for many words; he knew what he needed to do in the future.

Withdrawing his gaze, Han Li stood quietly, watching the remaining examinees... Time passed.

The examinees also completed their tests one after another.

Today's first assessment concluded here.

There were one to two thousand participants, but only over a hundred passed the assessment.

A probability of more than ten to one.

The first talent test alone eliminated over ninety percent of the people.

Those who were eliminated could only leave regretfully.

This could not be changed.

And among the final group, no more High Grade Talents appeared.

Among this batch of participants, only four, including Han Li, possessed High Grade Talent.

With the first assessment over, entering Qingyuan Sect was secure. The subsequent assessments were equivalent to internal tests; failing them didn't matter, one could still smoothly enter Qingyuan Sect. However, succeeding would also earn extra points.

A group of people from Qingyuan Sect came before the hundred-plus examinees, their gazes sweeping over them. One of them spoke loudly: "Congratulations, from now on, you are all part of my Qingyuan Sect. However, there is another assessment. Although success or failure in this assessment is not important, it is a bonus round, so you must not be careless, understand?"

"Understood."

A chorus of voices rose simultaneously.

The leading Qingyuan Sect member nodded and said, "Good. Now, you have fifteen minutes to bid farewell to your families. After fifteen minutes, everyone gathers for the next assessment."

"Yes!"

The crowd responded and then dispersed.

At this moment, the waiting family members in the distance immediately stepped forward.

Han Li also walked towards his Second Uncle.

"Haha, good lad, High Grade Talent, very good, very good." Second Uncle came forward, looked at Han Li, and chuckled as he patted his shoulder.

"I didn't expect it either, it's truly a surprise."

Han Li's Face also broke into a smile.

"Xiao Li, with your talent, you will surely achieve great things in the future. However, talent is not absolute; you must never slack off. You must Cultivate diligently in Qingyuan Sect, understand?"

Looking at Han Li, Second Uncle said earnestly.

"Understood." Han Li nodded, looked at his Second Uncle, and said, "Second Uncle, don't worry, your nephew will definitely work hard and will absolutely not disappoint you."

"Hmm." Second Uncle nodded. Then, he took out a money pouch and handed it to Han Li: "Here are fifty taels of silver. Although there aren't many places to spend money in Qingyuan Sect, it can be used for emergencies or something. You keep it."

"This..."

"Take it." Second Uncle's Face sterned.

Han Li nodded and finally accepted the silver.

Although he had money on him, he certainly couldn't reveal it.

When he achieved success in the future, he would repay it several times over.

"Thank you, Second Uncle."

Han Li spoke earnestly.

Second Uncle smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, "Qingyuan Sect is a great Martial Dao school in Qing Province, with complex internal affairs and numerous people. Although you have High Grade Talent, do not cause trouble. Cultivate well."

"Hmm, I know." Han Li nodded.

"I don't have much else to say. I'm going to the Western Regions and might not be back for several years. The next time we meet, you, young man, must not disappoint your Second Uncle, alright?" Second Uncle laughed heartily.

"Going to the Western Regions?!"

Hearing this, Han Li was instantly stunned.

The Western Regions!

This was a place outside the Nine Provinces. Qing Province was more than ten thousand li, even more than one hundred and eight thousand li, from the Western Regions.

Although he knew his Second Uncle was a businessman who traveled constantly, this was running a bit too far, wasn't it?

However, his Second Uncle's decision was not something he could change, so Han Li could only nod: "Second Uncle, the Western Regions are far away, you must be careful."

"Haha, don't worry, your Second Uncle has been adventuring in the Jianghu for many years, it's no problem." Second Uncle smiled.

Han Li also nodded.

His Second Uncle had traveled north and south, and had been to many places. He didn't need to worry about this.

Finally, after a few more words, Han Li watched his Second Uncle's receding figure, his mind returned, and he headed towards the gathering place... Fifteen minutes ended, and all the examinees returned to gather.

Some family members were still watching from afar, somewhat reluctant to part.

At this moment, a middle-aged man from Qingyuan Sect stepped forward and looked at the examinees: "Alright, time is almost up. Everyone, follow me for the next assessment!"

With that, the middle-aged man led the way, with the examinees following behind, while other Qingyuan Sect Disciples escorted them on both sides.

— —

After walking a few li, the middle-aged man led Han Li and the other examinees to a flight of stairs.

The stairs led directly upwards, a total of one hundred and eight steps.

Following the stairs all the way up, they quickly ascended the steps and arrived at a flat area on the mountainside.

Standing here, they could already see the mountain gate of Qingyuan Sect.

Three large characters, written in a Dragon and Phoenix style, stood on the golden pinnacle.

The Aura was magnificent.

The golden pinnacle mountain gate stood tall, that mountain gate was three to four zhang high, indeed three points grander than the city gate of Qingyun Prefecture City.

The Aura of a great school in Qing Province was displayed.

Gazing at the golden pinnacle mountain gate, the eyes of Han Li and the other youths lit up.

Qingyuan Sect!

Most of the people here were very clear about it.

It was one of the top overlord-level existences in Qing Province, so powerful that even the Wu Dynasty had to give it Face.

A thousand-year Legacy, with deep foundations.

There were only one or two such thousand-year-old great schools in all of Qing Province.

Looking across the Nine Provinces, it was also a well-known Martial Dao great school.

After a glance, Han Li withdrew his gaze and looked at the open ground.

On the open ground, Formation arrays were carved one by one.

They looked quite profound.

There were nine Formation arrays in total, separately divided.

Each Formation array had a line two steps wide and six zhang long.

"This is the next mental assessment?"

Looking at the conspicuous six-zhang-long line in the Formation array, Han Li blinked.

The other youths also looked at this Formation array, some feeling very curious.

It looked ordinary.

But it was definitely not as easy as it appeared on the surface.

There must be something hidden within.

At this moment, the middle-aged man looked at them, and his resonant voice rang out.

"This is the upcoming mental assessment. Anyone who can pass the assessment will receive a Marrow Cleansing Pill as a reward!"

"Marrow Cleansing Pill!"

As soon as the middle-aged man spoke, the eyes of the youths lit up even more.

Marrow Cleansing Pill.

This was the best Medicinal Pill for the Body Tempering Realm, for cleansing marrow, strengthening muscles and bones, and transforming the body.

It was extremely beneficial for Cultivation.

Those who could pass the assessment were more or less Cultivators. Most of them were in the Body Tempering Realm, so they naturally understood the value of the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Han Li looked at the Formation array and became even more certain that this assessment was not simple.

The reward for passing was one Marrow Cleansing Pill.

The reward was generous, but it was definitely not that easy.

The value of a Marrow Cleansing Pill was considerable.

One hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver.

Even in a large city like Qingyun Prefecture, the price was the same.

Then, the middle-aged man explained the rules, and Han Li also pricked up his ears to listen.

The rules were very simple.

Stepping onto the white line in the Formation array, six zhang long and two steps wide, and walking to the end counted as passing. If one stepped off the line during the process, it counted as a failure.

And there was only fifteen minutes; exceeding that also counted as a failure to pass.

"Line up, begin now."

The middle-aged man spoke again, and then the teams lined up in order.

Han Li stood in the last row.

He wanted to see how others passed first, so he would have some idea.

Divided into nine teams, nine people stepped forward in sequence and entered the white lines of the Formation array.

And under the gaze of Han Li and the others, when the nine people stepped into the white lines, a blue light instantly rose from the Formation array.

Han Li's gaze was fixed on the nine people in the Formation array. The moment the Formation array lit up, he noticed that the Faces of the nine people instantly changed.

Their Faces were very pale, and some even had sweat dripping from their foreheads.

They seemed to have seen something incredible.

"Mama!"

Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out. One of them immediately stepped off the line, his body collapsing to the ground, trembling all over.

And this was like a chain reaction; the others also let out screams and fell out of the white line.

Right from the start, three people were eliminated directly.

Seeing this scene, Han Li and the others were utterly bewildered.

"Father, save me!"

Another scream, and the fourth person stepped off the line.

Seeing this scene, Han Li and the others were utterly bewildered.

This... what's going on?

Did they see a ghost?