52: Chapter 52 Promotion Assessment

Li Changsheng put down the register in his hand.

"What is it?"

"It seems to be... about the assessment."

Ding San scratched his head.

"I heard him mention it; you've been in the Sect for almost half a year now, right?"

"Outer Sect Named Disciples can apply for a 'Promotion Assessment' once every six months. If you pass, you can become a Formal Disciple."

"Deacon Liu asked me to have you go over and ask if you want to participate."

Li Changsheng's heart stirred.

Promotion Assessment.

He naturally knew this rule.

Qinglan Sword Sect Outer Sect Disciples were divided into two types: Named Disciples (Utility Disciples) and Formal Disciples.

Named Disciples could only do odd jobs and receive the most basic monthly stipend; they were not qualified to accept Sect missions or exchange for Cultivation Techniques and resources.

Formal Disciples were different.

They could take missions to earn contribution points, enter the Scripture Pavilion to choose Cultivation Techniques, apply for Immortal Caves for cultivation, and their monthly stipend more than doubled.

This was a qualitative leap.

But he also knew that the Promotion Assessment was not that easy.

It required assessing several aspects such as mastery of basic Cultivation Techniques, spiritual energy cultivation, and combat ability.

Many Named Disciples spent years in the General Affairs Hall and still couldn't pass.

"I'll go take a look."

He put down his work, straightened his robes, and walked toward the main courtyard of the General Affairs Hall.

Deacon Liu still looked the same, his short and fat body curled up in a grandmaster chair, hands fiddling with an abacus, and a thick stack of account books piled in front of him. Seeing Li Changsheng enter, he lifted his eyelids for a glance and then lowered them again.

"You're here?"

"Lord Deacon summoned me. May I ask what the matter is?"

Deacon Liu flicked the abacus twice and said slowly.

"How long have you been in the Sect?"

"Seven days short of half a year."

"Mhm."

Deacon Liu nodded.

"Half a year. According to the rules, a Named Disciple can apply for a Promotion Assessment once."

"Do you want to participate?"

Li Changsheng did not answer immediately.

Deacon Liu waited for a few breaths, and when he received no reply, he lifted his eyelids to look at him again.

"What? You don't want to?"

"Makes sense. Your Spiritual Root Aptitude is average, and your cultivation is only at Qi Refining Level 1. The possibility of passing the assessment..."

Deacon Liu took a closer look and discovered that this Li Changsheng, whom he hadn't paid much attention to, had already advanced from Qi Refining Level 1 to Qi Refining Level 2 over the past six months.

"Oh? Qi Refining Level 2."

"Tsk tsk, you could give it a try."

These words were quite blunt, but Li Changsheng did not get angry.

He just asked calmly.

"May I ask, Deacon, what specifically is tested in the assessment?"

"Three basic categories: Cultivation Technique, cultivation level, and combat."

Deacon Liu counted on his fingers.

"For the Cultivation Technique, it depends on how well you've mastered the Qingyuan Formula, whether you can complete a full Great Circulation, and if your spiritual energy is pure."

"For the cultivation level, Qi Refining Level 2 is the threshold; passing it is enough. However, at the same cultivation level, the degree of spiritual energy condensation also matters."

"As for combat, you'll exchange a few moves with a Formal Disciple at Qi Refining Level 3, or a Disciple whose combat power is suppressed to Qi Refining Level 3. If you can last thirty breaths without being defeated, you pass."

Li Changsheng silently noted this down.

Deacon Liu glanced at him sideways.

"You haven't stayed up late any less these past few months, have you?"

"Do you really think I don't know about those bottles and jars in the warehouse?"

Li Changsheng's heart jolted slightly, but his expression remained calm.

Deacon Liu let out a sneer.

"Don't worry, the General Affairs Hall has its own rules."

"As long as you don't neglect your official duties, no one cares what you do at night. I stayed up late when I was young too; I understand."

He paused, a rare hint of complexity in his tone.

"But kid, I must remind you. Your Spiritual Root Aptitude is right there; no matter how much you stay up, you won't compare to those born with exceptional talent."

"So what if you pass? Those at the bottom of the Formal Disciples are still looked down upon."

"If you fail and come back to continue doing odd jobs, it'll be even more embarrassing."

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then cupped his fists.

"Thank you for the advice, Deacon. This Disciple wants to try."

Deacon Liu looked at him, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes, then waved his hand.

"Fine, as you wish."

"In three days, during the Chen hour, report to the examiner surnamed Zhou at the Outer Sect Martial Arts Field."

"Whether you pass or not depends on your own ability."

"Yes."

Li Changsheng turned to leave, but then heard Deacon Liu add slowly from behind.

"By the way, that Zhao Yan from Wanqi Peak is said to be very smug lately."

"If you pass, you might even encounter him at the Martial Arts Field; he's also one of the examiners."

Li Changsheng's footsteps paused slightly, then returned to normal as he pushed the door and stepped out.

Zhao Yan, an examiner.

This was quite a "surprise."

But he didn't plan on backing down.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three days, Li Changsheng devoted all his energy to preparation.

He already knew the Qingyuan Formula by heart, but to prepare for the assessment, he still circulated it over a dozen times from start to finish, ensuring every detail was flawless.

Regarding his spiritual energy cultivation, he took out the remaining seven qi gathering pills from the bottle and consumed one each day. Combined with the nurturing method of the Evergreen Plant Truth Scripture, he condensed the spiritual energy in his Dantian to the limit he could currently achieve.

Combat...

He had almost no combat experience in his cultivation.

During that encounter with the Blood Fiend Sect's demonic Cultivator, he had only hidden inside the shuttle and hadn't actually fought.

The only thing he could reference was the memories of his years of cultivation in the simulated world.

But those were Su Chen's combat experiences—the perspective of a Soul Transformation powerhouse—and were too far removed from the current Qi Refining Level 2 Li Changsheng.

He could only try his best to adjust his mindset and integrate the "momentum" and "opportunity" from those memories into his own understanding.

Even if he could only manifest one-ten-thousandth of it, it was better than being unprepared.

Furthermore, his previous experience in the Grandmaster Realm of martial cultivation was, in the eyes of Cultivators, merely mundane fighting.

On the morning of the third day.

Li Changsheng changed into a clean gray robe, tied up his long hair, and walked toward the Martial Arts Field.

The Martial Arts Field was located in the core area of the Outer Sect. It was a massive flat area spanning several miles, paved with bluish-gray stone bricks, with faint Formation patterns flowing to prevent damage.

Dozens of Disciples had already gathered.

Most were dressed as Named Disciples, their expressions either nervous or expectant. A few Formal Disciples wore green robes, either standing or sitting; they were likely examiners or support staff.

Li Changsheng found the sign that said "Assessment Registration" and handed over his Identity Waist Token.

The Deacon Disciple in charge of registration took a look and made a mark in the register.

"Li Changsheng, Named Disciple of the General Affairs Hall, Qi Refining Level 2."

"First round, Cultivation Technique assessment, 5:45 AM, Area C. Second round, cultivation level assessment, 8:00 AM, Area D. Third round, combat assessment, 8:45 AM, central arena of the Martial Arts Field. Go on."

Li Changsheng took the wooden plaque with the time and location and walked toward Area C.

Area C was a small area enclosed by a Formation, where over a dozen Disciples were lining up to enter a small room one by one.

A middle-aged Cultivator stood at the door of the small room, eyes closed as he rested, his aura steady; he appeared to be at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

When it was Li Changsheng's turn, the middle-aged Cultivator opened his eyes and signaled for him to enter the room.

The room was simply furnished, with only a prayer mat and a half-person-tall stone tablet.

The stone tablet was bluish-gray all over, its surface carved with dense runes.

"Sit cross-legged, circulate a full Great Circulation of the Qingyuan Formula, and inject your spiritual energy into the stone tablet."

The middle-aged Cultivator's voice came from outside the door.

Li Changsheng did as instructed.

He closed his eyes and concentrated. The spiritual energy in his Dantian flowed slowly along the path of the Qingyuan Formula, from the Dantian to the Huiyin point, up the Governor Vessel, passing through the Jiaji and Yuzhen points, into the Niwan point, then down the Conception Vessel, through the Shanzhong point and Qi Sea, and finally returning to the Dantian.

One full Great Circulation, completed in one go.

At the same time, he slowly injected his spiritual energy into the stone tablet.

The stone tablet glowed slightly, first a pale white, then turning into a pale green, and finally stabilizing in a green state with a hint of emerald.

After a moment, the middle-aged Cultivator's voice sounded again.

"The spiritual energy flow is smooth, the Great Circulation is complete, and the purity of the spiritual energy is... acceptable, leaning toward the Wood Element, with a sense of vitality."

The middle-aged Cultivator's voice rose slightly.

"Cultivation Technique assessment: Pass."