183: Chapter 183

Chapter 183

Standing before the registration desk for the Rank 4 assessment, Li Yunshu pondered silently.

Even if the Rank 4 displayed by the System was different from this Rank 4, he had already spoken, so he had to go through with it, even if it meant gritting his teeth.

“Junior Martial Uncle, will this assessment be dangerous?”

Yun Jianli shook his head and said, “No, it won’t. Tianyu Palace primarily assesses the strength of Formation Masters and won’t set up overly dangerous tests.”

Li Yunshu said, “Then I’ll participate in the Rank 4 assessment.”

He walked to the registration desk and said, “I want to register for the Rank 4 assessment.”

The person responsible for recording extended a hand and said, “Please show your Rank 3 Formation Master token.”

Li Yunshu asked in confusion, “Can I not participate directly in the Rank 4 assessment without a Rank 3 Formation Master token?”

“Of course not. Otherwise, how many people would try to sneak in every year? What Rank Formation Master token do you have?”

Li Yunshu spread his hands and said, “I don’t have a Rank.”

“No Rank?

So you don’t even have a Rank 1 Formation Master token?”

Li Yunshu nodded.

The person responsible for recording originally wanted to mock him a few times, but seeing Yun Jianli behind Li Yunshu, he knew that the person in front of him was not an ordinary person.

Although he didn't recognize Li Yunshu, he did recognize Old Devil Yun, so he patiently explained a few more things.

“If you want to participate in the Rank 4 assessment, go to the next desk and register first, one Rank at a time.

Don’t worry, the assessment starts from the lowest Rank, and the Rank 4 assessment won’t begin until tomorrow.

If you truly have the ability, you can take three Ranks today.

That way, you only need to register for the Rank 1 assessment.

After passing the assessment, if you wish to continue, someone will naturally arrange for you to enter the next Rank’s assessment.”

Li Yunshu cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for the information.”

He then turned and went to the Rank 1 assessment registration desk nearby.

At the registration desk, he received a wooden plaque engraved with the sequence number for the Rank 1 assessment.

At this time, Yun Jianli and the other invited guests were already seated in the audience.

In the center of the enormous square stood a stone pillar about a hundred meters tall.

And directly in front of the square, at the entrance of a grand hall, stood two people.

One was an old man dressed in coarse linen, named Ma Lubian.

Beside him was a middle-aged man in a black brocade robe, named Xiang Sheluo.

Both were Elders of Tianyu Palace, but their status differed from Elders in other Sects.

Below the Palace Lord of Tianyu Palace were these two Elders, and below them were the twelve Peak Lords.

After the death of the Tianyu Palace Lord, all affairs of Tianyu Palace were temporarily presided over by these two Elders.

Ma Lubian cupped his hands and said.

“Welcome everyone to Tianyu Palace to participate in this assessment.

This assessment is slightly different from previous ones; today, only the Rank 1 and Rank 2 assessments will be conducted.

The Rank 3 and Rank 4 assessments will be held tomorrow, and the first place in the Rank 4 assessment will become our thirteenth Peak Lord of Tianyu Palace.

If you wish to remain in Tianyu Palace, we welcome you.

If you wish to return to your original Sect, then you will be an honorary Peak Lord of my Tianyu Palace.

Now, the assessment officially begins.”

Xiang Sheluo, standing beside him, said expressionlessly.

“The Rank 1 assessment is very simple: just touch the stone pillar and release your Mental Energy.

If you can trigger the stone pillar to emit a red light, you pass the assessment.”

All those participating in the Rank 1 assessment, holding their wooden plaques, lined up in a long queue across the square according to their sequence number, walking one by one to the stone pillar to touch it.

“This year, Tianyu Palace will select the first place among Rank 4 Formation Masters to be the Peak Lord of the Thirteenth Peak. I wonder what the Rank 4 assessment will entail.”

“I heard that during registration just now, some kid who hadn’t even passed Rank 1 went directly to register for the Rank 4 assessment.”

“Heh heh, it’s been many years since I’ve seen such a hothead.”

“Shh, shh, that hothead is the kid in front of you.”

Li Yunshu ignored the whispers behind him; he had heard such remarks many times since his Realm had regressed.

“System, what is my second check-in mission?”

“Ding, your second check-in mission is to become the Thirteenth Peak Lord of Tianyu Palace.”

Li Yunshu lightly tapped his thumb with his index finger, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Judging by what those people just said, the first place in the Rank 4 assessment would become the Thirteenth Peak Lord.

That means I must participate in the Rank 4 assessment and win first place.

This is quite difficult. I wonder what kind of reward will be in this great treasure chest after all seven check-in locations are completed.

A middle-aged man walked to the stone pillar and released his Mental Energy; a red Fire Salamander appeared on the stone pillar.

Then the Fire Salamander dissipated, and the stone pillar emitted a red light.

“What’s with that Fire Salamander on the stone pillar?”

“This stone pillar of Tianyu Palace is not simple. It is said to be able to detect if the tester’s Sea of Consciousness has absorbed the soul crystal of a powerful Vicious Beast.”

“You mean, if one has absorbed the soul crystal of a powerful Vicious Beast, it will appear on that stone pillar.”

“I heard that at least the soul crystal of an Earth-grade Beast will appear on the stone pillar.”

“Hey, are you going to test or not?”

The shouts from behind pulled Li Yunshu’s thoughts back to reality; the person in front of him had already finished testing.

He quickly walked to the stone pillar, extended his palm to touch it, and instantly felt a powerful suction force within the stone pillar.

Like a whirlpool, it sucked his Mental Energy into the stone pillar.

“That kid was just spacing out. Could he have been scared silly by the Fire Salamander?”

“I bet this kid won’t even pass Rank 1.”

“Look, what’s that on the stone pillar?”

Li Yunshu released his Mental Energy with all his might. At this moment, a Dragon roar echoed in his Sea of Consciousness—it was the Dragon Soul he had absorbed.

A giant Dragon glowing red coiled around the stone pillar, and a Dragon roar resounded through the heavens and earth.

The giant Dragon lingered on the stone pillar for a moment before dissipating, and the stone pillar glowed with a dazzling red light.

The person behind Li Yunshu stared wide-eyed at the stone pillar, so much so that the person behind him had to urge him before he snapped out of it, realizing it was his turn to test.

The audience members were in an uproar, and even Yun Jianli was startled.

“What was that Dragon roar just now?”

“A Dragon appeared on the stone pillar just now. Did he absorb a Dragon’s soul crystal?”

“I heard that last night, a giant Dragon soared over the Weak Water River, and its roar echoed through the heavens and earth. Was that phenomenon caused by him?”

“I don’t know, but looking at him, he’ll definitely enter the Rank 2 assessment. Let’s wait and see.”

Nangong Chu stared at Li Yunshu in the square with venomous eyes. He hadn’t expected Li Yunshu to not only have opened his Sea of Consciousness but also to have absorbed a Dragon Soul.

At the edge of the square, Ma Lubian and Xiang Sheluo exchanged a knowing glance.

Ma Lubian said, “What Rank do you think his Mental Energy has reached?”

Xiang Sheluo pouted and said, “I won’t guess. Who knows what mischievous idea you’re brewing in your stomach right now.”

“The only one I’ve ever heard of on the entire Longyuan Continent is Purity Tao suppressing a Dragon Soul. That Dragon Soul in his Sea of Consciousness must be it.”

Xiang Sheluo looked into the distance and said, “This kid, his Mental Energy will likely surpass the Palace Lord’s in the future.”

Li Yunshu hadn't expected this stone pillar to actually reveal the Dragon Soul he had absorbed, causing quite a commotion.

After completing the test, the Disciple of Tianyu Palace responsible for recording the assessment results asked.

“Are you continuing to participate in the Rank 2 assessment or are you collecting your Rank 1 Formation Master token?”

Li Yunshu replied without hesitation, “I want to participate in the Rank 2 assessment.”

The Disciple infused a Mental Energy into Li Yunshu’s wooden plaque, and a horizontal bar appeared below the number on the plaque.

“Take this wooden plaque; you can go participate in the Rank 2 assessment.”

Li Yunshu took the wooden plaque and walked towards the Rank 2 assessment area. He infused Mental Energy into the wooden plaque.

He wanted to see if he could change the horizontal bar in the wooden plaque, but he found that the wooden plaque in his hand was like a password lock; his Mental Energy couldn’t get in.

He then smiled, thinking, it’s not that easy to cut corners after all.

The Rank 2 assessment location was on the east side of the square, requiring the ability to set up a Rank 2 Formation.

There were more Disciples of Tianyu Palace responsible for the Rank 2 assessment, and participants could be assessed in groups of ten.

Li Yunshu only knew three Formations, but he didn’t know their Ranks.

Due to the Dragon Soul earlier, everyone’s gaze now followed Li Yunshu to the east side of the square.

Li Yunshu’s Mental Energy surged, condensing Formation patterns around him.

The Formation patterns gathered into a one-way teleportation Formation, and a receiving Formation was condensed nearby.

The onlookers discussed.

“That person made such a big show earlier, just to set up a teleportation Formation?”

“A teleportation Formation is the most basic Formation, but he doesn’t know any other Formations.”

“That’s right, a Formation Master isn’t just about having Mental Energy; they also need to have Formation diagrams to set up powerful Formations.”

Compared to the killing Formations and trapping Formations set up by others around Li Yunshu, his teleportation Formation seemed a bit meager.

The Disciple in charge of the assessment said, “Passed.”

After all, the assessment didn’t specify what kind of Formation was required, and this teleportation Formation indeed exceeded the Rank 2 Formation standard.

He paused and asked, “Are you continuing to participate in tomorrow’s Rank 3 assessment or are you collecting your Rank 2 Formation Master token?”

Li Yunshu also hadn’t expected that a single teleportation Formation would already meet the Rank 2 Formation standard.

If the teleportation Formation hadn’t worked, he had been prepared to set up the remaining two Formations.

Li Yunshu said, “I want to participate in the Rank 3 Formation Master assessment.”

The Disciple took the wooden plaque from Li Yunshu’s hand and infused a Mental Energy.

Another horizontal bar appeared below the number on the wooden plaque.

“Take this wooden plaque; you can participate in the Rank 3 assessment tomorrow.”

In the audience, Tuoba Canghai said to Nangong Chu.

“The teleportation Formation Li Yunshu set up has at least reached the Rank 4 Formation standard.

His strength has probably indeed reached the level of a Rank 4 Formation Master. You need to be careful.”

Nangong Chu was all too familiar with this one-way teleportation Formation; he had stepped into this Formation in the Mizang Forest.

He said coldly, “I’ve been learning Formations with Master for so long. He just opened his Sea of Consciousness; he won’t be able to stir up any waves.”

Nangong Nan, standing nearby, said.

“The Rank 4 assessment won’t start until tomorrow. Everyone will stay on Tianyu Palace’s Guest Peak tonight.

Tonight, Elder Tuoba will lead Yun Jianli away, and I’ll go kill that kid Li Yunshu.”

Li Yunshu walked out of the square, still thinking that both assessments had been too simple.

That's it?

Seeing Li Yunshu successfully pass the Rank 2 assessment, Yun Jianli walked out of the audience. He had too many questions he wanted to clarify.

“Xiao Zuo.”

“Junior Martial Uncle.”

“Come with me.”

Yun Jianli led Li Yunshu to a secluded place and asked.

“Xiao Zuo, tell me the truth. You said a white-bearded old man helped you open your Sea of Consciousness, so what’s with the Dragon Soul in your Sea of Consciousness?”

Regarding this, Li Yunshu did not hide anything, as there were only a few Dragons rumored to exist on the entire Longyuan Continent.

Moreover, the highest Realm of lying is a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion.

Li Yunshu organized his words and said.

“The reason I left Elder Leng’s team midway yesterday was that the white-bearded old man gave me guidance.

A Dragon Soul was about to emerge from Purity Tao by the Weak Water River, and he said it was my Opportunity.

So after I left midway, I went to Purity Tao.

That Dragon Soul had already been largely eroded by the soul- 鎮壓符 set by Purity Tao’s successive Ancestral Masters, so by chance, it was absorbed by my Sea of Consciousness.”

Yun Jianli saw the sincerity in Li Yunshu’s eyes and that what he said was not unreasonable, so he believed his words.

“Perhaps this is your Opportunity, but your outstanding performance might attract unnecessary trouble.

The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. This Rank 4 assessment in Tianyu Palace has a different meaning, and tonight might not be peaceful.”

At this moment, two middle-aged men walked over.

One of them, a man in a white robe, smiled and said, “Brother Yun, I didn’t expect this young friend to be brought by you.”

Yun Jianli said, “This is my Junior Martial Nephew, so I brought him along.”

He then introduced Li Yunshu, “This is the Fourth Peak Lord of Tianyu Palace.”

Li Yunshu bowed and saluted, “Greetings, Fourth Peak Lord.”

The white-robed man waved his hand and said, “No need for formalities.”

Yun Jianli continued to introduce, “This is the Second Peak Lord.”

“Greetings, Second Peak Lord.”

The Second Peak Lord merely nodded slightly.

The Fourth Peak Lord said, “Brother Yun, you don’t need to be so polite. Elder Ma and Elder Xiang sent us two here.”

“What do the two Elders wish for?”

“The two Elders know that Brother Yun came here to inquire about Palace Lord Yun’s matters. Elder Ma will discuss it with you in detail tonight.

Also, if young friend Ling has any needs, we will do our best to fulfill them.”

The concerns Yun Jianli had, Tianyu Palace had also thought of, so they sent two Peak Lords to show goodwill.

After all, Li Yunshu absorbing a Dragon Soul was too astonishing. Perhaps others couldn’t see how powerful Li Yunshu’s Mental Energy was.

But Ma Lubian and Xiang Sheluo saw it clearly; they had almost already decided that Li Yunshu would be the Thirteenth Peak Lord.

The Fourth Peak Lord said, “Today’s assessment is about to end, and there’s nothing left to see.

Let’s escort you two to Guest Peak first. After the assessment ends, Elder Ma will come over.”

Yun Jianli cupped his hands and said, “Then we trouble the two of you.”

Li Yunshu was somewhat surprised by the sudden appearance of the two Peak Lords. He had never imagined that simply absorbing a Dragon Soul would cause such a big reaction from everyone.

He muttered to himself, it’s just a Dragon Soul. After absorbing it, my Mental Energy didn’t even increase by one Rank. Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?