Making Friends

With Jiang Han's cultivation, hunting Demonic Beasts was naturally not very realistic.

But he could still hunt some Ordinary Fierce Beasts to supply the Jade Mist Sect Cultivators who indulged in Sensual Desire.

The flesh and blood of some Ordinary Fierce Beasts were also among the supplementary ingredients for low-grade pills.

Knock, knock, knock.

Just as Su Bai and the others were exchanging pleasantries, the Assessment Bell rang.

A Cultivator arrived through the air right on time, and the powerful Spiritual Power Fluctuation swiftly restored silence around the Lecture Platform.

The Skyward Flight Technique was a Tier 2 Spell standard to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and also the most obvious hallmark of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The one presiding over this assessment for the newly admitted Outer Disciples was unexpectedly an Inner Sect Elder in a Purple Robe at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The Inner Sect Elder landed upon the circular platform at the center of the Lecture Ground and swept his gaze over the hundred-plus newly admitted Outer Disciples below.

"The Path of Cultivation admits no achievement without great perseverance."

"The purpose of this Outer Disciple assessment is to weed out the Lazy Disciples recruited by the sect and reduce unnecessary Sect Welfare Expenditure in the future."

After a pause, the Elder said in a grave voice, "First Test: release your Spiritual Power and let me sense your current Spiritual Power Fluctuation."

"Let me see your Cultivation Achievement over this past year."

Upon hearing this, Su Bai immediately circulated his Spiritual Power with all his might and released its aura.

The next moment, Su Bai sensed a Probing Sensation sweep across his body.

This should have been the Spiritual Sense Power that could only be born at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Spiritual Sense Power possessed observational power, accuracy, and convenience far beyond what the naked eye could compare with.

In merely a few breaths, the Inner Sect Elder used his Spiritual Sense Power to observe the Cultivation Realm of the hundred-plus newly admitted Outer Disciples present.

"You, you, and you..."

The Inner Sect Elder pointed out five Outer Disciples in succession.

"In one year, your cultivation has utterly failed to match your spirit roots. Clearly, you have not cultivated diligently."

"I demote you to Labor Disciples for one year. Do you have any objections?"

Before a Foundation Establishment Elder, it was already good enough that the five newly admitted Outer Disciples were not trembling like sieves. How could they dare object?

Steward Su of the Outer Sect immediately brought over the gray robes of Labor Disciples, had the five Outer Disciples change into them, and led them away from the outer court.

Only after enduring a year of laborer life would they be permitted to regain their status as Outer Disciples.

This scene undoubtedly sounded an alarm for every Outer Disciple—the Jade Mist Sect did not raise idlers!

"Second Test: Spell Test. Line up and display the spells you have cultivated before me."

Object Manipulation Technique, Spirit Pickaxe Technique, Light Body Technique, Cold Dispelling Technique...

One Tier One Lower-grade Spell after another was displayed before the Inner Sect Elder.

Naturally, Su Bai chose the Dewdrop Technique.

After nearly a year of cultivation, Su Bai could already freely control the Dewdrop Technique to nourish an area without forming hand seals or chanting incantations.

"Pass." Without even raising his eyes, the Inner Sect Elder spoke lightly.

To these Foundation Establishment Realm bigwigs, Tier One Spells of the Qi Refining Early Stage would not stir even the slightest interest in him, no matter how dazzling they were.

On the path of spells, three people performed most brilliantly.

Two were Disciples with Dual Spirit Root Talent: Jin Qingjian and Yu Ji.

After advancing to Qi Refining Stage Four, they had already mastered Tier 1 Mid-grade Spells with decent offensive power.

The last was Jiang Han.

This Guy had actually mastered the Tier 1 Mid-grade Spell, the Fireball Technique, with cultivation at Qi Refining Stage Three.

This was Transcendence Spell Cultivation.

Ordinary Cultivators found it difficult to accomplish this. Even if they barely managed it, they would certainly waste a great deal of cultivation time.

Yet Jiang Han had not only kept his cultivation on pace, but the Fireball Technique's power was also considerable.

Clearly, Jiang Han possessed exceptionally strong Fire Attribute Spell Talent.

His talent in the Fire Attribute won the recognition of the Inner Sect Elder, who immediately paid out of his own pocket to reward him with a bottle of Essence Replenishing Pills.

The sight made Su Bai's eyes gleam. Jiang Han definitely possessed related Fire Attribute Spell Talent.

Once the time was right, he had to copy it over.

The Inner Sect Elder then encouraged Jiang Han and the other Outer Disciples. "While the Cultivation Realm is the foundation, it is not everything. The power of spells and one's own Combat Power are often even more important."

"This second test was also meant to remind you of that."

"While cultivating diligently, you must never neglect your spell cultivation."

"This assessment ends here. I hope you have gained something from it."

Having said this, the Inner Sect Elder did not linger and flew away directly.

These low-level Qi Refining Stage Disciples had to at least enter the Inner Sect before they could catch the eyes of the upper echelons.

This second test did not demote any poorly performing Outer Disciples to Labor Disciples. Just as he had said, the second test had chiefly been intended as a reminder.

Everyone from Courtyard 32 performed admirably in both tests, and not a single one was demoted to a Labor Disciple.

Su Bai's cultivation was undoubtedly the deepest among the five, but the one who left the deepest impression on his fellow disciples in the courtyard was naturally Jiang Han.

Zhang Yanshen, Qian Er, and the others had previously been displeased by Jiang Han's aloofness, but that dissatisfaction had now completely vanished along with Jiang Han's stunning performance.

"Jiang Han, you brat are never seen around normally. So you've been hiding away to practice spells."

"Jiang Han, I'll have to seek much guidance from you regarding Fire Attribute Spell cultivation in the future."

Thanks to his extraordinarily strong Fire Attribute Spell Talent, Jiang Han became famous at once among this batch of Outer Disciples in the outer court.

Su Bai naturally also coveted Jiang Han's exceptionally strong Fire Attribute Spell Talent.

However, he and Jiang Han were Disciples of the same courtyard, and there were still several years before they advanced into the Inner Sect. There would be plenty of chances to copy Jiang Han's Fire Attribute Spell Talent.

What gave Su Bai a headache was how he could copy a spirit root from Jin Qingjian or Yu Ji, both blessed with Dual Spirit Root Talent, three months later.

Three Months later, on the first day of the third month, the cooldown of Immortal Talent Reflection would be restored.

Without question, among the people Su Bai could currently come into contact with, the most suitable spirit roots for him to copy were the Dual Attribute Spirit Roots possessed by these two.

At that time, Su Bai would need to find the two of them and invent an excuse to touch their bodies in order to copy their talents.

Approaching them for no reason and touching their bodies would undoubtedly arouse suspicion.

How should he get close to these two?

Just then, Su Bai spotted a familiar figure beside Yu Ji.

"Hm? After Wu Tian changed courtyards, he was actually assigned to the same courtyard as Yu Ji, who has Dual Spirit Roots?"

"This Kid never mentioned this in the Jade Talisman before!"

Heaven truly was helping him!

After thinking briefly, Su Bai strode forward and greeted Wu Tian. "Brother Wu!"

"Brother Su!" Wu Tian responded warmly.

He then introduced Su Bai to the fellow disciples of his courtyard, including Yu Ji, who possessed Dual Spirit Root Talent.

"You're Junior Brother Su, right? Junior Brother Wu mentioned you to us before. Thanks to you, Junior Brother Wu did not fall too far behind in cultivation." Yu Ji was evidently the leader of the courtyard, and he spoke first.

From his words, it was clear that Wu Tian had not only mentioned Su Bai before, but had also polished up Su Bai's image quite a bit.

Su Bai waved his hand. "Wu Tian and I have always addressed each other as brothers. It was only right. This Senior Brother Yu Ji must be one of the only two Disciples in our batch with Dual Spirit Root Talent, correct? As expected, your talent is extraordinary. Your Cultivation Speed is beyond comparison for three-spirit-root people like us."

Yu Ji smiled faintly. "Superior talent merely gives one a slightly faster start. Junior Brother Su, there is no need to belittle yourself."