Class A Hall

Class A Hall

Xu Fan looked up at the azure sky. The only benefit his system had that was worth anything was its ability to shield him from all manner of probing by powerful cultivators, even fabricating false appearances so those powerful cultivators could detect nothing unusual.

"That's enough already. Just how worried are you about the sect's security? You scan everything every few days."

This was one of the things Xu Fan found most annoying about the Heavenly Gate Sect. Even his little hilltop was sometimes scrutinized by powerful cultivators. At first, he thought they had discovered something unusual about him, but later he realized everyone was treated this way.

After venting, Xu Fan took out several borrowed Spell Jade Slips and began studying them. This was one of his hobbies: learning spells, then breaking them down and creating new ones.

Things other cultivators considered impossible were as easy as eating and drinking to him.

"Spirit Collection Art, able to gather the essence of Demon Beast souls."

"Spirit Nurturing Art, able to preserve the vitality and Spiritual Intelligence of external souls."

"Earth Attribute Shaping Art, able to mold all kinds of forms."

"These three spells are interesting. If combined properly, could they be merged into a Summoning Art?"

"Summoning Art... Spirit Nurturing Art can only preserve a soul's vitality for a period of time. To preserve it long-term, it needs the most suitable vessel."

"But I fucking can't afford any vessel suitable for a soul to inhabit."

"Put it on hold. I'll learn Pill Refining Art properly and earn Spirit Stones first."

Xu Fan listlessly set down the three Jade Slips in his hands. The Summoning Art he had imagined would cost quite a bit.

Just then, a flock of sparrows flew across the sky.

Xu Fan made a grasping motion, and one sparrow immediately lost its soul and plunged headfirst to the ground.

A half-transparent little sparrow appeared in Xu Fan's hand.

"Little sparrow, sacrifice yourself for science."

Xu Fan slowly separated out a tiny fragment of its soul. At the same time, a small clump of earth rose into his hand.

The soil fused with that separated fragment of the sparrow's soul, and in the blink of an eye, a small clay sparrow took shape.

Looking at the earth-colored clay figure, Xu Fan shook his head, then drew out some other substances from the ground and mixed them into the soil.

A Fireball appeared and enveloped the clay figure.

A moment later, a Porcelain Sparrow appeared in Xu Fan's hand.

"This should work now, right?"

As he spoke, he sent the sparrow's soul into the Porcelain Sparrow.

"This should work now."

As he spoke, a glimmer of Spiritual Light flickered from his fingertip, and he gently tapped the Porcelain Sparrow on the head.

In an instant, the Porcelain Sparrow seemed to be reborn. It happily flapped its wings and began circling Xu Fan in flight.

"The results look pretty good. I just wonder what will happen when it encounters a Demon Beast soul." Xu Fan said, stroking his chin.

Just then, the Porcelain Sparrow still hanging in mid-air suddenly froze. Its vitality vanished, and it plunged headfirst toward the ground.

"Failed. It always feels like something's missing. I'll go to the Scripture Repository another day and look for some inspiration."

Meanwhile, Wang Yulun, who was carrying out a mission beyond the sect, stared in shock at the Qi Refining Level Six Demon Beast he had killed with a single spell.

"One move... It only took one move." Wang Yulun muttered as he stared at the gaping hole pierced through the Demon Beast's head by the Fire Spear Art. Even he found it hard to believe.

Ever since receiving two spells from his Good Big Brother, he had gone back and spent entire nights studying them.

The Light Feather Wind Transformation Art felt to him like a deep Integration of the Light Body Art and Wind Riding Art. It fused the two techniques into one spell, allowing him to cast it without splitting his attention in two—saving both effort and worry.

After reading through it once, Wang Yulun felt that with this spell, he dared say that at the Qi Refining Stage, no one could catch him.

The Fire Spear Art was even more irresistible to him. It was practically a spell tailored specifically for him.

At first, he had expected the spell to be powerful, but Wang Yulun had never imagined its power would be this great. A Qi Refining Level Six Demon Beast had died in a single strike.

At this moment, the Senior Brother carrying out the mission with him walked over with a Snow Fox in hand, saying as he walked, "That youngster better not have been eaten by a Demon Beast, or that'll be a bit troublesome."

Within the Heavenly Gate Sect, anyone wishing to enter the War Hall after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage had to undergo all manner of missions and trials during the Qi Refining Stage.

The War Hall's mission trials had the highest death rate in the Heavenly Gate Sect. The mortality rate could reach one tenth.

"My heavens! Was that a one-hit kill?"

Wang Yulun's Senior Brother stared in shock at the piercing wound on the Demon Beast's head, then looked at the calm and unruffled Wang Yulun.

"Is our War Hall about to gain another Big Shot with a Grade A rating?" the Senior Brother murmured.

The War Hall's ratings were divided into four grades: A, B, C, and D. Grade D was unqualified. Grade C could only be considered cannon fodder in the War Hall, while only those rated Grade B would be trained as the main force.

As for Grade A, they would be cultivated by the entire sect as its future Top-Level combat power. Most importantly, they would be personally taught by Void Refining Great Powers, given the best resources and the best teachers.

It was a place everyone in the War Hall dreamed of entering.

"Why is Senior Brother so surprised?" Wang Yulun said blandly, though inwardly he was extremely pleased with himself.

"It's nothing, just a sigh of admiration. Junior Brother's combat strength is astonishing—a Qi Refining Level Six Demon Beast killed in one strike."

"Junior Brother, cross-tier battle can earn you a rating above Grade B."

"But to be rated Grade A, you need to fight across an entire realm."

"With Junior Brother's current combat strength, if you work a little harder and kill ten Demon Beasts at Qi Refining Level Seven or above by yourself, you can be rated Grade A."

"When Junior Brother enters Class A Hall, don't forget Senior Brother." Wang Yulun's Senior Brother said patiently.

"How could I? I haven't even thanked Senior Brother for recommending me." Wang Yulun said solemnly.

"Haha, it was nothing. Junior Brother is too polite." The Senior Brother waved his hand, then said seriously, "Junior Brother, let's head back and turn in the mission now."

"For the remaining time, Junior Brother should focus on cultivating Offensive and Killing Arts. I hope to see Junior Brother in Class A Hall someday."

Wang Yulun's Senior Brother thought to himself that if Wang Yulun truly entered Class A Hall, the reward for his recommendation alone would probably let him exchange for two Foundation Establishment Pills. His heart grew even more fervent.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother," Wang Yulun said.

Afterward, the two activated their Cultivation Methods and set off toward the Heavenly Gate Sect.

That night, Xu Fan looked at the excited Wang Yulun and said strangely, "Is killing a Level Six Demon Beast in one move really that unusual?"

"At the final activation stage, the Fire Spear Art has an effect that calms the mind and stills the spirit, helping you launch it so every thrust hits true."

"With that effect, it would be strange if it didn't kill in one strike."

Xu Fan spoke without the slightest ripple of emotion. The Demon Beast meat roasting in his hands kept turning without pause. With a casual gesture, he used spiritual power to evenly sprinkle a small clump of cumin over it, then brushed on a layer of honey.

At once, an enticing aroma of roasted meat spread through the air.

By then, Wang Yulun had yet to calm down from his excitement.

"Brother Xu, why don't you join the War Hall with me?"

"With your strength, you'll definitely gain the attention of the sect's Elders. Class A Hall even has Void Refining Great Powers to guide you." Wang Yulun waved his hands as he described a bright future to Xu Fan.

"What's so good about all that fighting and killing? Not only is the death rate high, but their status can't compare to that of Top-Level Pill Refining Masters and Artifact Refining Masters."

There was another reason as well. After cultivating to Qi Refining Level Twelve, he would only break through on the final day of his Life Span Limit. By then, entering Class A Hall would only bring him a fleeting moment of glory.

Rather than that, he might as well keep a low profile from the start.