Assessment

"Candy Sect? Could it be that legendary Candy Sect?"

Lin Xuan feigned surprise.

You brat, you finally came. He'd already started hitting on the Spirit Pagoda staff.

Yeah, full of candy vibes. It was definitely the Candy Sect.

The Candy Sect's ridiculous antics only grew more outrageous later on. But there were barely any normal organizations on Douluo Continent anyway. The Spirit Pagoda and War God Temple were both led by great sages with astonishing wisdom.

"That's right! The Candy Sect founded by Tang San twenty thousand years ago! It is a reclusive organization no less formidable than the Spirit Pagoda."

At the mention of the Candy Sect, even the ever-cold Wu Changkong could not help showing a trace of pride.

Its inheritance stretched back over twenty thousand years. That was the Candy Sect's foundation.

Lin Xuan secretly curled his lip.

Reclusive my ass. Weren't they blowing up warships and stealing missiles later on?

Leaving others aside, Lin Xuan personally believed that if fighting one war could prevent even more wars from breaking out, then it was better to endure short-term pain than prolonged suffering.

"I can join the Candy Sect?"

Lin Xuan forced a hint of delight onto his face.

"I can vouch for you, but you'll still need to pass the assessment. With your talent, though, the assessment certainly won't be a problem."

Wu Changkong nodded.

"Teacher, I'm willing!"

East Sea Soul Tool Technology Park.

"Once you complete the practical trial, the assessment will be finished. Give it everything you have in the trial. The higher the trial stage you clear, the more generous your rewards will be afterward."

Wu Changkong put away the application form Lin Xuan had filled out as he gave him this reminder.

"Got it!"

The moment Lin Xuan finished speaking, a beam of blue light descended from above and landed on him.

When Lin Xuan's vision cleared again, he was standing on a grassy field. The grass looked incredibly real, and several butterflies even fluttered about in the distance.

"Welcome to the Hero Hall. Initial trial difficulty: Advanced Assessment. Name: Lin Xuan. Age: nine."

"Test requirement: First round, endure for thirty seconds."

An emotionless voice descended from the sky. Then, with a flash of light before Lin Xuan, a Golden-haired Girl appeared.

The instant the girl appeared, two yellow Soul Rings lit up behind her. Lin Xuan immediately felt his shoulders sink, as though a massive boulder had been placed upon him.

"Gravity Control?"

Lin Xuan murmured, forming a rough guess about the girl's identity.

Jiang Nannan, one of the Shrek Seven Devils from Huo Yuhao's era.

Taking advantage of this, Jiang Nannan rushed toward him. She was extremely fast and reached Lin Xuan in the blink of an eye.

Her petite legs wrapped directly around Lin Xuan's waist as her first Soul Ring lit up behind her.

Waist Bow!

Jiang Nannan exerted force through her waist, clamping Lin Xuan tightly between her legs as she tried to throw him down with a grapple.

"Not much to it, huh?"

Lin Xuan chuckled. No matter how much force Jiang Nannan used, he stood there unmoving as a mountain.

A trace of human-like confusion appeared on Jiang Nannan's stunningly beautiful face. She then pulled away, intending to retreat.

At that moment, Lin Xuan suddenly struck. He grabbed her calf and yanked her back, then drove his knee straight through her abdomen.

Jiang Nannan immediately turned into a streak of white light and vanished.

Opponent defeated. Advanced Assessment, stages one and two cleared.

The mechanical voice sounded again. Lin Xuan was somewhat surprised; apparently, both stages could be counted at once.

Ultimate Assessment, first stage, begin!

Another flash of white light followed, and Jiang Nannan appeared again—only this time, she had Three Rings.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Little Changkong, where did you find this kid? He's kind of a monster!"

In a lavishly decorated office outside, a man stared at Lin Xuan on the screen before him in amazement.

This was one of the Shrek Seven Devils!

Even with only seventy percent of her original strength, she was not someone an ordinary person could defeat. Yet Lin Xuan was practically treating her like a lump of clay to be kneaded.

"My student."

Wu Changkong replied blandly.

Lin Xuan's talent had indeed exceeded his expectations. Otherwise, he would not have changed his mind so early.

"You're planning to send him to Shrek?"

The man's expression turned serious for once as he looked at Wu Changkong. He knew a thing or two about Wu Changkong's affairs.

"Mm..."

Wu Changkong fell silent for a moment before nodding softly.

Within the Trial Space, nine streams of sword qi circled around Lin Xuan as he vigilantly watched his surroundings.

A flash of golden light appeared, and Jiang Nannan materialized. Her long, toned legs lashed out at Lin Xuan in a kick.

Lin Xuan overlapped his hands and blocked the kick. The sword qi around him shot swiftly toward Jiang Nannan, but her figure flickered, and she instantly teleported into the distance.

"Damn it! Do you really think I don't have a temper?"

Lin Xuan irritably shook out his hands. This girl hopped around like a rabbit, and watching her was infuriating.

Lin Xuan's second Soul Ring rose behind him as Peerless Sword Dance activated. He immediately recalled the nine streams of sword qi and merged them into the sword in his hand.

Perhaps sensing the threat emanating from Lin Xuan, Jiang Nannan's figure flickered continuously as she tried to widen the distance between them.

Lin Xuan watched Jiang Nannan darting about. He slashed out with his sword, and in an instant, an ultimate silver sword radiance appeared.

At that moment, time seemed to fall into stagnation. The fluttering butterflies, drifting leaves, and Jiang Nannan's figure all froze in midair.

The instant the sword radiance was unleashed, darkness filled Jiang Nannan's vision. Only that silver radiance continued to grow larger and larger.

Whoosh!

The sword radiance passed directly through Jiang Nannan's body, then continued onward and struck the ground, leaving behind a sword mark seven or eight meters long.

"All flash and no substance!"

Lin Xuan smugly flicked his sword in a flourish before sheathing it. In the distance, Jiang Nannan happened to burst apart and disappear.

That strike contained more than sword radiance—it also carried Lin Xuan's consciousness lock. Unless someone possessed Spiritual Power vastly beyond his own, it was almost impossible to evade.

Ultimate Assessment, stages one and two cleared. Rating: Perfect.

The mechanical voice rang out. A beam of blue light descended, and Lin Xuan left the Trial Space.

When Lin Xuan appeared again, he found himself in a room filled with books.

"Congratulations, little Lin Xuan! Your trial performance was exceptional. Since you passed the Ultimate Assessment, you may choose any three of the six Tang Sect Ultimate Arts. Once the review is complete, your identification credentials will be issued to you as well."

Just as Lin Xuan was feeling somewhat bewildered, a playful voice sounded.

As the man finished speaking, an Electronic Light Screen appeared out of thin air before Lin Xuan.

"Mysterious Heaven Skill, Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, Purple Demon Eye..."

Lin Xuan stepped forward and looked. The screen displayed information on all six ultimate arts. After giving them a quick once-over, he chose the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Purple Demon Eye, and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

After he pressed confirm, the light screen vanished. Lin Xuan's vision blurred again, and he returned to where he had started.

"Finished choosing?"

Wu Changkong rose from the sofa and asked.

"Mm."

Lin Xuan nodded.

"Then let's head back first."

Wu Changkong led Lin Xuan outside, pointing at the metal ring around Lin Xuan's wrist as he spoke.

"Keep the Temporary Identity Recognizer for now. The review should be completed in a couple of days. Remember to come collect it yourself then."

Things are looking a little rough. Starting with three updates—let's see if things improve. Big bros, if you have votes, please toss one my way. Begging bowl.jpg