Registered Disciple

"Dong—!" The bell's chime was like a great ancient bell ringing from beyond the ninth heaven. Its sound was melodious and lingering, yet possessed immense penetrating power, as though it could pierce the clouds and reach the very sky.

Like ripples, the toll rapidly spread, instantly reaching every corner of the Artifact Refining Tower. No matter which artifact-refining chamber they were in, everyone could clearly hear the soul-stirring chime.

"The assessment is over! All disciples are to leave their artifact-refining chambers immediately! Those who have obtained artifact-refining apprentice qualifications will receive a message from the sect in due time!"

As the lingering echoes of the bell reverberated through the Artifact Refining Tower, the heavy stone doors of every artifact-refining chamber slowly opened on their own amid a deep rumbling sound.

At the same time, Elder Xuan Qiuluo's calm, steady voice reached the ears of every disciple still inside an artifact-refining chamber. Though not loud, it echoed in their hearts like a great bell, impossible to ignore.

That thunderous sound made Wang Da Fu, who had stood frozen like a petrified statue for three whole days, shudder violently, as if awakening from an age-old dream!

He widened his eyes and stared around in shock, his heart filled with disbelief. Only then did he realize in horror that the assessment had already ended!

His arm, still gripping the shovel artifact blank, had long since gone numb from remaining stiff for so long. It now felt as if it had been filled with molten lead—so heavy that even raising it was extraordinarily difficult.

"Hiss..."

He sucked in a cold breath. Without stopping to ponder that bizarre experience, he hurriedly and carefully placed the shovel artifact blank, which still seemed to retain that strange sensation, back onto the forging table. Then, dragging his nearly