Why Didn't You Say So Earlier

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, Jiang Chuan looked at the Darkness Space in his palm and sighed.

"As expected of Golden Essence that takes ten thousand taels of gold to extract a single tael. It truly is difficult to refine."

By the units of the Qingyuan Realm, ten thousand taels of gold equaled two hundred tons of gold from Jiang Chuan's previous life.

One had to know that many small gold mines held only a few hundred tons of reserves!

It was no exaggeration to say that Jiang Chuan was currently refining a small gold mine!

As time passed, the Golden Essence Dagger within the Darkness Space melted away bit by bit.

Jiang Chuan felt a surge of spiritual power, like a rushing river, pour into his body.

At the same time, Jiang Chuan's aura continuously swelled.

Breakthrough!

Second Realm, Fifth Layer!

After breaking through, Jiang Chuan did not stop refining. Instead, he accelerated the Darkness Space and refined the Golden Essence Dagger even faster.

When the Golden Essence Dagger had been completely refined, Jiang Chuan's aura rose once more.

Breakthrough!

Second Realm, Sixth Layer!

The red sun slanted westward, scattering golden afterglow. Against the setting sun's radiance, Bodhi Temple appeared even more solemn and majestic.

Standing amid the afterglow, Jiang Chuan was like a drawn blade, its edge laid bare.

Feeling the immense power in his body, Jiang Chuan smiled.

"Second Realm, Sixth Layer. This time, I should be able to pass the Warrior Monk Institute's assessment among the top three."

Looking forward to the next day's assessment, Jiang Chuan went to the kitchen, drank a bowl of White Jade Corn porridge, then returned to his little room to rest.

Early the next morning, Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui rose early and began washing up.

Spitting the mouthwash onto the ground, Jing Hui asked worriedly, "Junior Brother, do you think I can pass the Warrior Monk Institute's assessment?"

"There definitely won't be a problem."

Jiang Chuan patted Jing Hui on the shoulder, signaling for him not to worry.

According to the development of the simulated world, Jing Hui had actually only passed the Warrior Monk Institute's assessment the following year.

But because of Jiang Chuan, Jing Hui had obtained a Hundred Herbs Body Strengthening Pill, making him considerably stronger than in the simulated world.

There was a good chance that he could enter the Warrior Monk Institute as one of the last-ranked candidates.

"I think so too. A man like me, who can contain a hundred rivers, can definitely enter the Warrior Monk Institute."

Hearing Jiang Chuan's words, Jing Hui also became brimming with confidence.

Jiang Chuan wiped his face, then headed to the Warrior Monk Institute together with Jing Hui.

By the time the two arrived, a dense sea of monks was already standing before the Warrior Monk Institute.

Half an hour later, Elder Jingyun led ten vigorous, dragon-spirited and tiger-fierce Warrior Monk Institute monks out of the institute and before its gates.

After sweeping his gaze over the many monks outside, Elder Jingyun slowly spoke.

"This assessment consists of two stages. Defeat a Demonic Puppet, and you will pass the first stage."

"The first two hundred to pass the second stage may enter the Warrior Monk Institute."

"The assessment begins."

At Elder Jingyun's command, the ten Warrior Monk Institute monks released ten Demonic Puppets of varying appearances from their Storage Bags.

These Demonic Puppets all had sharp fangs and claws. Their bodies seemed cast from molten gold, gleaming with a cold light beneath the sun.

At once, ten monks stepped out from the crowd, chose weapons from the weapon racks, and walked before the Demonic Puppets.

"Roar!"

Like thunder exploding, the Demonic Puppets let out their roars.

Under the control of the ten Warrior Monk Institute monks, the Demonic Puppets launched fierce attacks on the ten monks.

"Ah!"

In a single exchange, a Chore Yard monk wielding a long staff was sent flying. He crashed to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth.

Then another Chore Yard monk was struck in the chest by a lion-like Demonic Puppet and fell unconscious.

Within a few breaths, half of the ten monks had already fallen.

This bloody scene did not stir fear among the monks. Instead, it made them even more eager to take part in the first-stage assessment.

Half an hour later, the bluestone-paved ground before the Warrior Monk Institute was already covered in bright red bloodstains.

"Junior Brother, do your best!"

Amid Jing Hui's encouragement, Jiang Chuan stepped before a humanoid Demonic Puppet.

This Demonic Puppet had wings on its back, its body covered in tiny crimson scales. Long black nails, shaped like daggers, grew from both hands.

Simply standing there, it gave off a savage aura, as though it might choose someone to devour at any moment.

"Asura Demon."

Before Jiang Chuan's words had even faded, the Asura Demon before him moved.

The Asura Demon's two-meter-tall body charged at Jiang Chuan like a running cheetah.

In the blink of an eye, it reached Jiang Chuan. Its right claw rose high, like five unsheathed blades, and slashed down at him.

Jiang Chuan took a step back, evading the Asura Demon's claws. Then his left leg swept fiercely toward it.

Arhat Subduing Tiger Fist!

Tiger Sweeps Its Tail!

Like a great axe cleaving down, like an enormous boulder tumbling from a mountain, his strike crashed into the Asura Demon.

The Asura Demon's towering body flew away like a kite with its string cut, kicked straight into the air by Jiang Chuan.

When the surrounding monks watching the battle saw the Asura Demon lying motionless on the ground, their scalps went numb.

The two-meter-tall Asura Demon now lay there like a rag doll. More than half its chest had shattered, and its body was covered in dense cracks.

One had to know that Demonic Puppets were made from the bodies of Asura Demons, cast together with molten gold. Ordinary blades and weapons could not harm them in the slightest!

"He crippled an Asura Demon with one kick! This junior brother is young, but his strength is terrifyingly powerful!"

"This junior brother's strength is truly terrifying!"

"If that kick landed on a person, I feel that even a Third Realm cultivator might not be able to withstand it!"

Even the Warrior Monk Institute disciples looked at Jiang Chuan with astonishment.

He had severely injured a Demonic Puppet with one kick!

Many Warrior Monk Institute disciples might not even be able to accomplish that!

Elder Jingyun nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. You broke through to the Second Realm, Sixth Layer in just a few days. My cultivation of you was not in vain."

After cheering Jing Hui on once more, Jiang Chuan took a monk's saber from a nearby weapon rack and strode into the Warrior Monk Institute courtyard, preparing to undergo the second-stage assessment.

Half the time it took to burn an incense stick later, Jiang Chuan saw a dusty and disheveled Jing Hui laughing as he rushed toward him.

"Junior Brother, I passed the first-stage assessment!"

Before all the monks within the Warrior Monk Institute who had passed the first-stage assessment, Jing Hui gave Jiang Chuan a huge hug.

"Senior Brother."

"Mm, I know you want to congratulate me. There's no need for such formalities between us."

Thinking that he would soon escape the Chore Yard and end its endless toil, Jing Hui became even more excited, tightening his arms around Jiang Chuan.

"Senior Brother, I'm not congratulating you. I wanted to ask whether you could let go of me. It's so hot in this weather, and you're holding me like this—it's scorching!" Jiang Chuan said with a look of disgust.

Jing Hui had just finished the assessment, and his blood and energy had yet to settle. He was like a great fireball.

Moreover, it was currently midsummer, with the blazing sun hanging overhead.

If Jiang Chuan had to use two words to describe how he felt right now, they would be: sheer agony!

Utter agony!

"Junior Brother, if you were hot, why didn't you say so earlier?" Only then did Jing Hui belatedly release Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan: "..."

Say so earlier?

Did you even give me a chance to speak?

"The first-stage assessment has ended. A total of five hundred and forty-eight disciples passed."

As Jing Hui and the last batch of monks entered the Warrior Monk Institute, Elder Jingyun announced the results.

"Next is the second-stage assessment. Sorry for the trouble, junior brothers, but please join me in activating the Illusion Array."