You Didn't Say So Earlier

An incense stick later, looking at the dark space in his palm, Jiang Chuan sighed.

"As expected of Golden Essence, which requires ten thousand taels of gold to extract one tael. It's truly difficult to refine."

Ten thousand taels of gold, according to the currency of the Qingyuan Realm, was equivalent to two hundred tons of gold from Jiang Chuan's previous life.

Keep in mind that many small gold mines have reserves of only a few hundred tons of gold!

Without exaggeration, Jiang Chuan was currently equivalent to refining a small gold mine!

As time passed, the Golden Essence Dagger in the dark space melted bit by bit.

Jiang Chuan felt a surge of mana, like a rushing river, pouring into his body.

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

Breakthrough!

Second Realm, Fifth Layer!

After breaking through, Jiang Chuan did not stop refining. Instead, he accelerated the activation of the dark space and refined the Golden Essence Dagger.

When the Golden Essence Dagger was completely refined, Jiang Chuan's aura soared once more.

Breakthrough!

Second Realm, Sixth Layer!

The sun slanted westward, casting golden afterglow. In the setting sun's glow, Bodhi Temple appeared even more solemn and majestic.

Standing in the afterglow, Jiang Chuan was like the edge of a drawn sword, his sharpness fully revealed.

Feeling the immense power within his body, Jiang Chuan's lips curved into a smile.

"Second Realm, Sixth Layer. This time, I should be able to pass the Warrior Monk Institute assessment with a top-three finish."

Looking forward to the next day's assessment, Jiang Chuan went to the kitchen for a bowl of plain corn porridge and then returned to his small room to rest.

The next morning, Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui woke up early and began their ablutions.

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's no doubt about it."

Jiang Chuan patted Jing Hui's shoulder, indicating that he shouldn't worry.

According to the development of the simulated world, Jing Hui was actually supposed to pass the Warrior Monk Institute assessment next year.

However, because of Jiang Chuan, Jing Hui had obtained a Hundred Herbs Body Strengthening Pill, making his strength even greater than in the simulated world.

There was a high probability that he would enter the Warrior Monk Institute as a last-place finisher.

"I also believe that a man like me, who can accommodate all rivers, can definitely enter the Warrior Monk Institute."

Hearing Jiang Chuan's words, Jing Hui also became full of confidence.

Jiang Chuan wiped his cheeks and then headed to the Warrior Monk Institute with Jing Hui.

When they arrived, a dense crowd of monks was already gathered in front of the Warrior Monk Institute.

Half an hour later, Elder Jingyun, leading ten vigorous monks from the Warrior Monk Institute, walked out and came to the front of the institute.

After scanning the monks gathered before him, Elder Jingyun spoke slowly.

"This assessment is divided into two rounds. Defeating the Demonic Puppets will pass the first round."

"The top two hundred who pass the second round can enter the Warrior Monk Institute."

"The assessment begins."

With Elder Jingyun's command, ten monks from the Warrior Monk Institute took out ten Demonic Puppets of various appearances from their storage bags.

These Demonic Puppets all had sharp teeth and claws, and their bodies seemed to be cast from molten gold, emitting a cold glint under the sunlight.

Immediately, ten monks from the crowd stepped forward, selected their weapons from the weapon rack, and walked before the Demonic Puppets.

"Roar!"

Like a thunderclap, accompanied by the roar of the Demonic Puppets.

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

"Ah!"

In one exchange, a monk from the Chore Yard, wielding a long staff, was sent flying and fell to the ground, spitting blood.

Then another monk from the Chore Yard 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 instill fear in the other monks; instead, it made them even more eager to participate in the first round of the assessment.

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

"Junior Brother, good luck!"

Amidst Jing Hui's encouragement, Jiang Chuan stepped forward and stood before a humanoid Demonic Puppet.

This Demonic Puppet had wings on its back, its entire body was covered in small, crimson scales, and its hands had grown long, black fingernails resembling daggers.

Just standing there gave it a fierce aura, as if it could devour anyone at any moment.

"Asura Demon."

Before Jiang Chuan could finish speaking, the Asura Demon before him moved.

With its two-meter-tall body, it charged at Jiang Chuan like a running leopard.

In the blink of an eye, it reached Jiang Chuan, its right claw raised high, like five unsheathed blades, slashing down at him.

Jiang Chuan took a step back, dodging the Asura Demon's claws, then violently swept his left leg at it.

Arhat Subduing Tiger Fist!

Fierce Tiger Tail Sweep!

It was like a great axe cleaving down, or a massive boulder rolling, crashing into the Asura Demon.

The Asura Demon's towering body, like a kite with a broken string, was kicked flying by Jiang Chuan.

When the surrounding monks, who had been spectating, saw the Asura Demon lying on the ground, unable to get up, they felt their scalps tingle.

The two-meter-tall Asura Demon now lay on the ground like a rag doll, its chest shattered more than halfway, its body covered in dense cracks.

And it had to be known that the bodies of the Demonic Puppets were cast using the bodies of Asura Demons and molten gold, making them difficult for ordinary weapons to even scratch!

"It took just one kick to cripple the Asura Demon. This junior brother isn't old, but his strength is terrifyingly great!"

"The strength of this junior brother is truly terrifying!"

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

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

To heavily injure a Demonic Puppet with a single kick!

Many Warrior Monk Institute disciples might not have been able to achieve that!

Elder Jingyun nodded with satisfaction, "Good. To break through to the Second Realm, Sixth Layer in just a few days, it was worth my efforts in cultivating you."

After cheering Jing Hui on, Jiang Chuan took a monk's sabre from the nearby weapon rack and then strode into the Warrior Monk Institute courtyard, preparing for the second round of assessment.

Half an incense stick later, Jiang Chuan saw a dusty Jing Hui also rushing towards him with a laugh.

"Junior brother, I passed the first round of assessment!"

In front of all the monks who had passed the first round of assessment within the Warrior Monk Institute, Jing Hui gave Jiang Chuan a big hug.

"Senior brother."

"Mm, I know you want to congratulate me, so we don't need to exchange pleasantries."

Thinking about escaping the Chore Yard and ending his endless labor soon, Jing Hui became even more excited, tightening his grip on Jiang Chuan.

"Senior brother, I wasn't going to congratulate you. I wanted to say, can you let me go? It's so hot out here, and you hugging me like this is making me so warm!" Jiang Chuan said with a look of disgust.

Jing Hui, who had just finished his assessment, hadn't calmed his blood energy yet, and was like a big fireball.

Coupled with the fact that it was high summer and the sun was blazing.

To describe Jiang Chuan's current feelings in two words, it would be torment!

Utter torment!

"Junior brother, you should have said earlier if you were hot." Jing Hui only realized this belatedly and released Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan: "."

Said earlier?

Did you give me a chance to say anything?

"The first round of assessment has concluded, with a total of five hundred and forty-eight disciples passing the assessment."

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

"Now, we will begin the second round of assessment. I ask all junior brothers to help me activate the Illusion Array."